How's everything going? I want a camera specifically for virtual tours for properties. Ones that also create hotspots that you can click on to go into other rooms. Zoom in and out of panels of interest. Which of these can I use to do this with and can I use Premiere Pro to edit?
Dear Ben, after buying some different 360° cameras, I am using Ricoh Theta SC2 most. But why I am using a very cheap camera if there is a high end Insta360 ONE RS 1-Inch in my camera bag? The whole workflow from this cam is the fastest I ever met. Very, very easy to use. Very fast and easy app. Very good Ricoh Theta viewer on PC and there is only one ready to go file on the cam with only ~4MB. I do not view the pictures on PC! I am using an 15 years old TV to enjoy the pictures. Noone from my guest did ever claim the quality of the pictures because of low resulution from the TV. At the end I would like to thank you for your good work! Your recommendation of this inexpensive camera a few years ago prompted me to buy it for fun. It ultimately became my favorite camera.
The biggest complaint I have with the Z1 is the fringing and chromatic aberration. The X does far better in this category, but you do lose a liiiiiittle bit of quality in low light because of the half inch sensor vs the 1 inch on the Z1. But yes, Japan quality all the way.
I have the Insta360 One RS and I love it, there's no issue with any overheat and i can swap batteries anytime i wanted. If i don't need a 360 i can use the 4k lens. it's tough too and waterproof, i know you don't recommend but my One RS is still going strong and does a clean footage.
Like always, your reviews are always thorough and informative. I'm still using GoPro MAX, waiting for MAX2 to be relaised for my action 360video and the Trisio for my 360photography and tour. Big Thanks Ben.
Hi Ben, you don't recommend the RS but I wish that Insta360 sold the One RS without the 4k module and just the 360 module. I do agree about the modular solution. I mainly use it on my road and gravelbike and the form factor of the RS is less vulnerable. Keep up the good work Ben! Subscribed
For Christmas I gave myself a gift with the PanoX V2. I must say that the choice was motivated by the video quality. I could have opted for QooCam3 but it is very suitable for shooting in low light, something I rarely use. Now I'm waiting for Panox to add the RAW format to the photos, so as to have better quality in post production. However, I was satisfied with the extreme ease of use and functionality of GSV. Thanks Ben, your videos are linear and attract attention, worth watching until the end! 👍
Привет. Спасибо за обзор и сравнение, но имхо не хватает нескольких деталей для полного сравнения. Я бы добавил в это видео: - время на включение, время на снимок, время на сшивание снимков 360, время на копирование на компьютер - время продолжительности 1 батареи до полного отключения устройства в количествах снимков или минут видео - сравнение вариантов разрешения снимка, веса (мб, гб) снимка, максимальные возможности камеры и оптимальное качество - объём внутренней памяти устройства, варианты добавляемой памяти - наличие программного обеспечения и их возможности. Спасибо за просмотр.
I purchased the 1-inch and the Trisio when they came out not long ago. I am happy to confirm what you say about them is true. Great Review... I'm in the first few steps of starting my own review channel (Top Review Titans) and you have just given me and others a master class on how a true product review should be done keep up the good work!
I chose insta x3, but i'm new in 360 cameras. I was surpised how cool it is despite all the reviews i've seen. I still don't have any videos i did but if I used this camera more I would choose one inch camera to get better picture
I recently purchased second-hand the Theta Z1 after having the Theta V, I have a few projects in my local area that I want to explore which involves business promotion on google maps. I appreciate your comments on processing the images and have acquired the fish eye add on which I have not used yet. Just glad you didn't slate the Z1 as I didn't do that much research before buying.
Thanks for this thorough- and in depth review. I must admit; I already ordered the Insta360 X3 before watching this video. Happy I did (and if not, I still could blame you because one of your other videos pulled me over the line :) Subbed for more content... your videos are very informative and pleasant to look at.
Here are some selling points for the Theta-X: built in GPS and compass for geotagging, SD card, removable/replaceable battery. I use it all the time for my hiking trips. It works great.
Thanks for this very good overview over the whole market. I'm using the Insta360 X2 and skipped the X3. I think the X4 will be a larger step forward. The Insta360 Ace Pro looks amazing and if they put two of them into the X4 and get enough additional computing power it will have 8k and probably more.
If I had infinite money, I'd go for the Insta360 1 Inch Edition. I already have the One R and have used it for years. But after watching countless review videos, I have concluded that no currently available camera presents significant enough of an upgrade for me, other than possibly the 1 Inch. I primarily shoot hiking videos. I'll most likely wait another year or two to see if anything new comes out that blows everything else away within a reasonable price range.
I am personally waiting for the Canon 180VR / 360. I currently have the Insta360 One R when it came out in early 2020, and previously has the Mi sphere 360 back in 2018. good times.
Excellent video Ben! We have a Z1 and are still very satisfied. But I need a 360-degree video camera with which I can also stream live and which produces really good quality even in mixed light conditions. Thanks for your comparison!
Another great video. Love the side by side comps. I'll stick with my One-R because each new release that comes out doesn't feel worth the "bin it and start again" investment.
I can tell you from a user why the one RS / modular camera is nice. I shoot starting in good light for about 2 hours then the sunsets using the 360 lens and my needs change. After sunset, I will switch to the 1" lens for when I need to shoot a video in low light or even use a light attached to the camera. I could use the 360 but the 1" lens works better in low light for this camera and much better with the light attached. Instead of taking 2 cameras, I can take just one. It allows me the flex ability that I need for my shooting style. It also allows me to cut down on a little weight and gear which is super important if I'm hiking in a l long distance to my filming location. I also shoot in adverse weather conditions. Having an action-style 360 camera is critical when it starts to rain or snow. In short, there is a nitch for a modular style 360 camera, and for those of us who use it for this, it works wonderfully. Keep up the good work filming and showing what is happening in the world of 360 cameras!
One of the other huge advantages of the RS modular design is the removable battery pack and having extra batteries to pop in. I keep 4 batteries with me. I never have to worry about running out of power!
Very comprehensive video, thanks!! Do you have an example 360 image or tour from the XPhase Scan online anywhere? I can't seem to find much information about it.
Ben. You always hit it out of the park. I appreciate you! This is very helpful. I primarily take photos and that xphase scan sounds perfect. I can not find anything on it on line other than through your link. Are there any flaws to this camera other than it’s ugly? Is the company responsive to problems?
Thanks- yeah not much online unfortunately… they are pretty responsive, and will replace the camera if there’s any faults with it. Definitely worth the gamble in my opinion 👍🏻
Very nice video, Ben. Thank you. I still have and use my old but reliable Theta S. As I am going to Japan in July I am considering buying a Theta Z1 there. I like this camera series a lot.
@@Nogi-aka-DJNugz oh! I have added a video to VTP sharing the best virtual tour workflow for all Insta360 cameras if you check out the shooting section 😁 then all the editing steps will be the same, editing in Affinity & Lightroom etc.
How about the quality compared to Z1. I am using a theta Z1 and looking to buy another 360 camera and confused whether to buy another Z1 or Insta 360 1 inch.
Thanks for the detailed video! Too bad the GoPro Max is missing! For paragliding full flight capture, the GoPro Max is still the overall best 360 camera thanks to its amazing wind noise reduction, long battery life and compactness. The X3 is a close second, but will absolutely need an external microphone - it doesn't know how to deal with suddenly changing wind directions at high speed (and neither do any other brand I've tested, 360 or not). It's a shame because I really am not a big fan of GoPro...
I included it in the last one of these comparisons I made- but there are too many reasons not to buy it in 2024, hence why I didn’t include it. If sound is more important to you than most other things then sure, it may be the ‘best’. But not at most other aspects of 360 capture & editing. Plus, they haven’t updated the firmware/software in many years.
I'm quite happy with my Theta X for virtual tours, expecially for the zero workflow and the big screen, so I don't have to connect it to the mobile while shooting. However I have to say that I really miss my old Insta OneX for videos... Ben, I read somewhere that you will release a VR course in the future...Did I remember correctly? And in case, when?
As always, top review Ben, greetings from Ukraine) If you have time, I would like to clarify: I have a business model - I send my clients a camera by mail, with a monopod → they take a photo → I receive the camera back and upload a 3D tour to them at a point on Google map (Not Street View)... this is part of the local SEO work.. For personal video shooting of a blog I use insta x2... + Cannon m50 mark 2 A few questions: 1. For personal shooting for those clients who, in addition to the goal for local SEO, also need a high-quality business presentation, I want to master my camera (↑↑) + fisheye, or is it better to buy XPhase? The quality of this camera will already allow you to abandon the camera with a lens? This stitching and editing seems so complicated to me and, to be honest, I don’t even have much desire to understand the issue. 2. I send people x one or x 2, because you can buy a lot of them used and a lot on the market and there is no difference in the indoor photos between them and x 3, but maybe you can recommend something else? It is also important that the photo process itself is simple for people; in these cameras, people press one button and the camera takes a photo in 10 seconds. I see only 1 inch, but as you said, it is larger, more fragile and more expensive... On average, people break 1-2 cameras per year to me...
I am already using theta Z1 and is getting very good results. I am looking to buy another 360 camera. Should I buy another Z1 or Insta 1 inch. I am mainly onto 360 virtual tours.
Before you buy an "Insta 360 RS 1" inch" camera, you should be aware that the maximum recording time in 6K30@fps mode is 20 minutes! No one talks about this unfortunately.
Everyone talked about recording times in the initial reviews, including me. And the results were definitely greater than 20 minutes. Perhaps you’re using a slow SD card.
@@BenClaremont Dear Ben! I am using the same SANDISK SD card as you and the 256GB card. With this card I managed to record a total of four minutes of 6K@30fps video. With the INTSA360 SD card I had twenty minutes recording time. The camera is currently in service for the second time... First they replaced the CORE component but it didn't get any better so I sent the camera back again. If you look on the website it says: "Run Time 62 minutes *Tested in lab environment under 6K@30fps modeI expect this condition to be met.
Hey Ben thnx for a clear overview although i had a little gut feeling you favored the X3 i recently was able to buy the Qoocam 3 for about 300 US dollar (285 euros) and always used a Qoocam 4k before for the last 5 years i am happy i did. Still prever my older Qoocam on the bike having a larger inbuild battery filming over 2 hours straight.
Thanks for the comprehensive comparison video.👍 P.S.: One request. If not already posted by you, can you please do a video on what kind of hardware to use to 'edit' the footage shot on these cams? I see you are using a Mac Studio.
If this is the new X4, I am definitely buying it! I hope it takes the same battery module so i don't lose out on buying endless battery! I really like my X3, had tons of fun with what I did so far and when I saw the RS version w/its 1" sensor. I thought to myself, hmm...I will wait out on the X4 instead. A better low light performance is what I am looking for!
@BenClaremont Still using the Theta Z1 for my virtual tours. I watched your video to see what you would recommend as a new camera but from what i saw it is still the best for virtual tours. I did your virtual tour pro course during the lockdown. I do 360 drone photos as sometimes i start from the beach to the hotels and they want the beaches on the virtual tour. I have a DJI mavic 2 pro. Getting lots of stitch problems, lots of misalignment and Photoshop does not support 3 D. Any recommendations?
I wish any of these cameras had 10 bit log video recording for easy wb correction and exporting to true rec.2020 hdr, i guess i'll keep holding off until one comes out that does that. Thanks for the comparison!
Hey Ben, thanks for this wildly in depth review! I've owned a Z1 for a couple of years, and just want to note a few things: According to the iFixit guide, the battery size is actually 1100mAh. I'm surprised that you're able to get all day life out of it - I'll find that one big house with Matterport will be enough to do it in. BUT it's so great that it a/charges quickly and b/can take power from USB C while you're using it Also with that camera, I may be totally missing something but I've never had to do any of the stitching you refer to? That's mentioned as being a big drawback for the workflow, but when I pull the images from it, they're ready to go. I'd give it a 10/10 for workflow - it's just like a normal camera. Maybe it's a particular mode? One downside to consider with it (and may be the case with all these cameras) is if you're an IDIOT. I dropped mine, and got a tiny, TINY scratch one of the lenses. Glass is unaffected but the coatings are. Causes a slight smear effect from flaring. Ricoh's support isn't the best, but going through their proper channels I got quoted $850USD to repair it. That was infuriating because I might as well just buy a new one for that price!
Thanks for that, I couldn’t find the battery spec anywhere. Yeah it lasts all day for me, but I can see how it might drain faster on big MP shoots. The workflow I referenced was the Dual Fisheye Plugin HDR merging workflow which is what 90% of users use (obviously can’t be used with Matterport which takes a single automatic exposure shots). You can get much better dynamic range using it - just look at the difference between my automatic exposure shots (what you get with MP) and the edited shot (DFE plugin). And sorry to hear about your lens getting scratched 😅
@@BenClaremont Ok very interesting! Thanks for the response. I've been wanting to use my Z1 for HDRIs to use in Blender, but the one time I went out to do it I hated the results and blamed the camera! I was bracketing raw photos and the stitching was done in camera. I've really gotta look at the workflow you're describing, because obviously those images are so much nicer.
If you're new at virtual tours, Ben's course was very much money well spent for me. Great comparison, as always, Ben. I will say that I'm extremely happy with my Theta X. It was an impulse purchase at half of its regular price. The owner bought it for a project that never materialized. Your points are spot on, though. I have several extra batteries and chargers and never worry about running out of power. I did a 220-plus-pano virtual tour early last year, starting around 11am and went until about 7pm. I never turned off the camera, save for changing the battery every hour or two. The Theta X sucks batteries dry quickly, likely because of the built-in HDR and stitching. The low-light photos are incredibly good, especially when locking in a low ISO and using the built-in HDR. The speed of shooting a virtual tour is incredibly fast. I was able to use the images right out of the camera with very few corrections. The biggest downside for me: I wouldn't rely on it for good 360 video. As you point out, it's mediocre at best. But my intent was only to use the Theta X for virtual tours, so it doesn't bother me.
I’m really curious about the xphase scan. Any chance you could post the sample files for the various cameras so we could check them out along with the workflows?
Surely Insta360 must make 8K 360 cameras this year? They already released the 8K action camera. Hopefully that spills over into 360 cameras. I'm also hoping for more 3D/VR180 cameras now that Apple Vision Pro has been released and Meta Quest seems to be selling quite a lot. The Canon camera looks very interesting. Sooner or later VR video has to "take off", right?
I'm just looking for a camera to use while on my bike for safety, a sort of dash-cam style use only, you know, to have myself covered and everything recorded. Is a 360 cam even something I should be looking for for this use? It is an electric bike, so I should be able to record throughout my entire time riding right? But maybe a simple wide angle (fishbowl) style cam is all I really need. Please let me know camera and safety experts
I need more info on the Canon. All I really want is stereo 180. I have a qoocam 8k and many older ones but as soon as I started seeing vr180 content in my Quest 3 I knew that is what I needed going forward.
When it comes to 360 photography then it is important to note that this review focuses solely on photography for virtual tours, which basically means all the photos have been taken with a camera mounted on a static tripod. If you plan to take photos with handheld camera on selfie stick (e.g while hiking) then the results presented in this video might not be applicable to you at all. For example I get blurry photos with handheld Insta360 X3 all the time. It's great for handheld video but not so great for handheld photos.
Sure but a) virtual tours are the main use case for 360 photography, and b) it sounds like the real issue is with your camera settings & shooting modes. All of these cameras perform well enough outdoors, hence why I didn’t bother to compare them (and this video took waaaay too long to make as is). You could easily get sharp shots with the X3 by just adjusting your settings.
@@HoboTeaPartytry to change shutter speed, Iso. Shutter speed try to set 1/100 or even 1/250 or lower. Try to shoot with fixed camera. Use timer to avoid camera movement on tripod.
I own Insta360 1" and I love the detail and low light performance of the larger sensor. The only issue I have is the time it takes to wrine the DNG files when taking timelapse, it is very slow, so it really takes long time to do a night time timelapse. Have you tried any others in a timelapse mode? It would be good to add this to your comparison.
How do you feel the xphase scan compares to a mid level dslr (say around $1,000) and lens. I’m sure it does not compare to a very high end camera/lens combo.
your reviews are very good, I always look at your videos before buying a 360 camera. But I think you should maybe make another review on the PanoX V2 as firmware updates have fixed basically everything you said was bad and I think you may like it more
First of all thank you very much for putting in so much effort and time to produce this comparison video. However viewing what you put up on the screen I don't really agree with your evaluation of the images. They were several examples of cameras that had more detail in the image as well as better dynamic range. And I'm not really sure how you you can say that the Insta360 One RS 1-Inch has good video quality! The example of you walking through the museum was terribly soft and focus. But anyway thanks for a great video! Cheers
I was almost certain I was going to buy the Insta350 1-Inch for Virtual Tours however after this video I am very interested in the XPhase Scan. I just have 1 concern. I can't seem to find a website or company for it all! I see the link you sent to a 3rd party that sells a few different camera brands but is there any real support or company behind Xphase Scan that I can reach out to or buy directly from? Insta360 has a great platform, software, etc. Is Xphase just a camera and good luck go?
I have an old Ricoh WG M2 and the lens has been scratched a bit. It would be nice if I could get a replacement lens for it. Do you have a recommendation?
Would you recommend upgrading from the x3 to the one rs 1 inch? Or should I maybe wait for the upgrade to the rs 1 inch to come out this/next year? I’m still an amateur and plan to start using my x3 for real estate tours and fpv drone videos.
Yes I would if you’re looking to take your work up a level right now. For any professional use, it’s always worth the immediate upgrade. You can always upgrade again later.
I'd recommend waiting - see my comment about my experience with the RS 1-Inch. In my opinion it was a flawed product rushed to sales and any upgrade/refinement is likely to solve the overheating problems
I look forward to this video twice a year and it looks like I might finally have to move on from my Z1 after 5 years I hadn’t seen a big enough bump to move on yet. The xphase has my attention but if I am to consider a rotator why not a360 gimbal or auto rotator the realsee g1 with their ai stitching comes to mind as it uses the apple lidar sensor. Do you have any experience with it?
I haven’t used the Galois- could be worth a go, but to be honest most cameras (including the Z1) do a good enough job for most use cases. It’s only if you wanted better spatial mapping etc. that I’d consider a camera like the Galois.
I use my tours for work orders with contractors as well marking hotspots on the tour ensuring better communication as to what is wanted and why it also helps get faster estimates from multiple vendors without having to physically go there multiple times to open properties and coordinate keys. So I include room,door, and stair dimensions as well the lidar function on the scan for me is a game changer.
WOW! I didn't even know there were some with 1 inch sensors!! I need a 360 Cam for car interior shots but I don't need the Action and the Megapixel. Can you recommend a cheap one to me?! best regards!
What 360 cam would someone recommend for filming an audience? I perform in comedy clubs which often have low lighting and need something that can record 60-90 min
THE CAMERAS 📸
Insta360 X3: go.benclaremont.com/x3
Insta360 One RS 1-Inch: go.benclaremont.com/1-inch
Trisio Lite 2: go.benclaremont.com/trisiolite2
Ricoh Theta Z1 51GB: go.benclaremont.com/thetaz1
XPhase Scan: go.benclaremont.com/xphasescan
Qoocam 3: go.benclaremont.com/qoocam3
PanoX V2: go.benclaremont.com/panox
Theta X: go.benclaremont.com/thetax
Insta360 One RS: go.benclaremont.com/oners
Sublime review
Can any of them record 2.5h continuously? I know several Insta360s do not.
How's everything going? I want a camera specifically for virtual tours for properties. Ones that also create hotspots that you can click on to go into other rooms. Zoom in and out of panels of interest. Which of these can I use to do this with and can I use Premiere Pro to edit?
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Dear Ben, after buying some different 360° cameras, I am using Ricoh Theta SC2 most. But why I am using a very cheap camera if there is a high end Insta360 ONE RS 1-Inch in my camera bag? The whole workflow from this cam is the fastest I ever met. Very, very easy to use. Very fast and easy app. Very good Ricoh Theta viewer on PC and there is only one ready to go file on the cam with only ~4MB. I do not view the pictures on PC! I am using an 15 years old TV to enjoy the pictures. Noone from my guest did ever claim the quality of the pictures because of low resulution from the TV. At the end I would like to thank you for your good work! Your recommendation of this inexpensive camera a few years ago prompted me to buy it for fun. It ultimately became my favorite camera.
The fact that the z1 still holds up to this day is a statement of japan's love of quality products
The biggest complaint I have with the Z1 is the fringing and chromatic aberration. The X does far better in this category, but you do lose a liiiiiittle bit of quality in low light because of the half inch sensor vs the 1 inch on the Z1. But yes, Japan quality all the way.
Thanks
No worries!
I have the Insta360 One RS and I love it, there's no issue with any overheat and i can swap batteries anytime i wanted. If i don't need a 360 i can use the 4k lens. it's tough too and waterproof, i know you don't recommend but my One RS is still going strong and does a clean footage.
Like always, your reviews are always thorough and informative. I'm still using GoPro MAX, waiting for MAX2 to be relaised for my action 360video and the Trisio for my 360photography and tour. Big Thanks Ben.
Happy Birthday, buddy! You are killing it lately :) Keep up the good work!
Thanks Hugh, you too 😁
Hi Ben, you don't recommend the RS but I wish that Insta360 sold the One RS without the 4k module and just the 360 module. I do agree about the modular solution. I mainly use it on my road and gravelbike and the form factor of the RS is less vulnerable. Keep up the good work Ben! Subscribed
For Christmas I gave myself a gift with the PanoX V2. I must say that the choice was motivated by the video quality. I could have opted for QooCam3 but it is very suitable for shooting in low light, something I rarely use. Now I'm waiting for Panox to add the RAW format to the photos, so as to have better quality in post production. However, I was satisfied with the extreme ease of use and functionality of GSV. Thanks Ben, your videos are linear and attract attention, worth watching until the end! 👍
Glad to hear it 👍🏻 keep me posted on how you find the PanoX
It's crazy to see that my little Z1 is still pretty much at the top of the pile for virtual tour work, even at 4+ years old!
Привет.
Спасибо за обзор и сравнение, но имхо не хватает нескольких деталей для полного сравнения.
Я бы добавил в это видео:
- время на включение, время на снимок, время на сшивание снимков 360, время на копирование на компьютер
- время продолжительности 1 батареи до полного отключения устройства в количествах снимков или минут видео
- сравнение вариантов разрешения снимка, веса (мб, гб) снимка, максимальные возможности камеры и оптимальное качество
- объём внутренней памяти устройства, варианты добавляемой памяти
- наличие программного обеспечения и их возможности.
Спасибо за просмотр.
Really hope to see more 1 inch 360 cams. With large screens and minimum 8k resolution
Your reviews are always very thorough and informative. Thank you Ben!
My pleasure!
this is so incredibly thorough- also that rig to carry all the cameras is ridiculous lol. Amazing edit, thank you for this!!
Haha no worries!
You are the best source of information and review on 360. No one comes close.
Thankyou!
I purchased the 1-inch and the Trisio when they came out not long ago. I am happy to confirm what you say about them is true. Great Review... I'm in the first few steps of starting my own review channel (Top Review Titans) and you have just given me and others a master class on how a true product review should be done keep up the good work!
im sold by the 1 inch and theta x interms of how they look
I chose insta x3, but i'm new in 360 cameras. I was surpised how cool it is despite all the reviews i've seen. I still don't have any videos i did but if I used this camera more I would choose one inch camera to get better picture
I recently purchased second-hand the Theta Z1 after having the Theta V, I have a few projects in my local area that I want to explore which involves business promotion on google maps. I appreciate your comments on processing the images and have acquired the fish eye add on which I have not used yet. Just glad you didn't slate the Z1 as I didn't do that much research before buying.
Thanks for this thorough- and in depth review. I must admit; I already ordered the Insta360 X3 before watching this video. Happy I did (and if not, I still could blame you because one of your other videos pulled me over the line :)
Subbed for more content... your videos are very informative and pleasant to look at.
Great video... very detailed and meticulous analysis. I currently own the x2 and love it! I may get the x3 since I just heard of a price drop.
Here are some selling points for the Theta-X: built in GPS and compass for geotagging, SD card, removable/replaceable battery.
I use it all the time for my hiking trips. It works great.
Glad to hear that- although other cameras do those things & do them better, hence why I don’t recommend it as a new purchase in 2024
Thanks for this very good overview over the whole market.
I'm using the Insta360 X2 and skipped the X3. I think the X4 will be a larger step forward. The Insta360 Ace Pro looks amazing and if they put two of them into the X4 and get enough additional computing power it will have 8k and probably more.
If I had infinite money, I'd go for the Insta360 1 Inch Edition. I already have the One R and have used it for years. But after watching countless review videos, I have concluded that no currently available camera presents significant enough of an upgrade for me, other than possibly the 1 Inch. I primarily shoot hiking videos. I'll most likely wait another year or two to see if anything new comes out that blows everything else away within a reasonable price range.
your predictions were solid, Ben! Cant wait for the new 1-inch.
thank you so much for this deep dive into the cameras 🤗
I have the Z1 for several years shooting tours. No plans on replacing it. I also have 2 insta 360 ones that I haven’t used in 2+ years.
Thank you so much for this!! 🙏🏽😊
I really love your videos. Just curious, what camera do you use to record your vids?
Thanks- I use the A7S III. My full gear list can be found on my website 👍🏻
I purchased the Insta360 One RS One inch mid-2024. It works great for 360 tours. 👊👊
Hi Ben, any review of the Xphase scan any time soon? Keep u the good work!
I don’t think so unfortunately- this video shares enough though to hopefully give you an idea about it 😀
Thank you for this comprehensive video! Any chance you make a specific review of the xphase scan? 🙂
Thank you for your deep review. I can now put my decision on x3
I have a Insta360 X2. I willwait for the X4.
A very helpful, informative, well-presented, and unbiased review. Thank you for posting. 👍
My pleasure!
Really great and helpfull video as always, but please can you compare 360 Cameras for virtual Tours over 1000$?
I am personally waiting for the Canon 180VR / 360. I currently have the Insta360 One R when it came out in early 2020, and previously has the Mi sphere 360 back in 2018. good times.
X 3 INSTA..THE BEST!!!!
Great video! Extremely Helpful!
Wow wow what a detailed summery. Well done.
🙏🏻
Excellent video Ben! We have a Z1 and are still very satisfied. But I need a 360-degree video camera with which I can also stream live and which produces really good quality even in mixed light conditions. Thanks for your comparison!
Did you find anything?
Another great video. Love the side by side comps. I'll stick with my One-R because each new release that comes out doesn't feel worth the "bin it and start again" investment.
thanks for the great content as always.
I can tell you from a user why the one RS / modular camera is nice. I shoot starting in good light for about 2 hours then the sunsets using the 360 lens and my needs change. After sunset, I will switch to the 1" lens for when I need to shoot a video in low light or even use a light attached to the camera. I could use the 360 but the 1" lens works better in low light for this camera and much better with the light attached. Instead of taking 2 cameras, I can take just one. It allows me the flex ability that I need for my shooting style. It also allows me to cut down on a little weight and gear which is super important if I'm hiking in a l long distance to my filming location. I also shoot in adverse weather conditions. Having an action-style 360 camera is critical when it starts to rain or snow. In short, there is a nitch for a modular style 360 camera, and for those of us who use it for this, it works wonderfully. Keep up the good work filming and showing what is happening in the world of 360 cameras!
Thanks for sharing! Sounds like a good use case 👍🏻
One of the other huge advantages of the RS modular design is the removable battery pack and having extra batteries to pop in. I keep 4 batteries with me. I never have to worry about running out of power!
@@vasttee I 100% agree with this. I can choose to run the large battery, normal or even vertical.
Im looking for a camera to capture audience interaction, what would you recommend?
It's often in a low light comedy club and film a 60-70 minute show.
@ at this point I think I would go with the X4 or DJI Action 5 for non 360.
You have the best 360 comparos in the game - thanks for doing these.
Thanks! Doing my best 😁
Very comprehensive video, thanks!! Do you have an example 360 image or tour from the XPhase Scan online anywhere? I can't seem to find much information about it.
Unfortunately not- I haven’t had time to make a virtual tour with it yet.
Ben. You always hit it out of the park. I appreciate you! This is very helpful. I primarily take photos and that xphase scan sounds perfect. I can not find anything on it on line other than through your link. Are there any flaws to this camera other than it’s ugly? Is the company responsive to problems?
Thanks- yeah not much online unfortunately… they are pretty responsive, and will replace the camera if there’s any faults with it. Definitely worth the gamble in my opinion 👍🏻
WOW. its crazy hoch MUCH better the 1-Inch edition is!
Very nice video, Ben. Thank you. I still have and use my old but reliable Theta S. As I am going to Japan in July I am considering buying a Theta Z1 there. I like this camera series a lot.
Great video Ben! By chance is the course updated with the work flow update for RS one inch?
Thanks! My 360 Video 101 course works with all insta360 cameras, as the workflow is exactly the same 👍🏻
@@BenClaremont I got the course a few years ago, need to check it back out
Oops I meant the Virtual Tour course lol
@@Nogi-aka-DJNugz oh! I have added a video to VTP sharing the best virtual tour workflow for all Insta360 cameras if you check out the shooting section 😁 then all the editing steps will be the same, editing in Affinity & Lightroom etc.
Brilliant video Ben. Thanks!
Mine is Insta360 One RS 1-Inch! My number one.
How about the quality compared to Z1. I am using a theta Z1 and looking to buy another 360 camera and confused whether to buy another Z1 or Insta 360 1 inch.
Thanks for the detailed video! Too bad the GoPro Max is missing! For paragliding full flight capture, the GoPro Max is still the overall best 360 camera thanks to its amazing wind noise reduction, long battery life and compactness. The X3 is a close second, but will absolutely need an external microphone - it doesn't know how to deal with suddenly changing wind directions at high speed (and neither do any other brand I've tested, 360 or not).
It's a shame because I really am not a big fan of GoPro...
I included it in the last one of these comparisons I made- but there are too many reasons not to buy it in 2024, hence why I didn’t include it. If sound is more important to you than most other things then sure, it may be the ‘best’. But not at most other aspects of 360 capture & editing. Plus, they haven’t updated the firmware/software in many years.
I'm quite happy with my Theta X for virtual tours, expecially for the zero workflow and the big screen, so I don't have to connect it to the mobile while shooting. However I have to say that I really miss my old Insta OneX for videos...
Ben, I read somewhere that you will release a VR course in the future...Did I remember correctly? And in case, when?
Glad to hear it Paola! Yes I’ll be working on a VR course- perhaps in the next 6 months or so- will be sure to announce when it’s ready 😁
As always, top review Ben, greetings from Ukraine)
If you have time, I would like to clarify:
I have a business model - I send my clients a camera by mail, with a monopod → they take a photo → I receive the camera back and upload a 3D tour to them at a point on Google map (Not Street View)... this is part of the local SEO work.. For personal video shooting of a blog I use insta x2... + Cannon m50 mark 2
A few questions:
1. For personal shooting for those clients who, in addition to the goal for local SEO, also need a high-quality business presentation, I want to master my camera (↑↑) + fisheye, or is it better to buy XPhase? The quality of this camera will already allow you to abandon the camera with a lens? This stitching and editing seems so complicated to me and, to be honest, I don’t even have much desire to understand the issue.
2. I send people x one or x 2, because you can buy a lot of them used and a lot on the market and there is no difference in the indoor photos between them and x 3, but maybe you can recommend something else? It is also important that the photo process itself is simple for people; in these cameras, people press one button and the camera takes a photo in 10 seconds. I see only 1 inch, but as you said, it is larger, more fragile and more expensive... On average, people break 1-2 cameras per year to me...
I am already using theta Z1 and is getting very good results. I am looking to buy another 360 camera. Should I buy another Z1 or Insta 1 inch. I am mainly onto 360 virtual tours.
Watch the video to find out 😀
I like and own the theta. I had bought in on eBay for a good price. And has more than enough paid for itself.
pulling for Canon's 360/3D 180 cam. I still occasionally use my insta 360 EVO and would love to see home-made, higher res, HDR 3D 180 vids.
Nice- yeah hopefully it’s a winner 👍🏻
Really thorough review. Thank you!
Before you buy an "Insta 360 RS 1" inch" camera, you should be aware that the maximum recording time in 6K30@fps mode is 20 minutes! No one talks about this unfortunately.
Everyone talked about recording times in the initial reviews, including me. And the results were definitely greater than 20 minutes. Perhaps you’re using a slow SD card.
@@BenClaremont Dear Ben! I am using the same SANDISK SD card as you and the 256GB card. With this card I managed to record a total of four minutes of 6K@30fps video. With the INTSA360 SD card I had twenty minutes recording time. The camera is currently in service for the second time... First they replaced the CORE component but it didn't get any better so I sent the camera back again.
If you look on the website it says: "Run Time
62 minutes *Tested in lab environment under 6K@30fps modeI expect this condition to be met.
I'm really missing the gopro max here despite your beautiful review.
Too old and outdated now. No firmware updates in years, hence why I knocked it out in the last video.
Great review. You have solidified my choice. Thanks..
Hey Ben thnx for a clear overview although i had a little gut feeling you favored the X3 i recently was able to buy the Qoocam 3 for about 300 US dollar (285 euros) and always used a Qoocam 4k before for the last 5 years i am happy i did. Still prever my older Qoocam on the bike having a larger inbuild battery filming over 2 hours straight.
So would you recommend the 1 inch of the X3 for VR? Trying to decide what to get
Thanks for the comprehensive comparison video.👍
P.S.: One request. If not already posted by you, can you please do a video on what kind of hardware to use to 'edit' the footage shot on these cams? I see you are using a Mac Studio.
Will try my best 👍🏻
@@BenClaremont Thanks! 👍
If this is the new X4, I am definitely buying it! I hope it takes the same battery module so i don't lose out on buying endless battery! I really like my X3, had tons of fun with what I did so far and when I saw the RS version w/its 1" sensor. I thought to myself, hmm...I will wait out on the X4 instead. A better low light performance is what I am looking for!
@BenClaremont Still using the Theta Z1 for my virtual tours. I watched your video to see what you would recommend as a new camera but from what i saw it is still the best for virtual tours.
I did your virtual tour pro course during the lockdown.
I do 360 drone photos as sometimes i start from the beach to the hotels and they want the beaches on the virtual tour. I have a DJI mavic 2 pro. Getting lots of stitch problems, lots of misalignment and Photoshop does not support 3 D. Any recommendations?
I wish any of these cameras had 10 bit log video recording for easy wb correction and exporting to true rec.2020 hdr, i guess i'll keep holding off until one comes out that does that. Thanks for the comparison!
Hey Ben, thanks for this wildly in depth review! I've owned a Z1 for a couple of years, and just want to note a few things:
According to the iFixit guide, the battery size is actually 1100mAh. I'm surprised that you're able to get all day life out of it - I'll find that one big house with Matterport will be enough to do it in. BUT it's so great that it a/charges quickly and b/can take power from USB C while you're using it
Also with that camera, I may be totally missing something but I've never had to do any of the stitching you refer to? That's mentioned as being a big drawback for the workflow, but when I pull the images from it, they're ready to go. I'd give it a 10/10 for workflow - it's just like a normal camera. Maybe it's a particular mode?
One downside to consider with it (and may be the case with all these cameras) is if you're an IDIOT. I dropped mine, and got a tiny, TINY scratch one of the lenses. Glass is unaffected but the coatings are. Causes a slight smear effect from flaring. Ricoh's support isn't the best, but going through their proper channels I got quoted $850USD to repair it. That was infuriating because I might as well just buy a new one for that price!
Thanks for that, I couldn’t find the battery spec anywhere. Yeah it lasts all day for me, but I can see how it might drain faster on big MP shoots.
The workflow I referenced was the Dual Fisheye Plugin HDR merging workflow which is what 90% of users use (obviously can’t be used with Matterport which takes a single automatic exposure shots). You can get much better dynamic range using it - just look at the difference between my automatic exposure shots (what you get with MP) and the edited shot (DFE plugin).
And sorry to hear about your lens getting scratched 😅
@@BenClaremont Ok very interesting! Thanks for the response. I've been wanting to use my Z1 for HDRIs to use in Blender, but the one time I went out to do it I hated the results and blamed the camera! I was bracketing raw photos and the stitching was done in camera. I've really gotta look at the workflow you're describing, because obviously those images are so much nicer.
I would like to see more about the XPhase Scan. Photos and workflow.
a every year must see, thanks for your work!
No worries 👍🏻
If you're new at virtual tours, Ben's course was very much money well spent for me.
Great comparison, as always, Ben. I will say that I'm extremely happy with my Theta X. It was an impulse purchase at half of its regular price. The owner bought it for a project that never materialized. Your points are spot on, though. I have several extra batteries and chargers and never worry about running out of power. I did a 220-plus-pano virtual tour early last year, starting around 11am and went until about 7pm. I never turned off the camera, save for changing the battery every hour or two. The Theta X sucks batteries dry quickly, likely because of the built-in HDR and stitching. The low-light photos are incredibly good, especially when locking in a low ISO and using the built-in HDR. The speed of shooting a virtual tour is incredibly fast. I was able to use the images right out of the camera with very few corrections. The biggest downside for me: I wouldn't rely on it for good 360 video. As you point out, it's mediocre at best. But my intent was only to use the Theta X for virtual tours, so it doesn't bother me.
Thanks Chris! Appreciate the kind words & glad to hear you’ve found a way to make the Theta X work for longer shoots… keep up the good work!
I’m really curious about the xphase scan. Any chance you could post the sample files for the various cameras so we could check them out along with the workflows?
Good reviews! Thank you.
Surely Insta360 must make 8K 360 cameras this year? They already released the 8K action camera. Hopefully that spills over into 360 cameras. I'm also hoping for more 3D/VR180 cameras now that Apple Vision Pro has been released and Meta Quest seems to be selling quite a lot. The Canon camera looks very interesting. Sooner or later VR video has to "take off", right?
ANY XPHASE SCAN demos up? I cannot find anything.
I'm just looking for a camera to use while on my bike for safety, a sort of dash-cam style use only, you know, to have myself covered and everything recorded. Is a 360 cam even something I should be looking for for this use? It is an electric bike, so I should be able to record throughout my entire time riding right? But maybe a simple wide angle (fishbowl) style cam is all I really need. Please let me know camera and safety experts
Me too! Please let us know if you have any recommendation
I need more info on the Canon. All I really want is stereo 180. I have a qoocam 8k and many older ones but as soon as I started seeing vr180 content in my Quest 3 I knew that is what I needed going forward.
When it comes to 360 photography then it is important to note that this review focuses solely on photography for virtual tours, which basically means all the photos have been taken with a camera mounted on a static tripod. If you plan to take photos with handheld camera on selfie stick (e.g while hiking) then the results presented in this video might not be applicable to you at all. For example I get blurry photos with handheld Insta360 X3 all the time. It's great for handheld video but not so great for handheld photos.
Sure but a) virtual tours are the main use case for 360 photography, and b) it sounds like the real issue is with your camera settings & shooting modes. All of these cameras perform well enough outdoors, hence why I didn’t bother to compare them (and this video took waaaay too long to make as is). You could easily get sharp shots with the X3 by just adjusting your settings.
@BenClaremont what settings need to be adjusted to fix blurred pictures taken while handheld?
@@HoboTeaPartytry to change shutter speed, Iso.
Shutter speed try to set 1/100 or even 1/250 or lower. Try to shoot with fixed camera. Use timer to avoid camera movement on tripod.
@@BenClaremont- Source for tours being the main use? Source for outdoors being the main use?
I own Insta360 1" and I love the detail and low light performance of the larger sensor. The only issue I have is the time it takes to wrine the DNG files when taking timelapse, it is very slow, so it really takes long time to do a night time timelapse. Have you tried any others in a timelapse mode? It would be good to add this to your comparison.
In the stitch line test where you sacrifice your beauty :) could you do it with something behind you with texture? or some lines?
I'm very happy with my X2.
How do you feel the xphase scan compares to a mid level dslr (say around $1,000) and lens. I’m sure it does not compare to a very high end camera/lens combo.
It compares very well- I’d go the XPhase for a simpler workflow personally
Still rocking a Theta Z1. Sadly I dropped it a month ago and scuffed 1 of the lenses. On the secondhand market you can pick up a Z1 for £330.
Great review thanks 😃
Hi Ben, I'm Enrico from Italy, I would like to read an in deep review of the XPhase Scan 360 camera. Could you please do it one day in the future? 🙏
Gopro Max is still a great camera and there will be Max 2 (hopefully 2024). That’s the one I’m waiting most.
well, if it doesnt have HDR, and / or the software keps castrated, no more gopro for me..
I haven’t heard anything regarding a new GoPro 360 camera unfortunately
Best 360 camera for outdoors in the heat and humidity??? I use Z1 and poor little guy is a champ but taking a beating this summer.
Insta360 X4
Thorough overview for 360-cam shoppers Mr Ben! :-)
your reviews are very good, I always look at your videos before buying a 360 camera. But I think you should maybe make another review on the PanoX V2 as firmware updates have fixed basically everything you said was bad and I think you may like it more
First of all thank you very much for putting in so much effort and time to produce this comparison video. However viewing what you put up on the screen I don't really agree with your evaluation of the images. They were several examples of cameras that had more detail in the image as well as better dynamic range. And I'm not really sure how you you can say that the Insta360 One RS 1-Inch has good video quality! The example of you walking through the museum was terribly soft and focus. But anyway thanks for a great video! Cheers
I was almost certain I was going to buy the Insta350 1-Inch for Virtual Tours however after this video I am very interested in the XPhase Scan. I just have 1 concern.
I can't seem to find a website or company for it all! I see the link you sent to a 3rd party that sells a few different camera brands but is there any real support or company behind Xphase Scan that I can reach out to or buy directly from? Insta360 has a great platform, software, etc. Is Xphase just a camera and good luck go?
I have an old Ricoh WG M2 and the lens has been scratched a bit. It would be nice if I could get a replacement lens for it. Do you have a recommendation?
La gopro max 360, ya quedó obsoleta?
Would you recommend upgrading from the x3 to the one rs 1 inch? Or should I maybe wait for the upgrade to the rs 1 inch to come out this/next year? I’m still an amateur and plan to start using my x3 for real estate tours and fpv drone videos.
Yes I would if you’re looking to take your work up a level right now. For any professional use, it’s always worth the immediate upgrade. You can always upgrade again later.
I'd recommend waiting - see my comment about my experience with the RS 1-Inch. In my opinion it was a flawed product rushed to sales and any upgrade/refinement is likely to solve the overheating problems
I look forward to this video twice a year and it looks like I might finally have to move on from my Z1 after 5 years I hadn’t seen a big enough bump to move on yet. The xphase has my attention but if I am to consider a rotator why not a360 gimbal or auto rotator the realsee g1 with their ai stitching comes to mind as it uses the apple lidar sensor. Do you have any experience with it?
I haven’t used the Galois- could be worth a go, but to be honest most cameras (including the Z1) do a good enough job for most use cases. It’s only if you wanted better spatial mapping etc. that I’d consider a camera like the Galois.
I use my tours for work orders with contractors as well marking hotspots on the tour ensuring better communication as to what is wanted and why it also helps get faster estimates from multiple vendors without having to physically go there multiple times to open properties and coordinate keys. So I include room,door, and stair dimensions as well the lidar function on the scan for me is a game changer.
I bought an X2 for $370. Technically it's just a little bit inferior to the X3, if you don't count the larger display.
WOW! I didn't even know there were some with 1 inch sensors!! I need a 360 Cam for car interior shots but I don't need the Action and the Megapixel. Can you recommend a cheap one to me?! best regards!
🎉🎉🎉🎉 I will definitely be getting one
What 360 cam would someone recommend for filming an audience?
I perform in comedy clubs which often have low lighting and need something that can record 60-90 min
My X2 still fine for what I want, still a brilliant camera but would love the X3 screen😉
I would like to watch comparison x4 by insta with all this cameras