The new Insta360 X3 continues the company’s tradition of producing some of the most entertaining and intriguing cameras in recent years.
In fact, it could be the most adaptable action camera (or camera) available today.
Similar to its predecessor, the Insta360 One X2, the X3 is a 360-degree camera with two extremely wide lenses that capture everything around you and allow you to subsequently “reframe” the clip into a conventional movie.
Specifications of Insta360
But thanks to a number of improvements, it is much more effective in “single-lens” mode as a conventional action camera.
The Insta360 One X2’s ability to shoot with only one lens and in 1080p quality was one of our greatest complaints.
But with the X3, you can now shoot in 4K resolution while using a single lens, giving the impression of using two cameras simultaneously.
However, the X3’s adaptable 360-degree modes are its key selling point. Additionally, it makes certain improvements to this area, including a new 1/2-inch sensor (an improvement over the 1/2.3-inch sensor on the X2) and a new “Active HDR” option.
Although its predecessor did include an HDR video option, this one appears to go above and above to reduce ghosting and improve stability.
The X3’s 360-degree video still limited to 5.7K/30p and doesn’t offer a resolution upgrade, and its video bit-rate is still 120Mbps.
The X3 can shoot in 4K/120p or 3K/180p for its slow-motion modes, however there have been improvements. On the one X2, the corresponding mode could only go as high as 3K/100p.
Its wide-angle footage readily converts into a 4:5 Instagram post or a 9:16 TikTok video without suffering any significant quality loss, the X3 will be a great hit with social media makers as well.
Its bigger 2.29-inch screen also appears like a benefit for usage, compared to the X2’s tiny circular display.
Reality Check
The majority of the problems we’ve seen with Insta360 cameras in the past, especially just after introduction, have been minor software glitches.
This looks to be the case once more based on our limited experience with the Insta360 X3.
For instance, when editing on the Android app, our 360-degree video occasionally began drifting to the right.
It has also been difficult to download some videos, like Starlapses, to our phones because the procedure frequently hangs up.
These problems are likely pre-release faults that Insta360 is investigating and will soon fixes it in firmware.
Overall, the X3 has left us quite impressed, especially with its new screen and the enormous variety of shooting options it provides.
It makes sense that it primarily made for creating original social media clips and won’t compete with the top video cameras in terms of overall video quality.
However, it’s also more adaptable than just about any camera we can think of, including GoPros, iPhones, and full-frame monsters.
360-degree cameras have slowly expanded from their specialised origins to become potent weapons in the toolboxes of all types of producers.
