The Insta360 Go 3S is a standout follow-up to the Go 3 in the field of small action cameras. Both adventurous types and creative filmmakers should own this little, adaptable camera because of its many significant improvements. The Go 3S provides a special and improved user experience with its four times higher resolution, better waterproofing, and range of accessories.
Design and Build
While adding some significant enhancements, the Insta360 Go 3S has the same elegant and understated style as its predecessor did. Still one of the lightest and smallest action cameras available, it weighs just 1.34 oz (39.1g) without the Action Pod. Its compact design allows it to be mounted in areas that larger cameras cannot reach and is highly portable. While the camera element is little heavier and little deeper than the Go 3, these differences have no impact on compatibility with current accessories.
Built to survive the demands of adventurous use is the Go 3S. Robust polycarbonate makes up both the Action Pod and the camera, guaranteeing longevity. Waterproof to 33 feet (10 meters), double the depth of the Go 3, the camera is ideal for underwater videography. Underwater usage of the Action Pod is not possible as it is merely splash-proof.
The camera has an inbuilt microphone, a single button for beginning and pausing recording, and 64GB or 128GB of internal memory. Wide range of mounting possibilities are made possible by the camera's magnetic mount on the rear, which firmly bonds with metal surfaces and Insta360's accessories.
Features and Performance
The Insta360 Go 3S's 4K video resolution—an improvement over the Go 3's 2.7K resolution—is one of its best features. The video is now of higher quality, clearer and more detailed. TimeShift, Timelapse, and FreeFrame are just a few of the video modes the camera offers; they enable multi-aspect filming, which is perfect for making material for sites like YouTube and TikTok.
With gesture control in addition to voice instructions, the Go 3S offers consumers many hands-free control choices. In loud settings when voice instructions might not work well, this capability is especially helpful. The camera also has better picture stabilisation, however it works best when fixed on stable objects rather than moving ones.
One obvious Go 3S drawback is battery life. Less than the 45 minutes of the Go 3 and far less than comparable action cameras like the GoPro Hero 12 Black, the small 310mAh battery offers up to 38 minutes of Full HD recording time. But the battery lasts for 140 minutes of 1080p video recording when used with the Action Pod.
Image and Video Quality
Its better picture and video quality is where the Insta360 Go 3S excels. One major improvement is the camera's 4K video resolution and 12MP still images (up from 6.6MP in the Go 3). Filmmakers that often alternate between vertical, square, and horizontal formats would especially benefit from the higher resolution. Increased adaptability of the camera is provided via the FreeFrame option, which lets users shoot first and select the aspect ratio later.
Additionally improving dynamic range and colour accuracy is Dolby Vision-Ready HDR technology on the camera. Although this raises the quality of the video generally, it's important to remember that the Go 3S doesn't have an HDR video option, therefore it might not perform as well in high-contrast lighting situations as other action cameras specifically designed for that purpose, such as the DJI Osmo Action 4.
Larger fields of vision made possible by the ultra-wide-angle lens facilitate the capturing of wide-open spaces. Particularly helpful for vlogging, autofocus tracking and face identification on the Action Pod's screen guarantee that subjects remain clear and well-framed. The HDR setting produces nicely exposed and balanced shots.
Accessories and Mounting Options
With the Go 3S, Insta360 provides a wide range of attachments that improves its versatility in different settings. An adhesive plate, simple clip (for headgear and animal collars), pivot stand (tripod mount), and magnet pendant (lanyard) are all part of the Standard Edition package. With these attachments, users may creatively mount the camera and capture views that are frequently unattainable with regular cameras.
Comes with the Standard Edition package, the Action Pod turns the Go 3S into an action camera a like GoPro. It has a fast menu for choosing shooting modes, a lock button to release the docked camera, and a flip-up touchscreen for simple navigation and charging via a USB-C connector. Though too heavy to be installed horizontally on metal surfaces, the Action Pod's magnetic underbelly enables it to snap into position on a variety of attachments.
Versatility and Use Cases
The Insta360 Go 3S is a multipurpose device that works well for a variety of activities. Its small size and magnetic attachment method let users easily record hands-free, first-person viewpoints. The Go 3S can capture anything from extreme sports to diving experiences to pet-view camcorder attachments.
Adventure use is made possible by the camera's waterproof design and sturdy construction. Its function of automatically changing aspect ratios according to camera angle is useful, particularly for content producers who have to create videos for several platforms. Sport fans will like the option to overlay Garmin, Apple, and Coros statistics, which gives their action video important information.
Price and Availability
The Insta360 Go 3S is offered in a number of packages and configurations and was introduced on June 13, 2024. The 64GB and 128GB versions of the Standard Edition package, which includes the Action Pod, cost $399.99 and $429.99, respectively. The Go 3S camera alone costs $239.99 (64GB) and $269.99 (128GB) for customers who currently possess the Go 3 and wish to upgrade.
Going by the new features and enhancements, the Go 3S is reasonably priced and provides excellent value. For long shooting sessions, the internal memory choices offer enough of storage, and the wide range of accessories improves the whole package.
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