How do invisible selfie sticks work for 360 cameras?

Today, we’re exploring: how do invisible selfie sticks work?

I’ve been shooting with 360 cameras for years and I’m able to get great unique shots with it.

Have you ever seen a 360 camera video and been left marveling at the incredible shots that appear to show the camera hovering in thin air?

In this guide, I’ll share:

• how these devices function
• handy tips for getting the best out of your invisible selfie stick experience.

What is an Invisible Selfie Stick?

An invisible selfie stick is a thin monopod that cleverly hides itself from view while capturing photos or videos. 

The Magic Behind Its Invisibility

Invisible selfie sticks owe their disappearing act primarily to three factors: location and slimness and software.

When used with 360-degree cameras boasting dual lenses – perfect for creating immersive virtual travel tours like those at Samir’s Virtual World- my Youtube Channel– these thin rods stay hidden due to a blind spot formed between both lenses.

So when images are merged with the help of software post-processing, objects within this ‘blind spot’ effectively vanish. This lets users hold onto their devices without the stick appearing in the frame.

Check out why I use the Insta360 360 camera for my travels, with an important part being the “non existent” monopod in the final shot.

Necessity Of Being Narrower Than The Camera

A vital part of making any selfie stick disappear lies in its width, always less than that of your camera. By ensuring no part extends beyond either lens’s field-of-view when centrally placed underneath them, you can capture wide-angle shots or panoramic views without any visible equipment spoiling your footage.

Bear in mind that smaller diameters result in more effective concealment compared to larger ones. Since there will be less chance of seeing portions beyond edges while shooting from various angles. So this is important in picking the right monopod.

How Invisible Selfie Sticks work – the tech

The secret behind invisible selfie sticks is an ingenious mix of innovative camera technology and optics. This concept takes advantage of a unique feature found in 360 cameras – blind spots.

Decoding the Blind Spot Phenomenon in 360 Cameras

A typical 360 camera, at its core, boasts two fisheye lenses placed back to back that simultaneously capture panoramic views. Each lens sees slightly more than half a sphere, leading to an overlap between their viewing scopes.

This overlapping area gives birth to ‘blind spots’ along the axis of the selfie stick right between the 2 lenses. 

 When you connect your 360 camera with a selfie stick, it nestles itself into one such blind spot, making it practically invisible in the final footage.

Melding Software: Stitching It All Together

Beyond hardware components like fisheye lenses and strategic positioning lies another crucial element – advanced software processing techniques.

After capturing separate footages through two different fish-eye perspectives, the border between the 2 views is called the stitch line and the initial “stitching” by the software happens to combine both images.

This software also helps in making the stick disappear within the stitch line.

Benefits of a selfie stick

An invisible selfie stick is a revolutionary tool in the realm of photography and videography.

Its advantage is that it can capture images and videos without being seen in the shot, giving an illusion of the camera being held by someone else or seeming to float.

The selfie stick pairs perfectly with a 360 camera for solo travel.

This tool promotes creative freedom too. Photographers don’t need to worry about avoiding certain angles due to visibility issues with tripods or monopods anymore. Now every shot turns into a chance for extraordinary creativity.

User-Friendly Experience

Thanks to their lightweight design and ease-of-use, even beginners can master advanced filming techniques.

Setting one up requires minimal effort – simply attach your camera onto the stick, adjust the length according to preference, and start shooting.

Moreover, built-in stabilization features ensure crisp, clear footage regardless of external conditions such as movement and turns.

When combined, all of the above-mentioned points clearly illustrate why more people are choosing to use the use of this ‘invisible’ tool kit.

Best Invisible Selfie Sticks

Check out my full article on the best invisible selfie sticks for 360 cameras.

The Insta360 Regular Invisible Selfie Stick

The Insta360 Regular Selfie Stick is one of the most popular options available today. Designed specifically for use with Insta360 cameras, this lightweight device can extend up to 28 inches (70cm), providing ample distance for capturing wide-angle shots.

Its compact design makes it easy to carry around during travel.

The Insta360 Extended Edition Selfie Stick

For those seeking additional reach, consider upgrading to the Insta360 Extended Edition Selfie Stick. This model extends up to an impressive 118 inches (300cm), enabling users to shoot from higher perspectives or cover larger areas in their footage.

Great for fake drone shots!

Despite its length when fully extended, it remains portable as it retracts down into a manageable size.

Built-In Tripod Feature – 2 in 1

In addition to being virtually invisible in photos and videos, some models come with built-in tripod features, which offer added stability while shooting stationary scenes or time-lapse sequences.

Insta360 2 in 1 is the one I use for its compact design to toss in my backpack, that I can use as an invisible monopod, but the also place it on the ground for steady shots or when I want to stand back further.

Tips on using a selfie stick and 360 camera

The invisible selfie stick, a key tool for immersive 360 video and tour creation, has its own quirks. 

Guidelines for Users

• To keep it invisible in your footage, always hold the stick straight. Mounting at an angle can make parts of it visible 
• If you’re using extra long sticks designed for capturing wide-angle shots or high vantage points, don’t extend them fully. At full extension, these might bend slightly, causing portions of them to appear in the shot because they are no longer parallel to the lenses.
• Even though an invisible selfie stick disappears visually within captured content, it doesn’t hide your hand. Pay attention to where and how you grip during shooting so that it doesn’t look obvious that you are holding something strange or awkward poses appear within the final output. 
• If you use a tripod then the tripod will show, which is why the best tripods to use with invisible selfie sticks are the smaller ones at the very bottom and not the wide leg regular tripods.

Tips on shooting with invisible selfie stick and 360 camera.

• Ensure that your camera’s lens points towards your main target of interest so its not in the stich line.
• To get stable footage while moving around, hold onto your selfie stick firmly but not too tightly – let natural movements flow through!
• Extend selfie stick to get the look you want.. close up vlog style vs drone type shots
• Clean both lenses regularly for clear picture quality

Best 360 camera for invisible selfie stick?

Technically speaking, any thin monopod will work as an ‘invisible’ selfie stick when used with any 360-degree camera. However, not all cameras are created equal when it comes to this unique setup.

The Role of Lens Positioning

A crucial factor that impacts how well your selfie stick becomes ‘invisible’ lies in the lens positioning on your chosen 360-camera.

The Insta360 X3 and Insta360 RS 360 1 inch edition, for instance, stand out due to their design where lenses are positioned directly behind each other – making them optimal for use with an invisible selfie-stick setup.

GoPro Max, another contender in the realm of 360-cameras, also works decently with invisible sticks but may present some stitch lines since its lenses aren’t directly aligned back-to-back like those on Insta360 models. Instead, they’re offset, which makes it less ideal than its counterpart from Insta360.

Picking Your Perfect Pair: Camera & Selfie Stick Combo

I use the Insta360 line of cameras which have the best lens positioning and software to make amazing videos with no selfie stick visible in the shot.

I currently use the Insta360 X3 for my travels.

Another addition to the combo is having a backpack that securely holds your invisible selfie stick for amazing 3rd person view shots, and that linked article goes over that.

FAQs in Relation to How Do Invisible Selfie Sticks Work

 Is the invisible selfie stick a tripod?

No, an invisible selfie stick isn’t a tripod. However, some models may come with a tripod built in that can convert it into a standing device when needed.

How does the 360 camera work?

The Insta360 uses dual fisheye lenses to capture all angles simultaneously. When combined with its proprietary software stitching technology, it gives a 360 effect.

Does selfie stick disappear in video and photo?

A properly used ‘invisible’ selfie stick will not appear in videos or pictures taken by 360-degree cameras such as those made by GoPro or Insta360 or Ricoh Theta due to their specific design and lens setup.