From WIRED · Scott Gilbertson · · 3m
Insta360 Luna gimbal cameras challenge DJI's US dominance
Two new gimbal cameras from Insta360 offer excellent stabilisation and 4K video at a time when DJI's rival models are unavailable in America.
In brief
Two new gimbal cameras from Insta360 offer excellent stabilisation and 4K video at a time when DJI's rival models are unavailable in America. Insta360's Luna Ultra and Luna Pro gimbal cameras deliver stable 4K footage with excellent image quality and detachable screens, offering the best gimbal camera option currently…
Two new gimbal cameras arrive
Insta360 has launched the Luna Ultra and Luna Pro, gimbal-camera combos that compete directly with DJI's Osmo Pocket series in the compact camera market.
DJI unavailable in the US
Neither of DJI's competing cameras is currently available in the US, which makes Insta360's Luna series a more compelling buy for American customers.
The two models explained
The Luna Ultra launched in June with two lenses: a wide-angle main lens developed with Leica and a zoom lens. The Luna Pro, added in September, is identical but lacks the zoom.
Main lens specifications
Both Luna models use a twenty millimetre equivalent lens with a wide, bright f slash one point eight aperture. The main lens records to a one inch sensor.
Superior image quality
The Luna cameras deliver significantly better image quality than the Insta360 X six because of their lens design. The Luna's narrower field of view makes for sharper, clearer video.
Gimbal and tracking performance
The three-axis gimbal keeps shots steady and lets you smoothly pan, tilt, and roll. Auto-tracking lets the lens follow a subject automatically. The gimbal performed well in testing.
Detachable screen advantage
The Luna has a detachable front panel with an OLED screen and recording controls.You can set up the camera and use the screen remotely to frame yourself from up to approximately sixty six feet away.
Slow motion and log recording
The Luna cameras top out at four K slash one hundred twenty frames per second for slow motion.
Battery life and limitations
Testing showed four K slash twenty four fps footage recording for two hours and fifty five minutes outdoors at about sixty five degrees Fahrenheit. The battery is not replaceable, which limits quick swaps.
Ultra's zoom lens capabilities
The Ultra's telephoto lens has three X optical zoom, equivalent to sixty millimetres on a full frame lens, and reaches up to fifteen X via digital zoom after a firmware update.
Zoom lens practical value
The zoom lens is most useful for shooting B-roll and recording concerts or live events from far away. Image quality suffers considerably with digital zoom, though the processor works to keep it sharp.
Luna Pro offers better value
The Luna Pro is probably the better value for most users. You lose the zoom lens but save one hundred seventy dollars. The Ultra only makes more sense if you want longer focal length shooting.
Luna wins on availability and support
The DJI Osmo Pocket four and four Pro are not officially for sale in the US. If registration, repair, support, and warranty matter to you, the Insta360 Luna series is your safer bet.
The bottom line
Insta360's Luna Ultra and Luna Pro gimbal cameras deliver stable 4K footage with excellent image quality and detachable screens, offering the best gimbal camera option currently available in the US market.
