What Camera Does Google Street View Use

What's the best 360 camera for Google Street View photography?

Written in 2018. Concluding updates January 2022

Best Street View 360 Photographic camera for Most People

Ricoh Theta 5

Splendid Quality 360 Photos and Seamless Compatibility with the Street View App.

Google Street view was the first interactive 360 experience that went mainstream, now its impossible to imagine a world where I can't explore a random street in New York from the comfort of my London home. Hundreds of millions of people use street view, so it'southward non surprising that many are keen to contribute to this huge repository of 360 images. Thankfully it's now easier than ever to add your own images to Google Street View and you can go started for less than $200.

Don't believe me? Hither'due south my Street View contour that has racked upwards nearly 1 one thousand thousand views, all with photos taken by a 360 camera that now costs $125

The number of cheaper, consumer 360 cameras has exploded in the past few years, meaning there are at present many options to cull from if you lot want a elementary, all in 1 solution for shooting 360 images. If you desire a 360 photographic camera specifically for uploading to Google street view there are definitely some options that are better than others. Google has minimum requirements for uploading 360 images onto its street view platform, so you'll demand to make sure you accept a camera that meets their standards.

Google accept really created 4 categories for the types of cameras it recommends for street view photography:

Street View mobile ready: 360 cameras that can publish Street View straight from a mobile app—without requiring a desktop workflow
Street View auto ready: 360 cameras tailored for vehicle-based drove with the highest accurateness
Street View vr ready: 360 cameras or systems that collect geometry in addition to generating sets of continued 360 photos
Street View workflow prepare: Publishing tools (sometimes bundled with cameras) that can upload to Street View accounts

If a 360 camera is compatible with Google Street view it will exist certified under one of these categories, but at long as its certified under one of them you can be sure information technology works with Street View.

Lets simplify things a chip. I'thou going to advise 5 360 camera for creating Street View images, I'll show you how much they price, the quality of the 360 images and how easy the camera is to use. Some of the cameras are very expensive and some are very cheap, the more expensive ones are for professionals, even so even the cheaper ones are adept plenty to get you Certified every bit a trusted photographer by Google

I've listed them based on their price vs value with the top one being best value for money. Any of these cameras work with Google Street view, so your final choice will probably depend on the cost of the photographic camera and the features it has.

Best 360 Cameras for Google Street View Photography

All-time Professional person Option: Pilot One EE

The Pilot One is a professional 360 camera designed as an all-in-one virtual bout creator. It has a large bear on screen and runs a version of android that includes its own apps. 1 of the capabilities of the Airplane pilot 1 is Google Street View integration.

The Pilot One features precision GPS, existent-time stitching and the power to shoot 8K images at 7fps. It'southward an ideal device for serious Street View creation and besides features information technology's ain virtual bout software which will automatically create a virtual tour as you shoot information technology. The photograph quality is decent simply non the highest quality; the master advantage is the all-in-one aspect of this versatile device.

The Airplane pilot One EE is among the most expensive options on this listing and is only actually suitable for professional users. You can get the photographic camera from the official website.

Ricoh Theta Z1

An culling professional, still significantly cheaper, pick is the Ricoh Theta Z1. The camera features two one Inch lenses which are capable of capturing loftier quality images in a variety of conditions.

The minor meaty size of the camera makes it ideal for hand held shooting, it's also uniform with most mounts. The Z1 does not connect straight with Street View but y'all tin can download your photos to your phone and and so upload those to Google Street View.

You lot may wish to edit your images before uploading as the Z1 tin shoot DNG RAW photos which tin dramatically increase the appearance of your photos if you are willing to edit them in a plan similar Lightroom.

At around $999/£950 the Z1 is withal an expensive option and may not be suitable for hobbyists.

Ricoh Theta Z1

The go-to all in 1 virtual tour camera. High quality sensors and RAW shooting brand this an astonishing camera for 360 photos.

Cheaper Option: Ricoh Theta Five

Cheque Toll on Amazon

The Ricoh Theta V is a popular and more affordable 360 camera . It can take great quality 360 photos and has an auto HDR characteristic. The Ricoh works perfectly with the Street View app, pregnant yous tin can snap your 360 images and upload them using the Street View App without the demand for a laptop or PC. The Ricoh is compatible with both iOS and Android so regardless of which phone you use you'll still exist able to get your images on street view.

Using this camera you can shoot high quality 360 photos which allow you to quality for a Trusted by Google certificate if yous upload 50 split photos. I used this camera to reach my trusted certificate and I've had hundreds of thousands of people view my images on Street View.

You tin can shoot Street View images using video, and the Theta V ha been designed with this feature in mind.

Ricoh Theta S

Uniform with all smartphones, this loftier quality camera tin shoot first-class 360 photos. Compatible with Street View app for instant upload.

1. If you lot need something cheaper – Samsung Gear 360 (2016)

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This cheap but powerful 360 camera is perfectly suited to shooting 360 photos that are the right size and quality for Google Street view. The i downside to this photographic camera is that the official app that controls the camera only works with Samsung Phones. If you accept a different type of phone I'd recommend using one of the other cameras on this list.

Merely connect the camera to your phone using a defended app, and then snap your 360 photos and save them on your telephone. Using the Street View app y'all can then upload your images to Google Street View. The photographic camera includes GPS data in the photo files, so Street View will know where you took them and upload the photos in the correct identify. All yous need is the cameras and your phone (and an internet connection), no PC or other software required.

Other features of the photographic camera include 4K 360 video, time-lapse, splash resistance and dust resistance. This is my far the best value 360 camera for taking Street View photos, and information technology does so pretty well too. Make certain you get the right camera, as of now there are two types of Gear 360 cameras, click the push button below to be taken to the right i.

Samsung Gear 360

30 megapixel 360 photographic camera fully compatible with the Street View App. Upload high quality Street View images instantly.

3D 360 Images: Vuze 360

The Vuze 360 is a mid range 360 photographic camera that can likewise shoot in 3D. You may think that 3D is a long expressionless fad, only when combined with a 360 video it actually looks pretty awesome. The Vuze volition be able to publish photos to Street View using desktop software included with the photographic camera. The software will offer a "i click" choice, which means information technology should be pretty like shooting fish in a barrel to go your mages published to Google once on your desktop. The Vuze has plenty of other features to get excited about, such equally internal stabilization, 360 spatial sound and excellent quality 360 video.

Vuze 360

The only affordable 360 camera that tin shoot in 3D. Excellent quality images produced by 8 separate lenses. Street View uniform using desktop software (included).

Giroptic iO

The Giroptic iO is an astonishing little device that turns your smartphone into a fully fledged 360 photographic camera. The tiny camera attached to the charging port of your phone, which y'all so hold upside downward to shoot your 360 photos. An app will allow you to command and preview the images likewise as salvage onto your telephone and share on social media. Giroptic are one of the companies that are Google Certified for street view, which ways their camera will work flawlessly with the Street View app.

So all you'll need to shoot and share Street View images is this tiny device and your phone.

Giroptic iO

Turns your phone into a 360 photographic camera. Bachelor for both Android and iOS, the camera tin can connect to Street View instantly.

Professional Option: Insta360 Pro

The Insta360 Pro is a 360 camera for professional pic makers, and then if y'all are only looking for a cheap solution this isn't the camera for yous. If y'all are looking to professional person quality 360 photos that can likewise exist uploaded to Street View then this could be the best all in one solution. The Insta360 Pro tin shoot extremely high quality 360 photos using 6 individual lenses at upwardly to 8K resolution. The Pro tin also shoot video as well, making it one of the most diverse 360 cameras ever. Again, this is a professional solution but well worth the high cost if you are looking to get into professional quality shoots.

Insta360 Pro

The professional 360 photographic camera for those who want to absolute highest quality. Certified by Google for Street View use.

That's my pick of the best 360 camera for street view. In that location are plenty more out there that are uniform, in fact there ware 20 360 cameras that are officially recognized by Google. My selection is based on personal experience, the overall specs of the camera and the toll/value for money. I hope you've constitute this guide useful and I'll be updating this post when newer and better 360 cameras are released.

The 360 Guy

Possessor of threesixtycameras.com. Writer, lensman and videographer. You tin see my YouTube channel for guides of how to shoot 360 video. I've written for The Times, Digital Photography School and Sunday Express.

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