The primary consumer-grade 360 cameras had short-lived success after the novelty of panning round a video fizzled out. With the recognition of Reels and TikTok, the flexibility of these cameras may deliver them again into the highlight. One such digital camera? The Insta360 X4.
I am all the time forgetting to seize behind-the-scenes video for social, however the skill to arrange a digital camera in a number of seconds and select the composition later may assist save my Reels efforts.
The Insta360 X4 does every thing you’ll anticipate a 360 digital camera to do. However it may well additionally add pan and tilt results in post-production, preserve a person-centered within the body even when that particular person strikes behind the digital camera, and simply create picture-in-picture footage. Plus, it options enhanced decision, longer battery life, and different enhancements over its predecessor.
I am all the time forgetting to seize behind-the-scenes video for social, however the skill to arrange a digital camera in a number of seconds and select the composition later may assist save my Reels efforts. I attempted out Insta360’s newest immersive digital camera, and got here away stunned on the variety of capabilities packed inside.
Is a 360 digital camera value shopping for? In the event you tried an motion digital camera and wished you possibly can shoot first and pan later, the Insta360 X4 might ship simply that.
Reccomended
The Insta360 X4 is an exceptionally versatile digital camera. The improved decision and prolonged battery life over the sooner mannequin is an enormous plus. Sturdiness and ease are additionally promoting factors. Nevertheless, the mic is muffled for a number of hours after heading underwater and you may get extra decision for much less with a single lens digital camera.
Value, specs, and availability
Insta360 introduced the X4 on April 16, 2024, with orders starting the identical day. The digital camera retails for $500.
Decision 360-degree 7,680 x 3,840 at 30 fps
Dimensions 46 x 123.6 x 37.6mm
Model Insta360
Weight 203g
Sensor 1/2-inch
Waterproof As much as 32 ft (10m) with out housing
Picture Decision 18-megapixel or 72-megapixel sew
Software program Insta360 cellular and desktop apps
Single Lens Mode Single lens mode 3,840×2,160 at 60fps
Design, dimension, and magnificence
The Insta360 X4 is easy to function
At round 1.5 inches thick, Insta360 X4 has the girth of an motion digital camera, with the vertical, rectangular form of a smartphone. That design offers it a vertical touchscreen. The show is straightforward to swipe round, and there are shortcuts that make it easy to search out completely different settings.
The digital camera itself options simply 4 buttons, together with a devoted report toggle beneath the display screen. You may as well use voice instructions, gestures, or the Insta360 companion app to take photographs with out touching the machine. The latter is exceptionally helpful when taking drone-like photographs on a 10-foot selfie stick or in situations the place you’re carrying thick gloves.
Because it’s troublesome to handhold a 360 digital camera with out getting your fingers within the shot, most will wish to pair the digital camera with Insta360’s Invisible Selfie Stick.
On the aspect, lockable doorways conceal a USB-C port. The microSD card slot is hidden below the battery door. That battery is swappable, if 135 minutes in a single go is not lengthy sufficient.
There is a tripod thread on the backside. Because it’s troublesome to handhold a 360 digital camera with out getting your fingers within the shot, most will wish to pair the digital camera with Insta360’s Invisible Selfie Stick. The corporate’s software program is wise sufficient to robotically edit the accent out of photographs.
The Insta 360 X4 is waterproof to about 32 ft (10m). Nevertheless, the built-in mic requires drying out earlier than you’ll be able to report audio usually once more, a course of the corporate says can take as much as 24 hours. So heading underwater is greatest for photographs that you just’ll edit the audio out of later.
Efficiency and ease of use
Versatility is a significant energy
The X4 takes a format that would simply really feel like a short-lived gimmick and as a substitute turns it into one thing with seemingly countless inventive alternatives. Sure, it may well shoot swipe-able 360 photographs and movies, and seize GoPro-like footage. However the X4 also can pan from one factor to a different with out somebody bodily manning the digital camera. It will possibly add inventive digital camera motion from a stationary place. Image-in-picture mixes each the videographer and the scene in entrance of 1 viewer. I used to be stunned on the variety of completely different potentialities packed contained in the X4.
Whereas the largest benefits are the auto edits and tutorials, the app leaves loads of room for personalisation.
The important thing to that versatility is the Insta360 app. By far the most effective included characteristic is Shot Lab, which walks you thru completely different particular results, and handles many edits robotically. The app additionally leaves loads of room for personalisation. Keyframes mark spots within the video so as to add completely different results, like transferring from ultra-wide to a tiny planet impact. Modifying necessities like side ratio, pace, quantity, publicity, and colour are all included as effectively. It is easy to begin with an computerized AI edit after which add your individual tweaks.
Exports and producing a number of the included AI results can take some persistence. Utilizing the app additionally drained the battery of the digital camera and my iPhone 15 Professional, however that’s to be anticipated when transferring giant information over Wi-Fi. I discovered a single cost was sufficient to shoot quick clips for an hour and full a number of edits.
The X4 has a number of built-in instruments to reduce modifying time when you have already got an finish end in thoughts. Me Mode makes use of AI to maintain you within the middle of a standard-sized motion video with no need to reframe it later. It’s additionally simple to make use of the one lens mode for motion digital camera use.
Picture and video high quality
Improved decision and wonderful stabilization are key
The X4 makes use of two smaller 1/2-inch sensors on every lens. That places the digital camera’s picture high quality in keeping with a good smartphone, nevertheless it received’t examine to a high-end devoted digital camera.
The Insta360 X4 shoots as much as 8K at 30 fps. Nevertheless, these pixels are stretched throughout two lenses. The one lens mode is extra indicative of the ultimate high quality for a horizontal video: 4K at as much as 60 fps. That’s a decent quantity of decision, and the largest improve from the X3.
Pictures default to 18 megapixels, however there’s a 72-megapixel sew choice that delays the following shot to extend element. Once more, that is stretched throughout that 360 view. The one factor that will have made the digital camera extra versatile is a bodily zoom. You’ll discover extra grain when switching between modes like ultrawide to the nearer dewarp that crops in on the picture.
Contemplating the dimensions of its sensors, I used to be stunned the X4 may deal with low-light scenes. There’s some noticeable grain in dimly-lit photographs, however the ensuing movies are nonetheless prepared for Instagram. As a result of X4 captures 360 footage, stabilization simply requires holding the framing regular. Recording movies whereas strolling and rollerblading, the footage solely had a minor quantity of back-and-forth motion.
Sew strains are a standard ache for 360 movies. Essentially the most irksome strains come from utilizing the digital camera too shut to things and heading underwater, although Insta360 says the waterproof housing (offered individually) creates a smoother sew. Colours generally felt excessive and too saturated, making pores and skin tones seem deeper orange than in actuality. This was a simple repair in publish, nonetheless.
Verdict: Is the Insta360 X4 value it?
Insta360’s earlier cameras introduced new life to the 360 style by increasing what customers may do. The X4 continues that focus with enhanced decision and battery life. It’s not only a 360 digital camera, it’s additionally for capturing motion, including digital camera motion with out anybody truly manning the digital camera, POV movies, and picture-in-picture recording.
The added decision is a pleasant enhance over the X3, making the brand new digital camera on par with an excellent smartphone. At $500, the X4 is costlier than the sooner X3. Furthermore, equipment just like the Invisible Selfie Stick, which is a must have, will add to that price. There are a number of different complaints, together with a mic that wants time to dry after going underwater, oversaturated colours, and smallish sensors that do not excel in low mild.
Think about the X4 if you happen to’re on the lookout for an motion digital camera however need one thing with added flexibility. If decision is paramount, the GoPro Hero Black12 would not have close to the identical stage of flexibility or reframing after the actual fact, however presents 5.7K at 60 fps at a lower cost level, plus the mics solely take a number of seconds to empty out after dipping underwater.
