Is the Insta360 Pro a good camera for 360VR landscape photogaphy? This has been my go-to VR camera for the last several years, and while not perfect, it continues to be the best option for VR photographers that want to get out in the field and shoot landscape 360VR images.
Intro
I’ve discussed previously what I consider the basic requirements for a 360VR camera. The Insta360 Pro checks all the boxes. I first saw the Pro at the 2017 NAB conference. At the time I was shooting with the GoPro Omni, which is not a stereo 360 camera. I immediately placed my order for the Insta 360 Pro. Once I had shot with it for a few sessions I retired the Omni, and the Pro has been my main 360 camera for the last 4 years.
Specs
The Insta360 using 6 lens and sensors distributed evenly in a circle. Not much is publicly available about the sensor used by Insta360. A single shot is 4000px X 3000px, the resulting stitched 360 over under equirectangular is 7680px X 7680px.
| Lenses six fisheye lenses Field of view fully spherical Aperture f/2.4 Sensors unspecified; probably six 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensors Processors unspecified Photo resolution 7680 x 3840 (2D 360) or 7680 x 7680 (3D 360) in DNG Raw or JPG Video resolution 7680 x 3840 at 30fps (2D 360) or 3840 x 1920 at 120fps (2D 360) 6400 x 6400 or 30fps (3D 360) 3840 x 3840 or 60fps (3D 360) Live streaming resolution: 3840 x 1920 at 30fps (2D 360) or 3840 x 3840 at 24fps (3D 360) Compatible with YouTube, Facebook, Periscope / Twitter, Weibo Audio 6 microphones Spatial audio support Shutter speed: 1/8000 to 60 secs (in manual mode) ISO: 100 to 6400 Stabilization: 6-axis gyro-based image stabilization Connector: 1/4-20 tripod connector Storage: One SD card; External SSD supported via USB 3.0 Waterproof: No Connectivity: RJ45 Ethernet interface (for stable cable communication) USB Type-C (for high speed file transfer) WiFi (for AP hotspot connection) HDMI 2.0 Type-D (for the monitoring and output of footage) Compatibility: iOS Android Windows Mac Dimensions: 143mm diameter Weight: 1228g Battery: 5000 mAh (75 minutes); battery or AC adapter (can charge while recording) Other features: Intervalometer Time lapse mode Live histogram Live curve adjustment Live preview (30fps) VR preview (2D 360) GPS accessory support |
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Field Workflow
I have taken my Inst360 Pro from the snow in Yosemite to the deserts of Arizona. The following are my field recommendations.
I store the Insta360 in an f-stop padded case. This lets me move the camera, battery pack and SD cards as one unit between different backpacks. My daypack is different than my multi-day trekking pack, but I think it is important to standardize one’s shooting kit.
Monopod support
Tripods don’t work well for 360VR photography. The legs encroach on a large area looking down, and will require a fair amount of retouching. I recommend using a VR specific monopod like the Bogen VR base and carbon fiber pole. I have modified this setup by adding a leveling base so that the legs can be positioned on irregular surfaces and the pole can be plumbed vertical. Standard collapsible lightstands also work on flat ground, but they are problematic in the field where level ground is not always easy to come by!
Iphone shooting
The Insta360 Pro has a very small LCD display and limited buttons. I just don’t use these at all. The iPhone app works well and gives full access to all features. Once the Insta360 is powered up the iPhone is connected via WiFi. For stills I always shoot bracketed (5 or 6 shots, 1EV steps), Stereo, minimal sharpening, fixed white balance of 6000 degrees. For timelapse the settings are the same, but unfortunately no bracketing is available. This is a big limitation of timelapse on Insta360, I’ve suggested a feature enhancement with no luck.
Stitching
The Insta360 Stitcher is my standard stitching application. It works fairly quickly and I rarely have misaligned stitches.
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