Insta360 just launched their latest 360 camera, the ONE R. It’s actually a modular system and not a single, self-contained camera. Only time will tell, but it seems like the ONE R could be an innovative approach to solving the problem of how to pack the burgeoning features we are seeing in the action and 360 camera spaces into a workable form factor. Certainly Insta360 seems to have doubled down their focus on the using 360 as coverage for standard 16:9 action shots.
The ONE R starts with a battery base and a touch screen that sits on top (it can be installed forwards or backwards depending on the use case) next to an empty space that could include one of the following:
- A 5.7K 360 camera
- A 4K action camera that records at 60fps for 4K and 200fps for 1080p
- A 5.3K wide-angle (14.4mm equivalent) mod co-developed with Leica that has a 1-inch sensor (30fps for 5.3K, 60fps for 4K, and 120fps for 1080p) This module was developed with the help of camera company Leica.
Key features include:
- Insta360’s FlowState stabilization is a key part of all three modules.
- Waterproof to 16 feet, despite the module design
- Aerial mod that makes it possible to hide your drone from footage
- External mic support
- Various remote control options, including Apple Watch, voice, and a GPS enabled smart remote
- Selfie stick
- Motion tracking to lock in on subjects
- Tons of software/ post production options like bullet time, time lapse, slo mo, etc.
We’re not seeing a ton of immediate academic use cases for features such as the above, but will certainly keep the ONE R in mind if the right project arises.
