360 camera tip: 360 videos are not for everyone. In this video, we'll find out why and we'll learn
three simple rules for knowing when to shoot in 360. We'll also learn that even
if you don't want to shoot a 360 video, you can use a 360 camera to create shots
that would normally take hundreds if not thousands of dollars of equipment. So
whether you love 360 videos or you don't care about them, you'll learn useful
techniques in this video. Hi my name is Mic and you're watching 360 Rumors, the
resource that 360 shooters trust for in-depth 360 camera reviews and
innovative techniques. I love 360 and VR but I also know that
360 is not for everything and it's not for everyone.
Let's talk about why. First it's not for everything. Some things look good in 360
and others not really. To understand why, let's compare 360 videos and 360 photos.
360 photos are awesome and they're very useful for real estate or virtual tours
or vacations. There's so many uses for them and they're becoming more and more
popular. I created several groups in Facebook for
360 and the fastest-growing among them is this one called Virtual Tour Network
and it's growing at 20 percent PER MONTH. So 360 photos -- no question go for it!
But 360 videos are different. Something that works as a 360 photo won't always work
as a 360 video because as a viewer you have limited time to look around in a
360 video. So as a viewer you can feel like you're missing out on something, or
you might be confused about where to look. So that's one of the reasons why
360 video is such a challenging medium. So when is it good to shoot in 360? Well here
are three simple guidelines. First a special time or place.
360 videos are great when you're going to a special place so that's what makes
it perfect when you're going on a once-in-a-lifetime trip on a special
tour or vacation. It's also great for a special time like a wedding or a special
birthday. (Your family and friends will be able to view the moment in VR.) Tip number two: "What's it like?"
A 360 video can let you experience what it's like to see things from a different
perspective. So for example one of the 360 videos that I made recently is,
"what's it like to be a piece of sushi?" Tip number three: think
about non-360. If your video is going to look just as good if not better in non-360,
then chances are it doesn't belong in 360. So for example a talking head
video -- meh. Or you're just walking down a typical looking street. meh. Or a room
full of girls dancing --- hmm no comment... :) Now if the video doesn't pass at least one of
these tests it probably doesn't belong in the 360. But maybe you're wondering
what's the harm in shooting it in 360? Well that brings me to my second point
because 360 is not for everyone. A couple of years ago I did a 360 video
and I shared it with my friends and one of them mentioned that he didn't look
around 360 video. And the thing is, he's a 360 shooter. So it really drives on the
point that some people just don't want to look around in a 360 video. Another
thing is that even in 2018 very few people have VR headsets -- even a simple
Google cardboard. We have to remember that shooting and viewing in 360 is very
different from shooting and viewing in a traditional video. So that's one of the
reasons why there are some photographers or videographers who don't like 360 or
simply don't care about it. If that's you, I'm not here to change your mind... because
the cool thing is that 360 cameras can be useful to ANYONE. One way to think of
360 is as just another lens in your collection. If you've been shooting a
long time, chances are you have everything from a telephoto all the way
to a fisheye so you might be wondering, "Why get another lens?" Well 360 is
probably the most versatile focal length you'll ever use and here's why.
With the right 360 camera you can create shots that would take hundreds if
not thousands of dollars of equipment to shoot. So you can get super stabilization...
an invisible flying camera view... cinematic camera movements... multicam
editing... Normally, to get these kinds of effects, you need a lot of equipment.
For super stabilization you'll need the gimbal. For a flying camera effect you'll
need a cameraman with a Steadicam. For cinematic camera movements you'll
probably need a jib. And for multicam you'll need multiple cameras and cameramen.
But a stabilized 360 camera can do all those while fitting in your pocket.
So using 360 especially as b-roll can give
your videos higher production value. The key to getting these effects from a
360 camera is to use overcapture video, or reframed video. Overcapture means that
you should take the 360 video and convert it to a non-360 video showing
only those parts that you want your audience to see. Now if you're a hardcore
360 shooter you might be wondering if overcapture is taking a step backward.
The way I think about it it's kind of like that little blue pill. Originally,
Viagra was designed to keep high blood pressure but people found out that it
was good for other things. Now can you imagine if Pfizer said, "Well, we designed
this specifically for high blood pressure only
so we're only gonna be selling it for that purpose." It makes no sense!
But is it hard to do overcapture? And do you need expensive software? Not at all!
In part 2 I'm going to show you some free software for overcapture, whether
you're on desktop or mobile, whether Windows, Mac, iOS or Android, and -- get this:
for ANY 360 camera. Plus I'm gonna show you the secret technique that experienced
shooters use to make their videos look their best. (CLICK on the Next Video to see Part 2)