insta360
Englishinsta360
English
X5 Support

X Series: InstaFrame Mode

X Series: InstaFrame Mode

Applicable Models: X4 Air and X5

The InstaFrame Mode can simultaneously capture flat and 360 videos, and allows you to choose a fixed perspective or a selfie view, thus capturing exciting moments from every angle. InstaFrame 2.0 is an exclusive upgrade for X5, providing three major features: subject tracking, in-camera Virtual Joystick, and the new Virtual Gimbal. It also delivers a comprehensive image quality upgrade, catering to diverse intelligent shooting needs in scenarios ranging from daily vlogging to extreme sports.

How to activate the InstaFrame Mode

Tap the shooting mode icon in the bottom left corner of the camera screen, find "InstaFrame" in the mode selection page, and tap to enable it.

InstaFrame 2.0 (X5 only)

New features in InstaFrame 2.0
  • ​Expanded tracking range: Upgraded from only tracking the selfie stick holder to tracking any person in the frame, for more flexible shooting scenarios.
  • Overall image quality enhancement: Flat video resolution upgraded from 1080p@30fps to 4K@30fps. InstaFrame 2.0 supports separate recording of flat videos, plus Low Light Enhancement and AdaptiveTone ("360 Video Backup" should be turned off), delivering clearer night media and richer colors.
  • ​In-camera virtual joystick: No external accessories needed. Once enabled, it provides a physical joystick-like control experience. Simply swipe the screen to adjust the viewing angle and capture smooth, stable media easily.
  • New virtual gimbal: Integrates three modes—Pitch Lock, Stabilized Tracking, and FPV—adapting to various scenes and helping you create professional-level shots.​

Please note: To use InstaFrame 2.0, please update your X5's firmware to v1.7.43 or later, and the Insta360 app to v2.14.0 or later.

Page & Operation Method

Page

Feature Module

Feature Introduction

Operation Method

Shooting Page

Tracking Box

Detects and tracks human subjects in the frame:

  • White box = human subject detected in the frame; Green box = tracking activated with subject automatically centered.
  • Only tracks human subjects (excluding objects, animals, etc.).
  • Single target tracking only (multi-target tracking not supported).
  • The Tracking feature and the Virtual Joystick are mutually exclusive; disable tracking first by tapping the green tracking box to use the joystick.
  • Tap the white detection box to activate human subject tracking.
  • Tap the active green tracking box to cancel tracking.

Accessory Support​

insta360

Supported devices:

GPS Preview Remote, GPS Preview Remote (with Built-in Mic), Mini Remote, Ring Remote, and Free Framing Selfie Stick

  • Remotes: Double-tap to quickly switch between "Forward View" and "Subject Tracking View".
  • Free Framing Selfie Stick: Press the trigger button to activate or cancel tracking.

360 Spin

insta360

360° horizontal spin; single activation per use, with a duration of 8 seconds

Activate by tapping the icon during shooting or via a remote.

Barrel Roll

insta360

360° vertical rotation; single activation per use, with a duration of 4 seconds

Activate by tapping the icon during shooting or via a remote.

Virtual Joystick Page

insta360

Activates or exits the virtual joystick page.

Call up by tapping the icon.

Lens Switching

insta360

Switches between front and rear lens perspectives.

Switch by tapping the icon.

Virtual Gimbal

insta360

Accesses the Virtual Gimbal page.

Access by tapping the icon.

Virtual Joystick & Virtual Gimbal Page

Virtual Joystick Page

insta360

Activates or exits the Virtual Joystick page.

Switch by tapping the icon.

Virtual Joystick

insta360

Adjusts the camera angle.

Operate by swiping the on-screen joystick.

Virtual Gimbal

insta360

3 modes are supported: Pitch Lock, Stabilized Tracking, and FPV.

Pitch Lock: Ideal for fixed, stable shots (architecture, portraits, close-ups, etc.)

Stabilized Tracking: Ideal for motion scenarios (travel vlogs, hiking, sunrise/sunset shooting, etc.)

FPV Mode: Ideal for first-person extreme sports shooting (cycling, skateboarding, surfing, etc.)

Access the Virtual Gimbal page by tapping the icon.

Shooting Mode Switching

insta360

Returns to the Shooting Page.

Switch by tapping the icon.

Virtual Gimbal Mode Switching

insta360

Switches between Pitch Lock, Stabilized Tracking and FPV Modes.

Pitch Lock: Locks both pitch and horizontal axes for frame-like screen stability; allows for free shooting without posture restrictions, maintaining a steady, consistent view regardless of hand jolts.

Stabilized Tracking: Enables horizontal correction and disables pitch lock for stable media with flexible vertical angle adjustment; powerful horizontal correction offsets tilts and jitters for smooth media even while walking, climbing or in bumpy environments.

FPV Mode: Eliminates all limits on stabilization with the lens moved in sync with the camera body; captures immersive first-person views for heightened sense of presence and speed.

Switch by tapping the icon.

Distortion Correction

insta360

MegaView is required to be selected.

  • Optimized correction effect for distant scenes
  • For best results, avoid placing subjects at the frame edges.
  • Adjust FOV appropriately to achieve optimal shooting effects.

Activate/Disable by tapping the icon.

Shooting Parameters Page

360 Video Backup

insta360

Enabled: Saves both 360 and flat videos simultaneously.

Disabled: Saves flat videos only.

Switch by tapping the option.

AdaptiveTone

Automatically optimizes screen brightness and color for improved image quality in high-contrast lighting conditions (overexposure, extreme brightness, etc.).

Enabled by default

AdaptiveTone is enabled by default for flat videos (cannot be manually disabled) when "360 Video Backup" is turned off.

Low Light Enhancement

Optimizes algorithms for low-light environments to capture more details.

Enabled by default

Swipe left to access the Exposure Settings page to enable/disable this feature.

​​

InstaFrame 1.0 (For X4 Air and X5)

Features
  • Direct output of flat video (File 1 in the figure below): Gets ready-to-share flat videos instantly without reframing later. Select "Selfie View" or "Fixed Perspective" before shooting to get a directly shareable flat video immediately after recording.
  • Retention of 360 video (File 2 in the figure below): While outputting a flat video, the complete original 360 video (in INSV format) is automatically saved. This allows for creative post-production in the Insta360 app or Insta360 Studio, enabling you to explore more captivating angles.
  • All-in-one functionality: This mode combines the advantages of a 360 camera, a gimbal, and a wide-angle camera, offering built-in camera movements and advanced tracking effects for more flexible shooting and creation.

insta360

Page Introduction

Page

Feature Module

Feature Introduction

Operation Method

Shooting Page

​Selfie View

insta360

Automatically recognizes and tracks the person holding the selfie stick (or the person who occupies the largest area in the frame if no stick is held).

A green tracking box appears upon activation, indicating active tracking.

Tap "Selfie View"

(This uses automatic recognition by our algorithm, and manual selection is not available.)

Fixed Perspective

insta360

Offers a variety of fixed perspective options; FOV can be adjusted after entering the page.

Tap the icon to enter the page.

360 Spin

insta360

360° horizontal rotation; single activation per use, with a duration of 8 seconds

Activate by tapping the icon during shooting or via a remote.

Barrel Roll

insta360

360° vertical rotation; single activation per use, with a duration of 4 seconds

Activate by tapping the icon during shooting or via a remote.

Remote-Triggered Movement

insta360

Supported devices:

GPS Preview Remote and Mini Remote

Trigger conditions vary by the remote model. For specific details, refer to the Accessory Support instructions in the top left corner of the camera's shooting preview page.

Perspective Composition

FOV Switching

insta360

Supported FOV modes: MegaView, Linear, and Narrow

Switch FOV modes to achieve different zoom effects.

After selecting "Selfie View" or "Fixed Perspective", enter the Perspective Composition page > swipe the icon to adjust.

Distortion Correction

insta360

  • This feature is only available in "MegaView".
  • Recommended for distant scene shooting for optimal image quality.
  • Recommended to be disabled when "Selfie View" is activated or shooting close-ups to avoid unnatural portrait effects caused by distortion correction.

After selecting "Selfie View" or "Fixed Perspective", enter the Perspective Composition page > swipe the icon to select "MegaView" > tap the icon to activate.

Reset

insta360

Recommended to be disabled when "Selfie View" is activated or shooting close-ups to avoid unnatural portrait effects caused by distortion correction.

Tap "Selfie View" > "Perspective Composition" > manually adjust the perspective by swiping the screen, then tap "Reset" to revert to the default perspective.

Horizon Lock

insta360

With Horizon Lock on, the image stays perfectly level even if the camera tilts, keeping your video composition clean and consistent.

Tap the "Fixed Perspective" icon to enter the Perspective Composition page > tap the "Horizon Lock" icon on the left to enable or disable the feature.

(Only available in the Fixed Perspective Mode; currently not supported in the Selfie View Mode)

Fixed Perspective Options

insta360

Rear View, Front View, Top View, Bottom View, and Custom View

Tap the icons of different views to enable.

Comparison Between InstaFrame 2.0 and InstaFrame 1.0

Feature

InstaFrame 1.0

InstaFrame 2.0

Image Quality Upgrade

5.7K+@30fps (360 video)

1080p@30fps (flat video)

5.7K+@30fps (360 video)

1080p@30fps (flat video, with 360 Video Backup enabled)

4K@30fps (flat video, with 360 Video Backup disabled)

Export Flat Video Only (when 360 Video Backup is enabled)

Not supported

Supported

Self-Tracking

Supported

Supported

Tracking Others

Not supported

Supported

Low Light Enhancement

Supported

Supported

Enhanced effect compared with InstaFrame 1.0

Virtual Joystick

Not supported

Supported

AdaptiveTone

Not supported

Supported

Only available when "360 Video Backup" is disabled

Pitch Lock

Not supported

Supported

Stabilized Tracking

Not supported

Stabilized Tracking effect achievable by enabling "Horizon Lock"

Supported

FPV Mode

Not supported

Supported

FAQ

1. What files are output after shooting in the InstaFrame Mode? What is the resolution?

InstaFrame 1.0: It outputs one 360 video in INSV format and one directly output 1080p flat MP4 video (fixed perspective).

InstaFrame 2.0 (X5 only):

  • When "360 Video Backup" is enabled: It outputs one 360 video in INSV format and one directly output flat MP4 video (supported resolution: up to 1080p).
  • When "360 Video Backup" is disabled: It outputs only one directly output flat MP4 video (supported resolution: up to 4K).

2. How does InstaFrame 1.0 track the subject? What's the logic behind automatic tracking?

InstaFrame 1.0 includes two modes with distinct tracking logics, which you can select based on your shooting needs:

Mode

Presence of Selfie Stick

Tracking Logic

Selfie View

Yes

  • The person holding the stick is prioritized for tracking: When a selfie stick is used, the person holding the stick is prioritized for tracking, followed by the person who occupies the largest area in the frame. Only automatic human tracking is supported; currently, manual target selection is not available.
  • If the stick holder changes: In this case, the new target will only be tracked after the original target leaves the field of view.

No

  • Area priority principle: Automatically tracks the person who occupies the largest area in the frame.
  • Change rule: When another person enters the frame and occupies a larger area in the frame, the system will still track the initially selected person until they leave the field of view, then switch to the new person who occupies the largest area.
  • When all persons occupy equivalent areas in the frame: If each person occupies an equivalent area in the frame (e.g., standing in a circle with the camera positioned at the center), the algorithm randomly selects one person to track.

Fixed Perspective

Not applicable

This mode does not involve automatic human tracking and shoots only with preset fixed perspectives. It is an upgraded version of the Single-Lens Me Mode.

Please note: The minimum tracking distance for InstaFrame 1.0 is 19.68in (50cm). Tracking may fail if the subject is too close to the camera.

3. What if the Virtual Joystick feature is unavailable in InstaFrame 2.0?

Currently, simultaneous use of Virtual Joystick and Subject Tracking is not supported. Please ensure that Tracking is disabled (i.e., no green tracking box appears on the screen), and the Virtual Joystick will then work normally.

4. What type of zoom is used in the InstaFrame Mode? Why can I zoom in and out in the InstaFrame Mode?

Digital zoom is used, which is achieved by adjusting the FOV (Field of View).

5. Is the InstaFrame Mode / InstaFrame 2.0 supported on other camera models?

X4: The InstaFrame Mode is enabled via the hardware upgrade of X5, so X4 does not support the InstaFrame Mode (including InstaFrame 1.0 and InstaFrame 2.0) at this time.

X4 Air: Only InstaFrame 1.0 is supported; InstaFrame 2.0 is not available at this time.

6. Does the flat video directly output in the InstaFrame Mode support 4K export?

InstaFrame 1.0: Not currently. It only exports 1080p videos. If you need to export a 4K flat video, it is recommended to switch to the Single-Lens Video Mode and select 4K for shooting.

InstaFrame 2.0: Exporting 4K flat videos is supported.

7. Why can't a person be recognized when "Selfie View" is used in the InstaFrame Mode? Why does it prompt "Recognizing, please keep the lens clear"?

This prompt indicates the device is attempting to recognize a subject but tracking is unavailable at the moment. We recommend that you:

  • Check if the lens is blocked, remove any obstructions, then exit and re-enter the InstaFrame Mode to allow the camera to re-initialize recognition and tracking.
  • Adjust the shooting angle to ensure clear display of facial or torso features of the subject, and avoid positioning the subject at the top or bottom of the frame.

8. Can the movement speed be adjusted in the InstaFrame Mode?

Adjusting the movement speed is not supported in this mode at this time. We will continuously optimize our products to provide you with a better user experience. Thank you for your understanding and support!

Was this information helpful?
insta360
Online Chat
Office Hours: 24/7
Start Chat
Copyright © insta360.com All Rights Reserved.