FAQ

  • I got my kit without a manual. How do I get my first 360 panorama (quick setup)?
  1. download theVRkit (one word) app,
  2. open the app and select the proper options (rotator on, lens 180),
  3. remove your phone cover for best results,
  4. clip theVRkit fish-eye lens on the rear-camera lens, the screen should show a sharp centered circle with black corners. If the circle is not sharp or centered, adjust the lens position,
  5. make sure the rotator is charged, you should charge it for at least 2 hours at first usage,
  6. screw the rotator on the provided mini-tripod or a standard one,
  7. put the phone on the rotator and screw tightly the phone holder,
  8. turn the rotator on, it shows a blue led. If the app does not connect automatically, check you have turned on Bluetooth mode in your phone. There is no need to pair the device or to use the rotator buttons,
  9. tap the screen, the rotator should start rotating, the app will capture a picture every time the rotator stops,
  10. the 360 panorama appears instantly when the rotator makes a full turn.

You can also check the manual here in English, French, German or Dutch.

  •  Can I use a standard tripod with your rotator?

Yes, there is a standard thread in the bottom of the rotator. We provide a mini tripod, but for professional results it is better you use a standard tall tripod. We don't recommend using a monopod because it may wobble while the phone rotates. The best option would be a light stand like this one (20$ on Amazon):

tripod-small.jpg

  •  I have just bought your kit, but your lens is not fitting on my phone. Why?

The first time you press on the lens clip, it may happen that one piece of the clip stays stuck on the wrong side. Gently remove this part and press it firmly on the other side. It shouldn't happen again unless you don't use your lens for a long time.

 bug-small.jpg

  •  I have bought a Pro Kit but haven't received VR glasses. Why?

We used to ship free VR glasses with the Pro Kit until March 2020. We have received feedbacks that the VR glasses were "fun" but not very useful. So we have included the VR glasses in the "Fun Kit". Some videos made before March 2020 are still mentioning the VR glasses, hence the confusion, sorry for that.

  • Is my phone compatible with your kit?

Any smartphone not older than 5 years is compatible, as far as it has a sensor called "gyro" or "gyroscope". All iPhone models have a gyro, and most non entry-level Android phones have one. Try to download the free theVRkit app from the store. If you can't, it means your phone is not compatible.

  • Is your lens compatible with my multi-lens device (iPhone 11/12, S10/20)?

Yes, you need to put our lens on the top of your regular (1x) lens. If your phone has a thin case/cover, it is even better because the case/cover will compensate the thickness of the multi-lens.

  • What is the output format of your 360 images? Are they compatible with 3rd party software/platforms?

The output is a standard (equirectangular) jpeg image located in the phone gallery, with proper metadata compatible with Google StreetView and Facebook. You can use our images with any 3rd party software.

  • What size/resolution is a 360 image?
The output is 8K (8192x4096) or 32MP, standard jpeg image. It corresponds to 6-7MB in terms of storage.
 
  • I have a 360 Camera (Theta, Gear360). Should I buy your kit?
No need to buy the kit since a 360 Camera does not need to rotate.
 
  • I already have a wide angle or fish-eye lens. Can I use it with your app?
We have calibrated our app to work best with our lens. We don’t guarantee the output quality if you use another lens.
We have tested *all* the lenses of the market without any exaggeration. Most of them are crap, and we mean it. There are a few average, and very few good ones. If you own a good lens, you should have bought it around 100$.
 
  • Do I need to buy your lens? Can I only buy your rotator?
If you only buy the rotator, you can still create standard panoramas (only left and right, no floor and ceiling). For that, you cannot use theVRkit app. We recommend that you get the app DMD Panorama for gorgeous panoramas.
 
  • I have found a 360 Camera at 100 or 200USD. Why should I buy theVRkit?
  1. Most 360 cameras priced below 1,000USD will produce 6K output or below. They are also built to capture 360 Videos, so their performance for static images will be sub-optimal, especially in low-light.
  2. Why would you buy another pair of cameras (360 cameras are usually a pair of cameras, put back to back), when you already have a great camera in your phone? theVRkit uses your camera, so whenever you upgrade your phone, you are also improving the output of theVRkit.
  3. When using the rotator, theVRkit app allows for multi-bracketted HDR (High Dynamic Range) feature that produces professional-grade images, whenever there are multiple lighting conditions in the same picture. This happens whenever you are facing a window. And how can you capture a 360 image without facing a window? unless you are in a windowless room…
  4. You can use theVRkit with a lens only, it means your cost starts at 9.99USD. 15 times cheaper than the cheapest 360 camera, with 4 times more pixels.
  5. Last but not least, you can put your phone on the rotator nodal axis and get a perfect (seamless) result, without stitching errors. All 360 Cameras struggle with stitching artefacts.
  • I can't find theVRkit app. Why?
Check the spelling: theVRkit in one word. You should find it on iOS for sure. If you have an Android phone, check you have a gyroscope (gyro) sensor.
 
  • What are the buttons on the rotator for (start/stop and mode)?
You shouldn't need them if you use our app that overrides the manual control. You may need them if you would like to use a 3rd party app, such as the stock camera app.
 
  • How do I know that the rotator is fully charged?
When you plug the rotator for charging, a red led inside the rotator will turn on. It will turn off once the rotator is fully charged. Once fully charged it can perform between 150 and 200 full turns.
 
  • What are some tips for better shots?
Here are a few recommendations in order to improve the quality of your images:
  1. You should remove your phone cover/case because it introduces a physical layer between the surface of the phone and the clip-on lens. Ideally, get one of our compatible phone covers for perfect lens centering.
  2. Ensure the clip-on lens and the smartphone lens are clean. Use a soft tissue to clean them. A dirty lens will definitely ruin the quality of your images and create halos around any light in the pictures.
  3. Make sure you select the correct lens from the lens selector menu.
  4. Higher resolution cameras and recent phones contribute to high-quality 360 panoramas.
  5. Use the HDR (High Dynamic Range) mode, especially when capturing indoors.
  6. Last but not least, perform nodal adjustment by shifting the phone to the side and tilting it upwards. The instruction manual shows this process in details. You can check it here in English, French, German or Dutch.
 
  • Who are you? Why should I trust you?
We have been doing 360 stitching for a while:
  1. In 2007, we released a web-based 360 Panoramic stitcher that was available for free until 2020. Then Flash became obsolete.
  2. In 2011, we released DMD Panorama app (it was named DerManDar, but no one could spell it correctly, even the Appstore guys) and it totaled 10M downloads on iOS, Android and even Windows Phone! It was the fastest app to create 360 Panoramas, when the Panoramic feature was inexistent in the built-in Camera.
  3. Our website http://www.dermandar.com is a kind of social network to share 360 images. Millions of Panoramas have been shared through this platform.
  4. We also do professional VR software. In 2016, we released StereoStitch, a Live 3D-360 Video Stitching Software.
  5. The founder of Dermandar started a VR company in … 1996. Yeah it was too early.