Insta360 Unveils New Flagship X5 360° Action Camera
Insta360 has today announced the latest in its line of 360° action cameras, the X5, which boasts an impressive array of features and upgrades. According to road.cc, the new camera will retail for £519.99 in the UK (€589.99, $549.99), and it shoots in resolutions up to 8K. Insta360 claims it’s “the smartest, toughest 360° camera ever made”.
The X5 follows the form factor of its predecessors, with a chunky body sporting a lens at the top on each side to capture a full 360° image. However, a lot has changed. From a practical point of view, perhaps the most welcome update is that the two lens domes are now replaceable. As noted by road.cc, the lens domes are susceptible to damage, but Insta360 has used a new, more durable, glass for the lens and made them replaceable. Lens guards are also available for an extra level of protection.
The X5 features new 1/1.28” sensors, which are nearly half as big again as the ones used in the X4. This has allowed a new maximum resolution of 8K, up from 5.7K, at up to 30 frames per second. As road.cc reports, the camera is actually sampling down from a full resolution of 11K, so 8K isn’t pushing the limits of the sensors. The X5 can also be used in single-lens mode and shoot standard footage in resolutions up to 4K. Active HDR shooting is available up to 5.7K/60fps for more detail in sunny conditions.
The bigger sensors can capture more light, and Insta360 is making big play of the low-light performance of the X5. According to road.cc, the X5 features a triple-AI setup, which Insta360 claims offers “a dramatic leap in image quality across all resolutions”. This is a significant upgrade from the dual-AI chip system used in the Ace Pro 2.
Insta360 has also added a new mode called InstaFrame, which produces two files. One is the full 360° file that you can edit to your heart’s content in the Insta360 app, or your editor of choice on desktop. The other is a flat file, ready to share; you can choose either a constant direction or a selfie view that keeps you in frame. As road.cc notes, this should make it easier to share 360° footage on social media.
The X5 also features a magnetic mounting system, which makes it easier to swap the camera between mounts. The microphone has an added windguard, which should be good news for cycling, and there’s also going to be a wireless companion mic for the first time. The 2400mAh battery can be fast-charged from flat to 80% in 20 minutes, or “the time it takes to finish a cup of coffee”, according to Insta360.
The Insta360 X5 is available to order from today, and it costs £519.99 in the UK, or £609.99 for the Essentials pack, which includes an extra battery, a utility fast charge case, a 114cm invisible selfie stick, a set of standard lens guards, a lens cap, and a carry case. As road.cc reports, there is a big ecosystem of accessories too, including a seatpost mount for the selfie stick, which allows you to get a drone-like follow shot, and a number of out-front mounts for riding.
Insta360 X5 Full Specs:
* Sensor Size: 1/1.28″
* Lens Aperture: F2.0
* Focal Length: 6mm
* 360º Video Resolution: Video Mode: 8K: 7680×3840@30/25/24fps, 5.7K+: 5760×2880@30/25/24fps, 5.7K: 5760×2880@60/50/48/30/25/24fps, 4K: 3840×1920@120/100/60/50/48/30/25/24fps
* Single-Lens Video Resolution: Video Mode: 4K: 3840×2160@60/50/30/25/24fps, 2.7K: 2720×1536@60/50/30/25/24fps, 1080p: 1920×1080@120/100/60/50/30/25/24fps
* Photo Resolution: Approx. 72MP (11904×5952), Approx. 18MP (5888×2944)
* Video Format: 360°: INSV, Single-Lens: MP4
* Photo Format: INSP (can export via mobile app or Studio desktop software), DNG
Source: road.cc
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