For our open-source 360 camera trap project, we wanted to evaluate the field and figure out what the most available and useful cameras to hack would be. We collected about 6 commercially available camera traps and evaluated them on their
- Hackability
- Image Quality
In our qualitative order, here is a ranking of those cameras we have tested and the order we want to hack them:
| Camera type | Object Pixel Density (front) | Object Pixel Density (side) | Distortion | Sensitivity to infrared | Price paid |
| MadV | 127*127 | 133*133 | None | Lowest | 300 |
| Ricoh Theta V | 100*100 | 100*100 | None | Highest | 430 |
| Samsung Gear | 95*95 | 143*133 | Some | Low | $83 |
| Ricoh Theta S | 100*100 | 100*100 | None | High | 270 |
| Zision | 166*166 | 90*110 | Most | Low | $60 |
| Maginon View | 50*50 | 45*50 | Some | Low | $55 |
Basic Testing Procedure
Object Pixel Density
We took all of the cameras in a room with controlled lighting, and placed a colorful, standard-sized basketball exactly 2 meters away from each camera.
Two pictures were taken in two camera positions, one with a lens straight in front of the subject, one with the camera sideways (or upwards for the Zision). The object is positioned at 2 meter.
IR Sensitivity
To test the cameras’ sensitivity to infrared light. We placed the same calibration object (the colorful basketball) at a distance of 2 meters, with the camera positioned between the subject and the light.
Xiaomi MADV (Mijia Sphere)
General Camera Details
Price
$349 ($299 on sale)
Object Pixel Density + IR Sensitivity
The MadV has a resolution of 127*127 px when ball is in front of the camera and 133*133 px from side view. Its sensibility to infrared light is quite poor. With the target at a distance of 2 meter, it was not able to show anything.
Picture with infrared light
Front
Side
Ricoh Theta V
| Video Stitching Resolution | 4K |
| Internal/External Stitching | Internal Stitching |
| 360 Stitched Video Format | Internal:3840 x 1920 at 29.97 fps (56 Mb/s MP4 via H.264) 1920 x 960 at 29.97 fps (16 Mb/s MP4 via H.264) |
| Still Image Resolution | JPEG: 14 Megapixel, 5376 x 2688 (2:1) |
| Number of Lenses | 2 |
Camera per Lens
| Sensor | 1-Chip 1/2.3″ CMOS |
Optics per Lens
| Maximum Aperture | f/2 |
| Lens Elements | 7 |
| Minimum Focusing Distance | 4.0″ / 10.2 cm |
Recording
| Recording Media | x Internal Flash Memory |
| Built-In Mic | Yes |
| Channels | 4.0-Channel Surround |
| Audio Format | AAC-LC |
Exposure Control
| Shutter Speed | 1/25000 – 1/8 Second (Photo)1/25000 – 60 Seconds (Photo)1/25000 – 1/30 Second (Video)1/25000 – 1/30 Second (Streaming) |
| Photo ISO Range | 100 – 1600 (Auto)64 – 3200 (Manual) |
| Video ISO Range | 64 – 6400 (Auto) |
The Ricoh Theta V showed a resolution of 100*100 px, no matter which position the camera was in.
Picture with infrared light.
Front
Side
Its sensibility to infrared light is the highest of all the cameras tested.
Price
$429
($379 on sale)
Samsung Gear 360 4K Spherical VR Camera
| Image Sensor | 2 x 8.4 MP CMOS |
| Lenses | 2 x f/2.2 ultra-wide lenses |
| Max Video Resolution | 360° Dual Lens: 4096 x 2048 at 24 fpsSingle Lens: 1920 x 1080 at 60 fps |
| Video Format | MP4 (H.265) |
| Photo Capture Resolution | 360° Dual Lens: Up to 15 MP (5472 x 2736)Single Lens: Up to 3 MP (2304 x 1296) |
| Photo Format | JPEG |
| ISO | Up to 1600 |
| Mic | Built-in stereo microphone |
| Recording Time | Up to 130 minutes in 2560 x 1280 resolution at 30 fps |
| Battery | 1160 mAh |
| Card Slot | 1 x microSDXC card slot (supports up to 256 GB cards) |
| Supported Operating Systems | Android, iOS, Mac, Windows (360 Video Editor is not available for macOS computers) |
| Wi-Fi | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4/5 GHz) |
| Bluetooth | 4.1 |
| Interface | 1 x USB 2.0 Type-C |
| Sensors | Gyro, accelerometer |
Picture with infrared light
Front
Side
The Samsung Gear has a resolution of 95*95 px when positioned straight front of the ball, and 143*133 sideways. This camera shows a high level of distortion at the latter position, and has a slightly lower resolution compared to both Thetas.
It proved somewhat sensible to infrared light, though noticeably less than that of both Thetas.
Price
$82.99
(though as of September 2019 price went up to $200)
Ricoh Theta S
Picture with infrared light
Front
Side
The Ricoh Theta S has, just as the Theta V, a resolution of 100*100 px for both sides. Its sensibility to infrared light was a bit less than that of the Theta V, but higher than that of the Samsung Gear.
Price
$269,32
Zision 360°Panoramic VR Full View Action Camera
Picture with infrared light
Side
Up
The Zision has a resolution of 166*166 px when positioned with its only lens facing the subject directly, but the picture shows highly distorted when positioned with the lens upwards.
Its sensibility to infrared light was poor, only a bit higher than that of the MadV.
Price
$59.99
Maginon View 360
50 euros (discount price)
Type of camera Full-spectrum camera for 360° spherical panoramas
Image sensor 2x 2MP CMOS sensor
Photo resolution 8 MP (4,000 x 2,000 | interpolated), 5 MB (3,200 x 1,600 | interpolated), 3 MP (2,592 x 1,296)
Video resolution 2.048 x 1.024 (30fps)
Lens 2x 210° super wide-angle lens
Aperture F = 2.0 | Focal length f: 0.88 mm
Recording time Up to 120 minutes with fully charged battery (without WiFi, 2048 x 1024 / 30fps)
Memory MicroSD card up to 32 GB (min. class 10 or faster)
Connections Micro USB connection
Power supply 1,300 mAh lithium-ion battery
Dimensions 137 x 45 x 14 mmWeight 83 g
Picture with infrared light
Front
Side
The Maginon has a resolution of 50*50, and showed a bit of distortion when the camera is positioned sideways. Its sensibility to infrared light was similar to that of the Zision.
Price
$110,00 ($55.00 in sale)