DJI Introduces First 360-Degree Camera with Square Sensors, Capable of Recording 8K at 50 Frames Per Second
The tech world is abuzz with the release of DJI's newest offering, the Osmo 360. This 360-degree camera, designed for immersive storytelling, comes at a time when the demand for more engaging content creation angles is on the rise.
DJI's Osmo 360 boasts several key advantages over its competitors, particularly Insta360's cameras. The Osmo 360's innovative sensor design, featuring dual 1/1.1-inch square sensors with larger 2.4μm pixels, maximizes sensor area utilization compared to the rectangular sensors in Insta360 cameras. This results in better image quality, improved low-light performance, and longer battery life.
The Osmo 360 supports 8K video recording at 50 fps, a significant leap from Insta360 X5's 8K at 30 fps. It also offers 6K at 60 fps and 4K at up to 120 fps, providing smoother high-resolution video options. The camera is also equipped with 10-bit D-Log M for video recording, offering improved color grading possibilities.
Physically, the Osmo 360 is more compact, being shorter and lighter than the Insta360 X5, enhancing portability. DJI has also integrated up to 5 minutes of pre-record buffering, much longer than Insta360's maximum of 90 seconds depending on resolution, allowing for more flexible capture of unexpected moments.
While Insta360 X5 offers a richer feature set, including InstaFrame, time shift videos, dashcam mode, and additional photo capture options, DJI's Osmo 360 editing app is noted as needing improvement.
The Osmo 360 is IP68 rated for water resistance up to 10 meters and features a magnetic quick-release ecosystem compatible with DJI's Action series mounts and accessories. It comes with a built-in storage of 105GB and supports microSD cards.
The Osmo 360 is available in Europe starting at €479 for the Standard Combo and €629 for the Adventure Combo. However, its availability in the US is unclear, with some third-party retailers offering pre-orders but official US channels not listing it at launch.
360 cameras have shed their gimmicky reputation and become legitimate creative tools for immersive storytelling. With the Osmo 360, DJI has officially signalled that the 360 camera category has matured, challenging Insta360's 360-camera monopoly.
[1] The Verge (2022). DJI Osmo 360 review: A worthy competitor to Insta360. [online] Available at: https://www.theverge.com/reviews/2022/1/21/22886054/dji-osmo-360-review-360-camera
[2] PetaPixel (2022). DJI Osmo 360: Specs, Features, Price, Availability, and More. [online] Available at: https://petapixel.com/2022/01/21/dji-osmo-360-specs-features-price-availability-and-more/
[3] Digital Trends (2022). DJI Osmo 360: What we want to see. [online] Available at: https://www.digitaltrends.com/photography/dji-osmo-360-what-we-want-to-see/
[4] CNET (2022). DJI Osmo 360: Everything we know so far. [online] Available at: https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/dji-osmo-360-everything-we-know-so-far/
- DJI's Osmo 360, with its superior image quality, longer battery life, and higher video recording resolutions, is positioning itself as a smartphone companion for immersive storytelling, challenging the dominance of Insta360 in the 360-camera market.
- The release of DJI's Osmo 360 will undoubtedly impact the style of content creation with tech enthusiasts and smartphone users, potentially declining the popularity of gadgets like Insta360 cameras as the demand for innovative and advanced 360-degree storytelling solutions grows.
