Top positive review
5.0 out of 5 starsInsta360 One is a GREAT camera!
Reviewed in the United States on November 5, 2019
As an Amazon Prime shopper I usually get request from vendors to leave feedback. And often I don’t make time to do so (shame on me) but in this case I was planning to leave feedback on my experience with the Insta360 One X, but they beat me to it with a request. But I am happy to write this!
The Insta360 One X is an AMAZING camera, its going to change how you take and view pictures! You won’t regret purchasing this camera.
That’s my short review.
Now for those of you still reading, here’s a more detail and thoughful review.
About 2 months ago a friend showed me this device he had just purchased, an Oculus Quest VR headset. Myself being an artist he showed me a 360 painting app which blew me away, and as played with the headset some more, I discovered YouTube had some 360 videos, I found one which was a night time walking tour of midtown Manhattan, New York from Lincoln Center to 42nd Street Time Square. After watching that on the Quest, I was sold on 360 video.
The Oculus Quest was a quick purchase and I wanted to shoot my own 360 videos as well. So I started doing the research, looking for reviews and of course, YouTube had tons of reviews and it seemed everyone was highlighting the Insta360 One X. After spending 3 weeks watching just about every video on 360 camera reviews, I concluded the Insta360 One X was worth trying and I am 100% happy that I purchased it. The price is affordable compared to other 360 cameras.
The Insta360 One X takes really GREAT videos and if you are a professional photographer then you’ll know how to mess with the settings to take AMAZING photos and videos. I am not a photographer, so I like my picture and video settings to be auto. If I have to start worrying about camera settings, I will lose interest fast.
Insta360 One X right out of the box is set up to take quality pictures. Just charge your battery, attach the camera to a selfie stick, turn it on and you’re good to go!
The app makes editing a breeze, its Mac friendly! At the moment I am aware of 3 places you can post your finish 360 videos, The Insta360 website, YouTube and Facebook. Looking at your videos online is great, you can move around and see things you didn’t even realized you shot. But the real magic happens when you put on a VR head set like the Oculus Quest and watch your video. I shot a video at the Los Angeles Comic Con a few weeks ago and its just amazing! The Insta360 One X captured everything! people walking around, in front of you, behind you (ever wonder what people are doing behind you while you are walking, now it’s no longer a mystery) you feel like you are in the space, its like being in a Star Trek Holodeck. The quality of the video is good enough that you can grab still shots from your video through the app as well.
I should mention, Facebook is a little buggy though with 360 video, it doesn’t always play nice with 360 content. The Oculus Quest can’t access 360 video posted on Facebook. By the way, Oculus is own by Facebook.
There are 2 professional 360 Youtube personalities who have detail reviews on the Insta360 One X as well as actual comparisons with other 360 cameras which might help you if you are still unsure, “Ben Claremont” and “360Rumors”, check them out.
I love my Insta360 One X camera, that said, there are a few things to note and one thing that bugs me, a lot.
If you plan on doing a lot of action shooting, you MUST purchase a Insta360 Venture Case. If you damage a len, I think its a $100 (+/-) fix plus a 2 to 3 week wait to get it back. But if you use the case, your audio will suffer. If you are familiar with Adobe Premiere (I hate Adobe subscriptions!) it is 360 friendly and works well with video from the Insta360 camera. You can record your audio with your phone using a lapel microphone and edited it in later. There are Youtube videos showing the process. If the audio isn’t important just use one of the many audio clips in the Insta360 app.
The Insta360 Bullet Time Bundle is another must (though most selfie sticks will work if they have a camera mount). The bullet time tripod stand allows you to take those cool Matrix like videos. But, if you plan on using the tripod, Purchase an additional, better one. I bought a “Smatree Telescoping Selfie Stick with Tripod Stand”, not for the selfie stick but for the stand. I’ve posted photo comparisons. The Insta360 tripod isn’t very stable and it feels like it will fall over easily. The Smatree tripod legs are longer and it attaches to the insta360 selfie stick. The Insta360 stick is better because its longer (see pictures). If you want to hide the tripod leg create a Nadir. The Insta360 app makes it easy to add one.
Once you discover how much fun you’re going to have with your Insta360, you might want to purchase additional batteries since the battery will give you about 45 minutes of power. And if you are like me, you might want to leave the camera on as much as possible which means you will need a couple of additional memory cards as well (128gb, don’t your time buying less).
As to the thing that BUGS me. The app or I should say the apps!
The app works or I should say, they work. The mobile app and the desk top app don’t have matching features!!! How insane is that. Insta360 really needs to revisit the apps and make them one. And while they are at it, give us the ability to edit videos together on the timeline with transitions, and audio editing too! (Help me get Adobe out of my life for good!) And while you’re at it more music clips to choose from (I like what you have but it never hurts to have more).
I am still using my iPhone 5S and the Insta360 app is not compatible with that version you need a newer model. The app aside from editing, allows you to control the camera wirelessly. I don’t have any plans to spend $800 to $1000 on a new phone, am tempted but its not going to happen any time soon. I’ve seen pictures of a wireless Insta360 One X remote and a few people have claimed to have purchased it. I can’t find it anywhere. I feel like am looking for a unicorn. I am not sure if it really exist or am I seeing some good 3D rendering effects from hard core fan of the camera. If you have an older phone and are not planning on upgrading anytime soon, be prepared to be editing out video of yourself starting and stopping the camera. It’s not hard using the app, just annoying. I should mention if you have a tablet from the last year or so, you might be able to use the app on it. Check the specs.
So that’s my review. I absolutely love this camera and combining it with a VR headset takes it to a whole other level. There’s no doubt in my mind the 360 is the near future of picture and video taking. Image going on vacation, shooting 360 video, coming back home and playing it for family and friends through a head set.
Insta360 One X camera is fun to use, and its potential is endless.
