Insta360 X4: The BEST Settings

I think the Insta360 X4 is the premium 360 camera available right now. But if you really want to unlock the full potential of this camera, you’ve got to dive deeper into the settings, especially in less than perfect shooting conditions. Today, I'll show you what to look out for and which settings matter. If nerding out to get the best out of your X4 is your bag, then this is the video for you.
First things first, let's talk about the shooting modes and which one works best in different situations. Once you tap on the camera icon, the menu will appear. Just swipe left to select the recording mode you want. The choice depends on whether you're in single lens mode or 360 mode. You probably know that your 360 camera has two sensors. The camera's processor combines the images from both sensors to create a 360 image. When you select single lens mode, the camera shoots with just one sensor and lens. But why would you want to do that though? After all, the best thing about this camera is its 360 mode and the ability to re-frame shots, especially now the X4 can deliver 8K video, reframed to high image quality 2.7K flat footage.
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Timestamps
0:00 Intro: Insta360 X4 - The Premium 360 Camera
0:14 Unlocking the Full Potential of Your Insta360 X4
0:33 Understanding Shooting Modes: Single Lens vs. 360
1:20 Optimizing Single Lens and MeMode for Quality and Efficiency
2:46 Why 360 Mode Reigns Supreme
3:39 Choosing Between Standard Video and Active HDR Mode
4:34 Choosing Resolution and Frame Rates in Standard Video Mode
6:53 Slow Motion Video Recommendations
7:44 Advanced Auto Settings - Color Profiles
8:41 Advanced Auto Settings - White Balance
9:13 Advanced Auto Settings - Exposure Value
10:16 Advanced Manual Settings - Shutter Speed
11:21 Advanced Manual Settings - ISO
12:29 Further Advanced Settings - Bit Rate
12:45 Further Advanced Settings - Sharpness
13:18 Key Takeaways and Recommendations

[@insta360]

"I think it's the premium 360 camera available right now" Big words 😱With all X4's new features, a detailed explanatory video like this is definitely needed!

[@TheTechPacker]

Cheers!

[@Dillydallydandy]

This is excellent - thorough and direct. Thanks!

[@Imissmaggie]

Thanks for this, you're the first to confirm that shutter speeds can be adjusted manually, which I'll need for bracketing for HDRIs, the reason I'm getting this camera. Too bad there's apparently no auto bracketing, but I can live without it.

[@adriannesteban4847]

Nice! Hope to see more content soon

[@TheTechPacker]

Thanks - and you will :)

[@francisian1769]

Wow.. best x4 video so far... very usefull

[@TheTechPacker]

Glad you think so!

[@Hart-en-Ziel]

a lot of useful info, presented in a pleasant and understandable way nice job!

[@mavicprah8063]

For motorbike what do you recommend? Maybe the new 5.7K+ with 60fps? thanks.

[@rjdek]

I am a bit confused about the MEGA, ULTRA and DEWARP settings. Do they actually alter the saved video-image? Or do they just tell the software you use in post how to process the video?

[@StrunkinPhotos]

Thank you, great channel

[@TheTechPacker]

Thank you too!

[@damorgman]

Great video. Still searching for the LUT for LOG shooting. Not sure if its ok to use the same one we did with the X3.

[@stilmotionpicture]

Luts are overrated, you should be able to use any luts these days and adjust to your liking.

[@CoachAdamRuns]

Great to see you have been testing this camera already. Do the X3 batteries fit the X4? Is it worth the upgrade?

[@TheTechPacker]

Hey Adam - no, the battery won’t fit from the X3. I have a video coming next week addressing exactly that - should I upgrade q - addressing various scenarios. Short answer is, it depends. Best things about X4 are 5.7k60 and 8k30 for 2.7k reframed footage. More in the video to come :)

[@michaelvarney.]

What is also best is there is no 30 min cap on film length before video restart. Makes it useful for those who record their music gigs or longer events.

[@stevenwaltzman9070]

Great video! It appears that the X4 has active HDR for video. Is there an HDR mode for taking photos? Thanks in advance😊

[@TheTechPacker]

Yes, there is HDR Photo mode on the X4

[@kristonchan-]

Nice video! May I know how to improve sound quality recording for videos?

[@TheTechPacker]

Thanks - I'll have an audio focused video soon

[@19alchemist78]

This will be a worthy upgrade from my X2

[@tango_sierra8608]

Yes! I immediately said no to the x3 from my x2 because it was not at all worth it. But the ability to export higher resolution then crappy 1080 now is worth it alone. The other features are just a plus. Just got mine today and it is sooooo much better than the x2 I had. Sell the x2 now while some people still don’t know about this x4! I sold mine for 200 immediately and picked the x4 up. Which technically means I picked the x4 up for 300$ (it is 500 retail)

[@jannarkiewicz633]

I am starting work... I'll watch it later. :-) Employment comes first!!!!!

[@TheTechPacker]

Of course!

[@Ozpeter]

Thanks for this. I have seen an end-user review which showed in passing a comparison side by side shot of the three sharpness settings, using a brick building in the middle distance for the test. Low sharpness looked dreadful, blurring the bricks into a smeary mess. Using medium, the bricks were clearly defined. High didn't seem to make an obvious difference after medium. Reframed video from the X4 is basically 2.7k and in this 4k video world, it needs all the help it can get. Using low sharpness seems to me to throw away the advantage of the 8k 360 capture. Maybe upload some sharpness tests of your own and prove me wrong !

[@gillesh.9405]

Thx man, what about the Bitrate? keep it standard or go high?

[@TheTechPacker]

I think I do say in the video :) depends on your priority between quality and card space

[@squirrel7890]

@12:33

[@HHHorea]

for mountainbiking in a forest (sun+shade), should I use the 5.4K 60FPS or the HDR with only 30FPS? (for more cinematic but also fast/sporty/action look of the final footage)

[@TheTechPacker]

It's not an easy balance to strike - HDR in dark spots will look pretty grainy. If you know you're going to have dappled light most of the time without too many dark patches for a long period of time, active HDR could work. For better overall footage and ability to be more flexible in post for speed of action, 5.7K60 would be the better option IMHO

[@alummis]

My X4 has an “In camera stitching” setting under Anti Flicker. What is that setting for?

[@Buenas_Vistas]

Good info. I feel like I'm going to stick to 8k 30 unless I want to slow the video at all. then 5.7 60. if I want any slower video it sounds like my gopro is the way to go.

[@TheTechPacker]

Good call!

[@andypargh6965]

I just found your channel and your videos are impressive. Thank you. Question: When will you be releasing your video on the mic adapter module?

[@TheTechPacker]

Thanks! Probably won’t be until early May when I get back from my travels and I have all my videos lined up til then

[@bastifly6902]

I dont understand why in single lens mode you can get 4k footage but in 8k after cropping the video you are left with 2,7k . After cropping the video is basically in single lens mode so then 4k. Depends on how far you zoom in for sure.

[@jannarkiewicz633]

2nd comment :-) So of course, did checkout the bundles etc vor the X4....So you know what is a good video -- which X3 accessories work with an X4. I'm pretty sure that the Quick Reader, the Ulanzi cold shoe mic mount, etc. will work. Hmmm... Do I need a new external mic plug as that is tied to the door size? You know, that kind of question...Nag, nag, nag...

[@TheTechPacker]

I haven’t tried those X3 accessories /with X 4 yet - and won’t now til May, as I am currently in Brussels, and then London for the rest of the month, travelling back to NZ etc. But, the dimensions of the body are quite different. As far as door hatches etc, I don’t know.

[@jannarkiewicz633]

@@TheTechPacker OMG I epect you to fly home at my beck and call!!! Have a great trip.

[@Kiwomens]

I started using the X4 yesterday. I used HDR video on the X3 a lot, but, on the X4, the HDR video is limited to 5.7K? you don't have HDR video in 8K? kind of a big bummer!

[@TheTechPacker]

Yes - HDR video on X4 maxes out at 5.7K

[@jking7519]

Please clarify your statement about "Flat" color mode. Other sources indicate that "Flat" on X4 is not LOG. They say that only the X3 has a LOG option.

[@TheTechPacker]

I put a text overlay clarifying that this is Flat. To differentiate between that and Log, you’ll have to check with Insta360. That’s also why I don’t bother myself - which I also say in the video. Hope that clarifies.

[@Addarraj]

No night mode?

[@TheTechPacker]

Night mode? No … not that I am aware!

[@Addarraj]

@@TheTechPacker like compared to the one RS

[@Alexorsumidk]

Bro it's been out for 5 mins😢

[@TheTechPacker]

I know man. People will be looking for it soon. I can’t compete with the massive creators putting out their first videos eh. Trying a little strategy here :)

[@lcnevar]

It supposed to be action camera and 60fps for you is for slow-motion, no 60fps is for fast action. 30 fps is for boring vloggers talking to camera, and there are better options for that even from insta360.

[@TheTechPacker]

It’s cool man. You use it like you want to.

[@BlownMacTruck]

If you’re shooting 24fps timelines, 60fps is definitely usable as action slow motion. Just because you use 60 as a baseline doesn’t mean other do the same.

[@lcnevar]

@@BlownMacTruck Action camera without 60 fps is a joke, now 120 4k is a standard for an actron cameras. This camera picture quality is 1080p 60 fps. I know because I have it. Tell me it is made for talking head or for action?

[@BlownMacTruck]

@@lcnevar​​⁠ Try reading what I actually wrote instead of blindly replying without actually thinking.

[@tomgallagher4976]

Slightly disappointed with the stitching on that first beach shot :-/

[@thomza]

Me mode looks useless to me. All the examples of it that you show have the horizon warped like a fish tank. It looks terrible IMO.

[@TheTechPacker]

I was using the widest field of view to ensure I was fully in - but you can choose narrower. Having said that, like I say - I rarely use that mode.

[@CSNK2008]

For the god sake please stop the cinematic mode

[@TheTechPacker]

?

[@CSNK2008]

@@TheTechPacker When you film yourself, please, stop using the cinematic mode to fake blur, or get a real camera

[@TheTechPacker]

@CSNK2008 ah I see. Oh well, you have your preferences.

[@CSNK2008]

@@TheTechPacker you claim to have a tech channel, and you present a product by selling its capabilities and quality, I would have assumed that you want to take care of the presentation, to be more credible in your words. I can literally see the blurred background everywhere, except in your glasses, it looks cheap and very amateurish... It's not a question of aesthetics and taste, this is a very questionable technical choice

[@TheTechPacker]

You don’t like it. I get it. Do it how you like on your own channel?