I tested the Insta360 Luna Ultra for a month — now I can’t go back to single-lens vlogging cameras

This is the Insta360 Luna Ultra and it wants a piece of the compact vlogging camera market that's long been dominated by the DJI Pocket. If we're going purely off capabilities and it's super neat detachable screen it has every right to get some. Before we dive in make sure you scan this QR code to learn more about becoming a TechRadar insider. Membership is completely free and gives and gives you access to exclusive perks, rewards and more. Now, let's get into today's video. So the Luna Ultra is Insta360's first vlogging camera and it's a clear rival to the DJI Osmo Pocket series, the most recent models being the Pocket 4 and Pocket 4P. Luna comes in two varieties, the Single Lens Pro and the Dual Lens Ultra. As you can see I have the flagship Ultra here. DJI announced its Single Lens Pocket 4 a month prior and its Dual Lens Pocket 4P came later and I'm still working on my review of that one. Both Luna models are available in black or Black or white versions, and in a variety of bundles that cater for various use cases. Prices start at $699.99 or £649. That's a fair whack more than the single lens Pocket 4, but you are getting two cameras in one device. Both Lunas pack an ultra-wide main camera with 20mm focal length and f1.8 aperture, which utilises a 1-inch sensor that's Insta360's largest sensor yet and directly matches DJI for size. And it's capable of shooting 8K 30p video with Dolby Vision and 4K slow motion up to 120 frames per second. The Ultra model adds a 3x telephoto camera with 60mm focal length and f2.0 aperture. which uses a slightly smaller 1 over 1.3 inch sensor. This dual lens approach is familiar with leading smartphones and you're truly getting two cameras in one here. The additional camera is the main difference between Pro and ultra versions of Luna cameras. That three times camera gives a totally different feel to the ultra wide and is capable of throwing depth of field nicely for pleasing portraiture and vlogging. It's also possible to punch further in with a lossless six times zoom where you won't particularly notice a drop in quality. and even further 12 times digitally where image quality dips a little bit. 9 megapixel photos can be shot in raw and jpeg format and that resolution can be up to 37 megapixels in the ultra photo mode or even higher in the panorama photo mode. The screen can be rotated 90 degrees to auto switch between horizontal and vertical formats while this button here on the camera spins the camera around between front facing and rear facing for selfies. Much like the Osmo Pocket 3 and Pocket 4 cameras can. The Luna camera is supported with a 3-axis gimbal for smooth shots on the go, but this is no action camera. For one, it's not waterproof, so don't take it underwater or out in heavy rain. And for another, I've found that the gimbal will fail if you try filming rough action like running or off-road biking. For these types of activities, you'll want one of the best action cameras instead, like the DJI Osmo Action 6, Insta360 Ace Pro 2, or GoPro Hero 13 Black. The Luna Ultra's form factor is familiar. It's a bit like the stick-like design of DJI's Pocket series and DJI isn't happy about it by the way. It's filed a lawsuit accusing Insta360 of patent violations. However, there are some key design differences. Lunas are slightly larger than Pocket models, not majorly so, but the difference is clear when you hold them side by side. In practice, I didn't really feel that the Luna's extra weight and size negatively affected its handling. It's easy in the hand for on-the-go vlogging. If you want the absolute smallest option however, DJI Now there's a good reason why the Luna cameras are bigger, and that's for a super clever and unique feature, a detachable remote control, a module which features a 2-inch OLED screen and the camera's main controls. Simply squeeze the red buttons on either side of the Luna and the module pulls away from the body. The module has a 20-meter transmission range and operates exactly the same way as if it's on the camera, with a touch display offering a remote view and the main camera controls to hand, including gimbal, zoom and record. Transmission This transmission range is impacted by the surroundings. I found the feed froze inside 15 meters when other people passed in front of me in a busy urban space. What's really neat is that the module has a built-in microphone so you can check your frame and present to camera. It's certainly better than using the on-camera mic though a wireless mic such as Insta360's own Mic Pro with its customizable e-ink display is an even better pick for audiophiles. The camera has direct Bluetooth support for this mic and Insta360's Mic Air. There's also smart subject tracking Meaning the camera can track you as you move around, within the gimbal's range, keeping you or your subject centred in the frame. Controlling the Luna using the module and tracking is like having your own camera person filming you, provided you can find a secure surface to rest the camera on, or a support to fix it to. The camera itself can stand freely, but there are optional accessories too, like a tripod grip and a battery grip, which has these tiny little feet included. The battery grip version of the tripod grip extends the battery life of the camera which has a 1550 mAh unit that's rated up to 4 hours of 1080p filming and can be recharged to 80% in just 23 minutes. In addition to regular 8K video, the Luna Ultra has a range of shooting modes including slow motion up to 240 frames per second in full HD, time lapse, time shift and barrel roll. Both Lunas accept micro SD cards and include 47 gigabytes internal storage. That's less than DJI's Osmo Pocket 4 which has more than double that. And there's plenty more for audiophiles to enjoy, namely a decent wind guard for the camera's internal 4 mic array plus 32-bit float audio. This pro-level setting avoids clipping and is ideal for noisy environments, but for simpler audio edits, the 24-bit setting is probably your best bet. The Luna Ultra ups the ante with 8K video, double the resolution of the 4K Osmo Pocket 4. It will shoot 8K up to 30 frames per second, complete with Dolby Vision, 8K HDR and iLog colour profile. This is the first Insta360 camera with Log, a flat colour profile which is what pros like to use to maximise the colour grading potential and for the most dynamic range possible from their camera. In this case it's up to 14 stops. DJI on the other hand has built the Pocket 4P as having 17 stops of dynamic range. I look forward to comparing the footage of both cameras to see which is better. Insta360 thinks its night mode is superior to DJI with its pure video mode boosting dynamic range for 4k videos up to 60 frames per second. That's another comparison test I'm looking forward to conducting. Insta360's Leica partnership stretches beyond the Luna's Leica branded lenses and into various Leica colour profiles. If you like the simplicity of auto colour profiles rather than log then the Luna has some great choices. Despite being Insta360's first vlogging camera, the Luna Ultra overall feels like a polished product. It's one with powerful features, especially its 8K video quality and removable remote module. Plus, it's supported by a growing range of excellent accessories. DJI has been in the compact vlogging camera space for much longer, but the Luna Ultra enters with a bang and is an impressive alternative. The second lens is the cherry on the already tasty cake. Have a question? Let me know in the comments below.