Pt. 2 aka things I forgot to mention 👇🏻 - Early users are reporting that the lenses are EASILY unscrewing from the body when removing the lens caps, causing the stitching to be ruined 😨 This is a MAJOR design flaw! - The SD card slot is too tight for micro SD cards- they will go in easily, but you have to tweezer them out with your fingers every time, which risks damaging the card. - It’s waterproof, but won’t stitch properly underwater just like any 360 camera. You’ll need a housing, which they don’t currently offer. - All images need editing… even quick shots for social media. While you can download straight from the mobile app to your phone, it’s only the most basic preview file that looks overexposed & low quality. For DNG8, AEB etc. it won’t process them in the app. - I’m sure there’s more- will add to this thread when I think of them p.s. There are some very telling reviews on Amazon that seem to echo a lot of my points from this video: www.amazon.com/KanDao-Aperture-Flawless-Waterproof-Stabilization/dp/B08CGR8DCZ?ref_=ast_sto_dp#customerReviews (this listing has conveniently been made 'unavailable' to be replaced with an identical listing with one 5 star rating but no review...)
Even if Qoocam knocked it out of the park, I wouldn't be able to bring myself to pick one up due to the shady practices of silencing negative feedback. It's sleazy, dishonest, and frankly dangerous.
Man I love it when I hear a reviewer giving a honest and straight forward review on a piece of product.... Wish there were more like you. That way I don't have to watch a couple hundred videos to get a sense of a product abilities. Thanks again, I'm inching closer to getting a insta360. I just have figure out which one now, lol
Insta 360 is also very responsive when it comes to Customer Service and camera service. I made a small mistake landing the Sphere that led to a BIG scratch. Insta 360 has a very responsive repair branch and it wasn't outrageous to get it fixed. That's a real plus I think.
Ben balanced review. All IT products move through a life cycle that always starts with the product being classified as MVP, Minimal Viable Product; this is where products usually fail; reference here Crossing The Chasm. Look at Microsoft; Windows still does not have proper memory mapping compared to UNIX. Cutting you off is unfair, although it seems to be the norm now for any honest feedback, especially for product groups on FB. I do appreciate your honesty. I am an unbiased Kandao fan; the battery issues were overblown (Aussie humour here) on the Qoocam and can be easily overcome. We choose our mirrorless rig for professional work but sometimes use the Qoocam in tight spots. Having a Max, Trisio, and Fusion on hand, my goto 360 camera is always the Qoocam. It's a personal choice. BTW - the Kandao EGO does not suffer from heat issues; battery life is another thing altogether. Looking forward to your next post. Wayne
I am still using my third Qoocam 8k with a battery from one that only focused well off to the sides. Two of them got expanded batteries that pushed the backs off. Kandao totally stopped supporting the camera after only two years, and it is impossible to buy a replacement for the batteries anywhere. They simply refer you to repair facilities who don't respond. In Norway, I haven't had any overheatingheating problems. I had to give up on all Insta360s because of the gaps in the footage every 30 minutes. Useless for continuous footage. You really scared me, since I have become spoiled by the sharp 8k footage, and placed all my hopes on the Ultra.
Yes, the 30 minute gap/time-limit of the Insta360 cameras is VERY BAD! Recording a wedding, kids game, etc. moments will be lost! Please Ben, take all makers to task, not just those that have crossed you.
Thank you for your review, I like how you did it! I appreciate the way you presented it! I was close to purchasing the Qoocam 3, but I think the Insta360 x3 is better suited for my 360 video needs. Keep up with these reviews! 🙏
Those long export times are a deal killer for me. 24 hours to export 1 hour of 360 footage??? No way! No other reviewers mentioned that. Thank you for your honesty!
The tone of the review is unnecessarily negative and it seems that the bias ended with baseless complaints based on misunderstandings called "red flags" It's photography exposure 101 that the shutter speed is set depending on ISO and aperture. A larger aperture is in no case a downside or compromise to get proper exposure, neither an optimization for low-light at the detriment of daylight shooting. That's a complete misunderstanding of how every single camera works TBH, and it's both surprising and disappointing to hear from a photography channel. However the auto exposure seem to over-expose and combined with a poor color calibration and awful auto white balance the results are bad, it needs an exposure compensation option and lower contrast curve option to make use of these larger's sensors dynamic range.
Are you referring to 360 cameras? They are very different to normal cameras. Auto exposure does not work with this camera as it does others- it overexposes. Manual exposure should not be needed for a 360 action camera in order to achieve correct exposure.
@@BenClaremont it's more difficult for a 360 camera to pick the "right" exposure since it's pointing at everything and never a specific subject. Other than that, there's no difference vs any other camera. Needing a shorter exposure at same ISO when the aperture is wider is only a mathematical fact, not a red flag. (I'm not saying there's not awful stuff with this product and brand. I would decline it as a gift . Just that this specific point was not valid)
@@BenClaremont 7:34 "so I set the settings I thought should have worked" ISO: 100, Shutter Speed 1/1200. ISO and shutter speed can't be replicated between camera systems which have different apertures: that's the misunderstanding. Aperture missing from the equation. It's like getting a f/1.2 prime and saying there's something wrong with the lens because it overexposes the scene compared to a f/3.5 zoom a the same ISO and shutter speed.
The comment about the settings I guessed was not really important in the overall point i was making. The greater point is that the auto exposure is too bright (Insta360 cameras do NOT have this problem) and that I should not need to push it to the most extreme shutter speed to see the sky during the day. And the fact that manual exposure is needed at all for a daytime shot. Again, this is a non issue with all other 360 cameras. How you choose to expose is a really minor point compared to the actual points I was making about the deal breakers for 360 cameras.
@@BenClaremont I agree the auto exposure is poorly calibrated. I mentioned the error as invalid criticism distracts from the valid one. IMO Insta360 tends to overexpose too and I typically run with -0.5 EV in auto exposure in videos. There's no Qoocam 3 no exposure compensation on the Qoocam 3?
Good points made - I'm frustrated by a number of the issues you mention too (I have access to a Q3 but am yet to get our and use it on a proper shoot). However, I think the low light performance at this price point *is* a USP - we don't all live in such sunny climes :) Personally I'm not keen on the X3 HDR footage, but I do own an RS one inch which gives the best results sub £1K for what I need from this kind of set up. That said the RS one inch is (in the UK) at least double the price of the Q3, and not all people needing to buy a camera on a tight budget are just 'point and shoot-ers' - some will be enthusiasts willing to learn new skills and invest the time to get the most out of the h/w - despite the s/w lacking. Your reviews are always appreciated - thank you for taking the time.
I hear you- but as mentioned I’d still recommend the One X2 for better reliability factor in that price range, even if the quality isn’t as good as the Qoocam is in ideal lighting conditions. There are too many conditions that need to be met for it to perform optimally- hence why I can’t recommend it to anyone, at least for 360 videos.
@@BenClaremont Yeah - it's at camera for people familiar with using cameras (and the 360 format) who need the specifics of better low light performance at a low price point. I can see why you (or anyone else) would be wary of recommending it to the majority of users (for the majority of use cases). We need competition in the market - or for a s/w company to create a suite hardware-agnostic tools.... Dear Mr AI - Are you listening :)
This somehow reminds me of the Gopro Fusion. I got amazing photos out of the Fusion, using the raw workflow. They were really sharp and had great dynamic range. However the video was nothing to write home about. From the mobile app, it had stitch lines from hell, and the desktop app took hours to stitch for somewhat ok results. But the Fusion was one of the first cameras in its category. This isn't really an excuse anymore in 2023. It's a shame, really. Insta360 products are good, but competition always helps push things forward. From what I can see though, this isn't any competition. And if anyone is questioning your authenticity, they have to look no further than your take on the Insta360 Go3 imho. Keep it up, Mr. Ben 😃
Idk Ben, I've seen your unbiased reviews beforeon a product. This wasn't one of them. That mirco influencer line is a little shady, but it's your opinion and how you feel. I still love your work and believe in what you do for the community of 360 content creators and camera users. Thank you for your hard work
You’re welcome to think that I’m biased 😁 I’m trying very hard not to be- truth is I’m very disappointed that they would release such an unfinished camera and it’s hard to hold back, including about topics around company ethics. I did ask ethical questions of Insta360 in my X3 review for their release strategy as well. But take it for what you will.
Great review, Ben. Ty for sharing. The360 guy had an ok review, not on you level, but he did say things there turn me away from ever pick up this cam. It,s a step back in time i think. But as you did say, they are kids trying make grown up stuff.
Hey, Ben. Good on you for continuing with the unbiased review despite what Qoocam has done to you. That's what keeps us coming to you for honest reviews. Also, you keep saying that the Insta360 has a monopoly on the 360 market, but they're not the only 360 video camera. They may have the best video quality, but that doesn't qualify them as a monopoly. There are plenty of others. If there were the ONLY 360 video camera, then you'd be right. I'm happy to have the competition.
I had my fingers burnt with the Qoocam 8k, both figuratively and literally, and I would not touch any of their products again, ever. Good on you Ben for calling out Kandao for their lack of reliability and trustworthiness.
Hi Ben. Thanks for the shoutout about my test. It was shot indoors in 76F no airconditioning. I believe the key is being powered by usb. If it is powered by usb then it will be able to record for a longer time.
Thanks for sharing, Ben.. and as always.. RESPECT for the honesty and a fair try of un-biased review... and thanks for waiting some 20ish minutes before the biased version dropped in :) I almost gave up listening this time.. it is a looong review compared to my normal patience for YT videos.. but you did very well, and deserved the full play for the stats as well as full attention from my ears/mind to confirm I did right choice and kept going to the end :) Last and not least, cadeau and respect to Kandao for giving you the choice/option, yes, they rae maybe not the biggest player, but this seems like a fair try to get back into the game if followed up properly and listening a bit to the crowd who doesnt just replay their marketing lines
Yet another reason why you are a brilliant 360 channel; :) brilliant, video, informative as always, I'll stick to my x3 which I purchased largely based on your honest reviews and since purchased it then reinforced everything you say, so for me, you're my number 1 authority on everything 360 :)
I have been testing it as well. I am not happy with the image quality when compared with my Gopro MAX especially in terms of white balance and image noise. One thing I'll say (and I would love if you mentioned in your reviews because maybe Insta360 will address) is that the QooCam does not introduce 15s "holes" in your footage in long recordings.
I didn’t really test it, but sure that’s a point worth mentioning for those who do longer recordings. It still doesn’t make up for all the other issues though.
@@BenClaremont it does not, indeed!! I am stuck using the "old" Max for video and the QooCam 8k for photo. My main issue with the QooCam 8k in video is the color science which drives my nuts trying to get something useful.... I had high hopes for the QooCam 3... I'm returning it for now...
Thank you for your review. It made me not to rush buying this camera. But I'm still in doubts. I own X3 and my main complaint is a video performance in low light. It works well only in a really clear sunny day. With clouds or around sunset the footage is starting to look very bad (to my liking). I hope X4 will be much better. But I'm afraid it won't. And it's the only thing that I like about Qoocam 3: somehow it looks decent in a low light conditions. Can't say the same about daytime which is a bummer. I guess they can't handle the software development as good as bigger companies as Insta360.
For sure. Also keep in mind that with the right camera settings, X3 can perform much better in low light. Not on the level of Qoocam or 1-inch, but better. FYI I go in-depth on camera settings in my 360 Video 101 course 👍🏻
What a great video and thanks for the honesty. I had my fingers burned with the Qoocam 8K and yet I still want them to do something really good, but I know I just cant trust them. It's fairly clear when a reviewer is firmly in the pocket of a camera producer and certainly know a couple, so thanks for your integrity Ben.
Thanks Ben, always exhaustive review. It’s low light oriented camera. At now I’m waiting for the improvement in the ultra version, and after I thinkin on it
Hi Ben - very good job, I enjoy your reviews. I'm currently missing reviews for products like the new Labpano camera - they changed the forum name from LABPANO to the name of the new camera, Panox v2, which clearly raises questions about how they support their customers who purchased the Era pilot and Labpano. Houg Hou reviewed it, but I don't trust him. I have the impression that he only highlights the equipment's advantages and never mentions its drawbacks, where these flaws simply disqualify the equipment! I'm also considering Matterport's competition - the GALOIS M2 by RealSee - it would be great to have a comparison with the Matterport PRO3.
Thanks! Yes there are many reviewers who don’t share the full truth about deal-breaking camera flaws. I just received the PanoX camera, however I already don’t see it competing with the X3, before I’ve even taken it out of the box. It’s just a copy of the X3 with what is likely to be inferior software. I don’t own the Galois or Pro 3- my focus is more on affordable consumer cameras so I don’t think I’ll be covering them unfortunately.
Super Honest review! I was really waiting to hear your thoughts. That is for sure it's not a user-friendly camera, you will have to go to desktop for better result (picture and video both). Mobile workflow feels dated because insta360 has spoiled us all with their ease-of-use functionality. but if this is going to be the first camera for a person then app and workflow is fine for that price. same way how gopro fusion used to be. But I understand that app should have been better from the original qoocam8K app, its practically the same. I only shoot DNG8 on Kando cameras, so I think it works fine for me.
Took my new QooCam 3 on holiday . Within three minutes had an overheating warning , renders the unit almost not fit for purpose. I’ll now contact them directly to see what can be done . But a unit that cannot be used on a sunny warm/ hot day for less than three minutes at this price point isn’t anything I could recommend to anyone.
Thanks Ben! Your review saved my wallet haha. I was one of the victims of the Qoocam 8k and recently I am considering rather I should give the Qoocam 3 one more chance or not because of its DNG8 photo. I like my one X2 now in every aspect except the photo are not good enough (even with pureshot dng). I just looked into the Trisio Lite2 you mentioned in yur review, its result are really good but seems thats not a one shot 360 camera. What camera would you recommend taking better 360 photos? Is Theta Z1 still a good option?
Thank you Ben for this review! I was a little disappointed after reading that you weren't going to review the Qoocam 3 because of the relationship with Kandao, but I kept hoping... I have to say that I was very attracted to this camera, because of the photo quality which looks really good for this price range (I wanted to replace a Mi Sphere that I paid about 150€ for new) and video has never interested me much. But no thanks, I've already had unpleasant experiences of overheating with my DJI Action 2 (I live in a hot place), and I've already waited for updates that never arrived (no JPG+RAW? Really?). This review of yours has enlightened me, I will stay on my idea of getting the X3. :)
Biggest benefit of this camera is that it captures low-light video close to the same quality level (or sometimes even matching it in ultra low-light) as the $900 Insta360 1-inch but costs $350, and much, much better than the X3.
Excellent review, Ben. This Qoocam *me-too copycat* of GoPro is so lame, I want to barf! We have tried every Qoocam they have ever made. But... we won't be buying this one. EVER. I think you should put a spotlight on their crappy, and unreliable WiFi. It works... then it doesn't work. So frustrating. Our go-to 360 cameras continue to be the Insta360 Titan, the Pro II, and the Leica 1-inch. We use nothing else.
Thanks Mr Ben - very disappointing to hear they don't want to engage and work with you to make cameras better. My personal experience of the 8k was good (and still use it), setting the fan to always run, and shooting video and photos in the UK (where ambient temp is rare to be above mid 20's), I never saw any focus issues. After 2+ years when my battery swelled (due to me storing it fully charged for long periods - which Kandoo advised against), my 8k was replaced free of charge. My Qoocam 3 shows real promise, I agree software stabilisation needs some work but I am already using the Qoocam 3 instead of my Insta 1" for photos. For Windows users, the Qoocam software installs fine and is just as quick to render/export as the Insta software on Windows. For daytime shooting video/photos, I just leave the EV set to -1 (or more) on the Qoocam, everything else auto. Then for evening work, just change the EV.
@@BenClaremont Thanks Mr Ben, I *really* appreciate the many hours that go into you making these reviews, plus you sharing your decade of experience with 360 cameras. The sample clips you provide in the video and really helpful in making purchase decisions.
Qoocam 3 camera failed me on paid gig. Tested it on family trip and it was fine. Took it to use for client video and one of the lenses is recording in dutch angle and can't be stiched together at all in mobile app and studio. Due to ~-20 roll artifacts in other software made this footage unusable. Literally after 3 days of shooting it is broken already.
It seems that Kandao and Mac users don't mix. Over 20min for a 2min video? That is bad. On a 3 year old PC it only takes 2min. Why didn't you just set -x EV for video? That would be the simplest solution and would offer more than just silhouettes when moving into the shadows. Why no tests at low light/night? No pictures or videos? A strength of the camera and the large aperture. In my eyes you missed some positive points from Qoocam 3 but I think too that this no camera for beginners or only for those who wants to do only mobile workflow. Or live in hot countries 😅 Those who are willing to edit on PC will get better quality. I think your video was okay except for the last part. That sounded a bit offended because you Kandao doesn't speak to Big Ben anymore. And you're wrong. Insta360 has done exactly the same thing in the past. And even today you can regularly find posts on FB where users have problems with them and then they disappear. They're not that different :( Both could do it better
Hi Bart, all the things you mentioned support my point of the camera being for a very niche user. You should not need to override auto exposure to tell it not to overexpose your shots. It should do it automatically. I did a low light test in this video and gave the Qoocam credit for that. I know you are very loyal to Kandao, but come on- you and I both know that Insta360 does 99% of things better. They treat their customers much more respectfully than Kandao does. Yes ‘Big Ben’ might be a little upset- but I’m sharing my own honest experience on my own platform. People easily see through the BS of reviewers and influencers who only like to highlight the positives, and it seems that you are becoming one of them.
@BenClaremont I 100% agree that insta360 is more reliable, has more fancy editing option, like the AI stuff and so on. If I want to take some happy snaps and want images with less effort, One X2 is my choice, I guess until X4 appears. But the Insta360 cameras costs more money. And the company is longer on the market and had done a lot of mistakes too. I could tell you stories about my original ONE and how Insta360 reacts... That's also the reason why I skipped One X and probably missed a great camera. But past is past. Anyway, if I want quality photos I will always use my pc and then I would choose Qoocam 3 over X2 because it's another quality level. Or I choose Qoocam 8K because it still works and SuperHDR give me a better result with less work. Yes I'm positive about Kandao, but I also had no issues with their cameras. Two hardware issues with the Qoocam 8K has been fixed uncomplicated and fast. Why should I not be positiv? As you mentioned the overheating, I have done my own test in a oven, because I haven't run into it using the camera in real live. And you can see the same results as you get in my video. So no hiding of problems. I may be wary of making negative statements unless I have experienced them myself
@@Flabig360 that’s good Bart, but as you gain followers and start posting your opinions more- you need to be hyper-aware of the experiences of others. Just because you had a good experience doesn’t mean others did. I do this with every camera- Insta360 cameras especially. The truth always comes out. Originally I defended Kandao a lot, just like you are doing now. Then people kept saying that the cameras had major issues and they were pissed at me for recommending them. Then I saw some of the issues for myself. More and more negative experiences came in. It got to the point that the issues were undeniable and I became untrustworthy for recommending them in the first place. I learned to always listen to everyone- good and bad experiences, then combine those lessons with your own experiences to deliver reviews that have the good, the bad and everything in between. Honesty is the #1 reason my channel has become so successful, and that’s been my winning formula.
@@BenClaremont If I'm happy with this camera and still using it. My shelf is not as full as yours but there are over 10 360 cameras waiting to be used. Why I should not say that I'm happy with the Qoocam 3? And btw I mentioned some negative points (at least for me) that you haven't mentioned. So I try to make a honest picture as you. But I have other use cases and some things simply do not affect me (hot weather or Mac issues) and that bring me to a different result. And if you have tested the camera a half year later, maybe you wouldn't have noticed overheating issues, like Mic or I did ;)
@@Flabig360 there's nothing wrong with you sharing that you are happy 🙂 But as you criticised my opinions in the first place, implying that i'm being biased... i'm simply doing the same thing back to you. If you're going to move into the 'reviewer' territory as a content creator, then you are going to be judged by people about whether you're being biased or not. There were MANY more flaws of qoocam 3 than just overheating and mac compatibility, and while i didn't see your video or comments, you do seem VERY quick to defend Kandao, despite the many issues and many unhappy customers.
Just my opinion but i cant stand 360 picture and video cameras , I just don't see it to look at a flat object it does not look good to me I still think you need to do videos of 360 3D VR now that is good and worth doing so if you have updates on cameras like that ...I would love to see more videos for those and see whats out now that is the on the top for its price and are any of them live stream capable.
I am not interested in buying this camera, but out of curiosity I would like to ask if Kandao has released any interesting gadgets dedicated to this camera? Is there any big choice or perspective here? This is what I missed in the review
Absolut outstanding review, as always. Thank you. ❤ By thy way, I won. The Cow Cam isn't as good as expected. 😉 So you invite me and my daughter to Sydney? 😍 Trisio for president. 😊
hey Ben very nice review could you do one for labpano's pilotpano please? i like hearing unbiased reviews , or maybe tell us why it doesnt seem to have many reviews anyway thank you for the content
Thanks, but I won’t be making one as there isn’t really much demand for that camera. It takes a while to make these reviews and I have better topics I’d prefer to make them about 😁
I was on the verge of purchasing a Qoocam 8K. But then I heard the negative comments from more than one reviewer. So, I went in for an Insta 360 X2. But regreted that too, as the quality of stills is simply not up to the mark. I use 360 cameras for stills and not video. I might go in for the flagship of Ricoh after a year or so, because they seem to be the best at 360 stills.
for the dynamic range testing... was this in regular auto mode for all the cameras or was the insta360 in HDR mode? I get lazy sometimes with changing settings on my X3, but i should be considering switching to HDR more often.
Hey Ben, can't say your review is thorough and entirely fair. You made no attempt to test the night / low light performance of the QooCam 3 vs the others. This is something I have tested myself and seen other reviewers test, and the QooCam 3 is better than many other 360 camera out there (including the Insta 360 X3). Give credit where credit is due. Also, not everyone is using a 360 for real-estate.
I did a low light test in this video, so yes that’s a very definite attempt. Reviews can ALWAYS be more thorough, it’s just a matter of spending more and more time on more tests. I spent plenty of time already on the many other make or break factors that are more important to most people’s buying decisions. I gave the camera plenty of credit where it’s due. And the video doesn’t assume the camera is for real estate.
@@BenClaremontWhat about its spatial audio capabilities? You only mention that in passing. It has better spatial audio than most 360 cameras out there. I say these things as someone who respects your views on 360 cameras and have followed you for years. I also have several 360 cameras and use them for what they're good for. No single 360 camera is great for every situation for example, GoPro Fusion was great, but had long processing times and in fact, sometimes it wouldn't even complete the stitching if the footage was over 9 mins. Yet many of us loved it.
@@itaikndoro unfortunately I didn’t have time to do in-depth tests on absolutely everything. I’m pretty sure this is the most thorough review of the lot so far, and my focus was on the real make or break features like the ones I mentioned. Spatial audio is a nice touch for sure, but even that- I’ve seen some people say that the audio is terrible on their cameras and barely usable. It’s still early days with the Qoocam and there is a very wide range of perspectives and experiences. Also, low light & spatial audio are niche uses- most people buy 360 cameras to reframe daytime action shots. This camera is clearly being marketed as an X3 competitor and fails at most aspects of that.
Fck Qoocam........I was about to purchase the Qoocam 3 but somehow the Devil whispered me in my ears to watch some unbiased and quality reviews about this camera (or Camera brand as a whole for that matter). This is unacceptable behaviour if a company does not listen to paying customers. Imagine you screw up a shoot.....due to technical bullshit that comes with this camera. Can you held Qoocam Inc. responsible and accountable for any damages then? No.
Well done Ben, I wish there are more unbiased reviewers who are trashing bad brands and bad products for good reasons. We are all sick and tired of all tech reviewers who are waging their tails as soon as new apple or android phone is out.
I don't mind them updating the firmware after launch. Let people that have no patience buy it, they can find all the problems, then they know everything that needs to be fixed. The updates with the Ego have been good. Shame there's no internal ND filters in these cameras, that would fix the overexposure. The Ego is a tricky camera to use, but there's nothing else like it, for a similar price, I have had great fun using it, so wouldn't mind buying from Kandao again, but I'll wait until they update the firmware. I don't mind their PR disasters, coming from the UK, I'm used to appalling service😂
Honestly, I'm not buying another Qoocam camera. The first one wasn't fun and cost way too much to repair. Luckily I sold it for about the same price I bought it since it was considered "rare."
Even if Qoocam knocked it out of the park, I wouldn't be able to bring myself to pick one up due to the shady practices of silencing negative feedback. It's sleazy, dishonest, and frankly dangerous.
Great review. I had (have...) high hopes for this camera, in part thanks to the lower price and higher recording quality than the Insta. If the other guy recorded 17 hours on a motorbike, of course the camera will be cooler
I hear the Z1 has its own bracketing with a recent update. I'm gonna update mine and see how that works compared to the dual fisheye. Hoping it works about the same or better so I can ditch my pricy adobe software xD Edit: Not too surprised they're straight-up ripping off other cameras... It is a Chinese company after-all, and they don't seem to care about any kind of copyright laws, and are even protected against such copyright claims by their own systems. Kind of sad really, I bet they would have some pretty cool innovations if they actually tried to make unique things instead of copy the existing.
I tested both the x3 and the qoocam 3 at the same time. Loved the better photography DNG8 and bracketing ability of the qoocam, but handling and usability, battery life and handling was terrible (battery falls out of the slot when you plug the usb-c cable in because of open door) Also, the x3 just has better features, and lively community.
overheat on a 34 degrees !!. that wont even start if I shoot in Dubai ! excellent review as usual . I hope you do a new video about new platforms or softwares for Virtual tours 2023.
I appreciate your straight forward reviews. I trust your opinion. If KanDao black balls you, I black ball KanDao. If there's a problem with their camera, I'd prefer they fix it with their design team, not their marketing team.
I have a Qoocam 8K. Since the beggining: Out of focus after one hour. Bad stitching even after they send me a custom upgrade firmware file. After a year or so almost bloated, cant record video without get the camera connected to an external battery. But most awefull of everything ... ONE LENS came different!!! One lens give me sharp images other is blur!!! So i have to sharp half of the image manually to try to fix the difference, getting obvious bad stitching line. The answer was "We can do nothing since you bought it outside our official marketplace"... What you say is very important: that "unpredictability" is unacceptable for virtual tour makers. Now I use that camera just to show off my equipment. But never used it again to shoot anything. I mean ... Qoocam 8K is USELESS AT ALL to me.
I have Qcam 8k, I use it for VTs .... the first one the battery double up in size and I contacted the company for warranty, they say is ok to get a replacement, I got the second one and the battery did the same and some screws just pop out from the front lenses. I contact them again, no answer for a while they just told me to buy a battery and change it my self ... Kandao isn't the best at the customer service game!
Kwacky cam doesn't want to send a legit reviewer a camera, but they send them to a bunch of nobodys for a review that won't say anything negative about them.
Thanks for taking the time to show us Ben. Your opinion helps a lot.
Brilliant, HONEST, review. So tired of reviewers who are clearly pandering to the company from whom they got their free product. 👍👍👍
Thanks for calling out the influencer marketing bullshit.
Pt. 2 aka things I forgot to mention 👇🏻
- Early users are reporting that the lenses are EASILY unscrewing from the body when removing the lens caps, causing the stitching to be ruined 😨 This is a MAJOR design flaw!
- The SD card slot is too tight for micro SD cards- they will go in easily, but you have to tweezer them out with your fingers every time, which risks damaging the card.
- It’s waterproof, but won’t stitch properly underwater just like any 360 camera. You’ll need a housing, which they don’t currently offer.
- All images need editing… even quick shots for social media. While you can download straight from the mobile app to your phone, it’s only the most basic preview file that looks overexposed & low quality. For DNG8, AEB etc. it won’t process them in the app.
- I’m sure there’s more- will add to this thread when I think of them
p.s. There are some very telling reviews on Amazon that seem to echo a lot of my points from this video: www.amazon.com/KanDao-Aperture-Flawless-Waterproof-Stabilization/dp/B08CGR8DCZ?ref_=ast_sto_dp#customerReviews (this listing has conveniently been made 'unavailable' to be replaced with an identical listing with one 5 star rating but no review...)
Even if Qoocam knocked it out of the park, I wouldn't be able to bring myself to pick one up due to the shady practices of silencing negative feedback. It's sleazy, dishonest, and frankly dangerous.
Man I love it when I hear a reviewer giving a honest and straight forward review on a piece of product.... Wish there were more like you. That way I don't have to watch a couple hundred videos to get a sense of a product abilities. Thanks again, I'm inching closer to getting a insta360. I just have figure out which one now, lol
Thanks! I have a plenty of videos to help you decide 😁
Insta 360 is also very responsive when it comes to Customer Service and camera service. I made a small mistake landing the Sphere that led to a BIG scratch. Insta 360 has a very responsive repair branch and it wasn't outrageous to get it fixed. That's a real plus I think.
Nice 👍🏻
How much did they charge to get it fixed + shipping costs?
Ben balanced review. All IT products move through a life cycle that always starts with the product being classified as MVP, Minimal Viable Product; this is where products usually fail; reference here Crossing The Chasm. Look at Microsoft; Windows still does not have proper memory mapping compared to UNIX. Cutting you off is unfair, although it seems to be the norm now for any honest feedback, especially for product groups on FB. I do appreciate your honesty. I am an unbiased Kandao fan; the battery issues were overblown (Aussie humour here) on the Qoocam and can be easily overcome. We choose our mirrorless rig for professional work but sometimes use the Qoocam in tight spots. Having a Max, Trisio, and Fusion on hand, my goto 360 camera is always the Qoocam. It's a personal choice. BTW - the Kandao EGO does not suffer from heat issues; battery life is another thing altogether.
Looking forward to your next post. Wayne
Cheers Wayne 👍🏻
I am still using my third Qoocam 8k with a battery from one that only focused well off to the sides. Two of them got expanded batteries that pushed the backs off. Kandao totally stopped supporting the camera after only two years, and it is impossible to buy a replacement for the batteries anywhere. They simply refer you to repair facilities who don't respond. In Norway, I haven't had any overheatingheating problems. I had to give up on all Insta360s because of the gaps in the footage every 30 minutes. Useless for continuous footage. You really scared me, since I have become spoiled by the sharp 8k footage, and placed all my hopes on the Ultra.
Yes, the 30 minute gap/time-limit of the Insta360 cameras is VERY BAD! Recording a wedding, kids game, etc. moments will be lost! Please Ben, take all makers to task, not just those that have crossed you.
Thank you for your review, I like how you did it!
I appreciate the way you presented it! I was close to purchasing the Qoocam 3, but I think the Insta360 x3 is better suited for my 360 video needs.
Keep up with these reviews! 🙏
Glad you liked it 👍🏻
Those long export times are a deal killer for me. 24 hours to export 1 hour of 360 footage??? No way! No other reviewers mentioned that. Thank you for your honesty!
Was looking to replace my X3 with this. Very glad I watched your video. Might have to wait for a X4
Good thinking 👍🏻
Good decision. The X4 is a beast.
The tone of the review is unnecessarily negative and it seems that the bias ended with baseless complaints based on misunderstandings called "red flags"
It's photography exposure 101 that the shutter speed is set depending on ISO and aperture. A larger aperture is in no case a downside or compromise to get proper exposure, neither an optimization for low-light at the detriment of daylight shooting.
That's a complete misunderstanding of how every single camera works TBH, and it's both surprising and disappointing to hear from a photography channel.
However the auto exposure seem to over-expose and combined with a poor color calibration and awful auto white balance the results are bad, it needs an exposure compensation option and lower contrast curve option to make use of these larger's sensors dynamic range.
Are you referring to 360 cameras? They are very different to normal cameras. Auto exposure does not work with this camera as it does others- it overexposes. Manual exposure should not be needed for a 360 action camera in order to achieve correct exposure.
@@BenClaremont it's more difficult for a 360 camera to pick the "right" exposure since it's pointing at everything and never a specific subject.
Other than that, there's no difference vs any other camera.
Needing a shorter exposure at same ISO when the aperture is wider is only a mathematical fact, not a red flag.
(I'm not saying there's not awful stuff with this product and brand. I would decline it as a gift . Just that this specific point was not valid)
@@BenClaremont 7:34 "so I set the settings I thought should have worked" ISO: 100, Shutter Speed 1/1200.
ISO and shutter speed can't be replicated between camera systems which have different apertures: that's the misunderstanding. Aperture missing from the equation.
It's like getting a f/1.2 prime and saying there's something wrong with the lens because it overexposes the scene compared to a f/3.5 zoom a the same ISO and shutter speed.
The comment about the settings I guessed was not really important in the overall point i was making. The greater point is that the auto exposure is too bright (Insta360 cameras do NOT have this problem) and that I should not need to push it to the most extreme shutter speed to see the sky during the day. And the fact that manual exposure is needed at all for a daytime shot. Again, this is a non issue with all other 360 cameras. How you choose to expose is a really minor point compared to the actual points I was making about the deal breakers for 360 cameras.
@@BenClaremont I agree the auto exposure is poorly calibrated. I mentioned the error as invalid criticism distracts from the valid one.
IMO Insta360 tends to overexpose too and I typically run with -0.5 EV in auto exposure in videos.
There's no Qoocam 3 no exposure compensation on the Qoocam 3?
Good points made - I'm frustrated by a number of the issues you mention too (I have access to a Q3 but am yet to get our and use it on a proper shoot). However, I think the low light performance at this price point *is* a USP - we don't all live in such sunny climes :) Personally I'm not keen on the X3 HDR footage, but I do own an RS one inch which gives the best results sub £1K for what I need from this kind of set up. That said the RS one inch is (in the UK) at least double the price of the Q3, and not all people needing to buy a camera on a tight budget are just 'point and shoot-ers' - some will be enthusiasts willing to learn new skills and invest the time to get the most out of the h/w - despite the s/w lacking. Your reviews are always appreciated - thank you for taking the time.
I hear you- but as mentioned I’d still recommend the One X2 for better reliability factor in that price range, even if the quality isn’t as good as the Qoocam is in ideal lighting conditions. There are too many conditions that need to be met for it to perform optimally- hence why I can’t recommend it to anyone, at least for 360 videos.
@@BenClaremont Yeah - it's at camera for people familiar with using cameras (and the 360 format) who need the specifics of better low light performance at a low price point. I can see why you (or anyone else) would be wary of recommending it to the majority of users (for the majority of use cases). We need competition in the market - or for a s/w company to create a suite hardware-agnostic tools.... Dear Mr AI - Are you listening :)
You are the man, thanks for speaking the honest truth
I have never been happy with my Qoocam 8k and the out of focus lenses which they refused to fix
No worries- it’s important for people to hear real user experiences and not just what the company wants you to think.
This somehow reminds me of the Gopro Fusion. I got amazing photos out of the Fusion, using the raw workflow. They were really sharp and had great dynamic range. However the video was nothing to write home about. From the mobile app, it had stitch lines from hell, and the desktop app took hours to stitch for somewhat ok results. But the Fusion was one of the first cameras in its category. This isn't really an excuse anymore in 2023.
It's a shame, really. Insta360 products are good, but competition always helps push things forward. From what I can see though, this isn't any competition.
And if anyone is questioning your authenticity, they have to look no further than your take on the Insta360 Go3 imho.
Keep it up, Mr. Ben 😃
Thank you for your honest review. Your videos are amazing.
Thankyou 🙏🏻
Thank you for being honest with your products you review
Always!
Great review. So important to have access to impartial reviews such as yours.
Glad it was helpful 👍🏻
I’m actually returning the camera today. Have too much work already to have to tweak each photo. 🤷♂️
Idk Ben, I've seen your unbiased reviews beforeon a product. This wasn't one of them. That mirco influencer line is a little shady, but it's your opinion and how you feel. I still love your work and believe in what you do for the community of 360 content creators and camera users. Thank you for your hard work
You’re welcome to think that I’m biased 😁 I’m trying very hard not to be- truth is I’m very disappointed that they would release such an unfinished camera and it’s hard to hold back, including about topics around company ethics. I did ask ethical questions of Insta360 in my X3 review for their release strategy as well. But take it for what you will.
Really appreciate your honesty and transparency in your reviews. And especially not being prepared to compromise on the truth.
Thanks Andrew!
Great review, Ben. Ty for sharing.
The360 guy had an ok review, not on you level, but he did say things there turn me away from ever pick up this cam. It,s a step back in time i think. But as you did say, they are kids trying make grown up stuff.
I love your videos. For real. Many thanks for share your unbiased thoughts
Hey, Ben. Good on you for continuing with the unbiased review despite what Qoocam has done to you. That's what keeps us coming to you for honest reviews.
Also, you keep saying that the Insta360 has a monopoly on the 360 market, but they're not the only 360 video camera. They may have the best video quality, but that doesn't qualify them as a monopoly. There are plenty of others. If there were the ONLY 360 video camera, then you'd be right. I'm happy to have the competition.
doesn't offset mess with the alignment in 2 ways now?
I intended to take it seriously, but now I'm doubtful. It was a beautiful and sincere video. Thanks.
No worries!
I had my fingers burnt with the Qoocam 8k, both figuratively and literally, and I would not touch any of their products again, ever. Good on you Ben for calling out Kandao for their lack of reliability and trustworthiness.
Sorry to hear- I made this video for users like you!
Hi Ben. Thanks for the shoutout about my test. It was shot indoors in 76F no airconditioning. I believe the key is being powered by usb. If it is powered by usb then it will be able to record for a longer time.
Thanks for sharing 😁
@@BenClaremont did you try low light?
@@360vroomers yeah- I included a low light test in this video
@@BenClaremont ah I see. I think the qoocam advantage in low light becomes much more apparent in darker conditions because x3 maxes out at iso 3200.
@@360vroomers did you test it against the 1-inch as well? Curious to see if you rank them in the same order I did. 1-inch 1st, Qoocam 2nd, X3 3rd.
As QooCam Studio 2.0 has been updated to ver 2.6 in Dec, the stitching procession speed improves a lot.Please have a check.
Thanks for sharing, Ben.. and as always.. RESPECT for the honesty and a fair try of un-biased review... and thanks for waiting some 20ish minutes before the biased version dropped in :) I almost gave up listening this time.. it is a looong review compared to my normal patience for YT videos.. but you did very well, and deserved the full play for the stats as well as full attention from my ears/mind to confirm I did right choice and kept going to the end :)
Last and not least, cadeau and respect to Kandao for giving you the choice/option, yes, they rae maybe not the biggest player, but this seems like a fair try to get back into the game if followed up properly and listening a bit to the crowd who doesnt just replay their marketing lines
Yet another reason why you are a brilliant 360 channel; :) brilliant, video, informative as always, I'll stick to my x3 which I purchased largely based on your honest reviews and since purchased it then reinforced everything you say, so for me, you're my number 1 authority on everything 360 :)
Happy to hear it!
I have been testing it as well. I am not happy with the image quality when compared with my Gopro MAX especially in terms of white balance and image noise. One thing I'll say (and I would love if you mentioned in your reviews because maybe Insta360 will address) is that the QooCam does not introduce 15s "holes" in your footage in long recordings.
I didn’t really test it, but sure that’s a point worth mentioning for those who do longer recordings. It still doesn’t make up for all the other issues though.
@@BenClaremont it does not, indeed!! I am stuck using the "old" Max for video and the QooCam 8k for photo. My main issue with the QooCam 8k in video is the color science which drives my nuts trying to get something useful.... I had high hopes for the QooCam 3... I'm returning it for now...
Thank you for your review. It made me not to rush buying this camera. But I'm still in doubts. I own X3 and my main complaint is a video performance in low light. It works well only in a really clear sunny day. With clouds or around sunset the footage is starting to look very bad (to my liking). I hope X4 will be much better. But I'm afraid it won't. And it's the only thing that I like about Qoocam 3: somehow it looks decent in a low light conditions. Can't say the same about daytime which is a bummer. I guess they can't handle the software development as good as bigger companies as Insta360.
For sure. Also keep in mind that with the right camera settings, X3 can perform much better in low light. Not on the level of Qoocam or 1-inch, but better. FYI I go in-depth on camera settings in my 360 Video 101 course 👍🏻
I was interested in the 8k once but after getting X2 I am a insta360 fanboy, and wiating for X4 :)
You and me both 😁
What a great video and thanks for the honesty. I had my fingers burned with the Qoocam 8K and yet I still want them to do something really good, but I know I just cant trust them. It's fairly clear when a reviewer is firmly in the pocket of a camera producer and certainly know a couple, so thanks for your integrity Ben.
My pleasure 😇
Keep being honest Ben, we need more reviewer like you.
Will do!
Thanks Ben, always exhaustive review. It’s low light oriented camera. At now I’m waiting for the improvement in the ultra version, and after I thinkin on it
Fingers crossed!
I love your work ! you can be proud to be impartial, that's why i always listen your tips, analist and suggest .
🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
Hi Ben - very good job, I enjoy your reviews. I'm currently missing reviews for products like the new Labpano camera - they changed the forum name from LABPANO to the name of the new camera, Panox v2, which clearly raises questions about how they support their customers who purchased the Era pilot and Labpano. Houg Hou reviewed it, but I don't trust him. I have the impression that he only highlights the equipment's advantages and never mentions its drawbacks, where these flaws simply disqualify the equipment! I'm also considering Matterport's competition - the GALOIS M2 by RealSee - it would be great to have a comparison with the Matterport PRO3.
Thanks! Yes there are many reviewers who don’t share the full truth about deal-breaking camera flaws. I just received the PanoX camera, however I already don’t see it competing with the X3, before I’ve even taken it out of the box. It’s just a copy of the X3 with what is likely to be inferior software. I don’t own the Galois or Pro 3- my focus is more on affordable consumer cameras so I don’t think I’ll be covering them unfortunately.
Thanks for this, I was about to get this but ended up getting the X3 instead for just a little bit more with their Black Friday sale!
Super Honest review! I was really waiting to hear your thoughts. That is for sure it's not a user-friendly camera, you will have to go to desktop for better result (picture and video both). Mobile workflow feels dated because insta360 has spoiled us all with their ease-of-use functionality. but if this is going to be the first camera for a person then app and workflow is fine for that price. same way how gopro fusion used to be. But I understand that app should have been better from the original qoocam8K app, its practically the same. I only shoot DNG8 on Kando cameras, so I think it works fine for me.
Thanks Sujit- agree with your comments 👍🏻
Took my new QooCam 3 on holiday . Within three minutes had an overheating warning , renders the unit almost not fit for purpose. I’ll now contact them directly to see what can be done . But a unit that cannot be used on a sunny warm/ hot day for less than three minutes at this price point isn’t anything I could recommend to anyone.
Sorry to hear
Thanks Ben! Your review saved my wallet haha. I was one of the victims of the Qoocam 8k and recently I am considering rather I should give the Qoocam 3 one more chance or not because of its DNG8 photo. I like my one X2 now in every aspect except the photo are not good enough (even with pureshot dng). I just looked into the Trisio Lite2 you mentioned in yur review, its result are really good but seems thats not a one shot 360 camera. What camera would you recommend taking better 360 photos? Is Theta Z1 still a good option?
No worries- check out my video ‘which is the best 360 camera in 2023’ as my recommendations from that video are still more or less the same.
Thank you Ben for this review! I was a little disappointed after reading that you weren't going to review the Qoocam 3 because of the relationship with Kandao, but I kept hoping... I have to say that I was very attracted to this camera, because of the photo quality which looks really good for this price range (I wanted to replace a Mi Sphere that I paid about 150€ for new) and video has never interested me much.
But no thanks, I've already had unpleasant experiences of overheating with my DJI Action 2 (I live in a hot place), and I've already waited for updates that never arrived (no JPG+RAW? Really?). This review of yours has enlightened me, I will stay on my idea of getting the X3. :)
Glad to hear it! Also consider the Trisio as photos are it’s strength and it outperforms most other cameras in that price range 👍🏻
Biggest benefit of this camera is that it captures low-light video close to the same quality level (or sometimes even matching it in ultra low-light) as the $900 Insta360 1-inch but costs $350, and much, much better than the X3.
Nowhere near the level of the 1-inch, sorry. And even if it did- way too many flaws to justify that one upside.
thank you, this is very informative.
Excellent review, Ben. This Qoocam *me-too copycat* of GoPro is so lame, I want to barf! We have tried every Qoocam they have ever made. But... we won't be buying this one. EVER. I think you should put a spotlight on their crappy, and unreliable WiFi. It works... then it doesn't work. So frustrating.
Our go-to 360 cameras continue to be the Insta360 Titan, the Pro II, and the Leica 1-inch. We use nothing else.
Thanks! Glad you have some more reliable tools that get the job done for you.
Thanks Mr Ben - very disappointing to hear they don't want to engage and work with you to make cameras better. My personal experience of the 8k was good (and still use it), setting the fan to always run, and shooting video and photos in the UK (where ambient temp is rare to be above mid 20's), I never saw any focus issues. After 2+ years when my battery swelled (due to me storing it fully charged for long periods - which Kandoo advised against), my 8k was replaced free of charge. My Qoocam 3 shows real promise, I agree software stabilisation needs some work but I am already using the Qoocam 3 instead of my Insta 1" for photos. For Windows users, the Qoocam software installs fine and is just as quick to render/export as the Insta software on Windows. For daytime shooting video/photos, I just leave the EV set to -1 (or more) on the Qoocam, everything else auto. Then for evening work, just change the EV.
Glad to hear that you had a good experience, Rod
@@BenClaremont Thanks Mr Ben, I *really* appreciate the many hours that go into you making these reviews, plus you sharing your decade of experience with 360 cameras. The sample clips you provide in the video and really helpful in making purchase decisions.
why doesn't the auto exposure set a proper shutter speed in daylight? that seems like the real question, and should be solved with a firmware update.
Yes it should be… but will it actually get fixed? Not holding my breath on that one 😵💫
i want..
but to expensive...
can u zoom in & out?
how far can u record 10 mins long or more?
can u take pics etc?
18:02 Moss, from The IT Crowd?
Best review. Thank you 😊
for photo use only, should you buy this qoocam 3 or stay with the ricoh theta sc2?
good or vacation use? or take it outside recording?
Hi, thanks for your review.
There are new firmware, new mobile app and new desktop app !
Could you please test and tell us if it's better ?
Regards,
Thank you for honesty.
My pleasure!
where is the low light comparison?
Qoocam 3 camera failed me on paid gig. Tested it on family trip and it was fine. Took it to use for client video and one of the lenses is recording in dutch angle and can't be stiched together at all in mobile app and studio. Due to ~-20 roll artifacts in other software made this footage unusable. Literally after 3 days of shooting it is broken already.
Sorry to hear
I heard they have an update now. Could you check it out and let us know?
It seems that Kandao and Mac users don't mix. Over 20min for a 2min video? That is bad. On a 3 year old PC it only takes 2min.
Why didn't you just set -x EV for video? That would be the simplest solution and would offer more than just silhouettes when moving into the shadows.
Why no tests at low light/night? No pictures or videos? A strength of the camera and the large aperture. In my eyes you missed some positive points from Qoocam 3 but I think too that this no camera for beginners or only for those who wants to do only mobile workflow. Or live in hot countries 😅 Those who are willing to edit on PC will get better quality.
I think your video was okay except for the last part. That sounded a bit offended because you Kandao doesn't speak to Big Ben anymore. And you're wrong. Insta360 has done exactly the same thing in the past. And even today you can regularly find posts on FB where users have problems with them and then they disappear. They're not that different :( Both could do it better
Hi Bart, all the things you mentioned support my point of the camera being for a very niche user. You should not need to override auto exposure to tell it not to overexpose your shots. It should do it automatically. I did a low light test in this video and gave the Qoocam credit for that. I know you are very loyal to Kandao, but come on- you and I both know that Insta360 does 99% of things better. They treat their customers much more respectfully than Kandao does. Yes ‘Big Ben’ might be a little upset- but I’m sharing my own honest experience on my own platform. People easily see through the BS of reviewers and influencers who only like to highlight the positives, and it seems that you are becoming one of them.
@BenClaremont I 100% agree that insta360 is more reliable, has more fancy editing option, like the AI stuff and so on. If I want to take some happy snaps and want images with less effort, One X2 is my choice, I guess until X4 appears. But the Insta360 cameras costs more money. And the company is longer on the market and had done a lot of mistakes too. I could tell you stories about my original ONE and how Insta360 reacts... That's also the reason why I skipped One X and probably missed a great camera. But past is past.
Anyway, if I want quality photos I will always use my pc and then I would choose Qoocam 3 over X2 because it's another quality level. Or I choose Qoocam 8K because it still works and SuperHDR give me a better result with less work.
Yes I'm positive about Kandao, but I also had no issues with their cameras. Two hardware issues with the Qoocam 8K has been fixed uncomplicated and fast. Why should I not be positiv? As you mentioned the overheating, I have done my own test in a oven, because I haven't run into it using the camera in real live. And you can see the same results as you get in my video. So no hiding of problems. I may be wary of making negative statements unless I have experienced them myself
@@Flabig360 that’s good Bart, but as you gain followers and start posting your opinions more- you need to be hyper-aware of the experiences of others. Just because you had a good experience doesn’t mean others did. I do this with every camera- Insta360 cameras especially. The truth always comes out. Originally I defended Kandao a lot, just like you are doing now. Then people kept saying that the cameras had major issues and they were pissed at me for recommending them. Then I saw some of the issues for myself. More and more negative experiences came in. It got to the point that the issues were undeniable and I became untrustworthy for recommending them in the first place. I learned to always listen to everyone- good and bad experiences, then combine those lessons with your own experiences to deliver reviews that have the good, the bad and everything in between. Honesty is the #1 reason my channel has become so successful, and that’s been my winning formula.
@@BenClaremont If I'm happy with this camera and still using it. My shelf is not as full as yours but there are over 10 360 cameras waiting to be used. Why I should not say that I'm happy with the Qoocam 3? And btw I mentioned some negative points (at least for me) that you haven't mentioned. So I try to make a honest picture as you. But I have other use cases and some things simply do not affect me (hot weather or Mac issues) and that bring me to a different result. And if you have tested the camera a half year later, maybe you wouldn't have noticed overheating issues, like Mic or I did ;)
@@Flabig360 there's nothing wrong with you sharing that you are happy 🙂 But as you criticised my opinions in the first place, implying that i'm being biased... i'm simply doing the same thing back to you. If you're going to move into the 'reviewer' territory as a content creator, then you are going to be judged by people about whether you're being biased or not. There were MANY more flaws of qoocam 3 than just overheating and mac compatibility, and while i didn't see your video or comments, you do seem VERY quick to defend Kandao, despite the many issues and many unhappy customers.
have you tried two litte pieces of cut nd gel sheet taped over the lenses to help with exposure in bright daylight ?
Nope… as this is not an easy solution that would be possible or worthwhile for most people.
Just my opinion but i cant stand 360 picture and video cameras , I just don't see it to look at a flat object it does not look good to me I still think you need to do videos of 360 3D VR now that is good and worth doing so if you have updates on cameras like that ...I would love to see more videos for those and see whats out now that is the on the top for its price and are any of them live stream capable.
I am not interested in buying this camera, but out of curiosity I would like to ask if Kandao has released any interesting gadgets dedicated to this camera? Is there any big choice or perspective here? This is what I missed in the review
Not really, hence why I didn’t mention it.
Dont they have an nd filter for this qoocam 8k ultra!
Absolut outstanding review, as always. Thank you. ❤
By thy way, I won. The Cow Cam isn't as good as expected. 😉
So you invite me and my daughter to Sydney? 😍
Trisio for president. 😊
You can come any time you like… as long as you pay for your own ticket 😂
@@BenClaremont 😄😊
Are there any ND lenses that would work on this camera. Would that fix the over exposure?
There aren’t.
max spacial audio? i thought it never worked
about the "insta" file splitting.. does qoocam misses some seconds every 30 minutes?
No, there is no gap. Mic from 360rumors could record over 17h without any gap
hey Ben very nice review could you do one for labpano's pilotpano please? i like hearing unbiased reviews , or maybe tell us why it doesnt seem to have many reviews anyway thank you for the content
Thanks, but I won’t be making one as there isn’t really much demand for that camera. It takes a while to make these reviews and I have better topics I’d prefer to make them about 😁
@@BenClaremont Thanks for the response fair enough , keep up the good work.
I was on the verge of purchasing a Qoocam 8K. But then I heard the negative comments from more than one reviewer. So, I went in for an Insta 360 X2. But regreted that too, as the quality of stills is simply not up to the mark. I use 360 cameras for stills and not video. I might go in for the flagship of Ricoh after a year or so, because they seem to be the best at 360 stills.
for the dynamic range testing... was this in regular auto mode for all the cameras or was the insta360 in HDR mode? I get lazy sometimes with changing settings on my X3, but i should be considering switching to HDR more often.
The X3 was using Active HDR
An out of the box camera that shuts down after 5min because of overheating gets sent back immediately, no questions asked.
Can you do Matterport with this thing?
Nope
@@BenClaremontSo for real estate Insta360 and Ricoh is the better option. For now.
Hey Ben, can't say your review is thorough and entirely fair. You made no attempt to test the night / low light performance of the QooCam 3 vs the others. This is something I have tested myself and seen other reviewers test, and the QooCam 3 is better than many other 360 camera out there (including the Insta 360 X3). Give credit where credit is due. Also, not everyone is using a 360 for real-estate.
I did a low light test in this video, so yes that’s a very definite attempt. Reviews can ALWAYS be more thorough, it’s just a matter of spending more and more time on more tests. I spent plenty of time already on the many other make or break factors that are more important to most people’s buying decisions. I gave the camera plenty of credit where it’s due. And the video doesn’t assume the camera is for real estate.
@@BenClaremontWhat about its spatial audio capabilities? You only mention that in passing. It has better spatial audio than most 360 cameras out there. I say these things as someone who respects your views on 360 cameras and have followed you for years. I also have several 360 cameras and use them for what they're good for. No single 360 camera is great for every situation for example, GoPro Fusion was great, but had long processing times and in fact, sometimes it wouldn't even complete the stitching if the footage was over 9 mins. Yet many of us loved it.
@@itaikndoro unfortunately I didn’t have time to do in-depth tests on absolutely everything. I’m pretty sure this is the most thorough review of the lot so far, and my focus was on the real make or break features like the ones I mentioned. Spatial audio is a nice touch for sure, but even that- I’ve seen some people say that the audio is terrible on their cameras and barely usable. It’s still early days with the Qoocam and there is a very wide range of perspectives and experiences. Also, low light & spatial audio are niche uses- most people buy 360 cameras to reframe daytime action shots. This camera is clearly being marketed as an X3 competitor and fails at most aspects of that.
Perhaps I'll wait till Canon bring our their 360 camera
Thank you for making this video. You saved my money. I was about to buy it. Now I will not. In fact I will never buy it until I see your review on it.
Bad Max 😂
520
Disappointing. Thanks for
Basically don’t buy this camera.
Unfortunately
Fck Qoocam........I was about to purchase the Qoocam 3 but somehow the Devil whispered me in my ears to watch some unbiased and quality reviews about this camera (or Camera brand as a whole for that matter). This is unacceptable behaviour if a company does not listen to paying customers. Imagine you screw up a shoot.....due to technical bullshit that comes with this camera. Can you held Qoocam Inc. responsible and accountable for any damages then? No.
Qoocam 3 looks so bad lol 😂.
Well done Ben, I wish there are more unbiased reviewers who are trashing bad brands and bad products for good reasons. We are all sick and tired of all tech reviewers who are waging their tails as soon as new apple or android phone is out.
I don't mind them updating the firmware after launch. Let people that have no patience buy it, they can find all the problems, then they know everything that needs to be fixed. The updates with the Ego have been good. Shame there's no internal ND filters in these cameras, that would fix the overexposure. The Ego is a tricky camera to use, but there's nothing else like it, for a similar price, I have had great fun using it, so wouldn't mind buying from Kandao again, but I'll wait until they update the firmware. I don't mind their PR disasters, coming from the UK, I'm used to appalling service😂
Glad you like the EGO- however it’s not up to paid customers to be beta testers…
I hope Canon brings the 180/360 degree camera they introduced
Thank you! Was worried about the heat issue and you answered my question truthfully!!!
Honestly, I'm not buying another Qoocam camera. The first one wasn't fun and cost way too much to repair. Luckily I sold it for about the same price I bought it since it was considered "rare."
Even if Qoocam knocked it out of the park, I wouldn't be able to bring myself to pick one up due to the shady practices of silencing negative feedback. It's sleazy, dishonest, and frankly dangerous.
Great review. I had (have...) high hopes for this camera, in part thanks to the lower price and higher recording quality than the Insta. If the other guy recorded 17 hours on a motorbike, of course the camera will be cooler
I earn the 1st ver, 4K one 3d one, and honestly, it just bad, technology wise is good but UX, UI, etc built quality, sturdiness in all of them is bad.
I hear the Z1 has its own bracketing with a recent update. I'm gonna update mine and see how that works compared to the dual fisheye. Hoping it works about the same or better so I can ditch my pricy adobe software xD
Edit: Not too surprised they're straight-up ripping off other cameras... It is a Chinese company after-all, and they don't seem to care about any kind of copyright laws, and are even protected against such copyright claims by their own systems. Kind of sad really, I bet they would have some pretty cool innovations if they actually tried to make unique things instead of copy the existing.
we need more negative reviews of problematic products, i know it is hard for a youtuber that needs free products to test so bravo !
Sounds like Qoocam is an ostrich.
I tested both the x3 and the qoocam 3 at the same time. Loved the better photography DNG8 and bracketing ability of the qoocam, but handling and usability, battery life and handling was terrible (battery falls out of the slot when you plug the usb-c cable in because of open door) Also, the x3 just has better features, and lively community.
Thanks for sharing
overheat on a 34 degrees !!. that wont even start if I shoot in Dubai !
excellent review as usual . I hope you do a new video about new platforms or softwares for Virtual tours 2023.
Yeah it will last 60 seconds in Dubai before overheating. And yep will remake that video soon 👍🏻
I appreciate your straight forward reviews. I trust your opinion. If KanDao black balls you, I black ball KanDao. If there's a problem with their camera, I'd prefer they fix it with their design team, not their marketing team.
100%
👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
I have a Qoocam 8K. Since the beggining: Out of focus after one hour. Bad stitching even after they send me a custom upgrade firmware file. After a year or so almost bloated, cant record video without get the camera connected to an external battery.
But most awefull of everything ... ONE LENS came different!!! One lens give me sharp images other is blur!!! So i have to sharp half of the image manually to try to fix the difference, getting obvious bad stitching line. The answer was "We can do nothing since you bought it outside our official marketplace"...
What you say is very important: that "unpredictability" is unacceptable for virtual tour makers.
Now I use that camera just to show off my equipment. But never used it again to shoot anything. I mean ... Qoocam 8K is USELESS AT ALL to me.
Sorry to hear- your experience is a common one unfortunately.
I have Qcam 8k, I use it for VTs .... the first one the battery double up in size and I contacted the company for warranty, they say is ok to get a replacement, I got the second one and the battery did the same and some screws just pop out from the front lenses. I contact them again, no answer for a while they just told me to buy a battery and change it my self ... Kandao isn't the best at the customer service game!
I’ve heard that exact story all too often. It’s too risky using their stuff- better to go with safer options like Insta360 or Ricoh 👍🏻
Doesn't make it very encouraging that they will make an 8K version.
For sure- will just be more of the same, but at 8K
Kwacky cam doesn't want to send a legit reviewer a camera, but they send them to a bunch of nobodys for a review that won't say anything negative about them.