I decided I’d look into a 360 camera before my trip to Death Valley. The premise of a 360 camera is pretty cool. You point the camera in one direction, and it records a video in every direction. I did a lot of research, and I decided to settle on the 360 Max. See my GoPro 360 Max Review below!
SPECS
Key Features
Traditional GoPro HERO Capture + 360 Capture | Max HyperSmooth Video Stabilization | Horizon Leveling | PowerPano | Premium 360 + Stereo Audio | Directional Audio | Digital Lenses | Max TimeWarp | Intuitive Touch Screen | Touch Zoom | 1080p Live Streaming | Voice Control | In-Camera Stitching of 360 Footage | Reframe (with the GoPro App) | Compact Design with Built-In Folding Fingers | On-Screen Shortcuts | Portrait Orientation | Photo Timer | Short Clips | Rugged + Waterproof to 16ft (5m) | Protune (Photo, Video, and TimeWarp) | 2x Slo-Mo | Advanced Metadata (HERO Mode Only) | GP1 Chip | Removeable Battery (1600mAH Lithium-Ion)
Audio Features
Advanced Wind-Noise Reduction with 6-Mic Processing | Premium Performance Stereo Audio | 360 Audio | RAW Audio Capture (HERO Mode, .wav Format)
Connected Features
Wi-Fi + Bluetooth® | GPS Enabled | Connects to GoPro App | Auto Offload to Phone | Auto Upload to the Cloud with GoPro PLUS Subscription | USB-C Port
Camera Modes + Settings
Video
360 Video: 6K Source / 5.6K Stitched, 3K Source / Stitched; HERO Video: 1440p, 1080p
Photo
Spherical Photos, HERO Photo, PowerPano, Additional Photo Settings
Time Lapse
360 TimeWarp, HERO TimeWarp, 360 Time Lapse Video, 360 Time Lapse Photo, HERO Time Lapse Video, HERO Time Lapse Photo
What Comes In The Box
I bought it straight from the GoPro Website. It came with the GoPro 360 Max Camera, a rechargeable battery, a curved mount, two protective lenses/caps (one for each lens), a microfiber bag, a USB-C Cable, and a thumbscrew.
The GoPro Subscription Deal
If you have your heart set on getting one of these, I’d suggest getting a subscription. The subscription gets you $100 off a camera and up to 50% off any accessories.
My Verdict
It was safe to say I was pretty stoked after the camera arrived. I couldn’t wait to use it for my Death Valley Video. The idea of being on a hike and just hitting record would be such a time saver. If I was looking at it, the GoPro 360 Max would record it. We set out on our trip, and I recorded quite a bit of footage with the camera. I couldn’t wait to get back and edit the videos together.
First of all, if you will edit the videos in a video editing program like Premiere Pro or Final Cut, you must download the GoPro computer app and convert the video before you can use it. After converting all of my videos I wanted to use, I pulled them up in Premiere Pro. The high I was running on when the camera arrived immediately dissipated. The video quality was terrible.
I was Disappointed
I usually make my videos in 1080p, so I figured the 6K resolution would be more than enough. Keep in mind the 6K resolution is for the entire 360 video. Even when using a snippet of the 360 video, it honestly looks terrible. Out of ALL the footage I shot, I wound up using two six-second clips after recording over an hour of video. I was even hesitant to use those clips, but I thought it might look better once it was all together. The stitch seams are noticeable (This is where the software “stitches” up the front camera video and the back camera video to make it one 360 degree video).
In order to frame the video to eliminate the lens warp, the resolution is blown out. For example, when, in a canyon, if one lens is in a shadow and one is in the sun, the exposure on one part of the 360 video is overexposed or underexposed. In the end, I decided that I’d return the equipment. It just wasn’t up to the quality I was expecting/need for my videos. The refund process was simple, and it was a no-questions-asked return through the GoPro Website. I don’t think I’d buy a 360 camera with the current technology available. The Max has specs comparable to most of its competitors, and the technology is just not quite there. If you are looking to buy a 360 camera, I would hold off until the next version.
TL;DR
I wouldn’t recommend buying the camera at this time. The video quality is poor and not up to professional standards.
