- The firmware “summer update” adds an increase in the battery life and improvements to the exposure and low light performance
- ND filters, ultra battery and custom -made objectives now available
- Plus a series of improvements for motorcyclists
I am a big fan of the insta360 X5, calling the “best global 360 camera currently on the market” in my review earlier this year. Its large image sensors make it the first 360 camera that I would be happy to use at night, its objectives are more difficult than ever (and easier to replace if you damage them) and its simple commands and assisted publishing make it joy to use.
But Insta360 is not based on his laurels with regard to the X5. Hot on the heels of the impressive Insta360 micro air, the complement of wireless microphone announced a few weeks ago, the company has just launched a “summer update” for the camera, including not only a major firmware update, but a range of new accessories and even a new special limited edition of the camera for motorcyclists. The result seems to be that the best 360 camera is about to improve.
Let’s start with the firmware update. Firstly, it increases the battery life by adding the energy saving endurance mode to 8K recording (which increases the battery life to “a little less than two hours” of continuous recording) and to the improvement of the performance of the endurance mode for the recording of 5.7,000 (increase in recording time from 185 minutes to 208 minutes during the shooting at 5.7,000 24p).
It also brings a new feature called adapttone, designed to improve the exhibition in delicate lightning situations where part of the scene is very dark and a part is very bright – like the shooting of a shaded interior in a sunny exterior. Previously, the X5 used the same lighting data for the two objectives, but adaptiveTone records it independently, automatically balancing the exhibition, preserving both the details of the highlighting and the shadow and keep things natural. It looks a bit like HDR, which the X5 already offers, so I can’t wait to test it and see what it can do beyond.
The third and final improvement of the title is that Purevideo, the video mode in Low Light of Insta360, is now available when using the single objective mode of the X5. It was previously only available for a 360 video, which looks like a correction that puts online the unique lens mode with its double objective counterpart.
New Insta360 X5 equipment to come too
Insta360 also launches a series of new accessories for the X5, starting with a set of ND filters – the first specifically designed for a 360 camera. All X5 ND filters contains three pairs of filters (ND16, ND32 and ND64), giving users more control over exposure on bright and sunny days. These can be attached to the X5 lenses in the same way to screw as the guards of the lens, and should allow a vagueness of the movement for rapid evolution images.
There is also a new X5 personalized replacement objective kit, which presents illustrations displayed on the objectives. Users can download their own models, use prefabricated models or use AI to create them. It just seems cosmetic.
Insta360 has also launched a new ultra battery for the most demanding users. With a capacity of 2,800 mAh, it adds about 17% additional execution to the X5, which makes it just less than four hours during the 5.7K 24p quality recording using the endurance mode. The ultra battery costs $ 49.99 (United Kingdom and Australia Price TBC).
The new final accessory announced is the invisible Dive Case Pro, which offers better optical quality than the existing X5 diving box as well as the structure control, which allows users to keep the camera floating in place underwater. There is not yet a release date for this, but it should happen soon.
In addition to the summer update, Instia360 has also announced a new BMW Mottorad edition of the Insta360 X5. This limited edition bundle, intended for motorcyclists, has a different design, an ultra battery and a mini remote control allowing cyclists to control the camera without withdrawing from the hands of the handlebars.
It is also delivered with certain improvements in specific motorcycle software, which, in my opinion, will be deployed on all Insta360 X5 cameras with the update of the firmware above. The immersive stabilization of the Shake is a new mode of image stabilization which preserves a little of natural shaking and tilt, in order to add a certain sense of speed and ground, while the blur of plate will automatically blur the license plate of your bike in images. There is also integration for Sena helmets.
Everything precedes seem set to cement the insta360 X5 as the best versatile 360 camera on the market – for the moment, at least. With the teasing Gopro Max 2 and Dji was preparing its own OSMO 360 camera for the launch, there could be other solid suitors on the market by the end of this summer.
