I've got both a GoPro 11 and a (series of) Insta360 One X2. They both have their issues but are nice to have. I'd suggest that your mounting method might determine which one you get, but here are my observations.

I like both for the ability to derig, get the footage uploading and have it on my phone when I get home. Insta software is better.

The Insta360 works great with a harness mount. I made a simple one by epoxying a 1/4-20 stud into a carbon tube and socketing it into 3d printed mount that I matched to the shape of my harness using Fusion 360 canvas tool. I put a piece of kiteline inside the tube to act as a safety line, haven't needed it yet.

For the Gopro 11 I just use a stick on helmet mount.

I prefer the harness mount and Insta for the images as you can do a lot more fault finding as you can see your entire body, rig and board. It's also really nice for capturing other sailors or the occasional insane fishing boat. The image quality is not as good as the Gopro.

The big issue with the Insta360 one x (and 3 and 4, the 5 is supposedly better) is that it's not completely waterproof. I've had 2 go bad and they always say it's water intrusion, even though on the second one I've been taping over the doors to try and keep it dry. First time it was replaced under warranty after a TON of arguing. Second one they replaced but charged me $110US for "repair" I know another sailor around here has had some issues with his but likes it as well.

Having both, the insta makes for a more useful training and cool pic tool,. but in my experience it's not the most reliable. I would really love if someone else came out with one that's completely waterproof. Supposedly the onex5 is more water proof, but I haven't heard from anyone who's shelled out us$550 for one yet.

They're all cool, hope you enjoy what you get.

If you're choosing between the GoPro 12 and the Insta360 X3, it really comes down to what kind of shots you want. The GoPro 12 is great for crisp, straightforward footage and performs really well in rough conditions, while the Insta360 X3 gives you that 360? view and more creative editing options later. If you plan to use it for outdoor adventures like fishing trips, the GoPro might be better for mounting on your boat or near your fishing equipment for steady action shots. You can buy fishing equipment here www.mazuzee.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=154 if you need to upgrade your gear. If you want to capture everything around you in one go, the Insta360 is hard to beat.

My take is that a normal angle gopro (or djo action cam) beats a 360 camera every time - that bulbous world look just feel awful and tends to remove any sense of speed or scale.An eye height mast mount (or an old boom head mounted above your boom ) facing back to the rider

Also the half way up the mast facing down angle works nicely.

And the clew mount facing forward.Mix them up in the edit and you can get something niceSome of the higher res 360 cameras can be cropped into for a normal ish look - but i hear lots of problems with overheating and usability.

+ editing 360 footage is a challenge for many people.

Hi , anyone any experience with the insta360 Ace pro camera ? ie similar to the Gopro (non 360) ... watched a YouTube comparison and the ace pro was coming out better in nearly every comparison ... but what about water resistance etc ? as good as a go-pro ..?
thanks

No need to lock out in software. Simply don't make anymore batteries. Most manufacturers will support a product for about 5 years. If you look at drones for example batteries are nowadays "smart batteries" that automatically discharge to 70% after a pre-set time. This is also means there are generally no aftermarket batteries available. So once a manufacturer stops supporting the product once you batteries are spent your drone will be grounded.