Insta360 takes on GoPro with their One R action camera

At CES 2020, camera company Insta360 took the wraps off their One R action camera.

“For more than a century, Leica has never stopped pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with a camera, and it’s never lost sight of a guiding ethos of craftsmanship and quality that inspires photographers to push their own work further. They are the ideal partners to join us in perfecting a new generation of cameras that serve users at every step of the creative process — from capture to editing to sharing. Combining the expertise in optics and imaging design of Leica with Insta360’s unique portfolio of innovations, including gimbal-free stabilization and smart editing software, will allow both brands to redefine categories and realize the potential of new camera formats and modes of capture,” said JK Liu, Insta360 founder.

The One R is comprised of three components, the battery, processor and three quick-swapping lens Mods. With the Mods, the One R can turn into a dual-lens 360 camera to a standard action camera.

The Dual-Lens 360 Mod support 5.7K capture with two lenses and footage can be previewed in real-time in 360 on the One R’s touchscreen. It also supports Colour Plus, HDR video and Night Shot.

The 4K Wide Angle Mod supports 4K 60fps video that is crisp, vibrant and stabilized. The mods also support 8x slow-mo and you can flip the touchscreen from back to front.

The 1-inch Wide Angle Mod uses a 1-inch sensor to capture 5.3K video and take 19MP photos. The mod was co-engineered with Leica and works in complete lighting conditions.

Beyond the lens mods, there is also the Battery Base and Boosted Battery Base mods for longer battery life. There’s also a Aerial Mod that allows you to attach the One R to a drone.

“With Insta360, we have found the right partner to bring the decades of Leica optical and digital imaging expertise into a new product segment. We think that Insta360 has an extremely high level of know-how in the software sector – especially in the field of 360-degree acquisition technologies. The aim of our cooperation is to develop innovative technologies under the highest image and quality standards, trying to push the limits of what
is technically possible”, says Matthias Harsch, CEO of Leica Camera AG.

The camera is IPX8 waterproof up to 5 meters (16.4 ft) and there’s a Dive Case to make it waterproof up to 60 meters (197 ft).

The One R uses an updated version of Insta360’s FlowState stabilization for gimbal-like smoothness.

Just like GoPro’s cameras, the One R has voice control to control different functions of the camera hands-free.

The One R has two onboard mics with automatic wind-reduction. There’s also a USB-C port.

Pricing is as follows:

• One R 4K Edition (Comes with 4K Wide Angle Mod) – $399 CAD ($299 USD)
• One R Twin Edition (comes with the Dual Lens and 4K-Wide Angle Mods) – $639 CAD ($479 USD)
• One R 1-Inch Edition (includes the 1-inch Leica Wide Angle Mod) – $729 CAD ($549 USD)
• One R 4K Wide Angle Lens Mod – $129 CAD ($99 USD)
• One R 360 Mod – $269 CAD ($199 USD)
• One R 1-inch Mod – $399 CAD ($299 USD)

The Insta360 One R is available today from the company’s website and select retailers worldwide including Best Buy.

Source: Insta360