@ChuckFranco
So on the fence about this, Yes it protects the lens but highly degrades the footage like it's a glass bubble. It also fogs up really bad if its not a perfectly sunny day which destroys your footage. I know because I use my buddy's X2 with this same lens guard and the footage is always choppy and you can see all the scratches from the plastic lens.
@gnatman1102
Even being very careful in the application process, two small dust particles ended up under the front lens. Even though small, the particles ruined the image. So, I took the guards off and have never been happier.
@JohnvanGurp
It’s a tough call! They really do degrade the imagery.
@josefelizardo6506
Nice vid! It's definitely a tradeoff between safety and image quality. Its good to have the peace of mind, but for my tests it did make parts of the image blurrier. Strong light sources also had weird flares which was too much for me. Also, you cannot have these lens guards on if you want the cam to fit in the x3 dive case...so if you do deep dives often, be prepared to take the sticky lens guards off a lot!!
@dirasap
I highly recommend to use a lens guard. It won't damage the real lens if you accidentally drop your camera. Trust me, I have been there and it's stressful to have scratches on your lenses.
@peTeMelster
I put the sticky lens guard on in a clean environment and very carefully making sure there was no dust inside. Now I see blurriness/lens smudges all around even with the Lens Guard setting on and thoroughly cleaning the lens guard in bright environments.
@JeremyChone
In short, Yes, best action camera by far. I had so many GoPros, but I stopped using them because they always had issues. This one is such a beast, and the software is rock solid. I just ended two powder days. The battery held all day (I do not record continuously), and the record button never fails. If you press when the camera is off, it will start the record, and the second press will stop everything. If you have the camera on standby, it will just start/stop the recording. Simple and intuitive. Recommendation: Take the lens guards, probably a couple of pairs. I damaged one, and I was very glad I had it.
@OutThereVideos
Ive put these through the wringer. I mount my 360 to my truck roof when chasing tornadoes. These have saved my lenses several times, given the potential for extremely fast-moving debris/rocks/dust/hail in my use of the camera. They do knick fairly easily though. This is my first season with the camera, and am on my second set of covers. Expecting to replace them after the season again since they have a few light marks. Still, $20 every couple months is far cheaper than a new camera every month
@krk357
When applying, be sure you do it in a moisture-free space - even subtle humidity caught behind them causes condensation on the center of the view field, especially in winter and in summer when it rains.
@davefink2326
The lens guards saved my butt on day 2 of owning my X2. I was glad I bought two sets!
@yebogogo64
Looks like a no brainer purchase. Thanks Ben. I've been following these 360 videos and still haven't purchased mine yet 🙂
@UrdnotAkongo
Put them on and immediately took them off. Even with the lens guard attached set in the Settings, the stitching is horrible. Under direct sunlight you can easily see how low quality plastics they used, flares and glares galore. I've realized in all my cameras, I don't ever remember dropping them, even on more heavy, more unwieldy, $1k lenses. I baby everything anyway. Knowing my recordings will be clean and clear gives me more peace of mind than having the guards on.
@robertobantugtan
The lens guard is a must for me as I like that added protection and piece of mind that if ever I do drop the chances that the main lenses get broken are decreased a lot. it is an expensive camera so be sure to protect it.
@RonaldBrown59
They came with my Insta360 Sphere, and I installed them, it seemed like a smart thing to do since the camera is going on a drone. The down side is you can see the stitch line a lot more now. Great video Ben, and thanks for sharing.
@virginiatrailcameravideos
I used the lens guards on the GoPro Max. Easy on, easy off, and a fair balance between safety and quality. The Insta seems like a royal PIA in terms of installation and removal and way too many complaints about the cheap plastic. For now, I'm not going to install them.
@michaelkukura6208
I have them on my X2, when I am out having fun in the woods but when I am shooting 360 tours I take them off for clearer shots. They have saved my lenses a few times
@hill1652
The shape of the rim of each lens protector that sticks to the camera is not well designed. While it sticks well at the bottom of the protector, there is a noticeable gap at the top.
@donsomething
Do you need to remove the lens guard when using the underwater dive case?
@meiocheng817
Going on a ski trip, got the guards; if it fogs or degrades the image too much, I'll remove them.
@hoomangonna1