Story of choosing used 360 cameras.

We started testing the concept of gamifying virtual tours since the beginning of the Covid outbreak. We knew we didn't want to spend a lot of money making our first prototype tour software. What we needed was a 360 camera that is able to output high enough of resolution and panorama images.

We found a used Samsung Gear 360 camera listed on Facebook Market Place for $100 in Lincoln, NE, so we drove from Bellevue to meet this guy claimed that he only open the box. As soon as we get to the Starbucks where we supposed to meet up, we googled on the way and realized that the camera is so old (released in 2017) that doesn't have any software updates anymore, and it only works with a Samsung phone. The app was rated so bad that we came to a conclusion that we know this is going to be lemon. But we already drove 45 mins and at the edge, we felt bad skipping with the guy, so we told him if he is willing to sell for $50 we will take the risk and give it a try. The guy tried with his phone and realized it's pretty much a brick for him, and agreed to the deal.

We took it home, dug out the old Samsung S7 Edge and made it work! Well, just for like 5 mins run time pretty much every charge, and the battery is so dead. We took a couple of photos while it was live, and was able to make very early age prototypes with it. Until this day, this camera is still listed on many sites for over $190, I don't know we just got very unlucky with a dead battery, or even if it's a new one, I won't choose a camera packed so tight (it might have over-heat problem) with such a small battery (1,160 mAh) again.

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After  gaining some traction from the prototypes we were able to make, we needed to showcase with a better camera. We chose Kandao Qoocam 8k (Another used one from B&H for around $600), it came with original everything except the protective pouch (what a bummer!). We got to take a lot of pictures and made many tours with it, but it always randomly freezes and it has to restart the power and retake that image while it's frozen. I don't know if all of this series of camera has the same frozen bug or we just got another lemon. All I know is Kandao discontinued the 8k product line and launched Qoocam 8k Enterprise , from the specs, it looks like the difference is as small when it comes to picture quality, except it added some different port, such as the ethernet port, Oh, btw, the price tag is now $1990! We will probably get one when the price is more right (most likely another used one). Yes, I'm a lemon warrior, my business partner Stephen is hesitant about getting another used camera.

So what's next? I heard lots good things about Ricoh THETA Z1, I'm still tempted to drain my luck and stay in the used camera club.