The Panono panoramic camera ball will be able to take even better photographs. The team working on the throwable panoramic ball camera announced Monday that it has been able to procure better optics that will boost the camera from 72 to 108 megapixels. According to Panono, this makes its camera ball the first consumer camera to exceed 100 megapixels.

The Panono is a ball-shaped camera — about the size of a grapefruit — with 36 cameras inside. All 36 cameras fire off simultaneously when thrown in the air, capturing stunning 360-degree spherical panoramic images.

Check out this 108-megapixel image of a Panono flying with a drone in Germany:

The project is currently seeking funding on Indiegogo and is about two-thirds of the way towards its $900,000 goal with just under two weeks to go. Users can pre-order a Panono for $499. The company is also offering a holiday special package for $535, complete with protective case, tripod adapter and handheld stick.

The Panono is expected to ship the third quarter of 2014. We had a ton of fun with the prototype Panono in our office back in October. With the success of drones and other high-tech toys, it would seem Panono has a ready-made audience. With better optics, the photos Panono takes will be better too, which could be great news for photographers or hobbyists who are on the lookout for unique images.

Bonus: Throwable Camera Takes Instant Panoramas

Image: Mashable, Christina Ascani