Insta360 Go 3 – The Ultimate Vlogging Camera?
In todays landscape of ever-growing vlogging and content creation – there is so much technology and hype for the next “big thing” (From a product perspecitve). As a creator myself I’ve always just used my iPhone despite owning a very nice camera which now just sits on my shelf at home. However recently, a very popular new guy: the Insta360 Go 3 has been sweeping my feed. But is it truly a game-changer? Let’s do a DEEP DIVE.
WHAT I LOVE
Size & Design
The Insta360 Go 3’s stand out is probably it’s ultra-compact size. It’s so small it’s almost criminal. What I like about this design is it allows you to shoot subtly (perfect for those of you who are shy to shoot in public) and you’ll never have to stress about portability. It’s also just minimalistic and aesthetic.
Flip Screen Pod: A Vlogger’s Dream
This ones for you vloggers for sure – one of the Insta360 Go 3’s most novel features is its flip screen pod. I personally don’t like using the front camera on my IPhone because the quality is noticeably poorer than the back camera so this flip screen completely erases that problem for me. Even when detached, the pod’s screen remains functional so you can still use it as a viewfinder and see your footage without connecting to a phone. The only weakness here, is that the viewfinder does turn black after awhile even if the camera is still filming which means you have to tap it to keep the screen on.
Magnetic Versatility & Durability
The magnetic design of the Insta360 Go 3 isn’t just a gimmick, it honestly opens us to a world of unparalleled creativity. Being able to attach it to metal surfaces means I don’t need to carry a tripod with me everywhere and you can get some really quick on the go shots.
The magnetic pendant is another favourite of mine – all those POV, cooking, painting videos can now be shot with no fuss! I can do it all myself now without harassing my boyfriend to help me – this is a huge game changer for him!!
Footage Quality
I will admit the quality of the footage is not as high as my Iphone 13pro back camera and definitely not comparable to DSLR cameras. However it’s definitely not bad for something so small and I will argue that it is totally good enough for short form content. The footage looks great on the phone and smaller screens however for long form on youtube which you can see in my youtube review, you can see a difference between my DSLR and the Insta360 GO3.
Post Editing & Insta360 App
Not going to lie – this app really impressed me. Especially the function where YOU CAN CHANGE BETWEEN PORTRAIT AND LANDSCAPE POST SHOOTING. What I mean by this is that the footage (when shot in Freeframe mode) is actually shot on BOTH MODES, so you can do landscape and portrait shooting at the same time. This is honestly a game changer for me because now I don’t have to shoot twice (I usually shoot for landscape and portrait on two different devices).
You can also edit in the app, download everything and view in real time as you’re shooting.
Unlimited Acessories
The accessories you can get with your Insta360 GO3 is honestly impressive – I could probably write a full separate post dedicated just to GO3 accessories. To be honest, the ones that come in your box are sufficient but I did also get myself a monkey tail (long black snake like thing pictured above) because you can wind it around poles and fences etc and a selfie stick. You can get really creative with all their accessories and I genuinely believe the creative freedom with this is unlimited!
Stability and Waterproofing
As an action camera it’s stability is as to be expected which I love for all my outdoor events and vlogs. It’s also waterproof up until 5m deep so you can feel completely comfortable getting all those underwater or beach shots!
Photography
I didn’t get this camera for photography but it definitely helps that this feature exists. The quality is not as good as my iPhone but I like how it gives me a slight fish eye look which makes my photos a vibe! There is a slight delay when you click the shoot button to when the actual photo is taken though!
WHAT I DON’T LOVE
Performance in Low Light & Dark Settings
One common concern with compact cameras is their performance in less-than-ideal lighting conditions. The Insta360 Go 3 delivers decent footage even in low light and dusk scenarios. but again I would not rely sorely on the camera and if I were shooting at night – i’d definitely carry a flash with me.
Battery Life
If you’re a travel creator like me and you’re on the go all the time – battery life can be a make or break and so my main concern is the battery life of the Go3. It has a 45min battery life outside of the pod and just over 2 hours when it’s in the pod. However it is comparable to other action cameras and because it’s so quick to charge I would just recommend carrying a portable charger with you in case. I haven’t personally had issues with this myself, but like I said – I always carry a portable charger with me.
Storage
The GO 3 comes with 32GB/64GB/128GB of storage space, however it does not come with an SD card which means you can’t extend the storage or just take all the footage and plug it into your computer. This was bit of a concern for me in the beginning but because the app is so good it pretty much feels like downloading footage off my phone so i don’t mind this.
Conclusion
The Insta360 Go 3 will set you back around $500USD ($800aud) but honestly – for content creators and vloggers It’s such a versatile camera. There is just no occasion, angle or story that you can’t shoot on this little guy. I personally feel like its such an all rounded creative device, and for anyone who hates to travel heavy or lug around a camera with them this is honestly a game changer for short form or active content creators. So do I rate it? I really do, I love mine with my entire being and I go everywhere with it because it’s so small you’ll forget you even have it.
Curious to see it in action? Check out my Youtube Review to see it for yourself!
P.S If you want to grab an Insta360 GO3 for yourself, this link will give you a free lens protector (you’re welcome 😉
