Kodak Pixpro 4KVR360 Review

March 6, 2018 | Gavin Stoker | Rating star Rating star Rating star

Introduction

The Kodak Pixpro 4KVR360 is a new action camera which, as the name suggests, can record 360 degree photos and videos. Two dome-shaped lenses (197 degree and 235 degree) capture an entire 360 degree view, and video can be recorded in 4K quality. The Kodak Pixpro 4KVR360 also features dual 20 megapixel CMOS sensors, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and NFC connectivity, and is waterproof to a depth of 60m using the supplied housing. The Kodak Pixpro 4KVR360 retails for $499 / £399.

Ease of Use

Following on from the original Full HD video-shooting Kodak SP360 camera back in 2014 and its successor in the SP360-4K, which shot 4K-video or 2028x2028 pixels at up to 50fps and we reviewed last year, we now get the catch-all latest generation Kodak 4KVR360, again produced by Kodak license holders JK Imaging Ltd. UK retail price at the time of writing for this palm-sized gadget was £399.99.

Another defiantly ‘boxy’ unit, which, thanks to its glossy white shell, recalls a piece of sci-fi set design from 2001: A Space Odyssey or the original Star Wars, we have to admit that it is pretty eye catching. However the ‘Pixpro’ 4KVR360 differs in appearance from previous iterations in being bookended by not one but two fixed focus lenses, thereby allowing the user to capture a full 360° sphere around them.

Kodak Pixpro 4KVR360
Front of the Kodak Pixpro 4KVR360

As before, this means that it can be panned vertically, horizontally, diagonally, or however the user wishes, so as order to achieve multiple vantage points on playback. Other available angles of view this time around are 155° or 235°, dependent on which of its two lenses has been selected via its rudimentary menu system and is being utilised at the time. More on this later.

As its model name suggests, the 4KVR360 offers up to 4K Ultra HD recording, and, if the 360° VR mode is selected, up to 27 megapixel stills (as opposed to a maximum 8 megapixel photos via the prior SP360-4K unit) plus up to two hours recording time. If instead selecting the ‘front’ lens mode (providing 155° viewing angle) then 8MP is still the fall back for this camera. Obviously because this produces results that are less fisheye-like and distorted than the wider views provided by the other two selectable modes, it’s the dimension that most closely resembles a standard wide angle still from a more conventional camera and lens.

Dimensions of the 4KVR360 are a tight, palm-sized 55x55x66.9mm and it weighs an unobtrusively manageable 170g with battery and card loaded. As well as enabling it to be conveniently dropped into a bag or jacket pocket, the diminutive dimensions also make this an option for a dashcam or security camera of some sort, as well as being something to record more active (and potentially more photogenic) thrills and spills.

Kodak Pixpro 4KVR360
Front of the Kodak Pixpro 4KVR360

Designed for ‘shoot and share’ operation, as with prior generations of this Wi-Fi enabled device, we get a small one-inch digital watch-type LCD window (which is backlit) via which to navigate the cameras settings, in combination with four small physical buttons that at times double up with regard to their functionality. As one would expect, in terms of connectivity as with its forebear there’s the ability to download an app for your iOS or Android phone or tablet to connect wirelessly between the action cam and your ‘smart’ device for remote viewing, though, apart from its core settings, functionality remains fairly basic.

As regards the multi-use aspect of the key controls on the unit itself, this can make for slightly confusing and fiddly operation, as you try and remember how you made a particular selection and then later, how to alter it again. There’s no luxury of more expansive drop down menus here, or even a ‘back’ button, as on a regular digital camera, to enable the re-tracing of steps. Thus, unless you want to implement a particular setting and leave it at that more or less permanently, this Kodak feels less intuitive to use than it might be. You’ll need to set aside a bit of time and summon up reserves of patience in the first instance, though we did find that we very slowly ‘clicked’ with the camera over time (no pun intended).

And, because it’s been engineered to be used for action-packed stills or video shooting scenarios – not being able to get away to the alps, we took it ice-skating – the unit has obviously been constructed to be sleek and unobtrusive, and that necessarily means a frill-free, minimalist design. Writing to optional microSD card (with support provided for Class 10 or Higher cards, up to a capacity of 128GB), with a slot provided for its insertion at the side of the unit – a compartment that also houses its removable lithium ion battery - the two lenses (as mentioned) are complemented by dual 20 megapixel CMOS sensors.

Kodak Pixpro 4KVR360
Side of the Kodak Pixpro 4KVR360

Both sensors (A and B) offer 20.68 effective megapixels from 21.14 megapixel 1/2.3-inch backside-illuminated CMOS chips. Both lenses deliver a maximum f/2.4 aperture, which feels sufficiently bright/fast for general use and non-specific purpose. Focusing range is a standard 30cm to infinity (an improvement over its forebear’s 50cm closest focusing range). Given its small size, it’s no surprise to learn that the Kodak’s image stabilisation system is electronic rather than sensor or optically based. Light sensitivity runs from ISO100 to 3200.

You’ve either got the choice of shooting with lens B which offers a spherical dome-like 235° field of view, or lens A which offers a wide angle 155° - both views obviously produce a curvature of the image. If you want to go all in and get the full 360° spherical image, then VR mode combines the output from both lenses to produce the one image; so in essence we’re getting the choice of three points of view – a veritable triple whammy of options.

Looking at the device itself, the top plate – or operational end - features the aforementioned small LCD window for displaying and allowing the navigation of its stills and video capture options, next to which is a small power button requiring a fingertip press to activate (or deactivate), whilst a second larger ‘record’ button acts as the shutter release when taking stills, or, alternatively, the record button for filming video.

Kodak Pixpro 4KVR360
Top of the Kodak Pixpro 4KVR360

With the camera facing the direction marked ‘front’ at its topper-most edge, the right hand flank of the unit features a mode button and a second one for activating Wi-Fi, again both pretty small and of the same size as the power control. Once the ‘mode’ button is held down for a couple of seconds thereby enabling that self-same function to become ‘active’, these two buttons provide a way of tabbing left and right (or up and down) through on-screen selections, which are then implemented with a press of the red record button on the camera’s top plate. Menus are brief, basic and icon-led. As with the thin and diminutive LCD window itself, think 1980s digital watch in terms of sophistication/straightforward-ness.

Due to the paucity of controls and generally frill free design and operation, we had to remember which direction to scroll through the menus – represented on-screen one icon at a time – to find what we wanted, and weren’t always successful. Indicator lights placed on the top right corner of the device – so in between the two sets of buttons as described, illuminate and blink when the Kodak is in operation. It is fairly responsive, albeit fiddly to use as discussed.

The other, left hand side, of the unit, is where we gain access to the removable lithium ion battery (a charger and mains plug was provided in our package) an HDMI port, a USB port, a microphone port and also a slot for the optional (yet essential) microSD card. We found it quite fiddly to remove the battery, as there isn’t really enough room between the internal ‘walls’ of the unit to be able to get a decent purchase on it with your fingers in a pinching action – resulting in us having to gently shake it free to be able to recharge it. The microSD as a format is naturally fiddly to insert and retrieve, because of its small size, but, on a practical note, most folks looking to purchase this Kodak will of course have similar cards in their mobile phones.

Kodak Pixpro 4KVR360
Side of the Kodak Pixpro 4KVR360

The base of the camera meanwhile features a standard screw thread, for attaching it to the robustly built mini tripod provided out of the box. Also included in said box are a tiny remote, protective rubber covers/caps for the lenses that resembles a squash ball sliced in half, along with a microfibre cleaning cloth, plus Quick Start Guide.

It’s worth using the slip-on rubber lens protectors too, as we managed to scuff the plastic domes outwardly protecting both lenses over a couple of months of use. This led to a hazed effect with regard to our images, as though they’d been smeared with grease, where daylight caught said scuffs. Luckily said domes can be unscrewed to reveal the naked lenses beneath, and thus we were able to avoid this hampering, or indeed completely scuppering, progress. JK Imaging might want to throw a couple of spare protective domes into the box therefore. Protective plastic aside the unit also feels solid held in the palm. Grasp it firmly and there’s no give to the bodywork.

So what of the imagery achievable by the Kodak 4KVR360? Is it a case of this being an elaborate toy or a realistic tool for those who seek to create imagery that is literally all enveloping? Click forward to the next section to find out.

Image Quality

Unsurprisingly perhaps for a camera of this ilk, still images from the Kodak Pixpro 4KVR360 resemble grabs from video. Whilst this means detail can be a little soft compared to a dedicated standalone stills device with a bigger sensor and lens combination, colours out of the diminutive Kodak are nevertheless warm and well saturated. 

Though some harsh winter sunlight during the time we were using the Kodak Pixpro 4KVR360 occasionally gave us equally harsh shadows, we were able to lift detail out of the latter and ‘balance’ the shot without too much degradation of images. 

When shooting in the evening we were also able to achieve a pleasing level of detail without too much degradation of the image or resulting image noise, however the lack of mechanical anti shake features did mean that the vast majority of shots came out a little soft. 

All that being said, the overall quality of the results means that you’ll probably view them as an aide memoir of a fun experience or occasion than photogenic perfection to exhibit at the local camera club.

The wide angle catch-all lens(es) also means that it’s very easy for a fingernail or fingers themselves to stray into shot when shooting handheld. This is not a camera for precise framing – though of course stills can be cropped and edited on the desktop later and any unwanted elements at edge of frame simply excised. 

In addition, this is a tool for video as much as stills – probably more so, as regards the former – the moving image being slightly more forgiving when it comes to (disguising) softening of detail and the like. 

Sample Images

This is a selection of sample images from the Kodak Pixpro 4KVR360 camera, which were all taken using the 27 megapixel JPEG setting. The thumbnails below link to the full-sized versions, which have not been altered in any way.

Sample Movies & Video

This is a sample movie at the highest quality setting of 3840x2160 pixels at 30 frames per second. Please note that this 24 second movie is 190Mb in size.

This is a sample movie at the highest quality setting of 3840x2160 pixels at 30 frames per second. Please note that this 10 second movie is 74.5Mb in size.

Product Images

Kodak Pixpro 4KVR360
 
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Kodak Pixpro 4KVR360
 
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Kodak Pixpro 4KVR360
 
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Kodak Pixpro 4KVR360

Conclusion

We described its predecessor as ‘equal parts fun and frustration’, and those conflicting feelings were still to the fore during our testing of this latest model. 

We can’t deny that there were times during our testing period that we wanted to set the Kodak Pixpro 4KVR360 aside for a moment, so impenetrable, convoluted and counter intuitive is feels its menu system at first. We can’t help thinking therefore usability could be further simplified and improved down the line. 

Of course a larger, proper LCD screen with pull down menus and the ability to review what you’re about to shoot – or have just captured – on the camera itself (rather than just remotely via a smartphone) would be a huge luxury and obvious benefit. 

As we note in our comments on image quality, this is camera for video as much as stills – in fact, as moving footage is more forgiving when it comes to not noticing the softening of detail and occasional unwanted artefacts, it can be more favourably viewed as a video device. 

Ultimately this compact little Kodak is all about achieving the kind of images that would be nigh impossible with a conventional camera and conventional lenses. In that respect, while we feel there is still some room for finessing, the Kodak Pixpro 4KVR360 succeeds. 

3 stars

Ratings (out of 5)
Design 3
Features 3.5
Ease-of-use 3
Image quality 3
Value for money 3.5

Main Rivals

Listed below are some of the rivals of the Kodak Pixpro 4KVR360.

GoPro HERO5 Session

The GoPro HERO5 Session action camera features a 10-megapixel sensor, a single control button and voice control. It can shoot movies at 4K/30fps, is waterproof to 33ft/10m, and can upload photos and videos to the cloud while charging. Read our GoPro HERO5 Session review now...

GoPro HERO6 Black

The GoPro HERO6 Black action camera features 4K video recording at 60fps, Full HD video at 240fps, a 12 megapixel sensor, the most advanced video stabilisation ever, and a new “QuikStories” app. Read our in-depth GoPro HERO6 Black review now...

Kodak Pixpro SP360 4K

The Kodak Pixpro SP360 4K is a new 360-degree virtual reality action camera, featuring 4K video recording, Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity, and a 12 megapixel sensor. Read our in-depth Kodak Pixpro SP360 4K review now...

Kodak PixPro SP360

The new Kodak PixPro SP360 is an actioncam with a difference - it can capture a complete 360-degree view of the world. Is the Kodak PixPro SP360 worth considering alongside, or even instead of, the mighty GoPro? Read our in-depth Kodak PixPro SP360 review to find out...

Nikon KeyMission 170

The KeyMission 170 is Nikon's first attempt at an action camera, featuring 4K video recording and a 170-degree lens. Can it compete with the similarly priced GoPro Hero 5? Find out by reading our Nikon KeyMission 170 review.

Nikon KeyMission 360

The KeyMission 360 is Nikon's first attempt at a 360-degree virtual reality action camera, featuring 4K video recording, weather-proofing and a 23.9 megapixel sensor. Read our in-depth Nikon KeyMission 360 review now...

Nikon KeyMission 80

The KeyMission 80 is Nikon's cheapest action camera, featuring 1080p video recording, front- and rear-facing cameras, and an 80-degree lens. Read our Nikon KeyMission 80 review now...

Sony HDR-AS50

The Sony HDR-AS50 is an action camera that won't break the bank, featuring 1080p video recording, a Zeiss lens and image stabilisation. Can it compete in a crowded market? Find out by reading our Sony HDR-AS50 review...

Sony RX0

The Sony RX0 is a premium action camera with a 1-inch sensor, which is about 4x the size of those in other action cameras like the GoPro, promising superior image quality, ably assisted by the 24mm f/4 Zeiss lens. Read our Sony RX0 review now to find out just what this innovative new camera is capable of...

YI 4K Action Camera

The YI 4K Action Camera is an affordable action camera, featuring 4K video recording at 30fps and a 12 megapixel Sony sensor. Can it compete with the likes of the more expensive GoPro Hero camera? Find out by reading our YI 4K Action Camera review...

YI 4K+ Action Camera

The YI 4K+ Action Camera is the only action camera on the market that can shoot 4K video at 60fps. Is this enough to consider it instead of a GoPro? Find out by reading our YI 4K+ Action Camera review...

Review Roundup

Reviews of the Kodak Pixpro 4KVR360 from around the web.

trustedreviews.com »

The Kodak Pixpro 4KVR360 – also known as the Kodak Orbit360 4K – is a 360-degree VR-friendly camera, not to be confused with the similarly named Kodak Pixpro SP360 4K. The big difference between the two models is the 4KVR360 combines two wide-angle lenses into a single body, whereas the SP360 4K requires you to mount two completely independent cameras together if you want to capture a 360-degree video.
Read the full review »

digitaltrends.com »

The Pixpro Orbit360 4K is the latest 360-degree camera to come out of the licensing agreement between Kodak and Los Angeles-based JK Imaging. The arrangement was part of the terms of Kodak’s bankruptcy filing, which led the once dominant film and camera company to cease all production of its own cameras. So while the Orbit360 wears the familiar red and gold, it is not really a true Kodak product. As we’ll explore in our Kodak Pixpro Orbit360 4K review, it offers some innovative features but falls well short of standing above the crowd.
Read the full review »

camerajabber.com »

While it doesn’t grab headlines with its 4K video and somewhat pedestrian 24fps and 15fps frame rates, and though it lacks standout features like GoPro’s OverCapture, the PixPro 4KVR360 / Orbit360 4K does boast a nice design, plenty of controls and accessory ports, along with 235-degree and 197-degree dual lenses.
Read the full review »

Specifications

  • Dual 20MP CMOS Sensors
  • Three multi-view angles
  • 360° Spherical view: 2 Integrated curved lenses 155° + 235°
  • 4K Full-frame view (Front mode) with 197° super wide-angle lens
  • Hemisphere view (Round mode) with 235° ultra wide-angle lens
  • Facebook™ 360° photo & video; YouTube™ 360° video; Vimeo™ 360° video
  • Supports Micro SD Card up to 128GB (Class 10 or higher)

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