Insta360 One X2 In The Test

The Insta360 One X2 is a small but innovative 360-degree camera for your pocket. In the practical test, we like the all-around videos in 5.7K quality and functions such as live streaming on Facebook or Youtube. In contrast to the previous model, the tiny camera is now waterproof, up to 10 meters. The Insta360 One X2 costs more than a classic action cam, but it offers more innovative functions.

Advantages

• Compact
• Waterproof
• The abundance of recording functions

Disadvantage

• Slightly weak battery
• The sound quality is partly tinny

Insta360 One X2: The All-Rounder In The Practical Test

The Insta360 One X2 has many talents, but the focus is on VR videos (Virtual Reality) in a 360-degree view. The goal: the viewer should have the feeling of standing directly in the scene. Two camera modules have been required for this material that records what is happening in front of and behind your location. Thanks to the short focal lengths, the surroundings are filmed and photographed according to the fisheye principle in the form of a hemisphere. Both hemispheres are subsequently merged into a fully spherical image with a complimentary 360-degree all-round view.

The latest representative in the series of cameras specially developed for this purpose is the Insta360 One X2; an extremely compact device that has it all at first glance: With a weight of only 150 grams and dimensions of 4.6 x 11.3 x 3 centimetres in width, height and depth, the all-rounder disappears in any trouser pocket when required. A form factor that also takes its toll: the battery with a capacity of 1,630 mAh had to be returned to the USB-C charger after just 70 minutes in the test.

The energy requirement is not surprising either, as two sensor modules inside, each with a bright lens and open aperture f / 2 and a small image equivalent focal length of around 7 mm, do their job. Together, the two cameras deliver a video resolution of 5.7K with up to 30 fps. Filmmakers can choose between the efficient h.265 and the conventional h.264 recording codec. The solution for photos is 18.5 megapixels.

Also Read: What Are The Important Features Of A Wireless Camera?

Robust VR Camera For Expeditions

When looking at the material on the computer, photos and videos were initially viral. The automated stitching inside the camera – the joining of the two hemisphere recordings to form a 360-degree overall picture – works in an exemplary manner. Under the VR headset, and thus when viewing the videos up close, it becomes clear that the resolution leaves something to be desired. Professional setups, which consist of up to six independent action cams, are way ahead in terms of clarity and resolution and can also be viewed with the headset without a blurry image.

Overall, the image quality is on the same level as the One R – with the corresponding 360-degree module, of course. The Insta360 One X2 has four internal microphones that record the sound similar to the image in a spherical area; However, the quality is comparable to that of a conventional camera built-in pickup: a high susceptibility to wind noise and a very tinny sound from a distance of only a few meters.

Now Even Waterproof To A Depth Of 10 Meters

In contrast to the previous model Insta360 One X, the One X2 can even film underwater, up to 10 meters. This brings the small camera closer to the classic action cams, which are usually waterproof up to 30 meters. Another difference lies in the conventional video recordings: While almost all pure action cams now offer 4K resolution, the One X2 rotates with up to 2,560 x 1,440 pixels. Although this is a little more than the Full HD standard requires, it is still a long way from 4K.

And yet: The ability to define the image section later makes the camera a real all-rounder. The developers have also recognized this and equipped the One X2 with functions based on the so-called “reframing” principle. In addition, digital image stabilization can be enormously improved as a result. So it’s ideal for fast-paced action shots. But modern 360-degree cameras also have a wide range of possible uses in the professional segment.

Wherever you want to give the viewer or interested party a panoramic view, cameras like the Insta360 One X2 can be used. Broker offices and car dealers, in particular, have so far discovered the technology for themselves. Of course, it doesn’t always have to be a video; A fully spherical still image of each room in an apartment is enough to give prospective buyers or renters a sensational insight.