Insta360 ONE RS 1-Inch 360 Edition Camera

Bringing unrivaled adaptability and quality to the world of action cameras!

I’m excited to share my impressions of the Insta360 ONE RS 1-Inch 360 Edition, a device that has pushed the frontiers of action cameras and immersive cinematography. It’s like having numerous gadgets in a single box with this modular action camera.

One of the primary features is its 1-inch sensor, which was co-engineered with Leica and provides exceptional picture quality. The difference is especially obvious in low-light situations, when it exceeds the majority of other action cameras on the market. Videos are clear, vivid, and filled with information. Furthermore, even in low-light situations, the images generated by this camera show exceptional clarity and color reproduction.

The ability to record 360-degree videos is another notable feature of the Insta360 ONE RS. As an adventurer, I’ve been able to film panoramic footage with incredible detail, providing viewers with a truly immersive experience. This is paired with FlowState stabilization to provide amazingly smooth video, regardless of the chaotic activities or terrains you’re filming on.

This device’s modularity is what distinguishes it. The lens modifications’ quick switch design provides flexibility not seen in other action cameras. I like how you don’t have to purchase various equipment to get different shooting views. The transition from action-cam mode to 360° mode is smooth and quick.

The associated app is also a delight to use. It has various creative editing features that allow for simple alteration of 360° film, such as producing Tiny Planet effects or reframing the perspective. Also noteworthy is the AI-powered subject tracking capability, which allows for simple monitoring of individuals in the picture.

However, I found the battery life to be quite limited, particularly while recording 5.3K films or using it frequently on day-long journeys. It’s a slight disadvantage, however purchasing a second battery pack addresses the problem.

Another important consideration is durability. It is waterproof up to 5 meters, making it ideal for snorkeling or pool recording without the need for a separate case.

Finally, the Insta360 ONE RS 1-Inch 360 Edition is more than simply an action camera; it’s a powerful storytelling tool. The combination of outstanding picture quality, adaptability, and 360-degree capabilities makes it a must-have for explorers, multimedia makers, and anybody seeking to record the world in amazing detail. It has far surpassed my expectations and has completely changed the way I document and share my trips. Despite the slightly reduced battery life, I rate it a 5-star for its unparalleled features and greater performance.

(Update 1/2/2023: Insta360 customer support has reached out to me December/2022 to resolve my dissatisfaction and poor experience with the Insta360 RS 1 inch camera and to try a replacement w/ their full tech support included if needed. I am updating this review and just want to say Insta360 has been wonderful in it’s support and willingness to make things right and in its prompt correspondence to me through email. Insta360 support gets 10 stars!).

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After returning an Insta360 RS 1 inch due to issues with not recognizing my memory cards which met the specs required, and after doing some research online for related my issues (detailed in this review) I decided to try again and got another Insta360 RS 1 inch and had much more success after finding the solution to my previous issues.

Having used it now for several hours of evaluation, I’m posting this review in hopes it may help others who had similar issues initially and returned theirs as well.

Huge difference I know from my previous 2 star rating, but, in hopes that my updated review here explains why my review changed in detail, I hope many will get some useful information and perspectives from this update.

Sorry for the long winded update here, but, I’m hoping it does offer some insight and help to others considering this camera to purchase or perhaps who had similar issues to what I did and returned their camera as well.

My previous 2 star review dealt with 3 MicroSd cards (all meeting the UHS-1 and V30 spec) here used routinely in two drones, plus at times in some digital cameras I own. I use Micro to full SD adapters for my Nikon and Panasonic MFT cameras as needed.

The issue I experienced was that I had MicroSD cards here that all of them fully met the UHS-1 & V30 specs required for the RS 1 inch, yet, the Insta360 RS 1 inch in all cases would not recognize any MircoSd card was inserted. These cards were then also formatted to exFAT in another computer in a second attempt to see if it might resolve the NO CARD recognized message on the RS 1 inch so I could use the cards, but, it didn’t.

I purchased a new MicroSd card with larger capacity then what I already had (64GB) that met the UHS-1 and V30 spec and it was recognized immediately by the RS 1 inch replacement and I was able to format it directly in the Insta360 and proceed to use the camera. A new (compatible) card that is not formatted at all will automatically be formatted as soon as inserted in the camera and power turned one.

I was still stumped why my recently purchased 64GB card wasn’t being detected in the Insta360 since it had the same UHS-1, V30 specs as the newer card I had just received and was using.

Although I am a stickler for handling all of my memory cards carefully (including storage in a hard memory card case) and for SD or any of my memory cards, I never touch the area where the contacts are located, I got to thinking that the MicroSD cards and their contacts might be more inclined to get “dirty” given they are in and out of the several Micro-to-full SD adapters I use here.

So, ….I gently cleaned the contact area of the 64GB microSd card with a lens/eyeglass cleaner (water/IPA) from a sealed pouch and buffed the contact area dry using a clean micro-cloth.

I reinserted the 64GB MicroSD card in the Insta360 and bingo, the camera recognized the card was installed and I reformatted the card inside of the RS 1inch with no issues.

WOW,…Lesson learned here is that while (most) other cameras, drones and other devices might be fine and work well with minimally coated/dirty contacts on a memory card, the Insta360 prefers very clean contacts.

This is not really any design defect for this camera, it simply means to just be certain that your MicroSD Card contacts are nice and clean for the RS 1 inch. I’d probably gotten by just exhaling on the contacts to offer a bit of moisture and using a clean micro-cloth to buff the contacts gently.

When there is no card installed in the Insta360 (or it can’t detect one that is installed), the camera functions and general setup gets a bit quirky. That’s where my previous review came from. Given that no SD card means no recording, the camera will alert you there’s no card present. There is a “confirm” tab you can select on the small screen to over-ride the absence of a MicroSd card for presumably just making changes in settings, but, I chose not to use it and rather, get a formatted and functional card installed right up front before proceeding.

Get a functioning MicroSd card installed and all of the issues go away and the app (IOS) works smoothly as does the camera.

As other great reviews have stated, the still and video images are superb! Very clear and sharp. Low noise levels in lower light.

I was amazed at how fast the stitching is done in-camera to create the file on the storage card….a few seconds, even when I was in the higher resolutions for video. (Long video sequences of course take a little longer to process, but, it’s still a fast process).

I do not see any stitching artifacts for still or video.

The RS 1 inch seems to handle that task -very- smoothly and effectively.

I have yet to really analyze the audio and it’s not (yet) a high priority. I’ll be doing more stills then video initially. (If I need to emphasize audio, perhaps later I’ll get a small wireless external mic if needed as well).

The screen seems tiny as many have mentioned, but, when using the IOS app and viewing remotely on my iPhone 14, it resolves that issue.

The limiting factor for me for the small screen isn’t really a difficult time viewing it given it’s small area,…, it is more using the touchscreen functions. If you have medium to larger fingers, the small screen might pose a little more challenge to use.

Speaking of the screen, I purchased glass screen protectors (3 pack) for it at under $8 on Amazon.Easy to align and apply, bubble free and the touch screen functions are not impacted at all. Search Amazon for “Aemus Compatible with Insta360 ONE RS 1-Inch 360 Edition Screen Protector Action Camera Tempered Glass Film”.

Granted, you can use the app on an Android or Apple IOS device and other then basic setup and “favorite” settings you can select from directly on the camera, most everything can be done remotely using the app instead.

Given there is a small and compact body profile for this Insta360 model, well, a small screen comes with that design.

For stationary use or perhaps indoors, one could use a larger iPad or similar android tablet for a larger viewing area if needed.

The IOS wireless app works smoothly and the wifi/blue-tooth connection has been 100% stable on my iPhone, iPAD 11 PRO and my iPad Mini as well.

I wish the Android app was also available with an iOS (and OS) version for Macs to use in a wired mode and to my knowledge, aside from perhaps using an after-market adapter, there is no direct/wired cable connection method to use the RS 1 inch (USB-C to USB-C for iOS/Macs. Seems for now it is a wireless connection only for Apple devices.

-Insta360 states that on their website for the RS 1 Inch:-
“Note: This camera only supports wired connection to Android devices (via Micro-USB or Type-C). It does not support wired connection to iOS devices. Full wireless support is available for both iOS and Android”. (They have a “quick connect” adapter I think is made for the Android wire connection method, but, for us Apple users, we are out of luck for now).

Hey Insta360!, there’s a lot of us Apple device users out there too so come on; design and offer a wired app for Macs (OS and iOS) as well and soon! I am sure you can do this if you want to!

There are after-market adapters at Amazon that claim to allow a wired connection using USB-C, but, no idea if they work (on iOS) and for now, I’m good just using wireless only and have no plans for now to try 3rd party electronics.

The one inch sensor makes a huge difference in lower light. That’s a standard concept for most all imaging devices. Large(r) area sensors equate to lower noise levels and better image quality in lower light levels. Granted, some cameras do not do well in lower light levels no matter so the rule isn’t necessarily constant across all cameras, but, for the RS 1 inch specifically, in comparing it to my full frame Nikon and Micro-Four-Thirds Panasonic GH6, the RS 1 inch holds its own very, very well. The images look great even when I “pixel peep” (zoom in to view a small image area to critique). (The two Leica sensors that power the 1 Inch 360 Edition are four times the size of sensors found in most other 360 cameras).

The camera does get warm in use, although not alarmingly hot, but, when shooting video for extended times, the camera is working hard and you can feel the heat being generated. Granted the battery gets warm just being charged, but, all in all, nothing I see that is alarming.

I can’t yet confirm the battery gets about an hour of video capture per specs, having not used it enough for extended recording, but, many reviews seem to confirm the ~1 hour battery life for video is reasonably accurate. I assume still pics which tax the battery less will offer extended battery life past the 1 hour mark. (TBD).

By the way, buy at least one spare battery, never take your camera anywhere without a backup so you can keep shooting! (Amazon does not sell the spare battery, but, B&H photo who I’ve purchased from many times in the past, does and I purchased a spare from them).

To sum it up, this camera which feels heavy and solidly made when held in the hand, offers unique and creative potential for VR enthusiasts. I own a Quest 2 and plan to research how to view the 360 VR files on it from this camera. I’ve read it can be done. It might require file conversions to make it work, but, I’m really looking forward to to playing around and to get this concept to work for me. (I’ll update this review when I am successful!)

I do plan to update this review as I use this camera more in both still and video mode and explore all of the settings to try to find my sweet spot for set-up which for me, produces the best results.

At ~$800 plus another $100-200 or so for accessories including a case, potential buyers need to know this is a speciality camera that excels in use per its design and for what it does quite well.

I would -not- take the Insta360 RS 1 inch as the only travel camera and would as well pack my primary photo gear too, but, the Insta360 RS 1 inch -will- always be along with me when I travel or go out locally, …for events and general subjects that warrant using a 360 VR type view. It’s small and easy to pack so why not!!

If you’ve made up your mind to buy a 360 degree VR camera, I highly recommend to try this one! Yes, it’s more expensive then some of the smaller sensor cameras out there, but, honestly, you will get what you pay for in image quality and low noise levels in low light.

—> Lastly, I will say it again, the support and prompt response from customer support at Insta360 has been nothing less than exceptional. They want you to enjoy using this camera and be very satisfied with it.

No product is worth its cost or value without good customer support if you need it and do feel confident that the Insta360 team wants you to enjoy and more importantly keep and promote this camera to others and will promptly reply and assist you as needed. That’s a big deal!

So for now as I use this wonderful 360 VR camera, it is certainly worthy of a 5 star review.

The Insta360 RS 1 inch is a speciality camera that can certainly excel for image quality and features for what it was designed to do and do so very well.

Is it the best of the 360 VR camera out there right now? Yes, I think so. It’s of course more expensive then the smaller sensor Insta360s or it’s competition, but, if IQ/image quality is everything to you for both still photography and video, it will be worth the investment over the much lower priced 360 VR cameras out there.

As mentioned, i will update this review as needed over time!

Thank you for taking the (lengthy) time to read! Much appreciated!

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So much I could write about this so will keep it simple. Best 360 out there without going professional. This is not an action cam so don’t buy if that is a requirement. The video and photos are stunning quality even in low light. It’s fast and it’s not as big or heavy as I expected. But still considerably heavier than other mid end 360 cams.

I have purchased the heavier and bigger selfie stick by insta 360, that has added to the expense but doesn’t feel like it will snap with the added weight! A must really so factor that in with the price and things do get costly.

Also factor in the added cost of additional batteries, at present impossible to get on amazon and insta website themselves have only just come back in stock. 2 additional batteries will cost over £100 but unless you are a heavy daily user these won’t be required as the battery life is actually pretty good.

It’s possible to set up the device with the rode mic, but you will need to purchase an adapter plate that fits on the side of the 360 and it both mic and plate are removed from the shot. Pretty incredible really. Again if you need these, factor in the additional cost.

I purchased a quick remove adaptor so that I can easily remove from my selfie stick, I got fed up of the constant twisting and turning to remove and put back on. They are cheap cost too, so I recommend this.

I don’t regret my purchase but the additional items I required really ramped up the price. The photos are amazing and I like to have the best quality photos for capturing moments in life I don’t want to ever forget. I highly recommend if you are serious about 360 photos. I don’t recommend this as a first 360 cam, if you don’t use it enough or you don’t even know if you like shooting 360 then this is a costly risk.

Die Insta360 ONE RS 1-Zoll 360° Edition ist zweifellos eine der beeindruckendsten 360°-Kameras auf dem Markt. Mit ihrer erstklassigen Bildqualität, ihrer Vielseitigkeit und den umfangreichen Funktionen eröffnet sie ein ganz neues Maß an kreativen Möglichkeiten.

Der 1-Zoll-Bildsensor dieser Kamera ist das Herzstück ihrer beeindruckenden Leistung. Er ermöglicht Aufnahmen in atemberaubender 6K-Auflösung, die gestochen scharfe Details und lebendige Farben liefern. Egal ob Fotos oder Videos, die Qualität der Aufnahmen ist herausragend und übertrifft viele andere 360°-Kameras auf dem Markt.

Die Flexibilität der Insta360 ONE RS 1-Zoll 360° Edition ist bemerkenswert. Sie bietet verschiedene Aufnahmemodi, darunter 360°-Panoramen, Weitwinkelaufnahmen und sogar die Möglichkeit, das Sichtfeld während oder nach der Aufnahme anzupassen. Dadurch können Sie den Fokus und die Perspektive Ihrer Aufnahmen nachträglich anpassen, was unglaublich kreative Ergebnisse ermöglicht.

Die Kamera verfügt über eine Reihe von intelligenten Funktionen, die die Benutzerfreundlichkeit und das Filmen erleichtern. Die Auto-Stitching-Technologie sorgt für nahtlose 360°-Aufnahmen ohne sichtbare Nähte. Die FlowState-Stabilisierung gewährleistet butterweiche Videos, selbst während der Bewegung. Darüber hinaus bietet die Kamera eine beeindruckende Zeitlupenfunktion, die Details in Zeitlupe einfängt und spektakuläre Effekte erzeugt.

Die Insta360 ONE RS 1-Zoll 360° Edition ist auch mit einer Reihe von Zubehörteilen und Befestigungsoptionen kompatibel, die den Einsatz in verschiedenen Umgebungen und Situationen ermöglichen. Ob Sie die Kamera an Ihrem Helm befestigen, sie mit einer Selfie-Stange verwenden oder sie auf einem Stativ platzieren möchten, es stehen Ihnen zahlreiche Möglichkeiten zur Verfügung.

Die Bedienung der Kamera erfolgt über die intuitive Smartphone-App, die eine einfache Steuerung und eine umfangreiche Bearbeitungsfunktion bietet. Sie können Ihre Aufnahmen direkt auf Ihrem Smartphone anzeigen, bearbeiten und teilen. Die App ermöglicht auch die Erstellung von automatischen Schnittszenen und das Hinzufügen von Musik und Effekten.

Ein kleiner Kritikpunkt ist die begrenzte Akkulaufzeit der Kamera. Bei intensiver Nutzung kann der Akku relativ schnell entladen werden, was die Aufnahmezeit einschränken kann. Es wird empfohlen, Ersatzakkus mitzuführen, um längere Aufnahmen zu ermöglichen.

Alles in allem ist die Insta360 ONE RS 1-Zoll 360° Edition eine herausragende 360°-Kamera, die erstklassige Bildqualität, Vielseitigkeit und beeindruckende Funktionen bietet. Mit dieser Kamera sind Ihrer Kreativität keine Grenzen gesetzt.