360° Video Capture Guidelines

These best practices apply to all supported 360° cameras.

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Quick Capture Summary

Parameter	Recommendation
Camera position	In front of the operator, slightly above head level
Walking speed	4—6 km/h (2.5—4 mph)
Camera stability	Walk steadily, turn smoothly; no gimbals or stabilizing mounts
Distance from surfaces	Maintain at least an arm’s length from walls and objects
Lighting	Ensure good lighting, avoid strong contrasts
Environment	Minimize moving people or machinery
Capture duration	15 seconds to 30 minutes per video
Minimum movement	Walk at least 5 m (16 ft) per capture

Camera Position

Keep the camera in front of you and slightly above head level throughout capture.

Movement Speed

Walk at a consistent walking pace during recording.

Recommended speed:

• 4—6 km/h (2.5—4 mph)

Avoid:

• Running

• Stopping frequently

• Sudden accelerations

Consistency is more important than exact speed.

Camera Stability

Walk steadily and turn smoothly. Avoid sudden movements or deliberate shaking.

Do not use gimbals or other mechanically stabilizing mounts. Natural walking motion gives the camera’s motion sensors (IMU) the input needed for reconstruction.

Distance from Surfaces

Maintain distance from walls and objects.

Recommendations:

• Stay at least an arm’s length from nearby surfaces.

• Avoid walking directly beside walls or equipment.

This helps prevent motion blur and improves reconstruction quality.

Lighting Conditions

Proper lighting significantly improves reconstruction quality.

Recommendations:

• Turn on all available lights in the capture area

• Avoid extreme lighting contrasts

• Avoid mixing light sources with different color temperatures when possible

When transitioning between different lighting environments (for example indoors to outdoors), slow down briefly to allow the camera exposure to adjust.

Environment Preparation

Before starting capture:

• Schedule recording during low activity periods

• Reduce moving people and equipment in the environment

• Open doors between spaces when possible

• Remove obstacles that could interrupt movement

Moving objects can introduce reconstruction artifacts.

Capture Duration

Minimum recording length:

15 seconds per video (at least 30 frames)

Maximum recommended recording length:

30 minutes per video

Longer recordings may fail processing or produce unreliable results.

For large environments:

• Capture multiple videos instead of a single long recording.

Coverage

Ensure sufficient movement for reconstruction.

Recommendations:

• Walk at least 5 meters (16 ft) during capture

• Plan a route that covers the entire area

• Avoid very short recordings