If you’re any kind of social media participant, perhaps you’ve noticed a fair amount of 360-degree photos and videos in posts as of late. The trend of super-panoramic imaging is sweeping the web waves, and certainly manufacturers are taking advantage of this by introducing their own brand of 360.
Take for example the new Insta360 Nano, a slim and tiny 360-degree camera that connects to your iPhone 6 or 7 and uses the phone’s screen to allow you to frame the picture or video before blasting your creation into cyber space.
With sleek features, a killer design and some pretty good optics, it’s the latest and greatest out on the market in this category, but is it good enough to justify the $200 price tag, and more importantly, is it worth it when you’r faced with carrying around another accessory? Let’s find out.
Insta360 Nano Features
The Insta360 Nano feels sturdy in the hand, and as we mentioned, it’s pretty tiny, measuring a measly 110mm x 33mm x 21mm. It actually clips onto the top of your iPhone, but is connected at the bottom via the Lightning connector.
A nice selling feature of the Insta360 Nano is the fact that it’s independently powered and charged with a micro USB. The camera has been designed specifically for the iPhone users, including most variations of both the 6 and 7 iPhone models. It fits snuggly around the phone’s curved edges. As a consequence, though, you’ll have to remove any protective case. Otherwise, it won’t fit.
To use, you have to use the Insta360 upside down while in the Nano app, and the camera features two 210-degree f/2.0 fish-eye lenses which face forwards and backwards, allowing you to capture a full 360-degree view. There’s also a microSD card slot that allows you to use the camera without your phone. The downside is that you get no viewfinder to see what you’re shooting, although when using it independently, the Nano has a dedicated shutter button and a small notification light, which makes it pretty easy to use.
Performance
Regarding the box it comes in, would you believe that it’s actually a VR headset? That’s right. After you shoot your photos or video, you can fit it into the box to view and enjoy the benefits of virtual reality.
The Insta360 app is pretty robust. After you shoot your media, the app gives you three viewing settings: Planet, Perspective and Fisheye. There’s also a VR mode, which is where the packaging comes into play. Video is shot in 3K at 30 fps, and the video is really good with great resolution and sharp color saturation. In low light, it struggles a bit, but still is adequate. When taking photos, the Insta360 steps it up a bit with more robust contrast and depth.
And what would a device like this with an associated app be if you couldn’t share your media. In the app, there is support to share still images to Facebook, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Twitter and of course, the Insta360.com website, while videos can also be shared directly with YouTube. You can also save footage to your iPhone photo album to share with other apps.
You can also live stream with the Nano. You can either stream to the Insta360 live streaming service, Facebook or Youtube, and you can share 360-degree videos directly from the camera to your friends and family.
Bottom Line
The Insta360 Nano ($199) is interesting to say the least, and quite unique. The fact that it’s an accessory to an iPhone is a plus, and it gives you pretty good quality 360-degree photos and video quickly and easily. It’s also cool that you can snap a photo or shoot a video, and immediately share via several upload options, including live streaming YouTube.
In short, the Insta360 is a great way to introduce yourself to 360 photos and video, and for the price, it’s hard to beat. You can purchase the Insta360 Nano Click Here.
