Panono: world's first panoramic "ball camera"
In a project that has caught the attention of artists and gadget fans worldwide, German start-up Panono has developed an entirely new way to take photographs. Panono, currently in the prototype stage, is a spherical camera that can be thrown into the air to shoot 360°x360° images. The company is currently raising funds for its innovative project through crowdfunding website Indiegogo, where the camera can be pre-ordered for $549.
With its 11cm diameter and 300g weight, Panono can easily be thrown into the air. The camera's accelerometer automatically calculates the highest point of its arc, where it triggers the camera's 36 sensors simultaneously. The 36 images are stitched together automatically, resulting in a fully panoramic, high-resolution image (up to 72 megapixels).
The 360° photo can be shared immediately using a smartphone or tablet and the free Panono app. While the spherical shape makes throwing it in the air the most logical way to take a picture, the ball camera can also be used as a handheld camera or can be mounted on a stick and triggered via the moble app.
The idea for Panono came to Jonas Pfeil while he was a student at the Technical University of Berlin, and he presented the first ball camera prototype as part of his master's thesis in 2011. Today, the company is accepting pre-orders for Panono through Indiegogo, although delivery is not expected to take place until the third quarter of 2014.
Learn more about Panono and fund the project: indiegogo.com/projects/panono-panoramic-ball-camera
Watch a video on Panono: youtu.be/c8xjXqC9m2A
