Guides
Which microSD card for your action camera?
It's the detail that ruins a weekend: the card you had on hand cuts off the recording after thirty seconds, or saturates halfway through the stay. A modern action camera writes a lot of data, continuously, without ever taking a breath. The choice of a microSD card is therefore not a matter of brand or price, but of three precise characteristics and a volume calculation that no one does before leaving.
The three acronyms that decide everything
The speed class. This is the only one that causes recording cuts: it describes the writing rate that the card maintains over time, and not a speed peak. Insta360 written in black and white in the online manual of the X5 and X4 that UHS-I and V30 class cards or higher are required for normal recording. On the GoPro side, the product sheets require at least an A2 V30 card.
The application class. The A2 acronym does not concern video bitrate but random accesses. It is now requested by GoPro in addition to the V30. A card marked V30 without A2 may therefore be below the recommended specifications, even if it displays the correct speed.
The format. Insta360 specifies that the card must be formatted in exFAT. This is the format that accepts video files of several gigabytes; the old FAT32, still present on cheap or hastily reformatted cards, does not accept them.
How many gigabytes for a week of filming
To answer seriously, we must start from the maximum video bit rate announced by the manufacturers. GoPro indicates 120 Mbit/s for HERO12 Black, Insta360 announces 180 Mbit/s for X5 and 200 Mbit/s for X4. By converting, we obtain the maximum consumption per hour, and therefore the worst case:
| Camera | Maximum flow rate announced | Approximately, per hour | About 128 GB | On 1 TB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GoPro HERO12 Black | 120 Mbps | 54 GB | 2:20 a.m. | 6:30 p.m. |
| Insta360 X5 | 180 Mbps | 81 GB | 1:35 a.m. | 12:20 p.m. |
| Insta360 X4 | 200 Mbps | 90 GB | 1:25 a.m. | 11 a.m. |
These durations are deliberately pessimistic: most modes never reach maximum throughput, and a card will last longer in practice than what this table says. Above all, remember the order of magnitude: in 360° high definition, a 128 GB card is less than two hours. For a week of vacation filmed seriously, we're talking about 256 GB minimum, and 512 GB to 1 TB if you film in 8K or if you don't plan to unload every evening.
The maximum capacity supported, the discreet trap
A card that is too big is not always recognized. Insta360 indicates that the maximum storage space supported by the X4 and X5 is 1 TB, and publishes a list of validated models: its own V30 A1 card, the SanDisk Extreme and Extreme Pro V30 A2 up to 1 TB – the A1 versions of these same ranges are only listed in small capacities – and the Lexar 1066x UHS-I Silver series. At GoPro, the HERO12 Black sheet requires a class A2 V30 card or higher, without announcing a capacity ceiling. If you bring your own card, check what the instructions for your exact model say before purchasing: this is manufacturer information, not a guess.
At Fox Rider, the card is already in the package
We might as well say it frankly rather than selling you a useless buying guide: on the information sheetsInsta360 X5, of theInsta360 X4and theGoPro HERO 12 Black, the SanDisk 1TB microSD card is part of what is included in the rental, along with the battery, dual charger and carrying case. So you don't have to buy anything — and out of the two Insta360, this card matches exactly the maximum capacity supported by the camera.
This guide remains useful in two cases: if you already have a camera and are looking for the right card, and if you want to bring a second card to secure your rushes by distributing them over two supports.
Three mistakes that cost a day of filming
- Format on the computer rather than in the camera.Always format on the device that will film: it applies the right format and file structure.
- Buy a card at a discount in a last minute store. Counterfeits advertise a capacity that they do not have and a speed that they cannot maintain. Stick to the models listed by your camera manufacturer.
- Do not empty the card in the evening. A full card discovered at the time of the plan that you have been waiting for for three days is the image you will never have.