ProVideo Coalition mentioned the ONE RS 1-Inch 360 Edition recently, pointing that amid all the excitement about 1-inch sensors being used in smartphones, the new action camera from Insta360 offered not one 1-inch type sensor but two – and using the whole sensor area – for capturing 360 imaging needed by some content creators.
Insta360 notes that “enterprise uses for 360 cameras have been growing rapidly since the start of the pandemic in the fields of construction, building digital twins, surveying, VR property tours, home improvement supervision, destination marketing, and more. Through ONE RS 1-Inch 360 Edition’s premium image quality and easy-to-use design, it provides a practical and professional shooting solution to increase efficiency, productivity and accuracy.”
Here is some more information, as shared by Insta360, which shows the technology and the potential of the new camera:
Highly detailed 21MP 360 photos
The 1-Inch 360 Edition is capable of shooting extremely detailed 21 megapixel 360 still images. Becoming particularly relevant at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, 360 imaging has become a mainstay of the real estate sector, as well as in the construction industry. The 1-Inch 360 Edition can capture stunning virtual tours of properties or sites, allowing audiences to view these locations in a new level of clarity and accuracy.
Additional features such as AI-powered PureShot and PureShot HDR modes allow locations to be documented in even greater detail. By increasing dynamic range, these modes capture more detail in bright and dark areas, with PureShot HDR combining multiple PureShot images for even sharper results. The aforementioned dual 1-inch sensors ensure the 1-Inch 360 Edition is suitable for both indoor and outdoor shooting without overexposure.
Premium 6K video quality
Whether you’re creating a VR tour, surveying a building site or creating captivating destination marketing, high quality video resolution is essential. The 1-Inch 360 Edition shoots 6K 360 video to capture locations in impressive detail. Full 360 capture allows every nook, corner and angle of a site to be captured at all times. Footage can then be easily reframed after recording to point the shot in any direction, using the Insta360 app or Insta360 Studio.A 6K 2fps video option helps conserve storage space for construction site shooting projects, enabling faster uploads. The camera will automatically save a 360 image every half second to track the location of the construction site and record it in all directions.
Beyond high video resolution, it’s also crucial that footage is stable in order to be usable. In order to guarantee smooth and balanced footage, the 1-Inch 360 Edition boasts Insta360’s flagship FlowState Stabilization technology, with 6-axis image stabilization and 360 Horizon Lock. This ensures that no matter how uneven the ground or what angle the camera is being held at, footage will always be level and stable, eliminating the need for potentially costly and time-consuming reshoots.
Shoot without interruption
The 1-Inch 360 Edition’s 1350mAh Vertical Battery Base supports recording while attached to a power supply for continuous charging. This is ideal for extended duration livestreams, unattended shooting and more, avoiding the need to interrupt shooting to replace batteries or recharge.
Small, light and easy to use
An essential requirement of any camera that needs to be carried easily from location to location is a manageable size and weight. The 1-Inch 360 Edition packs incredible imaging power into a compact, portable form factor weighing just 235g (8.3oz), meaning it’s easy to pack into a small bag and be transported anywhere it’s needed. Another advantage of its lightweight form factor is that the camera can be mounted to a hard hat, or to the Invisible Selfie Stick for shooting on the move.
Designed for ultimate ease of use, the 1-Inch 360 Edition can be controlled remotely using the Insta360 app. Eliminating the need for someone to be in the same room as the camera allows for clean, unobstructed and accurate shots. The camera itself features just one shooting button, while shooting parameters can be saved and selected using the easy touch screen Quick Menu, for a practical and convenient shooting experience.
Integrated for enterprise
Make the most of Insta360’s free software development kit (SDK) to get the most from your camera. Just apply online to download the SDK to integrate your camera with your app. The SDK for the 1-Inch 360 Edition supports parameter acquisition and gyroscopic data for independent calibration, camera control, in-camera stitching, 360 exports and a whole range of other functions and features.
While all the information above sound impressive, there are still things lacking in this new device. For example, compatibility with major industry-leading enterprise platforms including Matterport and OpenSpace is not present, although Insta360 says it is coming, adding that those interested should “keep an eye out for updates as more and more platforms are ready for integration.”
On the other hand, the 1-Inch 360 Edition is already Google Street View ready. Videos, as well as photos, can now be easily uploaded to Google Street View with GPS data and statistics via the Insta360 app. If you’re creating your own virtual tours to share online through Google, this is good news.
While the video now published by Insta360 may seem to suggest filmmakers are left out of the equation when it comes to the production of Virtual Tours, the fact that Insta360 asked filmmaker Philip Bloom to test the ONE RS 1-Inch 360 Edition confirms that this is also a camera for everyone… and can be explored according to the knowledge and experience of the user. To that end, Bloom’s review of the camera is a “must watch” funny video which, besides revealing some key aspects of the camera you may not have noticed, also has his cats as stars, which opens to one of the passions of the filmmaker… and reveals some interesting footage and stories about humans and their feline friends.
Philip Bloom’s video is titled “Insta360 1-inch 360 REVIEW: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly!” and, believe me, you’ll want to watch it. The video is not just another review of the ONE RS 1-Inch 360 Edition – “1-inch 360” for short, as Philip Bloom says – but a revelation about its limitations, along with tricks on how to use it for your own work. From the problems with the low quality sound – which Insta360 promises to work on – to Bloom’s test of all the options available and how best to use them in a real-world situation, the video is a “must watch” piece of information if you’ve ever thought about shooting with this type of camera.