The Insta360 Go 3S 4K pill-shaped action camera was launched in June 2024 as an updated version of the 2.7K Go 3 released last year. While last year’s Go Ultra introduced a redesign with a larger sensor and higher frame rates, the Go 3S sticks as a smaller but more capable device. To increase its appeal, the action camera is now available with a new visual aid for creating photos when you use it as a handheld camera, but you’d be better off splurging on the more expensive Insta360 dock that adds an LCD screen.
The Retro Viewfinder accessory is available today through the Insta360 online store alone for $47.99, or as part of the new Go 3S Retro Bundle starting at $299.99 that includes the 64GB version of the action camera. That’s cheaper than the $349.99 Standard Bundle that pairs the same version of the Go 3S with the Insta360 Action Pod dock.
Like most action cameras, the Insta360 Go 3S doesn’t have its own screen. You can connect it to a smartphone app to see a live preview and adjust camera settings, but the Go 3S is designed to be mounted where you can’t see the screen (like over a helmet) when it captures almost all the action in front of you using the wide-angle lens.
The new Retro Viewfinder is an attempt to reinvent the action camera as a handheld shooter that lets you frame subjects like an old camera. It works similarly to Insta360’s Action Pod where the Go 3S fits into the front of the device. There are no spring-loaded latches to keep it securely attached, but a strong magnet kept the camera in place during the intense shake test.
Instead of holding the device to your eye to frame photos, hold it against your chest and look down into the viewfinder. The front panel of the Go 3S acts as your shutter button, taking pictures with a single press and starting and stopping video recording with a double press. It’s designed this way to create a “classic shooting experience inspired by vintage film cameras,” according to Insta360. And while framing and photographing in this way has some novelty (at one point I felt like Ansel Adams as I put a row of public mailboxes instead of mountains), the execution of Insta360 comes with some frustration.
The viewing angle is very limited, and tilting the Retro Viewfinder just 15 to 20 degrees to the front, back, or side results in almost nothing. The image in the viewfinder is also flipped horizontally. Even after a week of practice, I struggled to accurately know how to move or adjust the camera angle to position the subject where I wanted it in the frame, or to make sure the shot was level. The process still feels like trial and error.
The Go 3S is a great camera, but its wide field of view doesn’t help the Retro Viewfinder. As a result, the app does not provide an accurate preview of the photos and videos you capture. Walking around my neighborhood one evening, I tried to take photos that focused on tree lines and a beautiful cloudy sky but ended up with photos that included random people, houses, and cars that I deliberately tried to keep out. It’s easy to adjust with a quick crop in the Insta360 app, but it feels counterintuitive for a tool designed to make framing more deliberate. Still something to shoot and see what you get.
Framing is more accurate when taking selfies with the Retro Viewfinder, but it’s still difficult. You can use the front lens as a selfie mirror, but it’s difficult to frame photos because of the dark reflection — especially indoors.
Battery life is limited, even with the included pack/clip charger that doubles the Go 3S’s battery life from 310mAH to over 700mAh. I managed to grab about 150 photos during the hour trip before the camera died completely. Shooting 4K video will clear it up quickly, as will connecting it to the Insta360 mobile app.
Changing any of the settings, including choosing filters that simulate film or different color profiles, requires a direct Wi-Fi connection to your smartphone. The Retro Viewfinder includes a hidden NFC tag that guides the launch and connection to the app with a tap (the process still takes about 15 to 20 seconds to fully connect), but it’s still a lot easier than pairing an action camera with Insta360’s Action Pod whose touchscreen gives the device access to multiple settings.
Turning the Insta360 Go 3S into a portable handheld camera is a smart idea considering how popular small retro cameras like Kodak’s Charmera still are. But the execution here is wrong. The Retro Viewfinder succeeds in making the Go 3S easy to hold, but the rest of its functionality is often frustrating. On its own, the accessory is cheap enough considering you already own a Go 3S, but spending an extra $50 on a bundle with Insta360’s Action Pod will serve you better in the long run regardless of how you plan to use the camera.
Photo by Andrew Liszewski / The Verge