Other options
Photo: Scott Gilbertson
Insta360 x3 priced at $270: You have to settle in here for the 5.7k footage, which is on the 1/2-inch sensor, and when you crop to the rectangular video format, there is only 1080p. Still, you get nearly the same shape as the X4 and can be used as a 4K single-lens action cam. At this price, the X3 is still a viable option for those who want to get involved in 360 videos without spending money.
Insta360 $300 RS: The company’s interchangeable lens action camera/360 camera hybrid is another option. Video recording is not as good as the other cameras in this guide, but you can swap lenses later and have an action camera, which is the main selling point. That said, since the X3 and X4 can also be used as 4K action cameras, the RS’s temptation is less attractive than before. Still, if you like the form factor of the action camera but also want to be able to shoot 360 lenses, this RS is a great camera. The real combo will be a 360 lens paired with the Leica Lens, but the combo will be much more expensive.
The GoPro Max is priced at $822: GoPro enters the world of 360 cameras, and the Max is a powerful action camera with 6K video, a water-resistant form factor, and an industry-leading stabilization feature. It has all the shooting modes you know from GoPro, such as Hypermooth, TimeWarp, PowerPano, etc. Like the X4, there is also a single-lens mode (called Hero Mode), and my favorite part is compatible with most GoPro mounts and accessories. The main reason why Max isn’t one of our best options is that the Max 2 will be coming soon. If you want to get the maximum, it’s better to wait.
QOOCAM 3 Ultra, priced at $599: It’s not wide and we didn’t have a chance to try it once, but Kandao’s Qoocam 3 Ultra is another 8K 360 camera that looks promising on paper at least. The f/1.6 aperture is particularly interesting, as most of them are in the f/2 and above range. We will update this guide when we have the opportunity to test QOOCAM.
Camera should be avoided
Insta360 x2 priced at $230: The old X2 of the Insta360 is different from the X3 that replaced it. Inconvenient appearance. (The screen is small; you almost have to use it with your phone). It can still shoot 5.7k videos, but it’s not very stable and isn’t sharp for the X3 or X4 either. Unless you can get it for $200, the X2 is not worth buying.
Insta360 One RS 1 360 version: Although I still like and use this camera, it seems to be discontinued and there is no replacement to see. The X5 offers better video quality with a lighter, fragile body, but I’d miss those 1-inch sensors that manage to absorb a lot of details, even if the lens has a top point of 6K. These are still usable, but at an outrageous price. You’d better use X5.
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