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From cobblestoned Portuguese alleys navigated one-handed with a stroller to reef dives in Fiji, this is where the trips live. Told through words and whatever camera happened to be with me.
I shoot film and digital and travel with family in tow. These posts are part travel journal, part photography log, and part love letter to the places that made an impression. I hope they make you want to go see them for yourself.
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First Impressions of the Insta360 Ace Pro2 as a Stills Camera
The Insta360 Ace Pro2 showed up on my radar a couple of months ago as I started to research replacements for my aging GoPro Hero 8 Black. While my original use case for it stemmed from its core niche (action videos of mountain biking, snowboarding, motorsports, diving etc.) I was increasingly drawn to it for its much-touted broader capability set.
Toronto street corner, Leica Eternal, Toronto, ON, Insta360 Ace Pro2
Can an Action Camera Really Shoot the Street?
The Insta360 Ace Pro 2 landed on my radar while looking to replace my aging GoPro Hero 8. Initially, it was about action video—but the broader pitch pulled me in: vlogging, modular accessories, and, intriguingly, still photography. I had no expectation it would replace dedicated cameras like my Ricoh GR III, but it raised a question:
Could this be a one-camera solution for short trips, business travel, or quick weekends where I want both video and stills—without carrying much?
I decided to find out.
Early Use
After some quick setup, I took it out on a mountain bike ride. I crashed. Both I and the camera survived. Footage looked solid—already a step up from my old GoPro.
Next test: a short business trip to Toronto. These trips are typically tight—24-48 hours, packed meetings—but with small windows for street photography or a quick vlog. Most of my shooting ended up happening in the evening, making this a good test for low-light performance.
Like any new piece of gear, it was fun to experiment with—different JPEG profiles, fields of view, and modes which create a myriad of combinations to explore. But a few limitations showed up quickly.
Where it Struggles
Shutter Lag (the big one)
For street and candid photography, timing is everything. Here, the Ace Pro 2 struggles.
The Xplorer Pro Grip shutter triggers on release, not press, of the button - which certainly messed with my flow
There’s a noticeable delay (~0.5s) before capture
Buffering slows consecutive shots
For still subjects, it’s fine. For moving scenes, it’s a problem.
Using the on-screen shutter button improves responsiveness, but doesn’t solve shot-to-shot delay. Ironically, the Xplorer Pro Grip—intended to enhance stills—feels like it is holding the camera back on this one..
This camera forces you to slow down. That’s not always bad—but it limits confidence when shooting anything dynamic. You can adapt, but the question is whether you should have to (or want to).
Samples shot at “normal” pace vs consciously slowing down to account for lag:
2. ISO & Image Behaviour
The way the camera handles in auto mode is a bit perplexing, particularly when it comes to ISO.
Manual ISO caps at 1600 (despite auto going higher)
Auto tends to favor lower ISO + slower shutter in dim scenes
JPEG grain can get heavy in low light
Pureshot helps the grain considerably, but requires deliberate switching. Kudos to Insta360, though, for having an automated icon pop-up when the camera believes Pureshot is called for. - That’s well thought out and a helpful reminder in the moment.
3. Ergonomics
It looks cool, but for a “pocketable” camera it is surprisingly heavy and thick with the Xplorer Pro Grip attached. Perhaps that’s the price we pay for the extra battery capacity, and no doubt I’m spoiled by the featherweight Ricoh GR iii that typically accompanies me on street shoots (with two spare batteries in my bag owing to it’s poor battery life). Here are some thoughts on the form factor after a couple days of use:
Thumb dial is overly sensitive → accidental changes are common (for me) from the slightest nudge in a natural grip position. A cold-shoe mounted thumb rest could potentially solve this.
Grip is bulky → less “pocketable” than expected (think jacket, not jeans)
No included lens cover → constant low-level anxiety for smudges and scratches
I’ve already lost the shutter button → The screw-in button has managed to disappear having backed-out unbeknownst to me. I’ve substituted a spare that happened to be in my gear drawer, but I can’t say I’ve ever had this happen on another camera.
It’s by no means a large camera, but with the grip attached it’s heavy enough that you’d notice it quickly on a selfie stick, say if you were doing dual-duty for vlog and stills on the run.
“...it feels like the Xplorer Pro Grip, despite its intent as an enabler for stills, is actually holding this camera back.”
Gap in the steam, Leica Eternal, Toronto, ON
What Works Well
JPEG Profiles
The JPEG profiles are strong out of camera and feel very useable. There are a lot of options and I’ve only begun to scratch the surface with them. There’s something for everyone from subtle to over-the-top effects here.
The Leica profiles—especially Eternal—stand out. Dark, contrasty, and stylistically relevant. With light editing, you can get compelling results.
Desolate UP Express stations, Leica Eternal
Shot taken from the UP Express, Leica Eternal
Taken without using Pureshot, heavy grain is evident but I don’t mind it here, Leica Eternal
Attempting a panning shot with the Insta360 Ace Pro2, Leica Eternal
Downtown Toronto, Leica Eternal, Insta360 Ace Pro 2
2.Field of View
There is lots of flexibility, especially with accessory lenses. This gives it a leg-up on a lot of traditional point and shoots with fixed prime lenses or limited zoom capabilities. This combined with the many Jpeg profiles expands on the creative potential of the Ace Pro 2 - I don’t think I’ll get bored of it any time soon!
The Downside:
FOV isn’t recorded clearly in metadata
Ultra-wide setting even without an accessory lens can literally capture your fingers on the grip, and so could prove problematic for handheld shooting.
Union Station, Toronto ON
Union Station, Toronto ON
“Another surprising finding was that in Ultra Wide mode the lens actually picks-up my fingers on the grip!”
Finger visible on the grip on right side of frame, Insta360 Ace Pro2, Ultra FOV
3.Lens System
The cinematic lens is excellent—well-built and genuinely expands creative potential.
The ability to change lens attachments to achieve a multitude of looks and expand capabilities is one of the camera’s strongest advantages. Not to mention other accessories such as the dive-case, which I just recently ordered. (stay tuned for the undersea review!)
Still captured in the Insta360 Video Editing software, Cinematic Lens Attachment
4.Durability
Well it’s already survived a crash, so top marks for that!
Compared to something like the Ricoh GR series, this feels far more robust. Add-in the Insta360 replacement program, and it’s a strong point when considering this platform. The lack of lens cover for the standard lens is the downside here. With the grip mounted some watertightness is evidently lost due to removing the usb-c cover and plugging in the rubber-housed grip connector plug, but it seems more than capable even then of handling a downpour.
So—Can It Replace a Point & Shoot?
Not yet.
Image quality is certainly good enough for casual use and social content, but the responsiveness issues hold it back for serious (or perhaps I should say reliable) stills work. If results matter—or if you’re shooting anything dynamic—you’re better off with a dedicated camera (or even a modern smartphone). This may seem a likely or even obvious conclusion to seasoned or dedicated hobbyist photographers, but I don’t think that’s who this camera is targeting.
Final Take
The Ace Pro 2 is impressive—but not as a stills-first camera.
Where it shines is versatility:
video
rugged use
creative experimentation
For stills, it’s capable—but constrained.
That said, many of these issues feel fixable via firmware. If Insta360 improves responsiveness, this could become a much more compelling hybrid tool.
Until then, I’ll keep using it for video and treat stills as a bonus, not the main event.
Reflecting on the Insta360 Ace Pro2
West Maui in Monochrome — Kaanapali, Napili & Kapalua (Part 1)
When I booked a week away to the Island of Maui, a project dawned on me to abandon the temptation to capture the vivid colours of the island and seek instead to document it as I first saw it through the monochrome images shared by explorers and tourists generations before me.
Kapalua Beach, Maui, Hawaii, Leica M10R, 35mm Summicron
Aloha
Growing up, I was endlessly fascinated by old books and magazines I’d find at my grandmother’s house describing the far off places of the world. National Geographic magazines and Readers’ Digests, some decades old even at that point, were filled with novel images and captivating stories of wild coastlines lined by swaying palm trees, towering volcanoes, thatch-roofed villages, and strong men paddling through giant waves. Some images showcased vibrant landscapes, while others in grainy black and white evoked the excitement of discovery and left the color pallette to the imagination and to me these were somehow the more engaging images. So, when I booked a week away to the Island of Maui, a project dawned on me to abandon the temptation to capture the vivid colours of the island and seek instead to document it as I first saw it through the monochrome images shared by explorers and tourists generations before me.
Aston Papakea, Kaanapali, Maui, Hawaii Leica M10R
Aston Papakea, Kaanapali
Regular readers of my blog might find this destination a bit surprising, especially as a place we’ve now visited twice, and at the same property no-less. While it’s neither wild (well, wait until the next story for that) nor posh, it is, to me, eminently relaxing and to that effect sometimes I don’t mind being able to just put my feet up, not think too hard about what to do next, and arrive and leave rested from a trip. To me, Kaanapali retains an enjoyable balance between curated and quaint, with resort properties large and small lining the coast as well as a small towns and hamlets along the coastal road.
We stayed here once before, around ten years ago, at the same property in fact, the Aston Papakaya Resort. Kaanapali is one of the core resort areas on the west coast of Maui, with the seaside facing the islands of Moloka’i and Lanai. It was largely sparred by the wildfires that devastated Lahaina the year before, the remnants of which we caught glimpses of along the way. There’s everything from simple homestays to extravagant hotel properties to stay at depending on the vibe you’re looking for. Our apartment within the Papakea property was well appointed with a full kitchen, lanai (balcony), and an upper loft area that acted as our “in-law suite”. There was ample room for the five of us which included my in-laws who we brought along in hopes of a bit of babysitting support. The buildings on this property certainly aren’t new, but generally appeared in great condition, with our own suite likely renovated recently judging by the lack of wear and tear. It was a nice bonus that our lanai faced almost due west and allowed a lovely view of the inner courtyard with its ponds, palms, pool and the ocean beyond with Moloka’i rising in the distance. Exuberant songbirds and a steady breeze greeted us as we stowed our bags following the roughly hour long drive in from Kahului airport.
Aston Papakea, Kaanapali, Maui, Hawaii Leica M10R, 35mm Summicron
I find the architecture and layout of this resort interesting. At first glance it doesn’t particularly stand out, but as you begin to wander it’s paths there’s an element of Spanish fortress meets brutalism that feels oddly out of place and at the same time rather playful. I could imagine myself as a kid running along the winding paths, playing hide and seek around sharp corners and verdant bushes, and imagining all sorts of foes attempting to storm this seaside citadel.
Aston Papakea, Kaanapali, Maui, Hawaii Leica M10R, 35mm Summicron
Aston Papakea, Kaanapali, Maui, Hawaii Leica M10R, 35mm Summicron
Aston Papakea, Kaanapali, Maui, Hawaii Leica M10R, 35mm Summicron
Honokowai Beach Park, Kaanapali, Maui, Hawaii Leica M10R, 35mm Summicron
The downside to this resort is the lack of direct beach access. While the sea is certainly immediately adjacent, it’s a sub-optimal setup for any lounging on the sand or snorkelling as only a thin strip of sand separates sea and seawall and even then only at low tide. The good news is there are fantastic options for beach-time both walking and easy driving distances away.
Napili & Kapalua
Napili and Kapalua Bays are located just 7km north of the Aston Papakea. They are essentially adjacent, separated by a spit of land that juts into the sea. If you’re driving, street parking is likely your best bet for both though there is a small parking lot nearby Kapalua. It’s hard to pick a favourite between the two, and in fact looking back at my photos I can struggle a bit to remember which is which! The sand here is soft and warm, though shade is at a premium with the few coveted palm trees spots claimed quickly in the mornings. The snorkeling at both is excellent, and I quickly regretted not bringing my dive camera along to capture some of the beauty. Turtles, of course, are delightfully abundant, but as are many other fish and creatures. I even caught a fleeting glimpse of a barracuda swimming past in the deep blue as I swam out to the outer reaches of one of the bays. The shape of the bays shelters them to some degree from the waves, making swimming and play bye the shore safer for young ones, though still worthy of careful attention. Just a bit further up the coast the north facing beaches are clearly pounded more by the surf and less ideal of a snorkel or casual swim. For food and drinks on the beach your best options are Sea House on Napili and Merriman’s just next to Kapalua. As usual, happy hour is where your money will go the farthest.
Napili Bay, Kaanapali, Maui, Hawaii Leica M10R, 35mm Summicron
Napili Bay, Maui, Hawaii Leica M10R, 35mm Summicron
Kapalua Bay, Maui, Hawaii Leica M10R, 35mm Summicron
Ka’anapali Beach
If you head south from the Aston Papakea there’s a roughly 3km stretch of beach from the Hilton to the Royal Lahaina that offers quick and easy access to the sea, warm sand and a myriad of dinning and shopping options. A trail just above the beach runs the entire length of this strip of sand and allows access to the various vacation properties. These beaches are more exposed than the bays of Napili and Kapalua and thus less optimal for snorkelling or swimming, but nonetheless are excellent spots for laying on a sun bed or towel and soaking in the warmth.
Ka’anapali Beach, Maui, Hawaii Leica M10R, 35mm Summicron
Ka’anapali Beach, Maui, Hawaii Leica M10R, 35mm Summicron
Ka’anapali Beach, Maui, Hawaii Leica M10R, 35mm Summicron
Ka’anapali Beach, Maui, Hawaii Leica M10R, 35mm Summicron
Ka’anapali Beach, Maui, Hawaii Leica M10R, 35mm Summicron
Ka’anapali Beach, Maui, Hawaii Leica M10R, 35mm Summicron
Our favourite restaurant in this particular area, Monkeypod Kitchen (a more casual sister-restaurant to Merriman’s), was actually a bit further south between the Westin and Whaler hotel’s in a dense shopping area. Lively and akin to a Cactus Club for my Canadian readers. Their Mai Tai is excellent. Honorable mention to Duke’s for its vintage surf vibe.
Figuring out the menu at Monkeypod, Maui, Hawaii, Leica M10R, 35mm Summicron
Adventure Time
Most regular visitors to Maui attempt the Hana Highway once, and call it done. Even for the driving enthusiast this tight and winding route, often filled with timid tourists, can become exhausting, and while spectacular, always feels a bit like a test of luck and resilience. To go beyond Hana is of course forbidden -or so they insist at the rental car counter. We’d done this trip before, and clearly forgot -or let’s say, misremembered- how long of a day, and challenging a route it could be. With this being the in-laws first visit to the island we felt remiss not taking them on the journey. How did that go? Was it worth a second try? Where did we stop along the way? Did we go the full lap ‘round (and should you)?
The wilder side of Maui, Hawaii, Leica M10R, 35mm Summicron
The Road to Hana and beyond — narrow roads, raw coastline, and the question every traveler faces: turn back, or keep going?