Insta360 ONE RS Twin Edition: Full Review

The Insta360 ONE RS Twin Edition is a versatile action camera that combines the capabilities of an interchangeable lens action camera with a 360-degree camera. The Insta360 ONE RS series allows users to swap out different lens mods to suit different shooting needs. The Twin Edition includes both the 4K Boost Lens Mod for standard action camera shooting, and the 5.7K 360 Mod for capturing 360 video and photos. With the TWO RS Twin Edition, users get the best of both worlds in one device.

The 4K Boost Lens Mod has a wide angle f/2.8 lens capable of capturing crisp, stabilized 4K video at 60fps. When you need 360 capture, just swap to the dual fisheye 5.7K 360 Mod. Having both lens mods in one package gives creators flexibility in a compact form factor. The ONE RS Twin Edition delivers pro-level image quality for immersive action footage and 360 content creation.

Design

The Insta360 ONE RS Twin Edition features an innovative modular design with interchangeable lens modules. This allows you to easily swap between different lenses to suit different shooting situations.

The core camera module houses the image sensor, processor and battery. You can then attach different lens modules onto the core. There are currently 3 lens modules available:

• The dual lens 360 module for shooting 360 video and photos
• The wide angle module with a large 1-inch sensor for high quality wide angle shots
• The 4K boost lens module for boosted 4K video at up to 60fps

The ability to change lenses makes the ONE RS extremely versatile. You don't need to carry multiple cameras - just swap lenses as needed.

The ONE RS has an IPX3 waterproof rating when paired with the dual lens 360 or 4K boost lens modules. This makes it splashproof and able to withstand rain and other wet conditions. Just make sure the lens covers are properly attached.

The modular design does come with some tradeoffs. It makes the camera larger than fixed lens action cams. There are also more points of potential failure with the interchangeable modules. However, the flexibility and image quality afforded by the lenses outweigh those factors for most users.

Overall, the innovative modular design is a major selling point for the ONE RS. Being able to swap lenses opens up many more creative possibilities.

Another notable product is the Insta360 ONE X2 (listed twice). The Insta360 ONE X2 offers a fixed design but comes with advanced 360-degree video recording capabilities. Its compact and user-friendly build makes it ideal for on-the-go shooting. Learn more about the Insta360 ONE X2 (listed twice) for an alternative that focuses more on simplicity and portability without compromising on performance.

Image Quality

The Insta360 ONE RS Twin Edition captures stunning images and video in a range of resolutions. It supports video recording at up to 5.7K resolution at 30fps for 360 degree footage, and up to 4K resolution at 60fps with the wide angle or tele lenses. The 1-inch sensor on the wide angle lens enables excellent low light performance and vibrant colors.

For photos, the ONE RS can shoot at up to 61MP with the wide angle lens, delivering crisp detail and sharpness. The included FlowState stabilization provides gimbal-like stabilization for smooth video, even when handheld or mounted to a vehicle. This makes capturing shake-free footage easy without any additional gear. The stabilization can be toggled on or off.

The ONE RS uses an advanced stitching algorithm to seamlessly combine footage from the dual lenses into immersive 360 video or reframed wide angle 4K video. There is very minimal visible stitching or ghosting.

The Insta360 Ace Pro brings even more advanced features to the table, perfect for professional creators. It supports 8K resolution video at 30fps, ensuring truly cinematic quality. The Ace Pro also offers 12-bit RAW photos for unparalleled editing flexibility, and its improved AI algorithms deliver even better dynamic range and detail. The device comes with multi-directional micro-LED lighting and a superior cooling system for longer recording times without overheating. All these features make the Insta360 Ace Pro a powerhouse for both videographers and photographers.

Ease of Use

The Insta360 ONE RS Twin Edition features a user-friendly touch screen interface on the camera itself, making it easy to navigate menus and change settings on the fly. The responsive touch screen allows for intuitive control over shooting modes, settings, and playback. Tapping the screen lets you easily select focus points and exposure levels.

The Insta360 ONE RS also pairs with the Insta360 phone app, available for both iOS and Android. The app provides an added level of control and accessibility. With the app, you can wirelessly view photos and videos, adjust settings, trigger recording, and more. This allows you to frame shots and monitor footage from unique angles by using your phone screen as a viewfinder. The app also makes sharing content to social media quick and seamless.

Overall, the Insta360 ONE RS Twin Edition delivers a very beginner-friendly shooting experience. Between the touch screen interface and companion app connectivity, it strikes an excellent balance of on-camera physical controls and wireless mobile integration. This makes the ONE RS easy and enjoyable to operate for users of all skill levels.

Video and Photo Modes

The Insta360 ONE RS Twin Edition camera offers a wide range of video and photo modes to choose from.

For video, it can record up to 5.7K resolution at 30 fps and 4K resolution at 60fps. This allows you to capture extremely high quality and smooth videos. The different lenses also enable different fields of view like wide angle or 360 degree capture. Some useful video modes include:

• HDR Video - Captures a high dynamic range for dealing with challenging lighting
• Night Shot - Enhances low light video quality
• Timelapse - Creates dramatic timelapses by capturing periodic photos
• Starlapse - Special timelapse mode optimized for capturing the night sky
• Bullet Time - Spin effect for cool cinematic shots
• PureShot - Uses AI to enhance image quality

For photos, the ONE RS can shoot up to 21MP still images. Key modes include:

• HDR Photo - Combines multiple exposures for vibrant images
• Night Shot - Improves low light photo quality
• Burst Mode - Shoots a rapid sequence of images
• PureShot - AI photo enhancement
• Interval - Periodic photo capture for timelapse

With its selection of modern shooting modes, the ONE RS provides flexibility for both video and still photography. The modes optimize the output for different situations from action shots to low light scenes.

Audio Quality

The Insta360 ONE RS Twin Edition has decent audio quality for an action camera. It has two built-in microphones that capture stereo audio during video recording. The microphones pick up audio from the direction the camera is pointing. The audio is clear for close sounds but can get drowned out in noisy environments.

For better audio, the camera has a mic input port that allows you to connect an external microphone. Using an external mic greatly improves audio quality and reduces background noise. The mic port is compatible with microphones that have a 3.5mm connector. With a high-quality external mic, the ONE RS can capture pro-level audio to match its excellent video capabilities.

Overall the built-in mics work fine for casual use, but for professional videos an external microphone is recommended. This adds to the total cost but enables the ONE RS to record crisp, clear audio in any shooting conditions.

Battery Life

The Insta360 ONE RS Twin Edition has a removable 1430 mAh battery that provides decent battery life. You can expect around 30-40 minutes of recording time when shooting 4K video at 60fps before needing to recharge. This is pretty standard for an action camera of this size.

Charging options are flexible. The camera comes with a USB-C cable that allows you to charge the battery by plugging into a wall charger, computer, or portable power bank. A full charge takes around 80 minutes. You can also purchase spare batteries and an external dual battery charger to make swapping batteries on the go quick and easy.

Overall, the battery life is sufficient for most action camera uses. Just be sure to have spare batteries or an external power bank if you need extended recording times. The ability to easily swap batteries is a nice advantage over built-in batteries.

Accessories

The Insta360 ONE RS Twin Edition comes with some accessories to help get you started.

In the box, you'll find:

• One Invisible Selfie Stick
• Lens Guards (Wide Angle and 360 Mod)
• Two batteries
• Charging cable
• Pouch

The included invisible selfie stick is a great way to easily capture first-person perspective shots and vlogging footage hands-free. The stick screws into the bottom of the camera and can extend up to 27.6 inches.

The wide angle and 360 degree lens guards help protect the lenses from dirt, dust, and accidental bumps. They easily twist on and off.

Having two batteries means you can always have one charging while the other is in use. A full charge provides around 30-35 minutes of recording time depending on settings and accessories used.

For additional purchases, Insta360 offers a range of accessories like waterproof housings, external mics, tripods, an extended battery, filters, and more. This allows you to customize your kit based on how you plan to use the camera.

The ONE RS is also compatible with existing Insta360 ONE accessories, so you can use older batteries, chargers, and more if upgrading from another Insta360 camera.

Pros

The Insta360 ONE RS Twin Edition has many advantages that make it a great action camera:

• Interchangeable lens design allows you to swap between dual-lens 360 mode and single-lens 4K mode. This flexibility lets you capture immersive 360 footage and high-quality 4k video with one device.

• Excellent image stabilization produces smooth, steady videos even during fast-paced activities like cycling or skiing. The FlowState stabilization effectively reduces shake.

• Simple touch screen interface and intuitive modes make the camera very user-friendly. Even beginners can quickly learn to operate it and start capturing great footage.

• Strong battery life allows you to record for over an hour per charge. You can reliably use the camera all day without worrying about constantly recharging.

• Waterproof design (with lens guards and waterproof case) allows you to use the camera for water sports and underwater filming up to 16 feet.

• Accessory mounts make the camera highly versatile and expandable. You can attach a wide range of mounts, grips, lights, mics and more.

• Shoots high quality 5.7K 360 video and 4K wide-angle video up to 60fps. The image quality stands out compared to other action cams in this price range.

Cons

The Insta360 ONE RS Twin Edition camera does have some drawbacks to consider:

• Battery life could be better. The battery only lasts around 30-40 minutes when recording video continuously. You'll need spare batteries or an external power bank for longer shoots.

• The touchscreen isn't very responsive, especially when you have wet or cold fingers. The touch controls can be finicky.

• Low light performance is just okay. Image quality suffers quite a bit in dim lighting without additional lighting sources.

• The app and editing software could use some refinement. They work fine but the workflow isn't as seamless as it could be.

• No built-in storage, so you need a microSD card. Cards are cheap but it's an added cost to factor in.

• Can overheat during extended video recording sessions. The camera will automatically shut down if it gets too hot.

• Doesn't have advanced features like LOG profiles for pro video work. It's designed more for casual users.

• The interchangeable lens modules are costly add-ons. The twin edition with two lenses is already expensive.

• Not the most compact or portable camera for travel. The modular design makes it bulkier.

Overall the cons are relatively minor. The Insta360 ONE RS Twin Edition performs very well for an action and 360 camera at this price point. But there are some limitations to be aware of.