One of the coolest techniques you can pull off with an Insta360 camera is also one of the simplest: You can make your selfie stick instantly disappear.
Having an Invisible Selfie Stick unlocks some pretty insane creative potential. When you remove the stick, your camera looks like it's floating in mid-air.
All you need to make the magic happen is one of our 360° cameras. Insta360 X4, Insta360 X3, and any of our other 360° cameras will do the job! Even magic has limits though, so if you've got an Insta360 GO 3S, your Invisible Selfie Stick will be a very visible selfie stick.
How to use the Invisible Selfie Stick
The Invisible Selfie Stick is incredibly easy to use. All you need to do is attach the stick to your camera, extend it to your desired length, and shoot selfies like usual!
After shooting, import your content into either the Insta360 app or our desktop software, Insta360 Studio. Both software will automatically stitch your photos and videos together, and once your shots are stitched, the selfie stick is gone, just like that.
So what can you do with it? Well, do you want to shoot drone footage in places where it’s inconvenient or illegal to fly? Or do you want to go easy on your wallet while still getting some sweet aerials? Well, we say #NoDroneNoProblem - but there’s a whole other article about that!
In a sticky spot where your camera can't reach?
View this post on Instagram
Want to create your own #RealLifeGTA shots?
If you’re looking to capture an unobstructed aerial perspective that gives viewers the full scene, the Invisible Selfie Stick is key.
How the Invisible Selfie Stick works
First, you need a 360° camera. Whether that’s Insta360 X4 or something else, 360° is where it’s at.
To make your selfie stick disappear, the cameras use two 200° lenses. Math majors will have already realized that 200+200 does not equal 360. That’s because the cameras capture more than a full 360° degrees. There’s some redundancy built-in—the content that’s right at the border between the two lenses gets captured by both sides.
That overlap between lenses is the key to the magic of the Invisible Selfie Stick. It gives Insta360’s stitching software the freedom to decide exactly where to stitch those two images together.
So where did we decide to place the line in our stitching algorithm? Well, we decided to cheat the stitch ever so slightly so that we could neatly edit the selfie stick straight out of existence. We have absolutely no regrets.
Still, there are a few simple tips we recommend for making sure you get the most of out of your Invisible Selfie Stick:
Tips for nailing your Invisible Selfie Stick shot
1. Pick the right stick
Before you head out on your adventures, it's important to make sure you have the right gear. If you've got a lazy day or a sightseeing trip planned, our range of standard Invisible Selfie Sticks comes in a variety of lengths to suit your needs, but if you're planning something a bit more intense—a day on the slopes, for example—the Action Invisible Selife Stick will make sure you can safely get the best shots. It's made from carbon fiber to increase strength and reduce vibrations while still remaining comfortably light.
If you're creating kino, we have plenty of options for that too. For a feature-length filming sesh, there's the Power Selfie Stick. It has a built-in battery to boost your camera's lifespan and a remote control panel to give you more shooting options.
If more stability is what you require, we have the 2-in-1 Invisible Selfie Stick + Tripod. You can get your selfies with the 105cm stick and then convert it to a tripod with the push of a button. It's perfect for timelapse photography.
Not sure which selfie stick you need? Don't worry, we've got a handy guide that tells you everything you need to know!
2. Get the mounting right
When you mount your camera on your Invisible Selfie Stick of choice, make sure you keep the two lenses of your 360° camera parallel with the stick—right down the middle.
3. Set the length
When you’re shooting with an Invisible Selfie Stick, you don’t have to worry about pointing your camera—it captures every direction at once.
But there is one thing you’ll want to give some thought to before you shoot: the length you extend the stick. This can have a big effect on your final shot.
For a vlog-like shot where you’re the main subject, we recommend a distance of about 50–70cm (19.7–27.6in).
If you’re doing a behind-the-back, video-game-style third-person shot, you should extend the stick to its maximum length.
And of course, if you really want to take your camera aerial, you’re going to need more firepower.
That’s where the Extended Edition Selfie Stick comes in. This is a marvel of modern technology. Our engineers forged it in an advanced selfie stick smithy after years of dissatisfaction with what can only be described as much shorter selfie sticks.
So what is it? Technically speaking, it’s a giant-ass selfie stick (three meters to be precise).
It opens up some incredible possibilities and lets you convincingly mimic a drone!
Youtuber Best360 has some tips on getting the most out of your Invisible Selfie Stick in the great outdoors.
4. Position like a pro
Along with the length of the stick, the other key factor that’s going to influence your shot composition is where you position the camera.
Again, the direction you point the lenses doesn’t matter at all, but placement makes all the difference.
A common tip when shooting with a 360° camera on a selfie stick is to think of it more like a boom mic than a camera. Rather than the angle of capture, what you want to control is the camera’s proximity to the action.
Due to the way that fisheye lenses can exaggerate distance, it’s best to err on the side of putting the camera closer to your subject than you might with a standard camera. The Insta360 app also lets you get rid of the fisheye with a tap and revert to a natural, undistorted perspective.
Keen to keep up to date on Insta360 stories? Keep an eye on our blog and sign up for our mailing list. Got a story to share? Email yours to communitystories@insta360.com and win up to US$50.
%20(1).svg)
%20(1).svg)
.svg)
