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You probably won’t believe it, but the Kandao QooCam 3 Ultra is actually my first personal action camera. Until about six months ago, I simply had no need for one, which is why I had never owned one. I’m just not the kind of person who spends every weekend chasing adrenaline. Then came one test drive, another test drive, a review of an electric scooter – and before long, I found myself borrowing an aging GoPro whenever I needed to shoot something. That eventually led me to the Kandao QooCam 3 Ultra: a true 360-degree action camera packed with features and far more capable than I initially expected.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Specifications
- Dimensions: 71.5 × 103.2 × 26.6 mm
- Weight: 336 g
- Display: 2.19″ touchscreen LCD
- Camera modules: 2 × 1/1.7″ CMOS, f/1.6, photos up to 96 MP, video up to 8K at 30 fps
- Exposure compensation: ±4 EV
- ISO: 100–6400
- Power supply: 2,280 mAh battery, charged via USB-C
- Internal storage: 128 GB
- Wi-Fi: 6
- Bluetooth: 5.4
- Interfaces: USB Type-C, microSD
- Speaker: built-in
- Microphone: 4 built-in, Ambisonics spatial audio
- Encoding format: H.264, H.265
- Warranty period, months: 12
Video review of the Kandao QooCam 3 Ultra
Price and specifications
Let’s start with the price, though. The cost of this model in Ukrainian shops is as much as nearly $1,000, which is significantly higher than that of its competitors. Who, incidentally, offer far less.
Next comes the interesting part. The QooCam 3 Ultra package includes the camera itself with a battery rated at nearly 2,300 mAh, a USB-C cable, a protective case with a bottom opening that provides access to the integrated 1/4-inch tripod thread, as well as the documentation and a high-quality lint-free cloth for cleaning the lenses.
Technical Specifications
Yes, lenses – because, as a reminder, the QooCam 3 Ultra features two of them. This is a 360-degree camera that essentially trades a larger form factor for superior immersive image quality compared to its competitors. It is wider than comparable models and weighs nearly one and a half times as much, at 337 g.
Its primary advantage, however, is immediately apparent: significantly superior image quality. The QooCam 3 Ultra can capture still images at up to 96 MP, as well as 8K video at 30 fps, 5.7K at 60 fps, or 4K at 120 fps. Recording is supported in 10-bit Rec. 2020 HLG or K-Log, with bitrates of up to 150 Mbps.
There is no need to worry, however, as the camera also supports a single-lens mode. After all, the hardware is effectively doubled: it features two 1/1.7-inch CMOS sensors paired with F/1.6 lenses, with a minimum focusing distance of approximately 60 cm. This is an impressive specification in its own right. The available ISO range is also solid, spanning from 100 to 6400.
The camera also features a display – and notably, it is not vertically oriented. As a result, the live preview of 360-degree footage is considerably clearer. That said, the live preview is unavailable in certain shooting modes, and the interface is not perfectly ergonomic. More specifically, the touch sensitivity settings feel inconsistent, particularly when navigating through menu items.
Standout Features of the Kandao QooCam 3 Ultra
Moving on to the additional features, some of them are genuinely unique. One of the most notable is the built-in 128 GB internal storage, separate from the microSD card slot. This means you can start shooting straight out of the box without needing a memory card. By comparison, a 128 GB microSD card with a V60 speed rating typically costs around $50 or more.
Another noteworthy feature is the ability to record directly to an external SSD, although doing so naturally compromises the camera’s weather sealing. The QooCam 3 Ultra also includes a fully integrated GPS module that embeds location data directly into the recorded video files. Competing models generally do not offer this capability out of the box. Those that do typically require optional accessories, which come at an additional cost.
The camera is also rated IP68, allowing it to be submerged to depths of up to 10 meters without an additional housing, or even deeper when used with the optional dive case. Image stabilization is handled by a 6-axis gyroscope in combination with the dedicated SuperSteady 2.0 stabilization system. Connectivity includes Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, and four built-in microphones. In addition, the camera supports direct connection to wireless Bluetooth microphones. I am currently preparing a review of the Sennheiser Profile Wireless system, which gained this capability through a recent firmware update, so I will be testing that combination as well.
Software
Moving on to the software. A mobile app is available, allowing for remote camera control, video recording, and direct uploading of photos and videos to social media. The desktop application, however, is considerably more important, as it is essential for processing and exporting 360-degree footage.
To the best of my knowledge, neither DaVinci Resolve nor Adobe Premiere Pro can process this footage natively. Plugins such as KartaVR or GoPro ReFrame are available, but they work reliably only with 180-degree video. For that reason, having a dedicated desktop application is the more practical solution, and Kandao Studio generally fulfills that role effectively.
It supports reframing, allowing the virtual camera position to be adjusted in post-production, as well as image stabilization and keyframe-based animation. While the processing pipeline is proprietary by Kandao’s design, the software is capable enough that I have no significant complaints about it. As for the overall video and audio quality, you can judge that for yourself in the sample footage above.
Drawbacks
As for the drawbacks, there are a few worth mentioning. The QooCam 3 Ultra uses active cooling, which is enabled between recording sessions rather than during capture – a clever and effective approach. Battery life is relatively limited, reaching up to around 50 minutes under intensive use, so carrying a spare battery is highly recommended.
I also encountered issues when connecting Bluetooth microphones. The Sennheiser Profile Wireless, for example, paired successfully with the camera, but no audio was recorded from the microphone.
The main trade-off of the Kandao QooCam 3 Ultra, however, is its weight. Many vehicle mounting systems are not designed to support a camera that weighs closer to a mirrorless body without a lens than to a typical 360-degree action camera. In practice, the additional 150 grams do make a noticeable difference. A selfie stick is effectively a necessity, as holding the camera by hand for extended periods is not particularly comfortable.
More precisely, handholding is manageable in static shooting conditions, but not when the camera is subjected to continuous movement or vibration. And the QooCam 3 Ultra is not a camera that is typically used in stationary scenarios.
Conclusion
Overall, the conclusion is straightforward. For its price, the QooCam 3 Ultra delivers far more than just another action camera. It is a capable, reliable, and versatile tool for serious videography rather than a device aimed solely at creating content for Instagram or Facebook. The built-in 128 GB of internal storage is another significant advantage. Overall, the Kandao QooCam 3 Ultra is an easy recommendation.
