“360” has become shorthand for VR in general, which is why people search for scat 360 videos. Technically, 360 and 180 are two different formats, and for the kind of scene this niche is about, almost every producer chooses 180.
What the numbers mean
A 360° video records everything around the camera – in front, behind, above and below. You can turn all the way round. A 180° video records only the half in front of you. Turn your head too far and the picture ends in black. In both cases you can look around freely within the recorded area; the difference is only how much of the room exists.
Why 180 suits a scat scene
A scat scene happens in one place, in front of the viewer. There is nothing worth seeing behind you – in a 360° recording that half would show a wall, lights or the crew. 180° spends the camera’s entire resolution on the part you actually look at, so the same camera produces a noticeably sharper image. It also allows real stereo: 180° VR cameras have two lenses side by side, roughly as far apart as your eyes, which is what creates depth. Most 360° cameras record a flat panorama, or need complex rigs to get stereo all the way round.
When 360 would make sense
360° is useful when the surroundings are part of the experience – a party, an outdoor setting, several people around the viewer. Group scenes could one day be filmed that way. For the one-performer, close-camera scenes that make up the VR shelf today, it would cost sharpness and depth without adding anything.
How to tell what you are buying
Titles on this platform are labelled with their format – look for “180”, “VR180” or “3D” in the tags, and “8K” for the resolution. Our page on VR file layouts explains how to set your player once you have the file, and the front page lists every real VR title currently available.