It's so much fun to take "drone-like" ski footage with the 360-degree action camera Insta360 X3 [How do you take it? ]
written by Yasushi Hisatomi
Throw away your single-lens reflex camera and go mountain skiing with the 360-degree action camera "Insta360 X3"
Over the past few years, since I've been doing more mountain skiing (backcountry skiing) in winter, I can't live without the Insta360 (the latest model is Insta360 X3)
Up until now, the cameras I've taken to the mountains have been single-lens reflex cameras with reliable image quality, and Gopro cameras that can reliably take decent footage as an action camera, but both have some inconveniences when shooting in the backcountry. I was feeling it.
Now, with the advanced Insta360 and a high-performance smartphone camera, you can not only eliminate the dissatisfaction and inconvenience of both single-lens reflex cameras and existing action cameras, but also enjoy unique images that can only be produced with this camera. Before I knew it, I had let go of my single-lens reflex camera and Gopro, and unless I had a special purpose, I was just using Insta360 (and my smartphone).
I want to take the best ski videos with Insta360 X3, which allows you to take realistic 360-degree videos!
The most important feature and appeal of the Insta360 Coupled with advancements, it has become possible for anyone to easily create unique images that were previously impossible to shoot, depending on their ingenuity.
Of these, the one I'm particularly into is the "chasing shot" composition, where the shot appears to be taken by a third person from behind your back. Even if you are shooting alone, you can shoot as if another photographer or drone is filming you from diagonally above (following) (and since both hands are free, you can also use it for action shots). (can concentrate). As a test, I have attached a recent photo of a tree run at Mt. Nabekura with that composition.
The video below is a portrait version posted on Instagram.
View this post on Instagram
With conventional action cameras, it is almost impossible to keep a stable image of the subject during intense movements such as skiing without having to hold a selfie stick or other object in your hand. You can actually make it very easily using Insta360. However, this method of taking photos has not yet become commonplace, so I had to come up with my own ideas to find just the right method.
So, this time, I will report on how I tried to find ways that anyone can easily do this kind of "drone-style (pseudo-following)" photography, and the best method I found as a result.
table of contents
- Introduction: What I like about Insta360 X3 ~ What you can do with Insta360 x3 ~
- Point 1: High image quality and image stabilization
- Point 2: You can trim the shot 360-degree video to your own composition later.
- Point 3: A variety of shooting modes that allow you to take almost everything you want to shoot with one camera
- Point 4: Water resistant to 10m with IPX8 rating, reasonably strong, and the battery has no problems at low temperatures.
- Point 5: You can take photos from a third-person perspective (like a drone) with an invisible selfie stick
- How to achieve the best drone style photography with Insta360 x3
- The best drone style mounting method for Insta360 x3
- summary
Introduction: What I like about Insta360 X3 ~ What you can do with Insta360 x3 ~
Point 1: High image quality and image stabilization
With basic usage, you can record videos at up to 5.7K 30fps or 4K 60fps. Even in "Active HDR" mode, which can express even more realistic brightness, the image quality is 5.7K 30fps. Of course there is camera shake correction. The pixel count of the photo is 72 million pixels for a 360-degree photo (from which it is cropped to a specific size), which is quite sufficient.
Of course, the image sensor is 1/2 size after all, so the definition of the photos is still far behind that of a single-lens reflex camera. Also, it's not inferior to the image processing technology of the latest smartphone cameras, so I can't praise it freely, but since I rely on my smartphone camera to take still images, I think it's good for me if it has this level of video processing technology. enough.
Point 2: You can trim the shot 360-degree video to your own composition later.
Of course, with general action cameras, videos are only shot at a fixed rectangular angle of view, so it's not uncommon to find out that the video is out of alignment when you check it after shooting. (Cannot be selected) Even when fixed to a helmet, etc., even if the angle of view is determined properly at the beginning, the angle may change during intense movement. In winter mountains, I often set up my camera in such harsh conditions that I want to leave as soon as possible, so I don't have time to check things out. The functions required of a camera in this situation are the ability to take quick, easy, and reliable images.
With Insta360, you can take 360-degree shots no matter where the lens is facing, so you can decide on the composition later when editing. There's no need to worry about whether you've captured that amazing ride while descending the mountain, and you can freely trim the video you've shot later to make it into a vertical video for smartphones or a horizontal video for Youtube.
Of course, you will have to edit the 360-degree video into a square video later (framing), but the hassle is insignificant compared to the benefits, so I've gotten used to it by now.
By the way, Insta360 Even in this case, you can enjoy the action camera functions unique to 360-degree lenses, such as the "Me Mode" that allows you to keep the camera angle centered on you.
Point 3: A variety of shooting modes that allow you to take almost everything you want to shoot with one camera
Although I have not yet fully mastered the various functions, this camera can be used as a general "digital camera", "action camera", and of course as a "360 degree video camera" as shown below. It has all the functions you can use.
- 5.7K 360 degree active HDR video shooting
- 72 megapixel still photos (standard, HDR, burst, interval, starlapse modes)
- 8K time-lapse video
- 360 degree live streaming
It has all the functions you need for everyday use, holidays, leisure, travel, and outdoor activities, so I can recommend it to a wide range of outdoor enthusiasts, not just mountain skiers like myself.
Point 4: Water resistant to 10m with IPX8 rating, reasonably strong, and the battery has no problems at low temperatures.
If you're going to use it year-round for mountain climbing or skiing, you'll need solid durability, waterproofness, and low-temperature compatibility, and it meets those requirements pretty well. By the way, the battery has a continuous recording time of 81 minutes, which is sufficient for pinpoint use (it's a good idea to have a spare battery with you in the winter mountains just in case).
However, the weak point of a 360-degree camera is the protruding lens, which must be handled delicately. For this purpose, an adhesive lens protection cover is sold as an option, but it has the disadvantage that when sunlight enters the lens, subtle diffused reflections occur between the lens and the image, staining the image. For this reason, some people choose not to cover the lens for the sake of image quality (if the lens breaks, they graciously repair it for a fee), but in my case, I can easily expect it to get moss on my skis or hit a branch while skiing through the forest. cover is required.
Point 5: You can take photos from a third-person perspective (like a drone) with an invisible selfie stick
This is the main topic of this article, but with Insta360, when you shoot a 360-degree video with a dedicated selfie stick, the selfie stick disappears due to image processing. The border between the front and rear lenses is also processed so clearly that it is almost invisible, resulting in a natural 360-degree video without the need for a selfie stick.
At first, just for fun, I tried skating with a camera attached to a selfie stick over my shoulder. Then, to my surprise, the video turned out to look like someone was filming me closely from behind. I thought that this was worth exploring a little further, and I became addicted to this process of trial and error.
By the way, this mounting method has a long selfie stick extending behind it, so it's very dangerous (and quite conspicuous) if you do it carelessly at a crowded ski resort or in a crowd. Needless to say, please be careful of your surroundings and enjoy at your own risk.
How to achieve the best drone style photography with Insta360 x3
Test 1: Simply stick it in your backpack
First of all, I tried fixing a 1.2 meter selfie stick in my backpack vertically.
Basically, all you need is a selfie stick, and you don't need a special mount to fix it, but you should make sure that the camera doesn't rotate around due to violent movements, and that the selfie stick itself slips out easily. I attached something that would act as an anchor to the end so that it wouldn't break (see photo below). It is also necessary to take appropriate measures to prevent the backpack opening from opening or the straps from coming loose (I used ski straps to secure the zipper).
The video below was shot in this way (I have exported two types of videos, one horizontal and one vertical) for comparison.
If I made a vertical video, I could somehow capture the whole thing, but if I made a horizontal video, I couldn't see much of myself, and the result was almost the same as if I had mounted it on my head. If you do this, the camera will be positioned too high above your head, and if you try to include yourself in it, you'll end up with an angle that only looks at the ground. Even if the fixing location were placed in the side pocket of the backpack instead of in the main compartment, the result would be almost the same. As you can see from this, in order to get a bird's-eye view of yourself and the scenery, the camera must be placed at a certain distance diagonally behind you. Also, in order to firmly fix the camera, you have to compress the selfie stick with your luggage and fix it so that it does not move around. The method is very simple and easy, so it may work in some cases, but it is not the best mounting method.
Verification 2: Attach it to the shoulder strap of a backpack
The next thing I tried was this shoulder strap fixation.
When I thought about the best positioning to place the camera diagonally behind me, I thought that the best position would be in a straight line extending from the shoulder, like the pole of a flying rocket, so I attached a mount to the shoulder harness and placed the camera there. I thought of a way to fix the photo stick.
I tried it right away and found it to be pretty good. If it's just a video, it's the closest to the ideal. Above all, the camera angle and sense of distance were perfect, as expected, and I was able to capture the fluffy snow surface, the mountains and blue sky in front of me, while capturing the image from behind and slightly above me. Furthermore, since the camera is not positioned too high, it gives a sense of speed as it cuts through the wind.
I will introduce the mount used for this fixing method. In my case, to secure it to my shoulder strap, I use Peak Design's Capture camera holder, which I used to carry my single-lens reflex camera, and the POV Kit, a mount for attaching Gopro and other devices. It doesn't necessarily have to be this way, as long as you can attach a selfie stick to the shoulder strap. Set it at about the height of the armpit of the shoulder strap, and then fix it at another point on the side of the neck using a ski strap or something similar (see photo below).
However, on the other hand, although the visuals were great, there were two major problems with the fixing method. One is that since it is only fixed around the shoulders, the end where the camera is located tends to wobble and shake. Another problem is that the hard rod is firmly fixed to the shoulder strap, which makes it a little painful to carry it on your back. The video is great, but it's really disappointing. It seems like it is only for large slopes with pinpoint and big turns.
Verification #3: Trying out the genuine third-person perspective backpack mount (and ski photography set)
By the way, Insta360 has a mount set called a ``ski photography set'' and, this season, a ``3rd-person backpack mount'' which is also available as an option. Can these really be used? Of course I tried that too.
First of all, the former ski photography set is a set of a mount and a selfie stick to be fixed to a helmet, chest, or pole, and since an irregular mount like this one is not taken into consideration, it is limited to this theme. doesn't matter.
However, regarding the latter, I decided to try it out immediately after it was released, thinking it might be good news for me, who had been worrying about it for the past year.
The result was a total failure.
This mount has a structure in which a belt extending from the back is fastened to the shoulder strap of a backpack with Velcro, but the method of fixing it is very loose.
No matter how firmly you fasten the mount, if it is subjected to large centrifugal force like skiing, the mount will quickly become loose and loose. Also, the ball-shaped fixing part of the mount is difficult to use in winter mountains where there are large temperature differences, as it can become too tight or too loose. Structurally, it was completely impossible to fit into the backpack I was using. It's a shame as it was an expensive purchase.
The best drone style mounting method for Insta360 x3
After trying various mounts and home-made fixings, I came up with this method. Extend from the waist harness to the back through the side of the backpack.
With this method, it doesn't hurt when it's fixed like it does with the shoulder, and you don't have to worry about it swinging from side to side. The angle was just as good as the previous method, and I was able to capture powerful images.
Let's take a look at the video shot with this mount.
The angle is slightly higher than if it was fixed to the shoulder strap, but with this method I was able to capture a third-person gliding video with minimal distortion while including myself and the scenery both vertically and horizontally. (Actually, this video is a bit unsuccessful, and depending on how you fix it, it is possible to shoot from the back from a slightly lower angle). What's more, it can be fixed firmly without flopping around, and thankfully it doesn't hurt any part of your body when you fix it.
For this method, I used a wristband mount for Gopro.
What makes this one suitable is that the mount part rotates 360 degrees, so you can wrap it around your waist harness and then stretch it to the desired angle. It's a simple story to find, but I had no idea that such a perfect tool was hidden in a place like this.
Wrap the wristband mount around the waist harness. Thread it through a loop somewhere on the side of your backpack (the lower the better). If necessary, you can secure it with a ski strap or other means to prevent it from wandering further.
summary
This makes it possible to take the best drone-style shots available, but we still need to verify the distance between the camera and the subject. I want to get an image with as little distortion as possible, so I want to pull the camera as far as possible, but the selfie stick I'm using this time has a standard size of 1.2 meters, so there is a limit. If you use this as a 3m long selfie stick (without having to extend it to 3m), you might be able to take a nice bird's-eye view from a further distance. In any case, it looks like the journey to a more perfect mount will continue.
Insta360 is a gadget that has the potential to bring new surprises to many outdoor enthusiasts, from casual users who simply want to take 360-degree videos to those who want to take elaborate videos with their own ideas. There is no doubt that it is. I hope this will be helpful to as many people as possible, including extremely rare people who want to shoot solo ski runs on Insta360.
