LAS VEGAS—The second-generation 360fly 4K camera looks a lot like its predecessor, and it still captures immersive video with a 360-degree horizontal and 240-degree vertical field of view, but internally it's a very different camera. The company has upped the image sensor resolution, so panoramic video is now captured in 4K (2,880 by 2,880 pixels) quality, a big step up from the meager 1080p offered by the previous generation model.
The added resolution means that video is crisper and clearer. Shooting at 1080p with a standard field of view is fine, but when you move to a 360-degree panoramic shot, it is noticeably soft. But sharper footage isn't the only benefit of moving to 4K.
The camera, powered by a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor, is better able to recognize scenes. This allows the camera to warn cyclists of dangers that may be outside their field of view. It also adds benefits during the editing process, as software can identify action in scenes to help you better choose which parts of a video to include in a final edit. You can also edit in an autopilot mode, which not only selects clips for you, but also focuses playback on an area of the 360-degree frame that contains interesting action. It's not just visual information that goes into making edit decisions.
The 360fly 4K includes a GPS sensor that records telemetry data, as well as a barometer, altimeter, and accelerometer. It can be set to start recording based on the accelerometer—if you can't reach the record button, just shake the camera to start a clip. There's also a time-lapse video mode, and a setting to start recording based on motion or sound, allowing the device to double as a home security camera. If you don't want to record a 360-degree video, you can narrow the field of view to a more traditional widescreen frame with a wide 178-by-100-degree field of view at 1440p resolution.
The camera is built to withstand the rigors of extreme sports. It is shockproof and can survive drops from heights of 5 feet, and is IP6X certified for use underwater down to about 90 feet. Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth allow the device to pair with Android and iOS mobile devices. Desktop software is included for Windows 7 and Mac OS X computers. Battery life is estimated at 2 hours per charge.
The 360fly 4K won't just be offered as a standalone camera. A specially designed version is also going to be sold for use with new helmets from BRG Sports. It's a lower-profile build that fits into the helmet, so you won't have to mount the camera as you would a typical action cam. This not only cuts down on drag, but enhances safety—the camera is designed to be used with the helmet, and doesn't compromise its design.
BRG will sell four helmets for the 360fly 4K: the Bell Star for motorcycles, the Bell Moto 9 for off-roading, the Bell Super 2R for mountain biking, and the Giro Edit for snowboarding and skiing.
Pricing for the helmets is not yet available. But the standalone edition of the 360fly 4K will sell for around $500.