Insta360 X3 Lens replacement / lens change DIY Fast and easy

Hi,
So I bought an Insta360 X3 to mount on my motorbike. Unfortunately I dropped it and the lens got scratched. I didn't have Insta360 insurance. Having the lens replaced by them was costly and would take up to 5 weeks (Europe/Belgium). So I decided to replace the lens myself.
This video might be lengthy and badly filmed, but I hope it can help you too. I am not super handy when it comes down to fine work, but I managed to do it, so can you!
These are the steps:
1. Order a lens on Aliexpress. They are costly but are the original ones. Select front / back lens when ordering. I got it in about 10 days nl.aliexpress....
2. Heat the cover with a hair dryer until the glue gets hot
3. Remove the cover. I did it with a thing to remove paint from glass
4. unscrew the 8 screws
5. Gently open the lid and unlink it with the base
6. Unscrew the lens
7. Put the new lens in place
8. re-attach the lid with the base
9. Close the thing down
10. TEST IT
11. Glue the cover back on
12. MOST IMPORTANTLY - BUY LENS COVERS!!!!!

[@EricBuenoo]

Came into this motivated, left unmotivated lol.

[@ganeshjavhare1947]

😂😂😂

[@mithai66]

Anyone else experience no audio in this video ?

[@mondesi83]

There is non

[@henryruiz3297]

Everyone pretty much i think

[@emmanuelhud1]

​@mondesi83 😂😂😂 Well, that explains it👍

[@mewintle]

Holy cow that’s a lot of work!

[@zdenek7k]

So let's sum it up. What we saw - most of the video just hands or bubble wrap 🙂 There could be no sound, because all you would hear would be the rustling of the film and maybe some swearing

[@emmanuelhud1]

😂😂😂😂😂 that made me chuckle 😂😂 specially the swearing part 😅 as these jobs are tricky 😅😂

[@EppicIndustries]

This was helpful just seeing someone pull apart the camera. I like knowing what it looks like inside.

[@godspeed_rider]

Looks very easy ..thank you boi😅

[@milannaskar8575]

THANKS, WORKS LIKE MAGIC

[@LucasAlexK]

So fast so easy wow

[@user-lk7ku1ef1k]

Thanks i found one dirt cheap online. Was wondering how to open it without murdering it.

[@The_Muchacho_Drummer]

Extremely easy and fast

[@pjbiggleswerth8903]

😂😂😂

[@dennissager4750]

I find it quite amazing that his brain is capable of generating enough energy to make his fingers move!

[@havivelbaz]

Have another link maybe?

[@bigwisu]

In Aliexpress there are cheaper listings for Glass Lens replacement, is there a reason why you went with the lens module?

[@mondesi83]

Because it looks a lot easier :)

[@amkarman]

because to change lense glass you need to pull out the lense assembly. where as in x2 you don't need to do that

[@olsmokey]

Don't you like the way that the the faulty lens gets to rest on some bubblewrap to prevent it getting more scratched while being worked on, but the good lens, the one 'without scratches' sits directly on the workbench with no protection at all.

[@3650ai]

좋은 정보 감사합니다~

[@R1walarider]

Cost ?

[@user-gt8ho2qq6k]

Help me please! This camera has a connector for a selfie stick, the selfie stick was torn out and the case was broken, the case was found but the camera heats up during operation, they said that they needed thermal gum, it was too expensive. Tell me what can be done to prevent the camera from heating up?

[@am932]

Too much work and its not even water resistant

[@ndriverkg104]

Hello question was the lens assembly from a seller called mputek ?

[@Tiny.69]

Probably add some light violin music/piece?

[@Troyvidihoo]

Look more like you are replacing one of the cameras entirely, not just the lens.

[@Calvarydima]

What is the fan temp??

[@Photomenika]

Hi , thnak you for the video. Aftwr changing the lens I realised the exposure is different in 2 lenses. Did you observe the sama problem. How do you think I can fix rhis?

[@mondesi83]

That was not the case for me. Maybe the lens you bought was of other quality?

[@tyronecastillo16]

This would have been great if you had another 360 filming. You could reframe to ensure the process is captured on camera. Great vid otherwise. Btw, link doesn't work

[@ryanslight5455]

Do you think he could have gotten it out by dremmel and polish ?

[@judgeyoubyyourattitude5414]

Cool 💯

[@chrisl1884]

Hi there, this is very useful, but the bit I'm struggling with is "6. Unscrew the lens". How does the lens unscrew? Which part of it unscrews? I hope you can point me in the right direction...

[@mondesi83]

The whole lens module is connected with - I believe - 4 screws. Unscrew them and then release the connector and you can remove the lens and put the new one in

[@Calvarydima]

93 thousand unfortunate people who never bothered getting the protections glass and dropped their cameras

[@frobie192]

Is it still submergible in water?

[@mmmm9535]

glue back with what ? :)

[@gsd32i]

Just watched your video...my camera has one of the lens now out of focus as the selfie stick that was mounted on the motorbike decided to fall down onto the floor and knocked the camera out of place and scrapped the corner of the camera away. Stupid question but to avoid confusion did you order the front of back camera as several sites call both ...both!!!!!! I need the other camera and want to make sure I get my front and back correct 😂

[@mondesi83]

the front side is the side with the LCD screen. I ordered the back side lens in this video

[@gsd32i]

@@mondesi83 Thanks for the speedy reply. Thanks for putting the video on KZbin ...is your camera working ok now with the 360 video. Have you got a case guard/protector ? 🤪

[@mondesi83]

@@gsd32i Yes, it's working fine with the new lens. I also bought the lense guard via insta360 website. I should have done it from the beginning, didn't know they were so fragile. Camera fell of my motorbike and glass was scratched which was visible in all movies. Now it's resolved!

[@gsd32i]

@@mondesi83 Thanks just about to order a new lens from the place you got yours from. Thanks again for speedy replies and have a great day 👍

[@gsd32i]

If its ok with you I have shared your video in the description, on the one that I have just put up showing my Insta problem.

[@itssbusiness]

Video without sound is kinda weird nowadays

[@sawomirchaupka6884]

hello.. Can you tell me if after changing the lens you had different colors in the image and it was not visible in the stitching of the images?

[@motorman6184]

Hello, I can assure you that with the lens I bought, I have had no issues. However, it was not cheap.

[@brendanallen6800]

I’ve just done the lens swap and have the exact same issue.

[@mixpar2008]

This video is how to show hands and bubble wrap...

[@clausdan6916]

What does the image look like without the lens, does it serve any function other than protection ?

[@kysus3284]

i broke one lens and the image look blurry and out of focus , its not protection its the actual lens , gopro and dji action on the other hand it is just protection that why its easy to replace.

[@rideracerepeat4353]

what is the gooey pink stuff that sits inside the camera?

[@mondesi83]

I suppose you are referring to a silicone layer for water repulsion

[@Namchild]

Hi mate, is it still waterproof after the process?

[@thehobbyguy]

Don't be silly😂😊

[@AdmirKurtovic]

Hi, what's the name of the golden/silver tool you used to open it? :)

[@mondesi83]

It's just a tool to scrape for example paint rests from a window. It's basically a razor blade

[@enricoluzi1774]

Unfortunately it is not available

[@xx_sanic_da_heg_hoge_xx420]

only place i can find the lens module for sale now is mputek for $170 -- is that right??

[@mondesi83]

I am afraid that's correct. It's the same price as what insta360 charges if you send it to them. But it takes longer when you send it to them. When I bought it, it was a bit less expensive (not much though)

[@xx_sanic_da_heg_hoge_xx420]

@@mondesi83 understood! thanks for the video and response! all extremely helpful.

[@lamunte]

@mondesi83 hello. I see you opened the back side of the insta360. You have access to remove the module for the front lens also? or for the front lens, you need to open the front site of the camera?

[@bxlbiker4769]

Only access to back I think

[@lamunte]

@@bxlbiker4769 thinking is one thing, knowing is another. at 6:55 you can clearly see the screws for the front lens aswell

[@mondesi83]

@@lamunte I guess you are right. I also don't think the front is removable same way as back. Unscrew them and see what happens!

[@lamunte]

@@mondesi83 well I opened mine from the back and changed the lens from the front. The problem is that the exposure is different on the new lens and the stitch line is really visible. So camera is basically useless at this point. I see in your video that you changed the whole module, not just the lens, as I did. Can you please tell me where did you find to buy the whole module? A link would be much appreciated

[@mondesi83]

The link is in the description

[@Mrbillyhimself]

Bro dissected this camera I m gd may as well get a new. One at this point 😂😂

[@damienbickle5130]

I’m struggling to get the little clip back on, is there a specific way I should be pressing it on?

[@mondesi83]

Which one do you mean? Can you be a bit more specific?

[@damienbickle5130]

The first clip that he puts back on, on the back of the front panel when hes reassembling the camera

[@mondesi83]

@@damienbickle5130 give me the exact time in the video

[@art.contemp]

Unde se pot găsi lentile de schimb? Mulțumesc!

[@motorman6184]

I found it on AliExpress

[@art.contemp]

@@motorman6184 Thank you!🙏

[@Goodlife_ADV]

What did you use for glue?

[@bxlbiker4769]

Silicone. Tec7 I believe. That makes it waterproof

[@madkristy1]

where’s the sound? 😢

[@pauliswar]

A mute video in 2023 is insane

[@frankmeesman3217]

No audio ... 😢😢😢

[@buket_akdas]

Hello, thanks for video. Can i change the only lens? Lens module is very expensive for me :(

[@mondesi83]

Also possible and cheaper indeed. You can find plenty of movies about that here on KZbin

[@buket_akdas]

@@mondesi83 Thank you so much. You are a good man. I will subscribe to your channel😅❤️

[@JakePancho]

Still waterproof?

[@setitzu]

Not waterproof to begin with

[@mewintle]

It is according to insta and many people who have tested it

[@slayerbllade]

prob not. The blue thing was not placed properly before he closed it. The adhesive needs to be replaced, but he did not on this one. Will still work as a good insta360 x3 action cam, but you cannot get it super wet or submerged in water

[@Vo2TheMax]

So glad I purchased insurance 😂

[@Mracelocates]

not with mine you don't, this is whyI got insurance.

[@sundance2005]

Fast and easy???? Every other video I have watched they just popped off the outer lens (which is just a glass cover not really a lens) and pop in a new one. I couldn't find the lens ass you used on AliExpress anymore. That is fast and easy, this is not, not to mention around $30 a side.

[@gnguy97]

That’s not fast and easy looks like more slow and tedious

[@abhijeetkhetle1728]

Once open its done, no waterproof

[@mondesi83]

It wasn't waterproof in the first place, and it also depends with what you close it. I used a thin layer of Tec7 so should be fine.

[@EngaFFS]

One way to lose your IP grade I guess...

[@rossthomson9833]

So I'm guessing it's not water proof any more.

[@mondesi83]

It wasn’t in the first place but I sealed the lid with tec7 so it should have the same or even more water resistance

[@rossthomson9833]

@@mondesi83 why wasn't it in the first place. I've been in the sea with mine many of times. 🤔

[@mondesi83]

@@rossthomson9833 I read a lot of complaints that it wasn't as waterproof as promised and that people always advice to use the dive box. I actually never use it under water, but it has been in rainy weather and so far I had no issues.

[@foff665]

don't do it fellas, keep the scratch or send it in... this is the most ridiculous video

[@armadilllo]

fast and easy?🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@CatzzSkatesFamily]

I think only 1% of people can pull this off. I rather pay $110 for repairs and spend the rest of my time making money off stocks.