In follow, that is the primary 360 digicam I’ve used the place the video footage continues to be very sharp and clear, even when reframed to 16:9. You continue to should take care of the sew line, which is the place the sides of the 2 lenses meet and software program (imperfectly) fills within the gaps, however in any other case postproduction use of this footage looks like, effectively, simply modifying video. I blended it with footage from a Sony A7R II, GoPro Hero 12, and Insta360 Ace Pro, and apart from the broader angle of view, it is exhausting to inform the footage aside.
That alone is sufficient for me to say that that is the 360 digicam filmmakers will need. The 8K footage nonetheless would not reframe to 4K (you may have to attend for 12K footage earlier than that is doable), nevertheless it seems to be adequate for something you are going to put on-line.
It is not simply the high-end specs which have modified within the X4 both. Body speeds have been improved in lower-resolution footage, with new choices to shoot 5.7K video at 60 fps, 4K at 100 fps, and 4K at 60 fps when capturing in wide-angle mode. None of that’s earth-shattering, nevertheless it does provide you with some higher slo-mo choices, due to the upper body charges.
The colour profile choices stay the identical because the X3: Normal, Vivid, and Log (for many who desire to paint in publish). I shot primarily in Normal and located the colours to be properly rendered, maybe somewhat on the nice and cozy facet. I discover Vivid too garish, and naturally if you happen to plan to combine footage with different cameras, you may need to shoot every little thing in Log and do your coloring in software program.
Movie Crew in a Field
Testing motion cameras is at all times the most effective elements of this job, nevertheless it was particularly enjoyable with the Insta360 X4. I do not even like capturing 360 video, however capturing 360 video understanding that I can crop, reframe, and nonetheless get sharp, clear footage with a lot of element and easy pans? Sure please.
In some ways the Insta360 is like including a small movie crew to your bag, particularly if you happen to get Insta360’s hilariously oversize 9.8-foot selfie stick, which makes it doable to faux surprisingly real looking growth photographs.
At $99, the brand new Extended Edition Selfie Stick is not low cost, however is effectively price it for the flexibility it creates when paired with the X4. Totally prolonged and held behind you when you stroll, it mimics a low-flying drone tracking shot, however with out the entire crash-in-the-trees factor.
Talking of bushes, shade, and shadow, the X4 excels in shiny daylight. Excessive-contrast scenes like a forest flooring at noon are more difficult (that is true for any digicam). HDR mode may also help generally, however then you definately lose the flexibility to shoot Log.
{Photograph}: Scott Gilbertson
