Nikon’s $500 360-degree action camera aims to get into VR video with two new action camera announced. (Photo : Reuters)
Nikon has unveiled a new line of action cameras named the KeyMission 80, KeyMission 170 and the KeyMission 360. The camera maker announced that all the three cameras will be available in the stores next month and will retail at $279, $399 and $499, respectively.
According to Ubergizmo, Nikon originally teased about the KeyMission 360 way back in January at CES, but it has finally released all the features, the price and availability (October). The KeyMission 360 is a rugged action cam that is waterproof up to 100 feet and even comes with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, in addition, it is capable of 4k video taking in 360-degrees.
Steve Heiner, a senior technical manager at Nikon said, "They are all about imaging, no question about it." Heine noted that the company has been making lenses in the cameras because, "We are into very high-quality imagery." Users will know if Nikon has met the goal in the next few weeks, although it has put out some slick video samples.
The KeyMission 80 and KeyMission 170 announcement was a big surprise to many. 80 and 170 numbers in their names identify how wide the lenses are on the cameras, both the devices are waterproof and shockproof.
The $399 KeyMission 170 is packed with a 170-degree 2.4mm f/28 lens with an 8-megapixel CMOS sensor. Also, the 170 model is capable of 4K video recording at 24fps or at 1080p full HD at 60fps and has only one camera intended for standard/wide video formats. On the other head, the higher-end $499 KeyMission 360 comes with two cameras (front and back) to have the 360-degree field of view.
In terms of design, the KeyMission 170 takes after a GoPro but its impressive lens makes it appear to be much larger. This is differs from the 360 which is more of a square device with two of its cameras placed on both side.
Nikon releases the KeyMission 360 in the midst of some tough competitors. Tech reviewers and analyst have been talking about the image quality of the 360fly 4K (about $499) and the Kodak Pixpro SP360 4K (about $450), for example. The three cameras offers a 4K/Ultra HD resolution, although only the Nikon captures the 360-degree full spherical view with no blacked-out sections. This is as a result of the two 20-megapixel cameras packed in the KeyMission 360, one on either side under roughly 190-degree wide-angle lenses.
Heiner toasts that Nikon's in-camera image stitching, which combines the two hemispheres of video, is more clean than that of other multi-cam models, which are yet to be seen. Despite the grade price for consumers, Nikon says it may end up selling a bunch of KeyMission 360 cameras to industrial and corporate customers.
Nikon claims that all the three KeyMission camera models will come with mounting equipment. The company also announced it will be unveiling variety of other accessories, so users will be able to mount the camera on almost anything, Fast Company reported.
Since Nikon first teased the camera, several firms have been in contact with interest in using the camera for activities such as shooting 360-degree training videos and equipment inspections. "It took us by surprise," says Heiner. "In fact, we are working with a very large airplane manufacturer."
