It is obvious that the time for VR has come with the introduction of a huge number of VR headsets and an equal number of cameras that enable the creation of 360-degree recordings. But for casual users, the cost of such cameras is unreasonably high. Does this imply that ordinary users shouldn’t attempt to shoot 360-degree videos? Without a doubt! There is no reason why we shouldn’t be able to use iPhone cameras for informal 360 degree filming since that they have improved significantly over the previous several years.
There’s an app for that! is one of my favourite proverbs from the modern, post-smartphone era. Having said that, do you get where I’m going? Continue reading to learn how to film 360-degree videos right from your iPhone without needing to purchase any additional equipment.
Splash: Shoot 360 Videos on iPhone
Splash is an iPhone application that makes a well-aimed attempt at recording 360-degree films. This is accomplished by simply expanding the notion employed by 360-degree photo programmes to include videos. Okay, that’s not at all simple. In fact, it’s incredible that they were able to create an app that can record up to 10 films of 2 seconds each and combine them into one. It’s all on your phone. The best part is that it is totally free.
Splash has a reasonably clear interface that is simple to use. You can alter the home page’s default setting to display the Live splashes instead of the world’s featured splashes when it first loads.
They are simply splashes that have recently been uploaded, despite the fact that they are referred to as “live splashes.” Recents or something would have been a better name.
One of the symbols that you’ll see on the app resembles the Google Cardboard icon. You can tap on it to insert your phone into the Cardboard viewer and look around the video using your phone’s sensors. Technically, you can gaze around without any VR headsets, but a device like Google Cardboard provides a far better, more immersive experience.
1. Recording Videos
If you’ve ever used a 360 photo programme, shooting 360 films on Splash is simple to comprehend. Even if you haven’t, it isn’t that difficult, but the app’s instructions occasionally can be a little perplexing. You may enable Splash to take video using your phone camera by tapping on the green button with the camera icon on the interface displayed on the home page.
You may record a 360-degree movie inside the video interface, very similarly to how you would capture a panorama. To start recording a video, simply point your camera in the desired direction and press and hold the shutter button. Then, just rotate your phone to the right, left, up, or down, and keep doing so until the sphere is complete. If you don’t want one entire sphere, you can also pause the recording in the middle.
Note: This entire method has just one issue. Except if you have a very steady hand and lots of expertise capturing 360-degree photographs, it is mind-numbingly repetitive and does not produce correctly stitched videos. The programme is difficult for beginners like me to use, and despite my enthusiasm in creating 360-degree videos, I don’t think I have the time to devote to it.
When you’re done recording, you may use a third-party app like Facebook or WhatsApp to transmit the video to your friends or share it with the world.
2. Viewing Videos
With Splash, you may watch videos in one of two ways: with your fingers to pan around the screen, or by slipping your phone into a VR Headset like Google Cardboard.
Pro Tip: Use a Tripod
Splash’s video quality depends on how steady you can maintain your phone while recording, just like with any 360-degree recording software that depends on you moving your phone around to capture the environment around you.
You may always mount your iPhone on a tripod and rotate the tripod to ensure better stability and noticeably higher video quality, assuming you know what you’re doing. Human error is unavoidable if you hold your phone in your hands and rotate your entire body to take films.
Shoot 360 Videos on iPhone: Share the World Around You
SEE ALSO: Android and iPhone Instructions for Making Instagram Stories
While smartphones can never really replace dedicated 360-degree video cameras, apps like Splash can provide casual users with a quick, affordable method to explore the various benefits (and drawbacks) of taking 360-degree photographs and films and sharing them with loved ones. In addition to all of that, Splash gives the app a social component by enabling you to publish your films openly on the platform so that other users may see them. I’d suggest you check out the app because it’s fantastic in and of itself.