The Guru 360° is the first 3-axis gimbal designed specifically for 360-degree cameras. Adding to the flexibility of the MOZA interchangeable gimbal system, the unit works with all lightweight 360-degree cameras with minimal obstruction to the field of view.

360-degree or spherical video has played a significant role in the growth of modern VR, introducing the concept of ‘free-look’ to the mainstream consumer through social media, thanks to 360 video support on platforms like YouTube and Facebook. Accessible on even the most inexpensive, Cardboard-style VR headsets, combined with the advent of capable entry-level cameras like Samsung’s Gear 360 and Ricoh’s Theta S, 360 video’s popularity is growing rapidly.

SEE ALSO
Choosing the Right 360 VR Camera

Unfortunately, the limitations of current 360 capture mean that, viewed in VR, there are several optical inaccuracies at play, even when using more advanced stereoscopic hardware; some would argue that it doesn’t really qualify as VR. As such, some footage can be quite uncomfortable, causing nausea. Video stability is a major culprit, and 360 cameras exacerbate the problem of handheld capture severely. Watching footage of someone walking with a 360 camera can be a horrendous experience in a headset.

Major advancements are being made in software, such as the real-time stabilising feature coming to Insta360 devices, but the most reliable hardware solution is a motorised gimbal, which actively stabilises the shot. Typically these are designed with smartphones and action cameras in mind, meaning that parts of the mechanism obstruct a chunk of a 360 camera’s field of view.

The Guru 360° by GimbalGuru, introduced in this video, is the first 3-axis gimbal designed specifically for 360-degree cameras, minimising any obstructions. It supports lightweight 360 cameras like the Gear 360, Nikon Keymission, Ricoh Theta S and Kodak Orbit, correcting unwanted movement, rotation, roll, and horizon drift, offering ‘follow’, ‘lock’, and ‘head lock’ filming modes. Viewing footage captured using this device with a VR headset should be considerably more comfortable, and should improve image quality, with cleaner stitching and reduced artifacting.

Designed around the proven MOZA interchangeable gimbal system, the handle is compatible with the Mini-C and Mini-G heads, meaning users can easily upgrade their gimbals to support 360 cameras, smartphones and action cameras. The Guru 360° is currently available for order on OwlDolly.com and GimbalGuru.com for $299, a limited first run stock, shipping in the middle of March.

Newsletter graphic

This article may contain affiliate links. If you click an affiliate link and buy a product we may receive a small commission which helps support the publication. More information.


Dominic Brennan
The trial version of Microsoft’s Monster Truck Madness probably had something to do with it. And certainly the original Super Mario Kart and Gran Turismo. A car nut from an early age, Dominic was always drawn to racing games above all other genres. Now a seasoned driving simulation enthusiast, and former editor of Sim Racer magazine, Dominic has followed virtual reality developments with keen interest, as cockpit-based simulation is a perfect match for the technology. Conditions could hardly be more ideal, a scientist once said. Writing about simulators lead him to Road to VR, whose broad coverage of the industry revealed the bigger picture and limitless potential of the medium. Passionate about technology and a lifelong PC gamer, Dominic suffers from the ‘tweak for days’ PC gaming condition, where he plays the same section over and over at every possible combination of visual settings to find the right balance between fidelity and performance. Based within The Fens of Lincolnshire (it’s very flat), Dominic can sometimes be found marvelling at the real world’s ‘draw distance’, wishing virtual technologies would catch up.
  • VR Geek

    I really do not get this as moving the camera at all make a lot of people sick, stabilized or not.

    • Starman3482

      I was wanting to get into 360 filming to make backpacking videos but never heard this, so people are getting sick watching 360 that movies?

      • VR Geek

        There are a small handful of people who do not get sick with motion in VR but most do be it moving with a controller/thumb stick/keyboard or a recorded video. The latter being the worst as you have zero control over the movement. Room scale solves this issue combined with teleportation, but VR video is fixed point so no chance to move naturally around the scene. I have been shooting VR porn at my company MetaverseXXX for 3 years now and we have really tried to incorporate movement but even the slowest amount makes everyone we have tested it with very sick. Like sick for hours afterwards. VR video has many limitations and its own strengths compared to 2D which makes it VERY hard for most to get their heads around as they have a hard time not applying 2D ideas to VR. We get a ton of requests that would be awesome for 2D (like strapping the camera to a models face for POV) but if the model moves even a little…barf time. We have to develop an isolation stand to keep the camera dead still in front of the models face when shooting POV.

        • Starman3482

          Thanks for the reply man, I think it’s going to be amazing but it feels like were still a couple few years out on the tech getting manageable and affordable. Some of the 360 porn studios I’ve seen are insane like so many cameras all over it looks like the biggest fucking mess ever.

  • tHE_uKER

    How on earth would a gimbal “improve image quality, with cleaner stitching and reduced artifacting”?

    • Pedro Marinho

      Maybe a less shaky footage helps the software to stitch better.

  • Pcenginefx

    Just purchased the Guru 360 and am happy to say it works – going to use it to film lots of footage at NAB 2017.