BubblePod 360* panorama gadget for iPhone

[haven]

Kickstarter is listing a new panorama gadget for iPhone that looks quite clever. The package includes a base to hold the iPhone, and an app to process the panorama images into a jpg strip suitable for display on a web page. The base is spring loaded, so no batteries required. Just wind it up, start the app, and capture the pano. The base includes a tripod mount for use in the great outdoors. The tripod socket doubles as an insert to a wine bottle so you don't need to take the base with you every time.

The early adopter price for BubblePod is about $31. More information here
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1218595273/bubblepod-professional-360o-images-in-less-than-a-0

 

[kingg5]

thats a huge waste of money. pivoting your body works exactly the same way. kickstarter needs to be shut down.

 

[haven]

It's hard to keep the image level while pivoting with the camera in hand, in my experience. Sure, you can line up the images manually afterwards, but at the cost of some pixels. Also, you have to fix the white balance of the camera so it doesn't change with each shot. The included app does this for you.

 

[kingg5]

lol i suggest getting a real camera...if thats the level your getting into.

im sorry but a cell phone is not worth using for true panoramas.

i suggest a dlsr and a gigapan.

clearly tho...if people are looking at this product...they prob dont own a real camera or have the funds for a gigapan.

so frustrated with cellphone photographers.

 

[robgendreau]

Geez, pretty strong reaction.

But having said that, I am also skeptical. The virtue of a smartphone camera over a DSLR and motorized mount (comparing giga images with a smartphone app is silly; it's like suggesting a Hummer in a thread about the merits of mountain bikes) is of course cost and ease of use. And that ease comes from the processing build in, including the panning. Some apps, like 360 Panorama, let you "paint" a scene. You end up with rough edges. Or Apples own camera in iOS 6; it has a guide that uses the phone's leveling ability. The gadget mentioned may do 360, but is it level? And you have to carry some kit.

In any case, a trip to instructables.com will produce lots of egg timer mounts for use with any relatively lightweight camera, including smartphones. And this is just an egg timer with a nice mount. A $5 one from Amazon and a bit of Sugru and you can make one yourself, the trick is finding one with the right rotational speed for your use.