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Insta360 Luna Ultra vs. iPhone | Is There a Winner?

Comparison of Insta360 Luna Ultra vs iPhone 17 Pro Max for vlogging and B-roll, focusing on stabilization, camera features, and audio quality.

Key Takeaways

  • Luna Ultra offers superior stabilization with its built-in gimbal compared to iPhone’s software and sensor-shift stabilization.
  • The larger sensor and Leica lenses on the Luna Ultra provide better shallow depth of field and low-light performance.
  • iPhone 17 Pro Max is more versatile for quick lens changes and traditional B-roll but less stable for moving shots without a gimbal.
  • Both devices have good built-in microphones, but external mic options enhance audio quality.
  • The Luna Ultra is an all-in-one camera solution ideal for creators focusing on stabilized, high-quality video.

What the video covers

  • The video compares the Insta360 Luna Ultra, an 8K pocket camera with a 1-inch sensor and built-in gimbal, against the iPhone 17 Pro Max shooting in 4K.
  • The Luna Ultra features dual Leica lenses, a 12x telephoto, and hardware stabilization via its gimbal.
  • The iPhone uses software stabilization and sensor-shift hardware stabilization, with multiple lenses including wide and telephoto options.
  • Selfie camera performance is discussed, noting the iPhone’s selfie cam is less ideal but common for vlogging, while Luna Ultra offers a 20mm equivalent selfie mode with tracking.
  • Both devices have built-in microphones with good quality, but external mics can be added to either for improved audio.
  • The Luna Ultra excels in stabilization due to its gimbal, making it ideal for moving shots, tracking, and steady cam style footage.
  • The iPhone is easier for quick lens switching and traditional B-roll shooting, often better for static shots.
  • The Luna Ultra’s larger sensor provides better shallow depth of field and low-light performance compared to the iPhone.
  • Both cameras can produce high-quality video, but the Luna Ultra is positioned as a superior all-in-one solution for creators needing stabilized, high-end footage.
  • The video concludes that both devices have strengths, with the Luna Ultra favored for stabilization and sensor size, and the iPhone for versatility and ease of use.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction and Camera Overview
  2. 00:42iPhone Selfie Camera and Vlogging Setup
  3. 01:11Luna Ultra Selfie Mode and Tracking Features
  4. 02:36Stabilization and Vlogging Footage Comparison
  5. 03:09Microphone Comparison and Audio Quality
  6. 04:36Stabilization Details and Gimbal Benefits
  7. 05:48Lens Switching and B-roll Shooting
  8. 06:29Depth of Field and Low Light Performance
  9. 09:51Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Answers

Questions about this video

What are the main stabilization differences between the Insta360 Luna Ultra and iPhone 17 Pro Max?

The Luna Ultra uses a built-in gimbal with hardware motors for stabilization, providing smoother moving shots, while the iPhone relies on software stabilization and sensor-shift hardware stabilization, which is effective but less stable during movement.

Can both cameras be used effectively for vlogging?

Yes, both can be used for vlogging. The iPhone selfie camera is common but less ideal, while the Luna Ultra offers a 20mm equivalent selfie mode with tracking and superior stabilization, making it better suited for dynamic vlogging.

How does the audio quality compare between the two cameras?

Both cameras have good built-in microphones, but the Luna Ultra’s mic is praised for quality. External microphones can be added to either device for improved audio, with Insta360 offering a dedicated mic for the Luna Ultra.

Full Transcript — Download SRT & Markdown

00:01
Speaker A
Today, I'm comparing my iPhone with the Insta360 Luna Ultra. If you're not familiar with the Luna Ultra, it is an 8K pocket camera that uses a 1-inch main sensor, has dual Leica lenses, dual cameras, so you can shoot wide, and it's a 12 times telephoto. Of course, it's built into a small gimbal that stabilizes your footage. And then the iPhone I'm using is a 17 Pro Max. And of course, you know what that's all about. I am shooting in 4K 24 frames per second, and I'm using the native camera app on the iPhone and not shooting log, just a baked-in Rec 709 look.
00:19
Speaker A
wide, and it's a 12 times telephoto, and of course, it's built in to a small gimbal that stabilizes your footage. And then the iPhone I'm using is a 17 Pro Max. And of course, you know what that's all about. I am shooting in 4K 24 frames
00:33
Speaker A
Now, first up here is the 17 Pro Max, and I am using the selfie camera, which is not as good, but it's the way most people would do vlogging so you can see yourself. The main camera is a 24 mm, and I find it almost impossible to use without a gimbal, but you can use the 13 mm, and that is a decent option. So, here is the 13 mm, and not only is it a nice wider shot, which I think works better for vlogging or this type of selfie shot, it's also more stabilized. And the iPhone is using software stabilization.
00:42
Speaker A
Now, first up here is the 17 Pro Max and I am using the selfie camera which is not as good, but it's the way most people would do vlogging so you can see yourself. The main camera is a 24 mm and
00:52
Speaker A
Now, here's the Luna Ultra, and it goes into a selfie mode as well. It’s a 20 millimeter equivalent, so it's not super wide, but it's okay. Stabilization is great, of course, you're using the gimbal itself. And for a wider look, they do offer a wide-angle adapter built in. Wide-angle adapter. Did that do anything different?
01:04
Speaker A
for vlogging or this type of selfie shot, it's also more stabilized. And the iPhone is using software stabilization.
01:11
Speaker A
A little bit, not much. It is wider, but it's kind of subtle in my opinion, but I do think it makes a difference, especially for these kinds of selfie or vlogging shots. One thing, too, you can do with the Luna Ultra is it has tracking built in. So, you can track a subject or you can track yourself depending on what you're doing.
01:25
Speaker A
they do offer a wide-angle adapter built in. Wide angle adapter. Did that do anything different?
01:44
Speaker A
The iPhone, of course, doesn't have that, but you could use that with a gimbal, a third-party gimbal, but that is additional hardware. But it's nice to have the option with either setup. With the Luna Ultra though, it is again built in. Now, we'll compare the microphone. And I'm just comparing the built-in mics here, but you can add an external mic to either one of these. Insta360 makes one for the Luna. And then with the iPhone, you can use really any brand. But again,
01:56
Speaker A
it has tracking built in. So, you can track a subject or you can track yourself depending on what you're doing.
02:01
Speaker A
here I just want to compare the internal sound. All right, on the selfie camera of the iPhone using the internal mic.
02:12
Speaker A
in. Now, we'll compare the microphone. And I'm just comparing the built-in mics here, but you can add an external mic to either one of these. Insta 360 makes one for the Luna. And then with the iPhone, you can use really any brand. But again,
02:39
Speaker A
I've used this in the past, and it seems to work pretty well, but I do think this shot is a little bit tight for a vlogging shot. And I know the stabilization of the phone is really good, but as I'm walking here, the phone
02:46
Speaker A
I've used this in the past and it seems to work pretty well, but I do think this shot is a little bit tight for a vlogging shot. And I know the stabilization of the phone is really good, but as I'm walking here, the phone
02:58
Speaker A
is just bouncing everywhere. And just for fun, I'm using the 13 mm now on the back of the phone, and I'm using the native camera app. And so the microphone should auto switch to the right side.
03:09
Speaker A
But again, just using the internal mic now on the Luna Ultra. And I'm using the wide-angle adapter. That doesn't matter.
03:18
Speaker A
But again, just using the internal mic now on the Luna Ultra. And I'm using the wide-angle adapter. That doesn't matter.
03:30
Speaker A
Overall, I really like the mic in the Luna Ultra. Stabilization is probably the main reason you would get the Luna Ultra, and it's great, but the iPhone is no slouch at all. Now, the difference, of course, is the iPhone is using software
03:45
Speaker A
For the mic test though, what I'm checking is the internal mic built into the camera. And in my experience, this is a really good mic. As a matter of fact, the previous video I used this microphone for the entire voiceover.
04:00
Speaker A
if you shoot with a 13, you often get better stabilization, or at least it looks like it because it's a wider shot and diminishes the bumps.
04:10
Speaker A
Overall, I really like the mic in the Luna Ultra. Stabilization is probably the main reason you would get the Luna Ultra, and it's great, but the iPhone is no slouch at all. Now, the difference, of course, is the iPhone is using software
04:36
Speaker A
Again, for me, that's really the main reason you get this is because it's a great gimbal. It's an all-in-one camera, which is nice. Has tons of other features, of course, but ultimately it's a great gimbal and a great camera to get
04:48
Speaker A
stabilization, although they do have what's called sensor-shift stabilization, which is hardware. It's sort of like IBIS for an iPhone, so to speak, and it does a good job. And so this is the 24 mm on the iPhone, but kind of like with the selfie shot,
05:09
Speaker A
usually when I'm using a gimbal like that, I am moving. Now, for me, the iPhone is probably a little bit better or easier to shoot traditional B-roll.
05:18
Speaker A
if you shoot with a 13, you often get better stabilization, or at least it looks like it because it's a wider shot and diminishes the bumps.
05:28
Speaker A
good. And then the iPhone also has an assortment of telephoto lenses. Now, the Luna Ultra actually does as well.
05:38
Speaker A
And note, I am just walking normally here. No ninja walk. Now, the Luna Ultra is a gimbal. It's using hardware. It's using motors to stabilize the shot, and it does a really good job.
05:48
Speaker A
But with the iPhone, you can quickly reframe and switch between the lenses in a very quick fashion and get greatl looking shots. But again, overall, both do a good job here.
06:04
Speaker A
Again, for me, that's really the main reason you get this is because it's a great gimbal. It's an all-in-one camera, which is nice. Has tons of other features, of course, but ultimately it's a great gimbal and a great camera to get
06:16
Speaker A
video. And the thing is you kind of got to be careful sometimes, especially when using the telephoto because when using autofocus, which is what you use most of the time with this camera, at least I do, it will sometimes focus on the
06:29
Speaker A
smooth shots. Either of these cameras can work for B-roll, but as I've mentioned with the Luna Ultra, it's a great camera to get moving shots, tracking shots, dolly shots, steady cam style shots, but it can also shoot traditional B-roll. But
06:41
Speaker A
footage look much higherend. Now, with the iPhone, even though it does have a smaller sensor, it too can get some nice shallow depth of field, but mainly when a subject is close to the camera or you're using a telephoto lens. And to be
06:55
Speaker A
usually when I'm using a gimbal like that, I am moving. Now, for me, the iPhone is probably a little bit better or easier to shoot traditional B-roll.
07:07
Speaker A
even look like you're shooting on an iPhone. And of course, you cannot do that with the Insta3 camera. So, in the end, they both can create nice shallow depth of field, but the Luna Ultra definitely makes it easier to achieve
07:19
Speaker A
You can move around, of course, and have stable shots with the iPhone, but for me, I tend to be more static when I'm shooting B-roll with the iPhone, which depending on what you're shooting, can be good or bad, but for me, it's usually
07:35
Speaker A
might be in that situation. With the larger sensor of the Luna Ultra, it does do a pretty darn good job in low light.
07:42
Speaker A
good. And then the iPhone also has an assortment of telephoto lenses. Now, the Luna Ultra actually does as well.
07:49
Speaker A
And on the iPhone, if you're shooting on the main sensor, that's the 24 mm, which is the largest one, and has the fastest aperture, it can do surprisingly well in low light, too. Now, not as good as the
08:00
Speaker A
So, both cameras can do a very good job shooting B-roll. You can probably move better with the Luna Ultra, especially if you want smooth tracking style shots.
08:14
Speaker A
other cameras just really fall apart. So, if you need a wider or tighter shot, add an external lens to the main camera for best results.
08:24
Speaker A
But with the iPhone, you can quickly reframe and switch between the lenses in a very quick fashion and get great-looking shots. But again, overall, both do a good job here.
08:36
Speaker A
But, of course, sometimes that's fine. I don't use ND all the time, but it's definitely nice to have the option. With the Insta3 camera, I am using their ND filter set designed for the Luna Ultra.
09:15
Speaker A
The Luna Ultra has a larger sensor than the iPhone, and so it definitely has more shallow depth of field, and it will come into play shooting B-roll or even as a vlogging camera. You can see that here in the shots I've shot in this actual
09:27
Speaker A
professional and robust. And then those kind of ND filters can be much higher quality. So, for me, it feels like you have a lot more control with the iPhone and more professional ways to use filters. But again, you can definitely
09:38
Speaker A
video. And the thing is you kind of got to be careful sometimes, especially when using the telephoto because when using autofocus, which is what you use most of the time with this camera, at least I do, it will sometimes focus on the
09:51
Speaker A
Technically speaking, the Luna Ultra is a superior camera for sure. It has a 1 in sensor, shoots 8K, and has a gimbal built in. It's a great all-in-one solution for YouTube, social media, documentary, etc., and could be used as
10:05
Speaker A
background or the foreground instead of the subject or vice versa. Fuse tracking will eliminate that. But if you're just shooting general shots, you need to pay attention. But of course, it looks great and makes the camera and the
10:16
Speaker A
kind of thing, but overall, they're not quite as impressive as the Luna Ultra, mainly because of that larger sensor.
10:21
Speaker A
footage look much higher-end. Now, with the iPhone, even though it does have a smaller sensor, it too can get some nice shallow depth of field, but mainly when a subject is close to the camera or you're using a telephoto lens. And to be
10:37
Speaker A
lenses, filters, or a gimbal. All that together can make it a really nice, robust film making rig. So ultimately, yeah, they both can be pretty great. And for me, I like having both. And depending on what you're shooting, I
10:49
Speaker A
clear, I'm not talking about using cinematic mode. I'm talking about getting true bokeh, true shallow depth of field. And if you add an external tele to the iPhone, you can get even more, a lot actually, where it doesn't
11:01
Speaker A
I've got links in the description. Thanks for watching.
Topics:Insta360 Luna UltraiPhone 17 Pro Maxcamera comparisonvlogging cameragimbal stabilization8K video4K videomobile filmmakingcamera microphonevideo stabilization

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