It’s been less than three months since Insta360 released its X5 360-degree action camera, but the company is already introducing new accessories and a major firmware update. Improvements include a new AdaptiveTone feature delivering “better color and detail in both bright and dark areas” when filming with both lenses, and a larger battery you can swap in that boosts recording time to just under four hours.
AdaptiveTone is the most compelling reason to install the free update. It addresses the challenges of adjusting and balancing exposure on dual lens cameras when both are potentially capturing scenes with different lighting conditions. The new feature records ”more comprehensive lighting information from the environment” for each lens, which the company says is then used in post-processing to adjust the exposure of footage and deliver more “natural-looking results” based on the perspective, angle, or specific footage you choose to export.
The update also makes the X5’s PureVideo mode, designed to reduce the noise in footage captured in low-light conditions using AI and “dynamic range optimization,” available when shooting with just a single lens. To better deal with bright lighting conditions where creators want to use slower shutter speeds to capture motion blur, Insta360 is also introducing three neutral density filters (ND16, ND32, and ND64 all priced at $59.99 each) that can be attached using the X5’s user-replaceable lens system.
The X5’s battery life is getting a boost with Endurance Mode now available while shooting in 8K/30 fps mode to extend recording time to just under two hours. Dropping the camera’s resolution to 5.7K/24 fps also increases the camera’s runtime from 185 to 208 minutes, but if that’s still not enough a new $49.99 2,800mAh Ultra Battery is about 17 percent larger than the X5’s standard 2,400mAh power pack.
Insta360 has even introduced a handful of upgrades designed for motorcyclists. Immersive Shake Stabilization will smooth out footage while still preserving a bit of natural shake to impart a feeling of speed, and the X5 can now automatically blur and obscure license plates. There’s also a new $159.99 remote control accessory that can be strapped to a bike’s handlebars or worn like a watch that features an LCD live preview screen, GPS data like speed and direction, and a built-in noise canceling microphone with a wind screen.
