Using the Go 2
No matter where you mount the GO 2 on your model, it is important to ensure that you maintain the airplane’s CG. You can’t just attach the camera to the tail and expect your airplane to fly okay. You might need to shift around onboard components, add ballast, or find another mounting location. Get creative and try capturing new perspectives.
When using the GO 2 on a wing, it is necessary to place a counterbalance on the opposite wing half. I used a few scraps from my workshop to create a counterbalance that is approximately the same weight and profile as the GO 2. It is effective at minimizing the detrimental handling effects of unbalanced weight and drag.
It is worth noting that the vibration of gas- and glow-fueled engines typically causes shaky video that is not enjoyable to watch. I have only had success when mounting cameras to electric-powered models. Even then, it is important to ensure that the propeller is well balanced and the camera is securely mounted to prevent any vibration-related video flaws.
Using the GO 2
There are no obvious buttons for operating the GO 2. In fact, the entire bottom part of the camera is a stealthy button. It is up to you to program how that button works. This programming is done through the Insta360 phone app, which connects to the camera via Wi-Fi. A long press of the button will turn the camera on. I have my camera configured so that a quick, single press begins video recording. Two taps of the button will initiate a time-lapse video. It is easy to accidentally press the button during normal handling of the camera, so I make sure to leave the camera powered off until I am ready to use it.
The app can be used to provide a real-time preview through the camera lens. I use this function when mounting the camera to a model to ensure that I frame the shot exactly the way I want it. I never have to guess what the camera is seeing. With the camera mounted and the airplane armed, I power on the camera and begin recording immediately before takeoff. I then fly with no special considerations for the camera. Most of my models fly as though the GO 2 is not even there. To use a well-known reference point, an airplane such as the E-flite Timber wouldn’t even break a sweat while hauling around the GO 2 on one wing and a counterbalance on the other. I have flown the GO 2 on models weighing as little as 8 ounces with no trouble. I am sure I could go even smaller.
Insta360 claims that the GO 2 has a
battery life of 30 minutes per charge. My experience has been that it is closer to 20 minutes. The camera also gets quite warm during use. It will even stop recording if it gets too hot. Because of these limitations, it is not practical to use the camera for back-to-back flights. I have learned to allow a few minutes for it to cool down and recharge between each use.
Editing the GO 2 Footage
The GO 2 and the Insta360 app are designed to let you capture video and immediately upload it to social media with your phone. Although convenient for other users, that workflow doesn’t jibe with the way I like to use onboard RC footage. I prefer to edit videos on my home computer before sharing them. Uploading video from the GO 2 onto my computer is easy. I place the camera in the case and connect it to my laptop with a USB-C cable. I can then drag and drop the files.
After the video files are on my hard drive, they must be processed through the Insta360 Studio program. I then export the processed clips as MP4 files, which can be viewed or edited the same as any other video file. Insta360 Studio does allow you to do some basic editing, such as trimming the length of a clip, adjusting the aspect ratio, or changing the resolution. The most powerful tools in Insta360 Studio are the stabilization options. These allow you to damp out jitters in the footage and often make it more enjoyable to watch.
Two of the stabilization options are FlowState and FPV. FlowState stabilization keeps the horizon level, even as the airplane banks and rolls. FPV stabilization allows the horizon to change with the bank of the airplane. Depending on the specific footage, I might prefer to enable FlowState stabilization, FPV stabilization, or none at all. You can export a clip all three ways if you choose.
The video quality from the GO 2 is impressive. The focus is crisp and colors appear natural. I think that direct sunlight usually provides the best results, but I have achieved nice footage during cloudy days and sunsets. Although there are other action cameras that weigh the same or less than the GO 2, I have not seen any that can produce comparable video quality. It is not even close!
Unless you like wind noise, the GO 2’s built-in microphone is usually pointless for onboard flights. You just get a lot of wind noise. The mic can be useful when using the GO 2 on surface vehicles or other RC applications (see the Hat-Cam Option).
Final Approach
Recording onboard video is a fun way
to gain new perspectives from your RC models. The Insta360 GO 2 offers a lightweight camera option that also provides excellent high-definition video quality. Although it is necessary to keep a close eye
on the charge state and temperature of the camera, those facets are easily managed. Overall, the GO 2 is an impressive camera that opens up new possibilities for in-flight video.
Hat-Cam Option
In addition to capturing onboard footage, I also like to record a third-person perspective of my flights by placing a camera on the brim of my hat. As I track the model through the air with my eyes, my head naturally turns to keep the camera tracking the model. It is a popular strategy that works well. The only drawback is that there is no zoom capability, so the best footage is captured during low flybys.
The GO 2 includes a clip-on mount that fits nicely on the brim of a standard baseball cap. It holds the GO 2 in a cradle that can be rotated to ensure that the lens is pointed in the correct azimuth. It is the most user-friendly hat mount that I have seen.
With all of my other action cameras, I can feel the weight of the camera pushing down on the hat. Some of them even make the hat uncomfortable to wear. The GO 2, however, is barely noticeable. More than once, I have forgotten I was wearing it and neglected to stop recording after a flight! This will be my go-to hat-cam from now on.
SOURCES:
“How To Mount Action Cameras to Your Model”
Model Aviation, July 2017
www.modelaviation.com/mounting-action-cameras
