I Replaced My Travel Video Gear With This 360-degree Drone Within Minutes Of Testing It

3 days ago

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

The Antigravity A1 modular bundle is connected waste connected Antigravity's website for $1,599.
Content creators will emotion nan drone's soft handling, imaginative tools, and expertise to seizure 360-degree video successful 8K resolution.
However, it's expensive.

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I'll beryllium honest: I was a small tense erstwhile asked to reappraisal nan Antigravity A1. Before this, I had ne'er flown a drone. But aft spending clip pinch nan A1, I've travel to recognize that I might've been nan cleanable personification for this job: reviewing it from a caller position and learning arsenic I went -- precisely nan drone's strength.

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If you're unfamiliar pinch nan name, Antigravity is a caller sub-brand from action-camera institution Insta360, created to grow into nan drone space. The A1 is Insta360's first attempt, and frankly, they did a standup job.

It's incredibly elemental to operate, making it a coagulated prime to run for first-timers, and nan 8K, 360-degree cameras seizure stunning footage. That said, it won't beryllium nan correct fresh for everyone.

The A1 is simply a compact aircraft, weighing conscionable 249 grams. Folded, it measures 5.56 x 3.79 x 3.2 inches; unfolded pinch its propellers extended, it reaches 12.15 x 15.05 x 3.51 inches. That weight is particularly notable because it intends recreational pilots won't person to registry nan drone pinch nan FAA (Federal Aviation Administration).

In nan United States, each drones that measurement 250 grams aliases much request to beryllium registered, truthful it clears nan period by a azygous gram.

Across its body, nan A1 carries 8 individual cameras, each equipped pinch a 1/1.28-inch sensor, f/2.2 aperture, and an ISO scope of 100 to 6,400. Harnessing nan magic of Insta360 software, these cameras each activity together to grounds 360-degree hemispherical footage.

You don't spot nan sphere astatine once; instead, nan drone routes its video provender straight to nan goggles and narrows it down to a 65-degree section of view. You physically move your caput to spot nan remainder of nan scene.

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It's a spot challenging to explicate if you haven't knowledgeable it, truthful I've included a YouTube video beneath that I created utilizing recordings of nan drone successful action. These clips were created utilizing Antigravity Studio, nan brand's proprietary editing app.

The YouTube video supra is successful 4K; however, it is imaginable to grounds footage successful 8K astatine 30 FPS. The results are stunning. The footage looks crisp, pinch far-off rooftops and landscapes appearing impressively clean. You tin measurement down to 5.2K aliases 4K to execute higher framework rates.

For example, 4K recordings tin scope a framework complaint of up to 100 FPS. It's besides nan only video solution that supports slow-motion seizure connected nan A1.

You tin set camera settings by pressing nan fastener supra nan controller's trigger to unfastened nan integer menu. Navigating this paper tin beryllium tricky, however. The motion-based Grip Controller has a difficult clip registering precise movements -- it's amended suit for wide gestures.

The drone's batteries measurement complete 67 grams. Due to power demands, formation times are comparatively short. Antigravity claims nan A1 tin alert for 24 minutes connected a azygous complaint nether perfect conditions. External factors, specified arsenic wind, altitude, and solution settings, tin further trim formation time. Once nan artillery hits 15%, nan drone will automatically initiate a return-to-home procedure.

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Antigravity's Vision Goggles are a batch of nosy to wear. They person a chopped "Kamen Rider" artistic that makes you consciousness for illustration a superhero nan infinitesimal you put them on, sporting 2 antennas and bug eyes. The accessory is lightweight, weighing 340 grams. Antigravity achieved this debased weight by not having nan artillery built into nan headset. Instead, it sits externally arsenic an individual battalion and connects via a USB-C to DC cable.

To forestall nan artillery from swinging, nan institution includes a lanyard that allows it to remainder comfortably astir your neck. It's not cleanable (the dangling artillery tin consciousness a small awkward), but it's still amended than having nan weight connected your head.

Inside nan headset are 2 1.03-inch micro-OLED pancake lenses, each moving astatine a 2560 x 2560 solution pinch a 72 FPS refresh rate. Image value is excellent, acknowledgment successful portion to Antigravity's OmniLink 360 feature, which delivers ultra-low-latency video arsenic agelong arsenic you stay wrong 10 kilometers of nan drone. Because nan goggles show a streamed signal, what you spot isn't identical to nan recording, truthful support that successful mind.

My biggest kick pinch nan goggles is that they aren't friends to group who deterioration glasses. The lenses travel pinch built-in diopter adjustments that scope from -5.0D to +2.0D. For me, this scope is fine.

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Dialing nan position to -5.0D allowed maine to spot screens clearly, though it whitethorn not beryllium capable for some. Antigravity states that corrective lens inserts are planned, but arsenic of this writing, they're not yet disposable for purchase.

The A1's Grip Controller, successful my opinion, is nan astir divisive portion of nan kit. It is simply a one-handed, semi-motion distant you clasp for illustration a Wii remote. You propulsion nan trigger to move guardant and tilt your limb to steer. It doesn't alert very fast, arsenic noted successful nan video above.

It moves faster nether Sport Mode, but it's not a important velocity boost, nor is it nan smoothest-flying aircraft. It's really rather stiff. That said, it is very easy to fly. My relative and I, neither of whom had ever flown a drone earlier this, caught connected immediately.

The goggles show a reticle that influences nan drone's direction. Hold nan trigger, and nan A1 follows nan reticle without affecting nan camera feed. You tin look astir and alert straight. Proximity sensors thief you debar obstacles, and nan Return to Home (RTH) fastener causes nan instrumentality to automatically alert backmost to its recorded location point. Landing is simple, too. Pull down connected nan slider, and nan drone will descend successful a controlled fashion.

Below is an image detailing what each of nan buttons does. Two buttons aren't visible: nan powerfulness and paper buttons, located connected nan right.

Most of nan buttons are straightforward. You person a Record fastener for video, a Shutter for still images, and a Flight Mode move to hop betwixt Sport, Normal, and Cinematic speeds. Then you person much unsocial options, specified arsenic nan RTH fastener to telephone backmost nan drone and nan 360 Dial. The second serves arsenic an replacement to mobility controls, letting users power nan drone without having to move their arms.

All controls beryllium wrong easy scope of your thumb and fingers. I'd besides enjoyed nan accessory's shape. It's comfortable to hold, moreover for smaller hands.

ZDNET's buying advice

I've spent a batch of clip praising really approachable nan A1 is, but nan value is not precisely cheap. The Antigravity A1 Standard Bundle is presently connected waste for $1,599. It includes nan drone, a protective case, nan Vision Goggles, Grip Controller, an other group of propellers, and a formation battery. There are different bundles disposable that see further accessories, specified arsenic other batteries. I had nan Infinity Bundle, which costs $1,999.

Yes, it's expensive, but I'd still urge nan A1 to anyone willing successful drones. Its easiness of usage makes it awesome for newcomers, and creators will beryllium impressed by nan video quality.