The Insta360 GO 3s is a BAD vlogging camera

Summary

The reviewer expresses disappointment with a camera they purchased for professional use as a blogger. They detail issues with the camera falling apart, insufficient storage space, inconvenient aspect ratio, time-consuming video stabilization, poor battery life, and bad low-light performance. Despite these drawbacks, they acknowledge the camera's magnetic feature but ultimately find it inferior to their GoPro for vlogging.

Takeaways

• 📹 The camera is falling apart with screws falling out during use.
• 🔩 The camera uses screws while GoPros use adhesive, leading to less worry about parts falling off.
• 💾 The 128GB model has insufficient storage for a full day of 4K high bitrate filming.
• 📂 The camera requires daily offloading of footage due to limited storage.
• 🎥 The 4x3 aspect ratio is not as versatile as the taller ratio of GoPros for different social media platforms.
• 📱 The camera requires manual exporting and stabilization for the tall aspect ratio, unlike GoPros which do it in-camera.
• ⏱️ The stabilization process for the camera takes about 45 minutes per clip.
• 🔋 The battery life is poor, needing to be charged multiple times a day for professional use.
• 📉 The camera performs poorly in low light conditions compared to a smartphone.
• ⏲️ The camera has a slow start-up time from pressing the record button to actual recording.
• 👎 Despite some positive features like magnetic attachment, the camera has significant limitations for professional vloggers.

Q & A

What was the main issue the reviewer faced with the camera's build quality?

The camera was falling apart, with screws falling out even while in use, requiring the reviewer to manually screw them back in.

How does the camera's storage capacity compare to the reviewer's expectations?

The reviewer found the 128 GB model to be insufficient for a full day's worth of 4K high bitrate filming, which took up to 80 GB.

What is the reviewer's opinion on the camera's aspect ratio compared to the GoPro?

The reviewer prefers the GoPro's taller aspect ratio, which allows for easier filming across multiple social media platforms without needing to adjust the camera or edit the footage.

What problem does the reviewer encounter with the camera's stabilization?

The camera does not stabilize footage in-camera, requiring manual export and stabilization in software, which is time-consuming.

How does the reviewer's experience with the camera's battery life compare to their expectations?

The battery life is poor, with the camera dying by noon during a day of vlogging, necessitating frequent charging.

What is the reviewer's main concern regarding the camera's low light performance?

The camera performs poorly in low light, with significant loss of quality compared to the reviewer's phone camera.

How does the camera's start-up time compare to the GoPro in the reviewer's experience?

The camera takes almost twice as long to start recording compared to the GoPro, which could result in missing important moments.

What is the reviewer's overall recommendation for professional vloggers considering this camera?

The reviewer does not recommend the camera for professional vlogging due to its limitations in build quality, storage, stabilization, battery life, and low light performance.

What alternative solution does the reviewer suggest for the camera's aspect ratio issue?

The reviewer suggests using the GoPro, which allows for easy aspect ratio adjustments and in-camera processing for different social media platforms.

What are the reviewer's thoughts on the camera's magnetic feature?

While acknowledging the camera's magnetic feature, the reviewer does not consider it a novel or unique selling point, as it was already known to potential buyers.

What is the reviewer's general sentiment towards the camera after using it for a few weeks?

The reviewer is disappointed with the camera, as it did not meet their expectations and was outperformed by the GoPro in several key areas.