Fantastic honest review Steven! You really went above and beyond getting all these test done. Bummer the shots are so soft on the Ace Pro. Also I'm stunned by the color grading was a issue. Does the GoPro have the polarizing issue?
Hi Steven nice review. Ive been using the AcePro now for a couple of months on my channel and the reason I purchased it was for low light performance for in-car footage, long battery life, the fact you can run it without a battery and also the key benefit it doesn't overheat. I have found a couple of issues, nothing major but if you film like i do, there are shortcomings. Firstly the small screen on the front doesn't have a camera in it, like the GoPro does, secondly if your videoing yourself with the big screen flipped up, and then you turn the camera around you have no idea what your filming. For me the biggest benefit of this camera is the battery life and the reliability on shoot. To make this camera perfect I would either add a screen on the front to give more shooting options and also the ability to rotate the flip up screen. The quality of the build, the luxurious lights, great mode selection and offcourse low light performance makes this a great product, just not perfect.
Good review. I have some issues with close focusing. You did not address in your video. I use the camera underwater and one of the features I was looking for is some close wide angle videos. I'm not toalking about macro. It hard to pinpoint the exact distance limit but it seemed like under 1 meter the camera stragled to keep focus.
Great review! Yup, I've had mine for about a month now and still loving it. Yes, about the polarize issue, wonder if there can be a screen protector that can fix that ie. privacy screen type film. The other thing you didn't mention which I think is a important factor is the overheating issue which this camera doesn't seem to have and the GoPro still chronically has. This was a big factor of my use as my GoPro was consistently overheating resulting in loss footage. I mainly use mine in warm to hot conditions.
Thank you. I have heard if you apply a polarizing screen protector that it will reverse the effects and you can see it... I have not tested that though. My GoPro 10 never overheats on me. Of course I use mine outdoors while running, so there is usually a breeze.
I had the same problem with the Gopro 10, but to be honest the latest update appears to have helped this problem, its still not as good as the AcePro which can run forever.
I am an Ultrarunner too and always flipping up the screen to see if I hold it correctly to film myself is too much hassle. I prefer ease of use. That's why I sent it back and stay with the DJI Action 4.
Great and honest review, thank you very much. How do you shoot your 1st person perspective plans? Chest fixation? Is it enough with the stabilization to have clean shots?
@@UltraTrailSteven indeed, my footage are too sketchy with the chest mount, I now understand that it’s normal even with all the stabilisation features. Thank you for your answer 😁
Clarity Zoom actually does work in 1080p after the latest firmware update. GoPro's wind reduction is a lot better. I just hate that the Ace Pro files are not compatible with iPhones for direct transfer like you can with the GoPro. I'm sure Insta360 will never change that.
Steven, thanks for the always detailed and unbiased review, and your findings are consistent with other reviews. The lack of detail and some of the other issues are deal-breakers for me. Curious about the other camera that you'll review. I'm disappointed that from a design and engineering perspective, there's not an excellent action camera that checks all the boxes. These are not $100 knockoffs lol.
There is definitely a lot of noise from what I'm seeing on my Canon DP-3V monitor at work. Seems like it is crushing blacks but have to put it under a scope to really tell what's going on with the Ai processing. Is there a way to manually adjust Ai aggression level settings ? ty
Great title! It made me watch the entire video to isolate your concerns. Yet, you did a fantastic job! Let's just agree to disagree that your fatal flaw does not even register for me. I have the new GPS remote and it views well with any sunglasses. Also, I am a cyclist and polarized sunglasses is not always recommended due to the safety aspects of having an unreliable view of your surrounds. I also use the remote when stand up paddle boarding. It makes things so easy to frame shots and change settings from my wrist because the screen can easily be seen in direct sunlight. Lets be honest, how many settings can you change with the accessary gopro remote, and it does not even provide you with a video screen to assure that you are properly framed! If the Ace Pro is a game changer, then that freaking remote wins all games! It is incredible and you can actually do every single thing with it, as you can with the camera screen. It does cost you more, but for me, totally worth the cost. If you are a runner, just place it on the same arm that you are holding the ace pro and you can see everything very clear. The only other action camera remote (and camera) that comes close to it is the remote for the older Sony X3000, as it also had a video feed on the remote, and you could change most of the settings with it. The X3000 is actully better in low light than my gopro, even today! In all fairness you did a great job in identifying the pros of the camera! Your other cons are pretty relative to mine. I also use a gopro 10 with my ace pro for unique captures from different angles. There is nothing wrong with my gopro 10, as it does very well. I must also say that for straight out of the camera for "any" type of shooting, I perfer the ace pro-it just gets it done! Your mention of color grading is mute to me! In my opinion, the Ace Pro displays what my eyes actually see, (after adjusting sharpness and EV). I use premiere pro and you are sort of correct IMO but also incorrect. Because I have been, and continue to shoot with gopros, I always found the image to be very unnatural looking (some folks call it gopro colors). So, when I edit the gopro footage in premiere, it actully benifits from editing, so it will look more natural. With the Ace Pro, something is taking care of most needs for major post editing. I do very little editing with this camera because it looks great, straight out of camera. Maybe color grading is an issue for some, because they are looking for that gopro look? The other thing that so many reviewers are ranting about is close focusing. I have tested this issue in many ways: filming moving water in streams and other ways. But the other day, during a snowfall I placed the Ace Pro very close (closer than specs said) to my bird feeder and captured feeding birds. It never displayed any focus issues, even when I punched in using clarity zoom. Yet, I do have a cheap ali express UV filter mounted over the lens, as you just push it on. Works well, apparently! Of all of the short list of cons that you mentions, there are two that you did not mention, and they are actually the only two that applies to me. One of them is the accessary mag mount with the quarter 20 screw that you have to pay extra for as well. As a cylclist, until recently I always used quarter 20s for my handlbar mounts, but that mount rattles like crazy under vibrations. The supplied mount does not make any noises at all but it does not have a quarter 20. A minor second con is that, after a firmware update, the DJI Mic 2 no longer works with the Ace Pro . If you reach out to your contacts at 360 please mention this! So, in saying this, my "only con" is that they did not include a 1/4 20 mount on the bottom of the camera. Other that that, if I compare this to any other action camera out there, and consider actuall cons of all of the them in comparison to the Ace Pro, then it becomes a no-brainer that the ace if my go to camera in 2024. I don't conduct reviews but I will include this link to one of my adventure videos while cycling in snow a couple days ago with the Ace Pro mounted to my chest. If you want to see the video of the close focusing with feeding birds, let me know. In closing: I had no idea that you can choose 4k 120 from the standard settings and it will include audio! Thanks, and Thanks again for your honest opinions. I will subscribe to your channel because so many reviewers these days are reviewing for other reasons..... ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ZHUa_24t0PE.htmlsi=s1rJ5mYqX1z6fmAY
I found if I download video direct from the sd card to the computer the voice and video do not sync. It has to be processed through their software first. At least for me
The shots are not overall soft, they are soft if your subject is below the minimum distance only, which is clearly about 2 feet (not what insta360 says). You can fix this by applying a diopter. When you do that, then the close-up stuff is sharp (proving it is a distance issue). So, the correct "con" is that this is not the ideal camera for vlogging that entails making the videographer's face the main subject (in the horrible example you show in the con section, the face is way too close, so it is really soft). Beyond 2 feet, the Ace Pro has higher acuity than the GoPro; it has a better lens. And the 8K is stunning. I have GoPro's too, and I do not receive free stuff from insta360.
The minimum focal length is 40cm, which is 1.31 feet. The example used to show this issue, both of the cameras were approximately 30" from my face on a selfie stick; way beyond the minimum length.
@UltraTrailSteven Yes, that's my point. The minimum distance is not 1.3 feet, it is over two feet. In any case, it is a limitation, but I do disagree that otherwise the image quality is somehow fuzzy compared to that of the other action cams, at the same resolution.
@@UltraTrailStevenI think this guy is correct. You should watch the RU-vid video "Ace Pro had a major flaw but I fixed it"... Faces look incredibly sharp with a 2x diopter. 🤔👍
@@darrendean21 ?? I know it can be done? Yes. Is it recommended by the manufacturer? No. I would be curious to see the results of someone that has replaced it themselves and then submerged it in water to see if it leaks or causes issues. I could also see it void a warranty. That’s why I said what I said
@@darrendean21 I think @ultratrailsteven is absolutely right not to promote an unapproved way of changing out a lens with a 3rd party unapproved replacement and voiding the warranty and risking the waterproofing of the device. Insta360 says the lens is not user replaceable so you are on your own if you want to risk it. One early beta tester at launch said the camera WAS intended to have a replaceable lens but that changing it was too frequently resulting in leaks when the replacement was installed so they did a last minute change to make it "not user replaceable." I don't think this was Insta360 trying to make a buck, they know it isn't a good look when DJI and GoPro have replaceable lenses and they know the Hero 8 was knocked when it didn't have one... but they did it because they felt they had to because replacing the lens at home is a risk currently. I bet the Ace Pro 2 solves the problem.
Will you review Dji Osmo Action 4 ? It's only $299 now , same sensor size of Insta Ace Pro , smaller in size compare to Gopro / Ace Pro .Also battery last longer.
One thing you forgot to mention is it requires a SanDisk 128GB Extreme microSDXC UHS-I Memory Card with Adapter - Up to 190MB/s, C10, U3, V30, 4K, 5K, A2, Micro SD Card - SDSQXAA-128G-GN6MA as a standard SD card is not compatible with HDR :/
In regards to the inability to see screen with polarized sun glasses, I am wondering if there is a possible solution with a type of screen protector that would solve this issue?
Thanks for the review. I got the GoPro Hero 12 creator package a few days ago. I also like the richer image from the GoPro during daytime better than Ace Pro. I'm currently debating whether I should return it to get the Action 4 or Ace Pro instead. However, I'm concerned that the Ace pro is having a focusing problem based on some YT reviewers. I just can't put up with Gopro's trashy image quality in low light situation considering I'll be doing in car talk and install videos. Additionally, it takes an eternity for gopro to recharge.
Well, the Ace Pro definitely blows the GoPro out of the water in low light situations when using Pure Video mode. But thats about it. The Action 4 looks really good too! Maybe look at the DJI Osmo Pocket 3. I love that camera! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-OrNui5cT1UM.html
Great review Sarah it looks a fantastic tent and I love those magnet thingies so I'll get myself some of those. I know the 9" pegs will definitely help on some of the peaty ground in the peak District 😊.
Thank you GoPro for paving the way all these years..Q1 round goes to the Ace Pro 360 in 1st place, DJI Action 4 in 2nd place and GoPro in 3rd. Possible in the fourth and final quarter, GoPro will jump back to the front of the line.
I doubt GoPro will jump back to the front. They've been quite lazy regarding innovation since the Hero 10, maybe even the Hero 9. If GoPro doesn't make some drastic changes soon, they'll be out of the competition and probably bankrupt.
I like the features of the Ace Pro, but God the image is blurry and not only when the subject is close. For example at 11:35 check the building and the rocks, on the Ace Pro they look really blurry. Basically in every shot where you put the 2 side by side you see that the Insta 360 is blurry and it's so frustrating because I really wanted to get the Ace Pro, it really has way more features then the GoPro or the DJI.
I’ll keep my GoPro just not enough for a non techie regular guy who shoots tons video and pics. My GoPro 9 has served me well it’s got issues but so does this camera.
polarising foil ist part of each lcd screen, without it won't work. so I don't think insta360 can do that much to the sunglas issue. The only thing you can do, is to buy sunglases without polarising glas. The only thing insta360 obviously can do, is to change the angle, at wich the light is going throu the pol filter of the lcd screen, so you don't have to turn your head for better seeing.
With polarized glasses on you should be able to rotate the camera 90 degrees to see the screen, though not sure the menus system is working then. But yes, this is big problem that slipped through engineering. Likely the LCD screen manufacturer only had one polarization direction available and they went with it. There are Random depolarization films out there that theoretically be usable.
I don't really get why it exists. The image is ok but not great, but more often than not it's simply out of focus when vlogging. It's does some things quite well but they all seem to be things that if a regular feature in your filming then an action cam isn't the right choice
I bought an ace pro to replace my GoPro 11. It is awful. The stability does not Work. I have run 3 Ultra with it and it’s akin to An old GoPro before stabilisation. I have spent half a day on chat to insta. They even said o had to pay to return to Hong Kong. I said it’s faulty. I have sent my video to them And have heard nothing for a day. Awful customer service. Absolutely unusable as an action camera
I make well into the 6 figures, and I'll tell you all this, I will not, CANNOT, pay $450 dollars for an action cam! I don't care how much money I have left over. Gents, I'll be going with the DJI Action 4 Adventure pack that comes with EXTRA batteries for $400 dollars. The only thing that would be able to sway me over would be the night recording.
I don't think an update can solve the problem, if the lens is not focused it is a hardware problem! please remember: on the model WITHOUT "PRO" the focus limit is 1,9ft/60cm ! I will send mine in for repair, let's see what Insta can do there
''motion blur'' that's not a pro but a con that's just the blurry image you mentioned. Lower bit rate results in blurry image, low frame rate too. 24fps plus low bit rate will look horrible especially in motion. Anything lower than 60FPS looks horrible choppy to me.
You cut off your video at the start at 00:00 where you are going to mention the ONE MAJOR FLAW and you don't say what it is!!!!!With all due respect comparing the Ace Pro with the Hero 10 is NOT a fair comparison. I believe a better comparison would have been with a Hero 12.
Why do you cut it out at the beginning of you video? Your time index also says 00:00 Major Flaw. I find it confusing at the very least. You might want to go back and edit the start of your video.