Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1499843
VOLUME ISSUE MAY , P103 STANDOUT FEATURE The newest action camera that gets the perfect shot RIDER ANALYSIS Insta360 is making big waves in the mountable camera world. I first noticed the brand after seeing an In- stagram video and thinking: "How on earth did they get that shot?!" You've probably thought the same thing as you scroll through the Gram. We found how they do it. The trick is the Insta360 X3. This camera shoots simultaneously in both direc- tions (it also has a single lens mode if you prefer) and puts all the footage together, for you, into a complete 360-degree compilation of your ses- sion. From there, you edit the footage from the angle you want and export. The shots this camera is capable of is mind-blowing since we're so used to seeing a first-person angle from the top of the helmet. There's also an "invisible" selfie stick that provides unique third-person angles. Thanks to the camera's software, it edits out the selfie stick so it looks like you're riding with a personal videographer. The biggest advantage I see with the X3 is not having to worry about the camera angle. Too many times I've turned on my GoPro, done my motos, and returned home only to see that my camera angle was either too high or too low. Footage ruined. With the X3, just make sure the lens is facing forward and you're sure to get the shot you want. It completely removed the guesswork and made it a hassle-free process to grab the shot I want. That alone was enough for me. The camera works in seamless conjunction with the Insta360 smartphone app. With its Bluetooth and WiFi capabili- ties, you can preview the cam- era angle straight from your phone and start the recording process. When you're done rid- ing, the camera uploads all the footage to the app and you can start editing your clips almost right away. Just got your best lap of you and your buddy bat- tling? You can have it uploaded on social media before you head out for your next moto. Editing on the app does take a bit of time to get used to, simply because there's so much it can do. You can "spin" the footage to see what hap- pened next to you or behind you, or you can lock it on a certain point and let the software do the work. Caught an epic "Oh shoot" moment next to you? Simply pause the clip, spin the camera, and press play. The app also allows you to format the footage for vertical apps like Instagram reels or TikTok as well as horizontal apps like YouTube with the click of a button. It doesn't clip or crop the sides in either of these formats, so you won't lose anything on the edge of the screen. List Price: $449.99 Website: www.insta360.com ACTION CAM Good luck doing this on your own without the Insta360 software. Honestly, I don't see myself using any other action cam now. This thing makes my life easier to capture content for social posts, YouTube videos, and more. And instead of running three GoPros all at different angles, I can just use one Insta360. Now I can ride and not worry about getting "the shot." From my experi- ence, the chest mount is the best angle for the X3, which actually works well since AMA-sanctioned events have outlawed helmet-mount- ed cameras. If you're in the market for a new camera, or simply want to step up your content game, don't overlook the Insta360 X3. Ryan Nitzen The X3 is the key to shots like this.