Let me quickly admit that this is my first proper experience with an Insta360 action camera. I have never used the X5, nor any of the earlier X-series cameras, so I went into the new Insta360 X6 pretty much a newbie. Even as a seasoned cyclist and runner, I\u2019ve always wondered if a 360 camera was nothing more than a novelty \u2013 I\u2019m already happy and capable enough to shoot video with my GoPro Hero.<\/p>\n
It did not take very long for the X6 to make me see the errors of my way.<\/p>\n
The X6 is essentially a three-in-one camera designed into one body. Its main trick is, of course, 360-degree videos that are captured through two ultra-wide cameras on opposite sides. Together, they record almost everything around the camera at up to 8K and 50 frames per second. Meanwhile, in single-lens mode, the X6 turns it into a more conventional action camera that can capture 5K videos at 60fps. Then there\u2019s its tracking gimbal \u2013 InstaFrame 2.0, that can automatically people, pets or objects and then convert the footage into a flat 4K video without the need for a physical gimbal.<\/p>\n
At the heart of its camera system are two custom 1\/1.1-inch Sony sensors<\/b>, which are paired with a 2.32-inch OLED touchscreen<\/b>. For storage, there\u2019s a pretty sizeable 47GB of built-in storage<\/b> too. Should you need more storage, there\u2019s an SD card slot as well. Insta360 says the camera is waterproof to 20m without the need for an additional case, while the protruding lenses are replaceable if they become scratched or overly damaged.<\/p>\n The Insta360 X6 weighs 196g., which isn\u2019t especially light for an action camera..<\/p>\n Photo: HWZ<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n The biggest thing I enjoyed most about the X6 was how it changed my approach to video recording. As odd as it sounds for a camera that costs almost a grand in Singapore, the X6 feels very liberating to use \u2013 especially for someone new to 360 videos.<\/p>\n With a normal camera like my GoPro, I usually have to decide what I wanted in the frame before pressing the record button. This doesn\u2019t leave any room for errors or hesitations, so if something interesting happens outside of the frame, for example, that opportunity is gone. The X6 removes much of that pressure. I could hold it on a selfie stick, walk around and decide what the video should look like afterwards. I could frame myself, turn the view towards something in front of me or use a sweeping movement that would have been difficult to achieve with a regular action camera like the GoPro Hero.<\/p>\n The Essentials Bundle come with the X6 unit, charging battery case (with an additional battery) and the invisible selfie stick.<\/p>\n Photo: HWZ<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n The battery charging case fits 2 batteries, and includes a built-in USB-c cable.<\/p>\n Photo: HWZ<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n This freedom is particularly useful when the camera is moving. Insta360\u2019s FlowState<\/b> stabilisation and 360 Horizon Lock<\/b> keep footage impressively steady, even when my hand movements were anything but. The invisible selfie-stick effect also creates the illusion that the camera is floating slightly ahead of or behind me. It is an old Insta360 trick, admittedly, but it was new to me, and I can understand why it has become so closely associated with the company.<\/p>\nWhat I liked about the Insta360 X6<\/h2>\n