“The Insta360 X3 is a highly versatile camera capable of capturing high-resolution 360 footage.”
Pros
Very good picture high quality
Large, lovely touchscreen show
Creative and enjoyable modes
Waterproof
Cons
Some options don’t work properly in lowlight conditions
Making your movies stand out in an age the place thousands and thousands of individuals are striving to do the identical on platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram isn’t any simple activity. That’s the place the Insta360 X3 is available in. The X3 is the newest in Insta360’s line of versatile 360 cameras, and it’s extra of an all-in-one resolution that’s additionally compact and waterproof. It’s filled with options geared toward increasing your inventive horizons. Can the X3 ship on its promising potential and earn a spot in your digital camera bag?
Insta360 X3 design
The updates to the X3 are instantly obvious, because it now encompasses a massive, lovely 2.29-inch touchscreen on the again. The older X2 digital camera applied a tiny little round show that, whereas very attention-grabbing and usable, could be very exhausting to return to after utilizing the X3 show. Navigating menus, altering settings and modes, and reviewing footage are a lot simpler with a big touchscreen.
The X3 additionally has extra bodily buttons, which I actually respect. It’s method simpler now to begin and cease recording or to swap between 360 and single lens modes. There’s additionally a brand new fast menu button that permits you to simply save and entry presets. An additional enchancment is a hatch for the USB-C port. It’s extra sturdy and simpler to open or shut.
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The design of the neoprene sleeve for the X3 has been altered so that there’s now a gap that enables entry to the USB-C port with out having to take away the X3 from the case. Little high quality of life upgrades like this are very a lot appreciated.
Though the X3 is barely bigger than the X2, it’s nonetheless a extremely compact machine that’s simple to suit into most pockets. The small dimension is nice because it makes it extra probably that I’ll repeatedly carry the digital camera round along with my different gear.
Image high quality
The X3 affords a major enhance in picture high quality over the X2, which is nice since disappointing picture high quality was my one massive grievance with the X2. The X3 has a barely bigger sensor and a barely brighter lens, and the distinction is form of unbelievable.
The X3 delivers actually handsome video that’s sharp and clear. It can shoot 360 video at 5.7K decision at 30 frames per second (fps) or 4K at as much as 60fps. In single-lens mode, it captures 4K at 30fps and as much as 60fps in the event you drop all the way down to 3.5K decision. Slow-motion can be out there at 4K at 120fps or 3K at 180fps. This means the X3 is an improve over its predecessor however doesn’t fairly method the GoPro Hero 10 Black when it comes to slow-motion and single-lens decision.
Due more likely to the bigger sensor and aperture, the X3 now performs higher in lowlight conditions. I used it within the dappled forest and nonetheless bought handsome footage, although a number of the particular modes like bullet time want numerous gentle to perform correctly. The video it produces isn’t fairly up there with the way more costly Insta360 One RS 1-inch 360 version, and that digital camera will nonetheless be my go-to as best-of-the-best possibility for 360 seize, notably for astrophotography.
The X3 actually shines when its high-resolution sensor is put to full use. It can shoot 72MP 360-degree photographs and movie time-lapses at as much as 8K. This makes the digital camera a terrific alternative for realtors creating VR experiences of properties, or for panorama photographers who need to document a time-lapse whereas they’re taking pictures nonetheless photographs with a DSLR.
Extra options and equipment
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The X3 comes filled with all kinds of specialised modes and equipment for reaching totally different results. My favourite of those, as with different 360 cameras, is star-lapse mode, through which the digital camera captures star trails for unbelievable cinematic evening sky pictures. Due to the all-encompassing subject of view, you will get your complete sky within the shot, after which pull a number of totally different pictures out of a single 360 video. I like sticking these star path pictures into journey and journey movies for an enormous enhance of the “wow factor.”
One very sensible new function of the X3 is a 4K single-lens mode through which the digital camera makes use of solely considered one of its two lenses to supply a extra conventional motion camera-style video straight out of the digital camera. With this mode, you’ll be able to select between the default subject of view (FOV), and FOV Plus, which permits a 170-degree subject of view for ultra-wide pictures, although these wider pictures will need to have 360 horizon lock and flowstate stabilization utilized in postprocessing within the Insta360 app or studio.
You can get your complete sky within the shot, after which pull a number of totally different pictures out of a single 360 video.
The so-called invisible selfie stick lives as much as its moniker by fully disappearing in your photographs and movies when used with the X3. Over the previous 12 months, it has turn into my favourite selfie stick on account of its lengthy attain and durable construct high quality.
I had the chance to check the X3 with the bullet time twine accent, which, when mixed with bullet time mode, permits you to spin the digital camera round you to create loopy slow-motion pictures that may in any other case require a extremely expert FPV drone pilot to drag off. This might be actually cool, however you really want robust daylight for the 4K 120fps slow-motion video to look good.
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Two new modes on the X3 are Me Mode and Loop recording. Me Mode is designed for vlogging or different actions through which you need the video to middle completely on you. Loop recording repeatedly data footage, however solely saves the final 1 to 30 minutes of the video. One potential software of loop recording is to make the most of the X3 as a dashcam for a bike or bicycle.
Other optionally available equipment embody a fast reader and an exterior microphone adapter, each of which connect to the USB-C port. Also out there is a 3-meter-long prolonged selfie stick for capturing drone-like pictures.
Performance
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Despite lengthy recording periods in heat summer season situations, I by no means skilled overheating with the X3, and it stood up properly to chilly nights capturing star-lapse movies. The digital camera simply shrugged off a dunk within the ocean and put up with rough-and-tumble climbing excursions. I did, nevertheless, run continuously into an issue through which the digital camera would freeze up on me, usually throughout startup, and I needed to pop the battery out to get it up and operating once more. However, it’s necessary to notice that I examined the digital camera utilizing prelaunch firmware, and the digital camera by no means froze whereas recording.
In phrases of battery life, I discovered that the X3 might get me by means of a median day of recording on a hike, although, as with most 360 and motion cameras, it’s solely good for a single star-lapse on a cost. For multi-ay backpacking journeys, you’re undoubtedly going to need just a few backup batteries.
The digital camera simply shrugged off a dunk within the ocean and put up with rough-and-tumble climbing excursions.
Insta360’s FlowState stabilization and 360 horizon lock are as spectacular as ever on the X3, so it’s simple to seize easy footage.
The digital camera is waterproof all the way down to 33 ft, although for seamless 360 stitching underwater (in addition to deeper dives), you’ll must buy a dive case. If you’re going to make use of the digital camera underwater lots, I’d suggest a dive case anyway, if solely for an additional layer of safety. The X3 is pretty rugged and impact-resistant, however as with every 360 digital camera, you’ve bought to watch out of these two bulbous lenses. As I’ve sadly skilled prior to now, you don’t need these lenses to come back into contact with abrasive substances.
Software
Insta360’s cellular and desktop functions are very accessible methods to assessment and edit 360 footage, plus they provide a plug-in for Adobe Premiere Pro. There are simple choices out there to simplify the method for novice editors and loads of depth for seasoned content material creators to dig into.
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Price and availability
The X3 is offered now and retails for $450, which is roughly within the ballpark of a GoPro Hero 10 Black or the DJI Action 2. Though it’s barely pricier than both of these motion cameras, it additionally affords a higher degree of inventive versatility. For a 360 digital camera, the X3 is a remarkably inexpensive possibility.
An wonderful waterproof 360 digital camera that gained’t break the financial institution
Insta360 affords an in depth lineup of 360 cameras, but the X3 nonetheless manages to face out with clear benefits and its personal area of interest. It’s a serious improve over its predecessor and affords nice worth for cash. Perhaps most significantly, it’s a ton of enjoyable to make use of, in addition to an extremely versatile device, because of its intensive vary of taking pictures modes and choices. As a compact and waterproof all-in-one package deal, the X3 is simple to hold with you and fast to drag out and begin filming.
While the modular RS system that Insta360 additionally produces is a pretty different, notably with the 1-inch 360 digital camera hooked up, the simplicity of the X3 has distinct benefits. The comparatively low value level for a 360 digital camera can be extremely interesting, and for most individuals, the X3 is probably going one of the best 360 digital camera to decide on.
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