Choosing the Right 360° Camera – A Quick Buying Guide

If you're planning to create your own virtual tours, the first and most important tool you’ll need is a high-quality 360-degree camera.

But with so many options on the market, how do you choose the right one?

This guide covers some of the most reliable 360° cameras available in 2025 — for all budgets and skill levels — and explains what features to look for when making your decision.

What Makes a Good 360° Camera for Virtual Tours?

When selecting a camera, consider the following key factors:

• Image resolution – Higher quality means clearer tours
• Stitching quality – Seamless merging of multiple angles
• Ease of use – How quickly and easily can you capture and upload?
• Software compatibility – Works with Matterport, Kuula, CloudPano, etc.
• Stability and mounting – Includes tripod options or support for them
• Price – A balance between features and budget

Recommended 360° Cameras in 2025

1. Matterport Pro3

Best for: Professional, commercial virtual tours

Why choose it:

• Industry-leading precision and detail
• Works seamlessly with Matterport platform
• Ideal for large buildings, outdoor scans, and commercial spaces
• Laser scanning capability with accurate measurements

Drawback: Expensive and requires hosting through Matterport

2. Ricoh Theta Z1

Best for: High-end DIY virtual tours

Why choose it:

• 23MP resolution
• Compact and user-friendly
• Good low-light performance
• Popular for estate agents and small business owners

Drawback: Built-in storage (no SD card); short battery life

3. Insta360 ONE RS 1-Inch 360 Edition

Best for: Prosumer use with excellent clarity

Why choose it:

• Dual 1-inch sensors for great image quality
• Shoots 6K 360° video and high-res stills
• Detachable modular design
• Compatible with many platforms

Drawback: Slightly more complex to operate

4. GoPro MAX

Best for: Beginners and vloggers

Why choose it:

• Affordable entry-level option
• Good for social media and video tours
• Integrated stabilisation
• Durable and waterproof

Drawback: Limited image resolution for large-scale interior spaces

5. Insta360 X3

Best for: Budget-conscious content creators

Why choose it:

• Great for smaller venues or social media walkthroughs
• Shoots 5.7K video and 72MP stills
• Easy to use with mobile app control

Drawback: Not ideal for commercial-grade property tours

Platform Compatibility Overview

Should You Buy or Hire?

If you’re only producing a one-off or occasional tour, it may be more cost-effective to hire a professional virtual tour provider. But if you plan to shoot tours regularly — and have the time to learn — investing in your own equipment could pay off.

Don’t Forget: You Still Need Hosting

Most 360° cameras don’t include tour hosting or creation tools. You’ll need to upload your footage to a platform like:

• Matterport – high-end, best for real estate/commercial
• Kuula – great for embedded tours and social sharing
• CloudPano – affordable and flexible
• EyeSpy360 – good for basic tours with hotspots

Go Virtual Tours – We Use the Best So You Don’t Have To

At Go Virtual Tours, we use the Matterport Pro3 camera — the industry gold standard — to deliver sharp, immersive 360° virtual tours for clients across the UK.

If you want the quality of a Pro3 tour without buying expensive equipment or learning complex software, we’ve got you covered.

Get in touch today to discuss your project and get a free quote.