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History and evolution of action cameras
It is impossible to precisely determine who, where and when created the first action camera.
Even though early attempts to capture footage from first-person view with a camera attached to a helmet were made back in 1960s, those were all DIY attempts by innovators in various industries for single project needs.
First commercially available action camera was introduced by Woodman Labs (which later became GoPro) in 2004 and costed 20$. The camera GoPro made a decade ago came a long way from 20$ analog in a waterproof case to a device people in film industry use today.

Action cameras we use now improved significantly over the last few years. But long before POV 4K, WiFi, wide field of view, mobile apps and other fancy bells and whistles, creatives willing to push their limits for the sake of storytelling attempted to capture a footage with a camera strapped to their head in various ways.
For easier understanding , I will divide action camera evolution into three parts.
- Early action cameras 1960-1990
- 2002-2012 GoPro Era
- Post GoPro Era
The reason for categorization like this is simple. Influence of a GoPro has on marketing and commercialization of helmet cameras can not be surpassed. Its their business model that made action cameras available to an average Billy down the street.
Prior to that, athletes, actors and astronauts all had something that can be considered as an point of view camera, therefore their influence can not be ignored either.
Here are some facts :
- People tried to find solution for a camera that can capture videos from first person view, decades before GoPro founder did.
- GoPro did not make a first action camera, but had incredible influence on its development.
- Today we have incredible amount of brands all trying to stand out from the crowd, innovating and making action cameras grow like never before.
Early action cameras
Long before the first camera was created, video makers were using different techniques to capture the viewers attention and spark their imagination. In such process, they tried to be come up with different, funky and unusual ways to take their movies and photographs to a whole new level.
It is very hard to precisely determine who was the first to adopt the “action camera concept” but here is the list of people who tried to stand out from the crowd and produced different kind of videos – action videos.

1960s
Bob Sinclair was a skydiver (a parachuting God as colleagues called him) and one of crew members in charge of recording for the Ripcord show aired from 1961-1963. Ripcord was on air for two seasons (76 episodes) featuring extreme sky jumping that according to the show has been filmed live.
At that time Mr Bob Sinclair, innovative genius as he was, tried to find a way to make videos more realistic and extreme. He wanted to spark the emotion of people watching the show. They had to feel like skydivers themselves from watching the videos.
Bob Sinclair solution was to mount a camera to a fiberglass helmet to improve footage stability. Photo credits Mark Platt
In order to do that, Bob wanted a video from a first person perspective. He thought that standard recording from a hand was too shaky and distracting. Therefore he came to a conclusion that mounting a camera on a helmet would not only be more convenient for a skydiver, but also stabilize the video much better, since head was the most stable part during jumps.
He began mounting his gyro-stabilized camera to a football helmet at first. He kept finding out new solutions and used better mounts and fiberglass helmet. He kept pushing his idea in order to tell a different kind of story.
Bob Sinclair performing a skydive with his unique camera mounting idea
Photo credits : parachutistonline.com
Based upon my research, I can say that Bob Sinclair was certainly one of the first, if not the first man to record action videos with his own setup of mounting a camera to a fiberglass helmet.
Update 11/5/2015 (Thanks Mollydog)
Somewhere in 1963, a rumor says that one of the NASA astronauts, who was also keen on photography, bought a Hasselblad 500c camera in a photo shop in Houston/Austin (Texas).
Upon his return to NASA, engineers were so impressed with the camera that they started modifying it. Hasselblad joined the development team and together they worked on a camera that can be easy to use and survive on the moon.The main challenge was to make it easy for astronauts with gigantic gloves and suits on, to replace a film.
First action camera on the Moon?
One of the members from DashCam forum, Mollydog, pointed out some quite interesting facts.
Space cameras were striped down to just the necessities, no viewfinder, no wind on handle and a few other features, and also a special motorized body that could be used with gloves on, as before this date there were no motorized Hasselblads.
Hasselblads had two types of film backs, a 120 back shooting 12 exposures and a 220 back shooting 24 exposures before the film needed replacing or the back changing, me using Hasselblads for over 20 years I can tell you, with any kind of gloves on you are not going to be able to wind on the film and take it off its spool and re load the film back.
NASA and Hasselblad came up with 2 larger film backs, one was for 100 exposures and the other was a 200 medium format exposure back, those long ones that can be seen on the back of the cameras, for its day that was like getting a smart phone that its battery would last a full month of use on one charge.
What is even more interesting is that most of these cameras never came back to the Earth, due to their weight. That is why one that appeared on eBay a while ago was sold for staggering 910 000$!
You can read more about this specific model on this link.
Famous Scottish F1 driver, Jackie Stewart had few experiments on his own as well. First photography depicts still-image Nikon camera Stewart wore back in 1966. It should be mentioned that he did not try this experiments during an actual race.
Jackie Stewart with a still Nikon camera attached to his helmet. Image source : http://kottke.org/
Even though it is not nearly as comfortable solution as some others, it definitely shows that people were interested to get dramatic and realistic footage. Sometimes sacrifices were made to get incredible videos.
Quite a robust solution included a battery pack on the left side. Image source : http://kottke.org

1970s
There is a reason why Steve McQueen, famous American actor from the 70s had a nickname “The King of Cool”. Back in 1971 Steve wore a robust camera on set for the movie “Le Mans”. Camera was duck-taped to his helmet in order to capture first person video of him motorcycling.
The solution that “King of Cool” had was quite robust and not cool at all 🙂 Image copyrights Kotke.org
1980s
In 1985, Canon introduced the Ci-10, tiny camera produced in even smaller amount with a gigantic 1000$ price-tag.

No bigger than a pack of cigarettes Ci-10 caught the attention of experts in security and surveillance niche. “Due to its size it could easily fit into investigators pocket” the NY Times reported in their 1985 article.
Canon Ci-10 was used as a first helmet camera that broadcasted ;ove moto race from the motorcyclist point of view.
Ci-10 size was 102 x 53 x 27 mm (H x W x D) and weighted around 289 grams without a lens. Sensor used was 3.8 megapixels (380 000 px) 6.6 x 8.8 mm. It allowed a resolution of 300 TV lines sensitive up to 20 lux. It also had a 1.4x optical zoom.

Company called Aerial Video Systems found a way to transmit microwaves remotely and attached a camera to a helmet of Dirk Garcia. Footage was broadcasted live on ABC.
That is on 28th of June, 1986, Canon‘s Ci-10 became the first camera used to broadcast first person view footage on air.
These days its impossible to find much info on this camera. To prove its rarity, you can check Canon Museum and you will see it does not appear there. If nothing, Ci-10 was one of the most comfortable solutions at that time.
Dirk from Canon Technical support tried to remember how the camera used to operate, as they have no exact information in their archives either.
I know there was an optional video disc recorder that could be connected to the unit, making it an early predecessor of our later “Still Video Cameras” such as the RC-701 that recorded to Canon proprietary “Video Floppy Disks“.
There was also apparently a tape recorder that could be connected to it for recording video, making it the successor to the earlier cameras in our “Color Camcorder” line.
Effectively, this camera is the “missing link” that helped us expand from video to still images in electronic format.

Mark Schulze was one of the early inventors of an action camera. After doing quite a research, I realized that plenty of news articles credited Mark for his contribution on action camera development. According to many sources Shulze is considered a pioneer in this field.
Obviously Bob Sinclair and all others above mounted a camera onto their helmets way before him.
But here is what is interesting about Shulze. His videos are documented and available today. So we have an actual proof that he recorder videos with his setup.
Somewhere in 1987 Mark, who is a video maker, was working on “The Great Mountain Biking Video“.
His approach was no different then others when it comes to camera mounting. He mounted a VHS camera on top of his helmet and had a VCR with the latter in the bikers backpack connected with RCA cable.
This was quite a rigid and heavy setup, especially if you are cycling for a longer period of time, but it worked. There are few videos available online, but the one from 1988 is my favorite.
When asked why he did not patent his invention, Mark said (source) :
Our focus at that time was to produce the best and most awesome mountain bike videos of their time. And that’s what we did. We left that technical engineering stuff to people like GoPro who have these teeny cameras that you can mount to a helmet, a car hood, a surfboard, a boat deck, well, you name it.
Developed by biologist and filmmaker Greg Marshall in 1986, Crittercam was a different type of camera that captured fast movement and action. Instead of attaching it to a human, Mr Marshall had an idea to film animals in their natural inhabitant not influenced or disturbed by the presence of a human.
The main goal is to collect data of animals behavior.
Unlike all vintage cameras and solutions featured in this article, Crittercam is being developed continuously even today. Crittercam enabled scientists to study animals behavior. Actually this is more than just a camera. Besides video and audio it collects environmental data such as temperature and acceleration.
If you are interested in move videos that this smart device can capture, check Nat Geo gallery here.
1990s
1991 was a year when Helmet-Cam were introduced. Basic idea was no different than any other attempts to capture first person view video. “Lets create something different that will make viewers at home feel like they are playing football themselves.”
Photography : worldleagueofamericanfootball.com
Lipstick-shaped camera had to be placed over the players right ear into a VSR-3 helmet made by Riddel. An antenna was placed on quarterbacks helmet (on the top to be precise) and transmitted live signal to the production truck. Battery pack and transmitter were molded into the`s shoulder pads, which made camera itself impossible to take off by a player. That is why someone always had to unplug the cables and help QB to safely remove his helmet.
Jaw-dropping price of 20000$ per unit and players complaints were one of the main reasons why this product never came alive.
- Camera size – 9/16″ diameter x 2″ long
- Antenna size – approx. 1/8″ – 3/16″ thick x 3″ x 3″
Today, there are many videos of NFL superstars wearing a GoPro on their practice, so who knows, maybe the concept is not dead after all.

GoPro Era – Everyone can be a hero.
Even though, attempts to create a helmet camera that can capture action were made few decades earlier, opinions are united that Nicholas “Nick” Woodman a founder of multi billion empire GoPro, was the first to introduce a rugged and waterproof solution sold and marketed to an average consumer.
The first prototype of a such a camera was made in 2004/2005, while the idea itself came few years earlier.
In 2002, while traveling through Indonesia and Australia coast in order to relax and get an idea for “the next big thing”, Nick, inspired and young adrenaline junkie and entrepreneur tried to capture still images while surfing with 35mm camera wrapped around his palm by a rubber band.
At that time proper waterproof cameras were something that only professional photographers could afford. Seeing the struggles surfers and others like face, Nick decided to create a camera that is waterproof and can easily be attached to a surfers body.
Initial idea was to create a wrist strap which can easily fit other cameras on top of it. Since most of the cameras he tested broke easily, Woodman had to find a camera that can be used in rigorous activities like surfing.
Young GoPro founder showcasing his first prototype.
After two years of wondering through various trade shop seeking for a camera that can meet the requirements, he finally found a company that had something close to what he wanted. He paid them to adjust and modify the camera to fit his strap.
Woodman once said he never met manufacturer prior to outsourcing them and that entire communication was done through the email and one phone call, mostly because of language barrier. He eventually had to fly out to Shenzhen in China to finalize the deal. “We barely understood each other over the phone” Woodman said.
The first GoPro action camera- Hero 35mm 0001 was analog and completely different to a GoPro we know today. It could not even record a video. It came with 35mm Kodak film, a waterproof case and a wrist strap inside the box.
First action camera commercially sold – GoPro Hero 35mm.
It allowed consumers to take photos up to 15 feet (cca 5 meters) underwater and weighted around 200grams (7.2 ounces).
Main advantage of a GoPro Hero 001, besides it being waterproof, was a secure wrist mount, which according to Nick “He designed so it fits his 9-year old cousin as well”. Camera operated completely mechanical and did not require batteries.
It could take 24 pictures with a W/24 exposure film that was loaded inside. In order to replace a film, you simply had to unbuckle two clips from the waterproof case, It supported any kind of 35 mm film, colored or black and white.
What is incredible that first GoPro 35mm Hero retail price was around 20$. According to an interview Woodman did with Forbes, it costed around 3$ to produce the camera itself.
2005 was crucial for GoPro. Nick and his two employees started selling cameras across the US. Very interesting video below, depicts young Woodman introducing his product live on QVC.
If everyone can wear a Hero, they can be a Hero.
In 2006 GoPro went digital and launched GoPro Hero Digital that could record VGA videos in 10 seconds sequence with no sound output. In the next few years company released Hero 2 and 3 with plenty of improvement and innovation compared to Hero Digital.
In 2012 Foxconn from Chinese invests 200 million dollars buying 8.88% stake in GoPro, making Nick Woodman a billionaire. Rest is a history.
What the future holds?
Today action camera market is booming. There are hundreds of brands competing. Competition is great for consumers. Nearly each month, a company announces a breakthrough or a new features no brand implemented before.
Few decades ago you did not have an LCD touch screen,4K, WiFi, editing software, Apps and more importantly great video and photo quality in a small package.
Chinese companies like Xiaomi or SJCAM produce affordable cameras that nearly everyone can afford. GoPro is still an industry leader, but big boys like Sony and Polaroid entered the competitive race as well. There were rumors that Apple is ready to launch their camera, but that never happened.
It is insane to even think what future holds with this many people and brands working on improving products on daily basis.
Summary
So, there you have it. If you ever wondered how action cameras looked throughout the history, I hope this article helped you a bit. As you can see technology evolved significantly over the decades, but the idea was the same : Get the most realistic, eye-catching footage and capture the attention of your audience.
It is all about telling a story. With that in mind I can say that all of us, are in a way storytellers. We tell a story through our pocket cameras no matter the age, religion, political beliefs, and a budget.
All of the early inventors of helmet/action/pov cameras adopted the concept in order to tell a story. Do not forget that video making is not about expensive gear and equipment. Its about the message you want to send.
Please understand that this is not a final list. It was based on my research and contacts made with action camera communities and manufacturers.
If you are aware of some other cameras that can fall into this category, please let me know, I would really like to add more info regarding action camera development and evolution.
Lastly, I would like to thank : Dan (JooVuu), MollyDog, Cronnin, Dirk (Canon), Ryan and Dashmellow for their contribution in my research.
Additional Resources
Here are few more great links which I used during my research :
- “Ripcord!” by Parachutistonline.com
- “GoPro, Circa the 1960s” by Kottke.org
- “Head Gear – The Evolution of the Helmet Cam” by videoandfilmmaker.com
- “Helmet-Cam History” by worldleagueofamericanfootball.com
- “Action cameras: an extreme point of view” by Engadget.com
- “Will tape be the film of the future?” by NY Times
- “Crittercam” by National Geographic
March 23, 2026
Worldcam mirror double dashcam
Mirror dashcams.. they could be the next level of dashcams?
Worldcam is selling for almost 80 bucks its double mirror dashcam, but what is a mirror dashcam? It’s simple, it is a dashcam hided inside the mirror of the car and usually it had a slave camera and a GPS module but the most interesting thing is the touch screen behind the mirror, with this method you can hide the camera from thieves and avoid orrible sucker mounts on the windshiled.

Unboxing

Specifications
Camera model – Worldcam mirror dashcam
Chipset – n.d.
Imagen Sensor – CMOS
Lens – 170° angle
Size – 25,5 x 7 x 4 cm
Screen – 10 inch
Max Image Resolution – 1080P F/R
Video Resolution – 1080P 30fps
Video compression format – .MOV
Image Format – Jpeg
Night Vision – Yes
Parking mode – Yes
Memory – up to 64gb
Battery – 500mAh
Wifi – None
Connections – Micro USB
Remote Controller – None
Video Stabilizazion – None
External Mic – None
GPS – Yes (Optional)
G-Sensor – Yes
Where to buy – Amazon

Design
The design of ths dashcam is really futuristic. It’s incredible to see a screen over a mirror, mostly because it is a touch screen display.
If you asking yourself, this cameramust be mounted OVER the original mirror of your car so it is not invasive at all. But how does it stick with the original mirror? it’s easy, you need to do just 2 moves.
First of all, you need to mount two rubber string on the back on the mirror cam, like this
And then wrap the entire camera around the original mirror with just one move:
The final look is like this:
Simple, effective and most important, it can go in every car.
But this mirror camera is secure? the mirror works properly or it is just a toy?
There are 3 type of functions:
Screen on – the entire surface of the mirror becomes a screen that shows front/rear cameras and the data/time without the mirror
Partially screen on – You have the possibility to use the mirror as a mirror but on the left corner there are the data/time turned on
Screen off – the screen is compeltely off and you can use the mirror as a mirror without problems, it reflect like any other mirror.
Over the main part, the mirror, there is also the slave camera. It comes with a very long cable that allows to reach the back of any sort of car. The camera is very tiny and i can be mounted inside and outside the car because it is waterproof. It has also a second cable, its function is to turn on the camera when the reverse gear is on but it can do it only if connected to the reverse light on the back of the car.
I badly mounted it just for this test, then don’t mind about the cables around!
Menu overview
The menu is very very simply, as most of the dashcams, once setted the first time will will touch it anymore.
Video Quality
The quality of the videos are not as good as this camera looks. They are very very bright in the night but during the day they are lower than the average quality. The lack of the details is important and it is not sharp at all. For the first time i found a camera that it is better during the night than the day.
Also the management of the colors and the lights are quite bad, there are spots completely overexposed and the light adaptation is very slow. It is a pitty because the camera itself has a very good loook but very bad quality.

Audio Quality
The audio is very sensitive, it is stereo but use a very very old codec and it is impossible to play it on most of player programs, you need to see your videos only through VLC and if you don’t use VLC as main program, this is very frustrating. By the way, also the audio is quite poor with a lot of distortion for any sort of high volume sound.

Memory
The max memory supported on the camera is 64Gb. Every 3 minutes of recording at 1080P 30fps take 263Mb the front caemera and 160Mb the rear one for the total of circa 423Mb with the bitrate of 10mbps, making a fast math you can record about 8 hours without overwrite the first clips.

Battery
The battery has not for actually working as all the other camera because it exist only for backup. This camera must be used only with a direct power. This 500mAh battery is used only for continue the recording max 5 minutes without power in case of accident.

Final Summary
This camera is interesting piece of technology, finally something new. It is fun to have a screen on the mirror, a nice touch screen and two cameras that record all around the car, but it is a pitty that the main things… video and audio are that bad. Maybe the cost is a little bit too much, for 80 euros you can buy better things, maybe for a price around 40/50 would be better quality/price ratio.
March 23, 2026
Best 3D Pens For Printing – Top 5 Picks To Consider
In the past few years, there has been a rise in consumer 3D printing, and one of the best and easiest ways to get into the 3D printing hobby is with a 3D pen. A 3D pen is a pen that is able to print in three dimensions. You can imagine the world as your canvas as you design objects with this type of product. Unlike 3D printers, 3D pens allow for freehand design, so there is no need for any knowledge of 3D modeling software when getting started. This type of pen works similarly to a glue gun; however, instead of sticks of glue, these pens use colored sticks of plastic, and the pen has a much smaller tip. When using the pen, you simply “draw” and allow your sculptures to stand freely on their own.
Table of Comparison
[amazon box=”B07L73K351, B0796HK3RK, B079FS4W2R, B07F18LJWT, B07JZCLZKK” template=”table”]
Product FAQs

What Is a 3D Pen?
The first type of 3D pen was created by Peter Dilworth, Daniel Cowen, and Maxwell Bogue as a response to unpleasant experiences when using early 3D printers. Their creation was called the 3Doodler inspired by the freehand 3D printing aspect of the device. It launched in 2013, and paved the way for many different 3D pens for artists and hobbyists to use to creating unique three-dimensional plastic sculptures.

What Does a 3D Pen Do?
3D pens allow you to create anything that you can imagine in three dimensions. It is a great product to get started in 3D printing, as it allows you to begin creating immediately, without need for any prior knowledge with modeling software on the computer.

How Does It Work?
The idea behind the 3D pen is a relatively simple one. Using heat, the plastic filament is melted, just like a glue gun’s glue stick. Once the filaments has been pushed through the heating chamber and has been melted, it is pushed through the extruder nozzle. As the user moves the pen, the plastic creates different shapes and figures, and as the plastic cools, it solidifies and permanently keeps its shape. Plastic cooldown is extremely quick once extruded from the pen. Generally, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), poly lactic acid (PLA), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyamide (nylon), glass filled polyamide, polycarbonate (PC), and high density polyethylene (HDPE) are acceptable plastics, but ABS and PLA are the most popular of the selection.
ABS plastic is more cost effective, and therefore is currently more widespread, which makes it easy to find ABS filament in hobby shops as well as online. One of the downsides of ABS use in 3D pens is its high melting temperature, and while this is no trouble for the technology in 3D pens, the high temperature causes fumes to emit from the plastic during doodling that may cause irritation to the user or others who are around. It is advised to take breaks when working with ABS filament, and always doodle in a well-ventilated area to avoid inhaling fumes.
On the other hand, PLA plastic is derived from food sources such as potatoes, corn, and sugarcane. This means that PLA plastic is biodegradable and is a much better product for the environment. The melting point of PLA plastic is lower than ABS plastic, and it does not emit harmful fumes as it is heated. In actuality, PLA plastics give off a sweet odor when heated that smells similarly to pancakes being made. However, PLA plastics are slower to cool and may require additional cooling equipment to function properly, and it is not as strong when compared to ABS plastic.

Where Can You Buy It?
A variety of 3D pens are available in retail craft and hobby locations as well as from online retailers, such as Amazon.com.

How Much Does It Cost?
The average cost for a 3D pen is between $40 and $60 dollars, with additional costs for colored filament.
How We Reviewed
It is our belief that accurate and honest information should be provided to our readers, and as result, we want you to understand our review process. In our reviews, we begin by searching all across the internet for product data and technical information about these products, and we extensively consider feedback from users who already own them. Then, we compare this data, which helps us to get a clear view of all angles of a product in order to present an accurate view for those who are interested in purchasing.
Overall Price Range
Most of the 3D pens that are presented in this article range from $40 to $60 in cost.
Best 3D Pens
Kimitech 3D Pen
[amazon box=”B07L73K351″]
Features
The Kimitech 3D Pen has adjustable temperature and speed settings so that the device can be customized to your needs and to the type of plastic filament that you are using with it, with preset modes for PCL filament and PLA filament. The LCD display screen is also clearly legible with the temperature, speed, and filament shown. Additionally, the Kimitech is compatible with PCL and PLA plastics only, which are non-toxic and odorless, making this 3D pen a perfect item for young creatives. It is designed with an ergonomic grip, making the pen easy to hold while in use.
warranty
This 3D pen includes a 1-year limited warranty.
pros and cons
PROS
PCL and PLA plastic compatibility ensures child safety, and eliminates health risk from melting plastic fumes
Ergonomic grip makes long doodling sessions hassle free
Adjustable temperature and speed
CONS
Although much more environmentally friendly, PCL and PLA plastics take longer to cool than ABS plastic
3D Pen by 3D Pentastic
[amazon box=”B0796HK3RK”]
Features
The 3D Pen by 3D Pentastic is a great pen for both children and adults that can help to grow your imagination and help you to practice a creative hobby. While the 3D Pentastic is only compatible with PCL filament, like PLA plastic, it is nontoxic with no fumes, and it’s eco-friendly as well. As PCL filament has a low melting temperature, the pen only heats to 85 degrees while others heat to over 100 degrees. The low heat and compatibility with only nontoxic filament make this device great for children.
warranty
This 3D pen includes a 1-year limited warranty.
pros and cons
PROS
Low temperature and non-toxic filament
Fosters creativity in children
PCL filament will not clog the pen
CONS
Only compatible with PCL filament
Vellerton 3D Pen for Kids
[amazon box=”B079FS4W2R”]
Features
The Vallerton 3D Pen for Kids is a printing pen that lets your child draw in three dimensions. The premium pen has a metal body and metal buttons with an extra-long nozzle. The Vallerton 3D Pen only weighs 55 grams, which means that you can use it for longer, as it will not cause fatigue in your hand. This pen is compatible with PLA and ABS filament.
warranty
This pen is included under a 30-days unconditional full refund policy.
pros and cons
PROS
Compatible with both PLA and ABS filament
Great activity for parents and their children
Quality build material
CONS
The charger included is fairly short in length
MKOEM Robotics Full-Metal Premium 3D Pen
[amazon box=”B07F18LJWT”]
Features
The MKOEM Robotics Full-Metal Premium 3D Pen is of a high-quality design and allows you to bring objects from your imagination to life. The pen allows adjusting of flow speed of your filament to fit your personal preference, and a temperature adjustment option is available as well. The OLED is easily legible and lets you monitor the flow speed and temperature of the material. Additionally, the kit includes two colors of plastic filament so that you can start creating right away.
warranty
With the purchase of this pen is include 1-year manufacturer warranty.
pros and cons
PROS
Adjustable temperature and material flow controls
Bright OLED display
This kit includes two colors of PLA plastic filament that lets you get started immediately
CONS
While it is great for detailing, some users have noted the fineness of extruded filament is difficult to work with.
BeTIM 3D Pen Set
[amazon box=”B07JZCLZKK”]
Features
The BeTIM 3D Pen set includes 20 packs of colored filament so that you can get started as soon as you open it. The pen is not hot to the touch, and it is light enough that even children will feel comfortable holding and using it. The single button control makes this pen perfect for both left-handed and right-handed creatives. This kit also includes a stencil book with 20 different templates that make learning to use the BeTIM 3D Pen Set easy and fun.
warranty
The BeTIM 3D Pen has a 1-year warranty.
pros and cons
PROS
Includes 20 different filaments and stencils along with the 3D pen
The pen body is not hot to the touch, and the heated nozzle is guarded with finger guards for use by children
The BeTIM 3D Pen is compatible with both PLA and PCL filament
CONS
Not available
Buyer’s Guide
Image Via Flickr
If you are interested in getting started in the 3D printing hobby, 3D pens are great devices with which you can dip your toe and gauge interest before springing for a full-fledged 3D printer. There is a lot of information to take in for newcomers, but if you follow these few tips in our buyer’s guide, your purchase of a 3D pen will be smooth and painless.
Make a budget for yourself. While most 3D pens are relatively inexpensive, setting a threshold for your purchase can help narrow down your options to find the perfect 3D pen for you.
Find features that you want, and features that you don’t. If there are features in the 3D pen that you don’t believe are necessary for your uses, this can further help you to narrow down the choices of 3D pens. Additionally, eliminating models that include features that you find superfluous can keep your cost low.
Seek feedback from customers who have already purchased the 3D pen. Read both positive and negative reviews left by people who already own the product. This can help you to gain a balanced viewpoint and a clear understanding of how you might like the product.
If you are new to the hobby, be sure to remember that you need filament for the 3D pen to be fully operable. Some 3D Pen kits include multiple filaments in a bundle that allow you to start doodling in three dimensions right away. Keep this in mind when purchasing, as you may need to purchase filaments separately.
The Verdict
Image Via Flickr
After our thorough research, we have concluded that the Kimitech 3D Pen, 3D Pen by 3D Pentastic, Vellerton 3D Pen, MKOEM Robotics Full-Metal Premium 3D Pen, and the BeTIM 3D Pen Set, are the best 3D pens. All of these pens are compatible with environmentally friendly biodegradable plastics and are designed specifically for use by both adults and children. If you are interested in the 3D printing hobby, but have no experience with advanced 3D modeling software, a 3D pen is the perfect place to start. With it, you will be able to bring your imagination to life with freehanded designs. Creating small toys and objects can also be a wonderful activity for bonding with your children, and designing miniature plastic sculptures can function as a fantastic creative outlet and hobby.
March 22, 2026
AKASO V50 Elite
I want to thank AKASO to let me test this camera. i’ve been testing cameras for a long time now and this model, the AKASO V50 elite really amazed me. With just $140 you can buy a camera that allows to record 4K videos a 60fps with a very very great quality. It is one of the most versatile camera on the market; Its low price and the high quality promote this camera as the best buy of 2K19. Let’s go deep inside the specs.

Akaso Specifications
- Chipset – n.d.
- Image sensor – CMOS 20Mp
- Lens – 160° FOV
- Filed of view – 170°FOV
- Weight – 78g
- Size (L x W x H) –
- Screen – 2 inch touchscreen
- Max native image resolution – 5120 x 3840
- Video resolutions – 4K/60fps, 4K/30fps, 2.7K/60fps, 2.7K/30fps, 1080P/120fps, 720P/240fps
- Video format – H.264/H.265 (MOV)
- Image format – Jpeg
- Memory – Up to 64Gb
- Battery – 1050mAh x2
- Connection – USB / Mini HDMI
- WiFi – Yes
- Remote controller – Yes
- Video Stabilization – Yes (EIS)
- External Mic Support – None
Unboxing
This camera comes with a train full of accessories. All of them have a quite good quality, a little bit more than the rivals. One of the most interesting thing is the external battery charger that allows to charge both of batteries at the same time in just 1 hour.
Design and Build quality
This camera has not the most aggressive look on the market, but it is solid, light and has lights all around that allows the user to see if the camera is working in any direction.
I can’t hide that this camera had me for the first minutes with its fake front display. Well done Akaso, you had me.
About the rest of the camera, it is completely made to make the most grip possible with it’s semi-rubbered paint.
On the left we find the SDcard slot and the USB ports
On the right, two buttons to navigate or use the shortcuts for the wifi
On the back there is the huge and very bright 2 inch touchscreen display
It is great to use also with the underwater case
Menu
The menu is great and very clear. I never had a problem to find or change the settings, thanks to its touchscreen that’s very precise and fast, changing settings on this camera is a matter of seconds also with the underwater case. It is very similar to the SJcam menu and also in that case, i had nothing to say. Promoted with the highest votes.
If you want download the manual and see all the settings, you can do it from THIS LINK
VIDEO QUALITY
To be honest I was truly amazed about the video quality of this camera. For this price it’s very rare to find a 4K resolution, more rare a 4K with 60fps and a great quality. Few days ago I made a holiday film in Spain and I brought this camera with me and only once at home in Italy I saw the resolution between photos and videos. Well, I regret nothing!
I recorded everything with 4K resolution at 30fps and not 60fps because I had just one 64Gb SDcard and I saved some memory.
The color management is impeccable, and the exposure is simply perfect. I am really really amazed bout the backlight shots, I never expected this management from a camera like this. I can say without any doubts that this is one of the best cameras i ever had.
The only thing i little bit frustrating is the “turn on speed”. To turn it on this camera takes exactly 5 seconds and it is way too much time. I lost some occasions to record interesting things.

The only bad note is the stabilization. Don’t worry, it is good but it’s not smooth as I expected. At least in 4K it is a little bit shaky. With minor resolutions this problem is much less. I hope in future Akaso will solve the problem via software or at least with the future cameras.
Also during the night the video is great. This camera can reach high ISO then in a complete dark situation the scene seems a little bit noisy but compared with other cameras it make a great job allowing to see every object in every light situation.
I also had fun to make a time lapse video in one of my road trips, obviously using the dedicated setting, i just added the music. And nothing, this camera can also make great time lapses all by itself.
And just few Slow-motions
AUDIO QUALITY
It’s not a secret, 80% of the action cams have a bad audio quality. It’s not a must having a good audio on cameras like these and the manufacturer don’t even try to put a decent mic on their cameras. The AKASO V50 Elite is one of the white flies on the market. In general the audio seems a little bit muffled but still good enough to enjoy what are you filming. For let you understand better, it’s not the perfect camera for Vlogging but you can easily record a concert like I did.

PHOTO QUALITY
The photos are not bad at all. Compared with all the other cameras this V50 can beat every other rival. The photos are very similar to a normal phone, not the top but a mid-phone. I leave the photos talk for me
WIFI AND APP
Both wifi and the app are perfectly stable. The app is very fast and intuitive. Very practical to copy the clips from the camera to the phone in few seconds. really great software.
BATTERY
The battery with a 4K resolution at 30fps last about 80/90 minutes. It is nothing particular but this camera comes with two batteries, it means you can go out with two batteries without think about them. Once you finish one on them with just few seconds you can switch with the other and with the double charger it is possible recharge both batteries together with any power bank. In just 1 hour you are ready for more fun!
Final AKASO SUMMARY
I honestly recommend this camera to everyone. There are not weighing bad points, just good and beautiful thing. I didn’t know this brand before but now I want test more of their products because it is one of the most worthy brand on the market right now. Low price and high performances. I hope they will allows me to show to the world their products!
March 22, 2026
Artillery Sidewinder-X1 – best 3D printer 2K19?
Artillery Sidewinder-X1 is one of the most popular 3D printers in this period, it has a lot of great specs for the price. You will be able to create yourself whatever you want with this printer for a max volume of 300*300*400mm !! It will come almost entirely preassembled then is almost plug and play.
If you want to buy it use our discount link and don’t forget to let us know your experience with this printer! We hope to test it soon to show you what it can do!
March 21, 2026
AKASO V50 ELITE BEST BUY?
This camera could be a really interesting on budget camera. It can be bought from the AKASO website for only 140$ and its specs are just incredible.
AKASO declare that it has a native 4K at @60fps and as all the other camera way more expensive, it has touchscreen on the back and the VOICE CONTROL that makes this camera reallt really interesting. Neither the SJCAM SJ8 pro has this feature and this V50 elite costs half of the price.

We hope to test this camera as soon as possible to make a comparison with the other rivals
March 21, 2026