Kodak PIXPRO SP360 Action Camera Review

The lens occupies practically the whole top of the camera and has an aperture of f2.8 and a focal length of 8.25 millimeters. This camera is resistant to shock, dust, freezing temperatures, and splashing water (35mm equivalent). This is an incredibly, very wide lens that can record a full-circle, 360-degree perspective in either still images or moving video.

What would be the purpose of shooting videos in a 360-degree format? That is a valid concern, and if you’ve never used one before, it’s tempting to look at it as nothing more than a marketing ploy. However, it does provide a point-of-view (POV) video in a more immersive sense by conveying the action from all sides. This is because it captures the action from the perspective of the player. In addition, it provides you with another vision to work with, which is helpful if you want to add something new to the point-of-view videos you make.

JK Imaging, the company that licenses the Kodak brand for its Pixpro cameras, has made it so that the Kodak PIXPRO SP360 can also pump out regular 16:9-ratio full HD video with a more traditional field of view and a significant reduction in the amount of extreme distortion caused by its lens. This is an option if you are not yet convinced that it can improve the quality of your videos.

See: Best Memory Cards for Kodak PIXPRO SP360 Action Camera

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Kodak PIXPRO SP360 Action Cam with Explorer Accessory Pack

Last update was on: January 19, 2024 12:56 pm

When you mount the camera so that the lens is facing either upwards or downwards, you will obtain 360-degree photographs or video that, with the assistance of desktop and mobile applications, may be played and played with in various ways. For example, suppose you point the lens in the direction of your subject while recording a video. In that case, you will obtain ultrawide-angle footage similar to what you would get from virtually any other action camera.

Kodak PIXPRO SP360 Action Camera Features

The SP360 is an ultra-compact camera that measures 1.6 inches wide by 2 inches high by 1.5 inches deep, making it relatively small even by the standards of action cams. This is in contrast to other 360-degree cameras, such as the VSN Mobil V.360 and the Giroptic, which both have more prominent form factors (41 by 50 by 38mm). Again, the lens takes up most of the top (or front), but dual microphones are located close to the lens.

My informal testing came very close to hitting this figure, but only when the Wi-Fi was turned off. The battery compartment is located on the side of the camera that is opposite the lens. Kodak rates the replaceable battery as recording 160 minutes of continuous 1080p video.

About wireless networking, the camera automatically enters wireless networking mode once it is powered on. To begin recording, you will need to either utilize the wireless connection to establish a link to your computer or mobile device, or you will need to push the power/mode button again. There is no option to start recording immediately after turning it off. This is not the end of the world, but having a quick-start option available would be good.

You can see and browse through your settings using a little screen that only displays black and white. To receive a preview from the camera and set up your photos, you will need to link it to a smartphone, tablet, or computer, just like you would have to do with most other point-of-view cameras.

The SP360 is on your radar because of its video recording capabilities. However, the camera can also photograph still images, either one at a time or in bursts of 10. In addition to that, it is capable of time-lapse video as well as loop recording.

Loop recording, typically used for recording while driving, will constantly record video and split it into five or 10-minute pieces until your memory card is complete or until you click the record button again. This recording mode is widely used for filming while driving. When the memory card is full, it will begin overwriting the segments, starting with the first and working through the card.

A motion-detection setting is also available on the SP360. When this setting is turned on, the camera will begin recording if it detects motion in the scene and will cease recording after 10 seconds if it does not see any movement. As soon as it detects motion again, it will begin recording a new segment immediately.

In terms of attaching the camera, a tripod mount is incorporated into it. It can be found immediately above the door that covers the micro-USB connection, the micro-HDMI output, and the MicroSD card slot (cards up to 32GB supported). The camera also comes with a varied selection of mounts, the specifics of which depend on the package you want to purchase.

I put the $400/£350 Extreme Pack through its paces, which included the following accessories: waterproof and skeleton housings; bar and suction-cup mounts; extension arms; a head strap; two vented helmet straps for different camera positions; adhesive mounts for surfboards as well as curved and flat surfaces; and a head strap.

There is also an Explorer Pack and an Aqua Sport Pack, which cost around $50 less than the Extreme Pack and are designed for usage on land or in water. Opting for the Extreme is a wise financial decision if you can shoulder the additional financial burden.

Whatever bundle you choose, you will receive the following accessories: a carrying case, protective and glass lens covers, a cleaning cloth, an external battery charger, an AC adapter, and a Micro-USB cable for charging the battery that is built within the camera.

While learning how to use the camera efficiently is not as simple as learning how to use other action cameras, the learning curve is still rather pleasant. For example, if you want to record a movie in MP4 format with the appearance of a globe, point the camera either up or down and change the resolution to either 1,440×1,440 pixels or 1,072×1,072 pixels.

After your video clip, you can load it into the Kodak desktop program, which is compatible with both Mac and Windows operating systems. The program can unfold in various forms (see them in the screenshot above). After it has been unfurled, you can use your mouse or the controls inside the software to zoom in and out of the movie, rotate it, or pan around within it.

Nevertheless, to be viewable outside of the software, you must click the record button on the player window. This functions as a screen capture and transforms whatever is happening in the player into a new video clip. (Another option is to unfold the clips and save them.)

This, unfortunately, comes at the expense of quality since the video bit rate is reduced from around 16Mbps to approximately 8Mbps. As a result, the video has less information and more artifacts.

When you point the lens of the camera straight at your subject, on the other hand, you have the option of recording full-high-definition video with a wide-angle perspective, which is usual for action cameras.

This means that with the SP360, you’ll have one camera capable of recording video with a wide variety of looks. In addition, this will provide you with more creative alternatives when combining separate clips into a single movie.

Kodak PIXPRO SP360 Action Camera Video quality

The Sony Cyber-shot SP360 is essentially a point-and-shoot video camera. As with many other point-and-shoot video cameras, the camera’s design, features, and shooting capabilities are primarily what you are paying for here (along with all of the accessories) rather than spectacular video quality. Other solutions provide better value for your money if the high video quality is your primary concern, but these alternatives do not offer 360-degree video.

If you want the most significant effects, shoot in 1080p at 30 frames per second, or if you’re doing a 360-degree movie, a film in 1440p at 30 frames per second. By doing so, you will obtain video clips that retain a satisfactory level of clarity even when viewed on a smaller screen and have vivid and intense colors. Compression artifacts become apparent; however, when seen in more detail at larger sizes, the subjects appear somewhat flat with mushy features.

It is essential to keep in mind that there is severe distortion at the top and bottom of the picture; hence, if you are photographing anything or someone that you want to appear normal, you will want to position them as near to the center of the frame as is practically feasible.

The 360-degree video that has been produced with the different effects accessible can be seen at the beginning of the tape that can be seen above. This will give you an idea of what is feasible. (Because I modified the tape with a mouse on the computer, the video is jerky and choppy in places.) Within the desktop program, some controls significantly improve the fluidity of movement.)

You can see what the 360-degree video looks like right from the camera at about 4:15 minutes, along with some audio. The audio quality is decent, but, similar to other action cameras; it performs poorly in dealing with wind noise. There’s a good chance you’ll play some music in your action sequences’ background. The last portion of the video clip was captured in 1080p resolution.

Kodak PIXPRO SP360 Action Camera Specs

Sensor Type1/2.33″-Type MOS Sensor
Sensor ResolutionActual: 17.52 Megapixel
Effective: 16.36 Megapixel

Optics

Focal Length0.805mm
35mm-Equivalent Focal Length8.25mm 
Minimum Focus Distance19.7″ / 50.0 cm
Angle of View214°

Recording

Media/Memory Card SlotSingle Slot: SD/SDHC
Video Format1920 x 1080p at 30 fps (MP4)
1440 x 1440p at 30 fps (MP4)
1072 x 1072p at 30 fps (MP4)
1280 x 960p at 30/50 fps (MP4)
1280 x 720p at 30/60 fps (MP4)
848 x 480p at 60 fps (MP4)
Still Image SupportJPEG
10.6 MP (3264 x 3264)
JPEG
6.7 MP (2592 x 2592)
JPEG
2 MP (1920 x 1080)
ChannelsStereo
Audio FormatAAC

Display

Display TypeFixed LCD
Size1.0″
Secondary DisplayNone

Exposure Control

ISO SensitivityPhoto/Video
100 to 800 in Auto Mode
Exposure MeteringArtificial Intelligence AE
Exposure ModesModes: Program
Shooting ModesBurst Shooting
Movie
Time-Lapse Movie
Continuous ShootingUp to 10 fps at 10 MP for up to Frames

Features

Image StabilizationDigital
Shockproof Rating6.5′ / 2.0 m
IP RatingIP6X
White Balance ModesAuto
Cloudy
Daylight
Fluorescent
Built-In MicYes
Wi-FiYes, Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n)
BluetoothNot Specified by Manufacturer
Tripod Mounting Thread1/4″-20 Female

Input/Output Connectors

Outputs1 x USB Micro-B
1 x Micro-HDMI (Type D)
Video OutputNone
Microphone InputNo
Headphone JackNo

General

Supported LanguagesEnglish
BatteryRechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery Pack, 3.6 VDC, 1250 mAh
Charging MethodUSB
Operating Temperature14 to 104°F / -10 to 40°C
Dimensions (W x H x D)1.6 x 2 x 1.5″ / 41.1 x 50 x 38 mm
Weight3.6 oz / 103 g (Body Only)

Packaging Info

Package Weight2.13 lb
Box Dimensions (LxWxH)9.4 x 6.3 x 6″

Kodak PIXPRO SP360 Action Camera Conclusion

You get a camera that can do a pretty cool trick with the Kodak Pixpro SP360, and for your $400, £350, or less, depending on what pack you pick up, you get a camera that can also be used as a regular camera to capture yourself doing pretty cool tricks. Depending on what group you pick up, the price ranges from $400 to £350. (or anything else). Even if it has certain flaws, it is a convenient method to enhance the look of your recordings without having to invest in additional cameras.

Kodak PIXPRO SP360 Action Camera Price

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Kodak PIXPRO SP360 Action Cam with Explorer Accessory Pack

Last update was on: January 19, 2024 12:56 pm

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