STACK #252 October 2025

360 action cameras

TECH FEATURE

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Real-life applications Extreme sports enthusiasts are leading the charge with 360 tech. Snowboarders with a helmet-cam could later choose whether to showcase their own expressions, the mountain landscape, or a smooth drone-like follow shot. Divers can capture vibrant reef life in every direction, while motorcyclists can record their journey with invisible-mount perspectives that make it appear like a dedicated film crew was along for the ride. Even casual creators use 360 cameras for travel vlogs, behind-the-scenes storytelling, and unique POVs that just aren’t possible with flat video.

Imagine being able to relive a ski run, a sky dive, or a surfing adventure as though you were right in the middle of it again. That’s the magic of 360 action cameras.These compact, rugged devices don’t just capture a single perspective, but every angle around you in one seamless shot. Words Scott Hocking 360 action cameras aren’t just about recording – they’re about reliving, reframing, and sharing experiences What are the benefits? 360 action cameras capture the moment from every angle

editing. Some even offer AI-assisted editing, which scans your footage for highlights and builds ready to-share clips automatically. 360 action cameras enable you to focus on the adventure and the moment while the camera does the rest – and your footage can be easily shared in different formats. The 360 difference The real difference with 360 action cams is flexibility. Some models can capture footage in native 8K 360 video and high-frame-rate 4K/100fps recording, delivering silky-smooth slow motion and cinematic colour depth, or shoot in stunning 8K spherical video with advanced stabilisation and the ability to convert footage into creative effects like Tiny Planet mode or immersive POV shots – all from the same recording. Advanced AI processing using triple image chips can be ultilised to boost low-light quality and enable powerful reframing tools so you can shoot first and frame later.

For adrenaline seekers and casual creators alike, the benefits are many. For example, a mountain biker

in ways that traditional cameras can’t match. From climbing a mountain, leaping from the sky, or simply exploring a new city, these pocket-sized cameras make sure you capture it all in stunning 360-degree video. With technology now blending ease of use, incredible resolution, and rock-solid stabilisation, the 360 difference isn’t just noticeable, it’s unforgettable. What is a 360 action camera? Unlike traditional cameras that frame a narrow field of view, a 360 action camera captures everything around it simultaneously using multiple wide-angle lenses. The result is an immersive spherical video that can be reframed, rotated, or even transformed into flat 4K clips later. Instead of deciding where to point your camera at the best moment, you simply press record and all the action, from every angle, is captured and stored. You can also snap immersive, 360° ultra high resolution photos, sometimes up to 100MP on selected models.

can shoot the trail ahead while also catching the breathtaking scenery behind them, while a surfer can capture both the curl of a wave and their reaction inside it. Even if you miss a moment in real time, you can reframe the footage and determine the best angles later in post-production. This versatility enables a single camera to function like a multi camera setup. And just like regular action cameras, 360 cams are built to withstand extreme conditions and have long lasting batteries and ample storage space. Are they easy to use? Yes, 360 action cameras are very user-friendly. Many feature simple one-button recording, gesture or voice controls, and seamless mobile apps that handle the heavy lifting of stitching, reframing, and

Then there is the ‘invisible selfie stick’ effect. When the camera is capturing a full spherical view, anything directly beneath it – like a handheld extension pole or selfie stick – falls into the blind spot of the overlapping lenses. Consequently, the stick vanishes automatically from your footage, without any post-production editing required, creating epic third-person shots that were once only possible with drones. Audio can be more immersive, too, with some models packing multiple microphones to capture stereo sound to match the visuals.

74 OCTOBER 2025

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