Larger sensors for improved low-light performance

The Insta360 X5 ($550) is the company’s latest 8K 360 action camera, and while it’s still different from the traditional action camera, it’s more powerful, more reliable and easy to use.

Compared to the “S 1/2-inch sensor, the X5 has a larger 1/1.28-inch sensor that ensures more detail and significantly improves low-light performance. The problem with wide-angle camera capture is the loss of detail, especially in low-light settings. This time the specification upgrade has greatly reduced, including up to 13.5 of dynamic range.

Over the years, I have tried to incorporate 360 ​​degree cameras into my workflow and use them on vacation or activities. However, a lot of what I capture is at night or in a dark venue, which is actually the main weakness of these cameras. To address these shooting conditions, Insta360 introduces a new PureVideo mode that is optimized with AI to reduce noise and dynamic range for clearer, brighter lenses in low-light conditions. It’s not perfect, but it transfers dim video from unusable video to decent, if not completely good. Using a 5nm AI chip and two imaging chips, the X5 can now also capture active HDR on 5.7k 60 fps video.

This chip array also reduces processing time. The Insta360 doesn’t specify faster speeds, but anecdotally, the conversion and file transfers to my smartphone are significantly faster. The video saved it to the camera almost immediately, while saving a few short clips on my phone, taking about 30 seconds, and a few minutes on previous devices.

Although the X5 doesn’t have a higher resolution video than its predecessor, it includes more shooting options, such as Instaframe, which quickly became my preferred shooting mode. Instaframe can record typical “flat” videos and 360-degree videos at the same time. The idea is that this gives a “can be shared immediately” flat video without re-editing or major editing.

However, when you have to do this, the Insta360’s companion smartphone app is further improved and has some very useful editing tools. You can re-edit 360-degree videos to focus on the user or force a single view. This is also completely intuitive, and it is a feature that cannot be ignored.

The X5 is a versatile tool that can be said to capture what a camera wants to say everything. However, under less favorable conditions (or when you are not the camera person), you may prefer the simpler setup and shooting method of traditional action cameras.

The X5 does perform better in lower light, but the improvements we have seen in low-light smartphone photography in recent years don’t exactly match. Even though I walked around carefully in the evening to capture low-light lenses, there was still vibration as the camera struggled to stabilize the lens. Staying still can be reduced, but even with PureVideo (which may be a bit aggressive in solving noise), there isn’t. I will continue to test the camera and provide further impressions. The Insta360 pushed the firmware update to X5 hours before I posted this story, added 4K60FPS recording in single-lens mode, and added several resolution bumps in other recording modes.

When it comes to design, you have to really get close to close to tell the difference between the X5 and X4. They are largely the same size, although the Insta360 has switched to polygon effect on the front and comes with a panel for the microphone (and new mesh wind-energy shield).

The battery chamber and microSD slot are secured to the life of the MicroSD slot with dual latches and are protected by a solid cover with a sliding lock. The camera has furry textures on both sides, and the record and mode buttons are both located under the screen.

Using the same threaded mount, the Insta360’s existing selfie stick will work with its latest camera, although there won’t be a quick absorber and case due to hardware changes. The most important thing is: Insta360’s bullet time effect is still here –

Like its predecessor, most setting adjustments are found on each side of the screen in the drop-down menu. Swipe right will take you to the gallery, while the manual camera option is swipe left. The toggle and lock settings are located in the drop-down menu. There are a lot of things, but if you use a smartphone, you should find familiar basic navigation.

There is a list of smaller well-known hardware improvements on the X5 compared to its predecessor:

• Scratch-resistant glass lens – replaceable

• Larger capacity battery lasts up to 180 minutes

• Faster battery (0% to 80% in 20 minutes)

• New built-in steel mesh protection

• IP68 waterproof up to 49 feet

• Magnetic installation system

• “Rotary Shot” recording function, which starts recording by twisting the connected selfie stick

The Insta360 X5 is now on sale, with the required bundle priced at $660. The bundle includes an additional battery, fast charging case, “invisible” selfie stick, lens guard and carry-on case. That’s $50 more than the Insta360 X4 launch. Improvements in low-light performance and new shooting modes may be worth the upswing, but if the lights are an issue, don’t count on Crisp 4k (or 8k) video.

Competition in this category remains relatively limited. Ricoh continues to continue its Theta series in a similar camera form, but seems to focus more on stills than videos, while GoPro’s Max 360 camera lacks features like traditional 4K video capture, let alone 8K recording. The best option is like last year’s X4, arguably the other 360 cameras of the Insta360.

Despite fewer changes in key specifications and designs compared to last year, the Insta360 x5 is another step in this type of camera, both in imaging and simplifying how to share captured content.