Caption: 360 Photo showing Emeka and Traci during Connect Live Abuja
For 360 photo and Streetview enthusiasts you would agree with me that the tools are quite important when taking panoramic images or videos.
Over time we have seen innovations from beta testing to latest innovations giving us great images on Google Maps. At some point, we now have our phones making 360 videos contribution to Google Maps with the aid of AR Core.
In 2018, Local Guides who attended Connect Live got a surprise gift- Ricoh Theta V! It was unbelievable. We went home making 360 images around the world. Mine, unfortunately got broken during a meetup. I was madly sad and almost lost my mind. I couldn’t find a vendor to fix it. Now the Theta V is no longer in production and new ones are rarely available online for purchase.
Just when we thought Theta V was the ultimate then came Ricoh Theta Z which came with extra video storage and small screen. It had more features and better video recording capabilities for Streetview.
caption: An image showing two hands holding a phone and Ricoh Theta X. (Ricoh)
While I have been trying to save up to buy the $1000 Theta Z, the monster gadget has been announced - Ricoh Theta X!!! Now here is what I like about the new 360 camera. The color is cool. It has a large scree to preview the image you take instantly. Ricoh Theta X has a removable battery and memory card. The best news for me is that it comes with a protective cover (If this was available for Theta V, mine would still be in good shape. So, I made a complaint and suggest a cover for subsequent cameras just like LG 108).
I have to admit I’ve not had time to make much Street View lately @EmekaUlor not to mention nearly everywhere is covered here. When I do add a new housing estate nearby it lasts about a year then Google replace it with their own :). Life.
@PaulPavlinovich I understand that experience. It’s a regular occurrence in Lagos too. So, I think it would be more beneficial to have the 360 videos done in remote areas and not city centres.
That would be more helpful before Google arrives. I wish more LGs in small cities and rural areas could be empowered to take Streetview images in suburban and rural areas in developing countries.
The Theta X is indeed a powerful gadget. @EmekaUlor Would have love to have it but I haven’t used the theta V i bought enough. I got it sometime during lockdown to cover street view image in my hometown, Kaduna, whenever i am there. Google StreetView car has never stepped in this town, yet.
But i’m mostly in abuja now and it’s largely covered in StreetView.
any advice on ways to contributed more effectively? I’m largely discouraged by covering just streets without much POIs.
@Nuhuu Lucky you. Well from my little experience, you can focus on adding Streetview to Kaduna Map. Just a little at a time, before Google steps in. In 2018, Google announced that its StreeView Car would be mapping 8 new cities including Kaduna. I have seen the Streetview images in Onitsha, Benin and Port Harcourt already.
Caption: Googler presenting Streetview destinations at Google Nigeria event in Lagos
So basically, you can take 360 images of POIs, inside and outside shops and make videos to upload on the map. This would really be helpful and useful to many when you least expect it.
In Abuja, sure Google Streetview i s live. You could still take indoor 360 images of places you visit and add them to the maps.
Here is a list of cities Google Streetview plans to go next
I believe that the time will come when 3D shooting on Google Maps will be carried out not only with the help of Google Cars, Google Local Guides, but also with the help of drones (controlled by local experts).
Now I use the 360 ° camera only to shoot the interiors of monuments, churches and palaces: this is to prevent Mom Google from making my commitment in vain!
I’ve heard good things about this Insta One X2 (which costs half as much of Theta X), you can find a lot of information and tutorials on YT too!
@BriggsPh I know right. Keep taking those 360s in PH. They are making impacts.
@ghhost158 they future is always interesting. I looking forward to 3D and Metaverse on Google Maps
@davidhyno Oh. That’s quite strategic, Mom Google won’t be going indoors, at least for now, until the cover all the roads & streets. But Google Culture could catch up with you
Thanks for sharing the info on insta but I don’t know if it is Streetview ready like Theta. I am grateful for your unquantifiable support too.
I recently bought an Insta360 One R. Unfortunately I realized that it is not Street View ready. So I can upload 360° pictures to Google Maps but I can’t draw blue lines nor connect with the Street View app directly.
Sadly my Theta S and Theta V cameras doesn’t connect to the Street View app anymore. So hopefully the Theta X is a nice upgrade option, but unfortunately it isn’t listed as Street View ready.
Oh Wow! Thank you @LudwigGermany you just clarified my fear with other 360 cams. I was mainly interested in Streetview & blue lines via the app. So, I am always careful.
I believe all Theta products (Theta A for Business, V, Z & X) should be compliant with the StreetView app. My Theta V was broken so I haven’t done anything with it recently but I have checked and the app is working quite well with the Theta V.
I suggest you update the firmwares for your Theta S and V then try again.
