![[images/Insta360 X4 The Ultimate Underwater Tutorial.webp]] # Insta360 X4 The Ultimate Underwater Tutorial [Watch on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3JVqFvWyQ8) · MountMedia · 2024-07-25 · 16:27. Written from the creator's English subtitles and chapters. Sponsored by Insta360. ## Outline - **0:00 – Why the X4 needs special handling underwater (chapter "How to use the X4 underwater").** The X4 is a great choice for exciting underwater video, but without preparation footage can look broken, blurred or full of lens flares. Werner promises the best settings, the accessories you need, and tips against common mistakes. As a 360 camera the X4 has two extremely wide lenses whose images are merged; that only works when the light's angle of incidence is right, and underwater that angle changes, so stitching no longer works and shots look badly split. The X4 is waterproof to 10 metres and can be used underwater without a case, but not in 360 mode: you would have to use single-lens mode and treat it like a traditional action camera. To keep the X4's real strengths underwater (the invisible selfie stick effect and free choice of framing) you need a dive case, specifically Insta360's **Invisible Dive Case**. ![[images/Insta360 X4 The Ultimate Underwater Tutorial-t0052.webp]] - **1:23 – Must-have accessories (chapter "Must-Have Accessories to use the X4 underwater").** The Invisible Dive Case is relatively expensive, but it's not just a plastic cover: besides adding waterproofing it corrects the light's angle of entry, acting as an add-on to the lens, so it must be high quality. Werner advises against cheaper imitations. It works well (the selfie stick disappears) but handling it isn't easy. Normally he'd use a floating handgrip with an action camera, but to benefit from 360 features he recommends a selfie stick; his favourite is the standard 114 cm **Invisible Selfie Stick**, which packs small and works underwater as long as it's mounted straight and the camera isn't tilted. The case-plus-stick combination slowly sinks, so attach a screw-on **wrist strap** to the bottom of the stick, which he calls an absolute must-have. Insta360 also sells the **Invisible Dive Bundle** (X4, Dive Case, selfie stick, wrist strap and floating handgrip) at a good price; links are in the description. - **3:27 – Loading the Invisible Dive Case (chapter "How to use the Invisible Dive Case").** First update the X4's firmware, which is required for correct stitching with the case. Remove any lens guards. Insert the X4 so the case's buttons are on the same side as the camera's buttons (the right-hand side with the display facing you). Slide the cardboard-like **anti-fog inserts** that come with the case into the slots left and right of the lenses; they work well, but check them regularly and replace them when damp or the case can fog. Close all four buckles. Before closing the case, activate **Dive Case mode**: swipe down from the top edge, swipe left once and tap the icon at the top right. You can also enter it with the camera already in the case by pressing and holding the Q button (the lower side button). Only in Dive Case mode does stitching work and can the camera be operated underwater. ![[images/Insta360 X4 The Ultimate Underwater Tutorial-t0355.webp]] ![[images/Insta360 X4 The Ultimate Underwater Tutorial-t0450.webp]] - **5:11 – Operating the X4 in Dive Case mode (chapter "How to operate the X4 in dive case mode").** You only have two buttons and no touchscreen. A short press of the Q button starts and stops recording; a short press of the power button changes the recording mode; a double press of Q switches to single-lens mode and changes lens; holding Q exits Dive Case mode; holding power turns the camera off and on. The key thing to remember: short-press the lower button to record, the upper button to switch modes. Werner shot many underwater tests for the video, which is sponsored by Insta360. - **6:00 – Three tips for looking after the Dive Case (chapter "Three important tips for the use of the Dive Case").** The case is meant mainly for underwater use; you can use it above water (for example surfing), but you must first set lens stitching in the app to **Invisible Dive Case Above Water**, and water droplets show on the image out of the water. The plastic scratches easily, so don't set it on rocks, keep sun cream off it and store it in its pouch. Salt water damages materials over time, so wash it thoroughly after sea use; Insta360 even recommends soaking it closed in fresh water for a while to remove all salt residue. One of the included rings can attach the X4 in the case more firmly to the pole, and the camera must be mounted straight for the invisible-stick effect. - **7:23 – Best underwater settings (chapter "The Best X4 Underwater Settings").** Once in Dive Case mode you can't change settings like frame rate or colour profile, so set everything beforehand. Use standard video mode (or photo mode) in 360; single-lens 4K hardly looks better than reframed 360 and loses the advantages. 8K gives the best image quality (noticeable on a large screen) but tops out at 30 fps, while 5.7K reaches 60 fps for a smoother, more natural look. Choose 5.7K60 if you mostly watch on a phone and have good light; prefer 8K30 for big screens; in darker, deeper water favour 8K30 or 5.7K30, the best low-light setting. If unsure, his default underwater is 8K30. In the advanced capture menu (swipe from the right edge) he avoids manual exposure because light changes quickly. Colour profile: Vivid suits quick sharing, but he usually picks Standard and adds saturation in the app; Flat is only for heavy grading. Set **EV +0.3** because bright areas are usually the sun at the surface while the interesting parts are darker. Auto white balance works reasonably well, though it can shift mid-shot; manual isn't practical underwater. Low Light Stabilisation off, Balanced Exposure on auto. In the main settings' image settings, set video bitrate to **High** and sharpness to **Medium** (High adds artificial edge contrast; Low is too soft with the case). Finally, open presets via the Q button, tap the plus, and adjust the built-in **Diving** preset so you can recall these settings quickly. - **12:30 – Editing underwater footage (chapter "How to edit the X4 underwater footage").** He uses the Insta360 smartphone app (most features also exist in Insta360 Studio on desktop). Under the settings icon, Accessories and manual, check that **Invisible Dive Case** stitching is selected (usually automatic); the above-water option is here too. Under Basic, enable **Aqua Vision 2** to reduce the blue tint and make colours stand out, then adjust intensity and colour; he would lower intensity to about 40. Footage through the case looks a little soft and too zoomed in, so widen the field of view when reframing, for example to around 110 in **MegaView**, for a sharper, more detailed image. Export at the highest resolution (4K) and bitrate (150) for the best quality, at the cost of larger files. ![[images/Insta360 X4 The Ultimate Underwater Tutorial-t1310.webp]] - **14:10 – Tips and tricks for better underwater recordings (chapter "Tips & Tricks for better underwater recordings").** First, lens flares are very common with the case, especially snorkelling or diving near the surface, so hold the case sideways with neither lens facing the surface (many of his own shots have flares from learning this the hard way). The stitch line is a little more visible underwater, so rotate the camera as little as possible. Second, light is crucial: deeper means worse quality, and watch the sun's position, swimming toward the sun rather than with it behind you if you're filming yourself from the front. Third, avoid fast, jerky movements; slow, steady forward motion works better and is much easier with fins. Fourth, include a subject (yourself or another person) to keep shots interesting, at least a metre from the camera so it doesn't blur, which is another reason to use a selfie stick. ![[images/Insta360 X4 The Ultimate Underwater Tutorial-t1435.webp]] - **16:11 – Outro.** For more on the X4's features and best accessories, see his two related tutorials; he asks for a like and promises more X4 videos. ## Things mentioned ### Cameras - Insta360 X4 (360 camera, waterproof to 10 m without a case) ### Accessories - Insta360 Invisible Dive Case for X4 (corrects light refraction for 360 stitching underwater; includes anti-fog inserts and mounting rings) - Insta360 Invisible Selfie Stick, 114 cm (his favourite for underwater use) - Screw-on wrist strap for the selfie stick (keeps the slowly sinking setup from being lost) - Floating handgrip (his usual choice for traditional action cameras) - Insta360 Invisible Dive Bundle (X4, Dive Case, selfie stick, wrist strap and floating handgrip) - Lens guards (must be removed before using the case) - Fins (help with steady forward movement when snorkelling) ### Camera features and settings - Dive Case mode (two-button control: Q to record, power to change mode, double-press Q for single-lens, hold Q to exit) - Single-lens mode (the only option underwater without a dive case) - 8K30, 5.7K60 and 5.7K30 resolution and frame-rate trade-offs - Colour profiles Standard, Vivid and Flat - Exposure value +0.3, auto white balance, Low Light Stabilisation off, Balanced Exposure auto - Video bitrate High, sharpness Medium - Built-in Diving preset (via the Q button presets) - Firmware update (needed for correct stitching with the case) ### Software (Insta360 app and Studio) - Lens stitching options Invisible Dive Case and Invisible Dive Case Above Water - Aqua Vision 2 (reduces the blue underwater tint; intensity about 40) - MegaView field of view around 110 for sharper reframes - Export at 4K with a 150 bitrate - Insta360 Studio desktop app ### Related MountMedia videos - His X4 features tutorial and X4 best accessories video (mentioned in the outro) ### Purchase options - Insta360 X4 Dive Bundle (15% off and free gift, affiliate link): https://www.insta360.com/sal/x4?utm_term=INRNHMF - Insta360 X4 underwater accessories (affiliate link): https://store.insta360.com/accessory?utm_term=INRNHMF - Insta360 X4 Invisible Dive Case (affiliate link): https://store.insta360.com/product/x4-invisible-dive-case?utm_term=INRNHMF - Audiio music used in the video: https://audiio.com/pricing?oid=1&affid=606 ## Bios - **Werner Plank** is the creator and host of MountMedia, a YouTube channel based in Austria that makes in-depth reviews, comparisons and tutorials for 360 and action cameras, especially Insta360, DJI and GoPro, often filmed outdoors in the mountains and, here, in the sea. He can be reached at [email protected] and on Instagram as @werner.plank. - **Insta360 X4** is Insta360's 2024 flagship consumer 360 camera with dual ultra-wide lenses, up to 8K 360 video, single-lens modes and FlowState stabilisation. - **Insta360** is the Shenzhen-based camera maker behind the X-series 360 cameras, the Ace Pro and GO action cameras, a range of accessories such as the Invisible Dive Case and Invisible Selfie Stick, and the Insta360 mobile and Studio desktop editing apps. Insta360 sponsored this video.