Insta360 X4 8K 360 Action Camera Unboxing Preview

This is really just a basic unboxing video of the Insta360 X4 which is Insta360's brand new flag ship 360 degree 8k camera. Previous to the release of the Insta360 X4, not surprisingly there was the Insta360 X3. I talk a little bit about the differences between the older and newer versions and I also explain the main concepts about why one would want to shoot in 360 degrees for those that are not familiar with why a 360 degree camera can be very useful even if your final video is not in 360 degree.

I also share some of my initial usage Insta360 X4 video where I hit a trail on my EUC (Electric Unicycle) along with my riding companions. We had a blast and I was glad I was able to share the experience in such a unique way.

Just Me on my EUC!

Went out for a relaxing local ride on my EUC near where I live, it was supposed to be a quick 20 minute ride, but I kept going for an hour...

All recorded on the Insta360 GO2, edited and produced in the Insta360 App.

Tiny Camera on a Tiny Drone GEPRC TinyGO 4k - Insta360 GO2

I may be obsessed a bit with these little drones but hey, they are super fun and for the price they offer a ton of enjoyment. I am really happy with my GEPRC TinyGO 4k FPV Drone, don't get me wrong, it has for sure exceeded my expectations and thank God it is literally indestructible (Well almost)! That said slightly better video quality would not be a bad thing as the built in camera I have set to record at 2.7k in 60fps looks pretty good, but it is a bit sharp and contrasty and I do get some jell-o effect but overall it does a good job.

So I thought, why not strap my Insta360 GO2 tiny camera to it and see what it looks like? So I did just that with some high tech rubber band engineering and my first test flight worked just fine but I still got a lot of that jell-o vibration in the camera, so I added a dampener to the build using some Velcro and foam. Well that did the trick nicely and even acted as a bit of a dampener for the internal camera smoothing it out somewhat.

Enough talking about it, best to simply show you so here is a comparison video of what the internal camera on the GEPRC TinyGO 4k looks like compared to the strapped on Insta360 GO2.

New Sony ZV-1 Camera Joins the Team

I have been using my Sony RX100 Mark4 camera now for almost a decade (9 years to be exact) as my main studio camera and it has served me well all of this time. My real main gripe with that camera was how it liked to hunt around a lot to find focus. It has been frustrating at times when I was trying to showcase a product on screen but my Sony RX100 Mark4 just couldn't seem to find it. It also was not really able to record in 4k video or at least for long enough for the types of videos I make which are usually around 10 minutes or so. After about 5 minutes it would overheat and shut down in 4k record mode, and over time as it got a bit older that time shortened down to only a couple of minutes.

So it was time to do some research and figure out what my next camera was going to be. I was pretty sure it would be another Sony, and I liked the size format so I knew it was probably going to be another 1 inch sensor more compact camera. After much YouTube Video watching I settled on the Sony ZV-1 Blogger Camera. Yes there is a newer version 2 of this same camera available, but it was significantly more money and since there where some really good deals on the older version I purchased and I was still able to buy it new rather than second hand. The big upgrades with the newer second generation, where a wider angle lens which is always good and much easier access to the battery compartment when mounted. Those where at least the two main upgrades the new version of the Sony ZV-1 had that I felt where beneficial to me. That said I was able to find work arounds to these two features that I was easily able to add to my first generation Sony ZV-1.

In this quick video I test out the Sony ZV-1 and show my work aroudns that I added to make this already really great camera even better. I have a lot of figuring out to do with this camera to really get the most out of it but that is all part of the fun for me...

GEPRC TinyGo 4k versus CineLog20 03

Summary:

• Comparison of two drones, TinyGo and CineLog20, with a focus on their price ranges and features.
• GEPRC TinyGo 4K shoots in 2.7K at 60 frames and requires stabilization in post-production, resulting in a cropped image.
• Despite stabilization, the GEPRC TinyGo 4K still produces a slight 'jello effect' due to its small size, vibration and susceptibility to wind.
• GEPRC CineLog20 03 shoots in 4K at 60 frames and has built in stabilization so no post-production is required and there is no jello effect as camera dampening is present on the drone.

TinyGo 4K Drone Review and Flight Test:

• Review of the Tiny Go 4K drone from GEPRC.
• Purchased the drone for around $300 with batteries and a charger.
• Conducted a height test and reached a considerable altitude.

Drone's Impressive Recovery During Flight:

• Video connection was lost, but controller remained connected.
• Drone experienced a free fall due to excessive throttle reduction.
• Regained control and managed to recover the drone safely.

Enjoying a Drone Flight:

• Had a great time flying GEPRC TinyGo 4k drone with dual 1S battery system.
• Flew for about 5 to 6 minutes with 550mAh batteries.
• Not sure about the exact flight duration, might have changed batteries part way.

Review of a Drone with Limited Range:

• The GEPRC TinyGo 4k drone has a limited range and lacks GPS, making it difficult to locate if lost.
• The goggles that come with the drone are of decent quality and can be used for recording.
• The drone is suitable for learning and flying in well-lit conditions.

Video Signal and Quality Discussion:

• Video signal of the GEPRC TinyGo 4k cuts out first before controller loses connection.
• DJI system (like in the GEPRC CineLog20 03) provides better video quality and longer range compared to analog systems (like in the GEPRC TinyGo 4k).
• The video quality of the DJI system is significantly better than the analog system.

Drone Flight Stabilization:

• The GEPRC CineLog20 03 with built in stabilization feature saves time in post having to stabilize later on.
• Wind conditions affected the flight, requiring cautious maneuvering.
• The GEPRC CineLog20 03 because of it's additional size and weight is more stable compared to the TinyGo 4k.

DJI 03 Air Unit and TinyGO Camera Comparison:

• Comparison of DJI 03 Air Unit and TinyGo 4k camera.
• Both cameras can record 4K video, but TinyGo's 4K 60fps is interlaced, while DJI 03 Air Unit's 4K 60fps is progressive.
• For fast-flying drones, higher frame rates like 2.7K and 4K 60fps are preferred for smoother video.

Drone Flight in Bright Conditions:

• The drone flight was conducted in bright conditions, resulting in great colors, contrasts, and details.
• Slight color correction was applied to the videos.
• The had to navigated carefully to avoid branches and puddles during the flight 

Flying Drones:

• Flying drones requires relaxation and calmness.
• Thinking about controlling the drone can disrupt the automatic mode.
• Manual Acro flying demands a specific very sensitive approach that requires hours of practice.

Learning to Fly Drones:

• Flying drones requires practice and comfort with the controls.
• Indoor flying in small spaces is challenging, especially for beginners.
• Larger flying areas provide more room for error and are easier to navigate.

Drone Flight Adjustment:

• Colors and details are muted due to reduced sunlight.
• Practicing sideways flying and controlled movements.
• Need to learn to control altitude and thrust better when using the CineLog20 03.