Insta360 Pro 2 is a VR Camera with Six Cameras for 8K 3D 360 Video

Insta360 just launched the Insta360 Pro 2, a professional VR camera that packs six separate cameras and lenses in a sphere to shoot 8K-per-eye 3D 360-degree video.

The 6 onboard cameras capture every angle of every scene at once, and the photos and videos can then be fused into two 8K 360 images — one for each of the viewer’s eyes for immersive 3D virtual reality.

Shooting modes of the camera include 8K 3D at 30 FPS, 8K monoscopic at 60 FPS, 6K 3D at 60 FPS, and 4K 3D at 120 FPS, and more.

Even if the lighting in a scene is drastically different depending on which angle you’re looking, a new in-camera HDR feature helps even out the lighting in resulting photos and videos to keep it natural-looking. i-Log mode also provides flexibility for coloring the images in post-production.

The Pro 2 boasts FlowState stabilization, “bringing a high-quality in-camera stabilization system to professional VR for the first time ever,” the company says. Instead of using bulky stabilization equipment, Pro 2 users can rely on the ultra-precise gyroscope that tracks the camera’s motion on 9 axes. During post-production, footage can then be automatically stabilized “down to a hair.”

For directing shots from afar, the Pro 2 features a new Farsight technology that provides 360-degree live monitoring with a high-definition, low-latency, long-distance video stream. Using a 5.18Ghz transmitter and receiver, users can view and direct the camera’s shots from 300 meters away (~984ft) ground-to-ground and 1 kilometer away (0.62mi) ground-to-air.

In addition to recording, the Pro 2 can also do 360 livestreaming in 4K while capturing 8K at the same time it is broadcasting.

The Insta360 Pro 2 has an integrated Adobe Premiere Pro workflow that uses a low-res proxy version alongside the actual full-quality footage for fast and convenient previews.

“This proxy version can be used to edit the project as usual,” Insta360 says. “Then, when users are ready to export, Insta360’s algorithm will take over and stitch together exactly the footage they used in the final project, at full quality. There’s no wasted time, processing power, or effort. Creators stitch only what they use.”

Once you’ve captured and edited the footage you want, you can use Insta360’s CrystalView technology to quickly convert the project into an 8K-quality format that’s ready to be viewed on any mainstream smartphone or VR headset.

Physically, the Pro 2 is relatively portable: it weighs just 3.42 pounds, allowing it to be carried to difficult locations or mounted to a drone.

Other features and specs of the Insta360 Pro 2 include 4 built-in mics for 360 audio, a pair of USB and 3.5mm audio inputs, 6 microSD card slots (one for each camera), a 7th SD card slot for stabilization data and low-res proxy files, a built-in GPS module, and a top-mounted antenna.

Here’s a 5.5-minute introduction to the new Insta360 Pro 2:

The Insta360 Pro 2 is available for preorder now with a price tag of $5,000. The cameras, which come with the Farsight transmitter system and a battery, are set to ship in September 2018.