More than other types of content, spherical videos will probably benefit the most from 8K resolution video capture. You need all the pixels you can get to produce sharper 360-degree footage, after all. As such, it’s no surprise one of the biggest names in 360-degree video is integrating the capability in their newest camera, the Insta360 X4.
Pixel density has always been our biggest issue when it comes to 360-degree footage, with 1080p and 4K resolutions just not offering the kind of sharpness we’ve come to expect because all the pixels are so spread out. It’s an even bigger issue if you want to reframe your 360-degree videos into a more conventional format, since you’re stuck with low-resolution footage that doesn’t look great a lot of the time. Hopefully, the 8K recording capabilities of this new 360-degree camera changes that.
The Insta360 X4 can shoot spherical videos at 8K 30 fps, so you get limited framerates in exchange for the boost in resolution, although it also offers 5.7K at 60 fps and 4K at 100 fps, so you do get higher-framerate options if that’s what you require. The camera’s single lens mode now captures traditional flat video in 4K at 60 fps, so you can use it to shoot more conventional footage. For 360-degree photos, it can capture 72 megapixel spherical images, complete with AI denoising, so you can get high-res stills significantly less grainy spots and discoloration.
It retains much of the shooting features found in the last-gen X3. This includes the 360-degree horizon lock that keeps the spherical footage level even when you’re not holding the camera completely steady, as well as the electronic image stabilization that enables smooth, jitter-free shots even when you’re on the move. It also retains the waterproofing up to 33 feet, although they do recommend using the optional dive case for properly recording underwater up to 164 feet.
The Insta360 X4 retains the same form factor as its predecessors, so it takes on a candy bar shape that measures 4.9 x 1.8 x 1.5 inches (height x width x thickness). It has lenses at the top on either side of the device, with a 2.5-inch full color touchscreen below the lens on one side. Aside from touch controls, there are also a few physical buttons, along with voice control and gesture control support, so you can control the camera in any way you actually prefer.
It comes with lens guards that you can put on and take off with a simple twist, making it easy to protect the lenses when the camera is not in use, as well as a bigger 2,290 mAh battery, giving it 67 percent longer runtime than its predecessor, allowing this new model to record up to 135 minutes of 5.7K footage at 30 fps. All the clever AI tricks from previous versions are here, of course, such as the ability to remove the selfie stick from the frame, the automatic editing and reframing, and various effects (e.g. horizon flipping), along with the various creative features such as bullet time, timelapse, and more.
The Insta360 X4 is available now.
