Review: the LyfieEye200 360-degree VR camera


Updated on 17 June 2019 | 0 Comments

The travel camera for when selfies and panoramas won’t do…

Selling itself as the “world’s first 360 AR VR camera”, the LyfieEye200 could well make a fantastic travel companion for photographers keen to experiment.

Created by eCapture Technologies Inc, the LyfieEye200 is being funded by an IndieGoGo campaign (which has already hit its target) and is the successor to the LyfieEye, which was successfully backed on KickStarter in 2016.

We tested one out. Here’s what you need to know.

How does it work?

To use the camera you first need to download and install the LyfieView200 app. The camera plugs directly into a smartphone via the USB-C port or, using the supplied adapter, Micro-USB.

At first glance, this doesn’t bode well for iPhone users, and even if you were to buy an adapter for Apple’s proprietary connectors, the creators say on their IndieGoGo campaign page that the camera isn’t compatible with iPhones right now, but they are working on it. While there’s hope iPhone users, it seems that Windows phone owners are out of luck entirely.

LyfieEye200eCapture Technologies Inc

What’s it like to use?

When the camera is plugged in, the app launches automatically (though you can disable this within the app). It takes just a few seconds to load and the camera is ready to use almost instantly. The viewfinder is full-screen, so what you see is exactly what you’ll get once the photo or video is saved, and because it’s a single unit, it's far easier to get the right shot than with standalone 360-degree devices.

Capturing photos is pretty quick, but there is a slight delay of a second or so between pressing the button and the picture actually being taken. A steady hand and a touch of patience is needed if you want to get the best shot.

Additional features include the ability to choose how you view the live image – as a 3D sphere or scrollable 360-degree image, among others – as well as letting you navigate by swiping with your finger, or moving your phone around to view different parts of the scene.

LyfieEye200 panoramaLatn Black

How do I share my photos?

Sharing your 360 holiday snaps is pretty simple, as both photos and video can be posted to Facebook or YouTube directly from the app, after capture or even streamed live.

You can't, however, share via WhatsApp or email directly, and instead the recipient has to download the LyfieView app in order to view a unique download link you send them.

What’s the image quality like?

The images captured with the LyfieEye200 vary in quality depending on the lighting conditions, and how they’re viewed later on. In low- or even medium-light, image and video can become noticeably grainy. This becomes even more apparent, particularly with videos, when viewing full-screen on a laptop.

The 3K resolution isn't quite enough to create a convincing and immersive VR experience, so if you're hoping to relive those rooftop margaritas at home, you might want to reconsider. Even on the highest setting, when we reviewed our shots in VR mode in a Daydream View headset they looked more like standard definition than HD.

LyfieEye200 small world viewLatn Black/Instagram

What could be improved?

Depending on how you intend to use the camera, the 3K resolution could be an issue. If you're not going to bore friends and family with your shots on the big screen when you get home, this probably doesn't matter. Otherwise, despite sounding like a lot, 3K doesn’t really translate to ultra-high- or even high-definition when viewed on bigger screens, or in VR-style headsets.

Another small annoyance is that it's likely you're going to have to turn your phone upside down to operate the camera, as the USB port is probably at the bottom. This means you'll have to ensure screen rotation is enabled, and if it's not, those extra seconds fiddling with the phone settings could be the difference between missing and capturing that perfect moment.

The verdict

Although there is room for improvement, for the size, weight and at the current price, the LyfieEye200 is very good value for money for travellers. It makes it possible to capture good quality 360-degree photos and videos of your adventures, and makes them easy to share with friends and family back home.

Plus, it takes up almost no space in your pocket or bag, and is entirely powered by your phone, so you’ll never need to worry about charging it.

Right now you can pre-order the LyfieEye200 for $89 from the IndieGoGo page for delivery in June 2018, or wait until it launches when it will retail for around $159.

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