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**barondla** · 10-10-2019, 09:38 AM - **1 Like**

Wonder if 2 Q bodies mounted back to back with 2 fisheyes would be able to mimic the Ricoh Theta 360° camera? Just a crazy thought.
Thanks,
barondla

Last edited by barondla; 10-10-2019 at 10:00 AM. Reason: Tablet can't spell Ricoh

pschlute · 10-10-2019, 09:52 AM - **1 Like**

interesting

**barondla** · 10-10-2019, 10:06 AM

Originally posted by pschlute

interesting

Actually own a Q & Q7. Have the Q fisheye and the Fuji security camera fisheye. This would be a mismatched setup. Q's have different sensor sizes and fisheyes aren't matched. But, wonder if the difference would be noticeable in a 360 degree image? Not sure how to process such an image. Have to think more on this.

Thanks,
barondla

photoptimist · 10-10-2019, 10:12 AM - **2 Likes**

Great idea!

And a set of six Qs arranged in a cubical configuration would provide higher and more uniform resolution.

Behold the Qube!

pschlute · 10-10-2019, 10:12 AM

Originally posted by barondla

Have to think more on this.

forget thinking.... get photographing

**Mikesul** · 10-10-2019, 10:15 AM

Interesting idea but the Theta relies on in camera stitching and image adjustment. Two cameras could probably be made to work but it would involve considerable effort on the part of the photographer in post processing. 360 degree panoramas can be done using ICE and other software but that uses many photos from one camera.

**othar** · 10-10-2019, 10:17 AM

Originally posted by photoptimist

Behold the Qube!

I think this might get a little cumbersome

ZombieArmy · 10-10-2019, 10:18 AM

Originally posted by Mikesul

Interesting idea but the Theta relies on in camera stitching and image adjustment. Two cameras could probably be made to work but it would involve considerable effort on the part of the photographer in post processing. 360 degree panoramas can be done using ICE and other software but that uses many photos from one camera.

I mean people have been doing 360 degree photos long before the Theta came out. I don't much see the point in using a multiple camera system when you can use a single camera. The point of the Theta is convenience.

**Mikesul** · 10-10-2019, 10:21 AM

Originally posted by ZombieArmy

I mean people have been doing 360 degree photos long before the Theta came out. I don't much see the point in using a multiple camera system when you can use a single camera. The point of the Theta is convenience.

_Yup!

tvdtvdtvd · 10-10-2019, 11:32 AM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by othar

I think this might get a little cumbersome

That would be Qumbersome.

**kwb** · 10-10-2019, 12:01 PM

Originally posted by barondla

Wonder if 2 Q bodies mounted back to back with 2 fisheyes would be able to mimic the Ricoh Theta 360° camera? Just a crazy thought.
Thanks,
barondla

That would be fun, but the fisheye should provide larger than 180 degrees horizontal angle of view if you just want to use two cameras for stitching. In my experience 03 fisheye is like maybe 120 degrees or a bit more (no scientific measurement though). You probably need at least three bodies, which would look cool anyway.

Maybe there are wider fisheyes, though.

(Edit: That ~120 degrees thing is before removing the automatic cropping done on Q7 body.)

Snapppy · 10-10-2019, 12:09 PM - **1 Like**

I had this idea last year to try to turn my old smartphone into a 360 camera. @kwb is correct, you would need very wide lenses, wider than the typical "fisheye" lenses we normally consider for cameras. This allows the image to wrap around the camera. It is a very fun idea though, I had fun working on my project. The results were cheap, but that's because I spent $5 on two cheapo wide-angle lens adapters for my front and rear cameras, and then a few hours programming an app that would record both front and rear cameras at the same time. The process of putting them together was manual but not all that time consuming. You can see the videos below, if you're interested. I also have a bunch of things I learned through the process that you may not have thought about, like 1:1 aspect ratio sensors vs 4:3. Read the description of the video for more details.

You Tube

(this one shows a brief clip of the actual lenses on the smartphone)

You Tube

**StiffLegged** · 10-10-2019, 01:33 PM

One downside is it's difficult to avoid selfies. (six mounted together would be Qumbersome? groannnnn...)

mhoule418 · 10-10-2019, 03:00 PM

Ya, but... Something that no one think of...

No matter how many camera you suggest, one would still miss top and bottom (sky and ground) to cover the 360° angles. Where a Theta camera really takes a shot of “everywhere”.

(except a really tiny portion under the camera)

**bkpix** · 10-10-2019, 08:41 PM

Quote:

And a set of six Qs arranged in a cubical configuration would provide higher and more uniform resolution.

Behold the Qube!

I love the sheer zaniness of this idea. You should market it.

10-10-2019, 09:38 AM - 1 Like	#1
barondla Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: midwest, United States Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,717	Dual Q wild thought Wonder if 2 Q bodies mounted back to back with 2 fisheyes would be able to mimic the Ricoh Theta 360° camera? Just a crazy thought. Thanks, barondla Last edited by barondla; 10-10-2019 at 10:00 AM. Reason: Tablet can't spell Ricoh

10-10-2019, 03:00 PM	#14
mhoule418 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Quebec city Posts: 228	Ya, but... Ya, but... Something that no one think of... No matter how many camera you suggest, one would still miss top and bottom (sky and ground) to cover the 360° angles. Where a Theta camera really takes a shot of “everywhere”. (except a really tiny portion under the camera)

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10-10-2019, 09:52 AM - 1 Like	#2
pschlute Moderator Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Surrey, UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,217	interesting

10-10-2019, 10:06 AM	#3
barondla Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: midwest, United States Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,717 Original Poster	Originally posted by pschlute interesting Actually own a Q & Q7. Have the Q fisheye and the Fuji security camera fisheye. This would be a mismatched setup. Q's have different sensor sizes and fisheyes aren't matched. But, wonder if the difference would be noticeable in a 360 degree image? Not sure how to process such an image. Have to think more on this. Thanks, barondla

10-10-2019, 10:12 AM - 2 Likes	#4
photoptimist Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2016 Photos: Albums Posts: 5,128	Great idea! And a set of six Qs arranged in a cubical configuration would provide higher and more uniform resolution. Behold the Qube!

10-10-2019, 10:12 AM	#5
pschlute Moderator Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Surrey, UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,217	Originally posted by barondla Have to think more on this. forget thinking.... get photographing

10-10-2019, 10:15 AM	#6
Mikesul Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 7,594	Interesting idea but the Theta relies on in camera stitching and image adjustment. Two cameras could probably be made to work but it would involve considerable effort on the part of the photographer in post processing. 360 degree panoramas can be done using ICE and other software but that uses many photos from one camera.

10-10-2019, 10:17 AM	#7
othar Site Supporter Join Date: May 2014 Location: Linz Photos: Albums Posts: 3,098	Originally posted by photoptimist Behold the Qube! I think this might get a little cumbersome

10-10-2019, 10:18 AM	#8
ZombieArmy Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Florida Posts: 3,210	Originally posted by Mikesul Interesting idea but the Theta relies on in camera stitching and image adjustment. Two cameras could probably be made to work but it would involve considerable effort on the part of the photographer in post processing. 360 degree panoramas can be done using ICE and other software but that uses many photos from one camera. I mean people have been doing 360 degree photos long before the Theta came out. I don't much see the point in using a multiple camera system when you can use a single camera. The point of the Theta is convenience.

10-10-2019, 10:21 AM	#9
Mikesul Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 7,594	Originally posted by ZombieArmy I mean people have been doing 360 degree photos long before the Theta came out. I don't much see the point in using a multiple camera system when you can use a single camera. The point of the Theta is convenience. _Yup!

10-10-2019, 11:32 AM - 2 Likes	#10
tvdtvdtvd Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 1,665	Originally posted by othar I think this might get a little cumbersome That would be Qumbersome.

10-10-2019, 12:01 PM	#11
kwb Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Pacific North West Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,224	Originally posted by barondla Wonder if 2 Q bodies mounted back to back with 2 fisheyes would be able to mimic the Ricoh Theta 360° camera? Just a crazy thought. Thanks, barondla That would be fun, but the fisheye should provide larger than 180 degrees horizontal angle of view if you just want to use two cameras for stitching. In my experience 03 fisheye is like maybe 120 degrees or a bit more (no scientific measurement though). You probably need at least three bodies, which would look cool anyway. Maybe there are wider fisheyes, though. (Edit: That ~120 degrees thing is before removing the automatic cropping done on Q7 body.)

10-10-2019, 01:33 PM	#13
StiffLegged Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2018 Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,636	One downside is it's difficult to avoid selfies. (six mounted together would be Qumbersome? groannnnn...)

10-10-2019, 08:41 PM	#15
bkpix Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Creswell, Oregon Photos: Albums Posts: 570	Quote: And a set of six Qs arranged in a cubical configuration would provide higher and more uniform resolution. Behold the Qube! I love the sheer zaniness of this idea. You should market it.

Dual Q wild thought

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