Pevly

Author: Alessio

  • Eken V8s 4K video stabilization Action Camera Review

    Eken V8s 4K video stabilization Action Camera Review

    Lately, there have been plenty of affordable action camera models on the market. However, only a handful of those has video stabilization in 4K mode. In this review, I take a look at Eken V8s action camera.

    Eken has been on the market for a while now. Their most popular model Eken H9 quickly became one of the best cheap action cameras, and took the market by storm. Besides the EIS in native 4K resolution, this sports camera has other interesting features such as dual screen and the remote control support.

    In this article, I test the Eken V8s. I put the camera on performance, video, audio, image quality, usability, and reliability.

    So let’s see how Eken V8s performs and did it pass my tests.

    The most prominent feature of the Eken V8S is video stabilization in native 4K.

    Discount: Use coupon 8F7ZHTUJ to save 8$ on Eken V8S on Amazon.

    Specifications

    Take a look at product technical specs before I show you what’s inside that beautiful box.

    [go_pricing id=”eken_v8s”]

    Unboxing

    Take a look at my unboxing video to see what you get inside the Eken V8S box.

    Accessories

    Here’s a list of accessories included :

    • 1x Camera with battery
    • 1x Waterproof case
    • 1x Tripod
    • 1x Plastic Frame
    • 2x Clip mount
    • 2x Screw 3M mount
    • 3x Screw mount
    • 1x Handlebar mount
    • 1x Remote Control
    • 1x Wall charger (1.5mAh)
    • 1x USB cable

    I was amazed at the quality of these accessories because they are not the classic basic accessories delivered with all the other cameras. Eken put more care into creating those, and this is easily noticeable. Also, the quality of the box itself is pretty good!

    It is not very common to receive a tripod as an accessory with an action camera. I found a tripod as an accessory only once, when I reviewed the Elephone 360 camera. Most of the electronics manufacturers avoid the cost of adding a wall charger, and send you just an USB cable. Eken includes the charger.

    Just two words about these two accessories: The wall charger is a 1.5mAh and it works great, the tripod is 10cm high, very stable and light to carry. Good thinking, Eken!

    Including this 10cm tripod as an accessory is a great move by the manufacturer.

    Design And Build Quality

    Design of the Eken V8s is not much different than that of the most of action cameras we review here at Pevly. Standard rectangular shape. The front of the camera appears to be made out of the metal, but it’s not. The rest of the camera surface has anti-slide scrimshaw.

    The camera itself is quite simple looking and has only 3 buttons: Power/Mode, Wifi, and Rec. While it looks simplistic, it can be quite a daunting experience to browse the menu, which I will show you in the menu overview paragraph.

    Eken V8S in its waterproof case which is included in the package.

    The buttons are quite bulky which makes them easy to feel under your fingers, even with the gloves on.

    One of the first things I noticed is that this camera has no LCD status indicators and I can’t really comprehend why. Simply said, without checking out one of the screens you do not know whether the camera is recording or not, and neither if it is charging.

    Another thing is that Eken V8s does not have an incorporated 1/4″ screw mount. With that kind of bushing, the camera could be easily attached to a tripod or any sort of accessory. So what does that practically mean? Not having the 1/4″ bushing on the camera means you will always have to use a frame to mount your camera onto a tripod.

    Menu Overview

    The camera interface came as a surprise. I mentioned above that with only 3 buttons you can just select (with “rec button”) and scroll ONLY down the list (with the “power” button). This is very slow and nerve-stretching. Luckily the user interface of the menu is very lean and simplistic, which somehow compensates for this two-button navigation.

    The standard on-screen menu is composed of standard parts. The first part contains the quick modes, in the following order:

    • Video Mode
    • Photo Mode
    • Photo Burst
    • Photo Time Lapse

    The second part has:

    • Video Playback
    • Photo Playback
    • Settings

    Well, in settings section we can find only:

    • Video Resolution – 4K 25fps / 2.7K 30fps / 1080px 60/30fps
    • Photo Resolution – 14M (This is the only available resolution)
    • Video Interval – 1/5 min (Loop Recording)
    • Loop Video – On/Off (Once the memory is full the camera overwrites the first videos)
    • Time Stamp
    • Exposure – +-0/ +-0.3/ 0.7/ +-1.0/ +-1.3/ +-1.7/ +-2.0
    • Burst Mode – 3photos/1s, 7photos/2s, 15photos/4s, 30photos/8s
    • Time Lapse Photo Interval – 3s/5s/10s/30s
    • Time Lapse Photo – On/Off
    • Time Lapse Video Resolution – 4K 30fps/ 2.7K 30fps
    • Time Lapse Video Interval – 500ms/1s/2s/3s/4s/5s/10s/15s/20s/30s/60s
    • Time Lapse Video – On/Off
    • Power Frequency – 50Hz/60Hz/Auto
    • Language
    • Remote Control – On/Off
    • Date & Time
    • Sound Indicator – Shutter (On/Off), Start up (1/2/3/None), Beep (On/Off), Volume (0/1/2/3)
    • Screen Saver – Off/1min/2min/3min/5min
    • Power saver – Off/1min/3min/5min
    • Format
    • Reset
    • Version – V8s_v3.0 STD_EKTH 20170628

    Take a look the settings walkthrough in a gif animation below.

    Obviously, the manufacturer will have to further optimize the menu since it has some quite confusing options. It is more than obvious that the menu is simple, but there are some things which were quite frustrating for me personally.

    First of all, you are not able to turn off the Electronic Image Stabilization. Secondly, the camera has only 3 video resolutions with a maximum of 60 frames per second, which means that making serious slow motion videos with this camera won’t be possible.

    Funny thing is that there is a photo resolution option inside the menu, but you can select only the default 14 megapixels. It ruins the user experience, unless the next firmware update adds some meaningful change.

    Video Quality

    Ok, this is embarrassing but I have to say it. When it comes to video quality. this camera is one of the weakest I ever tested. My previous Eken camera, the H8R, did not have the superb quality of the video but it was acceptable. Not so with this model.

    Before talking about the video quality I want you to know that usually all the tests in my reviews are done in 1080p at 60fps because it is the most used resolution. With this camera, the 1080p resolution is really crappy! Forgive this term, but it simply fits!

    In a 4K resolution the quality of the video is better, but in order to stay consistent with my testing methods, let’s see how the Eken V8s performs in 1080p.

    The quality is very bad, and with the EIS on, the cam’s 170° field of view is narrowed down to ~100°. And as I said, there is no way to turn the stabilization off. At this point, I don’t know what to say, so I’ll let the videos talk.

    This is the difference between 1080p and 4K videos:

    Comparison between two frames from a 1080p and 4K videos:

    Original frames

    Zoomed in

    The major problem in resolutions lower than 4K is the lack of details and sharpness. Additionally the exposure is not well adjusted. It is fairly hard to comprehend why the camera behaves inconsistently in different resolution. The quality of the 4K video is better compared to lower resolution outputs. Contrarily, the videos in time-lapse mode are quite good. Take a look at the sample below.

     

    In the night this camera can capture a lot of light, and for this fact it is better than majority of other cameras in this price range – but the quality still remains rather poor.

    As you have surely noticed, in these images there is a lot of wakes further reducing the quality.

    The only thing that works well is the EIS because it is well-made. Even though the EIS works great in terms of video stabilization, sometimes it gets laggy.

    WARNING – Don’t use this camera while it is recharging because it could melt down! Also, it reaches high temperature while recording; be careful.

    In fact, I had to hit it with full power A/C airstream when I used it as a dashcam.

    Photo Quality

    Quality of the photos is a little bit better than video, but with a 100% crop, you will find out that the photos appear like paintings with a very low amount of details. This usually hints at too much denoising, which probably originates from the algorithm counteracting the effects of hot sensor.

    What I want to say is that the camera electronics is simply overburdened. The EIS in 4K probably puts too much “pressure” on the sensor and the processor, causing inferior video and photo quality. It probably also influences the excessive heating. But there could also be a swatch of different reasons.

    The colors and saturation  are better in photos compared to videos, but with a little crop you will find out that the quality reminds one of painting. Imagine the image on a canvas. Once you look at it closer, you’ll see the artist’s strokes / artifacts. This is quite similar to the quality of the Eken V8s images, once slightly zoomed-in, there are weird artifacts there, and it just isn’t sharp enough.

    Audio Quality

    Oh yeah, the audio. I almost forgot about that because every time I needed to check some videos from this camera I removed my headphones – for hearing safety. Good luck, if you want to check the following two videos:

    You don’t need me to understand that the audio is not good at all. Everything seems muffled, and with the high volume, especially in low frequencies, the distortion is incredibly strong. A normal speech can easily imitate sounds of someone gagged.

    WiFi and the App

    Eken V8s has a built in WiFi which means you can operate the camera remotely via your smarthpone. The app interface is very simple.

    The connection and the app is made just of a Rec, Playback and Mode buttons. Nothing more. Oh yes, there is also the resolution setting, but most of the times it doesn’t work… The app is useful just to access the cam easier, but there’s nothing more to it.

    Remote Control

    The remote control of this camera is one of a few things that actually works good. Its range is about 2-3 meters. The buttons respond perfectly to the click. It is also splashproof, which means it will be resistant to some occasional water drops, but you can’t dive with it.

    Battery Performance

    These are the results of my battery tests:

    • 4K 25fps – 58 minutes (28Gb)
    • 2.7K 30fps – 61 minutes (11,5Gb)
    • 1080p 60fps – 65 minutes (13,8Gb)
    • 1080p 30fps – 63 minutes (8,6Gb)

    It’s not easy to exactly measure how much time the camera takes to reach a full battery charge because there are no indicators, but I think it is about 3 and a half hours.

    Summary

    It is really hard to say what went wrong with the v8S. My personal belief is that Eken wanted to get too much from the hardware and that resulted in overload of the processor and the sensor, which in turn caused the overheating, reduced photo quality, etc.

    Furthermore, I do not understand some of the decisions they made regarding the inability of turning EIS off, not having enough resolution and FPS choice. Even though camera supports WiFi and has a remote controller, the audio quality remains poor.

    The design and build quality are quite decent, and 4K stabilization works well most of the times.

    My personal conclusion is that for the retail price of the Eken v8S you should consider something else. Take a look at our list of best action cameras. 

    Having stabilized 4K is not something that many brands managed to do, excepting Sony and YI Technology. But those cameras cost three times the Eken v8S. Conclusion is that in order to have EIS correctly perform in 4K, a better hardware is required. Eken tried to create something cheaper and we give them credits for that, but the results were just not good enough in our opinion. This does not mean that their next model won’t do good. We are looking forward to see what’s next in store for Eken.

    However, if you decide that the Eken v8S is something you’d like to buy, check out their official store on Amazon.

    Discount: Use coupon 8F7ZHTUJ to save 8$ on Eken V8S on Amazon.

    Pros

    • Good build quality
    • Wide variety of included accessories
    • EIS works very good
    • Included remote controller

    Cons

    • Insufficient video quality, mainly with the most used resolution (1080p)
    • Horrible audio quality
    • Minimal choice of available settings
    • Uncomfortable Menu
    • No status lights / indicators
    • Dangerous overheating within just a few minutes of recording
    • Almost useless App
    • Short battery life
  • GitUp announced two new cameras – Gitup F1 and G3 Duo

    GitUp announced two new cameras – Gitup F1 and G3 Duo

    We’re used to the fact that Chinese action camera manufacturer GitUp gets really quiet when they’re up to something. It’s been a while since they released a new model. They’re Git 1 and Git 2 cameras became the symbol of reliability and stability in the community, but enthusiasts were getting a bit nervous about the new model – Git 3.  The reason for this is that nobody knew anything about it. There were some rumors on the forums, but nothing more than that.

    Even though all of us expected that the new model will be called Git 3, manufacturer surprised us by announcing not one, but two brand-new models – Gitup F1 4K and Gitup G3 Duo.

    We talked to their representatives and managed to get reliable information on the features, pricing, and specifications on both models. So we’re here to share pretty much everything we found out about these two cameras. (Shhh, don’t tell anyone, but we’ll review both as soon as we can).

    GitUp G3 DUO

    G3 Duo is considered to be the successor of the Git 2. However, it’s quite different. Not only is it aesthetically massive compared to the predecessor, but it’s also more feature-rich.  The most innovative feature of the G3 is that it’s basically a world’s first dual 1080p action camera.

    Notable features of Gitup G3 Duo :

    • Dual camera : front + back (slave) camera (optional)
    • GPS logger (optional)
    • Bluetooth Wrist Remote Control (optional)
    • Touch screen
    • Built in WiFi and Gyro stabilization
    • External microphone support
    • 1200mAh battery
    • 2 different waterproof case designs

    We’ve known for a while that the new camera will support a GPS, and now it’s confirmed. Honestly, everyone expected a GPS camera, but we were all quite surprised with the dual camera option.

    G3 Duo Technical Specification

    The specification below were provided by the GitUp before they even appeared fully on their website. Even though they might be a subject to a change, we’re pretty sure the specs won’t change, at least not significantly.

    [go_pricing id=”gitup_g3_duo”]

    G3 DUO Overview

    So what’s so special about G3 DUO? Well, in short, G3 DUO is a combination of two cameras G3 and a Slave camera. When combined together via the USB cable, the DUO will be able to capture videos with two separate cameras, front, and rear. Imagine that Slave camera is actually an optional accessory to the G3.

    The main camera has Sony IMX117, which is an image sensor already used in some other popular models like Hawkeye Firefly 8S, SJCAM SJ7, Thieye T5E, AN7000 and Elephone Explorer Pro. The rear, Slave camera, utilizes the Sony IMX323 sensor which is a 2MP sensor. The biggest advantage of the rear camera is the f1.8 6G lens with 135° FOV which in combination with the lower megapixel sensor should provide quite good low-light performance.

    We’re still not quite certain how the two cameras will synchronize themselves. One guess is that they will be combined into one video, where video from the Slave camera will be shown in PIP mode. What is PIP? The picture in picture, or better, video into the video, maybe in a corner like we can see in the photo above.

    On the LCD screen of the G3, you will be able to see what’s happening on the Slave camera in PIP mode, that’s for sure. It should be pointed out that G3 is the first ever Gitup camera with a touch screen and GPS feature.

    I personally do not like the fact that the GPS is external instead of the built-in. GoPro’s and Sony have a built in GPS.  However, GPS is always a handy option. By browsing through this topic on dashcamforum, I’ve found an image of how GPS feature might display on the video.

    Photo credit: DashCamTalk Forum

    As you can see according to this image, besides the speedometer, GPS records the distance, altitude, elevation gain, time date and has a nice graphics for speed tracking.

    The retail price of the G3 will be 129$ USD, where the Slave camera will cost 49$. So if you’re looking for a whole package, you’ll have to around 178$ to spend. Furthermore, the price of the total package will be increased if you’re looking to add an additional GPS module or the remote controller. For now, the pricing for the GPS module is undisclosed.

    I’ve come across a few video samples of pre-production beta-testing model. Bear in mind, it’s a beta, meaning the quality of the output is subject to change.

    GitUp F1 4K

    While we were highly expecting a new camera from Gitup, nobody expected the second one – F1. Gitup F1 is their first ever true 4K action camera.

    The notable features of this tiny camera are :

    • Native 4K resolution
    • Aerodynamic design
    • Quick capture
    • EIS Video stabilization

    Gitup F1 4K Technical Specification

    [go_pricing id=”gitup_f1″]

    F1 4K Overview

    We know that camera will support a native 4K resolution with an Ambarella A12 as chipset and have  EIS (Electronic Image Stabilization). It is still unclear if image stabilization will be possible in 4K. It would certainly be a huge step up for the brand.

    Like all Gitup models, this one will also support their wrist watch remote controller.

    Design-wise, Gitup F1 has a similar appearance to famous Mobius. It’s quite simplistic and easy to use. There is no information if waterproof housing for this model exists. The retail price for the F1 is $129.99.

    Summary

    To sum up, Gitup certainly got us excited. Both cameras have their own pros and cons. We really like the innovative approach on the G3 Duo. It will be interesting to see how useful would all robust features of the camera be. Let’s hope that too many optional upgrades won’t ruin the simplicity of use since nobody wants complicated solutions once on a hike, bike or inside the water.

    On the other hand, it’s good to see that GitUp released an easy to use native 4K camera – F1. Will its image and video quality be better than some of our best action cameras? We’re about to see.

    Which of these two cameras would you like to have? Do you have a feature that you particularly like? Let us know in the comments. Until then, we’re eagerly waiting to test these two guys for you and show you our in-depth reviews.

  • Hawkeye Firefly 8S (90° Version) Action Camera Review

    Hawkeye Firefly 8S (90° Version) Action Camera Review

    We are here today with a new camera recently released by Hawkeye, I’m talking about the Firefly 8S. We have already reviewed another Hawkeye camera in the past, the Firefly 6S,  and it has a great quality/price ratio! The Firefly 8S is available in two field-of-view versions, 90° and 170°.

    In this review, I’ll take a look at the narrow field of view option, the Hawkeye 8s 90°. Even though we haven’t tested the 170° version, in theory, the differences between the two should only be in the field of view that camera can capture (wide vs narrow).

    Will the Firefly 8S camera be as good as other action camera with the 170° lens? Let’s find out.

    Firefly 8S is an action camera produced by the Chinese company Hawkeye. There are two versions of the 8S.

    To clarify once again, there are two models of Firefly 8S :

    1. 90° lens version
    2. 170° lens version

    Technical Specifications

    Before I show you the content of the box, take a look at Hakweye Firefly 8S product specs.

    [go_pricing id=”hawkeyefirefly8s”]

    Unboxing

    Accessories

    • 1x Camera with battery
    • 1x Waterproof case
    • 1x Bandages
    • 1x USB Cable
    • 1x Pendant mount
    • 1x Anti Reflexes gear
    • 7x Different screw mount
    • 1x Plastic Frame
    • 1x Flat 3M Clip
    • 1x Curved M3 Clip
    • 1x Manual English/Chinese
    • 3x Stickers

    As the most of Chinese cameras it has a lot of accessories. In particular it offers two interesting pieces. The first one is the Anti Reflex Gear, (lens hood) made to mount around the lens.

    Honestly I was a little bit skeptical about its function, but I was wrong; it helps a lot when the sunlight shines directly onto the lens. You will see the difference in the Video section.

    The other new accessory is the “Pendant Mount” that allows you to bring the camera along without hindrance. It is small, easy to use, cheap, and quite practical.

     

    The usual accessories are of classically good manufacture. Nothing special, since by now all the manufacturers have standardized usual accessories. These seem to be the same with every camera.

    Design and Build Quality

    The design is mostly like all the other cameras, honestly isn’t it time to invent something better?  But then, I said “mostly” because this camera has a little mirror on the front that allows the owner to shoot perfect selfies! And with its anti-reflex gear it seems to approach details of a professional camera!

    The entire camera surface is rubberized which ensures a perfect grip in every situation. Main buttons are big and easy to feel under the fingers, also with gloves on.

    Take a look at the Firefly 8S overview.

    1. OK Button – Start and Stop recording
    2. Selfie mirror
    3. Power/Mode Button
    4. Lens
    5. HDMI Port
    6. USB Port
    7. String mount
    8. Up Button
    9. Down/Wifi Button – Press it for 3 seconds to turn wifi on/off
    10. Battery Cover
    11. Screen
    12. SD card Slot
    13. Playback Button

    One of the first things I noticed is the SD card slot position. This helps with heat dissipation generated during the recording. I also love all the colored and backlighted buttons, they’ll change from blue to green when the menu is open. A little flaw is the absence of a led indicator on the screen.

    The screen did surprise me, it is perfectly visible in any condition, also under the full sun glare. This is further aided by the setting “LCD Brightness” that allows you to set the brightness of the screen.

    It doesn’t help only the quality of the view but also regulates the battery depletion. About the temperature; this camera differs from its far cousin with the same hardware, the Andoer AN7000. It actually manages to keep the temperature low. It is not cold during a recording, but never enough hot to worry about.

    Menu Overview

    Grasping the menu on this camera was easier than I expected, it is not the fastest but absolutely very intuitive. With the Power/Mode Button you can switch between Photo and Video mode and, based upon what mode is selected, when you press the Up button, it will direct you to the settings screen. With it there are also some classic fast settings (shortcuts) for the actual mode.

    • Settings – all the settings are available in one screen
    • Photos – Photo Mode
    • Burst – Burst Mode
    • Playback – plays back videos and photos
    • Time-Lapse Photos
    • Long Exposure – Long Exposure Photos

    In the sub-settings we find:

    • Photo Size – 16M/14M/12M/8.3M/5M/3M
    • Photo Quality – Super Fine/Fine/Normal
    • Long Exposure – 1/30s /1s/2s/5s/10s/30s/60s
    • Photo Stamp –  Off/Date/Time/Date&Time
    • Self Timer – Off/2s/3s/5s/10s/30s/60s
    • Photo Burst – 3P/S / 5P/S / 10P/S
    • Timelapse Photo – 3s/5s/10s/30s/60s
    • Sharpness – Strong/Normal/Soft
    • AWB – Auto/Incandescent/D4000/D5000/Dayight/Water/Outdoor
    • EV (Exposure Value) – 0/+-0.3/+-0.7/+-1.0/+-1.3/+-1.7/+-2.0
    • ISO – Auto/100/200/400/800/1600
    • Metering – Centre/Multi/Spot

    Obviously there is the same thing for the video:

    • Settings – same as in photo mode
    • Videos – Video Mode
    • Time-Lapse
    • Playback
    • Car mode
    • Slow-motion

    These are only the fast modes and going into the shared settings we’ll find:

    • Video Resolution
    • Video Quality – Super Fine/Fine/Normal
    • Auto Low Light – On/Off
    • Gyro Sensor –  On/Off
    • Motion Detect – Off/Low/Medium/High
    • Dual Files – Off-On
    • Video Stamp – Off/Date/Time/Date&Time
    • Timelapse Video – 1s/2s/5s/10s/30s/60s
    • Loop Recording – Off/1min/2min/3min/5min
    • Microphone Volume –  Off/50%/60%/70%/80%/90%/100%
    • Sharpness – Strong/Normal/Soft
    • AWB – Auto/Incandescent/D4000/D5000/Dayight/Water/Outdoor
    • EV (Exposure Value) – 0/+-0.3/+-0.7/+-1.0/+-1.3/+-1.7/+-2.0
    • ISO – Auto/100/200/400/800/1600
    • Metering –  Centre/Multi/Spot

    The general settings part is reachable using the playback button in the menu. It is composed of:

    • Quick Capture – On/Off
    • Delay Off – Off/5s/10s/20s/30s/60s
    • TV Mode – On/Off
    • Light Frequency – 50Hz/60Hz
    • OSD – On/Off
    • LCD Brightness – Low/Medium/High
    • Auto Shutdown – Off/2min/3min/5min/10min
    • Screen Off – Off/30s/1min/3min/5min
    • Status LED – Off/ Mode LED/ Status LED / All LED
    • Beep – Off/On
    • Time Setup
    • Date Format
    • Language – English/Chinese/Russian
    • Bluetooth Pair
    • Wifi
    • Wifi SSID
    • WIFI Password
    • Format
    • Default Settings
    • Version (of the current Firmware)

    Video Quality

    This camera has a Sony IMX 117 sensor with an Ambarella A12S75. Well, with this hardware configuration the Firefly 8S has all the advantages in order to be a great camera.  Differently from a lot of other cameras, this one has a real 4K with real 30fps!

    This feature is like many more expensive cameras, if not better. Over the 4K 30fps this processor can handle very high frame rate without losing too much quality. For example, this is my dog in 720p 240fps:

    And this is him again in 1080p 120fps

    As you can see with the resolution of 720p and 240fps the image is very distorted, I think the camera extends the image to reach 720p resolution but I’m not sure. By the way, every frame rate and every resolution on this camera are legit, there are no interpolated FPS or resolutions on this model.

    With 4K resolution, the quality is incredibly good, this is an example:

    This is one frame extracted from video, and it looks like an ordinary still photo!

    General quality of the video is very good and sharper than some of the cameras with similar specs I tested.  With the anti reflex gear you really avoid many bad reflexes on the lens. This is the difference with and without this gear:

    Sometimes when the sun is shining directly into the lens there is a little “glass” effect, but nothing significant. Apart from this particular condition, when recording in the daylight this camera is excellent!

    https://youtu.be/wovZAMNEFR0

    Unfortunately, it is perfectly the opposite during the night or in generally low light, because this camera is ridiculously dark. The most evident example I could make is in a underground parking because these have more or less the same light level:

    And obviously it is worst during the night

    I also noticed that the more you raise the frame rate the more dark the image seems.

    After all these tests, did you noticed the difference between 90° and 170°? No? Ok, I show you how much change:

    90° mean no distortion!

    Update 16/08/2017

    We recorded an underwater video with Hawkeye 8S, take a look of how clear it is.

    The biggest problem of this camera is/was the fact that in the higher resolutions (4K and 2.7K) or in general when it is under lots of performance stress (1080p 120fps, 720p 240/120fps ) the camera randomly stopped recording.

    In other words, you can start the recording but you’d never be sure it is still recording; it would quit unexpectedly, after 10 seconds or after 3 minutes, there was no rule. I have tried different class 10 SDcards, the issue was still present. The issue still appears to be there after the latest firmware update.

    After consulting with my colleagues, I decided to buy a different, higher speed microSD card. I am waiting for it to arrive, and I’ll update the review as soon as I know if the quit-recording issue is related to an SD card or a firmware in the camera. The update on the issue is coming soon.

    *UPDATE*

    The problem was the Sdcard speed, I bought a new Sdcard link and now every resolution and frame rate works perfectly!

    Photo Quality

    The image quality is one great point of this camera. Obviously these kind of cameras are not primarily made to shoot photos but if they can make it… why not!

    I was quite satisfied with the quality of the still photos the Firefly 8S creates. Here are some samples, so you can judge yourself.

    Colors are full and bright, the backlight appears clear. Everything works great!

    This camera has the Long Exposure feature, here are quick samples of 1s/10s/60s exposures:

    Audio

    Also the audio surprised me, it is quite good. A little bit favoring low frequencies but with its default setting (80%) it will be perfect because this camera has an auto volume balance. It manages the distortion and the frequencies mixing. This is the test in front of a stage. Believe me that the volume was really, really high.

    Battery Performance

    These are the results of my battery tests:

    • 4K –90 minutes (37,2Gb)
    • 2.7K – 98 minutes (32,4Gb)
    • 2.5K – 72 minutes (19,4Gb)
    • 1080p 120fps – 93 minutes (45,7Gb)
    • 1080p 60fps – 70 minutes (16Gb)
    • 1080p 30fps – 115 minutes (20,3Gb)
    • 960p 30fps – 89 minutes (15,2Gb)
    • 720p 240fps – 83 minutes (30,7Gb)
    • 720p 120fps – 125 minutes (24,1Gb)
    • 720p 60fps – 103 minutes (14Gb)
    • 720p 30fps – 133 minutes (11,1Gb)
    • Charging time – About 3 and a half hours

    This camera has a 1200mAh battery, and this is in fact higher that the average battery capacity found in similar price range sports cameras.

    Wifi and App

    Hawkeye with the Firefly 8S hits the target. Wifi and App works as every wifi and every app should do. The WiFi has an average range of 10 meters and the app is perfectly stable.

    The nice thing of this app is that everything is within reach of the finger, and everything is changeable in the main screen. Meaning that the app itself is quite user friendly and easy to navigate.

    Bluetooth

    The Bluetooth feature is useful only with the Remote Control (sold separately) and it cannot connect to the phone.

    Summary

    The Firefly 8S is one great camera. For the price, I can’t ask for anything better. I think it is one of the best cameras for anyone wishing to try one of affordable action cameras. It features great quality in every aspect and has practically no flaws except for the slightly inferior low-light performance.Yes, this version has a FOV of 90° instead of the more usual ~170° but it all depends of what you have in mind for cameras like that. Personally I didn’t feel bad with this “narrow field of view”. One can hardly expect more from this camera.

    Pros

    • Long battery life
    • Excellent audio quality
    • Good video quality
    • Great photo quality
    • Quantity of accessories
    • Build quality
    • Good screen, visible in every condition

    Cons

    • Low light performance
    • Occasional video recording stops in higher resolution and FPS (possibly a firmware issue or an SD card issue. We’re working on figuring this out and we’ll update the review once we find a solution for this issue). It was an SDcard Issue. [Solved]

    January 31, 2026
  • Andoer A360I Review – a budget 360° camera

    Andoer A360I Review – a budget 360° camera

    In this review I will show you the only 360° camera branded Andoer. It has a dual lens system, which means it can capture scene at 360° front + rear, creating a Virtual Reality view.  To this end, the camera has two lenses, each composed of 6 glass elements; all that in an unusual shape, but with an easy-to-use menu.

    NOTE : You can buy this camera on Camfere

    Specifications

    As I said before this camera is a 360° camera with double lens and with a peculiar shape. It is not your typical action cam, because due to its accessories, shape and FOV, it doesn’t quite suit its best performance in action scenes.

    [go_pricing id=”andoer_a360i”]

    Unboxing and accessories

    As you can see this camera comes with a lot of accessories included, but the most important is this unique metal piece.

    This screw adapter  allows you to mount the camera to other accessories. In fact its function is to adapt its unique bushing on the underside of the camera to the rest of accessories. My first question was:

    Why is Andoer adding one little tiny bushing only needed for an adapter? Wouldn’t it be easier to simply build in a standard ¼” tripod bush like the rest of the World does?

    Apparently not.

    It is also very easy to lose this adapter. Luckily, there is always that roll of Duct Tape…

    By the way, with this solution the “mounting space” becomes huge. This camera is not the smallest one on the market, but with this inconvenience one is forced to use a lot of pieces to mount the camera properly. This is what you need to mount it to your bike handlebar.

    Design

    The camera is designed to be used in your hands and not attached to your body, like with other cameras. Its best use would be by hanging it while walking, where it shows where you are in the center of its 360° field of view. So this is clearly not a real action cam in the usual sense of the term.

    The camera shape helps to hold it, but due to its smooth surface, it feels a little bit slippery. Not that you really struggle to grip it, it makes you maybe just a tad apprehensive. Still, I like the position of the mere two buttons to use on this model: the Power/Rec button and the WiFi button. These are positioned in the center of the camera, easily reached and operated by your thumb.

    Near to the lens and above the two buttons there is a mic hole and a small port where 3 LEDs are located.

    The green light shows when the camera is On

    The red light informs that the camera battery is low

    The blue light is active when the camera is doing something

    The only problem with these LEDs is that lights disappear in the daylight, becoming practically invisible. However, the lights are really nice during the night!

    Menu and navigation

    This camera has no screen, thus no visible menu. The only thing you can do without the App is switch between Video and Photo mode. How? Just by double clicking the power button. I have to warn you that the camera resets itself to photo mode every time it is switched off and on again it. The worst thing is the reaction speed of the camera and it’s not very fast. As its “beep” sound is not immediate, sometimes you’ll click repeatedly, creating an incredible mess with beeps, lights and mental sanity!

    But it is just a minor problem. One of the biggest problems is that this camera can’t be directly connected to your computer. I mean, the USB plug is there, but does  not allow any data transfer. You can only use USB to recharge the camera and NOT to transfer the Photos/Videos – and this is just ridiculous.

    Video Quality

    The video quality is not as good as with other  cameras. The image quality is quite good for its price, almost comparable with the already reviewed Elecam 360.  In some situation the picture is way too bright, and the colors are just desaturated and flat.

    In low light or during night hours it can capture everything. I didn’t expect this light sensitivity, but unfortunately the images are too noisy, so it is not very nice to watch.

    Photo Quality

    The photos are worse than videos. Images could be interesting to show thanks to camera specific FOV (field of view) but don’t expect details or particularly deep colors. Here are some of the photos I made:

    1. Photo sample 1
    2. Photo sample 2

    Those are some photo samples. You can view them on Facebook by using  360° view.

    Audio Quality

    The audio is another flaw of this camera because it is so very low; nearly impossible to hear, and the quality is not on par. It lacks some frequencies, mostly lower ones, and it just doesn’t sound good.

    Software

    Compared to other 360° cameras, this one is not an exception. It can capture videos and photos only in the famous porthole style, but its record can be shown converted into something more “watchable” only via some special software.

    This camera has no software of its own, because Andoer doesn’t develop anything like that. The only thing to do is to use some other program. The best solution I have found is a program called “SYMAX360 player” freely downlodable from HERE

    It allows you to perform some basic editing like cutting the clips and choosing the quality. If you want to do anything more complex, you are forced to first render your recording with THIS program, and after that you can import the resulting video into any program you want. However, don’t forget to use this second program to let Youtube or Facebook understand that your file was made with 360° technology.

    Wifi and App

    WiFi can be turned on with its dedicated button and it is good and precise. In fact I never had any problem connecting the camera to my phone. WiFi range covers a distance of  9 or 10 meters, after that you can’t use the app. This camera App is different from the one used with the usual Andoer action cameras, it is called SL720 and you can always find it in the app store. As usual, the App has its first page consisting of the two modes (Video/Photo) and the Settings.

    In the Settings you can choose between many different parameters but I wasn’t able to test those because of frustratingly incomplete translation –some are still written in Chinese! Talk about a half-baked job!

    I hope they will add other languages in the future, at least translate it completely to English. I wonder why it was not done right away? After all, it’s not rocket science.

    Battery

    These are the results of my battery tests:

    • 1920×960 30fps – 106 minutes (3,96Gb)
    • 1472×736 60fps – 56 minutes (2,95Gb)
    • 1472×736 30fps – 66 minutes (3,45Gb)
    • 960×480 30fps – 56 minutes (2,35Gb)
    • Recharging time – 120 minutes

    Each test was made with the WiFi turned Off. Personally I was expecting it would have longer battery life with all the space this camera contains. I was wrong.

    Summary

    If you want to be creative with a 360° camera for the first time, this model could be a good start, because it will let you understand without too many problems how this kind of video recording works – and it is also quite cheap. Don’t even think of buying it to record some “epic shots” because there is not enough quality for that. Nevertheless, in some situations it could present a nicely different way to record things.

    Pros

    • Cheap camera
    • Easy to use
    • Good for the first approach to 360° cameras

    Cons

    • Low battery life
    • Bad audio quality
    • Problem with USB connection
    • Hard to combine with accessories
    NOTE : You can buy this camera on Camfere
  • Andoer AN7000 Review – Good Cheap 4K camera

    Andoer AN7000 Review – Good Cheap 4K camera

    The AN7000 is the top tier camera from Andoer, a new brand. It’s not very famous like other brands but fame isn’t always proportional to quality. The camera uses an Ambarella chipset with the famous Sony IMX117 CMOS sensor. It could be a great combination, but… is it?

    Let’s find out!

    Specifications

    [go_pricing id=”andoer_an7000″]

    Unboxing

    Accessories

    • 1 * Action Camera with Battery
    • 1 * USB Cable
    • 1 * Waterproof Case
    • 1 * Camera Housing Backdoor
    • 1 * J-shape Mount
    • 1 * Helmet Base
    • 2 * Bicycle Mount
    • 1 * Bracket
    • 1 * Clip
    • 1 * Fix Base
    • 3 * Switch Support
    • 4 * Cable Tie
    • 1 * Wire
    • 2 * Adhesive Tape
    • 4 * Bandage
    • 1 * Cleaning Cloth
    • 1 * User Manual(English)

    The accessories are medium to high quality and quantity compared to most Chinese action cam manufacturers.  Everything is fine apart from the plastic frame because it doesn’t fit. It’s smaller than the AN7000 and can’t clip around it.

    I also noticed it wasn’t created for this camera because the LED position doesn’t match with the frame.  It’s obvious they used a generic frame without checking if it could be used on this particular model. I think this is a huge oversight by Andoer.

    Design and Build Quality

    The AN7000 has the same shape as many other action cameras but has different details that give it a nice futuristic look.

    It has only one screen and it is positioned on the back. On the front face of the camera we can find the lens, the power button and two LEDs. The WiFi LED is positioned above the recording LED and both of them flash when the camera is recording or WiFi is on.

    On the left are the usual ports for the SDcard, HDMI and USB.

    On the other side there are two buttons and they’re only used to navigate the menu.

    On the bottom you’ll find not only the battery door but a very useful threaded tripod mount!

    The LEDs are positioned all around the camera body and provide great light, impossible to ignore. The plastic is all rubberized and the feeling is very nice and provides good grip. The buttons are divided in two parts. There are two big ones, the power and record buttons, and two very tiny ones, the arrow buttons. The first two are very nice with a perfect “click” sound followed by a lovely “beep” from the speakers.

    Little note: I’m in love with the record button

    The other two buttons aren’t that good because they’re too tiny, almost invisible and very difficult to feel under your fingers. If you use a pair of gloves they are absolutely impossible to feel.  Apart from this problem the camera seems well built.

    The feel and grip of the surface give the AN7000 a well built feel but these features are very bad for heat dissipation. The camera has a big problem with overheating even after few minutes of normal usage and it could be very dangerous for the camera and for you (in case of possible battery explosion).  After 40 minutes of usage as dashcam at 1080p 60fps the camera becomes almost untouchable ,mostly on the screen part, and in the long run it could be detrimental to the camera’s life.

    Menu Overview

    Luckily the AN7000 has a simple menu.  Nothing is particularly strange and everything is clear. To navigate the menu the only thing you just press the power button begin your journey. The menu is composed of  five parts:

    1. Video Mode
    2. Photo Mode
    3. Video Playback
    4. Photo Playback
    5. Settings

    This means you must press the power button five times to enter Settings. That section is composed of:

    • Video Resolutions – 4K/2880×2160/2704×2028/2704×1520/2560×1440/1920×1080/1280×960/1280×720
    • Photo Size – 16M/14M/12M/8.3M/5M/3M
    • Video Quality – S.Fine/Fine/Normal
    • Photo Quality – S.Fine/Fine/Normal
    • Default Mode – Show the fast modes (Record Mode/Photo Mode)
    • Quick Capture – On/Off
    • EIS – Electronic Image Stabilizer (On/Off)
    • Motion Detect – Starts recording when something is moving (Off/Low/Medium/High(
    • Dual Files – Create two files from the same video, the first with the full quality, the second in low resolution (On/Off)
    • Video Stamp – Off/Date/Time/DT_TM
    • Photo Stamp – Off/Date/Time/DT_TM
    • Time lapse Video – 1 second of video is pair of 1s/2s/5s/10s/30s/60s in real life
    • Loop Recording – Create files every Off/1Min/2Min/3Min/5Min of recording
    • Self Timer – Delay between the click and the photo Off/2s/3s/5s/10s/30s/60s
    • Photo Burst – The amount of photos per second Off/3/5/10
    • Time lapse Photo – Shoots photos every 3s/5s/10s/30s/60s to the infinite
    • Auto DVR – On/Off
    • Delay Off –
    • TV Mode NTSC/PAL
    • Light Frequency – Auto/50HZ/60HZ
    • OSD – On Screen Display shows the information on the screen (On/Off)
    • Auto Shutdown – Turn off the camera(Off/3min/5min/10min)
    • Screen Off – Turn off the screen (Off/1min/3min/5min)
    • Status LED – The number of LEDs turned on (Off/1/2/3/4)
    • WIFI LED – On/Off
    • TV Out – On/Off
    • Beep – Enable/Disable the sound when a button is pressed (On/Off)
    • Microphone Volume – Off/50%/60%/70%/80%/90%/100%
    • Sharpness – The clarity of detail in the image ( Strong/Normal/Soft)
    • AWB – Auto White Balance (Auto/Incandescent/D4000/D5000/Daylight/Cloudy/ D9000/D10000/Flash/Fluorescent/Water/Outdoor)
    • EV Value – Modify the Exposure Value (+2.0/+1.7/+1.3/+1.0/+0.7/+0.3/0.0/-0.3/-0.7/-1.0/-1.3/-1.7/-2.0)
    • Scene Mode – Normal/Flash/Night/Sports/Landscape/Portrait/Sunset
    • Effect Mode – Normal/Art/Sepia/Negative/BW/Vivid/70film
    • ISO – Auto/100/200/400/800/1600
    • Metering – Center/Multi/Spot
    • Time Setup
    • Date Format
    • Language – English/Chinese/Japanese/Russian/Deutsch/Italian/Francais/Portugues/Espanol/Arabic/Polski/Indonesia/Nederlands/Svensk/Cestina
    • Bluetooth Pair – Start the Bluetooth Pair
    • WiFi – On/Off
    • WiFi SSID – WiFi Name
    • WiFi Password – Set the WiFi Password
    • Format
    • Default Setting
    • Version

    When navigating the menu the operation of buttons is typical: With the arrow buttons you go up and down, the record button becomes the select button and the power button become the “back” button.

    As you can see this camera has a HUGE number of settings but if you set all to Automatic the camera manages all of them perfectly!

    Video

    The AN7000 is equipped with the Sony IMX117 sensor.  Some cameras claim to have the Sony sensor but are often just fakes.  In this case it’s genuine and capable of 4K. It’s used on the SJCam M20 but unlike the M20, and to my HUGE surprise, EVERY SINGLE RESOLUTION and FRAME RATE is right.

    The 4K is real 4K, 1080p with 120fps is actually 120fps and 240fps with 720p resolution is actually 240fps. I never ever bet money on these settings being true but… this time it’s real!  Note that the frame rates automatically halve in dark conditions

    With this absolutely great discovery, is the video quality also good?  Yes, it is.

    The video quality is the second surprise of the AN7000: it’s simply great, probably one of the best cameras I’ve ever tested! It captures light perfectly and the colors are beautiful, full and vivid. The gyro stabilization does a gorgeous job and everything looks incredibly sharp!

    This is an example of how it looks:

    I also had the opportunity to test the AN7000 underwater. On this occasion the camera and waterproof case were tested to 20m underwater and they survived.  The manufacturer claims it can reach 60m.

    Here’s an example of how well the camera manages colors:

    It’s simply incredible. I made this test with the scuba mask pictured below.  It’s unique because it incorporates  an action camera mount.

    Here is my usual dashcam video

    And the Bike test

    I also had fun with 1080p 120fps

    And 720p 240fps

    This camera has a SuperView setting that significantly increases the view angle but also increases distortion. Here is a comparison:

    As you can see the camera makes great video in any conditions including at night.

    Videos at night seem a little bit dark but they don’t haven’t ANY noise and are perfectly clear!

    I noticed one very bad thing; when the camera is recording it gets very hot, enough to burn the skin. This no joke. After just a few minutes of recording it becomes very, very hot. I hope it doesn’t adversely affect the camera’s durability.

    The above video tests were made without the stabilization on except for the bike video.

    Photo

    Photos are at the same level of quality as videos. This camera makes the best photos I’ve ever seen from an action camera. Usually action cameras are not made to snap photos because their main job is shooting good videos in any conditions. The AN7000 is able to shot photos better than some phones (at least mine).

    It’s not a professional camera but it can satisfy the needs of many photographers.

    The following is a casual photo made by mistake while I was writing this review and checking the quality:

    If I zoom the image I can read screen with no problems!

    With these  kinds of photos the Pevly Team hopes to present images in the most natural way possible without post production to modify the images. We present videos and photos shot using the camera the same way you would in everyday life.

    Here are some more photos .  They speak for themselves:

    Audio

    The audio with the AN7000 is perfect. Yes, the audio is incredibly beautiful. I noticed that it can capture frequencies that other cameras don’t, mostly the lower frequencies. The audio is complete and full with a great mix of frequencies and is perfectly balanced .  It’s nearly impossible to distort at high volumes.

    Firmware

    If you were thinking that is camera is perfection, well, you’re wrong because while the AN7000 has good hardware, it has absolutely poor firmware.  The following is a list of the worst defects I found.  Maybe some are not that important but some could ruin the usability of the camera.

    1. Buttons – As I said the buttons have a great feeling but the firmware pulls some strange pranks. Sometimes you can hear the mechanical click and the beep sound but actually the camera doesn’t make the requested action. It means that when you want start recording without looking at the camera you’re never sure whether the camera actually started recording or not.
    2. File name – The AN7000 saves the video files with a strange name. It doesn’t use the classic count like “0001, 0002, 0003… etc. ”. Instead it uses the time when the file was create so you’ll find “145235AA”.  It means the video started at 14:52 and 35 seconds. Using this method the files have no real logic – they risk getting mixed up.
    3. Reset – I noticed that the camera reset itself every time is turned off. This is very annoying because you can’t personalize your favourite settings ’cause at the next start all settings return to the original position.
    4. Rotation – It doesn’t have 180° image rotation. That it could be very annoying for someone like me who uses the camera upside down most of the time
    5. Overheating – While the AN7000 has a good processor, in my opinion it’s not managed properly. Combined with the inability to dissipate heat the camera reaches high and dangerous temperatures after few minutes.
    6. Recording – Probably this is the biggest problem. Sometimes, completely  at random, the camera spontaneously decides stop recording. I made a lot of tests but don’t understand why it happens. It’s as likely to continue for 1 hour without stopping as it is to stop after 10 seconds. There is no logic with this “auto-shutdown” and I can’t understand the reason.

    This is an example.  I set the camera with the loop recording at 5 minutes so each file should have been 1.2Gb.  Instead this is what happened:

    In this screenshot you can easily see the problem.

    The camera has the first firmware, version V1.0, and I truly hope that Andoer fixes all these bugs because they ruin a good camera.

    Battery Performance

    Here are the battery test results:

    • 4K 30fps – About 50 minutes (17Gb)
    • 2880s2160 30fps – About 50 minutes (16Gb)
    • 2704×2028 30fps – About 50 minutes (16Gb)
    • 2704×1520 30fps – About 50 minutes (16Gb)
    • 1080p 120fps – ND
    • 1080p 60fps – 52 minutes (12Gb)
    • 1080p 30fps – 77 minutes (15Gb)
    • 720p 240fps – ND
    • 720p 120fps – ND
    • 720p 60fps – 87 minutes (9Gb)
    • 720p 30fps – 83 minutes (14Gb)
    • Charging Time – 110 minutes

    I couldn’t test battery performance for all resolutions because of the overheating problem mentioned previously. All times are with WiFi and Screen off.

    WiFi and App

    The AN7000 WiFi works good when it can connect because it’s not a sure thing. Sometimes the phone connects to the camera immediately and sometimes not.  If not then you’re forced turn WiFi  on and off few times. Once the connection is established the app and WiFi work perfectly within 10m. I noticed that the WiFi is very fast.

    In fact when you download a video on the phone it reaches 3Mb/s. Yes, you must download the video to see it on your phone because the app doesn’t allow you to view it directly from the camera, or rather the option exists but it doesn’t work. The result of touching playback to see a video is just a white screen, nothing more. This problem only showed up with videos because with photos it works great.

    Bluetooth

    Bluetooth doesn’t work – I don’t know what to say beyond that. I tried it with five different phones ( Sony Xperia SP, HTC One, Wiko Iggy, Samsung J5, Samsung S6) but there is no way it connects to the camera.

    Summary

    The Andoer AN7000 is potentially one of the best Chinese cameras I ever tested. Probably it is on par or even better than a GoPro. It has great hardware and good components that increase the general quality of the camera. The main problem is the firmware because it’s a bottleneck for this camera. It’s like having a sport car with bike wheels: you can’t use it at maximum power. My AN7000 had version V1.0 and I hope that Andoer will release other versions to fix these firmware problems.

    Pros

      • Great video quality
    • Good audio
    • Well built
    • Good amount of accessories

    Cons

    • Battery life
    • Firmware requires updates
    • Overheating issues

    If you think Andoer AN7000 is right for you, you can buy it on this link (best price we found).

  • SJCam SJ360 Camera Review

    SJCam SJ360 Camera Review

    Here we go again!  After our Elephone EleCam 360 review here we are talking about another new 360° camera, this time from SJCam.  As you can see from the image below from the SJCam website, the camera doesn’t have a real 360° angle but rather 360° x 220°.

    In plain words, with this camera you can’t see the front and back at the same time but only the front through a porthole – I’ll show you what I mean during this review.

    Note : Buy SJ360 (special promo price)

    Specifications

    These are the specifications for the SJ360:

    [go_pricing id=”sjcam360″]

    Accessories

    If you follow our reviews you already know that SJCam includes a bounty of accessories:

    • Camera
    • Manual
    • Camera holder
    • Various screw mounts
    • X2 M3 mounts
    • 1x handlebar mount
    • 1x wire
    • Wiper
    • 2x stickers

    Let me mention two accessories in particular: the USB cable and the camera case.

    First the cable.  I ‘m not sure what the problem is but it I can’t connect the camera to my PC with the included USB cable.  The computer won’t recognize the camera.  I tried the cable with other cameras and PCs but it was the same story.

    The second one is just ingenious, something I’ve never seen before. It’s an easy, cheap and incredibly effective solution to protect your 360 camera.  It’s a small case with a carabiner that starts out flat but expands to a sphere to enclose the camera.

    Unboxing

    Design

    The design of the SJ360 is completely different from their other cameras.  First of all it’s round, not rectangular.  Second, you’ll find only two buttons, POWER and MODE. Honestly I found this design very nice but absolutely NOT practical.

    The  screen is nice.  It seems to be almost in 3D but only in dark conditions because in bright conditions it’s nearly impossible to read.

    On the other side of the camera we find the connections door, where the removable battery, HDMI, USB and MicroSD card are placed.

    This part also has a problem.  In particular the closing mechanism is very fragile because it’s composed of only two teeth and to open it you must force them until they makes a sinister “click”.

    Another bad note goes to the integrated screw mount. The problem is the position.  Why?

    Think about  it.  If this camera has the lens on the top and not on the side like other cameras, and the screw mount is on the bottom, how can you point the camera to the front?

    Well, the answer exists but it’s very uncomfortable and heavy!

    It’s also very unbalanced because the heavier part is on the top.  The effect is this:

    Obviously it’s absolutely impossible to mount it on a helmet.  And because there’s no waterproof case or anything that can protect it from water, dust, or various shocks, it’s not recommended for use like an “action camera”.

    Menu

    The SJ360 menu is not as fast or intuitive as I thought. Usually there’s a helpful LCD screen but it’s a rare case when the camera has practically no screen.  The menu can be opened by pressing the MODE button. As always the first choices is the Mode menu, what I call the “fast menu”:

    • Video Mode
    • Photo Mode
    • Video Lapse
    • Car Mode
    • Photo Burst
    • Photo Lapse
    • Settings

    In Settings we can find:

    • Wifi (On/Off)
    • Language (English/Chinese/Japanese/French/German/Spanish/Italian/Russian)
    • Resolution (2048p/1440p/1024p/512p at 30fps)
    • Loop Recording (5minutes/10minutes/off)
    • Video Lapse (1sec/2sec/5sec/10sec/30sec/1min)
    • Audio (On/Off)
    • Image Size (12M/10M/8M/5M/3M/2MHD/1.3M/VGA)
    • Photo Lapse Timer (3sec/5sec/10sec/20sec)
    • Burst Mode (3/5/10 Photos)
    • Delete Current
    • Delete All
    • Format
    • Default settings
    • Version
    • Exit

    Video

    As they usually do, SJCam did a good job with the SJ360’s video quality. Honestly I didn’t expect this kind of quality. Please don’t misunderstand me, this is a particular type of camera with a particular view and I’m judging it in comparison with other cameras of the same type.

    Based on my knowledge of 360° cameras, when I say it has good quality it’s because in general 360° cameras have poor quality videos.  It doesn’t mean it’s better than a “normal” action camera.  With this clarification I can say that the SJ360 does make good quality videos.

    It can shoot sharp videos thanks to the high native resolution, i.e., 2K (2048×2048). Yes it has a good quality but don’t forget that these kinds of videos are made through a “porthole”.  I like this term because it perfectly conveys the idea. This method of recording could be good for some but very bad for others – I can’t judge that.  In the settings you’ll find a few types of views but they are only for preview, not for the actual video, because it only records in “porthole” view.

    I found the SJ360 to be a little bit lazy with light changes.  It takes a little too much time to change the exposure but it’s understandable due to the huge FOV.  Colors are still faithful to reality.  Apart from the minor exposure problem I can assure you that this camera shot incredibly good videos, almost on par with “normal” action cameras.

    The SJ360 has no image stabilization but thanks to the super wide FOV it seems stabilized anyway.

    It works great in dark conditions, having an incredible amount of definition and detail and an absolute absence of noise in the image.

    Honestly I didn’t expect this quality from the camera.  I think that SJCam managed to pull out the best they could from this model.

    Photos

    The photos are also not as bad as I expected.  The SJ360 can’t be used like a professional camera but it’s not too bad.  The only problem is the exposure: sometimes it’s too high so it overexposes photos.

    Audio

    Recent SJCam cameras like the M20 or SJ6 have had great incorporated microphones.  To my great surprise the SJ360 model has very bad audio quality! I don’t know why they made such a mistake on this camera but it’s a shame. The main problem is the incredibly low volume.  It’s so low that it’s impossible to use to record something we actually want to hear again.

    Wifi and App

    SJCam makes one of the best apps and WiFi hardware among action cameras. I can only say that the SJ360 is perfectly stable and the app works as well as other SJCams.

    Battery Performance

    These are the results:

    • 2K 30fps – 140 minutes (19,2Gb)
    • 1440p 30fps – 162 minutes (15,1Gb)
    • 1024p 30fps – 170 minutes (8,08Gb)

    Recharging time – 190 minutes

    WiFi was off while checking battery times.

    Summary

    This time I’m not sure about my ending summary because  the SJ360 has a lot of high points and low points. It has unexpectedly good video quality and great battery life but all the other things are . . . not bad but uncomfortable. I don’t know if I can recommend it or not.  It’s a particular type of camera with a strange kind of view.  The decision really depends on your needs.

    Pros:

    • Good Video Quality
    • Long battery Life
    • Easy to Navigate
    • Perfect Remote Interface (Wifi/App)

    Cons:

    • Uncomfortable Design
    • Bad Audio
    • Hard to mount
    • There is no case to protect it from dust, water or shocks
    • Unusable USB cable (It could be an isolated problem)

    Buy SJ360 camera

    Editor’s note : Before publishing this review we waited quite a lot. The reason for this is that the SJCAM told us they are developing a software which can make videos look rotating. Until this day, nearly 20 days after our initial email, manufacturer has not provided a stable software version which works. That’s why we simply can not verify that this particular camera can make rotating videos. We at Pevly have tried to find a decent software to convert videos (including third party ones) but not a single one worked. If something changes in future and manufacturer offers a stable and working version of a software, we will update this review.