Making the Virtual a Reality (Here’s What a VR Project Entails)
By Jim Bask
Securing a 360 camera rig (for 360 VR)
Just like with VR headsets, some camera rigs are fairly basic while others come fully loaded, ready for serious enthusiasts to drool over.
From the entry level Samsung Gear 360 (two cameras with an 180-degree view) to the GoPro Omni (8K, waterproof, six cameras), you’re looking at spending anywhere from £350 to £3,500 to get the rig of your dreams.
If you’re anything like me you’ll find yourself drawn to the high end of the scale, but if the bells and whistles aren’t absolutely necessary then there’s no point in blowing your budget.
What’s your perspective?
In VR there are two kinds of filming: monoscopic and stereoscopic. With monoscopic filming, you splice the images together so that both eyes see the same 360 picture. Stereoscopic filming, on the other hand, is somewhat more complex than that.
It involves mapping two cameras to each field of view, simulating human eyesight and depth perception to a greater extent. It’s also, predictably, a lot more expensive than its monoscopic counterpart.
You can ‘supersize’ (purists would say convert) your monoscopic video to stereoscopic, but you can’t do the reverse.
If you’re keen on movement in your video, then keep in mind that additional equipment (drones, dollies, etc.) will also be required.
