Cameras

Not all action cameras are supported by ActionStitch, due to one or more of these problems:

  • Fake 4k/30fps: many action cameras claim to support 4k/30fps yet in reality they shoot at a lower resolution or fps and then interpolate the video to 4k/30 fps, leading to poor video quality.
  • Small sensor size: a good action camera should not use a sensor smaller than 1/2.3 inches;. Any camera that doesn't explicitly mention the sensor size in the specifications isn't likely to have a good sensor.
  • Dropped frames: some real 4k/30fps action cameras may not have the enough processing power so they will drop video frames from time to time. This creates a difficult problem for video stitching when two videos become out-of-sync.
  • Overheating: many action cameras may shut down after a long period of continuous video recording because of cpu or battery overheating. A slow SD card can also cause this too so it is always a good idea to use a sd card with U3 rating.

After extensive testing, we now suggest one of two cameras:

  • GoPro Hero 10 Black: this is a reliable camera from a well-known brand. The 5.3k resolution is a plus, but the videos don't appear sharper than 4k videos shot by other cameras. We wish the sensor could have been bigger than the current size of 1/2.3 inches. Additionally, overheating may occur when they are used in hot summer days for a long time.
  • GAMSOD 4K/60fps with Ambarella H22: this is the best quality budget action camera available on Amazon. In 4k mode the video clarity is on par with GoPro 10. It is also less likely to overheat. Please note that there is a cheaper 4k/30fps version which we don't recommend.

Other that these 2 cameras, we also tested the following cameras. However, we wouldn't suggest any of these over GoPro 10 or GAMSOD, unless you already own one and can buy another to make a pair.

  • Firefly 8SE was the first camera we used and it worked quite well. Released in 2018, it has the same sensor size as GoPro 10. The main downside is that multiple cameras that we tested developed an out-of-focus issue causing some areas to become blurry.
  • Firefly X is a successor to Firefly 8SE. Its build quality is much improved, but the video clarity isn't. Compared with other cameras, it tends to produce gloomy videos even on sunny days.
  • Osmo Action 1: has a slight frame dropping issue, although not as severe as some low-end cameras. It is certainly usable, but the price was raised from $199 to $299 after Osmo Action 2 was released, so there is no reason to get this one.
  • Osmo Action 2: with its smallest size among all action cameras, overheating is always a majro concern.
  • Osmo Action 3: we have not tested this camera extensively, but based on the specificaitons and online feedback it should be comparable with GoPro 10.
  • GoPro Hero 11 Black: the latest GoPro model offers a slightly higher resolution ((5312x2988 vs 5120x2880), but the video quality isn't noticeably improved when compared side by side with GoPro 10.
  • Insta360 One RS 4k: we may have gotten a defective one, but recording in 4k/30fps won't last longer than 30 minutes.

If you already own a camera that is not in the above list and can't decide if it can be used, let us know and we'll help you figure it out. We'll also help you obtain the camera calibration data needed by ActionStitch.

Camera Mount

This drawing illustrates how you would place 2 cameras next to each other.

camera_view.png

Most action cameras have a horizontal Field of View (FOV) of about 120 degrees. Some of them claim to have a 170 degree FOV, which actually means the diagonal FOV. To make the 180 degree view, you'll need to place 2 cameras at an angle of 80 to 90 degrees. This will create an overlapped area of roughly 30 degrees, which should be sufficient for ActionStitch to find a good number of feature points that can be seen by both cameras.

You should also expand the coverage to a little bit more than 180 degrees to give enough space for cropping or in case if cameras are not facing precisely the right direction.

Currently there isn't any dual camera mount available on the market designed for this purpose. But, there are several ways to make one. The recommended way is 3d printing. You can print one from the following list if you own or have access to a 3d printer, or you can use a 3d printing service such as Craftcloud.

Camera Angle Mount
Firefly 8SE 90 firefly_8se.stl
Firefly X 100 firefly_x.stl
Osmo Action 80 osmo_action.stl
GoPro Hero 10 Black 90 gopro_10.stl
GAMSOD 100 gamsod.stl
gopro10_mount.png

If the camera you decide to use is not on the list, please send camera dimensions to us and we'll try to create the 3d model.

It is also possible to make your own mount with an aluminum bar, or modify an off-the-shelf dual camera mount. However, a 3d printed mount is much easier to set up.

Tripods

It is highly recommended that cameras should be placed on a tall tripod, at least 12 feet, to make the video look so much better. There are many tall tripods that are 12 or 13 feet sold as light stands on Amazon but they are perfectly fine to be used as a tripod, as action cameras are usually lightweight.

For outdoor big fields you may need one as tall as 20 feet. Tripods in this range can be quite expensive. The cheapest one that turned out to work well is Glide Gear TST 20, which has a price tag of $299.