In follow, that is the primary 360 digital camera I’ve used the place the video footage remains to be very sharp and clear, even when reframed to 16:9. You continue to need to cope with the sew line, which is the place the perimeters of the 2 lenses meet and software program (imperfectly) fills within the gaps, however in any other case postproduction use of this footage seems like, nicely, simply modifying video. I combined it with footage from a Sony A7R II, GoPro Hero 12, and Insta360 Ace Professional, and other than the broader angle of view, it is laborious to inform the footage aside.
That alone is sufficient for me to say that that is the 360 digital camera filmmakers will need. The 8K footage nonetheless would not reframe to 4K (you will have to attend for 12K footage earlier than that is potential), nevertheless it seems to be adequate for something you are going to put on-line.
It is not simply the high-end specs which have modified within the X4 both. Body speeds have been improved in lower-resolution footage, with new choices to shoot 5.7K video at 60 fps, 4K at 100 fps, and 4K at 60 fps when capturing in wide-angle mode. None of that’s earth-shattering, nevertheless it does offer you some higher slo-mo choices, because of the upper body charges.
The colour profile choices stay the identical because the X3: Commonplace, Vivid, and Log (for many who choose to paint in publish). I shot primarily in Commonplace and located the colours to be properly rendered, maybe slightly on the nice and cozy facet. I discover Vivid too garish, and naturally in the event you plan to combine footage with different cameras, you will need to shoot every little thing in Log and do your coloring in software program.
Movie Crew in a Field
Testing motion cameras is all the time the most effective components of this job, nevertheless it was particularly enjoyable with the Insta360 X4. I do not even like capturing 360 video, however capturing 360 video understanding that I can crop, reframe, and nonetheless get sharp, clear footage with plenty of element and easy pans? Sure please.
In some ways the Insta360 is like including a small movie crew to your bag, particularly in the event you get Insta360’s hilariously oversize 9.8-foot selfie stick, which makes it potential to faux surprisingly reasonable increase photographs.
At $99, the brand new Prolonged Version Selfie Stick is not low-cost, however is nicely value it for the flexibility it creates when paired with the X4. Absolutely prolonged and held behind you when you stroll, it mimics a low-flying drone monitoring shot, however with out the entire crash-in-the-trees factor.
Talking of timber, shade, and shadow, the X4 excels in vivid daylight. Excessive-contrast scenes like a forest ground at noon are tougher (that is true for any digital camera). HDR mode will help typically, however you then lose the flexibility to shoot Log.
{Photograph}: Scott Gilbertson