Can Leica engineering really turn an action camera into a “proper” camera? I tested the Insta360 Ace Pro 2 to find out!
I put the Leica-engineered Insta360 Ace Pro 2 against my Leica camera – and I wasn’t expecting this
The Leica name paired with an action camera may seem amusing, as Leica is known for beautifully engineered rangefinder cameras, expensive glass, and a photographic philosophy focused on slowing down and concentrating on the image. Action cameras, however, are usually tiny boxes strapped to helmets, handlebars, cars, or other unconventional places.
The Insta360 Ace Pro 2, developed with Leica involvement, pairs its 1/1.3-inch sensor with Leica optics and promises image quality far beyond what was previously expected from this category. To find out if it can really stand beside a camera made by Leica, the Ace Pro 2 was tested in the field alongside the Leica M240. While the Ace Pro 2 uses a much smaller sensor and is built around a 50MP still image capacity and 8K video capability, the M240 has a 24MP full-frame sensor.
The comparison becomes more interesting when viewed through the lens of producing genuine photographs, not just frames from an action camera. The Xplorer Grip Pro, a substantial metal-bodied grip with extra battery capacity, a proper shutter button, zoom control, and a rear dial for exposure adjustment, turns the Ace Pro 2 into a more camera-like experience.
Using the Leica Natural preset, the Ace Pro 2 delivers colors that look excellent and the Leica Vivid and Leica Eternal looks are almost cheat codes for polished images ready to share. However, the Leica M240 still wins in terms of image quality due to its larger full-frame sensor, producing depth, tonality, texture, and natural rendering that the Ace Pro 2 cannot replicate.
Written by urgent.news from Digital Camera World's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.