GoPro - Fusion 360-Degree Digital Camera - Black

GoPro Fusion is a great camera for sporting and outdoor photography, While I haven't owned this one too long, I worked for GoPro for 5 years and worked on the development of this camera as well, so perhaps I'm biased. I know how to use GoPros and if you do too, you'll find the interface very familiar and easy to navigate. If you're a beginner, it will take some getting used to, but once you get a groove with it, you'll be able to be really creative with it, and the image quality is spectacular. To make the most of Fusion you'll want a quad-core computer or better, with great graphics e.g. Nvidia GTX 1070 or 1080. If you're shooting for VR then you've already got something like this. While I was at GoPro we developed a 360 Video platform which used 6 Hero4's and cost $5000. It was called Omni. The Fusion camera is the product of all that research and development and so you really get a great piece of technology for a price pretty much anyone can afford. Downsides to this camera are battery charging, and the need for 2 SD cards instead of one. There's no lens protection available because anything mounted on the lenses would interfere with the way the 2 images are stitched together. A USB-C quick-charger is a good accessory to get for Fusion. There's lots of user guidance on GoPro Website and on Youtube to help you get the most out of the camera. Good Luck!

I got this for Spring Break of '20 (right before the outbreak), and it was on sale for two hundred, plus I got 2 free batteries. I haven't found myself needing to swap batteries in the field as it provided almost 2 hours of power (though I only recorded for 30 minutes and kept the camera on standby the rest of the time). PC software lets you compose a single-direction viewpoint for 2D videos, and this is perfect for those who want to shoot without pointing in the right direction. Mobile app is supposed to let you actively change the view when creating 2D videos, but I haven't bothered with that. This makes a decent "dashcam" to capture front and sides. But it will overheat easily in the sun. Voice activation makes the Fusion easy to use, but "start" and "stop" sound the same to the camera. You may have to double-check the screen to make sure it heard correctly. Remember, this requires two (2) memory cards. If you've got patience for post-production work, this camera is a great value. BTW, GoPro might even replace a damaged camera under warranty. So, keep that in mind while also remembering to NOT lay the camera down on its fish-eye lenses. Oh, yeah. Built-in waterproof: no extra housing required for this bulky action cam.

Not the best product in the world but I am giving it 5 stars because it basically does what it says it will. Tips I wish I had before using: 1. Unlike a regular GoPro, this one really has to be on the stick mount that it comes with, completely straight up and down and with the wand fully extended. If the wand is too short or if the camera is tilted on the mount you risk being cut out of the frame. It seems like the lenses overlap and stitch the video together in a way that eliminates the wand from the clip, but when the camera is tilted, the wand remains visible and whatever is directly below the camera body is instead cut out. 2. Make sure both lenses are completely clean when filming. There was a small amount of sunblock residue on one lens, but not the other - so all our videos came out with exactly half of the image foggy. Even though it was a very slight affect, it was highlighted by the fact that the other half of the frame was perfectly clear. 3. I’d get a waterproof case if you plan to get near water. I took it in <3 feet of water with all hatches secured and still ended up with water bubbles inside both lenses. They evaporated overnight and video was clear the next day so I’m not complaining. Just can’t be good that it got there in the first place. 4. PRACTICE before your intended use. Completely different than conventional filming and even though everything is technically in the frame, there are still some angles that work better than others. 5. The file sizes are HUGE so unless you have a reason for a longer clip, it might be best to keep your clips under 60 seconds. Other than those tips it’s super easy to figure out, and the GoPro app and Over-Capture feature are great.