5 Inventive Motorcycle Shots with the Insta360 X4 Air - Review

Quick Overview

The Insta360 X4 Air is significantly lighter (165g vs 200g for the X5) and cheaper ($299 USD vs $464 USD for the X5), making it an excellent choice for action-heavy shots like motorcycle riding where weight savings matter, although the X5 generally offers superior image quality, especially in low light, and a longer runtime (208m vs 88m for the X4 Air).

Key Points: The Insta360 X4 Air weighs 165g, compared to the X5's 200g, offering a 35g weight saving. The X4 Air is priced at $299 USD, while the X5 costs $464 USD, presenting a significant cost difference. The X5 provides a longer runtime (208m) compared to the X4 Air's runtime (88m) when shooting 5.7K at 30fps. The X5 exhibits superior low-light performance with a larger 1-inch sensor compared to the X4 Air's smaller sensor. The presenter demonstrates creative shots, including mounting the camera to a motorcycle wheel for unique perspectives and using a selfie stick for smooth 'tiny planet' or 'drone-like' shots. The X4 Air features a built-in wind guard for audio, unlike the X5 which requires a separate accessory for strong wind reduction. For action shots like motorcycle jumps or water crossings, the lighter X4 Air is preferred, but for overall image quality, the X5 is better.

Context: The video features Ryan from FortNine comparing two new Insta360 360-degree cameras: the Insta360 X4 Air and the Insta360 X5. The comparison is conducted in an outdoor setting near a body of water, involving rugged activities like riding dirt bikes through mud and water, demonstrating the practical differences in weight, price, runtime, and low-light image quality between the two models, with the X4 Air being the lighter, cheaper option and the X5 being the premium choice.

Detailed Analysis

The presenter compares the Insta360 X4 Air and the Insta360 X5, highlighting key differences for action filming. The X4 Air is significantly lighter at 165g compared to the X5's 200g, and substantially cheaper at $299 USD versus the X5's $464 USD launch price. However, the X5 offers a much longer runtime (208m vs 88m) and superior image quality, particularly in low light, due to its larger 1-inch sensor. The X4 Air features a built-in wind guard for audio, whereas the X5 requires a separate accessory. The presenter demonstrates several creative mounting techniques, including attaching the camera to a motorcycle wheel to capture unique perspectives of water crossings and using a long invisible selfie stick for dynamic, stabilized shots, such as a high jump. He notes that for high-action sports where weight is critical, the X4 Air is the better option, but the X5 provides better image fidelity for general use. The video concludes with a comparison of night footage, showing the X5's PureVid footage is significantly better than the standard X4 footage in low light.