Rylo, a startup founded in part by the man responsible for Instagram’s impressive Hyperlapse video stabilization, may be the first company to truly bring 360 into the mainstream with the Rylo camera. It uses spherical video capture not to output a virtual reality experience, but rather to create more interesting fixed-frame videos — that is, standard rectangular content.
The Rylo records spherical video just like any other 360 camera. Users are free to share the full spherical video if they like, but the Rylo’s secret is its ability to allow you to “direct” the camera from within its mobile app (currently limited to iOS, with an Android version coming in early 2018) to output perfect fixed-frame videos.
Reframe, set automatic pans, and track objects, all with liquid smooth stabilization, after the shot is made.
The Rylo can easily fit into the palm of your hand and the 360 video works best when you can get the camera away from your body. Rylo includes an everyday case with the camera, essentially a mini selfie stick that helps get your fingers out of the way of the camera’s dual lenses.
The hardware interface is simple with just two buttons – so even beginners can get the hang of it. One turns on the camera and starts and stops recording, the other switches between still and video modes. Next to the mode button is a small LCD that displays shooting information.
It is not ruggedized or weatherproof, however. an optional Adventure Case is available for $69, which can attach to GoPro mounts too!
On the inside, twin sensors capture 4K spherical video or 6K spherical photos. A 16-gigabyte MicroSD card is included — good for about 35 minutes of video — and cards up to 256GB are supported. Standard fixed-frame videos are output at Full HD 1080p resolution, although the number of real pixels in the frame will depend on the angle of view you set when editing, since any “zooming” is digital.
Rylo has incorporated a technology that is both faster than Wi-Fi and easier to set up than Bluetooth for transferring footage to your phone: a USB cable. Pair it with your mobile app and start shooting!
The Rylo app serves up three key ingredients when it comes to editing your video: Points, Follow, and FrontBack. These make up the heart of the Rylo experience, and how it differentiates itself from other 360-degree cameras.
All of the Rylo’s editing features wouldn’t be half as good if it wasn’t for the underlying stabilization technology. The system works thanks to a built-in gyroscope that measures movement and corrects for it in real-time. In a way, this is no different than how Hyperlapse works, by analyzing the data from your phone’s accelerometer. Here, the Rylo has a huge advantage over traditional electronic image stabilization thanks to its 360 degrees of coverage.
The stabilization system isn’t just useful for smoothing out your footsteps or shaky hands, in fact its good enough to simulate a stable platform for time-lapse sequences. The Rylo’s Timelapse mode can speed footage up by up to 16 times, and it still looks incredibly smooth.
Buy the Rylo Camera on Amazon for $499.00 here.
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