Review: Insta360 Luna Ultra and Mic Pro
If you are unfamiliar with handheld gimbal cameras, essentially, they are a camera connected to a mechanical 3-axis gimbal to keep your images smooth and shake free.
This allows you to capture video with a cinematic quality, usually achieved by heavy rigs or jibs. Whilst this technology is not new, it has become quite a competitive product in the market.
The Insta360 Luna Ultra ($1,229.99) has some great features that make it stand out from the rest of the competition. Let’s explore some of these.
Design and build
The Insta360 Luna Ultra is designed for comfortable one-handed operation. The camera is controlled by a thumb joystick, record button, zoom rocker, as well as a 2” touchscreen monitor.
Weighing in at only 233 grams, it is highly portable and can easily be attached to a variety of mounting systems.
The unit comes in a compact but sturdy case, which protects the gimbal head and touch screen but also allows for the storage of lens filters and even a wireless microphone.
The battery life is ample with up to 4 hours of operation and has quick charge capabilities. There is 47GB of built in storage, but this can be expanded with a MicroSD card (up to 1TB).
Unlike an action camera the Luna Ultra is not weather sealed, so moisture and dust should be avoided. In my opinion, it’s a take anywhere camera and much more versatile than a phone camera.
Optics and sensor
Insta360 has teamed up with Leica to develop a dual lens system. The main lens offers a 20mm field of view (equivalent) with an impressive F1.8 aperture, sitting on top of a 1” sensor.
The telephoto lens is 60mm (equivalent) F2.0 with a slightly smaller 1/1.3” sensor. With internal processing these lenses can be combined for a up to 12x zoom, or 6x lossless.
With Leica’s proven superior optics systems this gives piece of mind that the optical quality will be of a high standard, and it is. The sensors can record video up to 8K30fps and 37MP RAW for photos, which is quite impressive for a unit in such a compact form factor.
Removable screen
One of the standout features is the detachable screen. Not only can it be used for remote operation, but it also includes a built-in microphone, which is very handy for street interviews or vlogging.
The transmission system works up to 20m, and it allows your creativity to flow. For instance, the camera could be mounted on a boom pole and then remotely controlled for a drone type effect, or mounted on a car, remotely controlled and narrated from within the vehicle.
That’s one feature I will definitely be taking advantage of.
Video
There are a few hallmarks that prove this camera has been created for the serious content creator.
As mentioned, the Luna Ultra can record up to 8K 30fps but there is also a plethora of options that allow up to 240fps in HD for those super smooth slow-motion shots.
There are many built in colour profiles including some of the flagship Leica profiles. You are also able to capture in I-Log at 10bit which makes it a versatile option for professional production, allowing you to colour grade and match in post.
Also, built in timecode sync provides seamless workflow for multi camera productions.
Creative and tracking modes
Low light capture is very impressive with the new PureVideo mode. This utilises the on-board Triple AI Chip, to reduce noise and increase brightness with unmatched results (Up to 4K60fps).
Deep Track 5.0 allows you to lock onto your subject with confidence. Then by selecting Smart Framing you can decide where to position your subject in the frame. Timelapse and TimeShift modes are also a nice addition; their ease of use make them more assessable to everyday content creation.
Audio and mic pro
Often what is lacking in smaller cameras is quality audio. Insta360 has done an excellent job at utilising three separate microphones on the body for spatial audio capture.
Noise reduction and voice enhancement can be selected, producing quality that rivals most mirrorless cameras for internal recording.
What is particularly valuable to run and gun creators is the ability to have wireless audio and the Luna Ultra has incorporated this well.
I paired the Luna Ultra (AU$159.99) with the Insta360 Mic Pro. It is a compact wireless lapel system with 2 microphones that can be used with any phone or mirrorless camera.
The beauty of this system is that it connects directly to the Luna Ultra via Bluetooth, saving the hassle of connecting and mounting an additional receiver. This makes the process of capturing professional audio simple.
These small units pack a lot of punch, offering internal 32-bit float recording, up to 400m transmission range, selectable pickup modes, onboard noise reduction and up to 4 channels of operation.
The microphones can be attached with the supplied clip or magnetic mounting system. The magnetic body of the microphone can be attached to any metal surface for added versatility in audio capture.
A very cool feature of these microphones is the electronic ink display. This enables you to save any image to the screen, and it stays there even when the device is powered down.
This gives your productions a more personalised and professional look. All the pieces of this kit fit neatly into a charging case, which will keep your system topped up with power for days on the road.
The size of this product gives you no excuse to leave it at home. This is an essential accessory for anyone that’s serious about content creation.
Photography
This camera will not replace your mirrorless system for photography, but it is very capable for everyday use and could well replace your larger setup for travel.
JPG and RAW capture is available, so the perfectionist can edit and tweak images to their hearts content.
The beauty of a gimbal-based camera is that there are a few unique features that it can achieve with ease. Jump over to panoramic mode and you can capture 200MP stitched panoramas in camera.
There are also live frame and 360-degree modes, which can be great tools for creative photography.
Handling ★★★★★
All the controls are at your fingertips, it’s lightweight and easy to use.
Features ★★★★★
There are so many features to explore in this little camera, and the detachable remote is a game changer.
Build Quality ★★★
A lot of thought has gone into the design and it’s very practical, however, it does feel a little fragile and venerable to the elements.
Image quality ★★★ 1/2
The video imagery looks sharp, vibrant and smooth. I enjoy the creative photo modes but the standard photo modes are average.
Value for money ★★★ 1/2
Unless you are a serious content creator or regular traveller the price may be on the high end.
The wrap-up
As a video professional that specialises in documentary and lifestyle programming, I often wonder how a product like the Insta360 Luna Ultra would fit into my workflow, if at all.
After my initial testing of the unit, one thing is certain, this product is a lot of fun, simple to use and produces great imagery.
I can see that this would be a valuable tool for a serious content creator or casual filmmaker, but I’m thinking I may have a few uses for it as a professional video producer too.