News: Insta360 GO 2 Camera – Better than GoPro for FPV?

I really like the Insta360 GO when it first came out, and now they just dropped an upgraded version – the Insta360 GO 2 camera! This is a powerful tiny action camera that you can put on small FPV drones to capture cinematic footage.

Note: I am going to review the Insta360 GO 2 camera, still patiently waiting for the parcel, should be arriving soon.

Where to Buy?

You can get the Insta360 GO 2 from these vendors (these are affiliate links):

• Banggood: https://oscarliang.com/product-i2wl
• Amazon: https://amzn.to/2NgHo1x
• GetFPV: https://oscarliang.com/product-u7sq
• NBD: https://oscarliang.com/product-gewv

The standalone version comes with the following accessories:

• 1 x Insta360 GO V2 Camera
• 1 x Charge Case
• 1 x Magnet Pendant
• 1 x Stand
• 1 x Easy Clip
• 1 x Lens Guard (already installed on camera)
• 1 x Camera Mount Adapter

Differences Between GO and GO 2

Too lazy to read the specs? Let me sum up the improvements they made to the GO 2 HD camera for you. You can see my review of the Insta360 GO here.

Insta360 GO 2 Improvements

The maximum clip length has been increased from 5 mins to 15 mins.

The GO 2 has a lot more onboard memory – used to be 8GB, now 32GB.

The GO 2 uses a larger image sensor (1/2.3″), in fact it’s the same size as the GoPro Hero 9 which is better for low light performance than the previous version.

Resolution and FPS have been improved as well up to 1440p 50FPS – smoother videos and more suitable for slow motion.

Video bitrate has been doubled from 40Mbps to 80Mbps.

Both the GO and GO2 are water-resistant, but the newer camera can be used in deeper water up to 4 meters (GO – IPX4, GO2 IPX8).

The case of the GO 2 can charge the camera (same as the GO), but it also acts as the remote, and with the additional small screen, you can change camera settings as well.

Both cameras support FlowState stabilization – a feature in their software that is available on Windows as well as Android and iOS. That means you can edit footage on your phone if you wish.

FlowState is a powerful tool as you can see in my comparison between before and after FlowState is applied. This video is from my GO V1 review, I will probably make another one when I get my GO 2 camera.

Downsides of the GO 2

The GO 2 (27g) is heavier than the original Insta360 GO (18g). If you have used the GO V1 on your quads, you will need new 3D printed mounts for the V2 as it’s slightly larger in size.

And the new camera is $100 more, though I think it’s reasonable because of all the hardware and software upgrades.

Insta360 GO 2 vs GoPro Hero 9

It’s interesting to see how many people are actually comparing the Insta360 GO 2 to the mighty GoPro Hero 9, because there is just no way this tiny little camera can beat the Hero 9, right?.

Well, I am surprised at how small the gap in image quality actually is between these two cameras.

Yes, the 5K resolution of the Hero 9 is a huge jump from the 1440p of the GO2, but most people on Youtube only watch videos on their phones, so the difference might not be that noticeable.

Video bitrate of the GO 2 is 80Mbps while the Hero 9 is 100Mbps.

The biggest advantage of the Insta360 GO 2 over the GoPro is definitely weight. The GO 2 is only 27g while the Hero 9 is 158g! You can put the GO 2 on most micro quads, but the GoPro would be a struggle for a lot of FPV drones even the powerful 5″.

Here’s some decent sample footage of the GO2 I found that doesn’t involve too much talking:

Insta360 GO 2 Specification

• Dimensions (W x H x D)
  • Camera: 52.9 x 23.6 x 20.7mm (2.08 x 0.93 x 0.81in)
  • Charge Case:
    • 68.1 x 48.54 x 26.6mm (Closed)
    • 132.5 x 26.03 x 26.6mm (Open)
• Weight  Camera: 26.5g (0.93oz) Case: 63.5g (2.24oz)
• Aperture: f/2.2
• 35mm Equivalent Focal Length: 11.24mm
• ISO: Auto, 100-3200
• White Balance: Auto, 2700K, 4000K, 5000K, 6500K, 7500K
• Exposure Value (EV): -4 to 4
• Waterproofing: IPX8 to 4 meters (13ft)
• Audio: Mono with optional Wind Noise Reduction
• Bluetooth: BLE 5.0
• Wi-Fi: 802.11a/b/g/n/ac
• Storage: 32GB (~28GB usable)
• Battery Capacity:  Camera: 210mAh  Case: 1100mAh
• Run Time: Standalone: 30 mins – 1440p30 Basic stabilization video
• In Case: 150 mins – 1080p30 Basic stabilization video
• Charging Method: Type-C USB
• Charging Time: Camera: 23 mins to 80%, 35 mins to 100%
• Case: 47 mins to 80%, 65 mins to 100%
• Use Environment: 14°F to 104°F (-10℃ to 40℃)
• Compatible Devices: iOS:  A11 or above chip, iPhone 8, 8 Plus, X and newer models.

Video Resolution

• Video Modes: Basic stabilization, FlowState stabilization, HDR, Timelapse, TimeShift (Hyperlapse), Slow Motion
• FlowState stabilization:
  • 2560×[email protected], 30fps
  • 1920×[email protected], 30fps
• Basic stabilization:
  • 2560×[email protected], 30fps
  • 1920×[email protected], 30fps
• HDR:
  • 2560×[email protected], 24fps
  • 1920×[email protected], 24fps
• Timelapse:
  • Interval: 0.5s, 1s, 2s, 5s, 10s, 30s, 60s, 120s
  • 2560×[email protected]
  • 1920×[email protected]
• TimeShift (Hyperlapse):
  • Speed: Auto (up to 6x)
  • 2560×[email protected]
  • 1920×[email protected]
• Slow motion:  1920×[email protected]

Max. Clip Length

• FlowState stabilization: 10 mins
• Basic stabilization: 15 mins
• FPV mode: 30 mins
• Timelapse: Adjustable interval, record up to 110 minutes with the Charge Case for a 7-minute clip

Video Files

• Video Format: MP4
• Video Exposure Modes: Auto, Manual (Shutter 1/8000 – 1/30, ISO 100-3200)
• Video Coding: H.264
• Max. Video Bitrate: 80Mbps

Photos

• Photo Modes: Standard, Interval, Night Shot, Starlapse, PureShot
• Photo Resolution: 16:9, 1920×1088；1:1, 2000×2000；9:16, 1088×1920
• Photo Format:
  • INSP (can be exported via App or Studio)
  • DNG (can be exported via App or Studio)
• Photo Exposure Modes: Auto, Manual (Shutter 1/8000s-120s, ISO 100-3200), Shutter Priority (1/8000s-1s), ISO Priority (100-3200)

Best Settings

Always use pro mode and high bitrate, then you will have all the possibility in post production. Also order ND filters. The GO2 really shines with correct ISO, EV and shutter speed settings combined with the correct ND.

Conclusion

Not yet, this is just a preview. Let me draw my conclusion after i tested it :) But so far just based on the specs and sample footage, i am super excited. I really like the original GO, the video quality is pretty good for how little that camera is, and now it just got even better with the GO2.

No SD card needed thanks to the internal storage, just pop it on the quad and it’s ready to go. It’s super light weight and water proof, can be charged in the case that it comes with, which also is the remote. Don’t forget FlowState stabilization which is essential for cinematic FPV videos.