Insta360 X3 Action Cam
Let’s face it, we’ve all been there. You’re halfway up a green lane, balancing your 4x4 on three (or two) wheels in the most precarious position ever. You’ve already positioned your phone on a tripod, or balancing on a branch, hoping to get a video worthy of an Oscar, only to find out later that you missed the moment, and you’re left with an unfocussed clip of your 4x4 ambling over the easy bit. Step forward the Insta360 X3, your new best mate for capturing the action, without the drama.
The beauty of the Insta360 X3 is its simplicity. Out of the box, it looks like something Q would hand James Bond before a mission, compact, sleek, and slightly mysterious. But don’t be fooled. This isn’t some over-complicated faff-fest. Pop in the memory card, charge it up, and you’re good to go. Even if you’re like me and have the technical patience of a squirrel on espresso, you’ll have it up and running in no time. Download the app, connect your phone, and suddenly you’re seeing the world from angles you didn’t think were possible (some of which, I might add, are unflatteringly honest).
Its standout benefit is, unsurprisingly, the 360° recording. Stick it on the roof, bonnet, or even hang it off a tree branch, and you’ll capture everything, front, back, sides, up and down, and a good view of your mate looking lost reading the OS map upside down.
For green-laners and outdoor types, it’s an absolute game changer. You can relive the full drive without having to set up multiple cameras like you’re producing Top Gear. It’s just one camera, doing the job of many, and doing it remarkably well.
You can also attach it to either your dashboard or windscreen, and edit footage so that you’re filming the road ahead, then showing your face and your passengers.
It also has a dash-cam mode, which is handy. If you use the invisible selfie-stick you can even record drone-like views.
Getting technical. the Insta360 X3 is armed with dual 1/2" 48MP sensors. Translation? That means glorious 5.7K resolution 360° videos that look sharper than your nan’s best Sunday roast knife. Photos aren’t too shabby either, at a tasty 72MP, ideal for grabbing stills from your off-road adventures.
Stabilisation is nothing short of wizardry. Thanks to FlowState Stabilisation and 360 Horizon Lock, even when you’re rattling over rocky tracks at daft angles, your footage stays smoother than a well-worn gear lever. It’s waterproof to 10 metres straight out of the box too, handy if your definition of light puddles ends up more like small lakes.
Storage-wise, it takes microSD cards up to 1TB (yes, really), so you can keep recording until the cows come home, or at least until you’re out of snacks. Battery life is around 81 minutes of continuous shooting at 5.7K, but that’ll drop a bit in colder weather or with heavier use.
Then there’s the app. Now, I know what you’re thinking, apps are a gamble, but credit where it’s due: Insta360’s app is slick, responsive, and makes editing your footage genuinely enjoyable.
Fancy auto-tracking your vehicle as you bounce along the trail? Done. Want to zoom out for a glorious wide shot of your convoy snaking through the countryside? Easy. Even the dodgy bits, like reversing into a bush (don’t ask), can be trimmed with a couple of taps.
Any Drawbacks?
Now, let’s be fair, no bit of kit is perfect, and the Insta360 has a couple of quirks worth mentioning. First off, while the software is mostly intuitive, there is a bit of a learning curve when it comes to editing. The sheer amount of options is, at first, slightly overwhelming. Stick with it though, and you’ll soon be producing footage that looks like you’ve spent a small fortune on a professional crew. Thankfully, the Insta360 website has loads of tutorials and there’s even more on YouTube.
It’s worth noting that while the camera is pretty robust, you’ll want to invest in lens guards, as both lenses protrude from the body and therefore can be susceptible to being damaged, especially if you’re attaching your X3 to the side of your 4x4. In fact, the reason I haven’t included any footage in this review is because the press sample X3 I received, already had a scratched lens from its past loan out, which spoilt the footage I recorded. If you do happen to scratch your lens, it’s advisable to return your X3 to Insta360 for them to do it. They have sent me a replacement X3 to play with, so keep an eye out for videos on our Youtube channel.
Also, invest in a decent mount if you’re planning on giving it a rough ride. Cheap mounts will wobble more than a pensioner on a pogo stick, and no one wants shaky footage.
In summary, the X3 is a cracking bit of kit, especially if you like venturing out by yourself. It’s easy to use, fun to play with, and turns your muddy adventures into polished, shareable memories. Whether you’re rock-crawling, wild camping, or just recording your mate’s latest off-road mishap for posterity (and inevitable group chat humiliation), the X3 has you covered.
*New and updated
Innovation never stands still, and since going to press Insta360 have brought out a further two models, the X4 and recently the X5.
Price: £459.99 now £309.99
more at » https://store.insta360.com