I have been an action camera buyer for a long time. Remember something Go pro vs. Contour Wars of the early 2010s? I have been there, in trenches and on the slopes, supporting the horse more aerodynamically but with a shorter lifespan. But now there’s another action camera war taking shape, one based not on aerodynamics but on visibility. For years, all of us — myself included — have worn wide-angle GoPros on helmets, chests, consoles, and tooth. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could see more?
That’s what Insta360 offers with its X3 camera: Full visibility on all sides. It’s an interesting move for the camera, switching from first-person view to third-person chase camera without the hassle of flying around self-controlled drones. Simply attach the camera to an extended selfie stick, clip it to a bike (or car, or take it with you when skiing down the hill) and it captures everything everywhere at once.
It will also do the same with good quality. No action camera will take your place A7S or RED weapon, but X3 is more than good enough to show off your interesting things. It shoots in 4k, but what really matters to the camera is the sensor size. If you’re wondering why high resolution mobile phone footage looks worse than real camera footage, that’s the difference you’re noticing. Like any other compact camera, the Insta360 is too small for a truly stunning sensor, but it gets the job done.
Admittedly, the ability to get the entire video sphere sounds odd. After all, you’re reading this on a flat screen — a rectangle, not some VR headset. What do you do with 360-degree footage?
This:
The beauty of the Insta360 X3 is not in the footage you capture right now. It’s flexibility to decide, after the fact, what you want to show. You can rotate the view, zoom in and out, and record things you never knew before. If I had my GoPro on my chin in that video, you wouldn’t be able to see the Rav4 as it entered my lane. With the X3, you can see the entire near call.
This actual post-framing can be done in a desktop program, but is easiest via Insta360’s mobile app. You can even create quick videos by moving your phone within the video trajectory the camera has captured — placing you back in the scene with the phone in hand, ready to shoot.
Of course, the downside to this abundance of camera angles is the actual placement of the camera. To get a good view, the X3 must sit away from whatever you’re shooting — separated from your bike, car, or body with an extended selfie stick. It’s not the end of the world, but it’s a real consideration; The angle may not always be worth the discomfort of a camera mount.
The Insta360 X3 retails for $450, which is $50 more than the standard GoPro Hero 11 Black or GoPro Max. Each has its own uses — I’ll still use GoPro’s smaller frame for helmet-mounted first-person footage — but the Insta360 is a compelling offering at a similar price point. For that $50 you can watch everythingloads of angles and options that you don’t get with Heroes.
For years, action cameras had only one name: GoPro. For some footage, your POV vlog, it’s still a camera worth buying. But if you want to think bigger, if you can imagine keyframes and rotating frames and more interesting framing, there’s a new name you should know. If we are lucky, where Contour fails, Insta360 can succeed. And maybe, just maybe, some real competition in the action camera market will help all of us — lower prices and increase features.
