Insta360 « 360Photography

RSS

Posts Tagged ‘Insta360’

Insta360 One X hands-on review

14 Nov

The One X is Insta360’s latest consumer 360-degree cam and is controlled via an iPhone or Android smartphone, and retails for $ 400. The big news on the new model is the 5.7K resolution which means you can reframe the spherical footage and extract a standard 16:9 video with good resolution after capture. During recording you don’t have to worry where the camera is pointed at.

5.7K video is recorded at 30 frames per second. For smooth motion in action videos or slow-motion effects you can also opt to record 4K footage at 50fps or 3K video at 100fps. In photo mode the camera captures 18MP still images.

The One X also comes with an improved version of Insta360’s FlowState stabilization and a new TimeShift feature that lets users adjust the speed of different parts of a clip to put the focus on key moments, using either slow-motion or hyperlapse effects. The “Bullet-time” special effect was already available on the predecessor Insta360 One.

We’ve had the chance to play a few days with the new Insta360 One X. Read this article and find out how we got on.

Key specifications:

18 MP still image resolution
5760 x 2880 @30fps, 3840 x 1920 @50fps, 3008 x 1504 @100fps video resolutions
Built-in 6-axis gyroscopic stabilization
Live-streaming
Exposure compensation and manual control over shutter speed and ISO
Weight with battery: 115g
Dimensions: 115mm x 48mm x 28mm
MicroSD card slot up to 128GB
1200mAh battery, 60 mins run time shooting 5.7K @30FPS or 4K@50FPS video

Operation

The One X only has two buttons, making stand-alone operation very straightforward. The small button is the power button and also used to cycle through shooting modes and settings. The larger button is the shutter and also used for confirmation when navigating the menus which are displayed on a small circular OLED display.

Camera settings are shown on a small circular display.

The display isn’t always easy to view in bright light but you can enable a QuickCapture mode that powers the camera up and immediately starts recording when you long-press the shutter. This is a useful feature for shooting while riding a bike or doing any other activity that demands your full attention.

At the bottom of the device is a standard tripod mount which allows you to attach the camera to all sorts of supports and selfie-sticks. With an adapter, you can use the One X with a GoPro-style mount, and if you don’t have any other means of support, the flat base allows you to place the camera on any flat surface.

The One X connects to mobile devices via WiFi, or, for better transfer speeds, via a supplied USB-cable. Via the same connection you can also trigger and control the camera from the dedicated mobile app. Parameters such as ISO, exposure compensation, white balance, and shutter speed are user adjustable.


In the app you can view images and videos that are stored on the camera or your mobile device.	Photo editing options include filters and stickers.

The dedicated One X app lets you transfer, view, edit and share both 360-degree videos and still images.

Videos

The One X can record 5.7K 360-degree video which allows you to reframe on your phone and extract a 16:9 1080p standard video at very good quality. The easiest way to achieve this in the app is through the Viewfinder feature.

In Viewfinder mode the 360-degree video is played back on your device. You can then move the phone just as if you were recording a video in real-time. Whatever is visible on the display of your device will be “re-shot” and saved as a new video.


You can use the Viewfinder, Pivot Points or Smart Tracking to frame your video	In Viewfinder mode you press and hold the red shutter while moving the phone as you would during recording of a standard video.

The video below is totally uncut to give you a better idea of what’s going on. After starting to record I hand the camera to my buddy who then simply rides along with the camera in his hand, not worrying about where the lenses are pointing.

Back home I “re-shot” the video using the Viewfinder function and aiming to keep myself in the frame. With a conventional action camera this type of video would have been a lot more difficult to shoot, especially from a bike.

Viewfinder also allows you to “recycle” your 360-degree footage and re-shoot several versions of the same footage. The sample clip below was recorded from the same 360-degree footage as the one above, but this time with different framing, creating more of a typical rider point-of-view video you would get with a conventional action cam in a chest or handlebar mount.

For this third version of the same video I applied a Tiny Planet effect to the 360-degree footage. The feature won’t particularly useful to more serious video makers but makes for a nice party trick.

As you can see in the video samples above, the camera is capable of capturing decent detail, even when using only a portion of the full 360-degree footage. With the sun always visible somewhere in the frame, there is inevitably some clipping in the brightest areas of the sky but overall dynamic range is pretty good and, although occasionally visible, stitching artifacts are well under control.

The real highlight is Insta360’s FlowState stabilization, though. Footage is very smooth and almost looks like it was shot from a gimbal, despite the hand-held capture.

Footage is very smooth and almost looks like it was shot from a gimbal

The sample below was recorded with the Insta360 selfie-stick to give a perspective from higher up than usual. Camera movement was created using Insta360’s pivot points instead of Viewfinder mode. You can set as many pivot points as you like in a video and the app creates smooth transitions between them. Pivot points are a good alternative to Viewfinder mode if you prefer a more automated solution.

The app also offers a subject tracking option for controlling camera movement during editing. This works generally well but will stop tracking if the subject is momentarily obscured by another object, so depending on your footage it’s not always the best solution.

Below is the same video in 360-degree format as a reference. If you pan the video to see myself you can see that the Insta360 app is doing quite an impressive job at making the selfie-stick disappear from the footage.

In lower light, like the indoor scenes below, the camera is still capable of producing good detail and noise-free footage. When light conditions get really dim the otherwise excellent FlowState stabilization loses some of its efficiency. However, you have the option to sacrifice some image detail for faster frame rates which allow for a very similar stabilization performance as in good light.

I’ve also created a “Bullet-time” video using the optional Bullet-time handle that allows you to swing the selfie-stick over your head in a circle. In bullet time mode the camera records at 100 frames per second, allowing for a slight slow-motion effect in playback. The feature is fun to play with and with some more practice more impressive results than mine should be easily possible.

Still images

The Insta360 One X will likely be most attractive to video shooters but the camera is also capable of capturing 18MP spherical still images. In still image mode you can activate HDR mode, configure interval shooting and capture in Raw format. A self-timer is on board as well.

In the app you can view and export images in several formats including full 360-degree fisheye, tiny planet and crystal ball formats. Below you can see a few samples, in original 360-degree format and Tiny Planet or Fish-eye variations.


Full 360-degree image	Full 360-degree image

Tiny Planet	Fish-eye

The camera is capable of producing good quality 360-degree image output that in terms of detail, noise, color and dynamic range is roughly on the level of a good smartphone camera. While in some video clips some stitching artifacts are just about noticeable, they are as good as invisible in most still images, making the camera an interesting and affordable option for professional users, such as property agents or wedding photographers.


Full 360-degree image	Full 360-degree image

Tiny Planet	Fish-eye

Conclusion

I’ve used a couple of Insta360’s earlier models before, for example the Insta 360 Air. Those older consumer cameras were easy and fun to use but had one important limitation: the video resolution would not allow for the extraction of standard video at a sufficiently high resolution. The cameras were fun to play with but ultimately not of much use to anyone serious about video.

At a retail price of $ 400 the One X now makes high-resolution 360-degree footage available to the masses, allowing for the creation of Full HD video from the camera’s 5.7K 360-degree output. During recording this means it doesn’t matter where you are pointing the camera because you can select the final frames in post-production in the app.

This makes the camera extremely useful for use on a bike, while hiking or running or doing any other kind of physical activity during which you don’t really want to think about where to point your camera.

At $ 400 the One X makes high-resolution 360 footage available to the masses, allowing for Full HD standard video from the camera’s 5.7K 360-degree output.

I’ve never been a big fan of using GoPro-style action cams on a bike for example. If you mount it to the handlebars or your chest, the footage gets quite boring quite quickly. But if you hold it in your hands and try to frame an interesting video, you dramatically increase the risk of crashing. The One X makes shooting interesting video on a bike so much easier, which is why I have been carrying it on every single bike ride since I received the camera for testing.

Both video and still image quality are on the level of a decent smartphone camera, all editing can be done on a mobile device and the dedicated app is intuitive and straightforward to use, making the Insta360 One X an easy recommendation to anyone who has a use case for 360-degree video and still images but a limited budget.

If you find the features of the One X appealing, you may also want to read our reviews of the Rylo Camera and the GoPro Fusion, two other 360-degree cameras that we liked and which include similar feature sets.

What we like:

Ability to “reframe” 360-degree footage to create Full-HD standard video
Intuitive app control, very easy to use Viewfinder reframing function
Very good video stabilization in most conditions
Price

What we don’t like:

Occasional stitching artifacts in video footage
Strong wind noise in some outdoor videos

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

Comments Off

Posted in Uncategorized

The Insta360 Pro 2 is an 8K 3D 360-degree camera

22 Aug

Insta360 is probably best known for its smartphone 360-degree cameras, but the company is also very active in the professional space. Today it underlined its ambitions in the market for professional 360-degree imaging equipment by launching the Insta360 Pro 2, a six-lens 8K 3D professional VR camera.

The Insta360 Pro 2 uses six cameras to capture a scene, fusing the image data into two 8K photos or videos to create 3D VR image output. Available shooting modes include 8K 3D at 30 fps, 8K monoscopic at 60 fps, 6K 3D at 60 fps, and 4K 3D at 120 fps.

In-camera HDR allows for capturing highlight and shadow detail, even in difficult lighting situations, and i-Log mode offers flexibility in post-production coloring. The camera also features Insta360’s FlowState stabilization. The software-based system uses data from a gyroscope and the company says it offers gimbal-like performance, doing away with the need for bulky stabilizing gear that would possibly be visible in the footage.

For monitoring the Pro 2 comes with a 360-degree live monitoring system that, according to Insta360, offers a high-definition, low-latency video stream that is optimized for long-distance previewing. Thanks to a transmitter and receiver, the camera can be controlled and footage previewed from a distance of roughly 300 meters ground-to-ground, and 1 kilometer ground-to-air.

In addition the camera features four built-in mics for 360 audio, a pair of USB and 3.5 mm audio inputs, and six MicroSD card slots for recording at the maximum possible bit rate. A seventh SD card is reserved for recording stabilization data and low-res proxy files that can be used for editing in Adobe Premiere Pro.

The Insta360 Pro 2 can now be preordered at the Insta360 Store and other retailers for $ 4999.95 USD. The package includes the Farsight transmitter system and an additional battery. Shipping is scheduled for September. Sample footage can be viewed on the Insta360 Youtube channel.

Press Release:

Insta360 Pro 2 Launches with 8K 3D, FlowState Stabilization, Simplified VR Workflow

Insta360 today launched the Insta360 Pro 2, a groundbreaking six-lens professional VR camera. Ready to shoot 8K-per-eye 3D 360 video, the Pro 2 innovates the entire professional VR production workflow – offering effortless FlowState stabilization, long-range live monitoring, simplified post-production in partnership with Adobe, and a new technology that delivers 8K VR to viewers regardless of whether they have high-end playback devices.

Introducing the Insta360 Pro 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjM3wS68cYo

Every Detail. From Every Angle.

The Insta360 Pro 2 uses six cameras to capture every angle of a scene at once. The resulting videos or photos are then fused into two 8K 360 images, one per eye, to create immersive, beautifully detailed 3D VR.

Available shooting modes include 8K 3D at 30 FPS, 8K monoscopic at 60 FPS, 6K 3D at 60 FPS, and 4K 3D at 120 FPS, among others. New in-camera HDR keeps lighting natural even when it varies in every direction, and i-Log mode is optimized for maximum flexibility in post-production coloring.

Make Your Move

The Pro 2 features Insta360’s proprietary FlowState stabilization, bringing a high-quality in-camera stabilization system to professional VR for the first time ever. Until now, VR creators have faced a grim choice: Make their audience sick with poorly stabilized footage, or use bulky stabilizing gear that would show up in scene and create a post-production headache.

FlowState solves this, achieving gimbal-level, pro-quality stabilization with no gear necessary. The Pro 2 uses an ultra-precise gyroscope that tracks motion on nine axes, and then – when paired with Insta360’s software innovations – allows creators to stabilize their footage down to a hair, fully automatically.

The dynamic, moving shots that filmmakers rely on to tell good stories are now possible in VR, along with a new language of dynamic 360 shots waiting to be created.

Action at a Distance

VR creators struggle with a fundamental challenge of the medium. How do you direct a shot when you can’t be on-set? The common solution – Wi-Fi monitoring – is notorious for being unreliable, short-range and prone to delay and interference.

The Pro 2 comes paired with all-new Farsight technology, a 360° live monitoring system that offers a high-definition, low-latency video stream that’s optimized for long-distance previewing.

With a transmitter and receiver, creators can effortlessly direct and control their scene from a distance of roughly 300 meters ground-to-ground, and 1 kilometer ground-to-air. Transmitting at 5.18Ghz, the Farsight uses smart channel switching to ensure it always cuts through the noise.

“No-Stitch” Editing in Adobe Premiere Pro

The Pro 2 is tailored for convenient stitching and editing using Insta360’s integrated Adobe Premiere Pro workflow. Every time the Pro 2 captures a video, it automatically saves a low-res proxy version in addition to the full-quality footage.

All a creator needs to do when they finish a shoot is directly import their footage into Adobe Premiere Pro. The proxy files will be automatically recognized and stitched instantly to let creators preview their final project.

This proxy version can be used to edit the project as usual. Then, when users are ready to export, Insta360’s algorithm will take over and stitch together exactly the footage they used in the final project, at full quality. There’s no wasted time, processing power, or effort. Creators stitch only what they use.

Ready for Anything

The Pro 2 weighs in at a handy 3.42 pounds (including a battery and antennae), making it easy to carry on remote shoots or send up on a drone, and its hot-swap battery dock ensures that it stays powered-up out in the field.

It sports four built-in mics for 360 audio, plus a pair of USB and 3.5 mm audio inputs on its top and bottom – allowing creators to add a custom audio setup or other add-ons as their shoots demand.

Six MicroSD card slots, one per each camera, allow the Pro 2 to record at the maximum possible bitrate, ensuring optimal image quality and post-production flexibility. A seventh Full SD card captures stabilization data and low-res proxy files optimized for editing in Adobe Premiere Pro.

Clear as Crystal

There’s a drawback to creating a beautiful, high-res VR project: You have to figure out how to deliver it to an audience — most of whom are going to be using either a smartphone or a popular headset like the Oculus Go or Samsung Gear VR, both of which max out at 4K.

Using Insta360’s proprietary CrystalView technology, Pro 2 content can be quickly converted into a format that’s ready to play back – at full 8K quality – on any mainstream smartphone or headset. Insta360’s free playback apps (such as Insta360 Moment) will dynamically render these files, displaying in full quality the exact segment of a scene that a user is looking at.

Live In the Moment. But Capture It.

The Insta360 supports 360 live-streaming at 4K resolution — in both 3D and monoscopic formats. The best part: Creators can save full-quality 8K footage at the same time that they broadcast in 4K, giving them the flexibility to turn their live recording into a polished edit later on.

Perfect Sense of Direction

The Insta360 Pro 2 sports a built-in GPS module, enhanced with a top-mounted antenna to improve signal strength. Creators can automatically append GPS data to their captures, allowing for easy contributions to Google Maps Street View and other precision-mapping projects.

Tools for Any Job

Insta360 Pro 2 customers will also have access to some of the premiere post-production tools in the VR industry. Included in the purchase of the Pro 2 is a 3-month license for Mistika VR Professional Edition ($ 236 USD value), offering customizable stitching controls, integrated with Insta360’s official stitching libraries. Also included is a 3-month license for Blend Media’s 360 Stories Pro software ($ 745 USD value), letting users easily create and publish virtual tours and other interactive 360 experiences.

Preorder Open

Preorders for the Insta360 Pro 2 are open now via Insta360 Store, B&H Photo Video and select retailers worldwide. It’s priced at $ 4999.95 USD, and includes the Farsight transmitter system, plus one battery. Cameras are set to ship in September.

Pre-order Now:

https://store.insta360.com/

Sample Footage – 8K 2D H265

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjES6kpciWY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jb700lV7oLc

Sample Footage – FlowState

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPlpTvutqzs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQKHZFn5A_c

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

Comments Off

Posted in Uncategorized

Insta360 unveils new, 4K capable Nano S 360-degree camera for iPhone

09 Jan

Insta360 is a company known for its affordable, consumer 360-degree camera dongles. The Insta360 One and Air are its current models for iPhone and Android, respectively, but the camera started out with the iPhone-only Nano in 2016. For CES, Insta360 has now launched an upgraded Nano S that keeps the original model’s form factor, so accessories can still be used, but comes with upgraded interior components.

Compared to the original Nano, video capture has been bumped from 3K to 4K resolution and stills are now captured at a whopping 20MP, a nice step up from the previous 4.6MP stills. In addition, you can now choose between a matte black and silver version.

The Nano S doesn’t just provide higher resolution recording, though, it also comes with a couple of new features. MultiView Shooting allows you to output conventional video footage with two or three camera angles, and 360-degree Video Chat gives any recipient a live 360-degree spherical view of the caller’s location, even without using the Insta360 app, the caller simply needs to share a link.

A foldable stand for easy video calls or 360-degree selfies comes included in the package.

The Insta 360 Nano S is available order now for $ 240. To learn more, head over to the Insta360 website or check out the intro video above.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

Comments Off

Posted in Uncategorized

Insta360 One camera comes with 4K resolution and ‘bullet-time’ effect

28 Aug

Insta360—makers of the Insta 360 Air 360-degree camera for smartphones—today launched the Insta360 ONE: a new 360-degree camera that can record 4K video (3840 x 1920) at 30 frames per second and capture 24MP spherical still images. And if you need faster frame rates, the ONE is also capable of shooting video at 60 frames per second at 2560 x 1280 resolution.

The camera can be operated in three ways: standalone, remote control via Bluetooth, or control via a direct connection to a smartphone charging port. Insta360’s new FreeCapture feature lets you translate the original 360 footage into a standard 1080p fixed-frame video, simply by peering into the 360 scene using the phone display as a viewfinder. What you see on you display is what’s being recorded into the 1080p clip.

It’s a little bit like creating a 1080p standard video by filming a spherical video that has been captured previously. Additionally, the SmartTrack feature lets you automatically create 1080p fixed-frame video by defining a subject in the video that the frame should be centered on.

Six-axis image stabilization with an onboard gyroscope allows you to record smooth footage and makes possible what Insta360 calls the ‘bullet time’ mode. Using a selfie stick or a string attachment, users can swing the camera around themselves, capturing 360-degree views from an overhead angle.

The ONE comes with a socket for standard 1/4“-20 screws so you can mount it on everything from helmets, to drones, to cars, tripods and a wide range of camera supports. Accessory options include an IP68-certified waterproof housing, a purpose-built selfie stick and a Bluetooth remote control. Advanced users will appreciate a time-lapse mode and manual control.

The Insta360 ONE for iPhone is available now on the Insta360 website and via a range of authorized retailers. In the US the Insta360 ONE will set you back $ 300. In addition to the camera, the package includes a two-in-one case and camera stand, a MicroSD card, a Micro-USB cable, a lens cloth, and a string attachment to achieve the bullet-time effect.

More information is available on the Insta360 website.

Press Release:

Insta360 Launches ONE, 4K 360 Camera with Groundbreaking ‘Shoot First, Point Later’ Technology

Los Angeles, August 28 – Insta360 today launched the ONE, a versatile 4K 360 camera that represents a breakthrough for both immersive storytelling and for the way that we capture and share traditional framed video.

“We set out to make the easiest-to-use, most versatile 360 camera in the world, and the ONE is the result of those efforts,” said JK Liu, CEO and founder of Insta360. “The ONE isn’t just a step forward for 360 videography. With its unique FreeCapture technology, it stands to change the way we think about cameras in general.”

The Insta360 ONE shoots 360 video and photos at resolutions of 4K (3840*1920@30fps, 2560*1280@60fps) and 24 MP (6912 x 3456), respectively. It significantly advances Insta360’s signature adaptability and convenience, offering three modes of operation: standalone use, remote control via Bluetooth, and control via a direct connection to a smartphone’s charging port.

The iPhone-compatible version is available now, with an Android version on the way.

Shoot First, Point Later with FreeCapture

The Insta360 ONE introduces groundbreaking FreeCapture technology. Using FreeCapture, users can effortlessly hone in on the key moments of a spherical video, translating the original 360 footage into a standard 1080p fixed-frame video that’s ready to share anywhere – all from their smartphone.

The process to create a FreeCapture video on the ONE is as innovative as it is intuitive. First, users hit record and effortlessly lock in every detail of an experience, as though they had a multi-cam setup covering every angle of the scene.

Then, when they’re done filming, they simply connect the ONE to their phone and offload the experience. This is where FreeCapture works its magic.

Leveraging a phone’s onboard gyroscope, FreeCapture lets users simply peer into the original 360 scene using their phone display as a viewfinder. Whatever they see as they point their phone into the original experience is what they’ll capture in a fixed-frame video. In other words, users can stand in the present moment while they film a past experience – using exactly the same hand motions they would always use to capture a video on their phone.

Never before has this editing technique been achievable on a phone, and it opens the door on a new era in videography, allowing anybody – from a journalist to an outdoor adventurer – to effectively act as their own camera crew.

FreeCapture also allows users to seamlessly shift from standard perspectives to the unique shots that are only possible with 360 cameras, such as “tiny planet” and “rabbit hole” effects.

Everything Epic in ONE

While maintaining the mobile-friendliness of all of Insta360’s products, the ONE adds a range of new features that makes it the premiere standalone 360 camera for consumers.

The ONE achieves six-axis image stabilization with an onboard gyroscope, ensuring that it records smooth video without sacrificing quality – even in rough-and-tumble situations.

Advanced stabilization is also what makes possible the all-new bullet time mode, which has to be seen to be fully appreciated. Using only a selfie stick or a string attachment, creators can capture up to 240 FPS slow-motion shots where the ONE circles them dramatically, always keeping them center-frame—while the accessory used to spin the camera is flawlessly concealed. (The ONE shoots at a maximum of 120 FPS, while 240 FPS video is achieved algorithmically with the companion app.) Epic shots such as those innovated by the Wachowskis and Swiss skier Nicolas Vuignier can for the first time be captured by anyone, with no hassle.

The new SmartTrack feature lets users automatically capture a 1080p fixed-frame video where the subject of their choice is always centered. It means users can first capture everything, and then let the ONE give them a ready-to-share, classic-sized video that keeps the spotlight on their key subject.

Meet the Invisible Selfie Stick

After attaching the ONE to a selfie stick, the stick will be automatically erased from the footage. Once the stick’s out of the picture, the ONE works like a flying camera – capturing stunning 360 views from an overhead angle.

With its compact form and a built-in socket for standard 1/4“-20 screws, the ONE is Insta360’s most versatile camera ever. It can be instantly mounted on helmets, drones, cars, tripods and a wide range of other tools and accessories.

The ONE’s IP68 waterproof housing (sold separately) is effective at up to 30-meter (98.4 feet) depths and makes it ideal for filming watersports and underwater scenes.

A purpose-built selfie stick and Bluetooth remote control will also be available for purchase to let users easily achieve the bullet-time effect and other “flying camera” shots, while an included string attachment will make the effect achievable straight out of the box.

Total Creative Control

The ONE offers an HDR (high dynamic range) shooting mode and supports taking pictures in RAW format and videos in Log format, allowing for convenient, precise post production.

It also shoots time-lapse 360 video, and its full-featured camera settings offer manual control of exposure value, ISO, shutter speed, white balance and more.

To find out more, please visit: https://www.insta360.com/product/insta360-one/.

Availability

The Insta360 ONE is available now at https://mall.insta360.com/ and via authorized dealers such as Amazon and B&H. Shipments will start September 5.

The US retail price of an Insta360 ONE – including a camera, a two-in-one case and camera stand, a MicroSD card, a Micro-USB cable, a lens cloth, and a string attachment to achieve the bullet-time effect – is USD $ 299.90.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

Comments Off

Posted in Uncategorized

Insta360 Air 360-degree camera for Android quick review

17 Mar

Insta360 Air
$ 129/£139 | www.insta360.com | Buy Now

The Insta360 Air is a smartphone add-on that turns your Android device into a fully-fledged 360-degree VR camera. It’s capable of capturing still images and video, and comes with a live-streaming function. It only weighs 26.5 grams / ~1oz, comes with a protective rubber case and attaches to your phone either via the microUSB or USB Type-C port. We got our hands on the latter version and have tried it out on the Huawei P10 and Motorola Moto Z Force.

Key specifications:

Phone Compatibility Android phones
Dual-fisheye lenses
F2.4 aperture
3008 x 1504 (3K) still image resolution
2560 x 1280 video resolution (3008 x 1504 with some smartphones)
30 frames per second
Real-time stitching
37.6mm / 1.48in diameter
26.5 grams
Available with microUSB or Type-C connector


The Insta360 Air is small and lightweight enough to always be carried anywhere.	A rubber case provides protection on the go.

Operation


The capture screen offers a good range of features, including filter effects.	Optionally images and videos can be exported in ‘tiny planet’ format.

Using the Insta360 Air is very intuitive. Plugging the camera into your phone’s USB-port launches the Insta360 app which lets you capture images, record video or live-stream to YouTube or a web-address. When shooting images or video you can apply exposure compensation or Instagram filters, which are applied to the preview image.

The integrated viewer allows you to create albums and see your recorded content in all its 360-degree glory. There is also a range of sharing options which let you choose between sharing full 360-degree photos/video or ‘tiny-planet’ style images or animations. Overall the app is nicely designed, works reliably on our test phones and reacts swiftly to user input.

The Insta360 Air can also be used as a 360-degree webcam.

Stills

In still image mode the Insta360 Air captures photos with a size of 3008 x 1504 pixels. That’s less still image resolution than you’ll find on cameras like the Samsung Camera 360, the LG Cam 360 or the Ricoh Theta SC and when viewed in 360-degree mode on a large screen the levels of fine detail aren’t great. That said, images usually show good color and exposure, and the stitching algorithm that joins the two halves of the images does a very good job. Very occasionally, minor ghosting can be visible but otherwise images taken in good light are relatively free of artifacts.