Category: Compare

In this article I want to compare two very small cameras, the smallest cameras we’ve ever reviewed. I’m talking about the SJCam M20 and the AEE MD10.  The specifications for these two cameras are so similar that they beg for comparison!

You can find the original reviews here:

• SJCam M20 Review
• AEE MD10 Review

Specifications

[go_pricing id=”sjcamm20_aeemd10″]

Accessories

The number of accessories included with these cameras is completely different. The difference is literally visible:

The SJCAM includes many kinds of accessories including the usual (though apparently not for everyone) waterproof case, the 3M stickers, nine other types of mounts, a lens cap, the USB cable, a cleaning cloth and the manual.

It also includes a pair of stickers having the SJCam logo, typical for their products.  Not every manufacturer sends so many accessories with their cameras.  One of them is AEE.

As you can see from the photos above, the AEE sent only a single mount, a US-spec charger (I live in Europe so I can’t use it) and a manual with print and digital versions.  The SJCam accessories seem to be of average quality.

There weren’t enough accessories with the AEE camera to evaluate them. The worst thing about the AEE is that I can’t mount the camera anywhere without the waterproof case, an additional option, so it means spending more money and placing another order.  It’s really frustrating.

Design and Build Quality

Other than their similar shape the design of these two cameras is completely different. The M20 has a beautiful screen in back and useful LED’s all around. It doesn’t matter if you’re under the light of the sun or moon, you’ll be able to see the screen wherever you are and whenever you want.

By contrast the MD10 has a front display that’s not backlit.  If you’re using it in light it’s okay but if there’s no light in front of you can’t see what’s going on with the camera.  Another huge difference between the two screens is that the M20 displays a “preview” of what you’re “aiming” at while the MD10 screen just shows the resolution, recording mode and few other settings.

You can’t see if the current shot is good or not. Also there’s a huge difference between the cameras’ buttons.  The M20 has all dedicated buttons such as on/off, up/down, mode, WiFi – it’s all clear.  The MD10 has all button combinations. To utilize the menu you MUST use the manual because it’s quite impossible to understand what’s going on with this camera.

Menu and Navigation

As I mentioned, thanks to its buttons the SJCam camera is very intuitive and very easy to use, so much so that it has another problem: it has too many menu settings and is a little bit confusing. Conversely the MD10 has an absolutely crazy method for navigation due the fact that it doesn’t have a real screen.

Without any help from the manual it would be absolutely impossible to navigate the menu.

Video Quality

The SJCam M20 has a huge advantage in video quality: its wide angle. For an action cam a wide angle is a must. Yes, the AEE MD10 does have a 133° angle.  It’s not that narrow but the difference is huge when these camera are used in an action environment.

An action cam must capture everything at any particular moment to be as realistic as possible, but you can’t do that without a huge field-of-view (FOV).  The FOV isn’t the only problem with the MD10. It lacks details.  And while it’s competitor isn’t the best on the market it has absolutely more definition and detail, enough to zoom in without much problem.

Another difference is the colors. With the M20 the first thing you think is, “Wow, look at these colors!  They’re perfectly bright and true to life!”  With the MD10 it’s more, “Okay, the general impact is good but… that green was actually more green than that.”  There’s a difference with these two cameras.

At night they both perform equally poorly. Both let you see what’s going on in very low light, something that’s not assured with action cameras, but the details are near zero.  This time the MD10 seems sharper but always with the same color problem – it’s too cold.

However, if I’m going to zoom in on something they both have ridiculously poor quality.

Both cameras were set at 1080p 30fps.

Photo Quality

Photos for both cameras have the same problems as their videos.  The only difference is that there’s also a light veil over the MD10 images.

Photos were made at the highest setting available on each camera.  The AEE MD10 photos are 8MP; the SJCam M20 photos are 16MP.

Audio

The M20 doesn’t distort the sound, even at high volume.  The MD10 distorts bass frequencies even at medium volume – just listen:

WiFi and App

Both cameras have great WiFi stability.  The MD10 can even reach the incredible distance of 40m!  They have very stable connections, great apps (at least for Android), are easy to use and have very fast response.

Battery Performance

The  battery performances results are:

Summary

SJCam M20 advantages:

• Better video quality
• Better audio
• More accessories
• Has the screen
• Good interface
• Good build quality

AEE MD10 advantages:

• Better battery life
• Incredible WiFi range
• It’s smaller

So the question is: “Which camera do you prefer?” Without a doubt my favorite camera is the SJCam M20. It’s much better at a lower price. Why would I choose the fewer accessories, fewer settings, lower quality and higher price of the MD10? This time the SJCam M20 wins against the AEE MD10.

In this article I would like to compare two cameras, the Amkov 7000S and the Eken H8R. I decided to make this comparison because these cameras have quite similar specifications.

I’ve been using and in fact have reviewed both of these cameras. You can read those reviews in addition to this comparison.

• Amkov 7000S Review
• Eken H8R Review

Before we start, let’s take a look at the product specs of both cameras side by side.

[go_pricing id=”amkov7000s_vs_ekenh8r”]

Accessories

The accessories included with these cameras are nearly the same. The Eken’s look and feel like they might be slightly better quality.  Both cameras include many accessories – you can find everything you need because they’re provided.  Both sets of accessories are also compatible with GoPro accessories so a wide choice is available.

Design and Build Quality

The design and built quality of both H8R and 7000S is quite good. They’re both well-built but my impression is that the Eken might be a bit better crafted as it feels slightly more rugged in hand.  The buttons are firmer and I like the aesthetics more.

Both cameras have a 2 inch screen in back which allows you to preview videos and photos and change options. The Amkov AMK7000s functions better in sunny condition because it’s brighter.  The LED’s on the Amkov that indicate mode, recording, etc., are also easier to see in sunlight than those on the Eken.

Menu and Navigation

The two cameras have quite similar menu settings and features (apart from gyro stabilization) but with one big difference: the commands. The Eken is very easy to use.  With the power button you can switch menus and scroll down on all the items, with the shot button you can choose the setting and with the Wifi button you can go back or exit from the menu. Where the Eken is very very easy and intuitive to use, the Amkov not. It’s a nightmare.

To enter into the menu you must press the Wifi button (why?) for 5 seconds and once inside, you must press the WiFi button again to scroll down. But wait!  The menu is composed of two parts, the first is the video/photo menu and the second is the general settings menu. To switch from the first to the second you are forced to scroll until the end of the page and then press the power button, and if you miss the last spot, you must re-scroll the entire menu! The Amkov’s design is absolutely crazy!

Video Quality

I made these tests while I was at the sea.  I held the cameras next to each other and synchronized the videos to have the same image with both cameras. All the videos have been recorded at 1080p with 60fps.  Audio was also recorded in every video to compare it too.

In these three videos the cameras were in the waterproof case:

In video test 1 above you can see the differences in the colors. The Amkov has more real-life, faithful and vibrant colors whereas the Eken has more saturation and gives less details due to it’s lower quality image sensor.

In video test 3 you can see the difference between these two cameras in a quick change of light and above water/underwater colors. The Amkov captures more green colors, in fact under the water seems it like a lake (and it was like this).  The Eken captures a beautiful blue/light blue under the water and the sky looks great, but the water was green as Amkov captured it because at this time of year there is a lot of seaweed in this zone.

The Amkov is more credible when it comes to colors. In video test 3 however the Eken has a better underwater image, especially in this example. On the other hand, if you are striving for a natural look rather than one that’s too vivid, then Amkov wins this one as well.

In video test 4 you can perfectly see the difference in details and sharpness between the two cameras.

As you can see in the screenshot above the Eken H8R footage has fewer details, it’s all kneaded like a shapeless mass of colors but you can’t understand anything beyond a few meters of distance.

The following video was made without the waterproof case, and a part the better sharpness, you can see the difference of light and exposition between the cameras. Additionally pay attention to gyro video stabilization which Amkov 7000S has but the Eken H8R lacks.

At night or at least in low light the Amkov is completely unusable because, for example, using it as a dashcam you can’t see your own lights – it’s completely black!  The Eken is a little bit better but don’t expect a miracle.  It’s hard to see your lights with it too.

Photo Quality

In video quality I think the Amkov wins without much problem but about photos?

These photos were captured at 20MP with the Amkov and 12MP with the Eken (maximum resolutions). Please be aware that the 7000s can’t capture native images at these resolutions. As a matter a fact, the Amkov 7000S has only a 4mp image sensor so the resolution is interpolated. Also notice that the Amkov as a narrower FoV (Field of View).  In fact it misses a lot of angle on the left and right.

As you can see in these samples, this is where 12MP sensor beats 4MP one – in image sharpness and details. While this is not so important for the video, it matters when you try to crop a still image. Eken H8R wins when it comes to photo quality.

Audio Quality

I included audio in all the preview videos above but then I more or less made this section anyway.  Here are dedicated audio tests.

As you can hear the Eken records mostly the low frequencies and the Amkov the higher. The Eken seems to capture more ambient sound but neither microphone is good after all.

With this other video I don’t want to test the distortion, only the quality of the audio:

As you can hear, the Eken captures mostly low frequencies in fact results in a “warmer” sound than the Amkov which captures mostly high frequencies. I don’t know which camera has better sound because both of them have huge frequency gaps.

Battery Performance

The results of battery test are:

As you can see the Amkov has a better battery.  There are some differences in the frame rates but the Eken has false 30fps at 4K because it make 15fps doubled. Anyway the Eken has better optimization with the high resolutions but I think that 4K and 2.7K  are too big for a normal screen so they’re unusable.  I think it’s more important have better optimization at 1080p or 720p as with the Amkov.

Summary

The Eken offer the same accessories as the Amkov and this is good for both cameras. The Amkov has a problem with the menu – it’s very annoying to use.  Instead the Eken has a great menu concept. Both  cameras have waterproof case issues.  The Amkov has a little dot on the plastic in front of the lens (I fixed it myself) and the Eken has a gasket problem. Other features of both cameras are the same.  Amkov fixed its Wifi issues and now it’s perfect like the Eken.  The remote controller is better than the Eken

It’s a good match but the Eken has a serious drawback, the video quality. You can shoot the best photos in the world, you can have the best WiFi and remote control, you can have the best menu of all the other cameras, but if you are an ACTION CAMERA and you CAN’T shoot good videos, I’m sorry but you lose this match and probably a lot of other matches with other cameras too.

In this article I would like to compare two popular action cameras : Xiaomi YI and SJCAM SJ4000. I will determine differences between the two and perform various tests.

Specification

The best way to begin comparing any camera is to compare their official specs. In the table bellow, you can see what both of these cameras have to offer and what is the difference between Xiaomi Yi and SJ4000 according to specification.

[go_pricing id=”xiaomiyi_vs_sj4000″]

According to the official specs, YI has a better hardware, where as SJ4000 is more feature-rich and versatile. Since I never judge a book by its covers, nor gadgets by their specs, I performed different tests and compared these two action cameras side by side.

Simply click next to go to the next slide, or if you have keyboard press left/right arrow to slide. Lets begin!

When I first saw that SJCAM launched brand new action camera in Polaroid cube style, as an early adopter, I was quite excited to get it. However, to my disappointment, SJCAM M10 Cube camera did not bring much innovation compared to the SJ4000.

Though many online reviewers tell that both are the same, this actually is not quite true. There are some minor features that one or another have that might influence your buying decision.

In this article, I will compare side by side SJ4000 WiFi and M10 (Non WiFi) version and try to point out differences between these two similar action cameras.

Shape and dimensions

The most obvious difference between the two is obviously the shape. SJ 4000 has a rectangular shape, where as the M10 appears to look like a cube, but in reality its not exactly a cube. M10 dimensions are 59.27 x 41.13 x 29.28 mm. As I already pointed out, its not exactly the real cube.

On the other hand rectangular SJ4000 dimensions are 48.1 x 43.3 x 43.4 mm. One together are set side by side, M10 is bulkier and taller, where as the other one is larger. If you want to see a video comparison check this portion of my M10 review video.

Weight

Both of these cameras are extremely lightweight and you wont have any problem holding them in hand recording or attaching them to rc quadcopter. The weight of SJ4000 is approximately 60 grams with battery. M10 weights around 67 grams with battery inside. Obviously the construction of M10 is slightly heavier.

User Interface and navigation

User interface is the only thing that makes M10 look like a newer model. M10 has an M (menu) button on left side of the camera which enables quicker access to settings. With its predecessor accessing menu was a bit annoying since you had to press Turn ON/OFF button few times to navigate through different options.

Firmware updates

While SJ4000 had bunch of firmware updates in past (its hard to count them), with M10 there has not been many updates. One of the reason might be that previous camera had more flows which all have been ironed out in the meanwhile with each update. It seams that young SJCAM company is advancing well when it comes to user interface and that they learned on their software mistakes in past.

Video Time Lapse Option

With latest firmware on both of these cameras, options are quite similar. However until this day, manufacturer still has not released an update version for M10 which would include Video Time Lapse mode. So the M10 does not have video time-lapse yet.

For me this was a crucial thing. I really enjoy making short sequence videos in a single click. This does not mean time lapse is impossible with M10. You have an option to chose photo intervals and then use a video editing software to create a time lapse. With SJ4000 lates firmware, time-lapse video is fascinatingly easy. In my SJ4000 Review you can read more about this particular feature.

[phpbay keywords=”original sj4000″ num=”4″ siteid=”1″ customid=”sj400vsm10″ sortorder=”EndTimeSoonest” minprice=”70″ templatename=”columns” columns=”4″]

Capture Mode

Capture mode is related with a time-lapse since it enables your camera to take photos at particular interval. Bascally it functions like a timer. Both cameras have option to set timer, but the intervals are different.

• SJ4000 Capture mode intervals Single/3s/5s/10s
• M10 Capture mode intervals Single/5s/10s/20s

It is really hard to say which one has better intervals, since it depends on your own needs and your preference on intervals length.

[phpzon keywords=”sjcam m10″ num=”4″ country=”US” trackingid=”pevly0d-20″ templatename=”columns” columns=”4″]

Battery

As far as battery is concerned both of these action cams use exactly the same battery. Both M10 and SJ4000 use 900mAh Li-ion Battery. Both of the cams can be charged via USB, AV or car adapter.

I know battery life is important component for most of us, but based on my testing, I haven’t noticed that any of these cameras has shorter or longer life.

Battery cover

One important advantage of the later M10 model, is battery cover. While the back door for the SJ4000 is made pretty flimsy and it looks like battery can open every second, M10 door looks more firm and compact. I never had issues with battery falling out of SJ4000 just to be clear, but I hated how it looked.

Fakes on the market

While SJCAM failed to patent SJ4000 at a proper time manner, market was flooded with copies of this particular model. That is why these days it is easier to buy fake camera then the real one. As far as M10 is concerned, so far I haven’t heard that fakes of this model exist. That is why you have to do less research when getting M10. Make sure to read this guide to avoid buying fake SJ4000.

Table comparison of SJ4000 vs M10

I hope this article helped you understand tiny differences between the two SJCAM models. I have made a table to help you easier understand the differences. Tables are a summary of everything mentioned in the text above, plus some similarities.

[go_pricing id=”sj4000vsm10″]

Summary

To summarize everything in a single paragraph, main differences are :

• size
• weight (sj4000 is less heavier)
• design (this is matter of personal taste and preference, I like M10 design a bit more)
• battery back door (M10 wins)
• time lapse video option (enormous win for SJ4000)
• video sorting (M10 sorts videos in folders  when exported to PC in more folders based on sequences)

If you ask me before the latest SJ4000 firmware update which one is better, I would say M10. On the other hand with ability to do time lapse videos which I really love, I must say my choice would be SJ4000. This is again, based on personal preference.

In reality, both cameras have same lens, battery, memory card storage. Most importantly both produce great videos. In terms of video and photography there is no difference between these two fellas. Whichever you chose, I am sure it will work pretty well. For more in-depth information on each of these action cameras check their full reviews I wrote.

• Full review of SJ4000
• Full review of M10

SJ4000 or M10 which one do you use or plan to buy?

Now, let me ask you a question. Which of these cameras do you have or intend to buy? What is the main reason you decided to get that one and not the other?

If you still haven’t bought a camera, check out coupons and deals page which contains all the discounts for action cameras I found online.

Let me know in the comments bellow, I would like to hear your two cents.

Lots of people have been asking what is a difference between the SJ5000, SJ5000 WiFi and the Plus version. In this post, I will compare them side by side.

SJ5000 is an action camera produced by the SJCAM and launched at the end of 2014. Quite surprisingly, there are three different models of SJ5000:

• SJCAM SJ5000 Novatek 96655 (Link)
• SJCAM SJ5000 Novatek 96655 WiFi  (Link)
• SJ5000+ Plus (Link)

The launch of the product did not go so well, since the manufacturer had to upgrade software which caused delays in pre-orders and shipping. Now that everything seams to be back on the track, in this post I would like to compare three models of the SJ5000 and show differences between them.

I will be completely honest with you, at first I had no idea what is a difference between these three. They all seamed the same and I was so confused. No worries, I will explain everything in just a moment.

While the differences are not drastic when you compare the 96655 and 96655 WiFi, SJ5000 Plus introduces some long expected features.

Comparison

In the comparison table bellow, you will see the difference in technical specification of cameras. For best user-experience, you might want to take a look at this table while you are at your desktop.

[go_pricing id=”sj5000vssj5000wifivssj5000″]

Differences

Honestly, differences between these models are not significant. They are minor, and for the most users (not all) they are not going to matter that much. After all for most of us the only thing that matters is creating a video of memorable moment in great quality.

SJ5000 vs SJ5000 WiFi

If you are not a fan of tables, I will try to explain the difference here, pretty simply. The only difference between the SJ5000 and Sj5000 WiFi is in Wifi! Everything else is absolutely the same. Built in WiFi can be quite handy if you want to control your camera remotely.

You should be aware that SJCAM has a free Android and IOS apps which can help you manage your videos, photos and even camera settings without having to touch the camera. Everything can be done from smartphone or tablet. Note that not all smartphones are compatible with the app.

SJ5000 vs SJ5000 Plus

If you take a quick glance at our comparison table above, you will realize that SJ5000 has a bit tinier display, that it can record videos in 60 frames per second and that it can make photographs in 16 megapixels. The non plus versions have two inch display, can record only in 30 fps and can make 14 megapixels images.

Summary – Which one should you get?

If you do not need 60 FPS recording and WiFi, get the basic non WiFi version which can be bought for around 119$. If you would like to play with SJCAM apps, get a WiFi model. You might not have 16 MP photographs or 60 FPS videos, but hey, not everyone need these option. For most of the users 30 FPS video recording will do the job (including myself).

60 FPS can help you record more frames per second and make your videos look more realistic. It can also help you when slowing down the video in your video editing software. The more frames, the better the slow motion will look.

On the other hand if you are looking to upload your videos on YouTube, guess what? 30 FPS will do the job, since YouTube only recently introduced a support for 60fps videos. You should know that the most of the movies are recorded in 24fps. Anyway, check out this great video that will explain you how FPS works.

From these three models, obviously SJ5000 is the most feature rich one. It is the only SJCAM product that can record in sixty frames per second.

In my humble opinion the SJ5000 basic WiFi and non WiFi version does not offer much compared to the SJ4000. The Plus model has some advantages over SJ4000, but not everyone will need those.

There is one forum thread over at RC forum which has some valuable points about these cameras. Furthermore, take a look at plenty other action cameras I reviewed.

Where can you buy SJ5000?

Here is a list of recommended stores where you can get SJ5000. Since some of the models (especially SJ5000+ and SJ5000) are getting harder to get, I will include links for each camera in case you decided which model from SJ5000 series you want to purchase.

Without further ado, here is a list :

It’s a bunch of links, but be sure to check them all, since some of these retailers often have promotions, so you can find a bargain if you’re lucky.

Make sure to check our special discounts and deals page as there we hand-picked coupons that you can use and save few bucks on action cameras.

Update 1/17/2017

Since the original publication of the article, SJCAM added two more models to the SJ5000 series :

• SJ5000X  (check the comparison here) – a limited edition series
• SJ5000 Elite (full review of this model here)

A question for you

If you are the owner of any of these action cameras, please let me know in the comments bellow which one you have and why have you chosen that one?

Which one do you plan to purchase and why?

For any other questions or comments, do not hesitate to ask, I will reply to each and every comment.

Ever since SJCAM launched their new SJ5000 camera which comes in three versions, we have been wondering what is the difference between it and SJ4000. It is a known fact that SJ4000 became one of the most popular action cameras in just a year. But can SJ5000 beat it?

different sjcam models compared

You want short answer? The answer is YES. In terms of features, software, chip-set and video quality, the newer is nearly always better.

The big question : SJ5000 plus is nearly as twice as expensive as SJ4000 WiFi. Are the new features worth the money?

In this post I will compare the two cameras in terms of specifications, video and photography quality.

Since SJ4000 comes in WiFi and non WiFi version, I decided to compare the WiFi model, since that is literary the only difference between these two SJ4000.

On the other hand, 5000 has 3 different models. SJ5000, SJ5000 and SJ5000 Plus. If you would like to see what is a difference between them, check out this comparison I wrote recently.

To sum up, this comparison will include three models :

• SJ4000 WiFi (link)
• SJ5000 WiFi (link)
• SJ5000 Plus (link)

[go_pricing id=”sj4000vssj5000vs5000″]

SJCAM SJ4000 WiFi vs SJ5000 Novatek 96655 WiFi

The biggest difference between these two cameras, except the price is sensor. The first one has the Aptina AR0330 where as the other has Panasonic MN34110PA. For a regular users this might not be  a huge difference. Quite simply said, Panasonic sensor preforms better according to tests. It is also better in low-light conditions.

Another difference comes in image resolution. Where as the maximum still shoot resolution in SJ4000 WiFi is 12M（4000×3000), SJ5000 WiFi can shoot in 16M(4608×3456). The more pixels your image has, means it can show more detailed photograph.

Final, and the least important (at least for most of users) is the size of LCD display. 1.5” 960*240 is the size of the SJ4000 LCD. SJ5000 WiFi has 2” 960*240 LCD display. The reason display is smaller could be the different size of the chip-set. Though it is not much larger, SJ4000 display looks better.

SJ4000 vs SJ5000+ (plus)

The biggest advantage of SJ5000 Plus is its ability to record videos in 60 fps at 1080p. No other SJCAM product before it was able to do that. In addition to higher frames per second in 1080p mode, this camera offers better image resolution and better sensor. Obviously, it preforms better in low-light condition and has slightly more natural colors.

With displays being the same size, there is no feature in which SJ4000 can beat the SJ5000 plus, except, wait for it… Price.

Are all improvements worth the price difference you may be wondering? Well, that really depends on your needs.

The truth is that people used to love SJCAM products because of its affordable price and rich features. With all the previous product, I was under impression that I was getting a better deal. I was the winner in consumer vs manufacturer battle. But not with the SJ5000 plus. Its price tag currently says 169$.

While on one hand it has better features then the 4000 WiFi, you can add few more bucks and get an action camera from an established brand like Sony or GoPro. I know that this is not comparison of the Sony AS100V vs SJ5000+, but if you are patient enough, you can get the Sony´s camera for around 199-219$ (This is what I paid for mine. Ordered directly from Sony).

Coupons and discounts on SJ4000 and SJ5000

If you already decided which one to get, on our deal page you can take a look at hand-picked coupons and discounts on these cameras.

So if you want to save few bucks, check these deals out.

To be sure you’re buying an official SJCAM product, you should probably go with one of the following sellers/stores.

• SJCAM Official Amazon Store – link to the store
• SJCAM AliExpress Authorized Reseller – link to the seller

Final thoughts on SJ5000 vs SJ4000

If you are just a regular on budget user trying to capture video of your trips, surfing, playing soccer or anything else, SJ4000 is still the best sjcam when you compare cameras. Unless you need 60fps and slightly better video and do not want to stretch your budget beyond 170$ SJ5000 plus is the way to go. I would not recommend SJ5000 WiFi since it does not offer as much as Plus does, but does not recommend tremendously better features then SJ4000. I also wrote quite lengthy article and review about SJ4000 so make sure to check it out if you are interested in in-depth feature analysis.