Insta360 X3

Alright, gearheads, gather around! Today, I’m sharing my personal insights with the Insta360 X3 – the camera that turns my rides into what feels like a movie.

When I started with my account on Instagram and saw fellow creators recording their rides in 360-Degree, I was astonished by 1.the quality and 2.the possibilities this would provide me with. It did take me a minute to figure out how this 360-Degree video-thing would work but once I got the hold of it, it didn´t take long and I ordered myself the Insta360 X3 together with the motorcycle bundle for christmas as a present from myself to myself.

Settings first

 I always set it to 5.7K/30FPS in order to get high-quality videos and photos. However once I´ve edited the videos in-app, I export them to match Instagram´s upload capabilities, which lies around 1080/30FPS.  As for other settings, I usually leave them on automatic, because the camera sure knows how to adapt to a change of brightness outside, for example if the sun is out or not.  Many people like to have their sharpness set to low, but I do prefer to have it on high to get crisp clear imagery.

One down-side of the X3? Once it gets dark outside or you´re faced with lowlight, then your footage will suffer from grain and overexposure.  This is due to the small sensors with their fairly high resolution.

But Insta360 recently came up with their new Ace-Pro, that I have yet to try and which seems to work excellent in low-light conditions from what I can tell after watching a few videos.

The motorcycle-bundle

With the motorcycle bundle you get all of the below and more. My favourite pov, if you follow me on Instagram you´ve seen it already, is having the camera attached directly to the windshield with the flexible adhesive mount. Since my windshield is quite curvy at the spot where I want my camera, this was the best option for me. I also sometimes use the clasp on the handlebar or put it directly onto the mirror of my bike.  Their new clasp, featured in the image below, also comes without ball joints for even stabler shots. I had the chance to try both and the new one really is an upgrade in terms of security and stability.

Tiny helpers

I love everything efficient and time-saving. Which is why  additional batteries and their quick charger and quick reader are no-brainer to me.

How does the quick reader work? It doesn´t require wifi and hence allows to transfer all the files quick and smooth to your phone. It´s basically plug and play by putting in your micro-sd card and then connecting the reader either via USB-C or Iphone-Plug into your phone. The app then automatically connects the reader and you can start editing or downloading the videos to your phone. I know it´s a bit pricey but considering the time I save with it, totally worth it from my experience.

The quick charger doesn´t need much introduction, the name says it all. I can swiftly charge up to 3 batteries at the same time.

Final thoughts:

So, after using the Insta360 X3 for a while now, I gotta say I'm pretty happy with it. It's not just a regular camera - it also pulls double duty as a dashcam, which is pretty cool and provides me with some sense of safety. I also like how it's always ready to capture those unexpected moments, whether it's a beautiful sunset or just some random encounters while pumping gas or when I struggle to park my bike. It's simple to use, and the quality of shots is solid.

If you're on the lookout for a camera that can handle both planned and unplanned moments without any fuss, the Insta360 X3 is definitely worth checking out.