Lecture Notes: Comparison of 360 Action Camera and Pro Level 3D LiDAR Camera

Introduction

• Presenter: Ben Schmeke from Authentic
• Purpose: Compare a $400 consumer 360 action camera and a $6,000 pro-level 3D LiDAR camera.
• Tools: Provided by Adorama (Pro 3 camera and tripod for testing).

Matterport and 3D Virtual Tours

• Matterport: Leading tool for creating 3D virtual tours across industries (real estate, hospitality, architecture, etc.).
• Matterport Pro 3 Camera: Comes with carrying case, charger, battery, and tripod adapter.
• Insta360 X3 Camera: Known for its portability and ease of use.

Camera Features

Matterport Pro 3 Camera

• Components: 3Pod tripod with carbon fiber, H2 ball head with smooth dials for leveling and movement.
• Operation: Auto spins 360 degrees on a tripod, captures 134-megapixel HDR images, and scans with LiDAR for depth data.

Insta360 X3 Camera

• Features: Small, lightweight, ultra-portable.
• Operation: Connects via Wi-Fi to a mobile app, captures HDR360 image, and moves around the space to capture.

Key Differences

1. LiDAR Technology

• Pro 3 Camera:
  • Uses LiDAR to gather 1.5 million points per scan.
  • Accurate to ±20mm at a 10-meter range, maximum range 100 meters.
  • Suitable for professional, enterprise-level jobs.
• Insta360 Camera:
  • Struggles in alignment for complex spaces.
  • Requires manual adjustment, which may result in less accuracy compared to Pro 3.

2. Resolution and Clarity

• Insta360 Camera:
  • Offers impressive shots, good for medium/small real estate shoots.
  • Affordable option for beginners or smaller projects.
• Pro 3 Camera:
  • Superior clarity and dynamic range, handles difficult lighting effectively.
  • Ideal for high-value properties and larger, complex spaces.

3. Max Potential and Applications

• Insta360 Camera:
  • Affordable entry point for starting a virtual tour business.
  • Promotes fast, convenient operations for smaller scales.
• Pro 3 Camera:
  • Suitable for large-scale, complex jobs like shopping centers, stadiums.
  • Provides differentiation in competitive markets.

Business and Operational Insights

• Speed of shooting is comparable; Insta360 is faster in photo capture.
• Pro 3 excels in scan alignment, reducing error in complex spaces.
• Business upsells include adding virtual tours to Google Maps for SEO benefits.
• 3D virtual tours enhance customer engagement and conversion rates.

Conclusion

• Both cameras have significant potential in the 3D virtual tour market.
• Choosing between them depends on the scale, complexity, and budget of the project.
• Potential for future updates and further exploration of camera capabilities.