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360-degree photo

 📸 HOW DO THEY CAPTURE AND RECORD 360-DEGREE PHOTOS?

A 360-degree photo captures everything around the camera — front, back, sides, top, and bottom — creating a spherical image you can explore by dragging or moving your device.

🎥🔄 HOW IT WORKS — 2 MAIN METHODS:

✅ 1. DUAL-LENS 360 CAMERAS (Most Common)


Uses two ultra-wide fisheye lenses — each covering 180° or more.

  • The camera captures two hemispheres at the same time.

  • Software "stitches" the two images into a seamless 360° sphere.

📌 Examples:
Insta360, Ricoh Theta, GoPro Max

⚙️ Main Steps:

  1. Each lens captures a wide-angle image or video.

  2. The software aligns and blends the overlapping edges.

  3. The result is a complete spherical image — like a globe around you.

✅ 2. Multi-Camera Rigs (High-End or DIY)

  • Uses 6 to 24 regular cameras arranged in all directions (like a ball or cube).

  • Often used for virtual reality or Google Street View cars.

📌 Examples:
Google’s “Jump” rig, Facebook’s Surround 360, professional VR cameras

⚙️ Main Steps:

  1. Multiple images/videos are captured simultaneously.

  2. Advanced software maps them into a 3D sphere.

  3. Results in high-resolution panoramic or stereoscopic 360 content.

🧠 KEY TECHNOLOGIES USED

Technology Role
🟠 Fisheye Lenses Capture a very wide field of view
🔵 Image Stitching Blend overlapping images into a sphere
⚫ Gyroscopes/IMUs Help align shots with real-world angles
⚪ Metadata (EXIF) Tells apps the photo is 360° capable

🌐 WHERE YOU SEE 360 PHOTOS

  • Google Street View

  • Facebook / YouTube 360

  • Virtual tours (real estate, museums)

  • VR headsets

  • Tourism & adventure blogs

📱 CAN YOU DO IT WITH YOUR PHONE?

Yes, with apps like:

  • Google Street View app (manual capture)

  • Panorama 360 Camera

  • Or attach a small 360 lens add-on (like Insta360 Nano)

🔁 FINAL THOUGHT:

A 360° photo isn’t just a flat picture —
it’s a window into a full moment, wrapped around you like a bubble of memory.