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Ben Sin

Shenzhen-based Insta360 is back with another clever and capable camera. The One R is a modular action camera that can take standard 4K wide-angle like a GoPro or 5.7k-res 360 footage with the swap of a lens.
Design and hardware
The Insta360 One R is a small rectangular box that resembles the GoPro Hero 7 Black or DJI Osmo Action.
It separates into three pieces: a battery base; the core “body” with a one-inch touch screen, shutter button, and housing for microSD card and USB-C charging port; and the lens section.
The parts are connected via prongs and are waterproof up to five metres (16 feet).


However, because you must remove the battery every time you swap lenses, the camera must also reboot every time. It would have been nice to be able to hot-swap the lenses with the camera still running.
The package I’m reviewing, which includes the battery, core, and both the 4K action mod and 360 lens mods, retails for US$479.99 in the US and HK$3,798 in Hong Kong.

Software and features
Insta360’s software support is excellent. The companion app lets users use their phone screen as a viewfinder and control the camera remotely.
Finished videos can be previewed right away on the app, and full-scale edits from colour grading to tweaking the exposure can be applied after the fact.
Insta360’s software automatically detects and erases the selfie stick.

Other features include auto tracking, auto framing, and digital de-noising. There are so many features, beginners will be a bit overwhelmed.

Performance and battery life
As an action camera, the One R mostly keeps up with GoPro’s and DJI’s best. Stabilisation is fine without much digital cropping, but the colour seems a bit muted. Insta360 says this was by design, and encourages users to colour-grade the footage, but I don’t want to colour grade 17 different three-second clips to make one Instagram video.

The One R is excellent for vloggers who like to shoot themselves as they walk and talk. The screen can face the same side as the lens, and the field of vision is equivalent to a 16mm lens, wide enough to fit a user’s upper body into frame using the extended arm.
Use a selfie stick, however, and the immersion improves dramatically. The combination of the ‘invisible’ selfie stick and fluid stabilisation makes it appear as if I have a camera crew filming me as I walk.
The video footage looks great on a sunny day, and even at night in a brightly lit city like Hong Kong. Audio can be captured via the built-in mic, which sounds fine, but those who talk a lot on camera will be happy to know that the One R supports Bluetooth audio recording, and can even be paired with Apple’s AirPods as a mic.
Insta360 says the battery is enough to shoot continuously for 65 minutes, but this varies, depending on the temperature and the type of footage being shot. When shooting in 10 to 30 second bursts and shutting off the camera when not in use, a single battery base is enough to last an entire day. The good news is charging is done via USB-C.

Conclusion
Insta360 promises more accessories and mods to come, including a DJI drone clip, and a Leica action lens with a large one-inch sensor which will drastically improve lowlight performance.
The One R is a highly capable and versatile camera that’d be a great companion for vloggers, YouTubers and Instagram influencers. However, if you already own the Insta360 One X or a DJI Osmo Action, I’d recommend holding off on buying the One R, or waiting until it has more mods.


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Gadget reviews

Insta360 One R action camera review: capable, clever – like having your own film crew

The Insta360 One R in action camera mode, with a 4K wide-angle lens that shoots stabilised footage. Photo: Ben Sin

The Insta360 One R with an iPhone running the companion app

The Insta360 One R’s battery base

The Insta360 One R with its 360 lens mod on the side

The Insta360 One R (bottom) with a DJI Osmo Action on top

The Insta360 One R when taken apart.

360 cameras: best ways to use Insta360, GoPro and other models to capture your travels, from lighting to image stitching

“Tiny planet” image of riding a Mekong slowboat in Laos using a 360 camera. Photo: Steve Thomas

Uchisar Castle, Cappadocia, Turkey, 360 tiny planet[06JANUARY2020 FEATURES TRAVEL]CREDIT: STEVE THOMAS

GoPro Max[06JANUARY2020 FEATURES TRAVEL]CREDIT: Gopro

Insta360 One X camera[06JANUARY2020 FEATURES TRAVEL]CREDIT: STEVE THOMAS

DJI Osmo Mobile 3 review: smallest smartphone gimbal of its kind, light and folds into your pocket

DJI moved the hinge of the Osmo Mobile 3’s motor arm to the side of the phone instead of in front of it, so phones with wide-angle cameras can shoot freely. Other gimbals’ motor arms tend to obstruct the view of wide-angle cameras. Photo: Ben Sin

When the Osmo Mobile 3 is folded in half (right), it becomes much more compact than rival smartphone gimbals on the market such as the popular Zhiyun Smooth 4 (left).

The DJI Osmo Mobile 3 is a small and lightweight smartphone gimbal that folds in half

The DJI Osmo Mobile 3 has all the usual control buttons, including a trigger for quicker panning movement, and a dedicated shutter button to record without needing to touch the phone screen. Phones can connect to the Osmo Mobile 3 via DJI’s companion app

Lifestyle

Gadgets


The Insta360 One R has a modular design that allows the user to choose the type of footage to shoot
With excellent software and a host of features, it will take a week to discover just how versatile it is



The Insta360 One R action camera allows you to shoot different types of footage and edit it on the fly. With its amazing software, features and ability to swap out lenses, it is like having your own professional film crew. Here’s our review.


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An assessment or critique of a service, product or creative endeavour.  Film reviews, restaurant reviews, reviews of art exhibitions. (Eg. Crazy Rich Asians: an important film, yes, but a good one?)


Review

Review | Insta360 One R action camera review: capable, clever – like having your own film crew

The Insta360 One R has a modular design that allows the user to choose the type of footage to shoot With excellent software and a host of features, it will take a week to discover just how versatile it is

The Insta360 One R has a modular design that allows the user to choose the type of footage to shoot

With excellent software and a host of features, it will take a week to discover just how versatile it is