How to shoot FreeCapture and Bullet-time Scenes with Insta360 One

Insta360 launched the ONE, a versatile 4K 360 camera that shoots 360 video and photos at resolutions of 4K (3840*1920@30fps, 2560*1280@60fps) and 24 MP (6912 x 3456), respectively. It offers three modes of operation: standalone use, remote control via Bluetooth, and control via a direct connection to a smartphone’s charging port. The iPhone-compatible version is available now, with an Android version on the way.

Availability

The Insta360 ONE is available now at https://mall.insta360.com/ and via authorized dealers such as Amazon and B&H. Shipments will start September 5.

The US retail price of an Insta360 ONE – including a camera, a two-in-one case and camera stand, a MicroSD card, a Micro-USB cable, a lens cloth, and a string attachment to achieve the bullet-time effect – is USD $299.90.

Bullet-time Scene

With Insta360 ONE camera and a simple accessory, you can easily film bullet-time scene like that in The Matrix by Wachowskis.

How It Works

A number of advanced technologies come together to achieve the effect. Firstly, the ONE’s built-in six-axis stabilization keeps the footage smooth, even as centrifugal forces cause unpredictable vibrations during the camera’s orbiting path of movement. This avoids the need for any additional stabilizing equipment.

After attaching the Insta360 ONE to either a selfie stick or the string attachment that’s included with the camera, users can create a bullet-time shot by rotating the ONE around themselves while filming at 120 frames per second. The accessory they use will be automatically erased from the shot, giving the impression that the camera is flying around them.

Using a proprietary interpolation algorithm, the resulting footage can be boosted to 240 frames per second, making for an even slower and more dramatic effect.

Once a bullet-time shot has been recorded, the ONE’s companion app uses an advanced stitching algorithm to create a final shot that’s composed of images captured by both of the ONE’s dual fish-eye lenses — blending them into one seamless shot that stays trained on the center of motion.

This stitching is also the key to how the ONE erases the selfie stick or string attachment from the shot. When two images are stitched together, there’s a small sliver of data exactly at the point where they meet that is often lost. The ONE uses this phenomenon to its advantage, positioning the stitch exactly on top of the swinging accessory, so that it’s effortlessly concealed.

Finally, an automatic interpolation algorithm allows users to double the apparent frame rate of their footage from 120 FPS to 240 FPS, achieving super slow-mo shots that give an epic edge to just about anything.

FreeCapture

Another feature is the all-new FreeCapture.

With traditional cameras, capturing an experience goes like this: You look around, find the most interesting or beautiful part of whatever situation you’re filming, and then do your best to stuff it inside a rectangular viewfinder. The problem is, you could capture the eclipse but miss the stunned reactions of the crowd. Or you’ll get the sunset view of the temple, but miss the monkey that saw an opportunity to snatch something from your bag.

The Insta360 ONE’s new FreeCapture feature lets you solve it yourself, with only one camera.

How It Works

First, you use the ONE to capture every angle of a scene. Because the ONE captures an all-encompassing 360 view, you can focus on enjoying the moment, instead of on what you’re filming.

Then, when you have time to review what you captured, you can explore your 360 video on your smartphone, and re-capture the best parts of your experience as a traditional 1080p fixed-frame video that’s ready to share anywhere.

Leveraging your phone’s gyroscope, FreeCapture lets you simply peer into your original 360 video using your phone display as a kind of virtual viewfinder. As you maneuver your phone to explore the scene, you’ll determine which fixed-frame footage is extracted from the original 360 video. What you see is what you record. If you want to film something on the opposite side from where you’re looking, just do what you always do: turn around.

FreeCapture also allows you to seamlessly toggle between standard points of view, and the special perspectives – such as tiny planets, ultra fisheyes and rabbit holes – that are only possible when you’re working with a full 360-degree recording.

To view all VR videos shot with Insta360 cameras, please visit https://veer.tv/vr/Insta360

Related Posts

360