Getting on the slopes each winter is the highlight of my year, so I always try to record my fun in the snow so I can relive it and share the joy with friends and family.
I’ve tried lots of cameras over the years, each with their pros and cons, but overall the standard keeps improving and this winter I’ve discovered the best yet, the fabulous Insta360 X4.
First up, it’s easy to use, even when I’m wearing thick gloves or my fingers are freezing. It effortlessly handles extreme temps and unexpected bails, delivering jaw-dropping videos every time that somehow seem to make my adventures seem even better than they are already!
It’s also built for the elements and I’ve found that however much slushy snow gets splashed on it, however cold the temperatures I ski in, it operates perfectly. In fact the X4 is built to operate in temperatures as low as -20ºC and is completely waterproof to 10 metres without any sort of housing.
But let’s get straight on to the technical wonders that really make the X4 my stand out action camera! Firstly this is no regular camera.
First up it has two lenses recording in all directions, producing 360º videos in stunning ultra-sharp 8K, 30 frames per second (fps) quality. It actually won TIME’s Best Inventions Award for that. It means that whichever way I head down the mountain, it films everything to an incredibly high image quality. In short, I no longer miss the best bits because I hadn’t quite got the lens pointing in the right direction or angle.
The next big plus are the Insta360 X4’s higher frame rates, getting right up to an incredible 5.7K at 60 frames per second and even still 4K at 100fps. It means super smooth and sharp filming even for the highest speed action. I found it great for terrain park trickery and chopping through the trees.
Sometimes though I needed a more traditional point-and-shoot camera, and I found that rather than needing to bring along multiple devices on my trips as before, the X4 can be used for that, too. By using one of its fish-eye lenses in Single-Lens Mode, I can film immersive first-person views at 4K60fps.
I also sometimes opt to strap my X4 to my helmet for a very cool point-of-view that shows off my true speed as I fly down the mountain. That’s most impressive when I get some speed up on a steep red or black of course.
Of course, getting the film in the can is only part of it and once again I found the X4 comes into its own again after its camera stops rolling.
Incredibly, it opens up the rare opportunity of being able choose the best angles AFTER filming. It offers me the flexibility to change perspective without setting up the shot beforehand. I can fully customise and reframe 360º footage in an unlimited number of ways. So shoot first and create the perfect framing later, it’s amazing.
I use Insta360’s free desktop editing suite and mobile app which both offer me heaps of creative options including one-tap templates. There are even AI reframing tools for simple on-the-go editing. These mean anyone (even me) can edit dynamic videos regardless of experience or ability.
I also use the accompanying Invisible Selfie Stick when I’m on a solo trip. Somehow the stick magically disappears in my 360º footage, leaving me with awesome drone-style shots, without a drone!
It means I can nail a line, pull off a sick trick, and do it all without needing a friend or a complicated setup to film it all beautifully. I can even get hands-free shots while I shred with the Ski Pole Mount.
On top of its built-in low temperatures and water resistance, the X4 boasts a removable tempered glass Lens Guards which adds further protection from ice and snow, meaning I can shred up a storm without worrying about damaging a lens. So I can spend my day wondering which apres ski bar to head to rather than what might be covered in the warranty!
I also found that the X4’s unique chocolate bar shape makes it perfect to slip into my salopettes when I wasn’t using it. Once I need it though I can give a voice command, flash a hand gesture or press those easy-to-operate buttons and it instantly zaps back to life.
I can even pair my Garmin device or Apple Watch with my X4 to overlay real-time stats and data in my footage, including GPS data, speed, elevation, and more.
As we all know from sudden power loss in our phones and other devices, freezing temps typically eat up battery life, but I found that the X4 designers have thought of that and use the camera’s powerful AI chip to boost both image quality and run time. I found it operated up to 135 minutes on a single charge at 5.7K 30fps.
There are plenty of other features that help me film the best footage possible. For example Insta360’s signature FlowState stabilisation keeps even the bumpiest of my mogul runs looking smooth and shake-free. There’s even built-in horizon levelling meaning any flips (or slips) come out perfectly level and actually looking much better than I remember!
For everything you need to capture your next ski trip, the X4 Ski Bundle gets you started with the camera, Standard Lens Guards, Action Invisible Selfie Stick, Ski Pole Mount, and Lens Cap for £587.
Special In The Snow Offer! Scan the QR code for a free Ski Pole Mount (worth £34.99) or use code INRP9KQ at checkout with any Insta360 X4 purchase from store.insta360.com.
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