Insta360 X4 FOVs (Dewarp, Mega and Ultra) comparison

With the introduction of the Insta360 X4, some terminology has changed. Instead of Linear and Linear+, there is now Dewarp. I think this is a better description for what it does since the camera is always recording a warped fish-eye image and cannot actually record "linear" flat video.
This comparison shows the middle of a 4K image, but I will also post ones of the top (so you can see the extreme warping of the tops of buildings and such) and bottom (so you can see what it does to the ground).

[@Jcool721]

Thanks, what a great comparison. I use dewarp if I like to have more speed in the video! It's amazing in sports like MTB riding in the woods. Beautiful natural blur and crazy speed :-)

[@MisterSoul2008]

Great!

[@ElmerVlog]

Nice video comparison

[@M3lionsinformationBOOTH]

Like that comparison!

[@subethasoftware]

There are other modes (see other comments here) but I am not sure where they are. I saw them when I first got the camera and went through every Setting option, and I need to redo that. I have more comparisons to do.

[@kitttt2002]

may i ask u film in 8k, 5.7k or 4k?

[@user-wn6oj1wc4d]

If I had to choose, I like "mega".

[@subethasoftware]

Thanks to the resolution improvements with the X4, I am expecting to mostly record 360 video. With the ONE X2 and X3, I would usually just record single lens since the reframed 360 was pretty poor. With X4, I think the reframed video is "good enough" but if I really want to record something with better resolution and lack of warping, I'll just use my phone for that.

[@mikelafferty5253]

I find myself using Mega most of the time, the fov is HUGE!!

[@subethasoftware]

We are in a world where folks actually seem to enjoy looking at warped video where all the buildings are curved, etc. A year or two ago, I did some walk thru videos of Universal Orlando using one of the fish-eye modes. It really does capture a lot more of what is "going around" but I'm so old school I still have a hard time "liking" warped video like that.

[@lancairdriver]

Noob question, I know, but does the setting change of Mega, Dewarp, or Ultra actually change the way the 360 video is recorded or just how it is first seen in editing software? I would have thought a camera that shoots 360 would have all the possible FOV. Just got x4 yesterday and have to break 40+ years of old school video habits, thanks for help.

[@subethasoftware]

In single lens mode, the FOV setting (vertical or horizontal video, too) will be what is put in the MP4 file. For 360, the file that is recorded looks like two fish eye circles, and the field of view is just synthetic by the editing software. I can just walk around and record 360, then export it in all these different modes.

[@lancairdriver]

@@subethasoftware Thanks, very helpful. Now if I can only figure out why I'm getting worse battery life with 8k 30 than with 5.7 30 with my new x4

[@subethasoftware]

@@lancairdriver I would expect any larger format would have worse battery life simply from having to do more I/O to the memory card, writing out more data. Larger file, more work. Maybe that should be a test. Lens cap on, so it's encoding the same "screen", and record for 45 minutes in 8K, 45 minutes in 5.7K, 45 minutes in 5.7K+, etc. and check the file sizes. The estimates given by Insta360 are just estimates, and we should see a much smaller file when recording things that are not moving, versus recording motion/action footage.

[@RedpaX]

I use only mega

[@jensendelap]

Q1 What fields of view (FOV) does X4 support? MegaView: Suitable for wide-shooting and urban scenes. Vertical distortion is reduced in 16:9/2.35:1 ratios. MaxView: Widest angle with distortion, best for shooting open landscapes such as canyons and grass. ActionView: Compresses the space for an immersive first-person view, ideal for skiing, cycling, and more. UltraWide: Suitable for scenes requiring a wider view such as mountaineering, hiking, and other outdoor sports. Dewarp: Lower distortion, suitable for shots with people, such as vlogs.

[@subethasoftware]

Sadly, there must be some criteria that gives you all of those. My mobile app and desktop app only offer me Mega, Ultra, Dewarp, Crystal Ball and Tiny Planet with this video.

[@AldrikEthelward]

I hate the new app and studio ASPECT RATIOS ! my question is why Insta360 people delete the LINEAR and LINEAR+ and Narrow they say, they changed the name but isn't true the real aspect ratio Lienar and Linear+ is very good to do a video with 0 effect of fish eye the DEWARP the say is the same as LINEAR and LINEAR+ but not if you raise up and down you'll see the video get curved fuck it!!! for X4 if you want to add a new or rename the aspect ratio ok! but dont delete a real flat aspect ratio was very good and a lot people use that LINEAR and + aspect ratio to edit videos that look normal and not fish eye i hope INSTA360 return again that 3 aspect ratios linear and + and Narrow! what a big mistake!!

[@JJ-pl4ee]

Thank you for this. I was considering buying the cam and was searching if non fish eye is possible.