Is the Insta360 X4 8K Actually Any Good?

Is the Insta360 X4 8K Actually Any Good? | The PetaPixel Podcast

Рет қаралды 20,543

Күн бұрын

We would like to thank our podcast sponsor, OM SYSTEM! Recently, PetaPixel followed OM SYSTEM Ambassadors Tiffany Taxis and Arthur Lefo as they photographed the incredible winter wildlife of Yellowstone National Park. The photographers had brought the recently released OM SYSTEM OM-1 Mark II, the company’s latest telephoto zoom lens, the M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-600mm F5.0-6.3 IS, as well as the M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-400mm F4.5 TC1.25X IS PRO
Watch the film here on PetaPixel's KZfaq ( • Photographing the Wint... ), make sure to read Lefo’s 9 Tips for Photographing Wildlife in Winter ( petapixel.com/2022/11/28/9-ti... ), and don't forget to also visit explore.omsystem.com/ to learn more about the OM-1 Mark II and the M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-600mm F5.0-6.3 IS lens.
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Thank you to Storyblocks for sponsoring this week's main story segment! Download unlimited stock media at one set price with Storyblocks: storyblocks.com/petapixel
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The biggest video-centric exhibition took place last week and brought with it a ton of news, including a new dual-lens camera from Insta360 called the X4 8K. There are a lot of conflicting reports on the video quality, though and Jordan Drake has thoughts!
Order an Insta360 X4: www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...
We use Riverside to record The PetaPixel Podcast in our online recording studio: creators.riverside.fm/Petapixel
We hope you enjoy the podcast and we look forward to hearing what you think. If you like what you hear, please support us by subscribing, liking, commenting, and reviewing! Every week, the trio go over comments on KZfaq and here on PetaPixel, but if you’d like to send a message for them to hear, you can do so through SpeakPipe: www.speakpipe.com/petapixel
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In This Episode:
00:00 - Intro... and where's Chris?
08:32 - Nikon's purchase of RED gets clearer
08:48 - Nikon is 'considering' cine glass while RED will continue to use RF: petapixel.com/2024/04/15/red-...
11:31 - When else has a lens/camera maker supported competitors' lenses or mounts?
14:29 - Expect a new camera using tech from both Nikon and RED 'in a few years': petapixel.com/2024/04/17/a-ne...
16:02 - Nikon started the process to buy RED two years ago: petapixel.com/2024/04/16/niko...
17:40 - It looks like two-thirds of the X100VI Limited Edition camera orders in the U.S. were suspect: petapixel.com/2024/04/18/two-...
20:41 - Ok, SmallRig's new tripod collab with Potato Jet actually looks sick: petapixel.com/2024/04/17/smal...
23:12 - Blackmagic's big week (lightning round)
28:44 - So, is the Insta360 X4 8K any good? petapixel.com/2024/04/16/inst...
44:42 - The sounds of Shure's new MV7+ podcasting mic
47:06 - What have/will you been/be up to?
52:35 - Tech support
1:06:12 - Never read the comments

Пікірлер: 91

@PetaPixel 19 күн бұрын

Two things! Firstly, sorry for the delay today in getting the podcast published. We had some technical difficulties. Secondly, we had to record this week's podcast earlier than usual, and so of course that means the biggest news of the week, Sigma and Tamron being allowed on Canon RF mount, didn't make the cut. Stay tuned for next week's episode to hear our thoughts!

@dav 19 күн бұрын

Topic starts @31:39

@NeeMo92 18 күн бұрын

Thank you!

@awesomefeldmanfamily 18 күн бұрын

Thank you

@everydayisextra 18 күн бұрын

The release news about the Insta360 X4 last week Monday caught me by surprise, and I got quickly interested due to the significantly upgraded specs. My initial feel of 8K translating to a real life usable 5.7K turned out to be on point, and that’s quite a bit more data to choose from than recording in 4K and having to crop into that. While I’m not about to use this camera for any of the presented action styles, I still see a lot of potential in recording 360 at high settings when entering vacation regions without knowing what’s about to happen, especially when wanting to travel light as with the next overseas trip. So just holding this thing up and deciding later on the perspective seems like a smart thing to do, especially since it’s waterproof. The other more regular use case scenario is something that was nowhere mentioned, whether in the manufacturer’s examples nor in your podcast, and that is putting this inconspicuous device center stage for recording live concerts. That way my son can record himself with his his band and then later choose the angle. I see a lot of potential here, especially while it is quasi no overhead for the band to capture these memories. Apparently the low light issues might dampen my excitement down the road, but here again I’ve set the specs to 5.7K/30fps with the expectation that the footage will be usable. And more importantly that the camera will last through a full set which I have tested: At room temperature, the Insta360 X4 easily went through 86 minutes of constant recording at this setting. Yes, it was quite warm, but it was still going, nowhere near shutting down on its own, battery was still going strong. That’s in stark contrast to the two GoPro Hero 8 I bought when they hit the market, and they have been nothing but a huge disappointment and big waste of money since they can’t handle more than 20 minutes of any setting at a time, completely useless for my needs. Will see how this holds up over time, but after two initial tries I’ve decided to keep this for the family, and that means something.

@MuhammadKharismawan 19 күн бұрын

I bought the x3 a year ago and really the only reason I don't use it more is the high memory bandwidth and the hassle of post editing. I realized recently that the better a stock output of a device is, the faster I feel the satisfaction of using it.

@peanutrolls 18 күн бұрын

No question, just a comment: for what it's worth, I love this podcast. It's my photography / videography news source, now. It's comfortable, entertaining and informative. I would Patreon this. If there's already a Patreon, I'm a silly goose and I missed it.

@IamShopping 18 күн бұрын

I really was interested in what the fish would say about the Insta360. It has very similar eyes 🐟

@kefkafloyd 18 күн бұрын

The Minolta CLE/Leica M mount situation comes to mind with regards to a manufacturer making a body with a competitors' lens mount. Minolta was making SR-mount cameras during that time.

@Abc1987 17 күн бұрын

Would the Fujifilm/ Hasselblad XPan/ TX1 also count? I think the lenses were made by Fujifilm

@kefkafloyd 17 күн бұрын

@@Abc1987 hasselblad is another one, because they made rebadged Sony A-mount SLRs in the early aughts

@bingbong4848 19 күн бұрын

Nice of you to let the others get a word in this week Chris😂

@niccollsvideo 18 күн бұрын

It was easy. I was distracted with fishing!

@bingbong4848 18 күн бұрын

@@niccollsvideo Haha. Next podcast please provide proof that you actually caught something. It has to be fish by the way😄

@yawningmarmot 18 күн бұрын

I forgot to say that lasagne-off was epic! Please make more videos like that :)

@mikebartow9415 18 күн бұрын

Great podcast! You guys held the floor well. That being said, nothing beats the three amigos! I look forward to next week’s show.

@EMTBVideos 18 күн бұрын

What about the 5.7k+ on the X4? If it's higher bitrate, it could allow for more cropping compared to the X3 5.7k!?

@shaocaholica 19 күн бұрын

Early Fuji DSLRs used Nikon F mount and supported Nikon F lenses although they didn’t make any lenses of their own for Nikon F which would have been neat. I have some Fuji F mount DSLRs and they still work with modern Nikon F mount lenses first party and third party. Mostly. I think the electronic aperture ones don’t work but I don’t have any of those to test

@mintoo5777 18 күн бұрын

Thanks Jordan! I have an X3 and record indoors, and your review is very helpful 👍

@DanielCurious 18 күн бұрын

“Thinky thoughts” .. love it

@johnfirewire 18 күн бұрын

We could do a drinking game. Take a sip every time Jordan lifts himself off of his chair :) seriously though you guys put out the best podcasts and are great speakers!

@loganoleary9183 18 күн бұрын

Fish Niccolls, my favorite KZfaqr!

@Windsurfingaddict 14 күн бұрын

Glad you covered Insta 360 X4 as I’ve just upgraded and waiting for new one to arrive, luckily for me I use outdoors and as a watersports action camera and the 360 is so much better to reframe in edits and was hoping you would say the the difference is noticeable, also worth pointing out the updated 60fps in 5.7k for smooth and slow motion footage compared to the max 30FPS with the X3. Enjoyed watching 🥳

@iamsangpark 18 күн бұрын

How does 5.7k mode on X4 compare to X3 footage? Jordan kept saying that if you are shooting indoor, get X3 instead. Is that b/c X3 would be cheaper? Or is X3 has better indoor image quality compared to X4's 5.7k mode?

@gschweiger 18 күн бұрын

Question: I have a 3 week road trip across the US for my son's graduation in May. On a fantastical whim I bought a Sigma fpL and 24mm f/3.5. This is to be a travelogue camera for stills and short videos and/or cinemagraphs. It is to be my main camera for the trip as I plan to leave the heavy Pentax K1 behind. Did I make an unforgivable, harebrained mistake?

@lnewbyliveca 19 күн бұрын

Jordon you need to visit Vancouver next month…….when the crows are raising young, wear a black hat and wander around getting attacked by crows, it’s the only time of year people carry umbrellas, not for the rain…..

@JWPanimation 16 күн бұрын

I'm curious about the manual settings and image quality for stills on the Insta 4x. Many architectural and VFX peeps are using the Ricoh's Theta Z1 with the 1" sensor which costs twice as much.

@aldiosmio 19 күн бұрын

Thanks for the answer guys! And fyi, I'm traveling to Indonesia, so it's definitely family and landscapes 😀 hopefully of volcanoes and lakes!

@vagousb.1735 19 күн бұрын

i was expecting a video on the x4 8k

@tonn333 18 күн бұрын

Yeah and not a podcast.... which I like very much

@FLG8r 19 күн бұрын

The Insta360 X4 specs top the GoPro Hero Max for 360 video; GoPro loyalists like me were disappointed that GoPro did not release the hotly--anticipated GoPro Hero Max 2 last fall. Will GoPro ever release it? Hope so.I still use my Hero Max, but, I've ordered the Insta360 X4 and can't wait to see for myself the differences.

@whatwelearned 18 күн бұрын

Of course they do; it's about 6 years younger!

@AnotherOtherMan-alive 18 күн бұрын

I saw that smallrig tripod in a framevoyager NAB video from last year and that would be amazing for a documentary, touring podcast setup, or in my case, a mobile church setup.

@oversharingturtle4462 18 күн бұрын

Odd request but can we have an episode on scammera a (including the new yucky worse than a phone camera yashica thing)

@senorchivo90 18 күн бұрын

Fujifilm X-Mount has a first-party Leica M-Mount adapter that has a custom button to change your manual shooting settings to match the lens

@imagesbirds5066 18 күн бұрын

When you do your support system shootout: Please consider including the self-levelling Edelkrone tripod and the new Sirui Rapid one-step Monopod.

@POVwithRC 19 күн бұрын

I took a whack at the x3 last year. I like 360 video, as a concept. But I just can't work it into my real content easily. Best wishes to the X4.

@canucklehead28 18 күн бұрын

I really don't understand why you are sitting at 187,000 subs. You should be flying past other creators in this genre at a good clip. Petapixel is my favorite now and the dynamics between the three of you is high on my list. Love the podcasts! And all the other fantastic shit!

@PippetWhippet 18 күн бұрын

A lot of us remember the petapixel who published an article where the author built his own simulation of sensor technologies with zero knowledge of how they worked and blasted … I want to say sigma foveon??? Cameras for the flaws his simulation found despite those flaws not being present in the real cameras … because his simulations weren’t real. Then doubled down over two or three more articles including one where he turned the in camera saturation and sharpness settings to max and zoomed in on a face from the corner of a particularly smeary lens that was, I kid you not, no more than 20 or 30 pixels high to prove that the cameras made skin look “waxy”. This was one example of the kind of garbage petapixel published regularly and the short term outrage boost has permanently damaged the brand in the minds of many.

@canucklehead28 17 күн бұрын

@@PippetWhippet Obviously I am not tainted by those memories. I've been a big fan of Chris and Jordan for a few years, and I like how Jarron just strenghtens that dynamic. I enjoy very much, and I learn. To teach and delight. Do you think the present Petapixel has changed in a positive way?

@matej.mlakar 15 күн бұрын

Interestin about the auto leveling tripod, but I think Benro Theta was the first one with that idea?

@pixelsimage 18 күн бұрын

I own an X1 and an X2 and use them both because there are optimal conditions and use cases for both. I did not upgrade to an X3 because at the time the consensus was the quality was not that big of an improvement between the X2 and X3. Is this considered minimal improvement from X3 to X4 and is it worth the upgrade from X2?

@Windsurfingaddict 14 күн бұрын

I have owed the X2 and the X3 is much better in so many ways, X2 screen sucks and is clunky and tiny, x3 screen is a huge improvement, the X4 is going to be better in that you have 5.7k 60FPS for smoother video and slow motion improvements, and longer battery life in 5.7k . 8K is more like 2k realistically once you have reframed it as 8k is both lens combined. Just hope the weight and extra size on the X4 is not an issue for using in fast moving action. The X3 new and used prices are now good value 🥳🥳

@d9wilson 18 күн бұрын

Rental Dan saying Hi!

@victorlin4645 18 күн бұрын

For the X4 I would definitely like to see dynamic range comparisons and limitations in 8K. As you know, it uses the same 1/2" 48MP sensor as the X3, so Insta360's Active HDR mode cannot be used in 8K mode on the X4 since 8K shooting means you cannot break the sensor into two logical sensors and run two separate simultaneous exposures on the 48MP sensor for real-time Active HDR, while in 5.7k you can. So shooting at 8K means you necessarily take a dynamic range hit compared to 5.7K Active HDR, but by how much?

@loganoleary9183 18 күн бұрын

Do you need to be in the press or in the industry to attend the NAB convention, or can anyone attend?

@BillKinnon 18 күн бұрын

Anyone can attend

@chrisw443 18 күн бұрын

YES JORDAN! THE JVC LS300! My white whale! Because mine was broken and Its not possible to find because it was so popular they sold out and ceased production, but it did use a competitors lens mount m43 on a super 35 sensor. But panasonic is technically an alligned company and m43 is technically a open mount. But. JVC LS300 I love that camera!

@CrazyAboutFlyFishing 17 күн бұрын

That's lovely fish Chris! Grayling?

@niccollsvideo 17 күн бұрын

Yes a very nice Arctic Grayling caught almost in the Arctic. It took a dry fly too so it was an excellent memory overall!

@hoihoisan777 18 күн бұрын

I would have preferred the Chris&Fish picture been shot on 35mm😆

@randydean23 18 күн бұрын

I am pretty sure that Fujifilm's earliest digital cameras when they debuted had the Nikon F-mount. I believe they leased the mount while they were figuring out their own lens lineup.

@lucas_92 19 күн бұрын

Input on the Shure mic! Sounds OK, but it seems to lack warmth and natural tone, like Jordan’s or the NT USB+ have. After a lot of testing, the latter really makes the listener think they’re there in the room with you, with great bass. It’d be great to see y’all test multiple mics during one of these episodes!

@PetaPixel 17 күн бұрын

Thanks for the input!

@existential_ 19 күн бұрын

My work day felt empty without my 3 PP's

@PetaPixel 19 күн бұрын

Afraid we only had 2 this week!

@ZappaBlues 19 күн бұрын

The picture of Chris with the fish and wearing a cap. We can't see his perfectly sculpted hair. 😰 ... 😝

@davexmit 18 күн бұрын

Did you get the letter from Insta360 telling you not to mention sponsorship?

@PetaPixel 18 күн бұрын

We did not, this just came as a review sample.

@chu0nthat 18 күн бұрын

Great podcast as usual. Any chance a full x100vi review in the works? I know it’s clickbaity at the moment, but we’ll give you a pass this time 😂

@PetaPixel 18 күн бұрын

Editing right now!

@chu0nthat 18 күн бұрын

Was rewatching the video again and realized that you guys mentioned that you have a video coming out soon. Doh! Either way, glad it’s happening!

@JasonWendling 16 күн бұрын

Civil War: I found the LoCA very distracting. Do you think it was intentional or a compromise to get the bokeh they wanted?

@jakkistan 18 күн бұрын

Fish Niccolls?

@DaveTimperley 15 күн бұрын

I'm not sure if it is a new form of punctuation, but the guy on the left appends 'as well' onto the end of every second sentance???

@samohara5187 19 күн бұрын

Unsure if it's just me, but the 360 distortion made the Canada flag at 40:23 look huge. Or that is one mighty big flag!

@PetaPixel 19 күн бұрын

It's a big ol' flag there.

@timrock01 18 күн бұрын

Funny!! Having fun with the X4 underwater (with housing).

@hedydd2 17 күн бұрын

Fuji made 1934 of the limited edition X100 VI, which is 28 less than Leica’s D-Lux 7 Bond 007 limited edition. I have one of those and one of 250 Q2 007 limited edition cameras made for the whole world. I’ll wait for an 007 edition X100 before purchasing one.

@dccoletrain 19 күн бұрын

I’m still annoyed I didn’t preorder right away since I was awake for the X100VI… waited until Feb 21st… the store I bought from mentioned black models from the 26th had been sent out… maybe one day

@angelamaloney4871 18 күн бұрын

I’m going to Australia next week. I’ve been seeing x100vis in stock periodically on Australian camera shop websites.

@pacheaco727 18 күн бұрын

Chris promised he’d send me one of the A7R V’s Sony gives him for free for being their shill if I said I’d protest any future episodes without him… wait, ignore the first part of that.

@vincerives8055 19 күн бұрын

would love to see a comparison between the YC Onion and iFootage Cobra strike 3 monopods, seem similar but hard to see a difference

@Calispeedboi 19 күн бұрын

The mic sounds good. Jordan maybe sounded better but marginally

@michaelogle1315 19 күн бұрын

A Grayling should be left in the water to show off that dorsal fin colors.

@POVwithRC 19 күн бұрын

Looks fine as is. Can't pose with it in the water. Was your point that it shouldn't be fished?

@niccollsvideo 18 күн бұрын

I certainly got some video under the water and you can see a brilliant dorsal.

@HesselFolkertsma 19 күн бұрын

Yippi! Maastricht tuning in.

@StreamTeknology 17 күн бұрын

I did all my NAB coverage (21 videos) using the X3 and would really have liked the 8K - there was "kinda" enough light, but I think if Insta could just provide more data and have less macroblocking of the image with heavy compression, that'd help a lot too. kzfaq.info/sun/PLWTQ43Vw9kBXlm_SHc3IKoxV6eMjVDD8e

@PlanetFrosty 19 күн бұрын

This is not the same sensor as the S35 12K. Sounds like you didn’t do your research on the BM 12K since it’s a much larger sensor, but we’ll see.

@NeonShores 18 күн бұрын

Yeah the whole segment on the BMD cameras seemed weirdly negative and dismissive. And to not even know that 12k is using a new sensor is weird.

@chrisw443 18 күн бұрын

When I was a kid I loved video games, and radios or cassette players / recorders. That and space / planes / air traffic controlling. I was a very strange kid. I would speed read dozens of books. Which I cant anymore. Then video cameras came into my life in 3rd grade and that was it. From then on. Cameras!

@ryantongs 19 күн бұрын

First … ❤

@dankspangle 18 күн бұрын

Wow... good luck to you dissing crows.

@m11kan 18 күн бұрын

Insta360 X4 8K still is a bit disappointment... basically the same sensor with more pixels, which is just marketing fluff (and some more sharpness in perfect lighting). In the northern part of Europe, there are darker times for most of the year (8-9 months). In the forest or during winter, this "update" is basically useless... We could only use this in the outdoor and summer. To this end, I would prefer at least the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 or a small mirrorless camera to achieve at least somewhat better results. If I ever buy a 360 camera, I might opt for one with a 1" sensor, if new versions are released someday, It is good to have options out there, I would like to pay more to get better results. To be honest if you want to have good action camera get one that has 60fps.. This X4 has only 30fps at max resolution.

@HouseOwl 19 күн бұрын

A Little More Watchable WO CN Don't "Come BACK soon"

@niccollsvideo 18 күн бұрын

Maybe I’m just tired after a week of steelheading and hanging out it with surly dudes, but how about you don’t come back.

@HouseOwl 18 күн бұрын

How About No. -Dr.Evil

@kysus3284 17 күн бұрын

the insta X4 is the most useless upgrade ever, if you have the x3 do not upgrade.

@stuartfishkin6550 6 күн бұрын

I completely disagree with this statement. Better battery life and noticeably sharper resolution and better low-light performance- upgrading is a no brainer.

@kysus3284 6 күн бұрын

@@stuartfishkin6550 i completely agree with the last sentence "upgrading is a no brain"