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Preferred 360 camera stands out in capturing behind-the-scenes footage during pro photo shoots.

BTS and Action Marvel: A Stunning Adventure with the Insta360 X4

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4 min read
Behind-the-scenes coverage of my professional photo shoots, I've experimented with various...
Behind-the-scenes coverage of my professional photo shoots, I've experimented with various alternatives, but this 360 camera has emerged as my preferred choice.

Preferred 360 camera stands out in capturing behind-the-scenes footage during pro photo shoots.

Article Redraft

Kickin' it old-school with self-portraiture ain't easy for any snapping snapper, pro or hobbyist. Y'know, bloggin' about our craft is a grind without a dedicated BTS videographer, like the ones agencies hire to keep the social media machine hummin'. Stretchin' our budgets for such luxuries ain't in the cards for most of us.

So, what's the best tactic for takin' top-notch BTS content? After tryin' out a couple of techniques, I finally hit the jackpot...

First off, I attempted usin' my reserve Fujifilm camera on a tripod with an antiquated Sennheiser ENG lavalier radio microphone. It was chunky as hell, and I even slipped up by jumping on the 2017 Kickstarter bandwagon for the Removu K1, thinkin' a pint-sized camera with face trackin' would help. It wasn't the worst, but the company up and vanished leavin' the device short on essential firmware updates.

Experimented with action cameras too, but each had their quirks that weren't worth the hassle. My current Akaso Brave 7 LE is perched on a 5-meter light stand for a timelapse at a scout camp, but don't even get me started on their flaws.

Introducin' the Insta360 X series, droppin' the X5 not long ago, just months after I picked up the X4. I'm reflectin' on the X4 experience here, but the X5 benefits aren't as drastic as those between the X3 and X4. I actually got my feet wet with the X3, which sparked my love for these bad boys.

What sets these X cameras apart? Not the sensors, nope. Action cameras pack better sensors. Not their long recording abilities—these heat up quick. It's simply their capacity to capture all angles. And? The Insta360 Studio software that comes with these devices makes reframin' shots a breeze. I can pick my subject, follow it if needed, or adjust the frame to my likin'. I can zoom in and out, even dewarpen the scene for a more natural view.

For a portrait session BTS, the X5 could be planted between the camera and the subject, outta sight. From the footage, I can effortlessly pan from myself to the subject and then zoom and pan out to capture both.

A mic like the DJI Mic 2 ensures flawless audio to capture the interplay and vibe. And get this—Insta360 just released a new dedicated Mic Air microphone specifically for the X5. On top of that, I can command the camera to start and stop recordin' with just my voice.

Using a 16:9 format for YouTube and then resizin' it to a 9:16 square for Instagram Reels, TikTok, and more, is like child's play with these tools in your arsenal. There's plenty of flexibility for creatin' cool edits, like speed rampin' and time-lapse effects. You ain't confined to real-time neither. You can speed up footage with the Time Shift option.

Adventure enthusiasts out there, y'all'll love the invisible selfie stick. The software abolishes it, so you can create phony drone shots, or even spruce up your vids with wacky stuff like fakin' interaction with your surroundings.

Pair the selfie stick with a mini tripod, and BAM! You've got a quick-fix camera you can move toward or away from. With the X5, you can stroll up to the camera, walk past it, and carry on, and flawlessly transition the shot in post-production! My personal wish is for someone to craft one of these babys that sports one extendable leg suitable for uneven terrain, like the Manfrotto 5002BL Nano Plus stand has for lights.

Even if you opt to wear the camera on a bracket on your bag, you can lock the horizon to keep the view steady, and just 'scuse the forward view. All in all, these features make the X5 an excellent addition to any shutterbug's or content creator's go-to gear.

So, check out our *Insta360 X4 vs X5 comparison, and our comprehensive guide to the best 360 cameras*

Sean 'The Snapper' McCormackSean McCormack is a commercial and editorial photographer, book author, and regular contributor to Digital Camera magazine based in Galway, Ireland. He's got a long-standin' history with Lightroom, remicamin' its original beta version, and has sampled nearly every plugin and preset on the market. His latest book is Essential Development 3: 25 Lightroom Classic Tips for the Develop Module.

  1. To achieve exceptional BTS content, I opted for a mirrorless camera, specifically a Fujifilm model, mounted on a tripod with a Sennheiser ENG lavalier radio microphone.
  2. Initially, I tried using various action cameras, but their quirks proved more troublesome than beneficial.
  3. The Insta360 X series, including the X4 model I'm currently discussing, offers a unique advantage—its capability to capture all angles, making reframing shots a breeze with the help of Insta360 Studio software.
  4. For portraits, an Insta360 camera can be strategically placed between the subject and the camera, offering seamless panning and zooming options for the resulting footage.
  5. To ensure high-quality audio, a DJI Mic 2 microphone is highly recommended, and Insta360 recently released a dedicated Mic Air microphone specifically for the X5.
  6. With the Insta360 X5, it's possible to create fascinating edits, like speed ramping and time-lapse effects, and even modify the format for platforms like YouTube and Instagram Reels.
  7. Adventure enthusiasts will appreciate the 'invisible selfie stick' feature, which eliminates the stick from the final footage, allowing for creative faux drone shots and other unusual effects.

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