Holiday snaps get immersive with 360-degree photos and video

No matter what their operating system, most current smartphones have a panoramic shooting mode. While this kind of image is great for capturing landscapes with a wider-angle field of view, the results are still much less spectacular than 360-degree photos, which allow users to navigate horizontally and vertically within the shot, taking them straight to the heart of the action.

Ultra-high definition goes 360

To shoot 360-degree photos and videos (in portrait or landscape format), you'll need specific equipment and a budget of about US$300-$600.

While there are plenty of 360-degree shooters in the pipeline, such devices are still relatively few and far between on the market right now. One of the most comprehensive solutions – demoed at this year's CES in Las Vegas, USA, and at Viva Technology in Paris, France – is the 360cam from French firm Giroptic. Thanks to its three wide-angle cameras, it has a total field of view covering 360x360 degrees. The 360cam is water-resistant and can take photos in 4k resolution or film 2k video at 30 frames per second. Its three built-in microphones also record 3D sound. The camera alone is priced €499, but you'll need to pick up an additional tripod or monopod to keep the camera stable while shooting.

Other models are available, with varying levels of sophistication, such as the Ricoh Theta S (US$350), the Kodak SP360 (US$350) and the ALLie from IC Real Tech (US$499).

The Insta360 Nano camera is also expected to land this summer. This 360 camera is designed especially for smartphones – initially only Apple devices – and due to sell for US$200.