Insta360 announced a major firmware update for its Luna Ultra gimbal camera Monday, headlined by enhanced telephoto capabilities, a concert-focused Stage Mode, and support for 4K vertical video.
The biggest new feature with this update is the Luna Ultra’s in-camera zoom beyond its previous 12× limit to a full 15×, the equivalent of a 300 mm lens. Insta360 credits the camera’s dual professional imaging chips, along with an AI Remosaic system that reconstructs detail normally lost to digital cropping, while keeping distant subjects, including people, text, buildings and landscapes, clear even at maximum magnification.
The extended range works across Video, PureVideo, Stage Mode and Photo, with 4K at 30 fps recommended for the best results. Creators who need even more reach can attach the new Ultra Telephoto Lens, a lightweight magnetic snap-on accessory that extends the optical range by 1.5×, enabling shooting at an equivalent focal length of up to 450 mm.
Designed for concerts, festivals and theatres, Stage Mode reworks the gimbal’s image processing, tracking, audio and controls for chaotic live environments. Face-specific filtering and adjusted focus sensitivity help the camera ignore glow sticks and crowd interference, while exposure and white balance algorithms preserve vivid, natural-looking footage under challenging stage lighting.
Insta360 says a stronger tracking model, trained on extensive concert footage, lets the Luna Ultra recognize, follow and reacquire performers in low light. Two dedicated audio options round out the experience: Stage Audio prioritizes sound coming from the direction of the stage, while Ambient Audio preserves the atmosphere of the venue. Users can also capture Live Frame snapshots while recording without stopping the video.
The update also introduces 4K vertical video at 30 fps, powered by the camera’s 4 nm Qualcomm AI chip and 6K oversampling, with support for up to 6× zoom. A new Zoom Live style adds smooth, dynamic zoom-in movement to Live Frame portraits, while Live Frame photos can now combine beauty effects with cinematic filters directly in-camera.
I was lucky enough to get an early look at this new firmware and the new Zoom Lens, and I have to say, it is pretty impressive. It will not replace a full camera rig for major film shoots, but for a creator, it offers a very flexible way to capture video that feels much closer without needing to lug around a full set of lenses and a mirrorless camera just to get the shot. The new Zoom Lens connects to the camera easily, and the Luna Ultra detects it and suggests switching to zoom mode. From there, you can zoom in and get a much better look at subjects farther away.
The fact that Insta360 has made it painless to switch between modes and deliver striking detail from such a small camera is fantastic. I did some tests while in Montreal, and the image quality was impressive, especially considering the size. It also gives you a good zoom range that lets you flex your creative muscles should you want to capture zoom shots that can normally be quite challenging to achieve on such a small device.
Luna Ultra owners can install the firmware through the Insta360 app. The new Luna Ultra Zoom Bundle, which adds a carry bag and the Ultra Telephoto Lens to everything included in the Standard Bundle, is priced at US$889.99. You can also read our full review of the Luna Ultra, and despite the competition in the gimbal camera space, Insta360 has managed to deliver one of the best options on the market. This new zoom lens makes it even more versatile.
