The world of image-making is evolving daily. One such development is the introduction of one-inch sensors to smaller cameras and mobile phones. One of the problems with smaller cameras in the past was that the sensor was too small to capture appropriate detail. Insta360 has recently come out with the one-inch edition of its popular 360 camera, which sets a new standard for photographers and filmmakers worldwide.
One of the most common stereotypes about 360 cameras is the bad image quality and detail. This comes from the fact that, in a race for size and weight, manufacturers sacrifice image quality to produce smaller and lighter cameras that you can mount anywhere. However, as technology shrinks and less and less space is required to produce the same result, it has now become possible to produce a 360 camera with a comparable quality sensor to a full-scale camera. Having tested the Insta360 ONE RS 1-Inch in the field, I concluded that, while it is not as good as a full-frame camera, it is much smaller, which allows me to film from angles that were otherwise impossible.
Versatility
A 360 camera is a very versatile tool, as it allows you to film at ultrawide focal lengths, 360 shots, but also more or less standard focal lengths. I love using the Insta360 ONE RS 1-Inch for creating engaging content. In the past, to create such images and video content, I would need to rent or, worse, buy cranes, jibs, and drones. Even then, there are significant restrictions and constraints placed on such gear. For example, most cities have very strict drone laws that prohibit flying. However, it is not illegal to use a 360 camera on a long stick. This opens up a lot of possibilities at a much better quality, which was unavailable in the past.
I have very little filming experience and have mostly directed moving images. This is because I don't find it necessary to learn to operate a cinema camera at the moment. That said, I could use the Insta360 ONE RS 1-Inch right out of the box, which is a huge plus. Being able to instantly set it up, wrap my head around working the camera, and then even connect it to the app on the phone made the user experience incredibly positive. I need to praise the team behind Insta360 for creating an app that connects so easily to the camera. I never had the connection drop out or be interrupted, all while having my watch, AirPods, and camera connected to an iPhone. It dealt with this relatively heavy load like it was nothing. While tech experts might say this is expected, I would disagree, as other brands of cameras tended to have a much more unstable connection, even with everything else disconnected and powered off.
I was also quite pleased with the ability to film literally everything around me. This ensured that no shots were ever missed and that I could switch to any angle I wanted at any time. The limitation of traditional action cameras is that they are still limited in their, albeit wide, field of view. A great example of this would be filming on an aircraft that rotates. I can simply choose to keep the horizon level and give a much more engaging angle, which almost seems like a video game rather than a filmed video.
One way that I was able to use the Insta360 One RS Camera was when filming timelapse videos of the city where I live: Budapest. By simply holding the camera on the stick and walking around the main landmark, I was able to create the following video. Shot at sunset, it shows just how good the low-light performance is. One more thing, I was walking fairly fast, and let the camera wobble pretty heavily, which is simply not noticeable from the timelapse at all. Because everything was filmed in 360, I was able to show the Parliament and its surroundings all in one run, without having to film extra angles.
Flexibility in Post Production
Post-production of 360-degree footage can be a challenge, but on the other hand, it offers a lot of flexibility. You can easily reframe the footage to focus on the action that is happening, as well as create keyframes easily. Instead of focusing on one particular subject, you can change the focus to be on something else at any point. This can come in handy when filming a band. Attach a camera to an instrument, and you can get both a close-up of the player and a shot of the whole stage, the audience, and more. I see this tool being popular in live recordings of performances. You can experiment with a myriad of angles and compositions without reshooting because the content is captured in 360 degrees, and the possibilities are limitless.
Why the 1-Inch Edition?
The advantages of the One-Inch edition over smaller sensor sizes are the ability to capture greater dynamic range, higher detail, and better image quality overall. The camera was co-engineered with Leica, which means it has state-of-the-art lens quality. Dual one-inch sensors make for great low-light performance. They are also able to deliver 6K 360-footage, which means you can crop in and zoom quite a lot before losing image quality, especially if the final video is delivered in standard Full HD. On top of that, FlowState stabilization can basically replace a gimbal and lock on the horizon to produce crisp, smooth footage. Last but not least, AI-powered PureShot HDR can be a fantastic tool that takes the ability of the One-Inch sensor further and produces unbelievably good HDR images that would otherwise be impossible with a phone or a camera.
For example, this image here was shot at night, handheld over a 60-70 meter drop, and in damp conditions. Fair to say this would be first of all impossible on a DSLR, second of all, impossible without a tripod. However, with a small and capable camera such as the Insta360 One RS, I was able to make my nightscape photography possible, and more fun.
One of the use cases for such gear can be time-lapses and astrophotography. Because of the fantastic low-light capabilities, such a device can be a go-to solution to capture the nature around you. The unique 360-degree ability can give even more dimension and perspective to the content you create. With the right workflow in place, your possibilities and potential uses for such a camera can be limitless. Whether it's a third-person shot of your travels or an epic cinematic time-lapse, this camera is a small, versatile tool that fits in many photographers’ and filmmakers’ bags.
Closing Thoughts
In conclusion, this camera is much smaller and less expensive than a traditional camera, which makes it a perfect companion or even a main filming device. Being able to connect to a phone makes sharing your content a breeze. You can even edit your footage straight from your phone, eliminating the need to carry a computer. Overall, I was quite satisfied with my experience with the Insta360 ONE RS 1-Inch Editon. If you're looking to produce 360-degree content while having a highly portable solution to do so, this is a camera you should consider.
