05 Nov
Blog

DJI Action 2 Review: Reinventing the Action Camera

DJI action 2.

"With its unique modular design and easily replaceable batteries, the Action 2 breaks the mold that has dictated the design of action cameras for decades."

advantages

  • Versatile and unique modular design

  • Remarkably small and light

  • Great picture quality

  • Gimble-like video stabilization

  • Fantastic audio recording function

disadvantage

  • The image quality is not quite as sharp as with GoPro

  • Low light performance isn't that great

When DJI launched the original Osmo Action, it faced stiff competition with the GoPro Hero 8 Black. Surprisingly, DJI did well where so many other companies had tried to break a chunk of the GoPro market, and the Osmo Action had been my action camera of choice for the past two years. It is high time to upgrade, though, and I've been keeping my eye on the DJI Action 2 – DJI has decided to drop the name "Osmo". The new action camera is a total reinvention aimed at creating its own niche rather than going head to head with the impressive GoPro Hero 10 Black that I recently tested.

The question, however, is whether Action 2's innovative modular approach is enough to set it apart from the competition. Are its unique attributes the head start DJI needs to be successful in the action camera arena?

draft

There's really nothing like the DJI Action 2. First of all, it's small – really small: only 1.54 x 0.86 inches and weighs only 56 grams. To get an idea of ​​what this means in the real world, you can slip it in your pocket or even conveniently carry it on the magnetic tag accessory.

DJI Action 2 lens.Andy Zahn / Digital Trends

The second point is that this camera is not just a single unit, it is actually modular, with the front selfie screen or battery separate from the camera module. The modules connect via a strong magnetic clamping system that is absolutely rock-solid. This allows the camera module to be completely sealed even without a charging port, giving it a waterproof rating of up to 32 feet. It can go up to 196 feet deep with the help of the optional waterproof case. Keep in mind that the front touchscreen and battery modules are not waterproof, so don't submerge them without first placing them in the waterproof case.

DJI Action 2 waterproof case.Andy Zahn / Digital Trends

Another advantage of this system is that there is no longer any need to open cumbersome connections to replace batteries. A new battery module can be snapped open in a few seconds to begin charging the primary battery. It is even possible to swap the batteries while the recording is in progress. In the long run, I see a potential disadvantage to this approach is that the primary battery will degrade over time and cannot be replaced, but this design offers enough advantages that seem like a small compromise.

DJI Action 2 connector plate.Andy Zahn / Digital Trends

The magnetic snap system also allows the Action 2 to be quickly moved between different accessories. You can have it on the bluetooth remote one second and effortlessly snap onto a magnetic mount attached to a headband the next. If a metal object is at hand, the Action 2 can simply be glued onto it, potentially allowing it to be mounted in places where a tripod or other mount would not work.

The 1.76-inch touchscreen on both the camera and front screen modules is certainly tiny, but I had no problem using it or filming with it. A single button turns the camera on / off and stops / starts recording; Double tap to switch modes.

DJI Action 2 touch screen.Andy Zahn / Digital Trends

Another interesting design decision is the complete lack of connectors on the camera module. The camera module has 32 GB of onboard memory. To expand this memory, both the battery and the front touchscreen module have a microSD card slot. This means that when the camera is separated from these modules, it can only record in the internal memory. On the plus side, however, this means that if you have multiple power or front touchscreen modules, each with an SD card, these modules not only charge the camera, but also provide additional storage space when plugged in.

One of the more fascinating accessories available for the Action 2 is a macro lens. As someone who spends a lot of time in his spare time photographing insects, tree frogs and flowers, this opens up exciting opportunities. It offers decent magnification, albeit with a healthy dose of edge distortion.

With Action 2 over the past few weeks, I've really come to appreciate how much thought and technology has gone into this camera.

power

As clever as the design of the Action 2 is, it has to be able to deliver great video too. Fortunately, it does. The Action 2 has a 12 MP 1 / 1.7-inch CMOS sensor and an aperture of f / 2.8. These aren't particularly impressive specs, but in practice they produce great looking video. The Action 2 can record 4K footage at up to 120 frames per second for high resolution slow motion or 240 frames per second at 1080p for 8x slow motion.

It's a shame that it doesn't manage 240fps at a resolution of 2.7k, but it didn't bother me that much in use. I generally prefer to shoot in 4K, and when I want super slow motion the action being captured generally dwarfs the importance of resolution.

It achieves that "gimbal-like" stability that allows it to take decent shots while walking and holding the camera.

As for image quality, I'm generally happy with the look of the footage from Action 2. It may be a little saturated and high-contrast, but personally I really like it, and more importantly, it did a good job around Process high-contrast scenes such as a twilight forest with a bright sky. Action 2 consistently managed to get shadows in such situations without blowing out the lights too much.

As you'd expect from a small sensor camera, the low light performance is pretty poor – if not the worst I've seen. There is only so much you can do to overcome the physics of collecting light on a small sensor by a small lens.

Perhaps most importantly, DJI has massively updated its Rocksteady image stabilization so that it is just as good, if not a bit better, than what GoPro has achieved with their latest camera technology. It achieves that "gimbal-like" stability that allows it to take decent shots while walking and holding the camera.

There's also a new HorizonSteady feature that maintains a level horizon regardless of the camera orientation. Keep in mind that RockSteady 2.0 only works below 100 fps and HorizonSteady only works at resolutions of 2.7K or less. Despite the resolution limitation, I found HorizonSteady absolutely worth the tradeoff when shooting smooth footage on uneven, uneven terrain.

In addition, the Action 2 has the hyperlapse and timelapse functions that we expect from action cameras. This is very important to me as it is one of my main uses for action cameras. These modes work well, and I love the prospect of traveling with the Action 2 and using its magnets to capture time-lapse videos in unique locations.

I was shocked at how good the sound recorded from Action 2 was. It's very useful for vlogging purposes – or just for video recording in general. It's far better than I'd expect from an action camera, and is a serious upgrade over the previous Osmo Action, which had pretty good shooting capabilities.

It's very useful for vlogging purposes – or just for video recording in general.

The Action 2 is capable of capturing still images, although in my experience this is a rarely used feature of action cameras. The 12-megapixel sensor does a good job of rendering nice pictures, but honestly, I'm more likely to pull out my phone to take a still photo than to put the Action 2 into photo mode. Even so, the functionality is there when you need it. Another feature you might be interested in is the QuickClip mode, which records preset 15-second videos for social media. You can also stream live with the Action 2 at up to 1080p 30fps or use the camera as a webcam.

Battery life

On the one hand, I was only able to record about 12 minutes of 4K video before the Action 2 ran out of juice in the camera module's 580 mAh battery. However, the other two modules are equipped with 1300 mAh batteries, which is sufficient for a day of shooting. They charge from empty to full in about 90 minutes.

Software and connectivity

I have no complaints about the software on the camera itself. It is very responsive and changing settings is quick and easy. The DJI Mimo companion app is also a useful tool as it enables remote control of the Action 2 and an editing workflow for your footage. There is also an AI editor that can automatically edit your videos with music and matching transitions so they can be easily shared right from the app.

The Action 2 has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for connection to the app and optional accessories such as the Bluetooth remote control. I had no problems with the camera in this regard; It is a well developed and optimized system.

Price and availability

The Action 2 comes in two different bundles: the power combo is $ 399 and includes the main camera, power module, magnetic collar, and magnetic adapter mount, while the dual-screen combo is $ 519 and all contains what is included in the power combo, bar an exchange of the power module for a front touchscreen module and a magnetic ball head adapter holder.

The great thing here is that you get the same camera features whether you go for the budget-friendly power combo or the pony-up for the front touchscreen. I wouldn't say both combinations are a real bargain, but it comes down to what you would expect for a camera with Action 2 capabilities.

The Action 2 will be available for the front touchscreen combo from November 2nd. The power combo and most of the additional accessories should be available sometime in mid-November, with the exception of the DJI MIC – which will be available in December – and the magnetic headband – whose availability has not yet been decided at this point.

DJI Action 2 Unboxing 3.Andy Zahn / Digital Trends

Our opinion

The DJI Action 2 is a really innovative action camera and its novel approach really sets it apart from the competition. It does pretty much anything you'd expect in an action camera, and it does it very well. It's an action camera that, when taken to the bare minimum, is so small and light that you really have no excuse not to take it with you. By doing everything in its power to rethink action cameras from the ground up, DJI has landed a real home run with Action 2.

Is there a better alternative?

GoPro is always the elephant in the room when it comes to action cameras, and the Hero 10 Black was an easy choice for Editors & # 39; Choice when I checked her out last month. They are so close together that if I were forced to determine a winner I would likely declare a draw.

They're roughly in the same price range considering their different pricing models, and both offer great image stabilization. The GoPro can capture 5.3K footage, its 4K footage looks slightly more detailed, and it can capture 240fps slow-motion at 2.7K, while the Action 2 can only achieve that frame rate at 1080p. However, the Action 2 camera module is only about a third the size of the Hero 10 Black and its modular magnet system offers really unique advantages over the GoPro.

I could go back and forth for hours comparing these two cameras, but in the end I came to the conclusion that they are on par.

Its modular magnet system offers really unique advantages over the GoPro

How long it will take?

Unlike GoPro, DJI doesn't follow an annual release schedule for its products, so I can't tell when it will be replaced. Despite its age, my original Osmo Action is still a very capable camera, and I expect Action 2 will remain relevant for much longer. It's pretty sturdy, so it should last a long time – depending on how much punishment it receives, DJI naturally offers a standard limited warranty on its devices.

The only downer is the already mentioned non-replaceable batteries, especially in the camera module. Eventually, the battery life on this module degrades to the point where you need to leave a battery or front touchscreen module connected in order for it to work for a reasonable amount of time. However, this will last for many years and be used frequently, so this shouldn't stop you from buying the camera.

Should you buy it?

Yes sir. The DJI Action 2 is an extremely compelling action camera, especially if you have a specific use case in mind that would benefit from its small size, light weight, and unique modular design.

Editor's recommendations



02 Jul
Blog

Scarlet Nexus Review: A Deep Story With Even Deeper Action

A main character in Scarlet Nexus.

"Scarlet Nexus is an excellent action role-playing game for all fans of the genre."

  • Unique fight

  • A surprising story

  • Funny characters

  • Long running time

  • Stylish look

  • Weak exploration

  • Strong on backtracking

There's no shortage of Japanese action RPGs out there, but Bandai Namco's Scarlet Nexus is a new IP that stood out from the crowd and caught my eye right away. After playing the demo that was released earlier this year, I knew I was having a good time, and I'm overjoyed that my guess was correct.

Scarlet Nexus is a game that takes all expectations and pushes aside from amazing players with new ideas in all directions. This "brainpunk" title takes place in a futuristic world in which people have found a way to use a hidden gene to unlock superpowers in certain people. This premise lends itself perfectly to both the gameplay and the story, which pleasantly surprised me throughout my experience.

While the game starts out a bit slow and took some time to get into, Scarlet Nexus is a rewarding experience and a great addition to any JRPG collection thanks to its bombastic storyline and gameplay.

A shocking story

At the beginning of Scarlet Nexus, I got the impression that the story with boilerplate characters would be based on books. Fortunately, I was completely wrong. While the characters may seem like a tropical tick for anyone who's seen an anime in the past decade, they have so many memorable moments together that they quickly grew on me and I wanted to spend more time with them.

The world of Scarlet Nexus is a futuristic world in which certain members of humanity have awakened to various superpowers thanks to a psionic hormone discovered in the brain. There are also other, wonderfully designed mutants who come from heaven and enjoy human brains. The Other Suppression Force (OSF) was formed to combat the zombie-like threat.

Scarlet Nexus Boss Fight.

Things start with players choosing either Kasane Randall or Yuito Sumeragi, two new recruits to the OSF who have very unique powers and abilities. There is a lot more to this new duo than meets the eye, however, and this is where the story of Scarlet Nexus really shines.

These surprises really make the Scarlet Nexus plot so special – you just have to see them yourself.

Things start out as you'd expect from a story like this one. You meet your teammates, train, go on a mission or two, get to know each other, the usual. Then suddenly one surprise after the other begins and leads to a story without brakes and loads of excitement. Before I knew it, I found characters to get excited about, mocked others, and kept wondering where things were going next. As is usually the case with a story like this, players will wonder who and what they can and cannot trust.

I wish I could go into further detail, but that would mean spoiling everything. These surprises really make the Scarlet Nexus storyline so special – you just have to see them for yourself.

Psychokinetic strokes

History isn't the only area that this game excels in as the gameplay has me drawn to my screen as well. Even in the opening tutorial, Scarlet Nexus wants to show players that it's not like any other action RPG. That's because of its unique combat mechanics, which allows for some fun graphics, combos, and strategies.

The game has everything you would expect from a character driven action game / hack and slash title – perfect dodging, weapon attacks and throwers. What makes it stand out is the use of the psychokinesis attacks and assist specials that got me primarily interested in the title.

Scarlet Nexus RPG Battle.

By holding R2, players consume a psychokinesis meter. This allows players to control surrounding objects and throw them at enemies, causing great damage. Attacks can be chained with standard weapons and specials, with the chains getting longer and more elaborate as you level up to make room for some fun combos. As with any game that has a huge focus on combos and free flowing combat, you can already guess what you will see with this system, but it gets even wilder with the SAS mechanics.

Even in the opening tutorial, Scarlet Nexus wants to show players that it's not like any other action RPG. That's because of its unique combat mechanics, which allows for some fun graphics, combos, and strategies.

SAS is a brain-to-brain connection that allows players to temporarily use the different skills of group members and basically grant different assists. These include elemental attack reinforcements, invisibility, time slowdown, a doppelganger who can double attacks, or a partner who steps in with an auxiliary attack.

This mechanic adds a deep strategic element to combat as different SAS attacks have unique stats that are more effective on certain enemies. For example, an enemy can shoot water that splashes over them after a certain number of hits. Using a SAS assistant with electrical properties allows players to do more damage to their soaked opponent. In the beginning, players start with one of these assists and work their way up to four at a time, which opens the door to high combo potential. It just takes a bit of sanding to get there.

Yes, there is also a role play in there

While the focus is on action and story, the game doesn't lack the usual RPG elements.

To unlock all of a character's abilities, players will have to fight their way through the story and revisit previous areas to level up and earn brain points. As with many other RPGs with such a mechanic, players select points on a map to decide which path to take next.

On the other side of the field, party members can be leveled up to unlock more SAS skills. This is achieved by increasing the level of attachment with them, similar to what is done with the Persona series. The bond with a character is increased by talking to characters or giving them gifts, which in turn unlocks more skills. Once a specific interaction requirement is met, players will also unlock a Bond Episode, a special cutscene in which the player character gets closer to the person they have connected with. This also increases overall team loyalty and grants bonuses such as special items and free resuscitations. While it may sound like a chore, it opens up lots of fun moments of dialogue between characters without getting in the way of the core battle loop.

Exploring the overworld of the Scarlet Nexus.

There is also the classic material system that RPG fans are familiar with. In the levels, players will find small digital cubes that they have to pick up. These can be taken to a store and exchanged for various party cosmetic items, health items, and various weapon and stat upgrades.

It feels lively thanks to the abundance of NPCs and the great care that has been put into the look, feel, and sounds of the various maps.

The only downside to RPG gameplay is the exploration of the game. While I really liked the game's bright and detailed city and ruinous environments, it feels like traversing the city. Items are placed in empty and boring hallways and often feel unnecessary. It gets even more annoying when you return to these areas to find more.

Still, I enjoyed exploring the world of Scarlet Nexus. It feels lively thanks to the abundance of NPCs and the great care that has been put into the look, feel, and sounds of the various maps. I just wish hunting for items didn't feel like a drag at times.

Our opinion

Scarlet Nexus is a must have for any fan of Japanese action RPGs and standard JRPGs. If the story doesn't get your attention, the fight will be. It has enough flesh to distract from its tiny blemishes. It's a pleasure to interact with his characters, and seeing them grow together really got me fully invested in all of their story arcs. I left the experience and longed for another title like this one that would take its excellent action even further.

How long it will take?

It should take over 60 hours in total. The unlockable skills are well worth the hunt down as well, as they add plenty of extra playback time for those looking to dive deeper.

Is there an alternative?

There are tons of other action RPGs out there. The Tales series and the acclaimed Final Fantasy 7 Remake are some that I would recommend, but Scarlet Nexus offers such a rich and unique experience that I wouldn't turn it down.

Should you buy it?

If you're hungry for some good action or story, I highly recommend jumping right into this one.

Editor's recommendations



20 Mar
Blog

Insta360 One R Review: Modular 360 action cam

insta360 one r review 7498

Insta360 ONE R Twin Edition

"That's how 360 should have been made from the start."

  • Modular design

  • Excellent stabilization

  • Long list of additional features

  • Well-built editing app

  • Competitive price

  • Small screen

  • Occasional mistakes

Although 360-degree cameras see everything around them, they can only be used to a limited extent. However, the Insta360 One R is not a typical 360-degree camera. In fact, it doesn't have to be a 360 degree camera at all. Thanks to the modular platform, you can replace the 360 ​​lens with a conventional wide-angle camera lens. There is even a 1-inch Leica branded sensor mod for capturing higher image quality, but one was not provided for this test.

The One R consists of three main components: the interchangeable camera module, the battery and the touchscreen. Each is a separate piece, but the latter two are more permanent because they are used with both camera modules. The $ 480 Twin Edition (tested) includes a 5.7K 360 Mod and a 4K wide angle mod.

The Insta360 One R not only fixes the limited number of applications for a 360-degree camera, but also has a long list of features and a well-designed mobile app to access them. Not only does it break 360 out of its niche, it also competes with GoPro as an action camera.

We loved the Insta360 One R when we saw it at CES 2020 and it won the Top Tech of CES Award for the photography category. Let's see if it meets our expectations.

Modular design

When assembled, the One R is more or less similar to a typical action camera. A plastic protector wraps around the top and sides of all three parts and contains a GoPro-compatible holder at the base.

The camera module is connected to both the core (the part with the LCD screen) and the battery. As a useful addition to vloggers, the non-360 module can even be mounted backwards so that the screen itself is visible during the recording. The camera module jumps off the base with a tiny lever and can then be pulled out of the core with a good jerk.

Although the Insta360 One R consists of modular components, it is not much larger than a typical action camera. Both the camera module and the core are approximately the size of a golf ball (if golf balls were dice). The small size makes installation easier in the sense of a conventional action camera. However, you should use a selfie stick to keep your fingers away from the lens and pick up the camera handheld.

The simple controls include a power switch on the top right with the record button next to it. In a small door on the side there is a USB-C port and a microSD card slot.

The rest is done via the touchscreen. Most 360 cameras do not and rely on a smartphone connection instead. Therefore, the screen is a huge advantage – a huge importance because the actual size of the screen is only about an inch wide. This is a limitation of the modular structure.

The on-screen controls for recording and playback are intuitive, but you need to know the correct gestures to access them. A swipe to the left opens the recording settings, to the right is the playback, additional settings are opened from above and different recording modes are called up from below. This is not very different from the number of working action cameras. Therefore, it should at least be known to customers who have used something like a GoPro.

The touchscreen could also be a little picky. It often took a few swipe attempts to land in the mode I wanted, rather than scrolling right past it.

The Insta360 One R is waterproof up to 16 feet without an additional housing. (The included frame doesn't provide additional water protection.) We tested the camera in a snowstorm – including dropping a sled into a pile of snow – and had no problems with moisture ingress.

The modular structure may be unique, but the One R was still simple and user-friendly. Trying to remember gesture control takes time, but no more than any other miniature camera. The mode wheel kept rolling over the option you wanted and it's easy to accidentally press buttons when changing mods.

Nevertheless, the One R is the first modular action camera of its kind to be impressively impressive.

User experience

Exchanging lenses with an action camera is actually a lot of fun. Unlike a DSLR, you don't swap lenses to get closer or further away, depending on whether you want an immersive view, a wide-angle front-facing camera, or a wide-angle rear-facing camera. Insta360 also includes options for digitally adjusting the viewing angle. This will of course crop the video, but before those pixels are thrown away, the One R uses the extra cropping space to improve electronic image stabilization.

The controls on the camera offer enough so that you can escape without having to rely on the mobile app and not that you want to do without it entirely. Controlling the camera through the app opens a long list of options, including manual exposure and RAW photos. The app also offers tutorials on recording and editing.

With the 360 ​​lens, the app also enables tracking – hold the subject and the 360 ​​video is adjusted so that the person or object is always in front and in the middle. This chase worked well and kept pace even when the selected face was partially covered, but stops the chase when the view is completely blocked. The 360 ​​videos can also be viewed in three main perspectives: ultra-wide, wide, or tiny planet (with the entire field of view grouped into a circle that gives the impression that you are walking on a tiny planet). .

Where the app really shines is in the editing. It felt more complete than the company's desktop software and had more options than most other mobile video apps. You can easily trim clips, add filters, and even join multiple clips together. You won't find any advanced editing controls, but it does the job for occasional use.

FlashCut is an option from the "Stories" section of the app that A.I. to quickly convert multiple clips into an edited video. Starting with a topic, select a few clips. You can see which one you want by looking at the front camera, rear camera, forward motion, or face icons. The app then puts them together into music and various special effects.

In fact, the app is too powerful for my iPhone 7, which has to be replaced and there is no more storage space forever. It ran seamlessly on the latest iPad, but owners of older devices should expect slow performance and performance with large storage requirements (these 5.7K 360 files are not small).

If the app or mini touchscreen is not enough, voice control to start or stop recording and to mark important moments is also included.

While the One R is both fun and intuitive to use, I've encountered a few bugs. When I played one of the first videos I made, the video stuttered. The camera froze due to an HDR photo. I couldn't make the errors recur, but the experience wasn't 100% seamless.

Image quality and additional functions

The 4K wide-angle mod takes pictures from a 1: 2.8 lens on a sensor with about 12 megapixels. Videos can be 4 × 3 (4000 x 3000) with full sensor at 30 fps or Ultra HD (3840 x 2160) at 60 fps. HD video is available at up to 200 fps for slow motion.

The 360 ​​Mod uses a slightly brighter 1: 2.0 lens. The still images are 18.4 megapixels, while the videos are 5,760 pixels wide. However, keep in mind that these pixels are spread across the entire 360 ​​by 360 degree field of view, rather than all of them appearing on the screen at the same time, so the actual resolution is much lower.

Videos from both mods met expectations for their respective categories with good details and colors. With auto adjustment, the exposure was generally good and on the track enough to only occasionally require a minor adjustment in the mail.

With the 360 ​​mod, the camera had some strange stitches on too close objects that blurred details, created an abrupt transition, or even caused a color to bleed up the stitch line. Sewing on objects one foot or more away, however, looked great.

The stabilization of both mods is excellent. Since the 360-Mod can stabilize without trimming, it is almost as stable as a tripod. The wide-angle mod isn't quite as stable, but it's impressive compared to other action cameras. I had my 7 year old carry the camera on a helmet mount and the results were surprisingly smooth.

Still images matched the expectations of the action camera and category 360. The wide-angle lens causes noticeable barrel distortion, but captures a beautiful wide-angle view. When you activate Color Plus in the app, beautiful, vivid colors are created and the shadows are enhanced. But even without this function, we were impressed by the bright blue sky and the colorful details. HDR The mode also enhances the shadows a little, but takes longer and does not work with moving subjects.

The One R's website shows a starry time-lapse, but we were having a grainy mess when we tried to photograph the stars in the camera's Night Shot mode. Which is not surprising since it is an action camera, but it is bad advertising.

However, the Insta360 One R combines the functions of the company from several camera generations in one, including a long list of special functions. The R will be one of those cameras that you really need to research and deepen in tutorials – built right into the app – or you'll find a new feature you didn't know you had in a year.

The 360 ​​Mod can make a selfie stick invisible or capture bullet time effects. Hyper-lapses and slow motion are integrated in HDR, night shot mode and one-touch color correction with Color Plus. The R is even compatible with an Apple Watch app for remote shooting. With the accessories, you can also add a microphone, take pictures from an "invisible" drone, dive deeper under water or extend the battery life.

A mod expected in April allows the camera to take 3D pictures. Live streaming is also listed as "coming soon".

Our opinion

Most 360 cameras have a short-lived cooling factor, but the Insta360 One R may be able to extend that cooling factor to the life of the camera. If the scene isn't interesting from every angle, just swap the mod for an action camera that doesn't affect resolution on large harvests. And when replacing the mods no longer feels new, the camera itself and the app are equipped with enough recording and editing modes to promote your creativity for months.

The Insta360 One R does everything that an action or 360 camera can do – and much more. Video is not only solid, but paired with excellent stabilization. The Insta360 One R isn't perfect, with a few minor flaws and freezes and the small sensor limitations of every action camera. Insta360 released at least two firmware updates during the test, so hopefully these issues will be short-lived. However, the modular design, video quality and additional functions – not to mention the cheap price of $ 480 for both camera mods – are worth a few quirks.

Is there a better alternative?

Only if you want to buy two cameras. The Insta360 One R Twin Edition essentially consists of two cameras in one with the two mods. The Rylo's ability to redesign it and the user-friendly app make it its closest competitor, but cropping 360 videos and swapping camera mods are not the same thing. The tiny screen gives the GoPro Hero8 an advantage, but only here if you only want an action camera without the 360 ​​functions.

How long it will take?

The Insta360 One survived being hurled into snow banks with no problems. However, as a modular camera, more connections and things may need to be broken, and with modular cameras, there is not enough history to determine whether this is the case or not. But at least with the mods, you don't necessarily have to replace the whole thing if a component breaks.

Should you buy it

If you can't choose between an action camera and a 360 camera or just looking for a 360 camera, buy the Insta360 One R. The videos are great, versatility unbeatable, the app extensive – and it's just one great time to shoot.

Editor's recommendations