Navigating the Content Creation Landscape

As a content creator, I'm constantly seeking ways to enhance my work, be it refining my writing style to resonate more deeply with my audience or producing visually captivating review videos.

Recently, I found myself at a crossroads. Our video content, traditionally shot in the 16:9 horizontal format, was being shared across various platforms, including YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Medium, and TikTok. However, platforms such as Instagram Reels, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts now favour vertical 9:16 videos for optimal viewer engagement.

Insta360 Go 3s: Solving Problems with Cropping Videos

While tools like Adobe Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve Studio, or Filmora allow for cropping and reframing 4K horizontal videos into vertical formats, the results often fall short of expectations. The videos appear overly zoomed in, and crucial elements can be lost during the cropping process. Unless the subject was perfectly centred during filming, repurposing horizontal footage for vertical platforms often leads to subpar results.

To address this, we experimented with shooting using two cameras simultaneously—one in horizontal and another in vertical orientation — and syncing them in post-production. While effective, this method proved time-consuming and data-intensive.

Additionally, I aimed to improve my point-of-view (POV) shots to offer a more immersive experience.

After weeks of research, I discovered the Insta360 GO 3S. This compact yet powerful camera offered the solution I needed for creating seamless, high-quality vertical and horizontal content without the associated hassles. Its FreeFrame mode, in particular, caught my attention. With the ability to shoot in 4:3 and repurpose footage into either horizontal or vertical formats without losing critical details, this camera promised to transform my content creation workflow.

Let's explore why the Insta360 GO 3S appeals to me and how it has enhanced my content creation workflow rather than focusing on the technical aspects of the camera.

Why does the Insta360 GO 3S appeal to Me?

I've worked with various cameras, including the Sony ZV-1F, DJI Pocket 2, and even my Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, and I've experienced their strengths and limitations. Each device excels in certain scenarios, but none addressed the challenges of multi-platform content creation as effectively as the Insta360 GO 3S.

The Insta360 GO 3S has carved a niche for itself for good reason. While alternatives like the DJI Osmo Pocket 3, GoPro Hero 13,  DJI Action 5 Pro, or the Insta360 Ace Pro 2 boast impressive features, the Insta360 GO 3S stands out in four key areas that have made it an indispensable tool for my creative workflow.

Unique Viewpoints

The Insta360 GO 3S opens a world of creative possibilities with its hands-free operation and magnetic mounting system. Traditional cameras are often bulky, restrictive, or require tripods or mounts that can take you out of the moment.

Hands-Free POV: With the included Magnet Pendant, I've captured immersive first-person perspectives while cycling, hiking, or even playing with my dog. This flexibility allows for easy focus on the activity while the GO 3S performs its job in the background.

Creative Angles: Its small size and magnetic base allow for mounting in unconventional spots, such as on a helmet, collar, or household item. Whether I'm recording action-packed scenes or candid moments, the GO 3S delivers unique viewpoints that traditional setups can't achieve.

Wearable and Discreet: Unlike larger cameras, the GO 3S is unobtrusive. Wearing it on my chest or hat feels natural, allowing me to capture moments organically without drawing attention to myself or disrupting the scene.

FreeFrame Mode: Flexible Formats Without Compromise

One of the most frustrating aspects of modern content creation is the need to cater to multiple platforms, each with its preferred format. Instagram Reels, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts demand vertical (9:16) videos, while traditional platforms like YouTube and Facebook still favour horizontal (16:9) formats.

The Insta360 GO 3S addresses this challenge brilliantly. It features a relatively square image sensor, which, when combined with its FreeFrame feature, offers a truly versatile approach to shooting and editing. This clever design allows me to capture footage once and easily crop it later into either landscape or portrait formats, depending on where I’m sharing the content.

• Shoot Once, Edit Twice: Recording in the FreeFram mode 4:3 aspect ratio allows me to reframe footage effortlessly into vertical or horizontal formats during post-production. Unlike cropping from a fixed horizontal or vertical frame, FreeFrame ensures no essential details are lost and the quality remains intact.
• No More Compromises: Whether capturing a wide landscape for YouTube or a dynamic vertical shot for TikTok, the flexibility to edit the same footage for both platforms saves time and effort.
• Enhanced Creativity: FreeFrame has enabled me to experiment with framing and compositions that weren't possible before, knowing I can always adjust the format later.

Seamless Integration into Everyday Life

The Insta360 GO 3S feels like an extension of myself — it integrates effortlessly into my routine and doesn't distract me from the moment.

• Unobtrusive Design: Its tiny size (39.1g) and sleek form factor make it easy to carry everywhere. Whether on a family outing, exploring a new city, or documenting behind-the-scenes content, the GO 3S fits right into my pocket or backpack without weighing me down.
• Always Ready: QuickCapture functionality ensures the camera is ready to record at the press of a button, even when turned off. I've found this especially helpful for capturing fleeting moments that larger cameras would miss.
• Immersive Storytelling: By blending into the scene rather than standing out, the GO 3S allows me to capture moments naturally. Whether recording my son's football match or the view from a roller coaster, it feels like being part of the story rather than just documenting it.

Portability and Modularity

Portability is where the GO 3S truly shines. Weighing less than most smartphones and boasting a modular two-piece design, the camera offers unparalleled convenience for on-the-go creators.

• Lightweight and Compact: The camera is so light that I barely notice it when mounted on my chest or helmet. Its compact size ensures it never obstructs my activity or creativity.
• Modular Design: The Action Pod, which acts as a housing, remote control, and charging dock, enhances the GO 3S's usability. The flip-up touchscreen is ideal for vlogging and previewing shots, while the Pod enhances battery life for extended sessions.
• Versatile Mounting Options: Whether I'm attaching it to my cap, a drone, or a bicycle handlebar, the included accessories make it easy to mount in almost any scenario.

Unboxing and First Impressions: A Premium Experience

In the box, you'll find the camera itself, the Action Pod, a USB-C charging cable, the Easy Clip, the Pivot Stand with its accompanying base, the Magnet Pendant, a Quick Start Guide, and some stickers. I have the black version, although a white one is also available.

Comprehensive set of accessories included:

• Camera Module: The compact core of the system.
• Action Pod: Features a flip touchscreen for remote control and live preview.
• USB-C Charging Cable: For charging the camera via the Action Pod.
• Easy Clip: Ideal for mounting on caps or pet collars.
• Pivot Stand with Base: Allows for versatile mounting options.
• Magnet Pendant: Enables chest-mounted POV shots.
• Quick Start Guide and Stickers: For initial setup and personalisation.

While Insta360 cameras aren't cheap, they certainly don't skimp on the included accessories. Just like the cameras themselves, the accessories feel well-made and thoughtfully designed.

First Impressions in Use

To charge the camera, place it in the Action Pod and connect it using the supplied USB-C cable. There's no charging port on the camera itself. Both the camera and the Action Pod display a solid red LED while charging, which turns off when the device is fully charged. Charging takes around 65 minutes for the Action Pod and 35 minutes for the GO 3S.

You'll need to connect the GO 3S to the Insta360 smartphone app to activate and set up the camera. The app enables you to remotely control the camera, adjust settings, and playback footage. Insta360 also makes it surprisingly easy to edit and share your footage within the app.

You can wirelessly download your footage before editing, but it's not essential and downloads over WiFi are relatively slow—I was only seeing around 20MB/s. In many cases, it makes more sense to edit longer clips directly without downloading them. The 5GHz wireless connection to the camera is quite stable, and even scrubbing through the remote footage works well.

There is no removable storage in the camera or Action Pod, so you'll need to choose carefully between the 64GB and 128GB versions — the latter costs an additional $50. I'd have loved to see an upgraded Action Pod with removable storage, but unfortunately, it hasn't changed at all. This also means you're still stuck with slow USB 2.0 file transfers when connecting it directly to your computer. If I fill up my 128GB camera, transferring everything across to my computer takes about an hour! As a side note, when connected to your computer, you can use the camera as a 1080p 30fps webcam.

If you've used any action camera before, the GO 3S will feel familiar when it's in the Action Pod. A single press of the power button turns it on, and the Quick Button can cycle between shooting modes or presets by tapping the Mode icon.

Using the touchscreen, you can swipe across the middle to choose from the various shooting modes. Swiping in from the right brings up the settings menu; swiping up allows you to set the resolution and frame rate. Swiping in from the left previews your footage, and swiping down lets you adjust the camera's settings.

Under Settings, you can configure what happens when the camera is on with a single or double press. I have mine set to start a FreeFrame video with a single press and take an HDR photo with a double press. I've also configured the Quick Button to access my presets.

Creating Engaging and Creative Videos

Seamless Aspect Ratio Switching

The FreeFrame mode is a game-changer. By capturing footage in a 4:3 aspect ratio, I can decide during editing whether to present it in horizontal or vertical format. This flexibility is invaluable for content creators targeting multiple platforms with varying video format preferences.

Superior Stabilisation

The GO 3S features FlowState Stabilisation, ensuring smooth footage even during dynamic activities. Whether walking, cycling, or engaging in action-packed scenes, the stabilisation technology minimises shakes and bumps, delivering professional-quality videos.

Innovative Shooting Modes

The camera offers various shooting modes to enhance creativity:

• Slow Motion: Capture high-speed scenes with clarity.
• TimeShift: Create dynamic hyperlapse videos.
• Timelapse: Document scenes over extended periods.
• Interval Video: Automatically captures moments throughout the day, compiling them into a cohesive video.

User-Friendly App Integration

The Insta360 app complements the camera by offering intuitive controls, editing tools, and AI-powered features. It simplifies the process of adjusting settings, previewing footage, and sharing content across platforms.

Useful Accessories

Insta360 GO 3S Quick Reader

The Quick Reader allows me to easily transfer footage from my camera directly onto a microSD card, making the entire process far more convenient. I have two ways to use it: I can either transfer files via the Action Pod, which provides a neat graphical interface,

Or I can plug it directly into a battery pack. The latter is especially handy, as it not only saves the Action Pod’s battery life but also charges the camera at the same time.

One of the things I really appreciate about the Quick Reader is that I can plug it straight into my phone and edit footage from the microSD card using the Insta360 app. It’s incredibly efficient and significantly reduces transfer times.

Moreover, removing the card and using a high-speed microSD card reader to transfer files to my computer makes a noticeable difference. With my 256GB Transcend card, I’m achieving transfer speeds of around 90MB/s—more than double the speed I’d get using the standard USB cable included with the camera. It’s worth mentioning that while the Quick Reader is a bit pricey and not the most intuitive to use at first, the time savings and added convenience have made it an invaluable part of my setup.

Insta360 GPS Action Remote

The Insta360 GPS Action Remote enables me to connect to the Insta360 GO 3S via Bluetooth, allowing me to start and stop the camera and control its settings using the large, accessible buttons.

Another accessory that has genuinely improved my workflow is the Insta360 GPS Action Remote. It connects to the Insta360 GO 3S via Bluetooth, giving me the freedom to start and stop recording or tweak settings without physically touching the camera. The large, accessible buttons make it easy to use, even if I’m wearing gloves or need to make adjustments on the fly.

This remote is especially useful during outdoor activities like cycling or hiking, where reaching for the camera itself would be impractical. With this in hand, I can focus on the moment and still capture the footage I need with a simple click.

Ruggedised Protective Cover

As I couldn’t find any suitable ruggedised cover available on the market, I decided to take matters into my own hands and design and make one myself.

The primary objective of this ruggedised cover is to provide additional protection for the camera body and lens, shielding them from scratches, knocks, and general wear and tear, particularly when the camera is mounted on bicycles or drones.

It’s been a fun and practical DIY project that has given me even more confidence to push the boundaries with my shots, knowing that my Insta360 GO 3S is better protected, even in the most demanding environments.

Editor's Final Thoughts: The Value Proposition of the Insta360 GO 3S

Reflecting on my experience with the Insta360 GO 3S, I've come to appreciate the true value this compact powerhouse brings to my content creation journey. While not the cheapest or the most feature-packed in every regard, it's the combination of versatility, portability, and creativity that sets it apart.

For creators like me, who want a camera that can seamlessly transition between vertical and horizontal formats, deliver crisp 4K footage, and remain inconspicuous in daily use, the GO 3S hits the sweet spot. Its FreeFrame mode has transformed the way I produce content, saving time and making my workflow far more efficient. Its magnetic mounting system and modular design have enabled shots and perspectives that traditional cameras can't match.

Yes, it has limitations—average low-light performance and the absence of expandable storage are valid critiques. But for those who value creative flexibility, ease of use, and the ability to truly capture the moment without being taken out of it, the Insta360 GO 3S represents exceptional value. It's more than just a camera; it's a tool that empowers me to tell better stories and create more engaging videos across every platform I use.