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Camera Settings

As the saying goes, “garbage in, garbage out.” This page will discuss the important steps to get right — including choosing a camera, camera settings, and more — so you end up with amazing results.

Why We Used A 360 Degree Camera

There are multiple ways of getting videos and/or images to do 3DGS.

The advantages of using a 360-Degree camera are:

  1. Complete Scene Coverage: A 360° camera captures the entire environment in a single pass. This ensures you don’t miss “blind spots” that are common when using a standard narrow-angle lens.
  2. Faster Acquisition: Because the Field of View is so wide, you need fewer photos or shorter video walks to cover a large area. This is ideal for scanning large outdoor spaces or complex rooms, or if you have limited time.
  3. Robust Camera Tracking: Because the camera sees in every direction simultaneously, it always has a landmark to hold onto. A single frame captures an object from its center and its extreme edges, which helps the computer calculate depth.
  4. Consistent Lighting: Since you capture the whole room at once, you can worry less about the sunlight suddenly changing, and different lighting will confuse the algorithm.

Camera Settings

Mode

Definition: Modern cameras offer various color profiles and exposure modes.

For 3DGS: Use Manual Mode and select a Flat or Neutral color profile rather than “Standard” or “Vivid.” Flat profiles capture a higher dynamic range with less baked-in contrast, preventing highlights and shadows, which you should avoid as much as possible.

Frame Rate

Definition: Measured in fps (Frames Per Second), this indicates how many individual images are captured every second. For example, 30 fps means you have taken 30 photos every 1 second.

For 3DGS: Aim for 30-60 fps. While you will likely only extract 1–3 frames per second for the actual processing, a higher frame rate allows you to pick the sharpest possible frames. Avoid 24 fps, as it often requires a slower shutter speed that introduces “cinematic” motion blur—the enemy of 3DGS. Conversely, avoid 120+ fps, as these modes often compress image quality to handle the high data load.

Shutter speed

Definition: The duration of time the camera sensor is exposed to light. A slow shutter (e.g., $1/30$) lets in more light but causes blur; a fast shutter (e.g., $1/1000$) “freezes” motion.

For 3DGS: Keep your shutter speed high. Motion blur is one of the primary reasons 3DGS captures fail.

Aperture

Definition: The size of the opening in the lens that lets light in. It controls the Depth of Field (DoF).

For 3DGS: You want a deep depth of field (e.g., 8 to 11) so that both the foreground and background remain in focus. Low apertures (like 1.8) create “bokeh” or background blur, which confuses the 3DGS algorithm. However, avoid extremely high f-stops (like $f/22$), as the overall image can start to soften.

ISO

Definition: The sensitivity of the camera sensor to light.

For 3DGS: A common rule of thumb is to stay below 800. Some high-end cameras can handle higher ISOs. If the scene is too dark, add physical lights rather than cranking up the ISO.

White Balance

Definition: The process of removing unrealistic color casts so that objects which appear white in person are rendered white in your photo.

For 3DGS: Never use “Auto White Balance” (AWB). If the camera adjusts the color temperature as you move from sunlight to shade, the algorithm will struggle to align the frames. Use a preset (e.g., “Daylight” or “Tungsten”) to lock the White Balance, which ensures color consistency across the entire capture.

General Tips:

  • Eliminate Movement: Avoid “distractors” like moving cars, walking people, or flickering screens. 3DGS assumes the world is static; if something moves, it will result in “floaters” in the air in your 3DGS model.
  • The Walk:
    • Avoid standing in one spot and rotating
    • Use loops, arcs, and side-to-side “crab walks.”
    • Vary Your Perspective: Capture the scene from multiple heights and distances
      • For our pipeline, we used 3 heights (high, medium, low) and walked at least 2 feet (0.6 meters) away from small objects.
  • Refer to our Week 13 Blog post for more details on general best practices.
  • Refer to our External Resources page to learn more about 3DGS.

Last Updated: April 2026