Matterport’s cameras and virtual hosting software can create virtual walkthroughs of interior and exterior spaces
(Image credit: Matterport)
With Matterport’s 3D VR stitching platform it’s possible to create VR walkthroughs of buildings and other spaces for online exploration.
It can use a variety of cameras, from 360 cameras right down to mobile phones (see our review of the Matterport Axis), but the best results come from using its professional cameras including the new Matterport Pro3.
Matterport’s new camera can create “high fidelity” digital twins both indoors and outdoors, in bright sunlight, and can scan large spaces up to four times faster than before, producing accurate depth information comparable to expensive laser scanners.
Matterport’s system is aimed at real estate agents and vendors who want to impress clients with VR tours of both indoor and outdoor spaces, but it could also be used for exploring public buildings, monuments and museums.
Essentially, you capture a 360 spherical panorama from multiple viewpoints, and the Matterport platform will then combine these into a VR walkthrough. You can see for yourself with Matterport’s digital twin of the JLL Chicago building online.
The Pro3 camera replaces the previous Pro2 model, and can pair with iOS or Android devices running the Matterport Capture app. The new camera features improved portability and an interchangeable battery, and it’s Matterport’s first-ever 3D LiDAR camera, and offers a range of up to 100m.
The Matterport Pro 3 will go on sale for $5,995/£4,995 (about AU$8,720) while supplies last, but there is also a Pro3 Acceleration Kit at $7,995/£6,595 (about AU$11,630). It’s designed for Matterport’s Pro and higher subscription plans. You can find out more at the Matterport website.
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Rod is an independent photography journalist and editor, and a long-standing Digital Camera World contributor, having previously worked as DCW's Group Reviews editor. Before that he has been technique editor on N-Photo, Head of Testing for the photography division and Camera Channel editor on TechRadar, as well as contributing to many other publications. He has been writing about photography technique, photo editing and digital cameras since they first appeared, and before that began his career writing about film photography. He has used and reviewed practically every interchangeable lens camera launched in the past 20 years, from entry-level DSLRs to medium format cameras, together with lenses, tripods, gimbals, light meters, camera bags and more. Rod has his own camera gear blog at fotovolo.com but also writes about photo-editing applications and techniques at lifeafterphotoshop.com
