Guide: 360 Degree Camera

Camera Rig Parts

BuzzFeed Open Lab builds free and open source projects to support innovative reporting and storytelling inside BuzzFeed and beyond. Our low-cost 360° camera rig is the best fit we've found to get quality surround footage with manageable gear that a reporter can use without bringing a whole video crew along.

Read Ben's post on the 360 camera's first field test for more insight, or take a look at our instructions for 3D printing necessary parts if you want to start building your own.

And if you're at BuzzFeed, you can use the cameras! In addition to the complete rig detailed below, the lab has a handheld 360° rig in SF -- it doesn't have splitters (so you can't monitor your audio) or extra batteries or a tripod, but it has everything else.

Price List (As of Feb 2016)

Item	Quantity	Price
GoPro 3+ Black Cameras (Refurbished)	2	$700.00
Lexar 64GB microSDXC UHS-I 633X SD Cards	2	$34.95
GoPro Dual Sync Cable (Amazon.com)	1	$179.00
220 Degree Lenses (M12 Thread)	2	$95.40
Zoom H2n Audio Recorder	1	$160.00
3.5mm (1/8") Adaptor Cable (About 2" long)	1	$10.99
3.5mm (1/8") Headphones Splitter	1	$3.18
3.5mm (1/8") Female to 3.5mm Male Right Angle Adapter	1	$7.49
3.5mm (1/8") to USB Mic adaptor for GoPro Cameras	1	$19.99
Slik Sprint Pro II Tripod	1	$90.00
	Total	$1300.02

Camera Bag Accessories

Accessory	Quantity	Est. Price
Extra GoPro 3+ Batteries	4	$68.00
USB Mini Cables (Came with GoPros)	2	-
USB microSD Card Readers (Came with SD Cards)	2	-
microSD Adaptors (Came with SD Cards)	2	-
16GB SD Card (For Zoom H2n audio recorder)	1	$6.00
2GB SD Card (Came with Zoom H2n)	1	-
GoPro 3+ Dual Battery Charger	1	$23.00

Etc.
Cable Ties
Lens Wipes
Pens (for releasing GoPro cover plates to change batteries)
Extra AA Batteries
One Page of Operating Instructions

Dual GoPro 360 Video Rig Operation and Care Information

Camera Operation

• When both cameras are placed in their mount the forward facing camera (notice the forward facing indicator arrow on the mount) also controls the rear facing camera. The two cameras are genlocked (perfectly synchronized). Powering on the forward facing camera also powers on the rear facing camera. Pressing record on the forward facing camera will simultaneously cause both cameras to start recording.

Zoom H2n Audio Recorder

• Insert into the forward facing GoPro camera’s USB port the USB mini plug dangling off the recorder. Power on the audio recorder. When the GoPros begin recording the audio from the powered on H2n recorder will automatically record to the forward facing GoPro camera, even if you have not hit the record button on the H2n! Nonetheless, you should still press record.

• Monitor audio levels using the available headphone jack. Level adjustments are handled by the silver MIC GAIN knob on the side of the H2n.

Deleting files from the GoPros

• Easy: On your computer, manually delete the video files from each SD card.

• More Difficult: If both cameras are in their mount, formating the SD card of the forward facing camera will not format the SD card of the rear facing camera. To format the SD card of the rear facing camera remove it from the mount and then format it.

Charging the Cameras

• Use the two GoPro USB mini cables and plug in the cameras.
• You may also charge the batteries separately from the cameras. To do so, use the tip of a pen and gently release the GoPro cover plates. Grab the GoPro by its body, not the lens, and pull it straight out from the mount. Next, remove the battery and place it in the charger.

Default Recording Settings (the settings Ben Kreimer runs on his cameras)

Note: When both cameras are placed in their mount, the forward facing camera also controls the rear facing camera. Camera settings adjusted on the forward facing camera will be mirrored to the rear facing camera.

• Resolution: 1440

• FPS: 48

• FOV: Wide

Capture settings

• Protune: ON

• White Balance: 5500K

• GoPro Color

• ISO Limit: 400

• Sharpness: Medium

• Exposure: 0