360 Camera Basics

Fact Check: Does Insta360’s software remove the selfie stick?

How does Insta360 software remove the invisible selfie stick?
How does Insta360 software remove the invisible selfie stick?

The Claim

CLAIM: “Using the ONE X app, users can automatically remove a selfie stick from their scenes, leaving the ONE X apparently suspended in mid-air.” (Source here)

RATING: Partly true / partly false.

Analysis

One of the most interesting advantages of stabilized 360 cameras is the ability to capture a third person view, as if the photo or video was shot with an invisible flying camera hovering a few feet away from the user.  Many people who are new to 360 don’t understand how this effect happens.

Looking at Insta360’s statement, it is true that if you use the invisible selfie stick with the One X and load the photo or video into the app, the One X will appear suspended in mid-air.

The part that is somewhat false is the causation.  Insta360’s statement could be read to imply that users can remove the selfie stick from their photos and videos by using the One X app.  If the statement is interpreted this way, then it is false.

The truth is that all 360 cameras have a blind spot — the area between the lenses:

360 cameras have a blind spot at the stitch line (green area)
360 cameras have a blind spot at the stitch line (the green area between the lenses)

However, this blind spot is by no means obvious to a viewer.  Instead, to a viewer, it appears that the 360 camera captures everything.  When you use a selfie stick that is narrow enough to fit between the lenses, it is within the blindspot and appears invisible.  In other words the invisibility of the selfie stick is simply because of the optics of the lenses.

Funny enough, one time I explained this to a new user and he refused to believe me because he insisted that the wording of Insta360’s statement meant that it was due to the software.  If you have doubts, one way to check is to look at the unstitched photos and videos.  Just change the extension of the .insp photos to .jpg, or the .insv videos into .mp4 and you will be able to see the unstitched double circular fisheye view.  You will see that the selfie stick is invisible in each unstitched image, no matter where you move the camera.  You can even use the invisible selfie stick on another 360 camera, and it will also remain invisible, without using Insta360 software.

Insta360’s current website has changed the wording of how the invisible selfie stick works, so that it now says:

“YOU. IN THIRD PERSON VIEW.  Pair the ONE X with our invisible selfie stick and the stick is gone in an instant. You’ve got a flying camera without the noise.”

This statement is accurate and does not create the impression that the invisibility is attributable to their software.

Here is a video by my friend Rick Yaeger on this subject.  Note: Peter McKinnon is NOT to blame.  He was probably just repeating what he heard or read, either from Insta360 or from a friend who was similarly confused.  Peter’s endorsement of 360 cameras is a huge help to the 360 industry, and we welcome it!

 

About the author

Mic Ty

16 Comments

Click here to post a comment

Leave a Reply to Mic Ty Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  • Yeah.. well, I knew this all along because with my older Nano (with a tripod adapter) and then with the ONE, i never saw any selfie-sticks as long as I used one thinner than the coverage of the lenses. FYI its a Manfrotto that I bought a couple years ago and is basically razor slim and invisible to all 360 cameras I tried it with 🙂

      • haha, some people are so funny! Anyway, you keep the world well informed Mic! My favorite site and YouTube channel.. thanks as always my friend for your time and enthusiasm 🙂

        • Thanks John! Yes the guy was so insistent that it was due to software. Even when I showed a bent selfie stick that appears in the video, he still didn’t believe me. It took a lot of back and forth before he agreed that it wasn’t the software.

  • Thanks for the link, Mic!! Yes, my thumbnail may have been a bit hard on Pete. I don’t know where that rumour about the software removing the stick got started, but it must be crushed like an evil bug.

    Do you think it would be of interest to the community to know how I achieved the overall look of that video in After Effects?

    • Thanks Rick. I think the confusion arose partly because of Insta360’s ambiguous wording which sounded like it was a unique capability of their cameras.
      Sure it would be great if you could become a contributor. Just PM me buddy!

    • Yes if you have a 1/4-20 to gopro adapter. You must choose a very thin gopro to 1/4-20 adapter for it to be totally invisible.

  • Correct me if I’m wrong,
    But as far as I undestand it’s not a blind spot thing. it’s actually quite the opposite. The 360 camera has two cameras that are over 180 degrees. so the tiny spot that is blocked behind the stick for one camera is SEEN by the camera on the other side. and the part that is blocked for this camera is seen by the other. and by clever use of software those two cameras help “see” the part that is otherwise obstructed by one of the cams. It’s basically automatized panorama stitching.

    • Hi Kamran. It’s a blind spot. I can send you an unstitched fisheye and you’ll see that even there, the selfie stick doesn’t show up.

    • If you are in the stitch line but far enough away from the camera, then yes the stick will be visible. But even a 200 degree lens has a blind spot close to the camera.