I think the biggest advantage of the 360 camera is that you can have one camera on a single mount and then get all the perspectives you need (primarily front and rear facing I guess), it's it's only one bit of hardware (and therefore one bit of outlay). You can see from the stuff that FortNine does, it really is absolutely brilliant. I know TeapotOne has been tryin gout (might have moved to it completely now) the Insta360 Ace, which looks really nice, especially in low light. BUUUUT you've done a great job demonstrating the differences here, it's a great video which can really spark some discussion.
The future for action is 360 cameras primarily because of reframing - they have come a long way in a short time and are in "childhood" state now but soon will mature. I use both 360 (One X2 & X3) as well as single lens ones (GoPro) on my motorcycles but prefer the 360 route. And yes, the current generation Insta360 cameras do have a slight disadvantage ONLY in resolution especially when viewed on large 4K screens (a very few people do that! - the majority use cell phone screens). I use Insta360 Studio, reframe, export 200 mbps 5760 res. - than import into Adobe Prem. Pro, colour grade and export... By far the only advantage the single lens has is only resolution - For now. Regards!
Ya. I think we are basically 1 iteration from full on not needing a non 360 camera. I get his point about 4k TVs, but I only know a few people that watch youtube on a TV (infrequently), and I don't think they would be that picky about resolution. I think the X4 is at the teenager stage (to continue your analogies). If I was to go for a non 360 in addition to an X4 it would be the new Go that came out because it offers PoVs and shots that the X4 can't do. There are diminishing returns on resolution. Even on my 49" 4k ultra-wide I only watch youtube on 1440 as I sit close enough to the screen where I cannot tell the difference..let alone 8k. AND even with 1Gig fiber loading multiple 4k/8k starts to stutter, AND you need a fairly high end PC to display them in the first place. By the time Gcards, and displays get to the point where you can tell a difference the 360 cameras will be outputting 16k. I think people who do editing by default have a far more critical eye because they ware closely watching the footage, and they are almost certainly watching on a high end machine. The average Joe isn't pushing 4k/8k. Lastly, to your point. I am willing to bet the VAST majority of action footage is viewed on phones (tiktok, IG, YT shorts, YT proper), where 1440 is WAY more than enough. Does the DJI or Acepro have objectively better footage? Yup. Does it matter? Probably not.
@@TheJWC56RSA He said, X4 wins in every field that matters and the resolution/quality difference where it less is *almost* irrelevant, not totally quite but probably will be within one or certainly two generations.
Some of the best customer advice out there available here on this channel. Chapeau as always. Years ago I was flying paragliders in Catalonia under the instruction of an old world record holder. One of us asked how we could fly as safe as we could as it’s a somewhat dangerous sport. “Don’t compete and don’t film yourself. Both of those things bring out too much bravery.”
Pro Tip: use a sharpie or similar to colour-in the scuff and wipe off any excess. The scuff is too close tot he sensor to focus. Glass reflects, especially scuffed areas as they become prismatic, fill that in with ink and the reflectivity goes away.
Are all youtubers being sent these by DJI? Just wondering why all the sudden every single person seems to be making vids about their camera gear and DJI specifically. I’d quite like one but conscious of the paid for hype industry at present. But great video none the less. Thanks
It could be the algorithm feeding what you've seen recently. I've been working on this video way too long - to the point that the Insta360 has been superceded. There's absolutely no paid for content here. Cheers, John
@@bennettsbikesocial Awesome thanks for the response. Not that theres a problem with anyone trying to make a living as long as its impartial. I saw TMF do a video then all sudden everyone was switching to DJI. Thanks for the video 👌
@@xjsonx I'm lucky in that I get paid a salary by Bennetts, so never do any paid reviews (and never will). I've been using sponsorship from Calimoto to help pay for the Zontes project bike we bought, but always keep that transparent.
I have a DJI Osmo Action 3, with DJI mic adaptor. I did buy the DJI lav mic, but still found it too “hot”, clipping far too often, so now use a third party mic. I quite often praise DJI for this masterpiece, but I bought it with my own money, as my channel is not big enough for hand outs by the big boys yet 😢. Through my TH-cam monetisation, I am now saving up for the Osmo Action 4, and am not tempted away from the brand, but admittedly the 360 Air Pro does look pretty damn good, but it is more expensive than the DJI.
@bennettsbikesocial odd take as I think you e slightly misinterpreted the question maliciously or not. But dji is currently doing sponsors this month, so all the top UK influences including yourself have been doing videos.
Great overall video. Here are a couple of points for people to consider. If you plan to post your videos to TH-cam where most people will be watching on a phone the resolution won't be that big a deal. Since most people won't stop the video and zoom in on anything does that really matter. As far as the jiggle when mounted on the rear of the bike goes, that's due to the pole moving. If the camera had an inch of travel due to the flex in the mount it won't show up on a distant object but anything in the near field will show up. One inch of mount travel at 300 yards is vastly different than the same travel at 3 feet. Although the same pole was used to mount both cameras the weight difference and the 360 physically extending the pole would likely cause more deflection in the pole. I have all three brands of cameras (and no affiliation) so I don't I'm just listing things for people to consider. Fixed lens is quick and easy but a lot more thought and planning needs to go into your shot and sometimes means multiple passes from different locations. With an x3 or x4 you just need to decide the viewing perspective and can make multiple videos from the same footage. Having both is always a good option too. For a forward facing camera do you like the bike visible or would a camera in front of the bike with just the road be fun? Camera movement and vibration are the two biggest problems on a bike.
As always the go to person for an honest review. I thought I was going mad every single YTer saying how great the Insta360 is, while I can see with my own eyes how terrible the footage is. I do appreciate the camera and what it can do, but for £450 this is not serious, I bet if all YTers weren't sponsored by Insta360 the reviews will be way more negative.
Cracking review, as someone that purchased the DJI Osmo Action 4 and was kindly sent the Insta360 cameras for free, I can safely say they both have their place in any motorcycle content creators setup. May I ask your settings for the Osmo Action 4? I’ve been testing many different settings this past week and have been trying to dial in the perfect settings.
I left it all as Auto for this review, and didn't tweak anything in Premier Pro. In future, I'll probably use Log, and in the garage I might use auto ISO, 50th second, manual white balance and Log, but so far I've left it all on Auto.
Cracking stuff as per usual John. I spent far too long deciding whether to get a 360 or single lens cam and opted for an Osmo Action 4. Very impressed so far. The biggest gripe I have with it is how it captures footage from the past. The loop mode breaks the footage down into chunks of a couple of minutes so a 5 minute video ends up being 2x 2 minute clips and a 1 minute clip. They don't stitch together perfectly so as far as I'm concerned the feature is useless. The pre record mode is the better option for bike footage in my opinion as it holds a maximum of 60 seconds of footage in the bank; more than enough to capture anything interesting you witness. The problem with pre rec is that it can't be applied to a custom preset and has to be turned on manually every time. Not a huge problem but definitely annoying.
I hadn't spotted that with loop recording - that is odd. The gap between continuous recording in the studio is about 0.2 seconds, so not a problem, and clips are around 30 minutes long. Cheers, John
Hi John, I read that you'd still prefer the Osmo Action 4 vs the Insta 360 Ace Pro 2 and the Action 5. I'm looking at doing more cinematic stuff (currently on a Hero 9) and not just on motorbikes, which out of all the cameras, in your view, was able to cope with the contrast better? I'm talking about autumnal tree tunnels in the Wye Valley and Forest of Dean and also the grey overcast in the Brecons. I've made a habit of shooting in a flat colour profile / Log / HLG since I've got my preferred LUT. I was originally inclined to go with the Action 5 but on your review of the Insta 360 AP2, you mentioned the Action 4 as still being a good contender. Thoughts please?
Tricky to say... Check out the full review of the Ace Pro 2 here for some comparisons. www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/reviews/products/motorcycle-technology/insta-360-ace-pro-2-review-unbiased-honest
Also, both have Log, which will give you better grading options. Both have ND filters available, and they're more secure on the Ace Pro 2, but a lot more expensive too.
Had the Insta360 One R when it came out and have never looked back since. I really like the idea of not having to worry which way the camera is pointing coz when I ride, I want zero distractions. Being able to reframe in post hits home the whole point of it all -- I'm a rider first and foremost, so my priority is to enjoy the ride and not to be constantly thinking about camera angles. The ability to hit record and just forget about it is indispensable on a bike. Now I have moved up to the X4 mainly because of the gesture control that allows me to start and stop the recording while riding without having to faff about with the record button.
Hi. Thanks for a great review. really got som new insight into these cameras. To bad GoPro wasn't in the review. Interesting that vibration can make the cameras shut down.
Some comments based on my filming experience. I've lost 3 bike mounted cameras due to the inevitable vibration. Handlebar mounts work best if that's what you want. My workhorse is GoPro 7 which has been very reliable @1440p, a nice balance of image quality v file size. 4K will eat your hard drive in weeks. The best mount position? Definitely chin for me, more involving, speedo and controls in view, and allows the viewer to see what you're seeing in the 3rd person. My challenge was doing that on a the modular Shoei Neotec 2. After many prototypes I created a centrally mounted plastic tab, which I epoxyed a Gopro bracket to. Plugs into my lav mic via GPs mic adaptor and perfect for my Back2TheBike channel which focuses on safe riding.
It's absolutely expected that a 360 cam, that has to distribute the 8k resolution over 360 degrees when you cut out a 155 degree part than a 4k camera that records the full 4k at 155 degrees. There's more about it though. The footage of a camera mounted to the helmet feels alive and doesn't require any reframing. So Ideally the 360 camera comes in in addition to a tranditional one. The 360 cam footage is then the rider an b-roll cam, while the helmet camera is the main camera. I would always go for the 360 cam as a second camera. As a primary cam, it creates a lot of work (reframing in post) while creating rather boring footage, because the movements are quite static.
It's an interesting video, but you compare a last gen DJI vs the previous gen 360 cam. I would like to see a comparaison between the DJI Osmo 4 vs. Insta360 Ace Pro vs. Insta360 X4. All three are the same gen, so it would be more "balanced".
I have an Insta 360 One R and I wouldn’t go back to a non-360 camera. It’s so much easier to just mount the camera, set it recording and sort out the footage later. No faffing about trying to make sure the camera is level etc. Being able to spin the footage in the final video is always fun. Most of my footage only gets shared on social media with friends so it doesn’t need to be cinematic quality As always there’s no one perfect solution, there will be instances where a standard camera is better but for my purposes I’ll be sticking with a 360 cam.
Very good, in-depth video. Judging on this review, I wouldprobably go for the 360 camera, purely because I love the idea of having different perspectives for the same situation. Having said that, the capture of the lean angles does look a lot more spectacular on the single lens camera. Would be great to have a camera that could combine these two features, without combining the prices. :) Mind you, it's all a bit academic as I promised myself I would not get another camera after my Ghost Drift, flew off at Dunkirk on the motorway. That was enough money down the drain. Such a shame because the landscapes and cliffedge hairpins here would make a real thrilling video, especially as I'm getting more confident at negotiating them. Anyway, as you can attach both cameras to your bikes, you have a really good mix and match. That's why your videos look so professional. Thank you for another informative report. :)
Thanks so much, and sorry to hear about the lost Drift - gutting! Yes - I'd love a feature on a 360 camera to be able to reframe, but also to 'assign' a horizon. Cheers, John
Thanks very much! I've avoided helmet mounting until recently, and now I use the Nexx X.Wed3 when I want to do those shots as it has the mount built in. Here's the review: th-cam.com/video/6ojcs12Mwnk/w-d-xo.html
With the right settings in the x3 and corrections (if needed) in post, you can have the same good picture or better. My gripe with the x3 is to get around of the distortion.
Excellent consumer information thank you. Do you have an opinion on the image quality in good light from a stills point of view comparing a DJI Action 4 to say a particular level of smartphone or compact cameras. Best wishes.
Cheers! It's not something I've tried to be honest - I never use action cameras for stills, instead turning to my Pixel 7 Pro if I'm not using my 'proper' camera. Cheers, John
They are completely different cameras, you simply cannot do what you can on a 360 on the DJI or the GOPro, I have them all, mostly for diving but I do use it on my bike. The beauty of a 360 is that when editing correctly it can feel like you are being recorded by another person, you also have the ability to pan away to something and then come back to yourself as a focus. The 360 have lens covers, if you are really worried put it in one of their several cases.
Nice comparison and breakdown. I have the X3 and one thing is that if you make longer ideos then it stops recording at 29 minutes then starts recording anew file - missing about 15 second of footage. I don't know about the DJI or it it has a similar issue.
I meant to put that in the video actually - you're absolutely right. The DJI loses just a tiny fraction of a second between clips. The length of the clips varies, and I can't find a pattern, but it's a lot easier to use a a second camera for interviews etc
@@bennettsbikesocial Apparently thats something that the x4 fixes. I'm contemplating upgrading to the x4 as the x3 really just gives around a 1080 image (even in 4k single lens mode) due to the nature of the sensor layout - you just cant get 4k out of 2880x2880. The x4 should give a decent 3k image out of it's 2 circular images on the 2 4k sensors
Excellent video. Looking forward to the same comparison with the x4 which I will be buying shortly. Yes the x4 will accept voice commands from my Cardo comms and the x4 battery duration has been significantly improved over the x3. 👍
Your not wrong about the fragileness if the X3. I have had my camera replaced once already and 2 weeks later the lens is already scratched. X3 is great but I use it less and less because I am scared to damage it. As the action 4. It supports all standard TRS mics. So if it works with your android phone it will work with the action 4.
One thing you got wrong: The 360 cameras **do** see all around the stitch line; the have overlapping FOVs and the camera has smarts to remove "long black pole"-looking objects in that spatial area, You can test this by using a very very long stick - try 3m and if not yet convinced, stack two sticks together (avoid curvature/sag). Even at 7m (yes I've tried it) it still filters out the stick. and you cab prove the case by putting your face in that same 'seam space" and you will see that the pole is filtered out but your face is not -- assuming you are not too close to the device. TL;DR: there is a very small 'physical' 'gap' but the Stick-removal is software.
Thanks! I like DJI as well, but out of all the single lens action cameras the DJI action camera shoots with this weird wide angle, even in its narrow setting. I use action cameras for many reasons and most of my shooting requires a narrower point of view than the DJI camera can shoot. I prefer the ace pro or the GoPro over the DJI for this reason alone. I picked up an X4 a couple of days ago, and after using it just for a couple days, I cannot imagine any single lens action camera out performing it, even for your situation. It is just amazingly flexible to the needs of the person behind the camera, or should I say, the 360 is the person behind the camera.
One way round the stabilisation issue with ND filters is to turn off the stabilisation, shoot at 2.7k or 4k (4:3) video at 24 to 60 fps, or a 2.7k or 4k (16:9) video at 100/120 fps and then use Gyroflow to stabilise the video in post.
I have the x3 and go 3, I use them both in different situations. Now I got my eyes on the new dji action 5 pro. The x3 requires more time editing to reframe for the desired angle.
I have the X4 (have had other ‘action’ and 360 cameras before) I don’t ride a bike (my step brother died on one when I was about 10) but use it in my classic car. Great comparison and as you say it depends what you want but for ‘all round’ (literally and multi use) the 360 is great. Keep up the good work and keep safe.
On a recent trip to Upper Mustang Nepal, my insta 360 was a work horse. It ran for hours a would not shut off, and it gave good quality video. My GoPro Max would over heat and shut off as would my GoPro 9 and 11. It was impressive!
Interesting, I have both the action 4 and the X3. I am finding I am using the X3 less and less. The x3 is great, just the output is simply no where as sharp as the action 4.
Just so you know if you used the lens protectors from the beginning you would’ve saved your x3 and no they’re not just on the x4, they’re available for x2, x3 and x4
I have both (a Gopro and a 360) and they're just different in purpose and capabilities. They're just good at what they can do, and depending of what I need I use either one or the other...or both. I would NEVER use my 360 without lens cover protectors, btw ;)
I want to use the X4 for 360 spherical movies and stills - IE no reframing - but in VR, the resolution of the viewport is effectively the same as reframing since the person standing in the center of the sphere can only see what they're looking at. The problem is that the viewport is 2208 x 2064 for a 110° by 96° (hxv) FOV for 6,912 x 3,870 pixels so the 8K sphere (7680 × 4320) needs to be sharp. But every sample of the X4's 8K spherical image looks blurry - about as blurry as the X3 at 4K.
I use a 10x8 field camera. Quality is obviously excellent. However changing film sheets 24 times every second is pretty difficult. Especially while in control of a speeding motorbike
And I can confirm that they do not survive a crash, but that the lenses underneath survived perfectly. Not something I wanted to test myself but there we are.
Great review, I have an action3 that i like very much and was wondering for a second camera what to buy for the motorcycle . Thanks for helping me decide , I will stay with the DJI and will get the 4. Alain & Yellow
As a rider, I came from a gopro12 and daym did I missed a lot of shots and angles due to it being a regular action camera. Friend lend me his insta360 for a good week and holy mother!!! sold my gopro and switch to insta360. Yes, Gopro video quality is still higher but whats the point of it if the subject you want to show is not in frame. though the Insta360 X3 is a bithch to mount as you need secondary clamps to make sure it doesn't fall of when riding.
Nice honest review, experienced exactly the same on my recent euro trip with an Osmo 4 and Insta 360, Osmo 4 is fantastic and my go too action cam especially for the cost!
360 just works for me. No matter what you get the shot. Every time. Give the camera to your kid - its still a great shot, also because the stabilisation is amazing. Retired my DJI once I got the Insta 360 and never looked back.
Would be nice if you did the review with the X4 instead of the X3. The image quality and low light are a bit better, and they support 100fps at 4k. Still not as good as the DJI in terms of picture quality, but it bridges the gap somewhat. I run a USB-C cable into the USB port on my bike to keep the X4 charged while riding. If you run it along the selfie stick you don't see it in the footage.
i did the sensible thing and got the insta360 one rs, so i have the 360 when i want it and a 4k lens along with the 1" lens depending what i want to capture. just means its a lot more versatile for me with less outlay
Thanks for a great review. It was a bit late for me as I already committed to a DJI Action 3 but I am very happy with my choice. There are some great deals on the Action 3 at the moment. You can currently buy the Adventure Combo kit which includes the charging case with three batteries and selfie stick for £300. The Action 3 isn't quite as capable in low light but for daytime use I think most won't notice any difference between that and the Action 4. I wonder if you have a problem the battery door on your Action 4 not fully closing and latching. I checked mine after hearing your comment and the battery door shuts with a distinct click of the latch and definitely can't be opened without pressing the button.
Cheers, and that is a great price! Yeah, the door's fullyl shut, but pressure above the button still releases it. It's not happening all the time, and once aware I've not done it since!! Cheers, John
I’ve had both and prefer the DJI action 4 the insta 360 x4 takes to much after throught after shooting the action I can press record and post it with out caring about the extra turning the view around in the app I can just literally turn my head while I’m recording if it’s that serious for me to show something.
I have the Insta360 AcePro, now under repair/replacement due water damage. I'm trying an X3 now. I find the 360 camera more vulnerable, more hassle and bulkier along with all of its benefits. I'll probably keep going with the AcePro.
Great real world comparison, like you say too many videos are in ideal conditions or secretly sponsored (looking at you Insta360). They are all specialty cameras with their own benfits but altimately do different jobs. I saw an awesome in helmet shot using an Insta360 Go3 on 44Teath the other day, overall a bit of a cack camera but it's size and flexibilty allows for unique shots like that.
Biggest problem I had with my Insta360 X3 was wind noise. Couldn't use foam baffles coz I have the camera in a frame mount on my helmet (chin mount). The solution was to put a small piece of tape over the microphone slots on both sides of the camera, with the tape covering the front half of the slots. It made a big difference to the sound quality.
I think it’s a good topic for a video but I have to be warmly critical, the moment it was not the X4. I lost interest but that’s just me. The reason being is you’re not comparing what is available today. The ability to reframe after is just simply too powerful a function. You make great videos, far better than mine, and I have two Action 4’s and Insta x4, and whilst the video quality is slightly different the benefits massively outweigh this minor difference.
I'll be looking at the X4 in the future, but it wasn't about when I started this! Tech reviews are a sideline really - security testing and exposing dangerous kit take up a huge amount of time: th-cam.com/video/IPa5N4DhxxM/w-d-xo.html
@@Coatsey007 You were right though! It was so long before I got to do this that the tech was changing. Insta360 saw this though, and asked if I'd like to review the X4, so I will be doing that (under my independent terms as usual). Expect that around September. Cheers!
No doubt that 360 cameras are the future. However I don’t think the technology is quite there yet. It is getter better all the time and it is really close but it still needs refinement with the stitching, the image quality, and the robustness. It will get there for sure, but I am going to wait just a little longer.
The setting you want to "lock" the view (for Nick's crash) is **_not_** ti turn off FlowState, but to turn **on** "Direction Lock". This ensures you still get the stabilisation but the footage preforms as if it is pointed in a single direction. Hence the name,., I think ythis is indeed what you did, as you would have all kinds of other difficulties if you actually did turn "off" Flowstate.
@@bennettsbikesocial hmm.. you're right about that. It hadn't occurred to me as all my movement is usually sideways also but indeed there is *1* case where I don't want the horizon to remain level and indeed then I don't have a choice but to disable flowstate altogether. 🥲
Great video as usual. I have lens covers on my X3 and they work well. Managed to smash one cover and crack the display screen this weekend as I accidently dragged the camera around a gravel pit when the pole came loose on the back of the bike and the swung down onto the ground! Keep up the great work.
Recently bought the Insta360 X4 i will be testing it on my motorcycle after my Japan trip this month. Being my first 360 camera, I am really looking forward to the creative possibilities.
I have an older Version of the X, I think it is the X2 and the only way to get it look decent is, if you shoot in the flat profile and apply the LUT afterwards, also I had to use the desktop app, to export in the highest bitrate, I did only get bad footage out of the mobile app (maybe they fixed this). I also bought a action 3 after four generations of GoPro and I will never go back, it was half the price, has better battery life and is 100% reliable unlike GoPros and it is a much smarter design. Also, always upload in 4K, because even the footage looks good in 1080 on your computer, after TH-cam compression it looks terrible. TH-cam's bitrate in 1080 is too low for fast moving images like in motovlogs.
I bought the Insta360 X3 not long after it came out as I thought it would be the do-it-all camera I needed. After using it for a trip to Scotland, I was really disappointed with the image quality (given that it was Scotland and therefore grey and overcast most of the time). I'd also paired my airpods so I could use them as mics inside my helmet, but as there was no way to adjust the gain, the audio was unusable. I ended up selling it and getting two Osmo Action 4's along with the DJI Mic 2 and the difference it worlds apart. If you don't need the ability to reframe the image, the 360 just doesn't cut it for me.
They are for different use. You shouldn’t compare them. You should compare action camera to action camera and 360 to 360. I know the quality of 360 is not the best but I mainly used it for self tracking when I solo travel. Now I have ordered an Hohem isteady v3 for this job and will definitely cover me on the most I was going to use the X3 but I will still use it for some effects and 360o
I tried to use the DJI4 on the race track...but it stops recording always after a few minutes...definately a action cam that cannot handle action...only use for slow riding
Did you have fixed firmly to the bars? As explained in the video, I had it shut down due to extreme vibration when clamping directly to the crash bars, and a GoPro Hero 11 did exactly the same thing.
If you want really steady and smooth video then the Gopro is king here imo and with the max lens mod you can get some really good cinematic footage. But Gopro just do not like being mounted to motorbikes. I've had a couple and 3 of my friends all have issues with it randomly shutting down, freezing etc. Admittedly this is on track and I haven't had issues on road riding.
I've started using a Hero Session on commutes as a helmet cam and on trackdays on the nose of my ZX6 The 2 hour battery life (possibly less as they're second hand) is a problem as is my convoluted processing workflow. The small form factor is why I prefer it over everything else. I don't need a screen and I keep the wifi off to save battery. I like being able to edit on any software too.
I haven't used one, but the battery life is similar on full-size single-lens action cameras too - I measured 111 minutes on the Action 4. Can you power the Sessions while it's in use? I guess it'll compromise water resistance though. Cheers, John
@@bennettsbikesocial thanks John. I haven't tried powering the Sessions on the go yet. Wiring power from a redundant headlight plug on the track bike was an idea I was going to look into if needed. The trackday setup works because at worst I can charge the camera between runs. The helmet cam scenario could need extended recording times and it would be curious if overheating becomes an issue when recording at 4K (on the Hero5 Session) if power wasn't a problem. Being a fairweather rider, the water resistance isn't a huge consideration (I wonder if putty or bluetac would do as a temporary seal) but I would have to think about running power cables up to my helmet and storing batteries etc. Solving that could also extend the life of the cameras as the batteries aren't removable.
How many% of people concentrate on image quality ( Sharpness, Color, Dynamic range etc)of a motorcycle ride video at 100 km speed and watching on a 6 inch mobile. ❤
Still using my X2 alongside my Action 3 and 4, I prefer the quality of the Actions but the 360 flexibility can be fun. The 360 is easily damaged though and I hate the ‘tiny planet’ shot. I use the 4 on my chin mount with the 3 facing back towards me from the handlebars, the 360 can be mounted almost anywhere on a bright day but the later versions are better apparently in low light.
Its 2024. Shooting in linear pov is something very 2000ish. Life happens in 360. But if you wanna arm wrestle in linear lens then test it with the Ace Pro 8k action camera
It is comparing those two, obviously, but it's mainly to show the pros and cons of two different styles of camera. It'd be great to compare the Osmo Action 4, Hero 12 and Ace Pro...
Much as I love watching all these comparison videos, I can't help but think. "I'm watching this on my phone" Can I tell the diffence? Most of the time no, I can't. But then most of the time it's as much down to the content creator's abilities as the camera's.
I used to take my motovlogs with the GoPro hero10 and the insta360 x2. Now with the insta360 Ace Pro and the X2. The Hero 10 , does have better color and audio, but the reliability of it working properly is something to cringe. The Ace Pro trumps all with low light using pure video mode
Haven't watched yet (about to), but I do have both these cameras. I use the Osmo Action far more than the X3. Osmo has amazing image quality, Insta X3 provides some interesting angles, and imagine it would be great for reviews, but personally far prefer the Osmo. Not to mention I needed a lens replacement after the very first ride with the X3 (rock chipped the lens). Now to watch and hear the take of an actual pro...
To see the new Insta360X4 in use through France and Spain, watch this video: th-cam.com/video/UdJrvBJhzEw/w-d-xo.html
It is easy to overlook the huge effort that has gone into creating all these sample clips, before then editing too. A great video, thank you.
Thanks SO much! I'm actually about to do a follow-up, with the X4. All the best, John
I think the biggest advantage of the 360 camera is that you can have one camera on a single mount and then get all the perspectives you need (primarily front and rear facing I guess), it's it's only one bit of hardware (and therefore one bit of outlay). You can see from the stuff that FortNine does, it really is absolutely brilliant. I know TeapotOne has been tryin gout (might have moved to it completely now) the Insta360 Ace, which looks really nice, especially in low light.
BUUUUT you've done a great job demonstrating the differences here, it's a great video which can really spark some discussion.
The future for action is 360 cameras primarily because of reframing - they have come a long way in a short time and are in "childhood" state now but soon will mature. I use both 360 (One X2 & X3) as well as single lens ones (GoPro) on my motorcycles but prefer the 360 route. And yes, the current generation Insta360 cameras do have a slight disadvantage ONLY in resolution especially when viewed on large 4K screens (a very few people do that! - the majority use cell phone screens). I use Insta360 Studio, reframe, export 200 mbps 5760 res. - than import into Adobe Prem. Pro, colour grade and export... By far the only advantage the single lens has is only resolution - For now. Regards!
Ya. I think we are basically 1 iteration from full on not needing a non 360 camera. I get his point about 4k TVs, but I only know a few people that watch youtube on a TV (infrequently), and I don't think they would be that picky about resolution. I think the X4 is at the teenager stage (to continue your analogies). If I was to go for a non 360 in addition to an X4 it would be the new Go that came out because it offers PoVs and shots that the X4 can't do.
There are diminishing returns on resolution. Even on my 49" 4k ultra-wide I only watch youtube on 1440 as I sit close enough to the screen where I cannot tell the difference..let alone 8k. AND even with 1Gig fiber loading multiple 4k/8k starts to stutter, AND you need a fairly high end PC to display them in the first place. By the time Gcards, and displays get to the point where you can tell a difference the 360 cameras will be outputting 16k. I think people who do editing by default have a far more critical eye because they ware closely watching the footage, and they are almost certainly watching on a high end machine. The average Joe isn't pushing 4k/8k.
Lastly, to your point. I am willing to bet the VAST majority of action footage is viewed on phones (tiktok, IG, YT shorts, YT proper), where 1440 is WAY more than enough. Does the DJI or Acepro have objectively better footage? Yup. Does it matter? Probably not.
@@Aaron_Adawhat do you mean???Explain to me in simple words۔۔
@@Aaron_Adaexplain again!!
@@TheJWC56RSA He said,
X4 wins in every field that matters and the resolution/quality difference where it less is *almost* irrelevant, not totally quite but probably will be within one or certainly two generations.
Some of the best customer advice out there available here on this channel. Chapeau as always.
Years ago I was flying paragliders in Catalonia under the instruction of an old world record holder. One of us asked how we could fly as safe as we could as it’s a somewhat dangerous sport.
“Don’t compete and don’t film yourself. Both of those things bring out too much bravery.”
Good advice! Cheers, John
Pro Tip: use a sharpie or similar to colour-in the scuff and wipe off any excess. The scuff is too close tot he sensor to focus. Glass reflects, especially scuffed areas as they become prismatic, fill that in with ink and the reflectivity goes away.
Are all youtubers being sent these by DJI? Just wondering why all the sudden every single person seems to be making vids about their camera gear and DJI specifically. I’d quite like one but conscious of the paid for hype industry at present.
But great video none the less. Thanks
It could be the algorithm feeding what you've seen recently. I've been working on this video way too long - to the point that the Insta360 has been superceded. There's absolutely no paid for content here. Cheers, John
@@bennettsbikesocial Awesome thanks for the response. Not that theres a problem with anyone trying to make a living as long as its impartial. I saw TMF do a video then all sudden everyone was switching to DJI. Thanks for the video 👌
@@xjsonx I'm lucky in that I get paid a salary by Bennetts, so never do any paid reviews (and never will). I've been using sponsorship from Calimoto to help pay for the Zontes project bike we bought, but always keep that transparent.
I have a DJI Osmo Action 3, with DJI mic adaptor. I did buy the DJI lav mic, but still found it too “hot”, clipping far too often, so now use a third party mic. I quite often praise DJI for this masterpiece, but I bought it with my own money, as my channel is not big enough for hand outs by the big boys yet 😢. Through my TH-cam monetisation, I am now saving up for the Osmo Action 4, and am not tempted away from the brand, but admittedly the 360 Air Pro does look pretty damn good, but it is more expensive than the DJI.
@bennettsbikesocial odd take as I think you e slightly misinterpreted the question maliciously or not. But dji is currently doing sponsors this month, so all the top UK influences including yourself have been doing videos.
Great overall video. Here are a couple of points for people to consider.
If you plan to post your videos to TH-cam where most people will be watching on a phone the resolution won't be that big a deal. Since most people won't stop the video and zoom in on anything does that really matter.
As far as the jiggle when mounted on the rear of the bike goes, that's due to the pole moving.
If the camera had an inch of travel due to the flex in the mount it won't show up on a distant object but anything in the near field will show up. One inch of mount travel at 300 yards is vastly different than the same travel at 3 feet.
Although the same pole was used to mount both cameras the weight difference and the 360 physically extending the pole would likely cause more deflection in the pole.
I have all three brands of cameras (and no affiliation) so I don't I'm just listing things for people to consider.
Fixed lens is quick and easy but a lot more thought and planning needs to go into your shot and sometimes means multiple passes from different locations.
With an x3 or x4 you just need to decide the viewing perspective and can make multiple videos from the same footage.
Having both is always a good option too.
For a forward facing camera do you like the bike visible or would a camera in front of the bike with just the road be fun?
Camera movement and vibration are the two biggest problems on a bike.
Excellent points.
As always the go to person for an honest review. I thought I was going mad every single YTer saying how great the Insta360 is, while I can see with my own eyes how terrible the footage is. I do appreciate the camera and what it can do, but for £450 this is not serious, I bet if all YTers weren't sponsored by Insta360 the reviews will be way more negative.
Cracking review, as someone that purchased the DJI Osmo Action 4 and was kindly sent the Insta360 cameras for free, I can safely say they both have their place in any motorcycle content creators setup.
May I ask your settings for the Osmo Action 4? I’ve been testing many different settings this past week and have been trying to dial in the perfect settings.
Also for the DJI Mic 2, if you use an intercom with a mic that has one of those bendy arms, I found the transmitter fits on them perfectly.
I left it all as Auto for this review, and didn't tweak anything in Premier Pro. In future, I'll probably use Log, and in the garage I might use auto ISO, 50th second, manual white balance and Log, but so far I've left it all on Auto.
Great idea for the mic, thanks!
Cracking stuff as per usual John. I spent far too long deciding whether to get a 360 or single lens cam and opted for an Osmo Action 4. Very impressed so far. The biggest gripe I have with it is how it captures footage from the past. The loop mode breaks the footage down into chunks of a couple of minutes so a 5 minute video ends up being 2x 2 minute clips and a 1 minute clip. They don't stitch together perfectly so as far as I'm concerned the feature is useless. The pre record mode is the better option for bike footage in my opinion as it holds a maximum of 60 seconds of footage in the bank; more than enough to capture anything interesting you witness. The problem with pre rec is that it can't be applied to a custom preset and has to be turned on manually every time. Not a huge problem but definitely annoying.
I hadn't spotted that with loop recording - that is odd. The gap between continuous recording in the studio is about 0.2 seconds, so not a problem, and clips are around 30 minutes long.
Cheers, John
Hi John, I read that you'd still prefer the Osmo Action 4 vs the Insta 360 Ace Pro 2 and the Action 5. I'm looking at doing more cinematic stuff (currently on a Hero 9) and not just on motorbikes, which out of all the cameras, in your view, was able to cope with the contrast better? I'm talking about autumnal tree tunnels in the Wye Valley and Forest of Dean and also the grey overcast in the Brecons. I've made a habit of shooting in a flat colour profile / Log / HLG since I've got my preferred LUT. I was originally inclined to go with the Action 5 but on your review of the Insta 360 AP2, you mentioned the Action 4 as still being a good contender. Thoughts please?
Tricky to say... Check out the full review of the Ace Pro 2 here for some comparisons. www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/reviews/products/motorcycle-technology/insta-360-ace-pro-2-review-unbiased-honest
Also, both have Log, which will give you better grading options. Both have ND filters available, and they're more secure on the Ace Pro 2, but a lot more expensive too.
Had the Insta360 One R when it came out and have never looked back since. I really like the idea of not having to worry which way the camera is pointing coz when I ride, I want zero distractions. Being able to reframe in post hits home the whole point of it all -- I'm a rider first and foremost, so my priority is to enjoy the ride and not to be constantly thinking about camera angles. The ability to hit record and just forget about it is indispensable on a bike.
Now I have moved up to the X4 mainly because of the gesture control that allows me to start and stop the recording while riding without having to faff about with the record button.
Hi. Thanks for a great review. really got som new insight into these cameras. To bad GoPro wasn't in the review. Interesting that vibration can make the cameras shut down.
I was about to purchase those insta 360 clamps to mulit use for the Action 4. R u def not using those clamps now???? thanks
No - the DJI, or the Insta with the extension arm are fine though.
Some comments based on my filming experience.
I've lost 3 bike mounted cameras due to the inevitable vibration. Handlebar mounts work best if that's what you want.
My workhorse is GoPro 7 which has been very reliable @1440p, a nice balance of image quality v file size. 4K will eat your hard drive in weeks.
The best mount position? Definitely chin for me, more involving, speedo and controls in view, and allows the viewer to see what you're seeing in the 3rd person.
My challenge was doing that on a the modular Shoei Neotec 2. After many prototypes I created a centrally mounted plastic tab, which I epoxyed a Gopro bracket to. Plugs into my lav mic via GPs mic adaptor and perfect for my Back2TheBike channel which focuses on safe riding.
Cheers for this! If you can, please join the FB group and share some pics of the mount - would love to see it. All the best, John
@@bennettsbikesocial I dont do FB John but happy to email you. I'm on my Google gmail address as per my YT channel name.
It's absolutely expected that a 360 cam, that has to distribute the 8k resolution over 360 degrees when you cut out a 155 degree part than a 4k camera that records the full 4k at 155 degrees.
There's more about it though. The footage of a camera mounted to the helmet feels alive and doesn't require any reframing. So Ideally the 360 camera comes in in addition to a tranditional one. The 360 cam footage is then the rider an b-roll cam, while the helmet camera is the main camera.
I would always go for the 360 cam as a second camera. As a primary cam, it creates a lot of work (reframing in post) while creating rather boring footage, because the movements are quite static.
It's an interesting video, but you compare a last gen DJI vs the previous gen 360 cam. I would like to see a comparaison between the DJI Osmo 4 vs. Insta360 Ace Pro vs. Insta360 X4. All three are the same gen, so it would be more "balanced".
how would the DJI serve as a motorcycle dashcam?
Should be fine, as it can loop. Cheers, John
I have an Insta 360 One R and I wouldn’t go back to a non-360 camera. It’s so much easier to just mount the camera, set it recording and sort out the footage later. No faffing about trying to make sure the camera is level etc. Being able to spin the footage in the final video is always fun. Most of my footage only gets shared on social media with friends so it doesn’t need to be cinematic quality
As always there’s no one perfect solution, there will be instances where a standard camera is better but for my purposes I’ll be sticking with a 360 cam.
Absolutely! Both definitely have their places. Cheers, John
Very good, in-depth video. Judging on this review, I wouldprobably go for the 360 camera, purely because I love the idea of having different perspectives for the same situation. Having said that, the capture of the lean angles does look a lot more spectacular on the single lens camera. Would be great to have a camera that could combine these two features, without combining the prices. :) Mind you, it's all a bit academic as I promised myself I would not get another camera after my Ghost Drift, flew off at Dunkirk on the motorway. That was enough money down the drain. Such a shame because the landscapes and cliffedge hairpins here would make a real thrilling video, especially as I'm getting more confident at negotiating them. Anyway, as you can attach both cameras to your bikes, you have a really good mix and match. That's why your videos look so professional. Thank you for another informative report. :)
Thanks so much, and sorry to hear about the lost Drift - gutting!
Yes - I'd love a feature on a 360 camera to be able to reframe, but also to 'assign' a horizon. Cheers, John
What video settings/codecs did you use for each camera? Was the insta 360 in H265 with high bitrate?
Well explained, Thanks, what about file sizes for 1 min footage on either.
Great video again John. Just wondering which brand of helmet mounts you use or recommend.
Thanks very much! I've avoided helmet mounting until recently, and now I use the Nexx X.Wed3 when I want to do those shots as it has the mount built in. Here's the review: th-cam.com/video/6ojcs12Mwnk/w-d-xo.html
With the right settings in the x3 and corrections (if needed) in post, you can have the same good picture or better. My gripe with the x3 is to get around of the distortion.
Excellent consumer information thank you.
Do you have an opinion on the image quality in good light from a stills point of view comparing a DJI Action 4 to say a particular level of smartphone or compact cameras. Best wishes.
Cheers! It's not something I've tried to be honest - I never use action cameras for stills, instead turning to my Pixel 7 Pro if I'm not using my 'proper' camera. Cheers, John
Can you make the same comparison but with the X4 please?
This should help... www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/reviews/products/motorcycle-technology/honest-unbiased-insta360-x4-review
I would be SUPER interested to see how the x4 compares with its 8k if you get your hands on one of those.
Great video.
What's the battery life like on the DJI at 4k?
At 4K25, with Horizon Balancing on, but on my desk indoors, it ran for 111 minutes. Hope that helps!
How does it do as a dashcam? i could not read number plates.
great video, quick question when you render the video what Bit rate did you used with the insta360 X 4??
I ony have the X3, but 100mbps
They are completely different cameras, you simply cannot do what you can on a 360 on the DJI or the GOPro, I have them all, mostly for diving but I do use it on my bike. The beauty of a 360 is that when editing correctly it can feel like you are being recorded by another person, you also have the ability to pan away to something and then come back to yourself as a focus. The 360 have lens covers, if you are really worried put it in one of their several cases.
Is that a Beeline Moto II on the Kawi?
Yes - great bit of kit. www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/reviews/products/motorcycle-technology/beeline-moto-ii-2-review
Doesn’t the new insta 360 x4 record in 8k? Would that solve any concerns about resolution?
If you have a look at my latest video, you can see clips from the X4 th-cam.com/video/UdJrvBJhzEw/w-d-xo.htmlsi=lQVB5eZPXxIJyl5Y
Insta 360 One RS can be bought with twin lenses, including a 360 and a 4k single. Worth a look? 🙏😀
Nice comparison and breakdown. I have the X3 and one thing is that if you make longer ideos then it stops recording at 29 minutes then starts recording anew file - missing about 15 second of footage. I don't know about the DJI or it it has a similar issue.
I meant to put that in the video actually - you're absolutely right. The DJI loses just a tiny fraction of a second between clips. The length of the clips varies, and I can't find a pattern, but it's a lot easier to use a a second camera for interviews etc
@@bennettsbikesocial Apparently thats something that the x4 fixes. I'm contemplating upgrading to the x4 as the x3 really just gives around a 1080 image (even in 4k single lens mode) due to the nature of the sensor layout - you just cant get 4k out of 2880x2880. The x4 should give a decent 3k image out of it's 2 circular images on the 2 4k sensors
Excellent video. Looking forward to the same comparison with the x4 which I will be buying shortly. Yes the x4 will accept voice commands from my Cardo comms and the x4 battery duration has been significantly improved over the x3. 👍
Your not wrong about the fragileness if the X3. I have had my camera replaced once already and 2 weeks later the lens is already scratched.
X3 is great but I use it less and less because I am scared to damage it.
As the action 4. It supports all standard TRS mics. So if it works with your android phone it will work with the action 4.
action 5 pro is coming next months or so. So keep your hands down unless you really need them.
Oh man, I'll just wait for the action 5 😂
Replaceable stick on lens guards are available for the X3 from either Insta or aftermarket.
One thing you got wrong: The 360 cameras **do** see all around the stitch line; the have overlapping FOVs and the camera has smarts to remove "long black pole"-looking objects in that spatial area, You can test this by using a very very long stick - try 3m and if not yet convinced, stack two sticks together (avoid curvature/sag). Even at 7m (yes I've tried it) it still filters out the stick. and you cab prove the case by putting your face in that same 'seam space" and you will see that the pole is filtered out but your face is not -- assuming you are not too close to the device.
TL;DR: there is a very small 'physical' 'gap' but the Stick-removal is software.
Bennets team can you do a comparison between the Gopro vs Dji osmo 4 vs Insta360 Ace pro?
Thanks! I like DJI as well, but out of all the single lens action cameras the DJI action camera shoots with this weird wide angle, even in its narrow setting. I use action cameras for many reasons and most of my shooting requires a narrower point of view than the DJI camera can shoot. I prefer the ace pro or the GoPro over the DJI for this reason alone. I picked up an X4 a couple of days ago, and after using it just for a couple days, I cannot imagine any single lens action camera out performing it, even for your situation. It is just amazingly flexible to the needs of the person behind the camera, or should I say, the 360 is the person behind the camera.
One way round the stabilisation issue with ND filters is to turn off the stabilisation, shoot at 2.7k or 4k (4:3) video at 24 to 60 fps, or a 2.7k or 4k (16:9) video at 100/120 fps and then use Gyroflow to stabilise the video in post.
For the X3 there are also removable lens guards available.
I have the x3 and go 3, I use them both in different situations. Now I got my eyes on the new dji action 5 pro. The x3 requires more time editing to reframe for the desired angle.
I have the X4 (have had other ‘action’ and 360 cameras before) I don’t ride a bike (my step brother died on one when I was about 10) but use it in my classic car. Great comparison and as you say it depends what you want but for ‘all round’ (literally and multi use) the 360 is great.
Keep up the good work and keep safe.
Sorry to hear about your step brother!
On a recent trip to Upper Mustang Nepal, my insta 360 was a work horse. It ran for hours a would not shut off, and it gave good quality video. My GoPro Max would over heat and shut off as would my GoPro 9 and 11. It was impressive!
Interesting, I have both the action 4 and the X3. I am finding I am using the X3 less and less. The x3 is great, just the output is simply no where as sharp as the action 4.
Just so you know if you used the lens protectors from the beginning you would’ve saved your x3 and no they’re not just on the x4, they’re available for x2, x3 and x4
I have both (a Gopro and a 360) and they're just different in purpose and capabilities. They're just good at what they can do, and depending of what I need I use either one or the other...or both.
I would NEVER use my 360 without lens cover protectors, btw ;)
The best side-effect of your videos is you convince me to NOT buy new things. I'll stick with my aging Hero7 Black until it stops working.
I want to use the X4 for 360 spherical movies and stills - IE no reframing - but in VR, the resolution of the viewport is effectively the same as reframing since the person standing in the center of the sphere can only see what they're looking at. The problem is that the viewport is 2208 x 2064 for a 110° by 96° (hxv) FOV for 6,912 x 3,870 pixels so the 8K sphere (7680 × 4320) needs to be sharp. But every sample of the X4's 8K spherical image looks blurry - about as blurry as the X3 at 4K.
I use a 10x8 field camera. Quality is obviously excellent. However changing film sheets 24 times every second is pretty difficult. Especially while in control of a speeding motorbike
Just a followup but the Insta360 X3 has attackable mounts that let it use replaceable lens covers now too. I have some on mine.
And I can confirm that they do not survive a crash, but that the lenses underneath survived perfectly. Not something I wanted to test myself but there we are.
Great review, I have an action3 that i like very much and was wondering for a second camera what to buy for the motorcycle . Thanks for helping me decide , I will stay with the DJI and will get the 4. Alain & Yellow
Thanks very much! They're both good bits of kit, but it's really helped me in comparing them directly. Cheers, John
As a rider, I came from a gopro12 and daym did I missed a lot of shots and angles due to it being a regular action camera. Friend lend me his insta360 for a good week and holy mother!!! sold my gopro and switch to insta360. Yes, Gopro video quality is still higher but whats the point of it if the subject you want to show is not in frame. though the Insta360 X3 is a bithch to mount as you need secondary clamps to make sure it doesn't fall of when riding.
A lot of food for thought there. Thank you, John. Now ... if only I could find a decent handlebar mount that is light and strong ....
Nice honest review, experienced exactly the same on my recent euro trip with an Osmo 4 and Insta 360, Osmo 4 is fantastic and my go too action cam especially for the cost!
Foam windmuff for the Action 4 was a gamechanger for me capturing sound when not using the wireless mic setup.
Cheers - will have a look for one. All the best, John
Can you please send me a link to buy the wind muff
I’m not surprised. I avoided 360 cameras so far but the new x4 sounds extremely interesting. I wish you compared the x4 and the a4 unstead
Definitely the best compassion video on TH-cam thank you
Thanks very much! All the best, John
Just have the X3 for 360 stuff and use single lens mode for normal action cam footage. It’s a 2 in 1 machine and well worth the money
Great video, thank you. It might have been worth briefly mentioning the insta360 One RS with the interchangeable lenses.
360 just works for me. No matter what you get the shot. Every time. Give the camera to your kid - its still a great shot, also because the stabilisation is amazing. Retired my DJI once I got the Insta 360 and never looked back.
Would be nice if you did the review with the X4 instead of the X3. The image quality and low light are a bit better, and they support 100fps at 4k.
Still not as good as the DJI in terms of picture quality, but it bridges the gap somewhat.
I run a USB-C cable into the USB port on my bike to keep the X4 charged while riding. If you run it along the selfie stick you don't see it in the footage.
I'm on it... cheers, John
i did the sensible thing and got the insta360 one rs, so i have the 360 when i want it and a 4k lens along with the 1" lens depending what i want to capture. just means its a lot more versatile for me with less outlay
After seeing so many reviews regarding the x3, no one mentioned the image quality is not really all there.
Found that out after getting one.
It's good, but a dedicated single lens action camera definitely has the edge. Unfortunately, finding unbiased reviews can be hard... Cheers, John
Thanks for a great review. It was a bit late for me as I already committed to a DJI Action 3 but I am very happy with my choice. There are some great deals on the Action 3 at the moment. You can currently buy the Adventure Combo kit which includes the charging case with three batteries and selfie stick for £300. The Action 3 isn't quite as capable in low light but for daytime use I think most won't notice any difference between that and the Action 4.
I wonder if you have a problem the battery door on your Action 4 not fully closing and latching. I checked mine after hearing your comment and the battery door shuts with a distinct click of the latch and definitely can't be opened without pressing the button.
Cheers, and that is a great price! Yeah, the door's fullyl shut, but pressure above the button still releases it. It's not happening all the time, and once aware I've not done it since!! Cheers, John
If u use the insta360 one rs, u can replace the camera lens if damaged as they are modular
It's a good point! It'd be £120 though
@bennettsbikesocial just don't drop it. I have camera shields on it to protect it.
I’ve had both and prefer the DJI action 4 the insta 360 x4 takes to much after throught after shooting the action I can press record and post it with out caring about the extra turning the view around in the app I can just literally turn my head while I’m recording if it’s that serious for me to show something.
I have the Insta360 AcePro, now under repair/replacement due water damage. I'm trying an X3 now. I find the 360 camera more vulnerable, more hassle and bulkier along with all of its benefits. I'll probably keep going with the AcePro.
Great real world comparison, like you say too many videos are in ideal conditions or secretly sponsored (looking at you Insta360). They are all specialty cameras with their own benfits but altimately do different jobs. I saw an awesome in helmet shot using an Insta360 Go3 on 44Teath the other day, overall a bit of a cack camera but it's size and flexibilty allows for unique shots like that.
great shots! Thanks
Biggest problem I had with my Insta360 X3 was wind noise. Couldn't use foam baffles coz I have the camera in a frame mount on my helmet (chin mount). The solution was to put a small piece of tape over the microphone slots on both sides of the camera, with the tape covering the front half of the slots. It made a big difference to the sound quality.
Nice one, thanks!
I think it’s a good topic for a video but I have to be warmly critical, the moment it was not the X4. I lost interest but that’s just me. The reason being is you’re not comparing what is available today. The ability to reframe after is just simply too powerful a function. You make great videos, far better than mine, and I have two Action 4’s and Insta x4, and whilst the video quality is slightly different the benefits massively outweigh this minor difference.
I'll be looking at the X4 in the future, but it wasn't about when I started this! Tech reviews are a sideline really - security testing and exposing dangerous kit take up a huge amount of time: th-cam.com/video/IPa5N4DhxxM/w-d-xo.html
@@bennettsbikesocial thank you for taking my comment constructively, it was meant that way and that’s classy of you.
@@Coatsey007 You were right though! It was so long before I got to do this that the tech was changing. Insta360 saw this though, and asked if I'd like to review the X4, so I will be doing that (under my independent terms as usual). Expect that around September. Cheers!
No doubt that 360 cameras are the future. However I don’t think the technology is quite there yet. It is getter better all the time and it is really close but it still needs refinement with the stitching, the image quality, and the robustness. It will get there for sure, but I am going to wait just a little longer.
The setting you want to "lock" the view (for Nick's crash) is **_not_** ti turn off FlowState, but to turn **on** "Direction Lock". This ensures you still get the stabilisation but the footage preforms as if it is pointed in a single direction. Hence the name,., I think ythis is indeed what you did, as you would have all kinds of other difficulties if you actually did turn "off" Flowstate.
Direction lock still keeps the horizon locked though - it just keeps it pointing in the same direction
@@bennettsbikesocial hmm.. you're right about that. It hadn't occurred to me as all my movement is usually sideways also but indeed there is *1* case where I don't want the horizon to remain level and indeed then I don't have a choice but to disable flowstate altogether. 🥲
Great video as usual. I have lens covers on my X3 and they work well. Managed to smash one cover and crack the display screen this weekend as I accidently dragged the camera around a gravel pit when the pole came loose on the back of the bike and the swung down onto the ground! Keep up the great work.
Cheers, and hope the camera's still working okay! All the best, John
Recently bought the Insta360 X4 i will be testing it on my motorcycle after my Japan trip this month. Being my first 360 camera, I am really looking forward to the creative possibilities.
Have a great time on Japan - it's awesome! Cheers, John
Great work again John, thanks 👍🏻
Cheers! All the best, John
I have an older Version of the X, I think it is the X2 and the only way to get it look decent is, if you shoot in the flat profile and apply the LUT afterwards, also I had to use the desktop app, to export in the highest bitrate, I did only get bad footage out of the mobile app (maybe they fixed this). I also bought a action 3 after four generations of GoPro and I will never go back, it was half the price, has better battery life and is 100% reliable unlike GoPros and it is a much smarter design. Also, always upload in 4K, because even the footage looks good in 1080 on your computer, after TH-cam compression it looks terrible. TH-cam's bitrate in 1080 is too low for fast moving images like in motovlogs.
I bought the Insta360 X3 not long after it came out as I thought it would be the do-it-all camera I needed. After using it for a trip to Scotland, I was really disappointed with the image quality (given that it was Scotland and therefore grey and overcast most of the time). I'd also paired my airpods so I could use them as mics inside my helmet, but as there was no way to adjust the gain, the audio was unusable. I ended up selling it and getting two Osmo Action 4's along with the DJI Mic 2 and the difference it worlds apart. If you don't need the ability to reframe the image, the 360 just doesn't cut it for me.
Thanks for this - it's really helpful, and encouraging to know I'm getting the same results as others. Cheers, John
They are for different use. You shouldn’t compare them. You should compare action camera to action camera and 360 to 360. I know the quality of 360 is not the best but I mainly used it for self tracking when I solo travel. Now I have ordered an Hohem isteady v3 for this job and will definitely cover me on the most I was going to use the X3 but I will still use it for some effects and 360o
I tried to use the DJI4 on the race track...but it stops recording always after a few minutes...definately a action cam that cannot handle action...only use for slow riding
Did you have fixed firmly to the bars? As explained in the video, I had it shut down due to extreme vibration when clamping directly to the crash bars, and a GoPro Hero 11 did exactly the same thing.
Another cracking test and review from Mr Milbank, thank you!!
Thanks very much! All the best, John
Thanks. Great review. You addressed all the questions that I’ve been asking.
Great, thanks! All the best, John
If you want really steady and smooth video then the Gopro is king here imo and with the max lens mod you can get some really good cinematic footage. But Gopro just do not like being mounted to motorbikes. I've had a couple and 3 of my friends all have issues with it randomly shutting down, freezing etc. Admittedly this is on track and I haven't had issues on road riding.
If you've got one already, buy the other. I love my GoPro and my X4 but tend to use the x4 more because of how you can ad lib in post.
Agreed! If you have the money, both is the ideal setup! Cheers, John
I've started using a Hero Session on commutes as a helmet cam and on trackdays on the nose of my ZX6
The 2 hour battery life (possibly less as they're second hand) is a problem as is my convoluted processing workflow.
The small form factor is why I prefer it over everything else.
I don't need a screen and I keep the wifi off to save battery. I like being able to edit on any software too.
I haven't used one, but the battery life is similar on full-size single-lens action cameras too - I measured 111 minutes on the Action 4. Can you power the Sessions while it's in use? I guess it'll compromise water resistance though. Cheers, John
@@bennettsbikesocial thanks John.
I haven't tried powering the Sessions on the go yet.
Wiring power from a redundant headlight plug on the track bike was an idea I was going to look into if needed.
The trackday setup works because at worst I can charge the camera between runs.
The helmet cam scenario could need extended recording times and it would be curious if overheating becomes an issue when recording at 4K (on the Hero5 Session) if power wasn't a problem.
Being a fairweather rider, the water resistance isn't a huge consideration (I wonder if putty or bluetac would do as a temporary seal) but I would have to think about running power cables up to my helmet and storing batteries etc.
Solving that could also extend the life of the cameras as the batteries aren't removable.
Just another great in depth video, Thank you.
Thanks very much! Cheers, John
i love the idea of the 360 .. but the image quality'' is no way picking that.. i'm going with the action 4 or even wait for the action 5
How many% of people concentrate on image quality ( Sharpness, Color, Dynamic range etc)of a motorcycle ride video at 100 km speed and watching on a 6 inch mobile. ❤
Still using my X2 alongside my Action 3 and 4, I prefer the quality of the Actions but the 360 flexibility can be fun. The 360 is easily damaged though and I hate the ‘tiny planet’ shot. I use the 4 on my chin mount with the 3 facing back towards me from the handlebars, the 360 can be mounted almost anywhere on a bright day but the later versions are better apparently in low light.
Yeah, totally agree on the tricksy shots from 360 cameras. Cheers, John
Its 2024.
Shooting in linear pov is something very 2000ish.
Life happens in 360.
But if you wanna arm wrestle in linear lens then test it with the Ace Pro 8k action camera
What about the insta ace pro
I think most of us just want to press record and let the unit sort things for us
I haven't used that, but the aim of this video was to highlight many of the differences between a 360 and single lens camera. Cheers, John
@@bennettsbikesocial o sorry I thought it was a comparison video between the two cameras
It is comparing those two, obviously, but it's mainly to show the pros and cons of two different styles of camera. It'd be great to compare the Osmo Action 4, Hero 12 and Ace Pro...
Much as I love watching all these comparison videos, I can't help but think.
"I'm watching this on my phone"
Can I tell the diffence? Most of the time no, I can't. But then most of the time it's as much down to the content creator's abilities as the camera's.
I used to take my motovlogs with the GoPro hero10 and the insta360 x2. Now with the insta360 Ace Pro and the X2. The Hero 10 , does have better color and audio, but the reliability of it working properly is something to cringe. The Ace Pro trumps all with low light using pure video mode
Nice review John. However if you want the best of both worlds get a insta 360 one RS. It has swappable 360 and 4k static modules.
Oh bugger, now you've complicated things! Haha! Cheers, John
Nah, don’t want to be faffing around . Insta looks iPhone 6 quality .
Haven't watched yet (about to), but I do have both these cameras. I use the Osmo Action far more than the X3. Osmo has amazing image quality, Insta X3 provides some interesting angles, and imagine it would be great for reviews, but personally far prefer the Osmo. Not to mention I needed a lens replacement after the very first ride with the X3 (rock chipped the lens). Now to watch and hear the take of an actual pro...
Cheers! How and where did you get the lens replaced please?