360° Virtual Tours: A Quality Comparison Between 360 Cameras and Professional DSLRs
To create a 360° virtual tour, our professional photographer takes one panorama at a time and later uses special software to link those panoramas together to form a virtual tour, where the audience can walk around. Therefore, we place great importance on the quality of 360° panoramic images because a quality virtual tour starts with capturing sharp and beautiful 360° panoramic photos.
Since the VR trend emerged, we have seen advancing technological development in the panorama and virtual reality field. Popular 360° cameras such as Insta360 Go and Insta360 One X, which came out in 2018-2019, have proven that the market is ready for VR. And camera manufacturers have been competing for market share with higher specs 360° cameras. Moreover, with Dual Fisheye technology, we can now capture beautiful panoramic images conveniently and beautifully in a short time, making 360° cameras perfect for virtual tours for site surveys and industrial plants. Conversely, 360° panoramas traditionally need to be shot on a DSLR. Then each image is stitched together to create a 360° panorama.
Nevertheless, a professional DSLR/Mirrorless camera is still the most suitable for high-end virtual tours as its better color science and sensor produce maximum image quality.
360° Camera (Standard Quality)
Most 360° cameras we prefer for virtual tours have two lenses sandwiched on both sides. Each lens covers more than 180 degrees of viewing angle. The camera simultaneously captures images from both lenses and merges the two perspectives internally to create a 360-degree panoramic image. Some 360° cameras, such as the Ricoh Theta Z1, can take high-dynamic-range (HDR) panoramas, making it an ideal 360° camera for shooting in high-contrast locations, such as indoors with windows. Ricoh Theta Z1 can also capture in DNG format, which supports image editing like a standard RAW file.
Pros
- Quick to shoot, light, and can fit in the tight space
- The app allows the client to review the panorama during the shoot.
Con
- Not preferred on high-end virtual tours due to post-production flexibilities
Suitable for
Standard virtual tours such as property tours, site surveys, or Google Street View
DSLR/Mirrorless Camera (Professional Quality)
Shooting 360° panoramas with a professional DSLR or Mirrorless Camera with an ultra wide-angle lens gives the highest resolution images to be used on high-end virtual tours, i.e., corporate or luxury real estate projects. Each shot is captured in the camera's native RAW format, while exposure bracketing may be used to capture HDR photos to produce high-quality panoramas with perfect dynamic range.
Pros
- Photos taken with a professional DSLR/Mirrorless camera look better due to advanced color science, better contrast, and more accurate colors.
- Higher image resolution allows viewers to zoom in more when viewing the virtual tour.
Cons
- The shooting usually takes longer.
- Post-production will take a little longer than virtual tours captured with a standard 360° camera.
Suitable for
High-end virtual tour projects
SAMPLE 360° IMAGES (INTERIOR)
360° Camera (Standard Quality)
DSLR/Mirrorless Camera (Professional Quality)
In the two samples above, the 360° panorama taken from a DSLR is rich in color and has more clarity. While a 360° camera can capture this interior shot almost perfectly still, a professional DSLR can capture the detail more elegantly.
SAMPLE 360° IMAGES (EXTERIOR)
360° Camera (Standard Quality)
DSLR/Mirrorless Camera (Professional Quality)
Our professional photographer captured these images using the exposure bracketing technique to obtain details in both the shadow (Thai pavilion) and the highlight (sky). The first image was taken with a 360° camera (standard quality), and the second was taken with a professional mirrorless camera (professional quality). As you can see, the second image has a more beautiful highlight roll-off, with more clarity and details.
Let's Connect
We’re excited to hear about your project! Please fill out the form and provide details about the virtual tour you wish to create, including information about the location, area size, and desired features, as well as any time restrictions (if applicable).
We carefully review every inquiry to ensure the best fit. Thank you for considering Bangkok VDO!
Email: info@bangkokvdo.com
Phone: (+66) 86-782-1234