Virtual reality (VR) cameras are hitting the market left and right as interest in immersive technology increases. The only problem is VR cameras come with a hefty price tag, until now.

HumanEyes Technologies Ltd. announced that VUZE, the company’s 3D 360° VR camera, is now up for pre-orders at the low price of $799.

One might roll their eyes at the $799 price tag, but considering other alternatives, Facebook Surround 360 costs $30,000 and Nokia Corp.’s OZO costs $60,000, VUZE’s price is really quite affordable.

Pre-orders start today, May 12, and the $799 bundle includes the VUZE camera and software studio that captures and renders 3D and 2D VR content in real-time, the VR headset, a purposely engineered ‘selfie stick’ and tripod, a stylish carrying case and a newly designed handle for alternative ways to hold the device. Shipping is slated for Fall 2016.

Interested parties need to register to avail of this pre-order bundle, but no payments will be taken until shipping.

“We are excited to be taking orders of VUZE and believe it will help fuel the creation of immersive content, something all VR platforms are trying to encourage,” said Shahar Bin-Nun, CEO HumanEyes Technologies. “Current VR cameras either require advanced editing skills or in the case of other 3D solutions, demand Hollywood type budgets. With VUZE, we are democratizing VR content creation and putting it in reach of everyday consumers.”

How it works

The VUZE Camera utilizes eight full HD cameras to generate stunning 3D and 2D VR images. Each of the eight cameras uses lenses that simultaneously capture 1200 horizontal field of view (FOV) and 1800 vertical FOV to generate 4K 360⁰ VR content.

Couple that with the VUZE Studio’s proprietary technique called Adaptive Blending that mimics the way the human eye interacts with the brain to form pictures, the results are stunning and immersive images and videos best consumed using a VR headset, device or TV.enjoyed on any VR platform, headset or 3D device or TV.

The VUZE Camera is available in red, yellow, black and blue colors, and can be controlled by a dedicated iOS and Android app.

Other affordable alternatives

The $799 price may still be too much for some, but are there really any cheaper alternatives?

If you own an LG G5, there’s an accompanying device called 360 Cam which features a dual 13MP wide angle camera and has a simple push button interface to take a 360º photo, and a long press on the button to take a 360º video.

The great news is the 360 Cam is only priced at $199. The downside is that the LG G5’s price starts at $629.99 without a contract. If you bought a G5 and a 360 Cam, you would have spent $828.99. And if you purchase a VR headset, say a Google Cardboard, that will set you back another $15, ringing up your total to $843.99. It may look more expensive than the VUZE bundle, but you have to consider that the bundle doesn’t come with a smartphone.

Another alternative is the LucidCam which features dual lens wide angle cameras to create immersive 3D images and videos. With the use of the LucidApp, content created can be viewed and uploaded over Wi-Fi, and shared with phone contacts.

Multiple LucidCams can be stitched together to create a 360⁰ image or video. LucidCam is available for pre-order for $429, but one camera is only able to capture 3D 180º videos. To watch the 3D video, users need to download the LucidApp, which is free, and a Google Cardboard. If you have an existing smartphone that can support the LucidApp, devices running iOS 9.0 or later and Android 5.0 or later, the only thing they need to add is a Google Cardboard for $15. Choosing this VR camera will cost a user $444 without purchasing a new smartphone.

Another affordable alternative is the Samsung Gear 360, a round camera that features two F2.0 Fisheye Lens with CMOS 15MP sensors. It is compatible with the Galaxy S6, S6 Edge, S6 Edge +, Note 5, Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge. It has built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Near Field Communication (NFC) and costs $350.

If you bought the Galaxy S7, the price may have already set you back by $700, but if you pre-ordered it, the good news is that you may have gotten a free Galaxy Gear VR headset, ringing up your total at $1,050. But if you have an existing compatible device, then you can settle for a $15 Google Cardboard, for a total spend of just $365.

Image: screenshot via vuze.camera