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:
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.
SJ5000 Novatek 96655
$105
- SOC : Novatek 96655
- Sensor: Panasonic MN34110PA
- Max Video Resolution : 1920*1080P 30 fps
- Lens f= 2.99mm F= 2.8; wide angle : 170°
- 1080p record at 30 fps (FHD)
- 720P recording at 30/60 fps
- 480p recording at 60 fps
- LCD Display : 2” 960*240
- WiFi No Wifi
- Price : Starting at 119$
SJ5000 Novatek 96655 WiFi
$131
- SOC : Novatek 96655
- Sensor: Panasonic MN34110PA
- Max Video Resolution : 1920*1080P 30 fps
- Lens f= 2.99mm F= 2.8; wide angle : 170°1080p record at 30 fps (FHD)
- 1080p record at 30 fps (FHD)
- 720P recording at 30/60 fps
- 480p recording at 60 fps
- LCD Display : 2” 960*240
- ifi"> WiFi
- Price : Starting at 139$
SJ5000 Plus Ambarella A7LS75
$169
- SOC : Ambarella A7LS75 DSP
- Sensor: Panasonic MN34120PA
- Max Video Resolution : 1920*1080P 60/30 fps
- Lens f= 2.99mm F= 2.8; wide angle : 170°1080p record at 60 fps (FHD)
- 1080p record at 30/60 fps (FHD)1080p record at 60 fps (FHD)
- 720P recording at 30/60/120 fps
- 480p recording at 240/120/60/30
- LCD Display : 1.5” 960*240
- WiFi
- Price : Starting at 169$
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 :
- GearBest official retailer : | Buy SJ5000+ |
- Amazon official SJCAM store : | Buy SJ5000 WiFi| Buy SJ5000+|
- AliExpress Official seller : |Buy SJ5000|
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.
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You don’t mention the superior PQ of the Ambarella SOC?
bob
That would be good to add Bob, thanks!
Would you add something more besides that?
Your table has the wrong sensor for the SJ5000+ (should be Panasonic MN34120PA). It’s also missing the image sizes (pixels) for each camera. On several occasions you state that the SJ5000+ is the only SJCAM camera that can record at 60 FPS – that’s not strictly correct – it’s the only camera that can record at 60 FPS at 1080p. Finally, placing a big price label over the camera images nicely obliterates the images and makes them look shoddy – you have the prices in the table anyway.
Hello Glen,
Thank you for the comments. I will update the article in few moments.
I think that 60 fps previous camera types recorded are not real 60 fps. Its just duplicating each frame.
Hello Pavle,
According to http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showpost.php?p=30415684&postcount=234 , in good light conditions the SJCAM SJ5000 cameras (non-plus versions) produce unique frames at 720p 60fps. However, I don’t have one of these cameras so can’t confirm this.
Glen
Thank you very much for this Glen. That is why I said that pre SJ5000 versions did not have 60 FPS. I was referring to SJ1000 to SJ4000 ones.
I do not have a non plus version to test this myself, but it sounds interesting. I would never sacrifice though 1080p for 60 fps.
How is the photo quality compared to the plus and the other version and the 4000? Does the sensor have a big difference in photo quality? Any comparisons?
Hi,
Still havent done any side by side testing, but from what I heard, photos are much better on sj5000 ones then the 4000´s.
HI
What about the firmware problems between 5000wifi and 5000+
Can you tell me something about it? I have seen in www that when I activate the wifi button on the 5000+ that the camera will be freeze.
Is it at the 5000wifi the same? I want to order it but not when problems are still there
Best regards
Ralf
Hi, Pavle!
Many users would delight in the time-lapse feature, and I have read that the new / current firmware makes that possible. Could you confirm? Also, some of previous SJCAM models had issues related to various types of memory cards… so I hope those have in the meantime been solved. Anyone had any difficulties in updating their cam firmware?
I am looking into possible buying of one of those cams, and still can’t decide whether to wait for ‘6000 model or have a go at the 5000 with mandatory time-lapse function on board, since this is the base of some of the projects I have in mind.
Hi Fil,
Time lapse is fantastic feature certainly, I use it on my SJ4000 regularly. I haven’t used it on SJ5000, as I decided to return mine. I was far more happy with SJ4000 then SJ5000 which is not worth the money in my opinion.
Anyway, I can only confirm that my SJ4000 WiFi has timelapse in latest firmware (you probably need to update the fw). I haven’t had a single problem on memory cards. Just use a class 10 branded memory card instead of 5$ Chinese crappy cards. Memory cards are good investment. I use Sony 16GB SDHC and Transcendent 8GH SDHC Class 10 and had no problems at all.
Question is what do you want to do with your camera? Never is not necessarily always better, take sj5000 as an example compared to SJ4000 which is far more reliable device. If you want time-lapse, take a look at my video of SJ4000 timelapse, it might satisfy your needs in terms of video quality or whatever you expect from your camera.
Full review of SJ4000 can be seen in this post of mine.
can sj5000 wifi take picture while recording?
Greetings,
i’m agree what Pavle said. Just buy what you need, no need to shy just becoz you bought the older version.
Anyway, @fatin: yes it can. SJ5000+ can take picture while recording.
first.. make sure you’ve already set the “Dual Streams” Feature to ON.
( Menu -> Dual Stream: On)
Then.. while you recording, press & hold the “OK” button About 1-2 seconds. You’ll hear a sound. That’s it. The pictuRe successfully captured. & the recording still go on.
Anyway, my sj5000+’Firmware version is 2.1.
Regards,
.
what about sj5000 wifi can it do the same?thank you for your reply..
Just wanted to ask, how many minutes can I record in the new firmware of SJ5000+ without it being cut?
I would like to note that SJ4000 have only 3,5Mpix (physical) Aptina AR 0330 sensor
Can sj5000 basic(no wifi, non plus) can take pictures while recording?
hw about sj6000?
hello everyone I’m planning to buy an sjcamera but undecided which one to buy, I’m no expert with photography or determining which one is good and not.Would anyone suggest which one is good to buy. I just need an action camera that takes good quality photo and video. thank you
I recently purchased the model SJ5000X and am wondering if shooting in 4k hand held will it be stabile ? I’m not sure if the Gyro Sensor is working correctly and if the Motion Detection is working too? and what is the WDR ? also the raw file format is not recognized by any of my post processing software, Adobe, Corel, Cyberlink and Microsoft.
This camera appears to have some really great features and I would like to know how to use them. Thank you, Alan Grafton
You haven’t added sj5000x?
You can see it here and here as well.
Which better,sj5000x elite or sj5000+?
hi! i am using SJCAM5000+ and do we have an option to set the device to camera default. what i mean is, every time i will open the device it routed me to video recording which is annoying (lol) because i want to capture moments by using the camera very quick (haha, im not a video type of person lol so i want to disable that setting) do i have an option to change it?
Sir,
First, I would like to thank you for all the fantastic reviews of the action cameras.
In a article on sj5000 elite you have written that its microphone is terrible and even after setting sound to maximum ,it is inaudible.
I may purchase a sj5000 wifi model but I want to be sure that this model does not suffer the same problems of the elite .Can you please help me ?
We here have not reviewed the model in question, but I believe it does not have such issues, however I can’t guarantee you that. My recommendation is to contact sjcamhd.com directly and ask them.
Hi, Would like to know if there’s a compatible remote shutter for this action cam?
No as far as I know, but SJCAM M20, SJCAM SJ6 and Gitup Git 2 have among few others.
Hi Pavle,
Thanks for all these comparation and information.
I will buy one action cam soon but I just a lil bit confused. Could you please assist me which one is you prefer? 🙂
Here is the list;
1- SJCAM Sj5000 Wifi
2- EKEN H9R
Meanwhile, I generally use it for underwater shooting and motorcycle.
Plus, while i am analyzing these, I saw SJCAM Sj5000X Elite model. For this model I need extend my budget 🙂 So is it necessarily?
My best..
1. I haven’t tested SJ5000 WiFi, nor H9R (we tested H9 ) so I can’t comment on that.
2. SJ5000 Elite review can be seen on this link
3. Our personal preferences can be seen in our “best action camera page“