The octopus is known as an intensely curious creature – and when one spotted a snorkeler’s 360-degree camera, it decided to try it out. The octopus not only swam away with the camera, but took some uniquely tentacled shots in the process.
The humorous underwater photography mishap was shared on social media by Konstantinos Mousis and later picked up by Insta360, as the eight-legged thief stole an Insta360 X5.
The video starts with a shot that was clearly taken from the octopus's underbelly, with eight legs framing the snorkeler. The octopus then swims away, still holding the camera, and gets some occasionally quite good shots that frame the snorkeler amid a ring of tentacles.
The snorkeler initially tries to follow the camera, then waits and holds back while the octopus explores the camera.
The video is far from the only time that a curious octopus has stolen a camera. The creatures have been known to grab an unsuspecting diver’s camera, often creating humorous footage and some occasional selfies in the process.
But the fact that the stolen camera was a 360 camera helped create footage that wasn’t fully obstructed by tentacles. The design of a 360 camera played a big role in what the octopus was able to capture.
As DCW’s 360 camera expert Adam Juniper says when writing about the X5, “The magic of this is that you don’t need to point the camera when you’re capturing any action.” Capturing footage from every direction means the whole lens wasn’t obstructed by the underbelly, allowing the video to be cropped to a view framed by those curious tentacles.
Marine biologists are often quick to point out that an octopus with a stolen camera doesn’t actually think it's taking a selfie, but is rather exhibiting its curiosity. Octopuses tend to be curious creatures and are known for exploring unidentified objects with their tentacles.
The “stolen” camera is a relative favorite among 360 cameras, though the newer Insta360 X6 has taken its place at the top of DCW's best 360 cameras list. The Insta360 X5 boasts impressive 8K footage and low-light capabilities, along with a durable build – or should I say "octopus-proof" build?
You may also like
Take a look at the best waterproof cameras, or the best 360 cameras.
