Insta360 Ace Pro – Is It any Good For FPV Drones?

Today, I want to talk about the Insta360 Ace Pro, a camera developed in collaboration with Leica. It’s an interesting product that I’ve been using for the past couple of weeks, trying it out in a variety of different weather conditions. Let me tell you, the weather did not cooperate one bit. In the past couple of weeks, it’s been a struggle, but I think I made it happen. Today, I want to share my impressions of this camera with you. Without any further ado, let’s check it out.

Testing the Insta360 Ace Pro on FPV Drones

In this article, we will be discussing the Insta360 Ace Pro action camera, which has been developed in collaboration with Leica. Over the past few weeks, the camera has been tested in various weather conditions, providing valuable insight into its capabilities and performance. From its unique design features to its video quality, this article will provide a comprehensive overview of the Insta360 Ace Pro, giving you all the information needed to make an informed decision about whether this action camera is right for you.

The Insta360 Ace Pro offers a number of exciting features that set it apart from its competitors, such as a flip-out screen, adjustable settings, and magnetic mounting capabilities. Furthermore, the camera boasts impressive video quality, with an 8K video resolution option and stabilization features. However, it is important to consider both the strengths and limitations of the Insta360 Ace Pro before making a final decision.

Key Takeaways of the Insta360 Ace Pro

• The Insta360 Ace Pro offers unique design elements, such as a flip-out screen and magnetic mount compatibility.
• It delivers impressive video quality, including 8K resolution and stabilization features.
• The camera has some limitations, such as a non-removable lens cover and a contrast-heavy color profile.

First Impressions of the Insta360 Ace Pro

Size and Weight The Insta360 AcePro is an action camera that is slightly bulkier compared to its competitors, the Osmo Action 4 and GoPro Hero 12 Black. This difference can be felt in terms of size and weight when holding the camera.

Flip-Out Screen One of the standout features of the Ace Pro is its flip-out screen, designed for easily viewing the captured footage and adjusting settings without relying on the front screen. This user-friendly design makes operation smooth and natural.

Front Screen and Non-removable Lens Cover The camera also has a front screen that displays basic information such as the shooting mode and frames per second. However, the non-removable lens cover is an unusual approach for an action camera. Insta360 offers free lens cover changes, but the process requires shipping the camera to their facilities.

Magnetic Mount and Quick Attachment The Ace Pro features a magnetic bottom section, making it compatible with various magnetic mounts. This convenience allows for easy and quick swapping between different mounts, especially useful for drone users.

Video Quality The camera boasts a 1/1.3-inch sensor co-engineered with Leica, shooting 8K at 24 FPS and 4K at 120 FPS. Although 8K video is available, it may not be an ideal shooting resolution for all situations. Still, advancements in resolution and frame rates are a positive development for the industry.

Color Profiles The Ace Pro offers a standard and flat color profile, along with other presets that can be enabled on the camera itself. Insta360 recommends the standard color profile, which provides a punchy, vibrant look to the footage. In contrast, using the flat color profile with 8-bit footage may lead to color artifacts.

Stabilization The built-in stabilization of the camera is a valuable feature for use on the ground, such as while vlogging or participating in action sports. However, drone users might prefer to use external stabilization options, like GyroFlow, for greater flexibility and control.

Physical Characteristics

Size and Weight

그리고 Insta360 Ace Pro, in collaboration with Leica, is a bulkier action camera when compared with the Osmo Action 4 and the GoPro Hero 12 Black. The difference in size and weight is noticeable when holding it in hand.

Flip Out Screen

One standout feature of the Insta360 Ace Pro is the flip-out screen. This allows users to easily view and interact with the camera without having to rely solely on the front screen. The flip-out screen provides a superior user experience compared to other action cameras with front screens only.

Secondary Front Screen

In addition to the flip-out screen, the Insta360 Ace Pro has a secondary front screen that provides basic information about the camera’s mode, frames per second, and whether it’s currently recording. Although not as detailed as the flip-out screen, the front screen offers a quick glance at essential camera information.

Non-Removable Lens Cover

The Insta360 Ace Pro has a non-removable lens cover, which some users might find unusual for an action camera. Insta360 offers to replace damaged lens covers for free, with users only needing to cover shipping costs. However, the replacement needs to be done in a controlled environment, so that no fog or moisture gets inside the camera during the process.

Power and Recording Controls

The Ace Pro features a power button on the side for turning the camera on and cycling through shooting modes, while the top of the camera houses the recording button.

Magnetic Bottom Section

This camera also has a magnetic bottom section designed to be easily attachable and swappable between different mounts. Whether it’s an FPV drone or other mounting solutions, the magnetic bottom section makes it quick and convenient to switch between mounts or remove the camera to adjust settings.

Camera Quality and Capabilities

Sensor and Resolution

The Insta360 Ace Pro, in collaboration with Leica, features a 1/1.3 inch sensor that can shoot 8K at 24 frames per second (fps) and 4K at up to 120 fps. However, the 8K feature may not be as useful to some users due to its limitation of 24 fps, making it less versatile for those shooting at 25 or 50 fps. The quality of the Ace Pro camera is distinctively in line with Insta360’s standards, with a high contrast applied to the footage.

Color Profiles

The Ace Pro comes with a few color profiles pre-installed, such as a flat color profile and a standard color profile that Insta360 recommends using. The standard color profile provides rich and vibrant colors, with only minimal room for adjustment in post-production. The flat color profile, on the other hand, may not be ideal due to the 8-bit depth, which limits the possibility for extensive color grading.

8K Shooting Limitations

While the Ace Pro camera does offer 8K resolution, its limitations, such as recording at only 24fps and a smaller sensor size, may not deliver true 8K footage as expected. The 8K feature could be useful for those looking to have the ability to crop their footage, but the sensor’s limitations mean it may not be frequently used by everyone.

When it comes to stabilization, the built-in stabilization of the Ace Pro camera performs adequately for on-ground uses such as vlogging and action sports. However, for aerial footage using drones, it may be better to use external stabilization tools like GyroFlow for more flexibility and control.

Mounting and Usability

When it comes to mounting, the Insta360 Ace Pro has a magnetic bottom, making it easy to attach to various mounts. This design enables quick swapping between different mounts, perfect for users looking to change settings on the go, especially when using the camera with an FPV drone.

Key Features

• Flip-out Screen: The camera comes with a flip-out screen that allows users to easily access settings without having to rely on the front screen. It offers a much clearer view of what the camera is recording and makes changing settings a breeze.
• Front Screen: In addition to the flip-out screen, the camera also has a basic front screen that provides essential information such as mode, frames per second, and shooting status.
• Magnetic Mounting: The Ace Pro is magnetically attachable, making it easy to swap between mounts and quickly attach or remove the camera from various surfaces.
• Non-removable Lens Cover: While the lens cover is not removable, Insta360 will replace damaged lenses for free, with users only required to cover shipping costs.

Camera Capabilities

The Ace Pro is equipped with a 1/1.3-inch sensor, co-engineered with Leica, supporting 8K resolution at 24 frames per second 그리고 4K resolution at up to 120 frames per second. However, the 8K feature is limited by being only available at 24 fps.

When it comes to color profiles, the standard color profile is recommended by Insta360, offering rich and vibrant colors. Using the flat color profile may result in artifacts and color breakups as the camera primarily shoots in 8-bit.

Stabilization

The built-in stabilization of the camera works reasonably well and is suitable for use when vlogging or participating in action sports. However, for drone usage, gyro-based stabilization software is recommended for optimal results.

In-Flight Experience and Issues

Usage with FPV Drones

The Insta360 Ace Pro is designed to be easily swappable from one place to another, making it a perfect partner for FPV Drones. Its bottom section is magnetic, allowing for quick mounting and removal. Furthermore, the Ace Pro comes with a flip-out screen that gives users full control without compromising on the quality they are used to with typical front screens on action cameras. This is especially useful when it’s mounted on an FPV drone, as operators can change settings or monitor their footage with ease.

In terms of quality, the Ace Pro features a 1/1.3-inch sensor co-engineered with Leica, capable of shooting at 8K in 24 frames per second and 4K in up to 120 frames per second. Users should be aware that the 8K feature may be limited due to the 24 frames per second, and it’s important to bear in mind that the Ace Pro shoots in 8-bit which may limit the post-production capabilities.

Jello Effect Investigation

When utilizing the Insta360 Ace Pro on different FPV drones, the Helon 10 drone, in particular, exhibited a slight jello effect in windy conditions. However, this was not observed when the camera was mounted on other drones like the Cop or the 5-inch drone. It is important to note that the jello effect was likely caused by the specific drone and weather conditions rather than the Ace Pro.

The standard color profile of Ace Pro delivers vibrant and rich colors in the footage. However, users may find that the shadows in the footage appear too dark and may require adjustment in post-production to achieve a visually appealing result.

In terms of stabilization, while the Ace Pro’s built-in stabilization performs well in on-ground activities, drone operators might prefer using software like GyroFlow for better control over smoothness and field of view during aerial shots.

Color and Contrast Observations

The Insta360 Ace Pro camera provides a standard color profile that delivers rich and vibrant colors, as recommended by Insta360. For those who prefer to color grade their footage, there is also a flat color profile available. However, due to the camera’s 8-bit recording capabilities, pushing the colors too far in post-production might result in artifacts and color breakups.

The footage captured by the Ace Pro exhibits a high degree of contrast, with the following key observations:

• Shadows tend to be dark, and raising them slightly can enhance the visual appeal of the footage by creating a more natural look.
• The camera’s stabilization performs well for ground activities such as vlogging or action sports.
• When used on an FPV drone, it is preferable to employ third-party stabilization software such as GyroFlow for greater flexibility in field of view and smoothness adjustments.

In summary, the Insta360 Ace Pro camera captures vibrant and punchy colors using the standard color profile, with a noticeably high contrast. Despite some limits in color grading capabilities, the camera still offers great possibilities for creative video production in various environments.

Stabilization Features

The Insta360 Ace Pro camera boasts of impressive stabilization features that can significantly improve the quality of the footages captured in various scenarios. When using this camera for different activities, it is essential to select the right stabilization option to achieve the desired level of smoothness in the footage.

In-built Stabilization

The Ace Pro’s built-in stabilization is an excellent choice for ground-level activities, such as vlogging or action sports. This feature provides a decent amount of smoothness to the footage, making it appear more professional and visually appealing. However, for aerial footages, there’s another option that can provide superior stabilization.

Gyro Flow Stabilization

When flying drones and capturing aerial footages, Gyro Flow stabilization is the recommended choice. This stabilization method offers more flexibility in terms of field of view and smoothness adjustments. While some shots might require a slight shakiness for dynamic effects, others may demand an absolute smoothness throughout the entire footage. Gyro Flow makes it easy for the users to achieve their desired level of stability and smoothness based on the specific requirements of the shots.

In conclusion, the Insta360 Ace Pro camera offers versatile stabilization options to cater to diverse filmmaking situations. Aligning the stabilization choice with the specific scenario can significantly enhance the overall quality and visual appeal of the footage captured using this powerful camera.