Kodak Pixpro SP360 4K Review - Video and sound quality, battery life and verdict Review

Kodak Pixpro SP360 4K – Video and sound quality

Aside from the imperfect stitching, the actual video produced by the Pixpro SP360 4K was some of the best I’ve seen from a 360-degree camera in terms of image fidelity. Video is as crisp and detailed as you would expect.

On the default setting, colours are a tad muted, but you do have the option for more vibrant colour options in the camera settings. Again, make sure you change the setting on both cameras if shooting spherical video.

Exposure is generally well maintained with detail retained in the shadows. Some highlight details is lost in the sky, such as with clouds, but nothing out of the ordinary. One issue you’ll need to be aware of – which you can see from the front-facing camera in the test footage above – is that the protective lens covers pick up fingerprints and smudges very easily. You’ll need to remember to give them a wipe down before you start shooting otherwise these can be seen in the final footage.

You’ll need to turn off electronic image stabilisation when shooting spherical video, but camera shake and judder still wasn’t a major issue with footage shot using the telescopic selfie stick accessory. Still, the stitching is much better on stationary footage, such as when using the suction cup mount.

When you stitch the footage together from two cameras, you’ll need to pick one of the cameras as the audio source. Sound quality is pretty good with sensitive microphones that capture sound from all directions and gives the footage a sense of atmosphere.

Kodak Pixpro SP360 4K – Battery life and charging

You can expect just short of an hour of 4K video shooting from each camera. You can either charge the battery in-camera through micro USB or remove the battery and charge it in the included cradle.

Should I buy the Kodak Pixpro SP360 4K?

As the Pixpro SP360 4K Dual Pro Pack is two separate cameras, its strength lies in its versatility in multi-camera shoots compared to 360-degree camera systems that integrate dual-cameras into a single unit. Each camera is still rather fiddly to use, but with a little time and experimentation you can get good results. Image quality from each camera is also very good.

If, however, you’re looking to shoot predominantly spherical video using two cameras mounted back-to-back, the whole process is incredibly fiddly. Just mounting and unmounting the cameras constantly becomes frustrating, especially as all of the ports are obscured when the cameras are plugged in. You’ll need to detach the cameras from the dual frame just to charge the cameras and to access the memory cards at the end of a shoot and then the editing process becomes tedious.

At £750, the Dual Pro Pack is a hefty investment, but even £339 for a single camera is pricey. Especially in light of some new competition from the likes of the Nikon KeyMission 360, which integrates a 4K dual-camera array into a much smaller, waterproof and ruggedised body.

Verdict

The Kodak Pixpro SP360 4K is capable of capturing good-looking 360-degree video but is hindered by fiddly camera management and disappointing video stitching.

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