Qoocam EGO launches on Kickstarter; here are its specifications and release date (updated February 9, 2022)

The Kandao Qoocam Ego 3D camera has launched on Kickstarter.  It is expected to be released on March 31, 2022.  Here are its specifications and the product launch video.

Qoocam EGO Specifications

Here are the specifications

Preliminary Impressions

I’ve been a 3D enthusiast for about 40 years now, so I am very pleased to see a new 3D camera.  3D cameras have been a niche product in the past, but as VR gains in popularity, it creates the possibility that some VR users might consider a 3D camera to capture their family moments and vacations.

I would like to see sample photos and videos from the Ego, and I’ve requested them from Kandao.  Besides image quality, I am also very curious about the workflow.  I expect that we should be able to review the 3D photos and videos on the viewer immediately, but the key is whether it is easy to share on social media, and on VR.  Tiktok and Instagram don’t support 3D but YouTube does, and so does Facebook.  I’m hoping that photos and videos from the EGO will be easy to share not just in 3D but in simulated 3D such as the wiggle method.  I also hope that the photos and videos are easy to share and view on a Quest or Quest 2 even to those who don’t have a Qoocam Ego.

How to get the Qoocam Ego for $269 if you paid the $1 reservation

Before the Ego launched on Kickstarter, Kandao invited people to reserve the Ego for just $1, which enables you to get the Ego for the Super Early Bird price of $269.  Here’s how to get the $269 price:

1.  On the Kickstarter page, choose the “Qoocam EGO VIP Club” reward.
2. For the pledge amount, put $269 for one camera or $519 for two cameras.
3. If you also pledged a different level such as $279, cancel it to avoid duplicate orders.

That’s all you have to do.

Crowdfunding is not the same as buying

Kickstarter is a crowdfunding platform and when you “back” a project, you should be aware that you are not buying the product per se.  Rather, you are supporting the company and in return they are promising to send you a product.  In that sense, it is similar to an unsecured loan with zero interest.  The company uses the funds to lift itself by the bootstraps to produce a product that they otherwise would not have the capital to produce.

Occasionally, crowdfunding projects fail and the backers have very limited remedies.  Sometimes, the project creator refunds the money but I’ve seen many projects where the creator just keeps posting endless updates, while never actually delivering the product or sends a refund, and the backers can’t do anything about it.  FWIW, it appears to me that crowdfunding most often fails when the product is supposed to be cutting edge, such as this Exo360 drone.

Although many companies resort to crowdfunding when they have limited capital, sometimes some companies use crowdfunding as a marketing tool.  They are either testing the market to see whether there is sufficient demand for a product, or they believe that the crowdfunding campaign itself can help raise awareness and free publicity for the product.

I believe Qoocam Ego falls into this latter category.  Kandao is a reputable and established company that has a long track record of producing 360 cameras for consumers and professionals, including the Obsidian Pro, which has the largest sensors among all-in-one 360 cameras.   Kandao has had a crowdfunding project before for the Qoocam, a hybrid 3D and 360 camera, and it went through without a hitch.  The Qoocam Ego is a far simpler camera that is extremely easy for Kandao to produce, so I’m highly confident that they will be able to deliver the product on time unless there is a serious disruption from COVID.

If you have any questions, please let me know in the comments and I’ll either pass them along to Kandao or invite them to respond directly.