Insta360 has launched its first drone, the Antigravity A1, which is designed to change the way we experience drone flying and filming. Unlike traditional drones, the Antigravity A1 comes bundled with goggles that put you inside a virtual cockpit, allowing for an immersive and intuitive flying experience.
The drone features a 360-degree camera that captures stunning footage in every direction simultaneously, making it easy to direct your view without having to fly straight at what you want to see. The Antigravity A1 also records 8K footage, which can be edited with virtual zooms and pans and spins after the flight is finished.
During a test flight, the author experienced firsthand how easy it was to fly and film with the Antigravity A1. They remember seeing birds flying by during the flight but discovered they had captured an entire flock of over 40 birds when reviewing their footage later. The drone’s omnidirectional recording capabilities also allowed for seamless transitions between shots.
However, the author notes that while the Antigravity A1 is quiet compared to other drones, it still has limitations. The camera’s wide field of view can lead to a loss of image quality when zooming in on specific objects, and the drone’s frame may appear in the user’s field of view due to stitching lines.
Despite these limitations, the author was thrilled with their experience flying and filming with the Antigravity A1. They found it easy to aim the drone in different directions without having to think about filming, which made for a truly immersive experience.
Insta360 claims that the Antigravity A1 will be available in the US market, with prices ranging from $1,300 to $1,700. The company is standing up Antigravity as a whole new company with its own dedicated team and servers in the US, and it’s working on features to show governments that it’s not a threat.
While some concerns remain about the drone’s capabilities, the author believes that Insta360 has created something fundamentally different and potentially easier way to fly and film. Even if the Antigravity A1 doesn’t become a winner, they expect DJI and competitors will follow suit.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/report/758980/antigravity-a1-insta360-hands-on-preview