TECHE3D camera review: 8K VR video in 2024
The TECHE3D is an impressive VR camera released in 2023, capable of filming and streaming 8K virtual reality video. We’ve experimented with the device and recorded some footage for this review, plus you’ll find many more examples on the DeoVR platform. See below for a 15% discount exclusive to DeoVR.
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Basics setup of the TECHE3D VR camera
The TECHE 3D is easy to use. Simply pick up, hit the button and record - no extra equipment required. It comes with high-quality dual fisheye lenses, that record in crisp 8K resolution, though you are limited to a 30FPS frame rate.
A major plus is that all the video stitching is done inside the camera. This means you don’t need to go through the complicated process of synchronizing the footage from each lens together using software such as Mistika, or stereo correction.
It also has a built-in battery, 512GB storage (plus external SD cards), a fine-quality microphone and a hot shoe mount, so it can be mounted on tripods of all sizes.
TECHE3D video on DeoVR
See other VR content filmed with the TECHE3D camera at DeoVR.
TECHE3D App
It requires the TECHE3D VR app, which you can download from Apple’s App Store or the official site (for Android). To use, go to your WiFi settings to connect to the 3D180VR signal, and enter the default password: teche720
From here you can alter the settings for the camera, as well as preview the footage you are about to film. This differs from the CalfVR and other VR cameras which have a built-in touchscreen LED display, but means costs can be better spent on other aspects of the device. It also means you can change settings while recording without touching the actual camera and causing bumps and disruptions during the filming.
Settings available on the TECHE3D VR camera
The TECHE3D allows you to record in a stitched-together equirectangular format, which most users will prefer as it’s simple and quicker to work with. The other option is unstitched fisheye projection, which allows for more control over the final product.
The stitched footage is recorded in 8K, or 7,680 x 3,840 px to be more precise. You can also choose 4K recording, for lower-quality videos with a smaller filesize.
The framerate cannot be altered - it’s set at a fixed 30FPS. You can choose your preferred bitrate, up to 100mb/s. You can also have more control over the color by choosing 10-bit color, rather than the more common 8-bit.
Advanced options for VR video
Want to go deeper? Go into the advanced section of the video tab and you can alter parameters such as exposure, ISO, shutter speed, and white balance. You can even apply a predefined filter for adjusting red, green, and blue channels, as well as hue, saturation, luminance and contrast.
Other features include denoise and sharpening which we explore in our DeoVR video review.
Examples of the TECHE3D settings
In our DeoVR video review of the TECHE3D, you can see the impact of manual exposure vs auto exposure, as well as denoising and sharpening the VR video.
Previewing VR video recorded with the TECHE3D VR camera
You can quickly and easily preview the footage you’ve just recorded via the TECHE3D smartphone app. One particularly useful feature is that the TECHE3D records two files for each clip - one full-size for editing and uploading, and one smaller proxy file which can be used to quickly and easily preview your recorded content.
This is a much easier way to navigate your recordings. It also allows you to quickly delete any unwanted footage, freeing up space and saving time later.
Streaming VR video using the TECHE3D VR camera
We will discuss streaming VR video via DeoVR with the TECHE3D VR camera in a future article, but SRT, RTMP, and RTSP protocols are all supported. 4K HDMI output is also supported for live video output.
Technical Specifications
- Size: 138mm x 70mm x 91mm
- Weight: 750g
- Lens: TECHE custom lens and module
- Image sensor: 2 x CMOS 1 inch
- Aperture: f/1.8
- FOV: 180 degrees
- Video resolution: 7,680 x 3,840 u/30fps
- ISO: 100-6400
- h264 or h265, up to 100Mbps, 8/10-bit color
- Audio In: Built-in stereo mic x 2; external 4CH ambisonic device
- Audio Format: AAC, 48kHz
- Storage: Built-in UFS 512GB; External max 256GB
- Price: $4,225
Drawbacks and bugs of the TECHE3D
This limited framerate might be off-putting some users who want to capture fast motion footage, while other users will be content to interpolate up from 30FPS to 60FPS using an AI software tool such as Topaz Video AI.
We encountered an unusual bug where the preview was a gray block and nothing could fix it. After speaking with support, they gave a simple solution that was not immediately obvious: head to the effect settings and click ‘Reset filter’. That should resolve the problem. We trust issues like this will be fixed in an upcoming firmware update.
Conclusion
The quality of the TECHE3D is good, especially considering you’re getting 8K resolution video for much less than the cost of the Canon EOS VR kit. However, the 30FPS framerate is a drawback as the current standard in VR is 60FPS or higher for silky smooth video.
