How To Use Moto Mod 360 Camera

Motorola is the latest company to jump on the 360-caste camera train, merely the Moto 360 Camera is distinct from competing products such as Samsung'southward Gear 360, the Giroptic IO, and the Insta360 Air. It's neither a separate product, nor does it accept upward your phone'due south charging port. The Moto 360 Camera is a Moto Mod, which means it magnetically snaps onto the back of a compatible Moto Z smartphone, and y'all're adept to become.

What are those compatible Moto Z phones? Information technology's a small pick, only it includes the Moto Z, Moto Z Force, Moto Z Play, Moto Z2 Play, and the new Moto Z2 Force. Motorola told Digital Trends the 360 camera will work on the Moto Z2 Force out of the box, only you volition be required to install a software update if you want information technology to play nice with older Moto Z devices, "following in-market availability."

The 360 photographic camera mod is sparse, but when attached to the Moto Z2 Forcefulness, it does add together some weight and bulkiness. The camera sticks out at the top, and at that place'south a cover that comes in the box then yous can protect it when stowed away. When it was all connected together, it surprisingly still fit in our pocket.

Since information technology'due south powered by the telephone, the mod does not need to exist charged. There is a push on it, though, specifically where the dimple of the Motorola logo sits. Tap it, and yous can take a photograph while holding it in 1 paw. What's slap-up is information technology still works as a shutter push button if you swap to the phone'southward photographic camera, instead of the 360 camera.

Yous tin can upload 360-degree videos to YouTube, and 360-degree photos and videos to Facebook.

So what's the experience like? We've been trying it out on the Moto Z2 Force, and we're pleasantly surprised at how easy it is to use. Slap information technology onto the back of a Moto Z, and it connects magnetically via 16 pogo pins. When launching the camera, information technology volition immediately identify the 360 camera and begin using it.

In that location are three modes yous can use: Photograph, Ultra-wide Angle, and Professional Mode. Photo is essentially like using your phone's default camera style — all the settings are automated, and all you demand to do is tap the shutter icon. Ultra-wide bending captures a 180-degree photograph with only one of the ii cameras; and Professional Mode lets yous take a 360-caste photo while adjusting settings like the ISO, white rest, shutter speed, and exposure bounty. A timer lets you set off the shutter at three seconds or 10 seconds, which tin be handy if you lot're going to use a tripod.

Moto 360 Camera in hand — Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

At that place are besides three different viewing modes. Y'all tin can see the 360-view as a circumvolve, and too pinch out to zoom in so you lot tin can make full upwards the screen. There's another viewing manner that shows yous what each photographic camera is outputting in ii different panes, every bit well every bit i that shows the full 360 panorama on the bottom and a larger subject area on the pinnacle.

On Photo mode, photos are pretty much on par with what nosotros've seen on other 360-degree cameras. Movie quality is decent, and colors expect pretty accurate. It can be quite grainy in places with poor calorie-free. The phone gets cutting off, making information technology await like you're holding nothing, but otherwise the seams are adequately accurate. Photos can hands look overexposed hither depending on the lighting, and that's where the Professional Way comes in handy. Click here to check out some 360-caste photos and videos via Google Photos.

We're pleasantly surprised at how easy it is to use.

Information technology does accept faults, though: The areas directly in front of each photographic camera expect the best, and everything in betwixt is either extremely grainy or covered in a weird, blurry haze.

Regardless, the Moto 360 Camera mod's images are pretty proficient. Mobile 360-degree camera accessories aren't quite notwithstanding fix to offer united states of america vivid particular and amazing picture quality, and Moto's solution is more or less on par with the competition.

So where will yous be able to share your 360-degree content? You can upload 360-caste videos to YouTube, and 360-degree photos and videos to Facebook. You can live-stream via Facebook Live, but this will only be available after a software update when the production is available in a item market — we take not been able to test it yet.

Of the aforementioned 360-degree cameras, Motorola's product is the most expensive at $300. It'south available for buy in the U.S. at Dart, T-Mobile, Verizon, and on Motorola'southward website. Best Buy will also brainstorm to carry it later this month.

While it's however a solid production, you have to keep in mind that it will simply work on the Moto Z series smartphones. At least if y'all're dropping money on the other 360-degree cameras, yous can continue using information technology with any smartphone with the supported USB charging port. Cheque out our best 360-degree cameras if you're looking for other options.

The Moto Mod arrangement makes it incredibly easy to use the Moto 360 Camera, and it'due south a fun way to snap and share 360-degree content. Is it worth $300? We don't call back then, and you lot may want to pick up ane that works with more than than one smartphone brand.

Update: The 360 Moto Mod is now available for purchase in the U.S.