The Sphere lens can convert your DSLR into a 360-degree camera

A startup called the Sphere Optics Company has announced a lens called the Sphere which is designed to turn any DSLR camera into a 360-degree camera. The lens can capture a full 360-degree view horizontally and a 180-degree field of view vertically. According to the company , the lens employs a novel, toroidal design. No other lenses with an equivalent capability are known to exist." It allows users who are currently shooting conventional content to quickly and easily shoot immersive content with a low barrier to entry. A shooter can shoot traditional content, then switch to the Sphere lens and quickly capture full spherical content,” said ,” co-founder Rob Englert. The lens  can be mounted on an interchangeable lens camera be a DSLR or mirrorless. One can point the camera straight up to capture a full, omni-directional view that doesn’t require any kind of photo stitching. Currently the Sphere Pro lens comes with a Nikon F mount, which can be used with other mirrorless or DSLR cameras made by other manufacturers using an adapter. The specs of the lens include an f/8 aperture, optimal focus at 40 inches, a 35mm full frame image circle, a length of 198mm and a weight of 1.8kg. The company has also said that since the development of the lens is separate from the sensor footage taken from the lens will improve as camera sensors improve. The lens is available in limited numbers so if you’re interested in renting or buying a Sphere Pro lens you can get in touch with the company through its website.