Best Waterproof Action Camera for Water Sports & More: Insta360 X3

5 min read


The sun’s out, you’re at the pool and you decide to take a video with your phone when suddenly… you drop it in the water. Ruined. Or, you’re out for a surf, catch the wave of a lifetime, but have no way to show friends your moment of glory.

With a waterproof action camera like Insta360 X3 you never again need to worry about these types of scenarios. Boasting a rugged design and IPX8 waterproof to 33ft (10 meters), X3 can handle a dunk in the water and then some. But that’s far from the full story.Insta360 X3 Waterproof Action Camera

As a waterproof camera, X3 offers a world of creative possibilities that traditional wide-angle cameras are simply unable to match.

360 reframing: Never miss a shot

One major reason X3 is a game-changer for your underwater videos is 360 reframing.

While you might not care about shooting immersive 360-degree content, with a waterproof 360 camera you don’t even need to point the camera. Just mount the camera (say to the edge of your surfboard) and reframe the shot in any direction later.

Without moving the camera even once, you can switch the video angle to get multiple views in one shot. And you can still export it as a traditional format video that you can share directly to social media like any other video. Check out how it works below, as the camera pans from one diver to the other:

 
 
 
 
 
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Invisible Selfie Stick

The next best thing about an underwater 360 camera is the Invisible Selfie Stick. When you shoot with X3 on a selfie stick or extension rod mount, the stick will automatically be removed from the shot, making it look like your camera is floating in the air. This is because the stick falls in the blind spot between the camera’s two lenses. All you need to do is import your footage into the Insta360 app and like magic, the stick is gone.

 
 
 
 
 
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Super smooth shots

X3 is also equipped with Insta360’s gimbal-like stabilization algorithm, known as FlowState Stabilization, and built-in 360-degree horizon leveling. FlowState stabilization ensures that your footage remains butter smooth and upright, no matter how you jump, flip or move on the water.

FlowState stabilization

Rugged cam, long-life battery

A long-life 1800 mAh battery keeps X3 going longer than most action cams, with an impressive run time of 81 minutes when shooting in [email protected]

X3 is natively waterproof without a case, but for underwater 360 shots, pick up the X3 Dive Case for seamless underwater stitching of the footage from both lenses. Check out the views you can get when you swim a little deeper…

 
 
 
 
 
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In terms of other accessories, we also recommend the Floating Hand Grip, which will bring your camera safely to the surface if you happen to drop it.

Powerful AI editing suite 

When it comes to the edit, the Insta360 app is an absolute powerhouse, making it quick and easy to get great footage from your water-based adventures.

Instead of having to buy a filter for shooting underwater video (as with other action cameras), X3 has a ready-made solution: AquaVision. AquaVision is an AI-powered color correction editing tool in the Insta360 app that gets rid of the blue haze and turns water crystal clear. Just import your footage and toggle on AquaVision on export. Check it out below:

AquaVision

In addition to all the manual editing tools in the Insta360 app, there is also a large collection of AI-powered editing templates. Navigate to “Shot Lab” in the Insta360 app and with a just a few taps of your phone, these templates will edit your footage for you!

For more info, check out the Insta360 YouTube channel or head to the Insta360 store to buy your X3 today. 

Alternatively… try our smallest waterproof action camera

For everyday use, you may want a mini waterproof action camera that you can take with you anywhere. 

Insta360 GO 2 weighs just 27g (less than an ounce) and is no bigger than your thumb, making it the smallest waterproof camera in Insta360’s product lineup. GO 2 is native waterproof to 13ft (4 meters), so it’s great for sitting poolside or for underwater shooting too.

The best thing about a tiny waterproof action camera is that you never have to worry about whether to take it with you on a day out on the water. Just throw it in your beach bag and you’re all set for the day. Starting and stopping shooting is as easy as pressing the front of the camera, which has a built-in button. 

Because GO 2 is so small, it’s also ultra-mountable and wearable. The included Pivot Stand is a handy accessory that can be used underwater as a handle to hold the camera. For more high-intensity water sports, you can pick up the Action Mount Adapter to mount the GO 2 with a range of accessories. GO 2 also comes with a Lens Guard to keep the camera’s lens protected on a day out. 

Smallest waterproof action camera

Plus, because the camera is so small, you can put it in places you might not have thought of before… 

 
 
 
 
 
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4 Comments

  1. Pingback: Underwater Photography: 7 Top Tips for Using Underwater Cameras - Insta360 Blog

  2. Pezhman 2023/04/14 at 1:35 pm

    Hello, good time, thank you for the very good information you gave, I had a question, I want to buy the x3 camera for canyoning, will it not stop when the water hits the screen during video recording? And is it possible to install this camera on a helmet?

    Reply
    1. Insta360 2023/04/18 at 11:42 am

      Hi there, X3 is waterproof to 33ft so it can handle itself fine in regular water-based activities. However, canyoning is fairly “action heavy”, with a risk of impact when jumping into water or glancing off rocks etc. As such, we’d suggest to use the X3 Dive Case for added protection.
      Re installing on the helmet, there are lots of options for this. One is the Helmet Bundle, which you can find here: https://store.insta360.com/product/helmet_mount_bundlee. If you have a full face helmet then the Helmet Chin Mount is a great POV option: https://store.insta360.com/product/new_unicorn_helmet_mount?c=1567&from=nav
      You’ll also find a few other accessories at store.insta360.com which might fulfill your needs.
      Hope that helps!

      Reply

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