The Insta360 GO is the world’s smallest stabilised camera and insta360 first a non-360 camera. Roughly the size of an AA battery, it’s super-light and weighs a mere 20g. Here’s the official Insta360 launch video;

The Insta360 Go is absolutely tiny –  thinner and shorter than my thumb – It has a magnetic rear and a range of clever mounts supplied in the box, you can mount the camera in all sorts of places and barely be aware it’s there.

To turn the camera on just press the logo on the front bottom of the camera. The Go’s button is actually on the back, but a simple press on the front and it will still turn on as long as it has a firm surface in behind.

There’s no Wifi connection as with more expensive cameras, instead you have to plug the thing in physically, either via the micro USB socket on the side for Android handsets or the stubby lightning connector on the base of the case for iPhone.

It’s rated at IPX4, this means it can handle a splash or a quick dunk up to 10 seconds, but certainly not underwater shooting.

• Be very careful with the stand, it is only a plastic thread and mine seems to have come cross threaded. I haven’t been able to use it once as the thing won’t screw onto the base straight and keeps cross threading. I’ve given up as if i force it it just damages the weak plastic thread even more, either way it’s useless to me and a very poor design flaw.
• When placing the camera back in its case make sure to line up the 5 gold connection points with the ones on the back of the camera and you don’t put it in upside down.
• The rubber bung provided to protect the iphone connector isn’t tethered to the case in any way. Which means you’re highly likely to lose it.

Before you shoot anything, make sure you’ve calibrated the camera first. Settings > Gyro Calibration. Place the Go on a level surface and follow the on screen instructions. A green light will indicate the calibration is complete.

• Photo Modes – Standard
• Video Modes – Standard, Interval Shooting, Static Timelapse, Hyperlapse, Slow Motion 100 fps.

Here we meet the first of the Insta360 Go’s limitations. It’s made to shoot 15s, 30s, 1 min and 5 minute video clips, not capture a whole off-road bike ride that you edit down afterwards. It can’t do that job, and the only longer forms of capture it can manage are time-lapse and hyperlapse. The Go is designed to capture highlights, so they assume it will be at least a few more minutes before you record another highlight. GO videos will be auto-transferred via the companion app in 1080p25 Full HD resolution, and photos in up to 2560 x 2560. The internal 8GB will store about 100 15-second video clips between each transfer.

Quick capture: with the camera off, press the button once.  By default, this records a video clip.  After the clip is recorded, the camera turns off automatically.

Turn on or off: just hold down the power button for 3 seconds to turn it on or turn it off.

You have some control when just walking around with the camera attached too. Single, double and triple presses set off different modes. You choose which in the companion app.

If you take a photo, the camera will remain on.  If you record a video or hyperlapse, the Go will turn itself off after recording, vibrating as it does so.

In addition to the on-camera controls, you can also have additional controls using wireless control.  Turn on the camera, launch the app, tap on the camera icon, and tap on Bluetooth control.  This will make additional shooting modes available, such as static time lapse and interval video.  However the Bluetooth control is limited, you don’t get a preview image of the camera view and you can still only review your pics and videos by plugging the Go into the charge dock, and then plugging that into your phone.

The camera responds to each command with a short vibration (letting you know that recording has started), followed by a long vibration when recording stops. A small light on the front of the camera blinks to let you – and others – know that it’s recording.

FlowState is easily the best part of the Insta360 Go’s footage, this is electronic stabilisation by using a 6-axis gyroscope. Still not as good as a 360 camera though.

• Tip: The camera has to be turned on for the double and triple press to work.
• Tip: You can remap all of the button presses, which is handy if you like to use one recording function more than others.
• Tip: recording anything over 1 minute the camera will start to overheat. You will find especially on a sunny day you may have to let it cool down before you can use it again.

Here’s a video from my day using the Insta360 Go at Thorpe Park and a hyperlapse walk to Thatcher Point a famous landmark in Torquay.

One of the best things about Insta360 cameras is the editing tools in its smartphone apps and that continues with the Go. Once you download a video to your smartphone, you can adjust its speed (2x, 4x, 6x, 8x and 16x), apply filters, adjust lighting, contrast and more, and add a soundtrack. The new auto stories themes and the ‘Flash cut’ can come up with some impressive looking stuff that’s great for quick social uploads and the like.

Here is a tutorial for Insta360 Go, showing how you can edit videos with the mobile app.

There are two ways you can update the firmware.

1. Mobile, Place the Go in the charging case, connect to your phone and open the Go app. the app will prompt you if there is an update available. Then simply download and follow the onscreen instructions.
2. Desktop, Go to the insta360 website and download the new firmware. Connect the Go via usb cable to your computer. Check for any old firmware files and delete them. Copy the new ‘insta360FW.bin’ file to your Go. Disconnect from your computer and remove the Go from its case. Now press and hold the action button to turn it on. The Go will now install the new firmware automatically.

• IMPORTANT: Make sure you have enough battery power before updating, at least 10%, but I would recommend more. Do not interrupt the upgrade after it starts as you could brick your device!
• The light will flash blue during the update and the Go will automatically restart when the upgrade is complete.