X Series: Issues Related to Poor Image Quality or Blurry Media

X Series: Issues Related to Poor Image Quality or Blurry Media

Applicable Models: ONE X, X2, X3, X4, X4 Air, and X5

Scenario 1: Preview is blurry, but exported media is clear

Description

Images may appear blurry during preview on the camera, in the Insta360 app, or in Insta360 Studio, but the final exported media is clear and free of blurring.

Solution

• Blurry preview in the camera: Preview images on the camera undergo quality compression to increase preview speed and ensure smooth playback. This does not affect the quality of actual recorded media. Please refer to the final exported media for true quality.
• Blurry preview in the Insta360 app: To ensure a smooth preview, the Insta360 app applies image compression by default during playback. Please be assured this does not impact the original image quality of your recording. Please refer to the final exported media for true quality. To improve the preview clarity, you can tap "Settings" (Gear icon ⚙) in the top left corner of the Insta360 app and switch the preview mode to "Original Mode".

Please note: This option is only available when the media shot contains a LRV file.

Scenario 2: Motion blur or trailing in the final media

Description

Motion blur and trailing may appear in the exported media, especially in low-light environments or when shooting moving subjects.

Reason

In low-light conditions, if the camera shakes or the subject moves quickly, and the shutter speed is too slow, the exposure time lengthens. This may cause blurring or trailing in the image, similar to the human eye struggling to see fast-moving objects clearly. In this case, you can try the following optimizations:

Solution

In this case, you can try the following optimizations:

• Prioritize the Auto Exposure Mode
  • Insufficient light: It is recommended to use the Auto Exposure Mode and enable the "Low Light Stabilization" / "Jitter Blur Reduction" feature to improve image stability.
  • Sufficient light: It is recommended to use the Video Mode with Auto Exposure enabled.

Please note: Enabling "Low Light Stabilization" / "Jitter Blur Reduction" may reduce brightness in extremely dark environments.

• If using the Manual Exposure Mode
  • Keep the camera stable; avoid significant shaking or rotation of the camera.
  • Adjust the shutter speed: It is recommended to set a faster shutter speed (recommended: less than 1/100) to shorten exposure time and reduce trailing.
  • Adjust the ISO range: Increase the ISO value appropriately (recommended: less than 800) to maintain correct exposure.

Please note: It is recommended to test the adjusted settings by recording a few seconds, and adjust the shutter speed and ISO based on the preview to find optimal settings.

• Noise reduction during export from Insta360 Studio

When exporting media, select "Remove Grain" to further reduce visual noise.

Scenario 3: Excessive noise in media recorded in night or low-light environments

Description

Media shot at night or in low-light environments may exhibit noticeable noise.

Reason

In low-light environments, the camera automatically adjusts exposure parameters (such as increasing ISO) to maintain brightness, and a high ISO tends to introduce noise. In addition, certain shooting modes and features (e.g., Active HDR) can exacerbate noise in low-light scenarios.

Solution

• Adjust exposure parameters appropriately
  • It is recommended to use the Auto Exposure Mode, set Sharpness to "Medium" or "Low" and the Filter and Color mode to "Standard", and fix the EV (Exposure Value) at "0".
  • If using the Manual Exposure Mode, manually lower the ISO value (recommended: less than 500) based on the scene while keeping the camera stable.
• Disable the "Low Light Stabilization / Jitter Blur Reduction" feature during daytime
• Use the PureVideo Mode
  • It is recommended to enable the PureVideo Mode during night time if you are using an X5 camera, and the camera will automatically optimize image quality for night scenes.
  • If you are using an X4 Air camera, it is recommended that you turn off the "Active HDR" feature.

Scenario 4: Slightly hazy image or light-colored spots

Description

The captured image appears slightly hazy overall, or shows light-colored patches that affect clarity.

Reason

This is caused by dirt, smudges, or scratches on the camera lens, lens guard, or ND filter (if installed), which result in abnormal light refraction and reflection, thus degrading image quality.

Solution

Dirty: We recommended you gently clean the camera lens, lens guard, or ND filter with a soft cloth.

Scratched: We recommend you apply for Insta360 Repair Service for professional diagnostics.

Scenario 5: Inability to capture clear close-up details

Description

When shooting close objects, details cannot be rendered clearly, resulting in blurry and out of focus.

Reason

The camera lens has a "minimum focusing distance"—the shortest distance at which it can focus clearly. If the subject is closer than this distance, the lens cannot focus correctly, resulting in blur, similar to the human eye failing to focus on objects held too close.

Solution

Adjust to a sufficient distance between the camera and the subject when shooting.

Scenario 6: Distortion or poor edge quality

Description

The captured image shows distortion, with significantly degraded image quality (such as blurriness) around the edges.

Reason

Due to the extremely wide field of view of 360 lenses, distortion may appear at the edges. This is a normal phenomenon determined by optical characteristics.

Solution

You can try adjusting the shooting angle for a better composition or applying correction in post-production software to improve the result.

Scenario 7: All media is blurry and out of focus

Description

Media (both preview and final export) is blurry and out-of-focus in all scenarios and shooting modes.

Solution

If all media appears blurry and out of focus, it might be due to a damaged lens. We recommend you apply for Insta360 Repair Service for professional diagnostics.

Scenario 8: Blurry underwater media when using a Lens Guard

Description

When shooting underwater with a lens guard attached, the media appears blurry, especially at the edges.

Reason

This is generally caused by underwater refraction. The curved design of the lens guard causes additional light refraction effects underwater, potentially leading to blur, especially at the edges.

Solution

Before underwater shooting, clean the lens and lens guard thoroughly to remove dirt and water stains. It's recommended to use a dedicated Dive Case for underwater shooting. Its superior waterproofing and optical properties can effectively reduce blur.

If none of the above solutions resolves your issue, please contact Insta360 Customer Support for assistance.