I’ve been making cycling videos for years and spent literally thousands of £££ on cameras.
So here’s a full review of what I think of the Insta360 X5 and whether it’s going to be right for you as a cycling camera.
This is the camera: https://store.insta360.com/gb/product/x5?utm_term=Katie360
0:00 Intro
0:46 What is the Insta360 X5
1:58 Mounting options (my favourites)
3:31 The footage
5:34 Editing the footage.
9:28 What I don’t like…
10:52 Is this the right camera for you?
Insta360 did send out the camera for me to try and review – and I left it in the box for SIX MONTHS!
Thanks to them for sending it out and sponsoring the video 🙂
// Cycling eBook: https://www.ilikemountains.cc/s-h-o-p
// Instagram: http://instagram.com/katiekookaburra1/
// Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/3352833
// My Zwift Club: https://tinyurl.com/4wusdwxp
// Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/katiekookaburra
Super happy to have the following brands support me and my ol’ cycling adventures. So you will see some of their products I choose to use in my content 🙂
https://www.garmin.com/
https://www.zwift.com/uk
https://exposurelights.com/
Shokz: £10 off using KATIEK https://shokz.cc/KatieK
28 Comments
used to be a big fan of Insta360 for all the innovation, and then found out they paid for lots of reviews and a lot of the videos weren't tagged/disclosed as sponsored/paid ads, and I kinda turned away from them for scummy tactics. their tech is very cool though, but I can't shake off the ick.
Very cool piece of kit! My YT content is mainly small boat sailing but I could see myself using it on bike rides too. I want high quality audio in wet and windy conditions so how would you rate the sound captured by the camera or the external mic? Have you successfully captured good sound in damp windy conditions. Ta very much. 🚴♂️⛵️📷😄
I have literally just bought one….I was torn between upgrading my GoPro 10 to the mission pro BUT saw this at a decent sale price….. within 10 minutes I thought yep this was the right decision….love it!!!!!
It's mental some of these cameras are better than watching the flipping awful projection of live pro cycling. Which is one of the reasons I no longer Watch. Camera bobbing around, out of focus, white balance almost blinding. Absolutely awful. And that's an entire production set up
Does it have the option to use your voice to say "start recording"?
Thanks for the great review. I always enjoy your videos. Keep up the great work!
Thanks Katie for the useful review.
I bought this camera about 4 months ago and totally agree with you, Katie. I'm nearly 60 and made a deal with myself a few years ago that every time I buy something new it needs to have fewer buttons and be even more idiot proof than the previous version of whatever it's replacing. Whilst this did exactly that, I too was worried about the editing side of things but have found that it really is quite easy once you have a couple of goes.
I still haven't scratched the surface of all the things it can do, however.
I would also add that their customer service is not only first class but I was recently very touched by a bolt out of the blue email from them. I'd called them regarding an issue with a lens I'd bought for the X5 as it was damaged, a problem they rectified instantly. However, during our conversation it became apparent that I am in the Middle East and when the bombing started back in March I then received another email asking if I was ok, did I need any family members contacting and to take care of myself over sending the lens back to them and that business can wait if I needed to prioritise. It was really thoughtful and credit where credit is due.
Great review, thanks.
Do you have any methods of mounting this camera + bike computer + light? It seems like the sweet spot is only having two mounted at a time.
Definitely prefer your 360 vids. I like the angle where we see most of you, the handlebars and the landscape behind you. Much better than the usual close up of just a face and shoulders. As mentioned before, I agree that the forward view is more realistic when climbing or approaching a climb. Part of the reason is when a GoPro is attached to your bike, the camera is tilting up along with the climbing angle of your bike which flattens the perspective. The 360 somehow maintains a level, forward view the you can use in the post editing.
Interesting content, I can't help but notice that a lot of cycling creators such as your good self seem to use drones now to give a birds eye view of their adventures, some great technology available to people at the moment 😊
Was a GoPro fan forever and had their 360 cameras from the Fusion which had 2 SD cards! then their Max but when Insta360 appeared and I started with the X3, it was so obviously ahead of the game, it was amazing and the BIG difference was the way they managed files especially on the phone…even now that GoPro have released the Max2, the file management is way behind and requires downloading to your phone..Insta360 mobile app can edit on the fly using proxies so your phone never fills up with huge 8k files. Also all of the effects and editing transitions etc are FREE with Insta360…GoPro has locked their best effects behind a paywall! And GoPro have a proprietary video CODEC and you have to run it through GoPro software if you want to use it in Premier Pro or Da Vinci….with the Insta360 footage, you can download a plug-in for PP or DaV and transfer the raw footage directly from the sd card into premier pro without having to first convert it…BIG WIN..
SO now I'm a full blown Insta360 X5 fanboy…PS I do now also have the new GoPro Mission 1 Pro and it looks like it is hands down the best "standard" action cam right now…really amazing clarity and resolution so GP still has a place in my bag! But for all round instant 360 action, the X5 is the best! They are constantly updating firmware and the apps…
PS if you do continue to mount it on that out-front mount, I suggest you get the metal cage mount…there are lots of vids around of failure at that 1/4" mount on the bottom of the unit…best to have it inside a cage when attached to s solid frame that vibrates…!
Enjoy!!!!
the footage looks generally stable, did you stabilized it in post-editing or that camera can do it by iself?
Insta360 X4Air is smaller and still has most of the features of the X5
Gopro are junk compared to this. And yes I have both
How much recording time/footage can you take?
I got an X4 Air some months ago for pretty much all the reasons you mentioned – you can just record a ride without thinking about it and choose the framing later. I'm more out on forest paths that occasionally are somewhat beyond the paygrade of my trekking bike, and there's no way I'd film otherwise. The X4 Air is 165 g and about 10 mm shorter than the X5 btw. I got it at a spring discount with a set of those replacement lens covers, the selfie stick and a spare battery included. Coming from a photography background I find the photo modes fascinating as well, like taking a spherical 360° shot of a place that you can pan around in in post.
And no, unfortunately there's no other way to chance the point of view of a camera than to move the camera … If you want it to view from further in front of you that's where it has to be.
Hi Katie,
I first really noticed you using the 360 on your Thailand trip and thought then have much different the shots were, so the viewer felt right in the middle of the action.
I 100% agree with everything you have said in this review about the quality of the images and versatility of the camera and set up.
The number of times in the past when I have breathed in when you are holding a normal camera and talking to it on your bike, this feels so much safer to use and as you say you get those famous Katie candid shots with other riders or passers by.
Thank you for finally taking the camera out the box after 6 months 😅 as this camera has added a whole other dimension to your vlogs
Another great video ❤
It’s too expensive I’m afraid…… fine if you’re sponsored but just too pricey I’m afraid… I’ll stick to my hero 11 with a mouth mount. I look a twat but get great footage
I bought the X5 last year in preparation for this years upcoming tours. I also have the computer/camera mount and I have to say that I'm so happy with this setup. Can't wait to get out on my adventures.
My vacation started this monday but I told my boss that I'll be working instead due to the rain and I'll go later.
I bought the X4 on sale when the X5 had been out for a bit. Works pretty much the same video quality. I like the invisible stick too but did not like it mounted to the computer mount. Too scary if the bar bolts broke. I’ve use the clamp mount with a second clamp attached to the stick/pole to steady it. It is awkward looking but I can extend and retract the pole with one hand. Install360 does offer a stem cap mount I they show with the pole. However it pretty much will block one’s cycle computer if mounted out from. Shift the Garmin out front mount to the left and it’s usable.
Oh the seat mount gives a good shot of the back and people following. Good but shot too 😂.
Oh also I’ve use it on the pole just resting the extended pole on my shoulder riding on handed. Makes a drone simulated shot.
Keep showing how you mount the camera.
Good choice, now your videos will have an exciting new edge! Love it. Enjoy filming 🙂
That's a blummin' impressive piece of kit – especially with the extras! And I'm SO pleased that you ignored it for 6 months, and then used it for 6 months before posting this review – I have seen all (most?) of the videos where you have used it; certainly those used in this video. A judicious helping of scepticism is very useful to us, the great unwashed. It makes a good review all the more trustworthy.
(I note, and appreciate, the comment by @KNURKonesur who rightly criticises dubious marketing practices)
Nice looks a great camera 4 u great vlog Katie
With most mics if you use the USB receiver you can connect multiple transmitters. The usb dongle is not very large and resides in the stitch line so it does not show up in the footage. This true for the Mic Air (2) and Mic Pro (4).
Well done video, thank you.
I love the idea of recording. Bit the editing turns me off all filming. So I will just enjoy your ride videos 😀
Hi Katie. I'm not a fan. It distorts things to much. The selfie clips while riding make the arms look so long. The edges seem to curve as well.
I have the X5, workflow is to cumbersome for me, but I also do long trips and have hours of footage to edit and cut down, the extra reframing task for the 360 video is just to much. For short stints like a single day only using this and maybe one other camera is doable I suppose.