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Insta360 has updated its Flow Pro smartphone gimbal with more advanced intelligent tracking.
The original Flow Pro gimbal was the first third party system to bring AI tracking across different apps by using Apple's Dockit API. This meant that you weren't locked into using Insta360's own app if you wanted to take advantage of the AI tracking abilities of the device.
Today the company has announced the Flow Pro 2, which features a redesign of the gimbal itself, while also introducing much more advanced tracking features than the original Flow Pro.
From a physical design point of view, the Flow Pro 2 features a wider built in tripod for better stability on different surfaces. It can also now be configured into a 'Free Tilt Mode', which makes it easier to record crane style shots.
The real advances on the Flow Pro 2 come with the more advanced tracking system. It can now apparently track fast moving subjects such as pets much more accurately, and users also have much more control over the framing. For example, once the gimbal has locked onto a subject, users can select a framing point from a grid and the gimbal will attempt to keep the subject in the selected portion of the frame.
The Flow Pro 2's extendable selfie stick
The Flow Pro 2 can track groups of people as well as individuals, as well as performing 'Active Zoom Tracking'. The latter will use the digital zooming capabilities of the smartphone to keep a subject in the same framing even if they move away from the camera. Clearly, how good the results of this are will depend on the quality of the digital zoom on the phone, something that can vary wildly depending on lighting conditions. Further, the new Deep Track 4.0 system can continue to track a subject even if they are briefly obscured from view.
If users wish to film a selfie shot, but want to use the higher quality rear facing cameras on their smartphones, the Flow Pro 2 features a 'Selfie Mirror', which can help to ensure that they are still in frame.
The Flow Pro 2 has added a wider tripod for more stable ground shooting
Gesture control
It also ships with new full gesture control features. For example, you can tell the gimbal to enable or disable tracking with one gesture, and to begin recording with another. If you can't see your smartphone screen, the gimbal will send you a confirmation of the gesture being recognised by indicating with the smartphone's camera light.
With the advanced stabilisation built into many smartphones nowadays, some might question the need for a gimbal anymore. However, such a system does offer capabilities that a basic in-camera stabilisation system can't. For example 360 panoramic photos and the ability to self shoot from a tripod while the camera tracks you. The latter can be used quite effectively when making a FaceTime call, or by setting the system up as a web conference camera. Using a gimbal also means having perfect stabilisation even in very low light.
Free Tilt mode is designed to make crane style shots easy
Other new features include one tap NFC pairing for both iOS and Android (the previous model's NFC system only worked with iOS), remote smartphone and Apple Watch control, a teleprompter, HDR and ProRes recording from within the Insta360 app,
The Insta360 Flow Pro 2 is available now, priced at $159 for the standard kit, and $189 for the Creator Kit.
tl;dr
- The Flow Pro 2 smartphone gimbal features advanced tracking capabilities, allowing it to accurately follow fast-moving subjects and providing users with control over framing options.
- The redesigned gimbal includes a wider built-in tripod for enhanced stability and offers a 'Free Tilt Mode' for easier crane-style shots.
- New full gesture control features enable users to manage tracking and recording with simple gestures, with confirmation provided through the smartphone's camera light.
- Additional enhancements include one-tap NFC pairing for both iOS and Android, remote control options, and the ability to record in HDR and ProRes within the Insta360 app.
Tags: Production Gimbals Insta360
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