Anyone got experience using the Insta 360 one x2 without the dive case for capturing watersports?

The App editing workflow looks better than Gopro max but not sure if it is waterproof in waves or crashing at speed. Looking for winging and sup foiling. Be good to hear from crew that are using it if there are any ...

Yep, I have one currently. This is my second, as the first got water ingress while I was wavesailing at south passage. Took it back and and Camera House Leederville (where I bought it) replaced immediately. It seems like it is not a common fault. I have my latest one out while dinging and had not problems. Really easy to use editing and shoots well. I do have the dive housing for constant underwater shots but if I'm going sailing/dinging I don't use the housing.

Works for a while without dive casing. Then it got water. I think one just needs to double check the seal every time. I sent mine in and they replaced it for $100

Select to expand quote

snorton said..
Anyone got experience using the Insta 360 one x2 without the dive case for capturing watersports?

The App editing workflow looks better than Gopro max but not sure if it is waterproof in waves or crashing at speed. Looking for winging and sup foiling. Be good to hear from crew that are using it if there are any ...

Go for it! I use the Insta360 one X2 for wingfoiling. It's waterproof. You do need to double check the side closure (to insert charging cable) that it "clicks" and the red color around the locking doesn't show.

I am also seriously impressed with the battery life in colder temps. I've been using it in regular -10 to -5 celcius temps here on the frozen lakes where I wingski and wing skate.

The app for editing is a marvel! Please do check if your smartphone is compatible. Insta360 web page lists the minimum smartphone processor capacity. The app doesn't require an Insta360 account like e.g. GoPro now requires (to open up all features). No vendor lockin here. Also pictures on your phone or pictures/videos from friends, you can easily merge into your story.

And lastly: don't waste your money on a overpriced harness mount. I bought the Insta360 back bar + Insta360 selfie stick (extends from 30 cm to 90 cm) The entire thing cost 1/3 of the harness mount and does everything the harness mount can. In fact I now believe the Insta360 backbar and selfie stick are a safer option (see Graham Ezzy video on instagram how the harness mount pole just fell off) just because the selfie stick connection to the harness is more integrated and 'idiot proof'.

If you need more info DM me! Ah by the way you can see videos on my insta account av17nash . Last thing I tried is placing the insta360 camera on a frozen lake on a mini tripod and wingskiing / skating around it. Great images. I'll try the same when back in the water. Need to find a way to fix the insta selfie stick in an upright floating bottle, anchored to the bottom (and jibing around it!)

Final comment: the stitch line of the Insta360 is much smoother compared to GoPro Max.

Select to expand quote

JakeDawg69 said..
Works for a while without dive casing. Then it got water. I think one just needs to double check the seal every time. I sent mine in and they replaced it for $100

hmm.. no such issues here. Used it in water, snow etc.
I never took it lower than 2 m. Yes the little side doors with rubber seals need some careful closing and double checking. I find those a bit scary. But so far so good.

The underwater image isn't nice though. I believe you need special lens caps or a dive case to get 360 underwater image. But the way I use (above water) I didn't need that.

Select to expand quote

snorton said..
MProject04 said..

Last thing I tried is placing the insta360 camera on a frozen lake on a mini tripod and wingskiing / skating around it. Great images. I'll try the same when back in the water. Need to find a way to fix the insta selfie stick in an upright floating bottle, anchored to the bottom (and jibing around it!)

Final comment: the stitch line of the Insta360 is much smoother compared to GoPro Max.

I've mounted my 360 cam on a tall tripod in shallower water and I've mounted it on top of my boat in deeper water. It's amazing how well it compensates for the boat rocking. Just got a small inflatable boat (Highfield) that should provide a great floating mount and water taxi
Not sure about a floating bottle but I think an anchored large inner tube, or better yet a paddle board.

I'm a GoPro Max user. I wouldn't completely dismiss the Max. Very nice edit work flow and the stitching isn't bad, (though neither are quite as good as the Insta from what I hear). On the plus side the construction/waterproofing is definitely a bit more bomber proof than the OneX2, at least from reviews I've read. I've pounded very hard on mine and never had the slightest issue. One drawback to any 360 cam are those exposed curved fisheye lenses. They will eventually get scratched in rough environments. Covers are useless for water use. i think either cam is a great option

my friend had a few insta360s fail on him. he used it for filming windsurfing in salt water. he really liked the camera but says it's just too unreliable and the customer service was terrible. he films almost every day. He has had no problems w/ the GoPro Max since he switched a year ago (except for losing them).

I have a Max and am very pleased with it.

My one R flooded 6th time using it surfing, POS, and the ui is clunky and slow. Customer service denied me and I had to file a claim to get a refund. I don't trust the brand and have yet to see them use double gasket locking ports, usually just weak sauce plug type ports which can flood very easily. Never had waterproofing issues with any gopro.

No issues with my X2 never use a housing . I have absolutely flogged it using it for towing in free hand ,prone mounted on board or body & wing foil mount on board & wing . The phone software is so fast and easy plus the new desktop version is amazing ( just released ) . GoPro pails in comparison here . Still an Avid Gopro user though just not the Max . As mentioned above need to double check the side doors are closed and clicked into place . This is a shot of me about to get destroyed I'm hand holding the Insta X2 on a pole.

Select to expand quote

Piros said..
No issues with my X2 never use a housing . I have absolutely flogged it using it for towing in free hand ,prone mounted on board or body & wing foil mount on board & wing . The phone software is so fast and easy plus the new desktop version is amazing ( just released ) . GoPro pails in comparison here . Still an Avid Gopro user though just not the Max . As mentioned above need to double check the side doors are closed and clicked into place . This is a shot of me about to get destroyed I'm hand holding the Insta X2 on a pole.

video or it didn't happen!

thanks, good to know someone has put the X2 through the paces. my friend really liked his but could not get them to last more than a few sessions before they failed.

I know I have gone out w/ my Max without the battery door locked... user error, but thankfully/luckily the door stayed shut and everything was fine

Reviving a thread here to see if anyone has upgraded to the new Insta 360 X3 yet, or plans to? I think I'm finally gonna make the switch from the Max to the X3. I'm hoping with the new model Insta has made some subtle improvements to the door seals for water use. X3 image quality with the 1/2" sensors looks much nicer than the Max from what I've seen, and the software editing features have always been 5 steps ahead of the Max. A bit tired of waiting for the Max2 and some software upgrades.

I've gone back to mounting my Max off the back of my SLS Slick boom with a quick-and-dirty homemade extension selfie stick since it's so convenient, as opposed to placing the 360cam in a fixed location and winging around it. It could definitely use some tweaking but still having fun with it

I posted a while back here on the X2 model and hailing its waterproofness.. I am not so sure anymore. I used it a while back. Before going in the water I replaced the battery and thought I really closed the doors well. During the session it got flooded with salt water. After 3 days of drying it was fine again.

Next session I used it in fresh / lake water, and again it caught water but less. Not sure if it was internal condens. I haven't used it since. I am confident though that water or no water it keeps working :-D

Would be nice to know if the X3 has improved door sealing.

I really wanted to buy the Insta360 but didn't want to set myself up for disappointment after reading so many people having water ingress issues with a supposedly waterproof camera. I ended up with the MAX and it's pretty good. I don't care for the software (QUIK) and really wish I could edit the content on my laptop but have yet to find a simple, straightforward way to do this. I'd really love to just plug my camera into my laptop, transfer the new files and edit on a full size monitor, etc. Not a fan of editing on my phone or iPad.Any software that folks are using on a Mac to edit 360 content?

Select to expand quote

MProject04 said..
I posted a while back here on the X2 model and hailing its waterproofness.. I am not so sure anymore. I used it a while back. Before going in the water I replaced the battery and thought I really closed the doors well. During the session it got flooded with salt water. After 3 days of drying it was fine again.

Next session I used it in fresh / lake water, and again it caught water but less. Not sure if it was internal condens. I haven't used it since. I am confident though that water or no water it keeps working :-D

Would be nice to know if the X3 has improved door sealing.

Yeah, all the initial reviews I've seen so far have been typical dry land uses. I guess we might have to just wait and see. Insta was certainly aware of all the One X2 water ingress complaints. The other thing that's kept me in the GoPro camp for now has been the subscription/replacement option they offer. For a $50/year (usd) subscription fee you can get a replacement Max for $100 usd when you send in the old 'broken" Max, so basically $150 usd total. I've used it twice in 2 1/2 years, once for heavily scratched lenses and once for failing to close the battery door properly (my fault).

Gneve, I use "Quik" on my IPad Pro and it seems to work fine although reframing footage is still long and tedious no matter what platform I use. I'd never want to try and reframe/render on my iPhone. Still, I'd much rather have features like horizon lock and "Me mode" that come with the X3

All complaining aside, 360 cams are waaaay more versatile than basic action cams despite the hassle's imho. GoPro is announcing the Hero 11 tomorrow, and yet the Max is almost 3 years old????

My X3 is arriving this week-I'll be back with updates. I've used both the X2 and GoPro Max. I think Insta360's default mounting position renders superior stitching than with the Max. It keeps the camera 'straight' and is free of any protruding thumb screws. Some early reviews note that the usb-c and battery compartment doors have been improved. If water is ingress is a concern (e.g., crashing in surf, dragging the wing going through whitewater, etc.), get the dive case. A common issue with all 360 cameras is that any lens protector or case will degrade image quality. AI improvements are needed to 'filter' those out.

I am wary of all insta360 waterproof claims. I hope the newer cameras are actually waterproof instead of only splash proof. The one r was not waterproof and they still market it as being water sports proof.

The test for me is the hatch should look like a car door, a gasket that is squeeze fitted in between 2 surfaces and where one overlaps the other. Gopro figured out the design a long time ago, I have never had a water leak on any gopro and I have had just about all the models they make. Similar design to slr dive housings.

It's IPX8 rated. If a device has an IPX8 waterproof rating, it means that it can withstand continuous immersion in water. The testing conditions for the IPX8 are defined by the manufacturer, but the testing is always performed under more severe conditions than the testing for the IPX7 rating. This means that an IPX8 waterproof device can be submerged in water deeper than 1m (usually up to 3m/9.8ft) for more than 30mins and can still work properly.
Caveats are that it's STILL water. no currents, eddies or pressure changes. Also fresh water not salt. GoPro don't give an IP rating for the Max (assume IPX8 as they say 5m waterproof). Either way, salt, surf & sand will ensure your camera takes on water over time. Only bonus is that you can get a waterproof case for the Insta. Can't find one for the Max.

Select to expand quote

westozwind said..
It's IPX8 rated. If a device has an IPX8 waterproof rating, it means that it can withstand continuous immersion in water. The testing conditions for the IPX8 are defined by the manufacturer, but the testing is always performed under more severe conditions than the testing for the IPX7 rating. This means that an IPX8 waterproof device can be submerged in water deeper than 1m (usually up to 3m/9.8ft) for more than 30mins and can still work properly.
Caveats are that it's STILL water. no currents, eddies or pressure changes. Also fresh water not salt. GoPro don't give an IP rating for the Max (assume IPX8 as they say 5m waterproof). Either way, salt, surf & sand will ensure your camera takes on water over time. Only bonus is that you can get a waterproof case for the Insta. Can't find one for the Max.

Westozwind, I'm with clayisland on GoPro having done a really good job at making the statement "Either way, salt, surf & sand will ensure your camera takes on water over time" two very different time frames for GoPro and Insta,..so far. My now almost 4 yr old Hero 7 has been slammed around in saltwater kiteboarding and kitefoiling since the day I got it with no issues. Maybe at some point it will fail, but 4 yrs and running is way different than 4 months, or 4 sessions and done..

I've thought about the dive case for Insta but the weight gain, video quality issues and fighting off condensation inside the case aren't appealing. I'll wait to see how the X3 survives without a dive case.

Speaking of weight, this is my lazy-quick-and-dirty Max mount for my Slicks. Just used stuff lying around the shop; epoxied wood dowel, thin wall slit pvc pipe and some thin bungee. Comes in at around 242 gms (155 for the Max and 87 for the mount). My DIY carbon boom is 300 gms, so the 360 cam rig brings the total to 542 gms. I weighed a Duotone aluminum boom at 580 gms, so it's sorta like going back to the aluminum boom weight with the camera mounted, although more rear weight bias.

I've mounted the Max right at the end of the boom; lightest weight and lowest effect on wing performance, but a less natural looking image. I've also mounted the Max about 40cm beyond the back of the wing (on my Echo's); best looking image but it really effects the wing performance (especially downwind luffing!). This is my compromise position. I'm sure there's a bunch of different, more elegant ways to accomplish the same goal.

We're waiting for the GoPro Max 2, since our previous Insta360 X2 took on water, in conditions that it was rated to be safely used within, failed, and then was subsequently refused repair/replacement under warranty. Your move GoPro...

I'm waiting for the Hero 11 Mini..

Select to expand quote

FoilIsland said..
We're waiting for the GoPro Max 2, since our previous Insta360 X2 took on water, in conditions that it was rated to be safely used within, failed, and then was subsequently refused repair/replacement under warranty. Your move GoPro...

I'm looking at the X3, but I would only buy it from Amazon and use THEIR insurance. Cause they'll actually cover it. I've heard stories of GoPro Maxes also taking on water, even though I would suspect GoPros will be more reliable regardless.

Select to expand quote

paulweller2 said..
My X3 is arriving this week-I'll be back with updates. I've used both the X2 and GoPro Max. I think Insta360's default mounting position renders superior stitching than with the Max. It keeps the camera 'straight' and is free of any protruding thumb screws. Some early reviews note that the usb-c and battery compartment doors have been improved. If water is ingress is a concern (e.g., crashing in surf, dragging the wing going through whitewater, etc.), get the dive case. A common issue with all 360 cameras is that any lens protector or case will degrade image quality. AI improvements are needed to 'filter' those out.

Had my first run this weekend. Improvements: larger screen, higher capacity battery, usb-c compartment latch seal, hydrophobic lens coating (not advertised but seems to repel water droplets very well). 80 min continuous shooting at 5.7k. Fantastic piece of kit.