The Next Step: 360-Degree Recording
4K resolution is slowly becoming a sort of standard among sports cameras, but the next step in the competition adds the element of 360-degree recording.
After spending a long time in the background, Nikon decided to enter this tough market with the right foot, presenting its new KeyMission 360, which besides offering the 4K/360 combo, is also waterproof and dust-resistant.
The most extreme athletes, nature adventurers, film lovers, and casual creators have been seduced by this new wave of compact, action-focused cameras. Recently we talked about a new option in the market that includes a solar charging system, but this time we'll stop to look at another very relevant technical aspect: 360-degree recording.
As playback and distribution services on the Web (read YouTube) advance, consumer demands also increase. The key to the success of 360-degree video is that it must be easy to create, and at CES 2016, an unexpected name came to the rescue: Nikon.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/gVXUho1LXNgKeyMission 360: Features and Specifications
The Japanese manufacturer presented a new camera called KeyMission 360. It is Nikon's first design aimed at the action market, but for some reason its representatives decided to keep radio silence regarding advanced specifications.
Everything we know so far is that it records in 4K and 360 degrees, supports drops from up to two meters, is dust-resistant and waterproof (up to 30 meters), has a special mechanism to reduce vibrations, and handles low temperatures pretty well. Its connectivity is via WiFi or Bluetooth (which makes us think of a companion app), and official images clearly show the presence of two lenses. Did someone say 'virtual reality'?
Availability and Competition
Apart from that, we can't add anything else. Nikon estimates that the KeyMission 360 will reach shelves during the next spring (Northern Hemisphere), although the final price is a real mystery. One last detail to consider is that Nikon is not alone. Both Kodak and Ricoh have similar devices, and logically, there are many eyes on GoPro.
