Insta360 has just launched the Luna Pro, a pocket gimbal camera with 'Pro' at the end of the name. I thought that adding 'Pro' to the name and launching after the first version almost always meant upgrades that some – but not all – needed were coming. But that isn't what happened here.
Insta360 launched the Luna Ultra first, a camera which shares the same physical components when it comes to the handle – but that camera boasted a dual-lens system that allows for long telephoto shots, at the expense of, literally, expense.
In a very similar timeline, DJI launched its Osmo Pocket 4 (a single-lens pocket gimbal camera), then eventually a Pocket 4P with a dual-lens system. DJI is worth mentioning since the company essentially created this camera type by attaching a drone-like camera gimbal to a hand grip.
While DJI took the 'mass market first, premium model second' approach, Insta360 delivered the Luna Ultra system before DJI could get the 4P on sale. It also beat DJI's design in a number of ways – a built-in detachable remote control with a preview screen and microphone that works at up to 20m, more tactile controls, and 8K video mode.
DJI's 4P brought some impressive color science but couldn't add a detachable remote.
Now Insta360 has brought out the Luna Pro model and, by so naming it, the company seems to be sticking to its promise of targeting premium customers with its new models. The Ultra is the most powerful in terms of tele, but the new Pro still boasts all the benefits of the detachable controller – including the built-in mic and the ability to use it 20m from the base.
If you do need telephoto, the optics can't change (without an adapter), but there is a 4x digital zoom system built into the camera. For 4K, at least, it'll be lossless at 2x too.
The main camera is also still the 1-inch sensor, and Insta360 says that it can capture 4K vertical video in a cropped mode. The DJI camera switches to 3K when used in vertical video mode, so this puts Insta360 ahead in the crucial social media space.
