![[images/Insta360 X4 vs X3 Low Light Comparison Is It Any Better.webp]] # Insta360 X4 vs X3 Low Light Comparison: Is It Any Better? [Watch on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGC5C3WGSQA) · MountMedia · 2024-04-22 · 3:17. Written from the uploader's English captions (manual track), plus frames and the description. The video has no chapters. ## Outline - **0:00 – Why this test.** Werner, at his desk, says many viewers want to know how much the X4's low-light performance has improved over the X3, since 360 cameras often get used in the evening or indoors. He'll show several longer low-light comparison shots to judge whether the progress is enough. ![[images/Insta360 X4 vs X3 Low Light Comparison Is It Any Better-t0005.webp]] - **0:21 – Best settings for low light on the X4.** The X4's low-light image quality *has* improved over the X3, with caveats. For the best results, record at **5.7K**: both **8K** and **5.7K+** look worse in low light than plain 5.7K. Keep the frame rate low, **30 fps at most** and ideally **24 fps**. Every comparison clip is shot in the **Standard color profile** on both cameras and labelled **5.7K30**, with the X3 on the left and the X4 on the right of a split screen (first shot: an evening street). ![[images/Insta360 X4 vs X3 Low Light Comparison Is It Any Better-t0022.webp]] - **0:55 – Colors.** The X4's colors are much improved, especially in the **Standard** profile and a little less in **Vivid**. So the X4 shots look better partly because of better low-light performance and partly because its Standard colors are clearly nicer (shown in a bouldering gym). ![[images/Insta360 X4 vs X3 Low Light Comparison Is It Any Better-t0045.webp]] - **1:18 – Shutter speed, motion blur and stabilization.** The **X3 visibly uses a slower shutter speed** in low light, which gives more motion blur and worse stabilization. He points to one walking shot where this is especially clear. - **1:32 – Dynamic range.** Looking at the sky in an evening plaza shot, the X4 has **slightly better dynamic range**: the X3's sky is somewhat overexposed while the X4 protects the highlights fairly well, even though the X4 image is brighter overall. He says this holds for most of the comparisons. ![[images/Insta360 X4 vs X3 Low Light Comparison Is It Any Better-t0132.webp]] - **1:52 – Limits.** The X4 is **not a low-light specialist**. In very little ambient light you need a camera with a much larger sensor, and that applies to every kind of action camera. - **2:06 – Usable vlogging with some artificial light.** With some artificial light, as in his night shots, the X4 can produce perfectly acceptable vlogging footage even when it is very dark. He thinks one night plaza shot looks quite good given the conditions. ![[images/Insta360 X4 vs X3 Low Light Comparison Is It Any Better-t0215.webp]] - **2:22 – Detail versus noise.** In low light the X4's footage has **more detail** and looks sharper than the X3's, but he'd say both have a **similar amount of image noise**. - **2:34 – Wrap-up.** He asks viewers whether that's enough improvement, points to links for both cameras and to his in-depth X4 vs X3 comparison in the description, and lets the remaining comparison footage (arcades and lit courtyards) run before signing off. ![[images/Insta360 X4 vs X3 Low Light Comparison Is It Any Better-t0248.webp]] ## Things mentioned ### Cameras - **Insta360 X4**: Insta360's 360 camera launched in April 2024 (8K 360 video). It's shown on the right of every split screen. - **Insta360 X3**: Its 2022 predecessor (5.7K 360 video), shown on the left. ### Settings and features - Resolutions: 8K, 5.7K+ and 5.7K. He recommends 5.7K for low light on the X4. - Frame rate: 30 fps maximum, with 24 fps ideal for low light - Color profiles: Standard (used for all test shots) and Vivid - Shutter speed, motion blur and stabilization differences in low light - Dynamic range and highlight protection, detail and sharpness, and image noise ### Related videos - [[Insta360 X4 vs X3 In-Depth Comparison A Huge Difference]] - https://youtu.be/MvSuQl-OG00 ### Purchase options - Insta360 X4 (with a free Invisible Selfie Stick): https://www.insta360.com/sal/x4?utm_term=INRNHMF - Insta360 X3 (11% off plus a free Invisible Selfie Stick): https://www.insta360.com/sal/x3?utm_term=INRNHMF - Music: Audiio (promo code SAVE70 for 70% off): https://audiio.com/pricing?oid=1&affid=606 - The description notes that these are affiliate links ## Bios - **Werner Plank** runs MountMedia, a YouTube channel of camera tests, comparisons and tutorials focused on 360 and action cameras from Insta360, DJI and GoPro, often filmed in the mountains (Instagram: @werner.plank; contact [email protected]). He presents the intro at his desk and appears walking and bouldering in the test footage.