Insta360 - Insta360 X3

Here's my take. Cameras like the X4 are great 'lazy' cameras. You don't do anything with them live - just stick them in place and let them do their thing. They are also 'you get what you get' cameras. Low light noise, visible stitch lines are part of what you get. Finally they are 'get it all' cameras with the 360 degree dome - even if the camera operator is unaware of something interesting happening - the camera will catch it. The post-processing on the app is also fun in the X4 with lots of novel shots available to you. If you're planning on using this for motorcycles - do you need more than 180 degrees? If not - then the X4 is not necessary. Get the best quality 180 degree camera you can get. Reminder - you can set the X4 into single lens mode and get better quality 180 degree footage too. I edit my videos - so I can handle the stitch lines and noise profiles easily. My favorite camera (out of GoPro, RX100VII, FX30, FX3, Pocket 3, X3, X4) is the X4. It's just goofy, easy, low-risk fun. My best camera is the FX3 (and the FX30 actually). My photo camera/daily carry is the RX100VII. The Pocket 3 proved less useful for what I do and unfortunately it gathers dust. The X4 was not really any kind of improvement over the X3 - which I believe was part of your question.

I’ve had ONE X2, X3 and now X4. Only downside was the X4 was larger and heavier but I quickly got used to that. Depending on how you use it, it might not be a big deal. It is missing some bracketing photo features earlier models had. If you don’t use them, no big deal. Check out many side by side video comparisons. I record them when I get a new X camera to decide if the upgrade is worth it.

I have never owned a GoPro, but started 360 photography in 2005 with a mirror-ball add on for a digital camera. I’ve owned 360 cams from Giroptic, RICOH, Kodak and now have Insta360 and DJI. While my RICOH had better photos than the ONE X2, I got a ONE X2 because it had better software and was more fun. I instantly used a "worse" camera more than any of the other models I had. As I moved from X2 to X3 to X4 to X5, each comparison always had some things I thought the earlier model did better. With my DJI Osmo 360, I got it specifically for low light, hoping it might be my "go to" for low light situations, and the X5 for everything else. I’ve already seen alot of footage comparing it to other cameras, and some things look better on the Max 2, and other things look worse. Personal preference is a b-tch ;) What do you expect the niche of the Max 2 to be? What are the things that GoPro does better?

I have the x3. Same perks, honestly, but it peaks at 4k. I use it for my motorcycle rides. It's effectively my dashcam. Only downside I have in that use case, is I really need to carry a spare battery and an external battery charger, as it dies after about 1-2 hours of riding. I went for a 4 hour ride, and it died in the middle. The most exciting parts I missed entirely due to the battery life. I have a USB to charge my phone on the bike, so it would be easy enough to plug in the spare battery while I ride and then swap when I need to, but I don't know they have an external battery charger. 

I have the insta360 one X3 and if it’s in good lighting it’s fine. For normal scuba (up to about 8-9 meters) I prefer the colors of GoPro. But check the reviews for the new action cameras (DJI/insta Ace Pro 2, they’ve come a long way). There’s scuba related reviews (Matthias Lebo or Dive In).

I have an Insta 360 x3. It’s buggy and constantly stops recording after 1 minute. The footage looks like a camera from 2005.

I just bought a like new X3 on eBay for like half the price I could find an X4. There's your biggest argument. The X4 isn't twice the camera. Some things to consider: Batteries for the X3 are cheap. I bought 2 for £20 and it's not a big job to swap them. You may be able to use AI upscaling software to improve the X3 past the native quality of the X4 if you can find the software for "free" The X3 is lighter which is a bonus when it's hanging off the back of your bike on a selfie stick. You can buy tempered glass lens covers on AliExpress very cheap for the X3 and you would always want them on so not really a bonus on the X4 Don't compare the colours and of people comparing stock footage. It's incredibly easy to change in the app. The two cameras have the same sensors so I don't imagine low light footage would be much better on the X4. Honestly if I had the money to spare I would have just got the X4 but the X3 is a really good camera and a better deal (for me anyway)

You want action or 360? If you need 360, that's not one camera, it's 2. It's affordable. It's 4k - but clumsy. Really needs phone/desktop software to work, and that's kinda clumsy. I've had 3 360 cams. - ricoh theta sc (ok, old, can do one button image or long press video.) - moto z phone with 360 cam addon (amazing? The moto z 360 addon was going for $50. Decent quality, but bring party of the phone made the interface amazing.) - insta 360 x3 - current. Had accessories like lens protectors (important!) interface on the camera itself is great. Can shoot RAW if you want to attempt processing the image yourself. I looked at the Kodak and considered it, but paid the little extra for the 360. Usability is worth it. None of these give great video, but the images are quite nice. VLC can open either. The 360 x3 video was a nice bump, but if you don't need 360, a regular action can will give better video.

Same here. I use my X3 a ton and didn’t see a big need to go to X4. But looks like a no brainer to go to the X5 for low light alone. X3 low light is just unusable.

A 360 is cool too. I use the Insta360 X3. I’m intrigued by the new DJI 360 though. I’m a big an of DJI stuff. Just works well.

Agree regarding the lenses. I keep the covers on my X3 and use it for specialty shots and then the Osmo4 for most stuff, which does have a replaceable lens. …and when stuff happens, I add it to the pile of smashed action cameras and gimbals:)

You should send it back to Insta360 if it’s shutting down. I don’t have similar problems with my x3. If the footage looks like it’s from 2005, then you likely have one of two problems. The first is that you are filming in a resolution of less than 5.7k or you are reframing your video and expecting the reframe to be 5.7k quality. Reframes are generally somewhere between 720p and 1080p depending on the FOV so that is in line with cameras from more than a decade ago. It’s 5.7k over the entire 360 degrees so any reframes are just a portion of that. The X4 might be a better bet for you since it’s shooting in 8k or 33 megapixels while the X3 is shooting in about 18 megapixels. If you are looking for 4k reframes in a consumer 360 camera, there is nothing out there or in the immediate pipeline that can do it yet. When it comes to non-360 action cameras like the Ace Pro, it does shoot in 8k now. That’s 33 megapixels of video in fantastic quality - DJI can’t do it and neither can GoPro. You can crop your 8k Ace Pro video in post to a quarter of the resolution and still end up with a full 4k resolution crop. No other action camera can do that right now. I still love my GoPros but they are becoming less and less of my workflow as Insta360 and DJI are coming up with cameras that have better sensors, better low light footage, fast charging, less overheating and better designs like the flip up screen on the Ace Pro. I use whatever tool works best for my workflow and right now the Ace Pro and Action 5 are proving to be better cameras for what and how I shoot than the Hero 13. I am intrigued about the anamorphic lens for the Hero 13, but it was announced almost 3 months ago and there is still no clue when it’s going to be released. I can’t shoot footage and create content on hardware that isn’t available. Insta360 has released 6 separate 360 cameras since GoPro released the Max and my guess is that GoPro shelved the Max 2 for another year because they weren’t going to have 8k while the X4 has it and has been out for almost 8 months now. If GoPro doesn’t get their act together, more people like me who buy several cameras a year are going to move away from them and move to their competitors. I wish it wasn’t the case, but laying off developers and engineers means your product pipeline probably will be advancing at an even slower rate than it is now. I hope I am wrong and GoPro comes back strong but they are failing now and have been for some time.

How is the audio of the X5 in a festival setting like in the beginning of this video? The audio on my X3/X4 is barely usable in loud environments, while my iPhone 14 has no problems at all capturing very acceptable audio.

Big advantage for me, I went X3, skipped X4, X5, was the user replaceable lenses. This means you can actually use the camera as an action cam, as opposed to having to nanny it.

Wannabe, limited-audience YouTuber here I've been having fun trying to put together vacation, hiking, beach videos to keep memories and share them with friends and family. I've been trying to keep my budget small, and gear light, since I'm not a professional - at least until I learn enough so that I can do some of it professionally or that I find that my gear is limiting me significantly. (I'm a middle-aged man who already has a career in IT). That being said, you could most definitely get away with just an OP3 for video and a smartphone w possibly a good phone camera for stills (especially for vlogging). It all depends on what type of footage you take. I'm no cinematographer (as evidenced by the amount of useless footage I create) but for travel/adventure I would also include one, possibly two, action cams. There's a couple of reasons for this: First, while the OP3 is small, light, and does well in low light, I find to truly put an engaging video together that is more than just dialogue, it takes knowledge, experience, and sometimes luck, to get great clips - often requiring staging of a scene or subjects and planning out shots. Second, the OP3 isn't weather resistant or rugged at all without adding bulky cases that negate its small firm-factor. Action cams have the advantage of being rugged even though their low light stabilization sucks. they also have the advantage of replaceable batteries that you can swap out on the fly when filming for long periods of time without worrying about constantly keeping the charge on the OP3 up. Sometimes it's much faster and easier to slap my GoPro on a pole (to get both me and the background) and film myself than to really setup the shot with the OP3. I have a GoPro10 and an Insta360X3 that I'm pretty happy with for certain well-lit situations. I use the GoPro often for when I want something quick and simple, or doing something very active where the camera needs to be mounted someplace in motion. I very often have it clipped to my backpack strap while on vacation and it's especially good for capturing background footage while being MUCH more discreet than a mounted OP3. The Insta360 is the opposite of the OP3 really. It's best use is when you're filming things at least 4 feet away from you (for 360 video stitching) and you don't have to really setup your shot at all as the camera catches EVERYTHING at once. The studio software is pretty great for dynamically reframing the 360 video and flattening it out before using in a standard editor. Every good capture I get with the X3 usually results in two videos - one, a video clip of my target (which could include tracking or just keyframing different things) and two, a selfie video/audio track of my reactions dialogues, etc. The X3 is great because you don't have to setup the shot and you can do everything else in post. ... but it's very noticeable when you use it and often gets stares from bystanders. One other thing I've noticed is that many attractions no longer want people filming and being a distraction/disruption to others - more and more places I've noticed now ban photography with selfie/telescoping sticks... which of course is pretty much the best way to use a 360 camera. Whoa that was long. Hopefully some of that was useful.

I have an insta360 x3 and it’s great for making action videos of the kids doing stuff. I have the ski pole mount as well but have not messed with it a lot yet. For harder stuff I strap the stick for the camera to my backpack so I can use my poles. It gets a tad wobbly but overall it’s a cool effect

I shot adult semi professionally for years and now still shoot personal adult for fun.  If you're shooting handheld, you're going to run into tons of stability shake issues for anywhere you'd need the go3's size aside from public/voyeur style shoots where you really don't want to draw attention. But a phone would be just as good in most of those situations. And in the few the go might be more discreet its lighting and dynamic range are going to suck as much as the x3.  The x3 can be relatively just as discreet if you act cool and you (as you should) have subjects coordination and consent. Just did a fun upskirt walking with my partner last month with the x3 on a selfie poll (screen set to 5s off after recording) held down at my side with a swoop between the legs when the coast was clear.  People don't think of the 360 as capturing what it does and with auto screen off and screen facing out so it looks "off" with it between you and your partner so it wouldn't be capturing anyone else there's nothing that would flag concern in peoples minds. And you make sure that you're holding it against your leg with your partner on the other side and high enough so that it wouldn't capture anyone else inappropriately because the sight line would only capture someone walking directly next to you and coordinating their walking to capture the shot. Really for shooting indoors you're going to need to focus on lighting lighting lighting. Use directional but diffused lighting from multiple angles so it's not creating harsh spots unless you're doing an artistic style. Otherwise expect to be using lots of lighting/natural lighting. You'll basically have to learn the same skills as a small budget indie film/documentary but less on the artistic lighting side unless that's the style you find customers prefer (example is kink.com's brand enhancing scene lighting). Anyways that's not what I thought I'd be spending a long time commenting on in the insta360 sub so I'll wrap it up there but hopefully it helps.  And for insta360's product sake "although I wouldn't recommend the GO series for adult work I would highly recommend the X series 360 camera as a secondary camera for intro price range inventive and innovative consensual adult shooting. To bring new possibilities for all content consumers and creators of legal age in their respective countries "

I am someone who tries to price out some of the bundles cheaper by buying them separately. Honestly, I think it depends highly on your use case. I would buy the X3 unless you really need to record in higher resolution, and slowly start to add on accessories you’ll use. Almost immediately you’ll want a larger SD card, rendering the one that comes with the bundle useless.

My personal experience with GoPro has been overheating and on occasion, when you press record nothing happens. I would likely use DJI in the future for single lens. I also use an Insta 360 X3 and really love the fact you can spin the camera around in any direction. It’s great.

If you need it now, get a discounted x3 and then upgrade to the upcoming x5. The x4 wasn’t a big step forward IMHO.

Im a noob in this field, but they guys in the store said exactly what U wrote x4 has better quqlity and battery life, otherwise x3 pretty much has all u need. I bought my x3 and Im super happy with it. It also weights a little less than x4 so if ur using it on helmet might feel a little.

Had an x3, and while good spend the entire time paranoid about scratching the lens, and image does deteriate in low light. Lens protector is no good as they fog internally when camera is warm and outdoors is cold. Ended up selling and getting a dji action 4, great camera, just 155 angle rather than 360

Insta360 x3 helped with my insurance claim thank god and as pricy as hey are best thing I ever bought

Primary camera- dji Secondary ( for b rolls) insta 360

I have to suggest the 360 cams. Based on what you want it for. Its really the perfect tool to capture quick moments. Not having to frame the shot, being able to just put it on a tripod and let it run knowing it will capture everything is a huge factor. Imagine wanting to take a quick group shot or video. U don't even need to make sure everyone is in frame. Just press the shutter. Now if u want to do like a baby FPV or have your kid hold it then yeah the nano or go ultra If not 360 cam all the way. Insta360 specifically for the editing in the app. Reframing in post edit is not that difficult once you get the hang of it.

I switched long ago after my GoPro had the same SD card error and none of the day's videos were saved. Never again. Since then, I've not lost any footage on Insta360 X3, X5, Go 2, Go 3. Insta360 have their issues but definitely better than GoPro.

I would get the thumb sized [Go3](https://www.insta360.com/sal/go-3?utm_term=INRDA5L) if you want something simple for a 10yo. You really have to get a bit stuck in editing to use the 360 cameras, that being said, if you go for a 360 camera I second going for a metal case for added protection or get the [X3](https://www.insta360.com/sal/x3?utm_term=INRDA5L) which is a bargain compared to the twice more expensive [X5](https://www.insta360.com/sal/x5?utm_term=INRDA5L), however the X5 has an option of replacing broken lens guards. I have been using my Go2/Go3/Go3s for vacations and biking, cooking and general fpv videos, you just clip it on your shirt via a magnetic pendant you wear under your shirt (included), or attach it to a baseball cap or just about anything. Your son will love any one of those cameras, it just depends on your budget and how confident he is on the editing side if you go for one of the 360 ones.

I have experienced the best and worst of the Insta360 X3. It is definitely better for capturing sessions than your standard GoPro, I got way more usable footage although it takes way longer to edit, but one lazy carry to the beach and I got the lens scratched. Was still usable but not so long after it wouldn’t turn on. Got a good 2 years out of it and would still recommend.

Being able to swap lenses on the X5 when you scratch them makes it worth it alone. I have an X3 too and it always makes me nervous using it because I know if I scratch a lens it’s going to be a hassle to fix it myself or send it in.

Waiting for DJI’s 360 to compare is my personal reason for not upgrading from my X3 rn. I carry my Pocket 3 and x3 almost everywhere, would love one to replace both.

Go pro is probably not the first choice anymore. DJI Osmo action 4 and 5 are better imo. Insta 360 also have the ace series which are not 360 cameras despite the name. 360 cameras like the insta 360 X3 and X4 can shoot normal video too. All the do is record 2 feeds and mege then, front back back cameras with super wide angle lenses. I have an Osmo action 3 and 4 and an insta 360 X3. If you aren't interested in 360 video, the action 4 or 5 is a great choice. Much more rugged than the insta 360 and more shooting options in regard to frame rate and resolution. Another thing to consider is audio. If you want speaking in the videos, you'll need external mics. The Osmo action 4 and 5 can connect a DJI mic2 via Bluetooth. The insta 360 don't natively support external mics, but I've heard of a hack connecting the mic as a Bluetooth earphone in the menu and it working, but I haven't tried it.

I bought the insta360x3 when it first came out, and took it on a River cruise in a few countries and the Everglades; I look forward to uploading the footage into an Apple Vision Pro.

I buy a lot of camera for media collection for my dive shop. The ones that we choose currently are the DJI 5, Insta360 X3, and the DJI 3. GoPro doesn't get a look in as it's just not good enough anymore. We got given the 12 to test, and it's not been used since the test was complete...

I bought the X3 to complement the cameras we use at the dive shop. When we first got it, I was using it constantly as the whizzy-swirly effects were cool, as was the ability to capture content of the divers behind me. However, its sat on the table for the past 6+ months. Why? The case scratches are so obvious in the footage, and I need to buy a new case. But also the increased time in workflow. Now we typically shoot short clips - 20 seconds max, but even the extra step in the media workflow on these short clips starts to add up if you have a lot of media. The camera is (of course) wide angle, so capturing small details is a bust. Now the output is still amazing, and now I see that there is a plug-in for some of the video editors that mean you can use the 360 footage direct from the camera - but I've not used them yet. There is a place for the 360 footage in scuba video recording - but I've not found this to be the 'panacea' of a camera. We still prefer the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro as our got to camera.

I went from the X3 to the X5 and I would recommend the X5 without hesitation just for the user-changeable lenses

The X3 is fine as a dashcam on my bicycle.  I have caught 5 motorcycle riders on the cycleway since I started using it 3 months ago, numberplate and faces were clearly visible.

My first 360 camera was the x3. I had some fun with it but a lot of the footage ended up being really low quality.  X5 seems to have the quality I’m looking for but I prefer the size of the Max 2. I’m just waiting for the preorder to arrive. Some regret after learning about the low light capability but I have other gear for night stuff so I’m not too disappointed.

Insta360 is the way to go I got an x3 2 years ago and I love it

Honestly the x3 is similar to the X2 - can't recommend the insta 360 enough. x2/x3 to x4 is a bit of a bump unless you are in low light. They are all great cameras and the x2 is the least bulky of the three.

Fair enough, just from my experience which is mostly action sports - Motocross/snowboarding and filming concerts the x2 and the x3 footage come out almost identical. X4 was a massive upgrade from the X3 IMO. To each their own, I just wanted to let him know if he's on a budget the X2 is not at all a bad camera. Plus its way lighter and less noticeable when wearing.

My only point is the video resolution is the exact same as the X2 so you might as well save some $ and grab a bigger SD card/batteries if you are getting the X3, it's just not a big jump quality wise since the shots are the same. Both x2 and x3 shoot at 5.7k resolution and the x4 finally upgrades that to 8k

Basically the processor, the user interface. The video resolution is the same but the only quality thing I noticed was was actually the sound, the X3 sounds better in my opinion. X2 doesn't have the same 'me mode' auto follow, but again I'm always just shooting in 360 and I reframe the shots around the track or the mountain by hand 95% of the time anyways. Both X2 and X3 are amazing, they blow any of the gopro's I had out of the water. The X4 is great, but in low light it's a pretty negligible difference. It's beefier and can overheat on hot days. Super bright days the HDR mode is nice to have for the X3 - if the cost isn't that big of a difference then yeah get the X3, I've just seen on marketplace X2's going for $100 and that is a great price to pick one up at. You can snag all your accessories/batteries/SD cards for the money you could save. Last thing I would like to mention is the X2 batteries are not compatible with the X3, and the X3 batteries are not compatible with the X4.

If one camera is all you want or can afford than the insta360 X3.. Buy it used.. Way cheaper and had better low light than x4 I myself have helmet cams, x4 and Dji action 1 but I'm paranoid and can afford them. But for a newb low on money, the X3 is the best

I had an X3 and the quality bump to x4 was certainly noticeable. Problem is I shoot in HDR and the improvement between X4 to X5 in HDR doesn't look as much as the non hdr improvement from 'reviews' I've seen.

I owned the GoPro 4 Silver and GoPro 9 Black... I ended buying a used insta360 X3 off of ebay after I lost my GoPro 9. The X3 was an instant game changer as I am a skier. It was lighter, felt more natural than my 9, and I dont have to focus so much on getting the right angle and shot when I'm following others. I actually lost my GoPro 9 after crashing into a tree because it was so end heavy on a selfie stick and i was too focused on getting the right angle that it was difficult to maneuver. With the X3 I press record and ride down without worrying about it. I researched the GoPro Max but felt GoPro didn't really focus on it too much since it had been years since it was released. If GoPro ever makes another 360 camera ill definitely get it because I'm such a GoPro fan boy. The only thing thay sucks about the x3 is that I scratched up the lens but the X5 seems to have remedied that by allowing the lens to be swapped. I'm just waiting for it go down in price.

Thanks, yeah you might be right. I only have the X3 now, so the video quality is still not there yet. With the X5, it is possible that it already reached the quality of a gopro, while bringing much more features in terms of 360 capabilities. I just know from discussing with friends that not everyone is ready to edit a whole 5-10 minutes video with traditional tools, so it may be a big step up for someone to start editing 360 videos. But yeah, like you said. There are so many features packed in this little camera, so it may still be a good thing to try :) cheers!

Just wasn’t sure. I used the X3 with case in Tahiti and it worked well. Only issue is how to handle the dice case to avoid scratches.

I've had both and honestly don't notice the extra resolution but I do notice the extra size. I have had no problems with the x4 but I don't know if - for me - it was a worthwhile upgrade from the X3 based on how I use it

I clamp my X3 to my BC and forget about it. No selfie stick needed. Just search for shoulder strap action camera mounts. There are a bunch of different kinds.

I've used the X3 and X4 for vlogs for the past 2 years. I've also used Ace Pro 2 and Osmo Action 4 and always end up back with 360 as it's so versatile and the quality isn't that much different when posting on socials. Only negative is the workflow is slightly longer due to reframing but it's worth it

I dont have x5, but i have x3. Any 360 cam is a great tool to add to your travel videos. It is great for Broll and Short content. If u do use it for extended vlogs, just use AI tools to capture you in the vids. Export in apple ProRes for best looking image! Have fun with it! (People care about what you say more than how it looks for the most part)

Love the ease of my insta360 x3. Just put it on and select everything afterwards. Always put is in case and take it out just before kiting.

Thanks, I didn’t notice his mask lol thought it was a red mask + hairband. I just rewatched it. So cute. PS: X3 owner and want to move to another brand

I got the X3 and felt just fine . Great price and to public 8k vs 4k on IG feels same 🤣unless you are heavy cropping to pixel peek. For everyday use X3 is good enough (I ski -20 whistler and X3 single battery handle it whole day so there's that )

360 cameras are amazing for filming 'big stuff'. So going through schools of fish etc you get really cool footage. But plenty of light and decent visibility is pretty essential for good crisp videos. (I have an X3, the new X5 probably is better in slightly less light as well). But you won't be getting any really good quality close-up shots with it. A phone in a divevolk is much better for that.

No I was swimming behind her and filming. The camera is on a short selfie stick and I'm holding it almost vertical with my hand being just out of the frame towards the bottom. With the invisible dive case you still want to keep the subject you are filming more or less in the center of one of the lenses because the stiching line between the two lenses is still pretty noticable otherwise. Edit: also this is with the X3. The newer X4 or X5 should have much better quality.

I have the selfie stick attached like this: https://imgur.com/a/c1mroka It is completely parallel with the backplate. And I pull it out in front of me to the point where my arm reaches or a bit less.. so the camera is like max half a meter (1.5ft) ahead of the top of my head. Wouldn't attach the stick where I don't have visual of the camera and can't easily reach it. Edit: this is shot with my old insta360 X3. Thinking about upgrading after having used this setup a few times now haha

The Insta360 X3, X4 and X5 cameras automatically edit out the selfie stick. the stitching line isn't always perfect, but still makes for a really cool effect.

I have both and a one inch one rs.  The video quality of the 4 is tangibly better than the 3.  Is it better in daylight under your use case? Maybe not much.  The removeable lens covers are well worth it though.  Any 360 camera will have protruding lenses and thus be more fragile. Do not expect GoPro durability.  Also do some thinking about how you mount your camera.  Motorcycles have a lot of vibration which tends to loosen bolts.  Also the forces from the motorcycle are amplified down a stick which acts as a lever.  There are many stories of people who lost their cameras off the back of a motorcycle.  Even the motorcycle kit insta360 sells tends to break.  It’s definitely doable but I would use mounting solutions from professional video companies rather than anything from insta360 or Amazon. 

The image quality of the Cycliqs is perfectly fine for what they aim to do. They are "dash cams" rather than action cams. If OP wants high quality video for capturing scenery then the Cycliq probably isn't it but in my several years playing around with various GoPro and Insta360 X3 setups I found that my ride footage was never really as spectacular as I thought it would be and it's more work than it's worth to edit it afterwards to just share with the 8 people in my life who might care more than 0 about it. What I ultimately needed is a "dash cam" so I got the Fly 12 and coupled it with the Garmin Varia radar/camera to capture footage from the rear.

I have both, no issues, just that even 8k isnt enough if you reframe unless you zoom out to the point where things get weird looking. Also, it ONLY has passable quality outdoors in the sun.. no shade and no indoor use.

I ended up going with an Insta360 X3 but it still requires an adapter to use external mic input. Not a big deal and easier to manage than the Gopro media mod is, a lot cheaper as well. The X5 you can plug some mics in directly using USB-c but not sure what that list looks like. For multi channel recording you are going to be ass out no matter what. For that I would say get your mics together and link them to a portable Zoom recorder on their own channel so you can mix them in post. The app for Insta always connects. I have yet to have an issue with it...but....you have to sideload the app as it isn't in the Play store (for Android) and not sure about Apple store. I had so many issues with the Gopro app not connecting and taking forever to sort out when all I wanted to do was see my camera angle real quick. It really killed the experience. Gopro was the only game in town so I bought them for that reason, now that there is quality competition I hardly ever boot up any of my Gopros anymore.

I would look at the DJI Action series or the Insta360 Ace Pro2 They are both on sale but just a bit over your $300 price point. From my experience of having switched to an insta360x3 for the last year or so I have been much happier with the stability of the camera itself, no overheating, long lasting battery, no lost files and the app connects way faster than the Gopro app ever has. I am planning to add an Ace Pro2 to my collection this year since I want a flat camera as well. I would look up comparisons of the DJI Action 4 and the Ace Pro2 before deciding, those two are the better options IMO. Gopro has been playing catch up and pricing themselves out of competition for years while delivering faulty products.

Really depends how you use it. I have a 360 (the X3 from insta) and it does fine but in 360 mode at speed it tends to be a very soft image to the point of distraction for me. In single lens mode though it is very sharp and gives a much better image all around. Standing still or at low speeds the 360 mode is much better though so for something like vlogging it is a very viable option. I do like being able to mount it and get a variety of angles but there are a lot of gimmicks that will age poorly and be more of a distraction than an enhancement (tiny world anyone?).

Insta 360 x3/x4 gives best PoV for Bike riding !!!!!!

Agree Insta360 X3 or X4 is the way to go. I’ve been using the X3 and have no need to upgrade to the X4. I have three batteries for X3 and have it running on my boat in loop recording every time I’m out on the water. I use it religiously as my GPS.

If you are getting Insta360, get the X3 or X4. Else go for DJI Osmo Action cams

Yup, sold my x3 due to this reason

X4 is death, it was just fat X3. In low light (which is in 360 world often) you need that bigger sensor. Like X5 is first really usable 360 cam, it just now stopped being toy

I have owed the insta360 x2, x3, x4 and the go. The go sucks, it's no where near wide enough, and if youre using the necklace magnet to chest mount it won't hold through a ski jacket, and you will lose it. I would go for the x5 for the removeable lens. 360 cameras are so much better than single lens cameras, I would definitely get a 360 cam.

So. I have the x3 & 4. Holding off on the 5. With the quality of my iphone and being able to capture “everything”. I liquidated my years of Nikon gear. I’m not going to carry 40lbs gear anymore. I love the 360 format. Im awaiting the specs on the new DJI and GOPRO. My biggest disappointment with the X4 is how poorly it captures in ambient indoor lighting. I have the Pocket 3 which is very good for my purposes

I love my X4 and i've had no issues whatsoever. Its definitely not the same quality as my Ace Pro 2 but it's still quite impressive as a 360 camera. I also had the gopro max for 5 years and also the X3 for a while, and the X4 is simply so much better than them both. The ability to zoom in on subjects in 8k is also much better than the X3. i've been more than happy with my battery life. Although I generally turn it on and off as needed and am not running it for hours at a time. i did pick up a spare battery but rarely use it... just my two cents.

I was thinking about this too! I have trip coming up to the Philippines and was wondering which would be better. I don't really want to use my phone a lot to film as I would need this for messaging family and mapping. I have the 360 x3 and was considering on bringing it, but there's only so much I need to film in 360. Although it does have the I'm single lens mode, correct me if I'm wrong, but I feel like the Pro 2 would do more justification right? I was hoping to find something on Marketplace as the pro 2 goes for $550 CAD.

Hi OP! How has your journey been? Did you end up buying the X5? I'm exactly in the same boat as you. I have wanted to create a longform walking channel for many years now, and in 2023 I finally bit the bullet and bought the Insta X3 and started filming whenever I get the chance. Mid-2024, I upgraded to the X4, and finally in December 2024, started a Youtube channel. Last month I upgraded to an X5. And almost 9 months in, I am steadly growing my library of walking videos on my channel. I haven't seen any other walking channel using the Insta360 exclusively, so I'm happy to answer any questions you may have on this journey! Going back to your question: \- Yes, the X4 and X5 would be great choices. If you have the means, go upgrade directly to the X5. The low light quality of the X5 is much much better than X3 and X4. I have yet to process new videos captured by my X5, but if you go to my channel, you can compare the big difference between X3 and X4, and just imagine that X5 is much better. (Will share the links below\*). Other thoughts: \- Reframing could take a lot of time, if you are not intentional with your shoot. So before going to the field, make sure you already know which angle to take. (Yes, you can reframe it in post, but there's a huge difference if you place the camera on a backpack, on a chest mount, or do it handheld on waist level, or on face level.) I get annoyed by some of the nice places I've been to, only to find out that my hair has been blocking the view (I placed it too low on my backpack), or that it wiggles too mach (I placed it below waist, handheld). \- Plan your routes in advance - this will cut your editing time significantly! \- Walk alone if you want to use ambient sounds. In some situations, I have used the insta when walking with friends, my partner, or with tour guides. I simply hit record and just stay in the present. And because I'm in the present, the camera has also captured all the private moments and conversations with the people I'm with - something you may or may not intend to include in the final product of your Youtube videos. Just something to be mindful of, and something to plan in advance. I can type more and more, but any specific questions are welcome! Feel free to DM as well, if it helps. === \*Not sure if I'll be blocked if I include links, so you could look for my channel on Youtube. Channel name is "Thoughts In Transit", with a yellow map pin as a profile photo. For the video samples, search for - Captured by X3: Motorbike POV in Vietnam Paramotor Flight in Vang Vieng Captured by X5: Tour Istanbul for Free Boracay Like 55 Years Ago/Hinugtan Beach All of them had some color grading in post, but you'll see the significant difference between X3 and X4 footage. I have lots of backlog, so my X5 content might come out not until a couple of months from now. Cheers!

First and foremost that the resolution is distributed over the 360 degrees and zooming in makes the picture still look funky Adding to this the innards of the cam and the purpose of the software to make cool looking outdoor shots Main usage for 360 footage is still to make some gimmicky shots and weave them into normal footage before the viewer notices the specific shortcomings (or to produce hour long driving footage) But that said the cams get better and better But you could do a vlog; people were making vlogs years ago when the best cam footage looked worse than my x3 footage - it depends on your content Just don’t expect it to look marques brownlee style clean But as someone mentioned: maybe your phone shoots better footage than the footage you’ll get from a x5

Going against the grain here but I would not recommend a GoPro. Get an Insta360 x3 model or greater instead with a dive case. You will get amazing 360 video and don’t have to worry about framing the shot or missing any of the action. My favorite part about this is you can actually enjoy the snorkel and worry about the video later. The app it comes with makes it easy to edit the footage, choose the best moments, frame the shot just right, etc. It was a total game changer on our trip.

Insta360 X3 with dive case here. Excellent videos and that for a fairly old camera. If budget isn’t an issue then go for an X5 with dive case.

GoPro HERO13, Insta360 X3.

I second the dji i still have original one and still works fine. I also really like my insta 360 x3. I would look at something different for a dash cam as they have come a fair way for bikes. And can now stay on the bike permanently with front and rear cameras. I have taken my 360 on quad bike things in Bali and while there was a little bit of wobble, it was more the dodgy way I mounted it to the bike, with pole and cheap grip thing, that got yeeted about half way in.

i am the opposite: i do see the 8k res upgrade! after reframe i can have a sharp 2.5k video compared to 1080 X3

Versus the X3, this is a sensible upgrade imo. It feels more like evolution rather than revolution from the X4. My personal view is also that lens changing should have been more straightforward on the X4 in the first place.

Nah, I don't think the processor can cope with 8k on the X3 sadly.

Insta360. I have had the X3 for a while, you can mount it pretty much anywhere and get nice shots.

I have the insta360 X3 model. Color saturation is amazing. And it's ability to pick up everything above below, and a complete 360° radius meaning that I don't have to concentrate on any specific one thing and point and shoot allows me to keep my focus on the dive and those diving with me. I know they just came out with an X4 model. So maybe you can pick up the X3 model on a discount.

i use my 360 for travel.. can just walk and enjoy my trip while the camera records everything while i hold on selfie stick just above my head.. You can post in 360 after or reframe how you want [article for use 360 camera for travel](https://samirsvirtualworld.com/best-travel-camera-insta360-x3/)

Insta 360 X3 is a great budget travel camera. Here are some benefits of a 360 camera for travel. https://samirsvirtualworld.com/best-travel-camera-insta360-x3/

i carry both the insta360 x series camera as well as a small portable sony rx for the complementary benefits of each for certain shots ( zoom, much higher quality, low light with large sensor) [here is article on 360 camera vs regular camera](https://samirsvirtualworld.com/360-vr-camera-rather-than-regular-camera-for-travel/)

Considered ba action cam insta360? Haha gamit ko lagi sa hike ko X3 ko angas ng mga shots haha kasi mga imposible angles madalas ko ginagamitan ng cam.

Probably 15k secondhand ang maganda kasi you can experiment sa mga attachments and angles kaya I prefer that against sa gopro kasi single angle lang.

DJI action 5 pro of Insta360 3-5x zijn geweldig en met elk model zit je goed.

One of the things I didn't like about the GO3 I had, and returned, was I felt the FOV was too narrow. It wasn't a full 180 degrees, so if the camera wasn't aimed properly, I couldn't adequately reframe in post. Ie: I was on a rollercoaster, the camera was tilted upwards on my chest, and all Ingot was sky. I guess I was expecting more of a "half X3", but itnwasnt that. Is the Ultra wider than previous GO models, allowing for better post correction? I have an X3 currently, but the mounting options are not as elegant as the magnetic pendant of the GO series.

I have the X3 and the Ace Pro 1 so the same dilemma with older versions. I agree with you I took my X3 and the footage was stunning no problem with the stitch line so long as you set the camera correctly. Also you need to keep the two lenses on the same plane ie at an even depth - don’t have one pointing down and one pointing up as the difference in exposure will be two much for the software to cope with.

I use the Insta360 stuff - go3S hat and X5 for 3pv I’ve tried it all- GoPros are too heavy and the gap to insta in image quality and mic has gotten narrower quite a bit. The form factor on the cameras is unbeatable. The X5 has lenses you can swap if you scratch them - which has happened on 3 of the 5 360 cameras I have thanks to TX wind. I have been on the Go since the Go2 and the X3. DJI just did a 360 camera which is better in some areas than the X5 - but the swappable lenses is a real concern for a 360 in this environment. GoPros I have had issues with batteries failing after a couple years - and heat - the rubberized coating can cause overheating in high UV environments - which can be a problem in TX. If there were something better - I’d use it.

Time will tell on image quality. I've heard early reports suggest they're pretty comparable. Software wise it sounds like Insta360 has the edge. The real issues are going to be (a) DJI isn't selling them in the US, you'll have to buy it through a reseller which might have implications for the warranty, and (b) the lenses are not user-serviceable. If you buy their support plan they'll apparently do it for basically free minus shipping but nothing beats I just drop $50 and do it myself. I had an X3 I had to send in and it was really expensive. Meanwhile I just did my X5 (after it fell off my motorcycle as I was riding down the road) and it was $100 to get a new set of lenses off Amazon, swapped them myself, good as new. As a DJ that may be more or less likely to happen? I mean you can clamp it somewhere but that doesn't stop some drunk bro from knocking it over anyway.

What are you talking about? The max resolution for the X3 is 5.7K. The max resolution for the X4 is 8K. That’s a huge difference in quality.

Ik maak gebruik van een insta360 X3 simpelweg omdat dit de versie was die toentertijd in omloop was. En insta360 simpel omdat ik dan geen rekening hoef te houden met de positie van de camera omdat ik dat achteraf kan bepalen :)

With the X3, are you always shooting in 360 mode, or single camera mode? Do you shoot in log format? I have found with mine that going into log is the only manual setting I use and match frame rate to whatever other cameras I’m shooting, unless I plan to use that for slow motion, then I shoot at 60fps and slow down to my other cameras frame rate. (50% to get to 30, and 60% to get to 24fps). You may want to consider adding lighting versus another camera to develop a more refined look unless you really want to explore having a third option. You could also consider the underwater case for the X3 to open up for different adventures near water. If you decide on another action cam, consider the different mounting options available, be it chest mounts, head mounts, a clamp style to place in odd locations, etc…

On my Drone vkdeos i get bwtter results with my hero 6 black than a friend with his hero 12 (or 13 ?) ... Depends on wjat ur doing. For mtb i ust the Insta X3 though, allows much of post adjustments, no meed to worry about orientation etc. Bought it 2 werks befotr x4 was announced 😅 And with the Youtube, insta, Facebook and co comptession, qualitdoes not matter THAT muxh that you'll need a last gen camera :)

Using the Insta X3. Just awesome, stick it on and reframe later. Got the X3 some werks beforr X4 was announced. Results are mlre than good !

Coming from an X4, this upgrade would seem minor and not a significant improvement in quality. I chose to stick with my X3 and passed on the X4. Therefore, transitioning from my older X3, I felt that moving to the X5 was a worthwhile jump for me.

There is one important reason I need the X4 even though I could upgrade to the X5. There is no dive case available for the X5. I got the X4 with dive case and it is greatly superior to the X3 at 8k underwater. There is no comparison. I tried the X4 and X3 on quad bikes and also no comparison. So footage I got using the X4, even if I have only owned it briefly, was worth it. I might still upgrade to the X5 but I will be really needing that dive case at some point. lol

Yeah I already do with DSLR using PTGUI but since I don't like to overprice to my customer (poor country). I just do it with insta360 x3 instead. I like your honest facts about the cameras, your accent and your dog.

I started with the Go 3s then once X3 came into my life - it’s been 360 all the way. For me, Go 3s is: ✅ Straightforward recording & ease of editing ✅ Best for close-up shots ✅ Some thought & creativity needed for placement of cam X3 / X4 Air in this case: ✅ Records everything first, reframing later takes some effort and time ✅ Best for overall drone-like shots and tiny planet effects ✅ Great if you like to spend more time learning 360 curve Here’s some 360 inspiration (2 months after owning the 360 cam): 🌐 https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRq5ftXqD6XtFhGFOdEIWuZJOxarkbVTS&si=lAnsQ878Y_ohCTbv Can’t go wrong with either! But for me, it’s X3 (and X5 is otw!) all the way 🤟

For diving and hiking I would go with the insta360 x3/4 or the GoPro. The insta 360 you can do 360 vids and reframe them. You are filming in 360 so you can get every angle. The GoPro is tried and true. So it depends on what you want. The 360 is good for I think 10 meters without a dive case. The Osmo pocket 3 is nice but isn’t an action cam and needs to be handled a bit gently.

Well that would be for the insta360 x3-x4 not the ace pro. I admit it does look goofy but it makes for great footage

Most practical? Insta360 X3/X4. Records in multiple directions and mounts to the bike so it can stay charged for 24/7 recording. This is the simplest way to get dashcam functionality on your bike. If you want cool POV social media footage then an action cam from Insta360 or DJI, GoPro isn’t competitive these days. If you’re on a budget and don’t care about audio quality, the AKASO Brave is a good way to get started and see if you want to go further in. With these helmet cams though you will need to be more deliberate when recording footage as the batteries last around 1-2 hours

get the insta360 x series. You can just hold them or mount them and forget about the camera and just ski. Then you can choose what frames to focus on, that way you can just focus about skiing.

I have an insta360x and it's not good in low light IMO Ace pro has a 1/1.3" sensor so not big but bigger than some of these small action cameras. Larger physical sensor gathers more light The Osmo pocket 3 is quite decent in low light with its 1 inch sensor and stabilizing gyro

Depends. In an unpredictable scenario like that, a 360 camera like the insta360 x models will go a long way in keeping her in frame and allowing you room to edit. To save a buck, however, you can get a cheaper run of the mill action cam just in standard 'wide' be it gopro 12 or insta360 ace or the best DJI you can afford, etc. Among other things. Putting a 'max lens mod' on a gopro, getting the old 360 gopro, etc. But, all things said and done I recommend the insta360 X. If it's a rigid seat that isn't getting close to the tire, it's actually pretty ideal to mount on the saddle or rails or even post.

I've had every version since the beginning. And I'm not going to say they are perfect; battery life has always been an issue. The odd random crash. The 12 and 13 made decent improvements. But the influencer effect is definitely out there, every video I see from a sponsored influencer is comparing it to a GoPro, and they deliberately set the GoPro up to give its worst performance. you call them out on it and they get all butthurt and defensive, so you know they are full of shit. I own two insta360 x models and a go3 as well, and I can tell you the image quality is no different if you set them up correctly, the battery life on the insta's isn't that great either, and one thing that really bugs me is the time between pressing record and the insta actually doing anything, my gropro is recording and I'm still waiting for the insta to start. And they do crash, and they also overheat. It could be that I'm in Australia, but I've mounted my Insta in my car to record random stupidity and then find it's off and recorded a minute or two before dying. Just Google Insta overheating, and it's an issue they are 100% trying to hide. You mention it as an influencer, and you'll never get a free camera again. And the biggest reason to avoid the Insta cameras is lens damage. The X5 just got a replaceable lens, and they carry on like this is genre-changing. Yeah, welcome to 2020 when GoPro did that. I won't be getting an X5 or AcePro, I will be getting a GoPro 14 as soon as it's announced.

Insta360 is the best we’ve used and the 360 has major benefits.

360 cam for sure. U can use AI tools provided in the app to keep u in frame with a click of a button. With the 360 cam, U do not have to worry if u are in frame or not. Audio quality is good too.

Except for safari, GP13 is very good A good alternative could also be a 360 camera, especially for things like cage shark diving. I personally think Insta360 is better than GoPro for 3d cams

I echo the 360. Pricy but worth it as it catches everything around you if setup correctly

You want an insta360 camera for snowboarding. IMO, it's best to have the 360 video and be able to create clips from that. Those cameras are very durable and have available lens covers in case you're really falling a lot. You can even use a selfie stick and get a drone like video.

I was looking at that camera for a bit, eventually went with one of their 360 cameras (since a recent update, I've found the app incredibly unstable for viewing / editing such footage, but it was good before then) but I'm assuming when you say you just pop it out from one mount to another, that means you find the magnets strong enough for it to stay put? I always assumed magnets wouldn't be strong enough for mounting such things to bikes, hence e.g, MagSafe handlebar mounts not really being a thing.

I have an insta360 that I bought used last year. I love it because it takes photos all around (360 degrees) and you can choose which views to save. I use it to analyze my own riding so that I can make improvements. I also own an older go pro because I bought it for a rafting trip a long time ago. I never use it for snowboarding because I can’t stand the shaking in the videos which really don’t show anything meaningful anyways.

I'm a Photographer who recently got into videos. I have to point out that the Insta 360 video quality is nowhere like the mirrorless cameras I've had, BUT, it's really about the spontaneous moment captured with it and not the quality that I'm impressed of. I've found footages of myself in the moments of serendipity that I know I will never achieve with any of my mirrorless camera unless somebody is following me around with it. I also tried the Osmo Pocket but I certainly love the convenience of the Insta 360 more because you can choose which frame, back, front, up or down you want to finally edit for posting. Really helpful the 360 view.

Hi op, one issue is you’ll now no longer be waterproof. I use the DJI mic 2 internal recording inside my helmet to a GoPro 13. You can check the sound here. [action camera with DJI mic2 inside helmet no wires retains waterproofing](https://youtu.be/y7ENSoDiaUg?feature=shared) Use the mini as the second camera, the 11 black as your main. I have a 13 as main and either an action 4 or insta 360 as handlebar.

I'd suggest you to get the Action 4. Better vfm. Can get the action 5 spare batteries for better battery life (if needed). Insta 360 is doing different ball game. It's an awesome secondary camera but not a good primary one.

Insta 360 anytime of the day

I would pick the dji any day over the insta 360 for a primary camera. Although the insta 360 gives a very good variety of angles, there’s not much of creative freedom that comes with it. Dji on the other hand, you can connect your mic easily for vlogging; it has better clarity, the overall quality is also much better. Accessories for the dji are priced fairly and the intsa 360 mounts are known to be fragile so I personally would stay away from those. If you already have a main camera, then go for the insta and try new angles for cinematic shots, but bear in mind, if you end up damaging the 360, there’s almost no way of getting it repaired.

If u want to vlog n need a good low light performances than go for Action 5 pro. DJI wireless mic system can be easily paired with Action 5. Please don't go for any GoPro. DJI n Insta360 r far ahead of it interms of technology n features. If u want versatility than go for Insta 360. Also wait for few days. Amazon freedom sale will be coming. U can get better deals on both if cameras.

Yeah, that breaking parallel ski relationship at initiation, lazy inside leg, park and ride possibly could have been helped during a couple of days of group lessons you could buy for the price of Insta 360.😉

I admit I also consider insta 360 for my own ski technique improvement but still unsure about the value. My notes about your skiing are limited because such POV doesn't let me see what your body is doing. Ideally, ski technique analysis is best when a skier comes to the camera and passes it so the skier is visible from the front, side, and then the back.