00:05This is the ENSA 360 Luna Ultra and it wants a piece of the compact vlogging camera market
00:11that's long been dominated by the DJI Pocket. If we're going purely off capabilities and its
00:16super neat detachable screen, it has every right to get some. Before we dive in, make sure you scan
00:21this QR code to learn more about becoming a tech radar insider. Membership is completely free and
00:27gives you access to exclusive perks, rewards and more. Now let's get into today's video.
00:34So the Luna Ultra is Insta360's first vlogging camera and it's a clear rival to the DJI Osmo Pocket
00:40series, the most recent models being the Pocket 4 and Pocket 4P. Luna comes in two varieties,
00:46the Single Lens Pro and the Dual Lens Ultra. As you can see, I have the flagship ultra here.
00:51DJI announced its Single Lens Pocket 4 a month prior and its Dual Lens Pocket 4P came later,
00:55and I'm still working on my review of that one. Both Luna models are available in black or white
01:00versions and in a variety of bundles that cater for various use cases. Prices start at $699.99
01:06or £649. That's a fair whack more than the Single Lens Pocket 4, but you are getting two cameras in
01:12one device.
01:15Both Lunas pack an ultra-wide main camera with 20mm focal length and f1.8 aperture,
01:21which utilises a 1-inch sensor that's Insta360's largest sensor yet and directly matches DJI for size.
01:28And it's capable of shooting 8K 30p video with Dolby Vision and 4K slow motion up to 120 frames per
01:35second.
01:35The Ultra model adds a 3x telephoto camera with 60mm focal length and f2.0 aperture,
01:41which uses a slightly smaller 1 over 1.3-inch sensor. This dual-lens approach is familiar with leading
01:48smartphones, and you're truly getting two cameras in one here. The additional camera is the main
01:52difference between Pro and Ultra versions of Luna cameras. That 3x camera gives a totally different
01:58feel to the ultra-wide and is capable of throwing depth of field nicely for pleasing portraiture and
02:03vlogging. It's also possible to punch further in with a lossless 6x zoom where you won't particularly
02:08notice a drop in quality, and even further 12x digitally where image quality dips a little bit.
02:149MP photos can be shot in RAW and JPEG format, and that resolution can be up to 37MP in the
02:21Ultra Photo mode, or even higher in the Panorama Photo mode. The screen can be rotated 90 degrees
02:26to auto-switch between horizontal and vertical formats, while this button here on the camera spins
02:31the camera around between front-facing and rear-facing for selfies, much like the Osmo Pocket 3 and Pocket 4
02:37cameras can. The Luna camera is supported with a 3-axis gimbal for smooth shots on the go,
02:42but this is no action camera. For one it's not waterproof, so don't take it underwater or out in
02:48heavy rain, and for another I've found that the gimbal will fail if you try filming rough action
02:53like running or off-road biking. For these types of activities you'll want one of the best action
02:57cameras instead, like the DJI Osmo Action 6, Insta360 8 Pro 2 or GoPro Hero 13 Black.
03:07The Luna Ultra's form factor is familiar. It's a bit like the stick-like design of DJI's Pocket
03:11series, and DJI isn't happy about it by the way, it's filed a lawsuit accusing Insta360 of patent
03:17violations. However, there are some key design differences. Lunas are slightly larger than
03:21Pocket models, not majorly so, but the difference is clear when you hold them side by side. In practice,
03:27I didn't reveal that the Luna's extra weight and size negatively affected its handling,
03:31it's easy in the hand for on-the-go vlogging. If you want the absolute smallest option however,
03:35DJI is your best bet. Now, there's a good reason why the Luna cameras are bigger,
03:39and that's for a super clever and unique feature, a detachable remote control,
03:43a module which features a 2-inch OLED screen, and the camera's main controls. Simply squeeze the red
03:48buttons on either side of the Luna, and the module pulls away from the body. The module has a 20
03:53-meter
03:53transmission range, and operates exactly the same way as if it's on the camera,
03:57with the touch display offering a remote view and the main camera controls to hand,
04:01including gimbal, zoom and record. Transmission range is impacted by the surroundings,
04:06I've found the feed froze inside 15 meters when other people passed in front of me in a busy urban
04:11space. What's really neat is that the module has a built-in microphone, so you can check your frame
04:16and present to camera. It's certainly better than using the on-camera mic, though a wireless mic such as
04:22Insta360's own mic pro with its customisable e-ink display is an even better pick for audiophiles.
04:28The camera has direct Bluetooth support for this mic and Insta360's mic air. There's also smart
04:33subject tracking, meaning the camera can track you as you move around, within the gimbal's range,
04:38keeping you or your subject centred in the frame. Controlling the Luna using the module and tracking
04:42is like having your own camera person filming you, provided you can find a secure surface to rest the
04:47camera on, or a support to fix it to. The camera itself can stand freely, but there are optional
04:52accessories too, like a tripod grip and a battery grip, which has these tiny little feet included.
04:57The battery grip version of the tripod grip extends the battery life of the camera,
05:01which has a 1550mAh unit that's rated up to 4 hours of 1080p filming and can be recharged 80%
05:08in just 23 minutes.
05:12In addition to regular 8K video, the Luna Ultra has a range of shooting modes,
05:16including slow motion up to 240fps in full HD, time-lapse, time-shift and barrel roll.
05:22Both Lunas accept microSD cards and include 47GB internal storage. That's less than DJI's Osmo Pocket 4,
05:29which has more than double that. And there's plenty more for audiophiles to enjoy, namely a decent wind
05:34guard for the camera's internal 4mic array plus 32-bit float audio. This pro-level setting avoids
05:39clipping and is ideal for noisy environments, but for simpler audio edits, the 24-bit setting is probably your
05:46best bet. The Luna Ultra ups the ante with 8K video, double the resolution of the 4K Osmo Pocket 4.
05:54It will shoot 8K up to 30fps, complete with Dolby Vision, 8K HDR and iLog colour profile.
06:01This is the first Insta360 camera with log, a flat colour profile which is what pros like to use
06:06to maximise the colour grading potential and for the most dynamic range possible from their camera.
06:11In this case, it's up to 14 stops. DJI, on the other hand, has billed the Pocket 4P
06:16as having 17 stops of dynamic range. I look forward to comparing the footage of both cameras to see
06:21which is better. Insta360 thinks its night mode is superior to DJI, with its pure video mode boosting
06:26dynamic range for 4K videos up to 60fps. That's another comparison test I'm looking forward to
06:32conducting. Insta360's Leica partnership stretches beyond the Luna's Leica-branded lenses and into various
06:38Leica colour profiles. If you like the simplicity of auto colour profiles rather than log, then the
06:42Luna has some great choices.
06:47Despite being Insta360's first vlogging camera, the Luna Ultra overall feels like a polished product.
06:52It's one with powerful features, especially its 8K video quality and removable remote module. Plus,
06:59it's supported by a growing range of excellent accessories. DJI has been in the compact vlogging
07:03camera space for much longer, but the Luna Ultra enters with a bang and is an impressive alternative.
07:09The second lens is the cherry on the already tasty cake. Have a question? Let me know in the comments
07:14below.
