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Action cams are primarily for video, but how do they fare for photography? It’s an area that leading manufacturers, such as Insta360 and DJI, have been exploring recently with a glut of quirky accessories.
Take the Photography Grip for the Insta360 X5. It transforms my favorite 360 degree action cam into a point-and-shoot — a use case that I wouldn’t necessarily have otherwise considered.
Or how about the optical viewfinder for the Insta360 Go 3S, which is now available in a Retro Bundle? This, again, changes its primary function as a tiny 4K camera into a waist-level stills shooter.
Third-parties are in on the act too — SmallRig makes a cage for the DJI Osmo Action 6, which significantly improves its handling for photography, and our reviewer Sam Kieldsen loved it.
I was curious about these accessories that turn some of the best action cams into point-and-shoots — are they simple novelties, or are they genuinely useful? How suited are action cams really for photography? I had to find out for myself...
Getting a grip
Photography with action cameras is certainly possible, but there’s no doubt that these types of cameras are primarily designed and equipped for video. However, the Insta360 X5 Photography Grip — which costs $49.99 / £47.99 / AU$87.99 and is available in black or white at Insta360's store — certainly improves the camera's handling for photography.
It fixes to the tripod mount on the camera's underside, and connects through the USB-C port — all you need to do is open the X5's USB-C door to 90-degrees and then pull the cover completely off (and find a safe place for it as you'll need it again for regular use!).
The X5's Photography Grip is comfy to hold and features a simple shutter release button. It aids shooting at awkward angles and framing elements such as leading lines, because it’s positioned away from the camera and gives an easy hold to frame shots in vertical and horizontal perspectives.
I especially enjoyed holding the camera vertically with the grip at the top. And given the X5 is fully waterproof (to 16ft / 5m), its lens can be submerged in water too — this very feature enables creative shot such as above and below water simultaneously with the lens half-submerged. (Given the USB-C door needs to be removed to attach the grip, however, you can’t fully submerge the camera with grip because that port is consequently exposed.)
Besides design, many action cameras actually have decent specs for photography; the Insta360 X5 is able to shoot 72MP stills that cover 360-degrees, or 36MP stills in a single lens mode, which was my primary concern with the grip.
Most action cameras have a wide-angle FOV, the X5 even more so. If you want telephoto shots, then action cams aren’t for you, period. However, for scenes that feature a point of interest close to the camera, they can offer truly dynamic perspectives. The X5 specifically has Ultra, Dewarp and Linear options — the latter corrects image distortions and was my top pick for everyday photography.
And the latest action cameras typically major on attractive color science, such as the Insta360 Ace Pro 2 with its Leica-inspired looks (for which there's an Xplorer Grip Pro kit like the one SmallRig makes for DJI, which costs $99 / £99 / AU$180). The X5's range of color profiles, however, are much more limited, but it can shoot in RAW format to make color grading easier after the event. I'd like to see more photography-first features added by a firmware update.
Action cameras are also small and discreet, making them somewhat suited to street photography. So, with its wide-angle perspective, waterproof design and small body, the X5 with grip can actually be a surprisingly powerful every day photography camera. That said, it needs to process photos faster too to be taken seriously as a stills camera.
A niche accessory worth trying?
The Insta360 X5 will still primarily be a video camera for me. The same can be said for the Insta360 Go 3S even with the cutesy optical viewfinder that comes in the new Retro Bundle (and which can be purchased separately if you already own the camera).
However, don’t write these cameras off for photography, especially action cams such as the Ace Pro 2 and DJI Osmo Action 6, which are better equipped for stills. If you want an altogether different use for your action camera, and enjoy shooting a wide perspective with the freedom of a small, lightweight and rugged build, you might just discover a new niche with the help of one of these accessories.
I’m not the only one trying action cameras specifically for photography, with these new accessories; photographer Geit Eero has demonstrated the Xplorer Grip Pro kit in action on Instagram (see above).
Peruse the links above for the best deals on the weird and wonderful world of action cam photography accessories — you might just find a new use for your action cam.
Would you use a GoPro, DJI or Insta360 action camera for photography? Do these accessories sway your thinking? Have your say in the poll and comments below.
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