Insta360 has announced its most expensive and powerful consumer 360 camera to date, the $ 800 One RS 1-inch 360 version. The core of this camera is similar to the core of Insta360’s ONE RS, as it is the second version of the company’s modular action camera launched in April this year. But the 1-inch 360 version comes with a larger battery attachment and dual 1-inch CMOS sensor mode. All this is put together by a mounting bracket to create a more capable 6K 360 camera.
Insta360 started a big bet on modular camera design with the release of One R in early 2020. It was the first action camera to offer multiple lens modes for different styles of filming. There was a standard 4K mode that mimicked traditional action cameras, such as the GoPro Hero 8, a 1-inch mode capable of 5.3K footage, and a dual-lens, 360 camera mode capable of capturing 5.7K round video. Like Insta360’s stand-alone 360 camera at the time, the One X. Modular design was perfect for action-camera-loving creators who might be curious about 360 filming but don’t want to invest in a dedicated 360 camera.
Two years later, in March 2020, Insta360 announced the One RS, which improved the quality and Wi-Fi transfer speed of the One R’s microphones and improved the overall core processing power. At the time it seemed like a minor upgrade, but now with the introduction of the One RS 1-inch 360 version, that processing power update seems to make more sense. The core of the One RS is the same core used in the One RS 1-inch 360 camera. And owners of the RS, and R can only buy batteries, mounting brackets, and dual 1-inch 360 sensors for 650.
The One RS 1-inch 360 Edition is made up of four parts: a plastic mounting bracket; USB-C charging port, ¼ ”tripod mount and battery brick with USB-C plug for attaching to core; Core with USB-C port, microSD card slot and 1.3-inch touchscreen; And dual 1-inch CMOS sensors and lenses. Stacked and moved into his house, this creates a 6K 360 camera.
They are capable of capturing 6K 360-degree footage at 30fps with a dual 1-inch CMOS sensor and can capture 21-megapixel 360 photos. Insta360 claims that larger sensors perform better in low light and offer more dynamic range than its predecessor 360 cameras. But the larger sensor weighs 239g and comes with two large, scattered glass spheres that are more likely to be scratched and cracked. Because of this, Insta360 does not recommend using the camera on a selfie stick longer than four feet when doing intense activities such as riding a bike. And unfortunately, the system is only rated IPX3 water-resistant and should not be submerged or used for high-velocity water activities such as surfing.
I’ve been using the One RS 1-inch 360 version for a few days now and will publish a full review with camera samples in the coming days. So far, this system seems like a breath of fresh air in the 360 camera market, but its larger size brings me more concern when in use. More on that soon.
The Insta360 One RS 1-inch 360 version is now available for $ 800. For One R and One RS users, the 1-inch 360 mode, battery and mounting bracket are available for 650.
