The Insta360 One RS action camera captures 360-degree and wide-angle shots for both 4K 60fps video and 48MP still photography. It comes with an invisible selfie stick for third-person view. It’s waterproof and built to take a beating.
Insta360 One RS Action Camera | Rider Analysis
The Insta360 is one of the main challengers of the GoPro dominance in the action-camera market. It’s been around since 2015 and has become known not just for tack-sharp traditional camera footage but the innovative 360° view that allows the user to capture angles that otherwise would require multiple cameras and lots of time editing.
There are six cameras in the Insta 360 lineup, and we’ve been testing the One RS for the last few months. The One RS is unique in that it’s two cameras in one—you can use the 4K Boost Lens with its half-inch 48MP image sensor that shoots 4K footage at 60 frames per second and massive 48MP stills, or you can do like we’ve been doing and swap the Boost Lens out for the 360 lens.
The 360 lens captures everything in 5.7K and, once you’re done, you head over to the Insta360 Studio desktop app or your phone app (we prefer the desktop app) and choose where you want the camera to be shooting at a given time.
Another cool feature of the Insta360 One RS is the invisible selfie stick, which we found also works like a Ram Mount. The camera’s dual-lens system doesn’t recognize the stick sitting directly underneath it, so it effectively stitches it out of the frame in real time. The result is your film looks like someone else is filming, which is perfect for onboard shots when you have your mount rigged up on the bike.
Quick edits are simple thanks to the Insta360 mobile app. We’ve had issues many times with other cameras on the market not connecting to phones via Wi-Fi, but this has never been the case with the One RS. The camera connects every time we have asked it to, and because it shoots in 360 degrees, it can crop in any aspect ratio you want at 1:1, 9:16, 16:9, 4:3 or 2.35:1 and you can have footage ready for YouTube, Instagram reels, whichever platform you like, instantly.
I’ve been using action cameras since my first Replay camera back in 2012, with about 10 different GoPros in between. Hands down, the Insta360 One RS is my absolute favorite of the lot.
This is a near perfect camera for motorcycle riding as it allows me to do the same job with one camera that I used to do with four. I’ve used this while riding in Lake Como, Italy, and it’s been racing with me at Laguna Seca and Mosport in Canada. Incidentally, both those races ended with massive crashes (I know, I know), and the camera incredibly came out almost completely scratch free—which is absolutely astounding.
VIDEO | Two Laps At Laguna Seca with Rennie and the Insta360
VIDEO | Crazy Crash At Laguna Seca – Breakdown
I’m no whiz when it comes to capturing footage, but I’ve gotten decent enough over the years to know what shot works and what doesn’t. Often times with a one-dimensional camera, that makes for some pretty boring footage, but the One RS has given me a bit of a new lease on life. There are a number of angles I never thought I could capture and I’m now doing so regularly.
I’ll admit I have hardly used the 4K Boost Lens because I have other cameras that can do a similar job, and I want to keep the 360 lens fitted.
Part of the reason I love this camera so much is the editing suite. The on-phone app is handy, but I do almost everything on the desktop app, which is superbly laid out and very easy to understand if you have just the slightest knowledge of editing software. There are a couple of good YouTube videos out there as for a tutorial on the app, and you can do cool effects like the mini planet feature, where it looks like you’re briefly riding around the globe. To be honest, the videos we produce here at Cycle News don’t require such a feature, but they’re a cool thing to have if you’re just shooting for fun.
If you’re in the market for an action camera, the extra couple hundred bucks you’ll spend on a camera like the One RS make for a very compelling argument over traditional one-dimension cameras. CN
Insta360 One RS Action Camera Lowdown
Standout Feature: Exceptional footage with an editing platform that’s very easy to use.
Insta360 One RS Twin Edition List Price: $549.99
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Excellent footage and image stabilization | |
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Easy-to-use back-end programs | |
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Tough as nails. This thing has survived two 100 mph crashes! | |
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Probably doesn’t need to have the 4K lens, because once you use the 360 lens, you’ll never go back (but it’s nice to have, anyway). |
For more information, visit https://store.insta360.com
Click here to read the Insta360 One RS Action Camera Review in the Cycle News Digital Edition Magazine.
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