Category: SJCAM

In 2014 I was quite excited when I learned about the new Chinese company called – SJCAM. Their popular camera SJ4000 proved to be one of the most successful cheap sports cameras. You might not know this, but the first article ever published on our website was about recognizing fake SJCAM cameras.

Now 3 years after, SJCAM is no longer an unfamiliar brand. They launched a serious amount of cameras and became one of the leaders on the cheap sports camera market.Thanks to their new marketing and business model, they changed a lot of things. The company expanded quite a lot. What is more important they began launching new models monthly. Way bigger brands like GoPro, Sony or Garmin can’t keep up with this pace.

Recently, we wrote about the release of SJ-Dash, their first ever car camera. This August, we came across some very exciting news. SJCAM announced the release of two more cameras by the end of October 2017. SJ8 and SJ360+.

In this article, we’ll provide you with as much information on these two cameras as we were able to discover. Please understand that some of the info shared here, including the specs, the design, and the features are not final and are subject to change. With that in mind, let’s see which novelty SJCAM has to offer this time.

SJCAM SJ8 4K @60 FPS

We begin with a model which everyone is excited about – the SJ8. The information on SJ8 appeared on the poshgadgets website. They were the first to leak the photos. Once again, this is all still unconfirmed information. We’re waiting for an official reply from our contacts at SJCAMHD.

SJ8 4K is a sports action camera which biggest feature is recording 4K videos at 60 FPS. Furthermore, it will allow EIS (Electronic Image Stabilization) in 4K @ 30 FPS. These features sound quite impressive. Only a few months ago, we did not have an action camera which supports EIS in 4K.

It is really amazing how quickly the sports camera market is progressing. YI 4K+ was a  first 4K/60fps action camera, but now we have the SJ8 and few others coming.

SJCAM SJ8 is a successor of SJ7 Star. It’s the first dual-screen action camera which will support 4K/60 FPS.  The front screen has 0.96″. It will most probably be an OLED screen which will show the most basic information about the camera. The back screen will probably be a live-view touch screen, which will allow users to navigate through the settings and change different modes and options. The first dual-screen model which company produced was the SJ6 Legend.

Another notable feature of the SJ8 is the external GPS support. One of their main competitors, GitUp also announced an external GPS camera called G3 DUO. Furthermore, SJ8 will apparently be powered by Ambarella H22 processor and have Sony IMX377 image sensor.

The camera supports voice-control, live-streaming, slow motion, RAW image mode and has distortion correction.

SJCAM SJ8 Technical Specs

The specs table below is based on the information we gathered online. It is subject to change and we will update as the more information becomes available to the public. Take this info with a pinch of salt.

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SJCAM SJ8 release date and price

So far, the release date and the retail price for the SJ8 has not been announced. It’s been speculated that the official specification for the product will be released to the public in October 2017. With that in mind, we estimate that camera will be on the market in September. This is only our blind guess.

We will update this section when SJCAM officials give us the official information.

SJCAM SJ360+

An updated version of their first ever 360° cameras is called SJ360+. We reviewed its predecessor SJ360, and it proved to be a good concept with a rushed release since there were some software problems.

Even though similar in name, the two models have nothing in common. Aesthetically, they are completely different. The new SJ360+ has a rectangular shape opposed to spherical which SJ360 had. Plus version features two lenses on both front and the back. Its shape allows users to easily hold it in hand.

The camera has a 0.96″ screen on the front. It supports built in WiFi within 10m of range. This means you’ll be able to control the camera remotely, via your smartphone. In order to operate the camera via the WiFi, you’ll have to have a new app installed – SjCamPano. The app is already available for Android and iOS.

SJ360+ is powered by 1700 mAh battery and can record 360° videos in full HD, 1080p. According to the manufacturer, the SJ360 camera supports 360° uploads to Facebook and YouTube. There’s no info on an image sensor, but the camera will use SJCAM A7S chipset.

On SJCAM official YouTube channel, there’s always a video sample of the camera’s performance.

Even though the two videos above appeared on YouTube two months, ago there’s still not much info on the camera, which probably means the manufacturer is tweaking it up, so the final output may be improved.

The release date and the pricing for the SJ360+ are yet unknown.

Summary

Some, including our Pevly team, may say that launching a way to many models is not always a smart move. It can be a double-edged sword. We covered some of their cameras which proved to be rushed out to the market (SJ7 and SJ360 are just one of a few).

On the other hand, this allows them to progress quickly. We really liked the new SJ6 Legend Air. The company has been launching improved new cameras almost monthly.

What do you think about these two cameras? Which one would you prefer to have? Have more information to share with us? Leave a comment below, we’re eagerly waiting to hear from you.

Our postman never rings twice. The system is, he just honks his car klaxon; it freaks our doggies, and then we know who’s out there, by the incredible din they orchestrate.

The new package from Far Far Away has arrived!

It’s a camera that I have eagerly awaited and very much looked forward to exploring. One of the reasons is that SJ company has so far produced a lot of interesting models. I bought the M10+ some years ago, and I still genuinely enjoy using it during my snorkeling swims.

Another reason is, SJCam also had a few unexpected glitches in some of their models, which folks might feel differently about, but to me, it’s the proof that this manufacturer is not afraid to do things which sometimes are not quite simple.

But pushing the envelope gains one an experience, and it always pays. SJCam products get better, and this trend will continue – as long as the wisdom of patience for extensive and thorough testing is kept paramount.

Now lessee… the previous model in the SJ6 series was named Legend, so it was obviously aimed at creating some. This one is SJ6 Legend Air. Is it just a cleverly misspelled Legendaire, or is it meant to hover in the air of legends? Or is it simply airweight? Can’t say which without examining it.

So let’s find out about that fresh Air peeking out of yonder large white box.

What’s inside the box?

There is the camera and its waterproof casing with one touchscreen hatch and a hard hatch. What should be (but is not) one usual accessory with every cam from every manufacturer is a lens cover, meant to shield the lens from scratches and fingerprints: one welcome add-on.

Also welcome is the RF (remote control unit) which can be used with optional “selfie stick” and/or worn as a wrist watch. This little device is optionally available as well, but has been added with the sample for testing purposes.

With SJCAMs, you will find a generous supply of various mounts included, so the package here contains a frame mount, a 360° arched bracket and 360° parallel bracket, the curved and the flat mount, the switch supports 1, 2, and 3, a bicycle mount, and adapters 1 and 2.

The “usuals” conclude the package contents: an USB data & charging cable, the Quick Guide (Manual) booklet, 3M fixing stickers, a square of wiping cloth, and two SJCam stickers that the proud cam owner may wish to display.

Closer look

The camera looks nice and feels great in the hand. The box components fit each other nicely with no noticeable gaps, and the buttons are laid-in flush, so are unlikely to be pressed accidentally.

One obvious thing when first you take the camera out of its package is the overall quality of its build. It seems like made out of one solid piece, the surfaces are grippy and unlikely to slip. The camera sides are corrugated while the front surface is finished in what was once called “leather effect” paint looking like sprayed in relief-forming droplets.  Its three buttons sink shallowly, responding in tactile clicks that can be registered even with the camera sounds switched off.

The lens protrudes beyond its mount, which is normal due to its wide field of view, but it is also exposed to careless fingerprint smudges and contacts with the ambient. Fingerprint residue contains various chemical components including fatty acids and cholesterol that can influence the lens surface / coating, so one has to take care in handling to avoid this. To that effect, a simple lens cap has been included, but it can only be effective if regularly used.

This lens cap is made of milky-white translucent silicone compound. While it is one very useful accessory as it is, there are two improvements that could be implemented in its future version. Firstly, it should be black, thus able to block out all light, so it could be used for pixel-mapping procedure which resets hot pixels. And then it should have a line-attaching point on its outside rim, so one could save it someplace other than the pocket and not so easily lose.

You might say the cam and almost all the accompanying parts appear pretty standard. There are no major changes in shape and building principles there as far as one can see. The box-in-the-box concept seems to be still prevalent, although the camera could have easily been constructed right into the water / pressure-proof box. The very “action camera” term points at the fact that it is a device meant for exclusive or prevalent outdoors usage.

Mounts of various kind account for the large part of the package and are neatly manufactured, fitting well together and to each other. One thing I have noticed is that maybe the meshing surfaces of swiveling inter-connecting pieces could benefit from slight roughing; their friction would become better without the need for forceful tightening!

In the meantime, one can take a diamond nail file to those inner swivel surfaces, and achieve more friction with less finger-tightening force. This would be good for various multi-part mounting arrangements that are exposed to a lot of vibration, while the esthetic appearance of the mounts wouldn’t be affected at all. Maybe the manufacturers should look into it!

Just sayin’…

SJCAM SJ6 Legend Air Specifications

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Touchscreen

One significant option with SJ6 Legend Air is a case hatch for its touchscreen, an innovation over the standard hard hatch. The central part of the hatch has been replaced by pliable plastic material that transfers capacitive charge to the camera monitor. Due to touch-sensing specifics, this feature works fine on dry land. I found that the touch function responds swiftly and positively in dry conditions… somewhat erratically when the touch door is wet… and not at all under the surface.

Physically, the pliable, soft touch part of the hatch (with the camera it presses against) can withstand the water pressure down to the depth of 3m / ~10′. If there is no camera inside to support it, the soft material might  stretch, deform, and become unusable. You should not expose the empty casing sealed with touch door to any outside pressure.

Optional Accessories

I was provided with a few handy optional accessories which are not included in the original packing of the SJ6 Air. You can buy these separately.

RF Remote Control

The RF Remote Control unit lets you issue certain commands to the camera over a distance. It will communicate with SJCam’s M20, SJ6 and SJ7 series cameras via its 2.4 GHz transmitter to a distance of 10 meters.

This nifty smartwatch-looking Remote Control (sized W35 x L35 x H9.6mm) can be worn as a wristwatch, or be clipped to the optional “selfie stick”. The wristwatch band has a hard rubber holder wherein the Remote can be slotted, and similar holder has been molded as an open ring which fits the selfie stick above its handle.

The unit surface has five keys that control the following camera functions: WiFi On/Off, Video, Photo, Burst Mode, and Power Off. As the camera does not have any stand-by mode, you have to switch the camera On manually, while it can be then switched Off by the remote signal. Yes, Remote Power On would be nice, but the circuit to await such a signal would then be constantly drawing the battery power… so a compromise here makes sense.

NOTE: There were/are two distinctive versions: waterproof, which can be submerged to 10 meters depth, and only weatherproof – usually meaning: safe to use in the rain. When the button markings are black (relief in the button surface), the device is waterproof. If the RF buttons are marked in white, it denotes that it is only weatherproof, but those have now been discontinued in preference to properly waterproofed Remote Control units.

By principles of radio emission RF does not work well underwater*, but will operate even in wet conditions – as long as both the transmitter (remote control) and receiver (camera) are in the air. I have taken my sample to its rated depth while pressing the buttons vigorously to test the watertightness. The unit withstood the test, and there was no water inside. Back on the surface, the Remote worked normally.

Never forget to rinse this device thoroughly in freshwater immediately after every swim in the sea, to prevent damage from dried salt crystals, sediment and biological matter. All that has to be dislodged and washed away!

* After reading this I’ll have to conduct more extensive tests of RC units operating at 2.4GHz…

Selfie Stick

There is something with this invention that always made me grin, seeing people with a smartphone clipped on top of it, smiling at the box while trying to enframe their faces and features diverse with some background. Somehow, it made me think of various lonelinesses, self-obsessions, networking compulsions, social alienation… stuff like that. And though selfie-sticks nowadays are as usual as spoons, I never thought about actually using one.

And then I got one selfie stick in the extended accessories package, and had a chance for a closer look.

First, let me say that the product is excellently manufactured, all the way from the choice of materials thru pedantry of manufacturing to the ease of use. Its telescoping elements are made of round tubular aluminum segments that have each been stressed along two sides to form interlocking ovals (in cross section). This enables you to extend the segments and interlock them at any length from collapsed 25 cm to fully extended 70 cm, by rotating the handle against the camera-connecting swivel. It holds the camera firmly – there is absolutely no wobbling there.

For added safety, there is a wrist strap attached to the lower rim of the stick handle, but for us folks with “spade-class” hands it will probably need to be replaced for a more spacious loop.

The base of the rubber-coated handle has a standard ¼” tripod bushing made of brass, which is practical for various things, except one: the aluminum tubing and brass inset should not be dunked in saltwater, as the combination of materials might generate galvanic currents that, with prolonged use, eats away the aluminum! In freshwater application (the way I am using it) there is no such danger. Although the aluminum stick segments are anodized in elegant matte black, I have deep-sprayed the unit with WD-40 to keep the water away from metal surfaces (talk about belt plus suspensors thinking!). Still, I would avoid the brine, just in case.

The stick top ends in by now standard three-pronged swivel where two-pronged counterpart accessories attach. The wealth of various attachments allow for many combinations, of course.

Adapter & Filter(s)

Another useful accessory comes in a small round box that looks just like a cream jar, except that the top sticker explains its contents. Its padded interior contains a precision-machined, matte black aluminum adapter that can be push-fitted over the camera lens. The adapter is threaded to accept 40.5 mm screw-in filters (and/or other lens front optical elements). My sample contained an UV (Skylight) filter, good for cutting through the mist or haze, but there is a side sticker on the box that reveals what kind of filters are available in this size.

You can thus use the adapter for UV, CPL, ND, Gradient, or Star digital filters, though the choice is limited only by your imagination. There are adapters available for SJ4000, SJ5000, SJ6, SJ7, M20 and M10 cameras.

Cherry-on-top, there is also the spring-loaded lens cap that grips into filter or adapter threads, to guard against accidental bumps, spray and scratches.

SJCAM ZONE App

Excerpt from the SJCam web page: “SJCAM ZONE App with social sharing and post-production tools! The new app for Wifi-powered SJCAM cameras is a whole new experience to the action camera market. Remote control your SJCAM to record some great shots, use the built-in post production tools, and share to the SJCAM world thanks to the built in social sharing platform. Everything is free of charge for all SJCAM users, available on App Store and Google Play store!”

There is more. You can operate your WiFi-enabled SJCams from Android, iOS, or even from the Windows platform. Of those, I have tried it with Android and it works as advertised. Which is to say, hardly more can be expected, right?

Quick Start Guide

A nicely made small booklet of ~10 x 9 cm, presents basic operations in several languages (English, German, Russian and Chinese) and adequate drawings. The back cover has two QR codes which get you the camera’s app, either for iOS or Android. The texts, so far as I was able to check the English and German sections, is fairly correct and to-the-point, while the drawings and description of parts makes it practically self-explainable. If you so prefer, you can also download a .pdf version of the Guide.

Video Quality

The camera has a 2.0″ touch-screen to simplify the setup, and also to see what you are shooting. It is as easy to use as the one on your smartphone.

With SJ6 Legend Air, the company introduces its first SJCAM A9S chipset which, combined with the Panasonic’s MN34112PA 14Mpx sensor manages to record up to 4K at 24fps (interpolated), and up to 2K at 30fps FHD real video recording (2560×1440) in either MOV or MP4 using H.264 compressed video format.

The formats you can choose among are 4K (2880x2160px @ 24 fps Interpolated), 2K (2560x1440px @ 30 fps), 1080P (1920x1080px @ 60/30 fps), 1080P (1440×1080 @ 30 fps 4:3), 1080P (1920×1080 @ 30 fps Super), 720px (1280×720 @ 120/60/30 fps), and VGA (640×480 @ 240 fps).

SJ6 Legend Air optics allow Wide 166° field of view, further modifiable in two more downsteps that SJCAM calls Middle and Narrow. For people which do not like the usual wide-angle lens distortion, there is now an useful function allowing one to shoot rectilinear (corrected) wide angle videos and photos without much fisheye effect bending the straight-lined objects. This also means somewhat less work in post-production editor.

Legend Air has following video modes that you can easily pick from its Video mode menu, right off the touchscreen: Video (normal), Video Lapse, Slow Rec (-2X, -4X and -8X), Video+Photo, Car Mode, and Underwater Movie. Similar choice is available for Photo shooting, such as Photo Lapse, Burst Mode, and all subsequent specs you’d care to implement for any among those.

You can choose whether the camera opens in Photo or Video mode when you switch it on, depending on your prevalent usage, but long-press on the shutter button swaps between photo and video at any time. Considering that the Legend Air only has three buttons for all of its settings and functions makes it very elegant, as long as you remember which button does what in which mode. Since the touch screen is a more than welcome alternative to command buttons, it’ll be good to work the buttons from time to time, just to not forget their roles!
Gyro stabilization is working fine. It smooths out the camera vibrations in the video, which is another useful feature, especially when you record in motion. So, using SJ6 Legend Air while running, biking, for FPV or as a dash cam, the Gyro function makes your videos a lot more pleasant to watch.

I have tried to conduct my tests mainly underwater, for a change. Since water is a different medium, the results can show you somewhat more than what you’d see in a dry-land record, especially the way the camera treats the contrast and shadow. Not every time was the visibility excellent, due to seasonal algae-blooming conditions, but you’ll see what I mean…

Photo Quality

You can make photos in image sizes and resolutions throughout its range from interpolated 16Mpx images, via sensor-sized 14Mpx, 12, 10, 8, 5, 3, 2, down to 1.3Mpx. And the cam can do JPEG or RAW, as per wish…

Beside image size, you can vary the Exposure Time (from Auto thru 60 sec), Delay Capture (from Off thru 10 sec), Quality (between fine, normal and economy), Sharpness (normal, strong, soft), White Balance (auto, daylight, cloudy, tungsten, fluorescent), Color (normal, b&w, retro, warm, cool), ISO (from auto thru 1600), EV (from +2/3 thru -2/3), RAW (Off/On)… You can switch the Gyro Sensor ON or OFF, or change the Field Of View (between wide, middle, and narrow), switch Wide Dynamic Range On/Off, apply Distortion Correction, (making picture rectilinear), and use a Time Stamp if you wish or need it in the picture.

As to the image quality, let me just say that I was pleasantly surprised. The lens system is very good, and regardless of the small sensor and a rather limited ISO range, images appear very good. No doubt, the efficient Gyro sensor adds to the fact. In all, if this cam had a zoom arrangement, it would replace many a P&S camera for everyday use.

NOTE: Get SJCAM’s RAW Converter!

Sound Quality

I got two extra microphones which connect to the Legend Air via its USB point. These look pretty much the same, except that one is a typical “shirt collar” type, while the other has a bendable cable segment of 12cm, a type usually referred to as “gooseneck”. These mikes have pinch clips you use to attach ’em to clothes – or elsewhere.

Both mikes have 145 centimeters of cable length between mike head and USB connector, and this cable is clad in woven material which makes it extremely pliable; like a soft string. For some reason, the USB connectors at the end of cables are L-formed (at right angle to cable). These connectors, together with the kind of cable protection make the microphones unusable with the new weather / waterproof camera casing which has an extra USB port. More about it later.

However, there are times and situations when I would like to have the camera enclosed and the microphone on the outside… Maybe such an accessory will be available later on, if someone from SJ company reads this…

The built-in microphone can be regulated between values of 10% and 100%, in ten levels from 1 to 10 (in the Video / Volume Menu). Default is set at 8, and I have used that setting in all the records, but you can also listen to the built-in mike recording in the Night Video, where some music was gathered during the drive.

Recording the sound from within the closed waterproof casing generally makes little sense, since soundwaves get to be mightily muted. Raising the microphone sensitivity to the top level (10) won’t help much; thus, some properly watertighted outside microphone would be helpful. By this I’m “putting a bug in SJCAM’s ear”, since the new “USB casing” could be the obvious solution – and not only for underwater sound recordings!

Truth be said, the situation is a tad better if and when you’re using the casing with its touchdoor. Thinner protective plastic layer responds better and to a wider range of sound frequencies, which helps some.

Still, an outside waterproof microphone (perhaps of the kind they build into amphibious cameras) could be a proper future solution. So, c’mon SJCAM! If submarines can listen underwater, surely your cameras can too!

Battery Test

SJ6 Legend Air is powered by a removable 1000mAh 5V/1A battery that is good for video recording time of ~80 minutes (with WiFi On) or ~110 minutes (WiFi Off). Recharging a flat battery, as the specs state, should not take longer than 3 hours. They were right.

The battery was charged in-camera at room temperature (28°C) using Tesla smartphone charger outputting 1A/5VDC. Power-depleting times were measured outdoors with the camera out of its waterproof casing, using the highest resolution and also the highest frame-per-second rate. In all tests the monitor  was constantly ON, to force the most energy spending.

There was no difference worth mentioning between the values stated and actual battery performance, which is good news. Recording time of 80 – 85 minutes usually depleted the battery and recharging time was consistent; 183 to 185 minutes. While charging, there is a red LED signal on, and the screen shows animated battery-charging symbol.

NOTE: Values displayed are not absolute, since there are variables that influence the tests, such as ambiental temperature, internal temperature, usage with or without protective housing, specific charger, production batch, also monitor or WiFi being Off or On, etc.

Waterproof Case

As always, there is this feeling that all camera manufacturers acquire their protective encasements from the one & only manufacturer – the one who hates changes! The only difference to find is in the casing’s dimensioning, the layout of its command buttons, maybe the lock shape, and in certain variety of the way the lens ports are put together. Thus, regarding this camera case, there is not much to disclose. It is able to shield the camera down to 30m / ~100′ – or against pressure equal to 4 kg per cm² (4 Bar) when closed by its hard hatch.

The SJ6 Legend Air case lens port is by default resistant to depth pressure, solidly watertight, and enclosed in black, non-transparent hood shielding the lens against scattered light. Users are strongly advised to regard the port of the camera casing as a part of the cam’s optical system. The casing lens port material is hard plastic, not scratch-proof, so do take care to avoid any contact of case’s port with harder materials, so as not to affect its performance.

Then there is one interesting deviation from the usual. SJCAM offers another housing which has an extra opening on the camera’s contact (right hand) side. Unscrewing the (o-ring sealed) waterproof plug enables you to insert the USB cable right into the otherwise closed encasement and secure it there by a similar plug the cable runs through. It is then weather-sealed as regards the camera casing, while the other cable end is supposed to connect to your computer or charger. This fashion, you can arrange for real long recording sessions in the open, like time-lapse shoots, while the power comes from, say, an outside power bank unit. Nifty!

The USB casing is delivered with a touch door, which can, of course, be replaced by a hard hatch version. When the cable port is safely blind-plugged, you can use the camera underwater just like in a standard encasement.

The fact that SJCam has actually used o-rings on this specific feature has caused me to add some rant below (aimed rather optimistically at the casing designer), but as regards the reliable sealing principles, I’m glad to see things possibly moving in the right direction.

Waterproof Case Care

Please see this article for details!

SJ6 Legend vs. SJ6 Legend Air

I’m certain that at one point you’ll ask yourself about the difference between the SJ6 Legend and SJ6 Legend Air. Well, aside from the obvious difference in the name, there are few other things. First among those, the distribution. According to the manufacturer, SJ6 Legend Air will be sold to a limited market, mostly in Europe, e.g., European distributors will have SJ6 Legend Air available.

The traditional B2C websites will not be selling the SJ6 Air. Why SJCAM decided to go this way, remains a mystery. It’s not the first time they released this kind of a limited edition product. Last year they launched SJ5000x and X1000, which were both sold to a limited market.

Furthermore, SJ6 Legend has a RRP of $159, whereas the SJ6 AIR costs $135.

The difference is also in hardware. Cameras have different processors and image sensors. SJ6 Legend Air has a touch screen LCD at the back, while the SJ6 Legend features two screens; front one for data, and rear one for image.

Take a look at the table below. It illustrates only the differences between the two models.

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Summary

All in all, the feeling is good. I predict you will like this camera. From the neatly put together body, via its features which comprise external microphone support, timelapse operations, motion detection ability, burst shooting mode, slow-motion recording, and gyro stabilization, to the ease of disregarding the buttons in favor of a touchscreen… one can do a lot with this small, but surprisingly able camera. Laurels are not meant to be slept on, but facts are facts.

That said, there were a few things which, frankly, I have found unnecessarily changed. For instance, the quick-release mount piece does not lock sidewise to its shoe as before; the new type locks downward. This means I can’t use it with, say, SJCam M10 counterpart, unless I start by combining the mounting pieces right from the camera casing swivel. While the majority of action cameras have mounting elements that are interchangeable, it really should be de rigueur for one manufacturer to maintain total compatibility within its range of products.

Same goes for USB connector types on their camera end, at least while there are standard operating voltages and/or data transfer speeds. The USB connector issued with SJ6 Legend Air can be dated about 20 years back. Remember that ancient trapezoid profile with bent-in lateral sides? Luckily, it is one type that has always been praised for its rock solid mechanical connection, and I still have several such cables from my old Sony cameras and backup disks.

Nevertheless, many connecting accessory types should finally become and remain standard, even for no reason other than reducing the “cable salad” in our homes!

The new “USB Housing” allows one to connect the encased camera to an outside power source through the special side port. There is also a corresponding USB cable which can be connected and sealed in position. Wouldn’t it be nice if there was also an outside microphone which could be used with it? An(y) underwater casing is severely reducing the sound level (with touchdoor, somewhat less), and an outside mike would be welcome! So maybe I’m allowed to suggest a weather-proofed microphone with plastic-coated cable ending in a straight connector that can utilise the side port? Even an L-shaped small gooseneck mike built into the port seal cap would be an useful accessory to have with this casing! And then there are electrical wet contacts too, have been used 30 years ago for reliable light and flash cable connections at any depth… sea or freshwater… (SJCam – there’s more. Just ask!)

*
I was an active diver-photographer for 50+ years, and still am, in an ever more age-limiting way. In my heyday I was quite inventive, always striving to improve both the breathing and the photographing gear I was using. I wish users and manufacturers of underwater cameras would have patience to read this through and maybe use my experience. So please bear with me going off at a tangent here.

Whosoever makes these watertight housings still stubbornly employs the same GoPro-like hatch gasket copy, simply refusing to see that this should be replaced by an o-ring, as its principle has been proven the best – from bathyscaphs and submarines to spacecrafts – and through millions of other serious, no-nonsense applications.

An o-ring is a small thing which has the main role in anything underwater. It moves in response to the raising depth pressure, and adapts its position and shape to seal progressively tighter. The gaskets of the kind implemented with almost all action cameras can’t behave in the same way. To my sorrow, the current gaskets can’t be directly replaced by o-rings until the seal groove of the hatch was re-shaped, though not by much.

I can’t predict how the current sealings behave beyond certain depths / pressures, also after longer usage time. Frankly, I have no way to do full and proper tests to the fail level, so as to determine a water ingress point, to measure deformations of the case, its material resilience and fatigue, or ability to return to its original form. Until such time, we’ll have to, er, trust the Creator.

As for now, at least the command button pins are o-ring sealed. These are standardly placed in guiding / shielding wells, so the pins run straight through the casing hull. A biased spring between the underside of the button and a small metal plate keeps the o-ring around the pin in proper position. The pin is held on its inner end by small e-clip type retaining ring.

The simplicity of this arrangement ensures certain safety of operation, but it is also dependent upon the strength of the spring working in variable pressure ambient. For lesser depths, the spring force outweighs the pressure upon the exposed sealing area surface. With increasing depth the pin command becomes easier to push in, using more spring force to return. In any ambient of variable pressure the rotating command works more precisely, since the parts interact much smoother. In return, the use of weaker springs (where needed) augments the tactile feel of rotating commands, which translates into more exact operating of the device.

The lens port is also one critical part, since it is factually the only surface of the waterproof enclosure that has to be transparent in a very special way. So in order to ensure the light passing uniformly through the whole surface, the best lens ports are precisely polished plan-parallel pieces of hardglass, sapphire glass, or similar scratch-resistant crystal.

Without intermediate box (where the camera’s innards are built right into an impermeable case), the safest way to operate the cam would be by several reed switches on the inside actuated by small magnets from the outside of the casing. Avoiding mechanical commands through the encasement wall means reducing water ingress risk, and removes maintenance.

Such single-case-all-conditions concept simplifies construction, reduces the number of parts (so the costs), and warrants an amphibious usage right out of the package. For now, this is still only my standard personal beef wish for any and all outdoors devices, which is way too slow in fulfillment. There were cameras built that way thirty years ago… Why not now?

Oh, well. Rant off. Maybe some day manufacturers will see it the same way we users do!

PROS

CONS

Conclusion

SJ6 Legend Air is one great camera for small money. Beside its operating qualities, there is a wide range of accessories in the initial package, and also some very usable and interesting optional accessories. You get all the basic mounting elements right with the camera, and only add what you need from the optional accessories range. Good concept plus good product plus good price equals good buy.

UPDATE MAY 23, 2017

Yesterday I received an e-mail from SJCam with an update on this issue.  Here’s a portion of the text from that e-mail:

Recently I’ve been reviewing the SJCam SJ7 Star action camera.  Part way through testing it became inoperable.  How did this happen?

The photo on the right above shows how the front of my SJ7 became warped and distorted, causing the camera to be unusable.  Unlike the top, sides and bottom of the camera body, the front is made of plastic, not aluminum.

The front of my SJ7 became deformed some time during 3 hours of use as a dash camera.  I was using it with the battery removed and powered by a USB power bank. It was mid-afternoon in Georgia, USA. Outside temperature was about 29°C (85°F) with the A/C running in my vehicle and one stop of about 30 minutes with the windows rolled up.  I was recording in 4K.

One can only speculate as to why this happened.  Because the camera was mounted on the windshield of my vehicle the sun was shining directly on it.  Was the front of the camera unable to withstand the heat of the sun?

Did the internal components of the SJ7 overheat, causing the front to deform?  If yes, how did the camera continue to record video without any files being corrupted and why weren’t the circuit boards inside the camera deformed?  When I removed the camera face and looked inside I could see no evidence of overheating.

In accordance with the official User’s Manual I had removed the battery before using it as a dash cam.  This is addressed on page 18 (VIDEO RECORD – Page 2) of the manual.  When I discovered the warping I immediately disconnected the camera from the USB power bank.  I’ve since confirmed with SJCam that there’s no prohibition against using a power bank with the SJ7.  Afterwards I tried to install the battery but due to deformation it no longer fit in its compartment.

I tried connecting AC and DC adapters and the power bank again but the camera wouldn’t turn on even though Car DV mode was on. (With Car DV mode turned on, the camera should power up and begin recording as soon as a live power source is connected.)  I tried using the camera’s power button after connecting to an external power source but because the faceplate was so warped it wouldn’t work.  I now have a brick.

In follow-up emails, SJCam strongly advised users to remove the battery from their SJ7 before using it as a dash cam.  The SJCam e-mail described it as “an additional layer of safety”.  They also said that they were looking into changing the faceplate material, improving ventilation and perhaps modifying firmware.

So, is this a failure of the plastic material used for the camera front?  Is it a failure of the protection circuit that shuts down the camera in the event of overheating?  Is it a shortcoming in ventilation?  Is it some combination of these?

There are tens of thousands of action cameras being used as dash cameras.  How many reports of warping and deformation have you heard of?  Personally I’ve heard of two including this one.  No doubt there are more but surely this isn’t a widespread problem, is it?

I have four other action cameras that I’ve used as dash cams and I’ve never had a problem with them.  I’ve used them in higher temperatures for longer periods of time than the SJ7.  Indeed, I’ve been using the SJ7’s sibling SJ4000 for 21 months as a dash cam without a hitch.

Until and unless SJCam actually implements the changes they say they’re looking into, I strongly urge anybody thinking about buying an SJ7 to reconsider their choice.  Even if I hadn’t had the deformation problem I would not have recommended the SJ7 as I make clear in my abbreviated review.

In the comments below I would like to hear from anyone who has had a problem with their SJ7 action cam regarding deformation, warping or overheating for any reason.  I’d like a better understanding of how widespread this problem might be.  In the meantime I hope current SJ7 owners will keep a close eye on their cameras to ensure that they don’t have the same issue.

The camera I was testing was provided by SJCam.  I was assisting to beta test their firmware and offering other suggestions about the camera, packaging, manuals and website.

UPDATE MAY 23, 2017

Yesterday I received an e-mail from SJCam with an update on this issue.  Here’s a portion of the text from that e-mail:

SPECIAL NOTICE

The following article was written before my SJ7 test camera became inoperable.  After three hours of use as a dash camera, the SJ7 warped and deformed.  The review is incomplete but gives you an idea of my impressions based on testing I had completed up to the time of the problem.

Please see my separate article Why Did My SJ7 Stop Working? for background, photos, details and other information.

As a result of this problem I have no choice but to emphatically recommend against purchasing an SJ7.  As you’ll see below I wasn’t going to recommend it anyway.

These days several action camera manufacturers are introducing new cameras that shoot true 4K video. Chinese action camera maker SJCam has just joined the fray with the introduction of their top-of-the-line camera, the SJ7 Star.

The SJ7 Star was originally scheduled to be released in early 2017 but was delayed multiple times as the firmware was sorted out. My review camera originally had firmware version 1.05 but was updated to version 1.13, the latest available at the time of this review. More revisions are in the works so please come back and check this article for updates.

There’s been lots of hubbub about the SJ7 Star. Is it warranted?

RATINGS AND SUMMARY

NOTE:  Ratings withheld due to problem with camera.

HIGH POINTS

LOW POINTS

SUMMARY

At this time I can’t recommend the SJ7 because it feels like an incomplete product. There are still firmware problems that SJCam needs to iron out. Hopefully they’ll do so with the next iteration of firmware and apps. My test camera had firmware version 1.13 and the apps were version 5.1.4.

There are simply too many settings that don’t work correctly or are missing. Basics such as EV and ISO don’t work and Color, Scene, adjustable field of view, digital zoom and 180° image rotation are all missing. You basically need to leave settings on Auto because you can’t reliably adjust for conditions.  Automatic frame doubling of videos at night is annoying on a top-shelf camera.  You should be able to select a lower frame rate – not frame doubling – to take over automatically or lock in daytime rates..

RC enthusiasts will be disappointed that the SJ7 does not support FPV. Also the internal mic could do a better job and there’s no guarantee that an external mic will do any better.

But it’s not all doom and gloom with the SJ7 because it certainly has some strengths.  It has a nice feel in hand and the aluminum camera body is visually appealing.  Be careful not to leave it in the sun too long – the metal body can feel especially hot to the touch.  The buttons feel great but who needs buttons when you have that wonderful touch screen! I can assure you, once you’ve had a touch screen camera you won’t want to go back to buttons.

The waterproof enclosure seems well made and there again the buttons feel just right. You’ll be tempted to forego the buttons because a waterproof touch back door is included.  Unfortunately swiping and touching didn’t work with it most of the time.

The battery performance was really quite good. You can get an hour of recording at 4K with WiFi and the screen on. Recharging time was reasonable too.

The Android app works well but I couldn’t get the iOS app to work right. It connected easily but as soon as I snapped a photo it would get hung up. I couldn’t do anything but exit the app and start over.

You could purchase the SJ7 now in anticipation of SJCam improving the firmware but there’s no guarantee that changes equate to improvements. If you look at our SJ6 Legend review you’ll find that the last firmware update made the image quality worse, not better.

While not part of my ratings I’ll briefly mention the optional extras. The remote control, external battery charger, spare battery and selfie stick are all worthwhile accessories. However, the SJCam lav mic did a very poor job, actually making the audio performance worse.  Don’t bother with it.

SPECIFICATIONS

[go_pricing id=”sjcam_sj7star”]

BACKGROUND

What is true 4K video? It means that a camera shoots videos with a native resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels and a native frame rate of not less than 23.976 frames per second. These are the formal definitions of the Consumer Technology Association and the International Telecommunications Union.  The SJ7 Star meets these definitions.

There are many “fake 4K” cameras out there that fail these definitions. Beware of any camera under USD $150 that claims to be a true 4K camera. It’s unlikely because the cost of components prohibits a lower price (though the ThiEYE T5e action camera has recently broken through the basement). Generally you should expect to pay upwards of $200 as of the date of this review.

With its Sony Exmor R IMX117 image sensor, Ambarella A12S75 image processor and touchscreen display the SJ7 certainly has the right hardware to justify it’s introductory price of $199.

The SJ7 for this review was provided by SJCam at no charge. They asked me and several other people to assist in testing the camera as they developed the firmware. SJCam also provided their optional remote control, microphone, selfie stick and external battery charging cradle with spare battery at no charge. To SJCam’s credit, they paid attention to all of us who were testing the camera and corrected many problems. They even made a few changes to their packaging and manuals based on our suggestions.

Unfortunately SJCam hasn’t gone far enough to correct their website. Their description of the SJ7 seems to be what they hope it will be, not what it actually is. Please read this review thoroughly to understand the camera’s true capabilities vs what’s on the SJCam website: they’re two different things.

I also tested the response of SJCam’s Customer Support. They offered timely, correct and understandable responses. This is a big leap forward for a Chinese action camera manufacturer. If you need help using the SJ7, fear not: SJCam will be there.  The official downloadable User’s Manual is also pretty good – a big surprise for a Chinese action camera maker.

SJCam’s recommendations regarding memory cards are all over the place.  The website, official User’s manual, the box and the printed manual inside it all have different recommendations.  However, SJCam sent me the page shown below from their Chinese-language website.  It depicts their recommended cards.  I used the SanDisk Extreme 64GB (first one shown) without problems.  SJCam claims you can use “select” 128GB microSDXC cards but I don’t know which ones.

VIDEO QUALITY

Although the firmware is still evolving, currently the SJ7 lacks some common features and some less common ones that SJCam claims are forthcoming. Firmware version 1.13 on my test camera lacks a color setting to choose color, black and white, sepia, etc. It also lacks what SJCam calls “Scene” (not sure what it is). Three features important to some people but missing on the camera are adjustable field of view, digital zoom and 180° image rotation, things you would expect on a high-end action camera. Hopefully SJCam will update the firmware soon to add these missing features. These are all missing from the Photo menu as well.

Then there’s the problem with Exposure Value (EV) and ISO: they don’t work. I ran through all the settings on each one and ended up with most of the videos looking the same with one or two either lighter or darker. That’s not how it’s supposed to work. Photos have the same problem. SJCam says this is addressed in a forthcoming firmware release. We’ll see.

PHOTO QUALITY

As I mentioned in the Video Quality section above, several settings don’t work or are missing including EV, ISO, Color, Scene, digital zoom and 180° image rotation. One setting that does work well is adjustable metering. The camera will adjust to the lighting of the scene overall, center weighted or at a spot exactly at the center of the field of view.  This can be helpful in scenes where there is a substantial contrast and you want to get certain elements properly exposed.

AUDIO QUALITY

The SJ7 has an internal microphone but you can also connect an external mic via the mini USB port. SJCam offers its own branded mic but others can work too. That’s just as well for reasons I’ll describe further down.

The internal mic does an okay job of recording audio but I would have expected better on SJCam’s top camera. To my ears the loudness is too low overall and the recorded pitch and timbre just don’t sound like the original source. The SJ7 has adjustable mic sensitivity settings in 10 percent increments from 50 to 100. This might be useful if you’re using an unusually sensitive external mic or if you’ll be recording where there’s lots of wind noise.

The optional SJCam external mic does a very poor job.  It barely picks up any sound and the loudness is way too low.  Turning up the volume turns up the hiss.  Oddly, when I tried it on a different brand action camera it actually worked okay – go figure! I tested SJCam’s lav mic (their “A” mic), not the the one with the flexible neck (“B” mic).

If you want to use an external mic it’s hard to know in advance what works. I tried two others besides the SJCam mic.  The Eaton lav mic was an improvement over the SJCam’s internal mic.  All sounds seemed more accurate and the loudness was better.  My Movo GM100 lav mic didn’t work at all – it recorded nothing.  Both require mini USB adapters.

None of the external mics, including the SJCam mic, are reflected in my audio quality ratings but the Eaton and SJCam mics do demonstrate that the SJ7’s external mic capability works.

BATTERY AND POWER

I got the following recording times under the most and least demanding settings.

• 4K 30fps, screen on, WiFi on – 62min
• 720p 30fps, screen off, WiFi off – 116 min

Recharging time was 142min using a 2.0A adapter.

The battery performance was really good. Getting an hour of video in 4K with the screen and WiFi on is quite a feat. You can get a maximum of almost 2 hours in 720p, screen and WiFi off. Other times will fall between these extremes and of course you’ll get more time on any setting with the screen and WiFi off. It took 142 minutes to recharge the battery – a reasonable time for an action camera.

These were measured at an ambient temperature of about 23°C (74°F). Times might be different at other temperatures.

The SJ7 can operate with or without a battery while connected to an AC or DC adapter or a USB power bank with a minimum 1.0 amp output.  Unfortunately SJ4000/SJ5000/M10 batteries don’t fit the SJ7.  An external charging cradle is available for SJ7 batteries.  SJCam sent me a spare battery but I haven’t seen any for sale.

DESIGN AND BUILD QUALITY

Camera

The design of the SJ7 Star is a step up from the typical “matchbox” style camera. The metal camera body in the beautiful Rose Gold color (one of three available) is aesthetically appealing. The camera is a bit heavier and smaller than similar cameras and has an excellent feel in hand.

All the seams fit very tightly on my test camera, the finish was uniform and smooth and I found almost no faults with it at all. Only using a magnifying glass (!) could I see that there were a few minor rough spots along some seams but you couldn’t see them with the naked eye and you couldn’t feel them at all.

The buttons offer a very nice tactile sensation. The resistance feels just right and they have a nicely refined click. Even the chime and shutter sounds and startup/shutdown tunes are pleasant. The ports for cable connections and the memory card slot feel well connected – nothing flimsy about them.

The big story besides the true 4K video is the touch screen. More and more manufacturers are offering touch screens on their high-end models and it’s easy to understand why. It makes navigating menus and settings a breeze. You swipe and touch just like your smartphone. The buttons offer full redundancy but they seem like stone age tools compared to the touch screen!

However, it’s not all perfect. On my camera the battery compartment door wouldn’t open. After much work I finally forced it open but it’s still very difficult to slide. It is a nice door though, with a spring loaded metal hinge.

While SJCam did include a lens cap it’s incredibly flimsy and won’t hang on. Tilt the camera face down and give it a slight bump and the cap falls off.

Protection of ports and the memory card slot is also a concern. Unlike other action cams, the openings are not indented from the surface of the camera body. It looks nice but I’m not too keen on it. If you accidentally drop the camera then you’re more likely to get dirt and debris inside the openings because they’re right on the surface. The memory card might also pop out if it takes a direct hit. Try finding a microSD card in the sand or grass!

The chimes, lovely as they are, are so quiet as to be inaudible when there’s even a modest amount of ambient noise. The lighted shutter button is nice but all the camera’s lights are too dim outdoors. The LEDs on the back of the camera are difficult to see indoors and useless in sunlight. Light from one LED bleeds over into the other one.

Then there’s that metal body. It’s appearance is so very pleasing at first. However, when I recorded 4K video with the camera in direct sunlight and an ambient temperature of 28°C (82°F) for 30 minutes, the camera body became too hot to touch.  This can happen with other action cameras too but with the SJ7’s aluminum body it feels especially hot to the touch.  Fortunately it never shut down and the video looked fine.

Waterproof Enclosure

The waterproof enclosure is well made and the camera fits snugly inside. The latch is very secure though some might find the slide lock a bit fussy. The buttons have a wonderful feel, perhaps the best of any camera I’ve used. The resistance of the springs is just right and you can feel when they reach their limit of travel on the camera body, thus offering positive feedback.

You can even use the touch screen with the waterproof enclosure by installing the included touch back door. That protects the camera in dust, mud and rain while still letting you use the touch screen. But the touch back door can only be submerged to 3m (10ft) – good for splashing about in the pool or snorkeling.

At greater depths up to 30m (98.4 ft)  you’ll need to use the standard waterproof door and resort to the buttons so choose as many settings as possible before you put the camera in the housing. Make sure your battery is fully charged too.  Also please see our article about waterproof enclosures.

I couldn’t check SJCam’s claimed maximum depths but they did pass my overnight kitchen bowl test.  I submerged the enclosure in a large bowl full of tap water for 12 hours.  There were no leaks.

Unfortunately the touch screen menu only worked occasionally with the touch back door using my fingers whether in air or water.  I couldn’t check it’s performance in cold weather or with touch screen gloves.

Accessories

The standard accessories included with the camera are typical of SJCam, i.e., they’re all good quality.  There aren’t as many as with some of their other models but there are enough to get started.  Anyway mounting accessories are cheap and you can get just the ones you want.  GoPro-style mounting accessories work with the SJ7.

The frame mount included with the camera looks very tidy. Unfortunately the camera fits just a bit loosely inside it plus I prefer the old fashioned camera clip like the one with my SJ4000. Why? With the frame you must dismount it so as to unscrew the frame to do anything with the camera whereas with the clip you simply slide the camera out, no fuss.

The frame mount also makes it a pain to invert the camera (180° image rotation isn’t a menu option) or to change the battery. If you need to attach a USB cable and the camera is in an awkward position, like mounted on your windshield as a dash cam, it’s difficult to reach up and attach the cable whereas with the clip you attach the cable to the camera while it’s in hand and then slide the camera into the clip.

One feature missing from the SJ7 is an integrated 1/4-inch tripod mount in the camera body just like the SJ6 Legend. Alas, where SJCam giveth they now taketh away.

Let me also mention the optional accessories provided by SJCam. They’re not part of my camera ratings but they might interest you.

First is the remote control. You can mount it on a wrist strap or the SJCam selfie stick. After you’ve paired it with the camera for the first time you never have to do it again. You can start/stop recording, snap photos, shoot a burst of photos, turn WiFi on/off or turn the camera off. You can’t turn the camera on.

Because all the buttons have a flat black color and the four corner buttons are exactly the same shape, it’s difficult to figure out the right orientation for mounting . It’s easy to remove and insert the remote so switching from wrist strap to selfie stick is a snap. The camera responds almost instantly when you press a button. SJCam says the remote control is waterproof to 10 meters (about 33 feet).  I couldn’t check it at that depth but it did pass my overnight kitchen bowl test.

Second, the selfie stick is available separately and it’s a gem. This is the best selfie stick I’ve ever used and it works with any action cam or smartphone. Despite it’s light weight the telescoping extensions are absolutely rigid metal and expand to a maximum of about 36 inches including the handle. You twist them one way to unlock them for smooth extension/retraction and twist them the other way to lock them in place.

The handle is a textured rubber that offers a secure, comfortable grip for most hands. It has a 1/4-inch threaded opening in the bottom so you can use it as an add-on to another extension or tripod. Unfortunately, as I’ve found with other SJCam threaded bushings, it’s too shallow and bottoms out before you can screw it all the way in. The attachment at the other end is a GoPro style mount. That could be a plus or a minus depending on your needs.

Third is a spare battery and external dual-battery charging cradle – pretty straightforward and hard to mess up. Finally there’s the SJCam branded microphone.  The manufacturing quality looks fine but the performance is poor as discussed in Audio Quality above.

OPERATION, MENUS AND SETTINGS

The SJ7’s touch screen makes navigating menus a breeze. It was responsive and never surprised me with any odd behavior. I only tested it with bare fingertips in mild temperatures. I can’t say how it works when it’s cold or if you’re wearing touchscreen gloves.  The buttons offer full redundancy for navigating menus.

Thank goodness the touchscreen works so well because there’s an abundance of video and photo settings on the SJ7, more than I personally would ever use, but professionals and serious amateurs will no doubt appreciate them. You can also select from a number of convenience features.

In a big surprise for a Chinese action camera, the online User’s Manual does a good job of explaining the menus and showing the screens. In fact it does it so well that I’m going to skip my usual screen shots and extensive menu listings and refer you to the manual instead.

Even with touch screen navigation and clear instructions, using the SJ7 is still frustrating because the firmware remains half-baked.  The list of problems and omissions includes the following:

• No FPV capability
• No adjustable FOV
• Gyro stabilization only works in 1080p 30/60 fps
• No 180° image rotation
• No digital zoom
• EV and ISO settings don’t work
• No Color or Scene settings
• Automatic frame doubling of 60/120fps frame rates at night – should be selectable and at half the frame rates (30/60), not frame doubling
• Can only exit WiFi Password and WiFi SSID menus by turning off the camera
• No webcam capability

Some people might find these to be mere annoyances while others might view a few of them as serious shortcomings.  Perhaps most serious for some is the lack of FPV capability. According to SJCam this is a limitation of the Ambarella image processor – odd considering the Ambarella Product Brief calls their A12S a “Sports and Flying Camera Processor”.

It’s also a big disappointment that gyro stabilization only works in 1080p 30/60 fps.

Then there’s the inability to invert the image 180° using the menu. You can mount it upside down in the frame mount (even though it’s a pain to actually do this) so that when hanging it from an overhead threaded connection it’s right side up, but if you’re using the waterproof enclosure you’re out of luck.

Even in first release beta firmware, EV and ISO settings should work.  The altogether missing Color, Scene and adjustable FOV settings are inexcusable: if your website claims the camera has certain settings then it should in fact have them.  That these problems still haven’t been addressed in the 13th version of the firmware is completely ridiculous.

The HDMI-out worked fine. You can even operate the camera with HDMI-out while using the remote control and WiFi – not that you would, but you could.

WIFI AND APP

The Android app for the SJ7 worked well.  It reacts immediately to changes in settings: swiping through the menu and selecting a setting are instantaneous. There’s a slight delay from the time you touch the shutter button until it snaps a pic or starts recording. There’s also about 1 second of lag with the live view – not bad at all.

On the other hand I couldn’t get the iOS app to work right.  It connected right away but as soon as I tried to snap a photo the app hung up and I could do nothing with it.  I could only exit the app and start over.  Both apps were version 5.1.4.

NOTES

1. The SJ7’s image sensor, image processor and other internal hardware named in this review are based on information provided by SJCam. I did not disassemble the camera to verify components.
2. The camera was delivered to and tested in the US. I don’t know if cameras delivered to other countries will perform the same.
3. The camera was tested with firmware version 1.13.  Further firmware updates are currently being developed by SJCam.
4. The WiFi and app were tested using a Samsung Galaxy S4 smartphone and an Apple iPad Mini 2. The performance of the WiFi and app might be different on your devices. The Android and iOS apps are both version 5.1.4.
5. Videos, photos and audio were evaluated using my Windows 7 computer, 1080p monitor, 1080p TV and stereo system.  Your assessment might be different using your particular systems and components.
6. See the SJ7 website for operating system and computer hardware requirements.
7. Because the camera was tested in the southern US I couldn’t check it’s performance in cold weather.
8. Warning for US consumers: I strongly recommend that you use only a UL-listed adapter for charging the camera’s battery.  The SJ7 package does not include an AC adapter.
9. You can use the US Treasury Rates of Exchange to convert US Dollars to your local currency.

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:

Cons:

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.