Insta360 may be the dominant force in 360 cameras, but the brand just stepped out of its lane in a big way — and moved into DJI territory — with its first vlogging camera, the Luna.
The Luna competes with DJI’s unique Pocket line of gimbal-stabilized 4K vlogging cameras. With no obvious competition, the DJI lineup has been selling by the bucketload for years. But with the Insta360 adding its own unique features, could DJI finally see some proper competition?
I’ve been testing the Luna ahead of its official launch, and while I can’t share everything I know about the Luna yet, nor any test shots I’ve taken, there are a few details I can reveal. First of all, the Luna comes in two variants, the single lens Luna Pro and the dual lens Luna Ultra, which are clearly set to compete with the DJI Osmo Pocket 4 and the recently teased/soon to be launched Pocket 4P respectively. Both Luna versions will be available in black or white, with pricing yet to be confirmed.
I’ve been using the dual-lens Ultra version, which like the Pro version has a 1x main wide-angle f/1.8 lens and 1-inch sensor – it’s the biggest sensor in an Insta360 yet, matching the DJI – but also adds a 3x telephoto camera.
Users can dial in the telephoto camera for a 6x lossless zoom – meaning there should be no noticeable degradation in image quality – and up to 12x with a digital zoom, for a total of five zoom stops.
We don’t yet have concrete details on the DJI Osmo Pocket 4P, but from early teasers it looks like DJI is taking the same dual-lens approach as the Luna Ultra, so the rivalry is getting real. We’ll have to wait and see who comes first with a world-first dual-lens vlogging camera.
Naturally, the Luna cameras are supported with 3-axis gimbal stabilization, just like the Pocket cameras. In another first for the Insta360, they offer 10-bit color depth and an I-Log color profile that again matches the specs of the DJI Pocket (although which one has the better footage is another matter).
All of the above suggests that the Insta360 is ready to go toe-to-toe with DJI, but that’s not even the most exciting part about the Luna.
The feature that DJI wishes it had
The Luna has a modular design party trick that DJI wishes it had: a detachable multifunction screen, and it’s brilliant. You simply press the buttons on either side of the screen to release it from the camera body, and then you can see what the camera sees from a distance, complete with record, zoom and joystick.
This is where things get really clever – the Luna’s detachable screen has a built-in microphone so you can use it to distance yourself, compose the shot, and present to camera.
What’s more, Luna has subject tracking. With a double tap on the screen of your intended subject, the camera will then track them and keep them centered in the frame as they move.
Pair these features – a detachable screen with microphone and subject tracking – and you really can be a one-man show, giving the impression of a camera person following you around the stage (although of course you’ll need to find a suitable surface to rest the camera body on or mount it on a stand).
The detachable screen is such a nice feature, especially for solo creators, but also when you’re traveling with friends or family and want to take selfies.
What makes the Luna even more compelling as a DJI Pocket alternative is that Insta360 has recently launched new accessories, including the recent Mic Pro wireless microphone (see above), which we awarded a maximum 5 out of 5 rating in our review. This excellent accessory means you don’t have to mix and match brands to get top-quality video and audio — Insta360 now has its own complete ecosystem for vlogging.
Yes, DJI has been making vlogging cameras for longer than the Insta360, and I expect it to continue to dominate the space for some time. Reports suggest the Pocket 4 took a whopping 72.5% of total camcorder sales in Japan last month, despite launching in the third week of the month, similar to DJI launching its own Osmo 360 to rival Insta360, but Insta360 still has nearly 70% overall market share. But the Luna might just do things differently enough to persuade first timers or DJI fans to make the switch.
I’m excited to share more Luna details with you once the full embargo is lifted. But what do you think of the features I’ve been able to share – game-changer or gimmick? How does the Luna compare to the Pocket 4? Have your say in the comments below.
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