How the VR180 3D camera conquered the (smartphone) market

November 18, 2023
Mix/Daniel Ball

Image: Canon

The 180-degree stereoscopic format is experiencing a renaissance. What VR180 cameras are coming soon? Will smartphones replace cameras?

Daniel Ball

Virtual reality headsets open up new ways of viewing spherical media. Many people are already familiar with 360° photos in web browsers on 2D displays as panoramas where you can change the perspective using your mouse. This type of media can be viewed in a more immersive way in a VR device, where you feel like you are actually at the center of the shot.

Thanks to head tracking, head movements are matched 1:1 to reality and the headset displays the correct view as in real life. 360-degree media has had a cult following at least since the launch of Samsung's Gear VR in 2015.

180-degree 3D content: a popular format

Monoscopic 360° images can be created relatively easily using standard consumer-grade 360-degree cameras, rendering tools for human-generated content, and mobile apps that instruct the user to rotate in various directions. One problem with 360-2D recording, however, is that the lack of stereoscopic depth means that closer objects appear huge and therefore unrealistic. Additionally, it is often difficult for content creators to ensure that the entire 360° environment is interesting and does not reveal photographers, lights, or other photography aids.

For these reasons, more and more immersive media manufacturers are turning to the VR180 stereo format. Use two ultra-wide-angle fisheye lenses to capture two images simultaneously, usually around 190°. In contrast to 360°, no stitching is required here since the entire desired content of 180° or 190° is captured through the lens. The fisheye photo is then typically converted into an equirectangular format. Similar to a rectangular world map created from a round globe.

Thanks to the 3D format, the proportions in VR180 content are now correct. Unwanted objects behind the lens are no longer visible because only the hemisphere is photographed facing forward. As a result, many VR photographers find the format more immersive and easier to create.

The rise and fall of technology

第一款消费类 VR180-3D 相机是 2018 年的联想 Mirage 相机，它是与 Google 在 Daydream VR 项目下合作开发的。 该相机的价格为 300 欧Meta，为制作全新的 VR 录音提供了独特的机会。

While Google finally said goodbye to its Daydream VR ambitions in 2020, there were a few other consumer cameras available at the time (Insta360 EVO, Vuze XR), but their support ended quickly.

Lenovo Phantom Camera | Image: Lenovo

The topic has gone cold, and VR is already predicted to be dead by 2020.

A new life for VR 180

However, at the end of 2021, VR180 received a surprise: Canon released a professional VR180 stereo lens. Canon RF 5.2 mm F2.8 L Dual Fisheye (Amazon). vs regular mirrorless Canon Camera Body EOS R5 (Amazon) and R5 c (Amazon) You can now produce high-quality 8K VR180 photos and videos (R5: 8K@30fps, R5 c: 8K@60fps).

All of this uses a single image sensor, which also eliminates the chromatic aberration that can occur when using two sensors. Unfortunately, with camera bodies and lenses costing over $6,000, not everyone can afford them.

Canon R5 VR 180 | Image: Canon

Recently a range of other VR180 cameras have appeared in various price ranges. this Kickstarter project "Calf" Its 8K photo, 6K@50fps video VR180 camera is priced at $1,399 and is currently shipping to backers.

Mavericks VR 180 | Image: Mavericks

this Tyco 3D180VR The price for 8K@30fps video and 8K photos is slightly higher at $4,225.

Tyco 3D180VR | Image: Technology

This means that for consumers looking for a camera in the sub-$1,000 price range, it will still be difficult to buy the new VR180 camera.

Used VR180-3D cameras such as the Insta360 EVO (6K) now occasionally sell for more than $600, which is higher than the $379 starting price in 2019.

Insta360 EVO | Image: Insta360

Hopes once again pinned on Canon, which showed off a prototype of its foldable VR180-3D/360-2D camera. Tomislav, a biracial colleague, captured the concept well when he titled it "Canon ripped off Insta360."

The camera is now shown again as Prototype at IBC 2023 show. Some new details were revealed:

• Video capability: 8K@30fps
• Photo resolution is not explicitly mentioned, but 8K can also be assumed here
• There is a small screen on one of the sides of the camera

Canon Folding Screen | Image: Canon

The screen is particularly important because previous consumer VR180 cameras (Lenovo Mirage Camera, Insta360 EVO, Vuze XR) had no display at all. Although sophisticated options exist to pair the camera with your smartphone and access more information and settings, this is often cumbersome in practice. We wish this was a touchscreen that would allow at least small changes to settings, such as HDR on/off or quick changes to exposure times.

By the way, as far as we know, such exhibition models are deliberately not displayed during operation and are relatively empty inside. The electronics have been completely removed from these models. To still get the realistic feel of holding the model, the weights in the exhibit were simulated with sand.

Even though showing a prototype doesn't guarantee a product launch, we think Canon is serious about this. Canon's efforts in the VR180 space have only recently been stepped up with further firmware and software updates for professional camera bodies with the 5.2mm VR180-3D lens.

VR180 3D and Smartphone

“The best camera is the one you carry with you” is a saying often heard among photographers. Here’s the new announcement from the Chinese company Slam Wind Company They announced the launch of the first VR180-3D smartphone independent project coming soon. In addition to photo and video support, live streaming will be available.

slamphone | slamphone | Photo: Slamphone Inc.

According to the pictures on the website, their smartphone "SLAM" is priced at over $300. Of course, the "+" sign leaves an upper limit. After a possible "unexpected" price increase, the smartphone is expected to sell for between $400 and $600 in the future.

This is a very exciting option for consumers who want to create VR180 photos and videos on the go. However, there's a catch: Ideally, if your goal is to create realistic stereoscopic images, the camera distance should be approximately the interpupillary distance (IPD), which is 63 mm on average for adults. There are exceptions for artistic reasons or 3D macro photography, but this device is mainly aimed at the average consumer. The exact dimensions of the SLAM phone are unknown, but images show a maximum distance of 3cm between camera lenses.

When asked about this, the manufacturer responded on Youtube The issue will be fixed in the software and the smartphone will be too wide at 65mm. When I asked why the 3D cameras weren't arranged in another dimension on the smartphone at the required distance, it was pointed out that this made it difficult to position the hand when holding the smartphone. This is somewhat reminiscent of "You hugged the wrong person”. It’s tempting to think that smartphone users would get used to corresponding camera settings when holding their smartphones.

By the way, Chinese manufacturers Slam Wind Company A final outlook was also provided, noting that they have another project in the works with a 65mm distance between lenses. Presumably, it can be assumed that this could be a tablet with a VR180-3D camera. So perhaps hemispherical 3D media's entry into the tablet market is closer than expected.

Speaking of Apple: With the release of the new iPhone 15, the Pro version and Pro Max will also have 3D camera capabilities after they are updated to iOS 17.2 in the future. However, these produce low field of view (short angle) 3D images. This is more like what we know from 3D TV or 3D theaters, rather than the hemispherical VR180-3D format. Apple faces the same challenge here as with SLAM phones: the cameras used to capture 3D images are far from the required distance from the human eye. Software compensation is also necessary, although Apple has more resources in this area, and the problem of short-angle 3D content should be easier to solve.

Apple 15 Pro | Image: Apple

Apple faces the same challenge here as with SLAM phones: the cameras used to capture 3D images are far from the required distance from the human eye. Compensation through software is also necessary, although Apple has more resources in this area, and the problem of short-angle 3D content should be easier to solve.

It's still exciting, and we'll be happy to continue covering this new media space for you. How is your experience with VR180 media? Do you have a 3D camera? Do you use Quest 3 for 3D recording? Let us know in the comments!

Author Daniel Pohl is CEO and founder of immerVR GmbH. There, Daniel works every day on innovation in the field of immersive media, mainly in the field of VR180 stereoscopic photography. via his app Immersion Gallery, you can experience an immersive photo gallery Meta Quest headset with voiceover and background music in various VR formats.