XPhase Scan is a new 360 camera for virtual tours with 16K resolution! How does it compare with its predecessor, the XPhase Pro and other 360 cameras?
XPhase Pro (reviewed here) was a 360 camera that could capture 360 photos with 200 megapixel resolution. It achieved this class-leading resolution by using 25 cameras. Because it used so many cameras, its stitching algorithm had difficulty in tight spaces such as cars. It was also more expensive than many other 360 cameras.
XPhase is now launching the successor to the XPhase Pro — the all-new XPhase Scan. Unlike its predecessor, the Scan has only three lenses and instead uses a motor to rotate them to take photos sequentially before stitching them. This new design has several advantages. First, Scan has smoother stitching and can be used at a shooting distance as close as 0.3m. And because it has far fewer sensors, it costs less — $499 compared to $879 for the XPhase.
The downside of this design is that it can only take photos on a tripod. It can’t be used handheld or while there is a lot of movement in the background. It also takes longer to take a photo (about 20 seconds) compared to the XPhase. This makes it more suited for virtual tours as opposed to taking 360 photos for social media.
SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES
| Lenses | 3 lenses |
| Aperture | f/2.2 |
| Field of view | Fully Spherical |
| Sensors | 3 x 1/3.2 inch 8mp BSI CMOS |
| Photo resolution | 16384 x 8192 (134mp) stitched 200 megapixels unstitched |
| Shutter speed | TBA |
| ISO | TBA |
| Photo format | PNG or DNG |
| Self-timer | 5, 10, or 20 secs. |
| HDR mode | 3 shots (-2, 0, +2) or 6 shots (-3 to +2) or 6 shots (-5 to +2) |
| Stabilization | none |
| Storage | USB thumbdrive |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi |
| Battery | 3400 mAh Li-Po |
| Compatibility | iOS, Android, Windows |
| Waterproof | No |
| Dimensions | 45mm x 22.5mm x 165mm |
| Weight | 271g |
| MSRP | $499 |
XPhase is expected to go on sale by end of December 2023. They said they will send me a review unit for testing. I’ll post as soon as I receive it and test it. Meanwhile, what do you think of the XPhase Scan’s rotating design? Let me know in the comments!
Three issues you may have with the xPhase.
Firstly, what is low-light colour like?
Secondly, what is sun glare like?
Thirdly, what kind of support will be in place to handle returns? I had to wait literally months for them to fix my xPhase Pro X, and eventually they just sent me somebody else’s returned camera which worked but had blurry patches, which was presumably why it was returned to them. Until they are available on standard purchasing platforms with proper returns policies in place, I wouldn’t touch them.
Looking forward to seeing real-life examples. For static scenes in virtual tours this could be the first real near DSLR alternative and priced at not more than Trisio 2 lite Could be a winner?
Interesting, this is sound like trisio way) just amazing that they make new idea… Really interesting)
Wow, surprising! Haven’t heard from them in a long time. Still have and sometimes use the Xphase Pro S and X2, mainly for outdoors. But only if I go on a dedicated 360 walk. For normal use I carry the Insta360 X3 which is much more convenient.
Still, Im eager to learn more about this one. I might be tempted. Wondering about the sensor though, still phone-sized. Why did they not go for a 1-inch…
I agree but guess it’s down to price point…. 3 * 1″ sensor version = 999 vs 499 with smaller sensors.
Hi Mic.
Shutter speed: 1/4000s – 2s
ISO: 100
Photo format also inlcudes: JPG and PNO
Batteries are industry standard size and user removeable
More info in the Xphase Scan User Manual available on the Xphase Google Drive.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1-OXae23cmymYcWUld7OMNlfUyIfr2kVk
Scan Advantages:
– less parallax, less stitching errors and less curves in indoor stitching
– closer safe shooting distance, better for small space shooting
– simpler structure, possibly less malfunction
– industry standard, removeable battery
– lower price
Scan Disadvantages:
– All angles are not shot simultaneously, shooting dyanmic scenes there might be ghosting, best suited for static scenes such as indoors
– No support for handheld shooting, requires more stable mounting than X2
– Slower shooting speed than X2
– Dead zone in nadir (approx 24 degrees)
Thank you Dean for your continuous support! Hope to click the buy button soon.
You’re welcome.
Jepp, it looks interesting.
But for my requirements it is not a game-changer.
If someone has got no equipment and wants to start, it could be a nice solution.
Also, if you don´t want to use the “highclass” workflow of external stiching (PTGUI, etc)
Pros (compared to DSLR/DSLM):
+ only a small amount of time-savings while shooting
+ big amount of time-savings while post-processing (No stiching needed)
+ price
+ weight
+ dimensions (think also about transport)
Cons:
– Small sensors will not have the best picture-quality
– Fewer setting options (Camera-modes)
– Controlling the 360° recording area is more difficult (moving objects, people, animals, machines, etc.) – as you cannot pause the automated roatation.
Neutral:
± Need of tripod
± No 360 video
± No handheld-shoots
For ME it´s clear:
This small “good-useable-gadget” could be the best compromise in terms of transportation as a “always with you camera”.
But it cannot replace my 360 equipment for creating “the best” quality to customers, who needs or want exactly that.
Does 16k really matter in a “real world” scenario when it comes to typical virtual tours? Perhaps if you are looking for museum quality, where zooming in to see intricate details perhaps but it also increases load times. Curious what others think, thanks.
Yes. I shoot at more than 16k all the time. Clients appreciate the detail.
Most of my customers want the “best” quality.
But of course it’s always a compromise between effort, price and result.
I have been shooting with cameras that have a 35 mm format sensor for many years now. Depending on the lens, this can produce up to “20k” with more or less effort.
For the VR tour, I often scale the panoramas to 12 or 14k so that the loading times are faster.
In any case, the image quality is still better than with any 360 camera if you take all the criteria into account:
– Sharpness/resolution
– dynamic range
– colors
– Noise
So yes, there are 360 specialists who regularly produce in (approx.) 16k 😉
If you are going to rotate (point of failure) you should just have a single lens at the point of parallax. Get it all at the zero point.
True. It will be interesting how well they can stitch it given that not all of the lenses are at the nodal point.
Good point! It looks like 2 lenses, the upper and the lower, are at the NPP, at least I hope so. Perhaps the middle lens is as well, even if it doesn’t look like that?
The middle one is at the NPP. The top and bottom are about 3mm off. See here: https://360rumors.com/xphase-scan-first-look/
When will the camera be available for sale?
I’m going to find out!
According to Stabilizer-Pro the camera will go on sale by the end of Dec.
Hi, does it support MacOs and iOs?