Like Follow Follow Samsung's Gear 360 camera now available in Australia

It looks like an eyeball on three legs, and it is now yours to own.

On Tuesday, Samsung launched its new camera, Samsung Gear 360, in Australia. The device, which is able to capture 360-degree video and images, has a retail price of A$499.

While the camera has been available in South Korea and Singapore since April, it still has only a limited release in the U.S., making this a rare opportunity for Australians to get their hands on something their American friends cannot.

The slick Samsung Gear 360.

IMAGE: SAMSUNG

The camera uses two fisheye lenses, both with 15-megapixel image sensors, to capture 360-degree video that can then be experienced using the Samsung Gear virtual reality headset. Footage can be previewed in real-time on a number of Samsung smartphones, including the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge, Galaxy S6 Edge+, Galaxy Note 5, Galaxy S6 Edge and Galaxy S6.

While there are an increasing number of virtual reality headsets on the market, including the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive, the ability to create immersive content has remained a pricey prospect. The availability of the Samsung Gear 360 is an important step in opening up the world of virtual reality to homegrown directors and cinematographers.