ThiEYE T5e action camera comes in an elegant and sturdy black box with silver metallic inscription. Therein, in two layers of black foam is the cam in its waterproof casing, placed alongside another box which contains one rotating buckle, two Li-ion batteries, a micro USB cable, two double-sided adhesive stickers, and a wiping cloth. There is also a small Quick-start Guide booklet.
The clear plastic underwater casing appears like any other action cam housing. Its port and sealing / locking elements and the way its command buttons are seated makes it pretty much standard nowadays. Actually, there is an impression that one single manufacturer makes those water and pressure-proof cases for all action cams. Of course, there is a difference in dimensions, placement of commands, and its pressure resistance.
T5e casing should withstand depths to 60 meters (7 Bar).
But when you take the camera out of its casing, the feeling of manufacturing quality is more prominent. The camera is quite small; 61mm wide, 42mm high, and 23 mm deep (body) or 33mm (body + lens). There is no “plasticky” impression, and the cam feels neat, sturdy and safe in the hand, thanks to its body texture (design of which hints at “easy-cleaning” idea).
Closer look
Someone at ThiEYE has a nicely developed sense for detail! Many inexpensive cams lack certain manufacturing finesse; not this one. Even the battery cover on the underside is hinged and spring-loaded; not merely a snap-on afterthought.
It engages slidewise, but has an additional lock which makes it impossible to accidentally open. Another not so common detail is a standard ¼” metal tripod bush, placed properly under the cam’s optical axis. This does away with the need for an extra skeletal accessory that some other cams must have in order to connect to the tripod.
The left hand side of the cam is reserved for a recessed area with microSD memory card (preferably UHS-I U3 Card up to 64GB) spring-locking slot, and two ports; for a micro USB cable (data transfer & charging) and for D-type micro HDMI (cable not included). This area looks like it should have a cover, as there is even a nail notch along the rim, but my sample came without it.
- USB Port
- Micro SD card slot
- HDMI port
- LCD Screen
The command layout is logical and self-intuitive. On/Off button is in the front, the Start/Stop on the top surface, while two more on the right hand side are used to browse through the menu, operating mode and setup. While pressing of those commands feels crisp and precise with clearly defined click, when the cam is in its protective casing the buttons work against the sealings and biased springs, which requires more pressing force. It can be somewhat bettered though… more about this later, related to the casing specifics.
ThiEYE T5E Specification
- Chipset
- Image sensor
- Lens
- Weight
- Size (L x W x H)
- Screen
- Max image resolution
- Video resolutions
- Video compression format
- Image format
- Memory
- Battery
- WiFi
- Connection
- Car camera
- Remote controller
- Video Stabilization
- External Mic
- ThiEYE T5e
- Ambarella A12LS75
- 1/2.3” CMOS 16MP (Sony IMX117)
170°wide angle
170°(H=120° V=89°)
Lens f= 3mm
F= 2.8
7 glass- Weight: 58 grams (with battery)
- W: 61mm, H:42mm, L:23 mm (with lens protruding: 33mm)
- 2” 960*240 dots matrix TFT LCD
- 12 Mega Pixels (4000 x 3000) (effective)
3840*2160 25/30P
3840*2160 25P SuperView
2880*2160 25/30P
2704*2028 25/30P
2704*1520 25/30P SuperView
2704*1520 25/30P
2560*1440 25/30/50/60P
1920*1440 25/30/50/60P SuperView
1920*1080 120/100/60/50/30/25P
1920*1080 25/30/50/60P SuperView
1280*960 120/100/25/30
1280*720 240/200/120/60/30/25/50p
1280*720 120/30P/100/25 SuperView- H.264 High Profile Level 4.2 MP4
- JPEG
- up to 64GB
- Li-ion rechargeable Battery 1100mAh
- USB, HDMI
Overview
The cam utilizes Ambarella A12S processor & Sony IMX117 sensor to record high image quality up to 4K. The sensor sits behind a bright 8-element f/2.8 lens which has a sapphire glass front, resistant to scratches.
Its 3840×2160 Ultra HD 4K/30fps is four times the 1080P. For slow motion, T5e action cam can record videos at speeds up to 240fps, that is 720P/240fps, or 1080P/120fps.
Camera can make 16MP (12 megapixels is maximum native resolution) photos using a 170° super wide-angle 7G lens, which takes in huge range of landscape. 2″ / 5cm LCD screen helps with previewing video and setting up the camera.
IPX8 waterproof casing protects the camera from dust and shock, and shields the camera down to depths of 197’/ 60 m, so that majority of divers and outdoor sports people can make wide range of underwater recording.
The casing connects via standard friction swivel to proprietary 360° rotating buckle for flexible adjustment of shooting angles. Similar mounts can be found in Dazzne cameras.
Rotating mechanism in the buckle is sturdy enough to keep the camera stable against vibration. There is a range of accessories and connectors for fixing the cam to persons and objects; depending upon user’s wishes.
NOTE: As opposed to some other cameras (for instance, my SJCAM M10+), the ThiEYE T5e in its waterproof casing and without any mounting accessory maintains negative buoyancy, meaning IT SINKS. Naturally, any added mounting element will make it sink even quicker.
Bearing that in mind, it would be practical to add some means of flotation to it – even while just riding in a boat. Otherwise, one could accidentally drop the camera overboard just to sadly watch it sink out of sight and possession, perchance also taking some nice memories on its card with it! Added flotation means can save one from such disasters.
For diving and snorkeling purposes it would also be sensible to either acquire a proprietary floating handle, or improvise a wrist strap with 3-4 champagne-corks-worth of flotation elements. Experiment a little with the camera and materials at hand to construct this.
I have made me a sort of wrist bracelet from small fishing net floating “donuts” lined on a piece of paracord which has a quick-release snap to attach it to any of my watergoing cameras. It is simple, cheap and effective even in deep dives, as the “donuts” do not change volume (e.g. flotation ability) down to -400 meters.
Another good thing with this arrangement is that the donut bracelet rolls off your wrist in a second – so you can free yourself of the camera in an emergency!
Two 1100mAh 3.7V lithium-ion rechargeable batteries come in the package, each records up to 70 minutes of 4K/30fps video or 100 minutes of 1080P/60fps video on a single charge. ThiEYE T5e supports up to 64G high speed class 10 or UHS-I U3 micro SD cards.
There is a ThiEYE HD App for remote control, edit and sharing. It connects your devices either via Bluetooth or WiFi. Using the app, you can edit the videos and add effects, music and transitions.
Quick start guide
This booklet is composed in eight languages, and has eight pages of content per language, listing the parts and most basic procedures, actually guiding you through the camera parts and how to access the camera Menu. Once in the Menu, you’re on your own.
For people which have no prior experience with cameras, some terms and acronyms can be quite a mystery, more so since there is no detailed .pdf manual to download and to learn about all of the camera’s possibilities and options. In my humble opinion, such Manual should be available.
Truth be said, there is such a manual for ThiEYE i60 camera, containing well-detailed explanations. Unfortunately nothing similar exists as yet for T5 models.
What’s inside the box?
- 1x camera
- 1x waterproof housing
- 2x 1100mAh Battery
- 1x quick startup guide
- 1x wiper
- 1x accessories pack
First Attempt
While waiting for the cam to arrive, I read what I could find about it, got me a SanDisk Ultra 32GB (Class 10) micro memory card for the cam, and also downloaded the latest firmware from Thieye website (link).
So upon the camera arrival, first thing to do was put the batteries to charging. The dedicated charger is an optional extra, so I charged the batteries one after another in the camera. Fortunately, my phone charger has just adequate charging characteristics.
The batteries can also be charged off the computer’s USB, but in both cases the camera will be unusable as long as it is leashed to the charging spot. For those folks which use their action cams extensively it pays to invest in a separate charger where spare batteries can be topped without putting the cam out of use.
After browsing through the camera’s (well conceived) menu, so as to become familiar with where is what, I then set to upgrade its firmware.
Firmware RAR container unpacks the (.bin) upgrade file and (.txt) Instructions for Firmware Upgrade. Instructions are clearly and correctly written in English, unlike many that I have seen. The procedure was quite simple and went without a hitch.
Video Quality
As already stated, ThiEYE T5e can record 3840×2160 Ultra HD 4K/30fps, through various 3:4 and 16:9 formats. For slow motion, T5e can record videos at speeds up to 240fps, that is 720P/240fps, or 1080P/120fps. It can also make Timelapse videos, which consists of a series of photos made at intervals from 1 thru 60 sec which are then turned into video file replayed at standard speed. This way one can record long stretches of time / distance in short time, adding variety to presentation.
There is an electronic image stabilisation system (EIS) which works by dynamically aligning the recorded pixels over the sensor. There has to be free sensor area for it, so EIS needs certain marginal space. That’s why EIS only works with image size up to 1080px. An action cam can’t really have moveable parts like hardware stabilisators, as such wouldn’t last long in rough usage the action cams are created for, so EIS will have to be sufficient.
Static camera renders nice vistas, though convoluted due to its fixed wide-angle lens but due to this also warrants great depth of field.
An example of automatically created Timelapse Video can be found in the video below.
Of course, this can also be made with cam’s Photo Timelapse function during your post-processing, where you decide to use the photos for either video or stacked-photo presentation. The latter then appears as if made with long exposure.
In normal daylight there is not much of the rolling shutter effect. If your scene does not have much of straight vertical lines, this won’t be too disturbing.
Night records do need somewhat more light to discern the scenery. The camera’s 1600 ISO isn’t much, even when boosted by the cam’s max EV of +3, but this boost might help. Lightsources and their immediate surroundings will show, such as Moon and certain reflex from the waters, but not much else. Depending upon your circumstances it might look better than this
Expect a lot more from dynamic scenes, such as
Interestingly, the ability to record with the camera upside down is missing, which somewhat complicates the mounting under or beside the car rearview mirror. Perhaps the manufacturer’s idea was that this is easily done in post-production? Still, I have sent mail to ThiEYE, suggesting that this simple function be added within the next Firmware update, so maybe they will oblige.
While at that, I have also suggested that the cam’s Down button be used for deliberate switching the monitor On / Off in the same way its Up button works for the camera microphone. There is a time-delayed option to switch the monitor off (to save power), but no way to switch it on again without interrupting the recording, so the Down button would be just right for this. Maybe the next Firmware will contain that as well.
Photo Quality
ThiEYE photo modes offer various image sizes and resolutions throughout its range of 16MP (interpolated from its 12MP sensor) to 3MP. Quality can be dialled between Superfine, Fine and Normal.
There is also a choice of scene modes: Normal, Flash, Night, Sports, Landscape, Portrait and Sunset. Effects include Normal (meaning no effect), Art, Sepia, Negative, B&W, Vivid, and 70Film (this is supposed to offer the „film look“ of the seventies).
However, the camera’s Auto settings joust rather well with various kinds of lighting. Its wide-agle lens gathers lots of light, and not-too-picky users might find the quality sufficient for majority of scenes.
A night photo at Auto-everything setting as it appears straight out of a camera:
… but it can be somewhat bettered in post-processing
Sound Quality
ThiEYE T5e records in Mono only. Its microphone is placed on top surface, right above the lens (visible as two slots), while the small speaker (visible as three slots) is to the left of the lens.
The Microphone Volume Menu allows the settings of OFF (no sound), and then from 50% to 100% in 10% increments. It has to be experimented with to get an idea what the results will be, but then it will always depend upon the actual situation.
I’d suggest, start with 80% and see what’s to hear. Then set the acuity to your liking.
Of course, expect the sound to be a tad muffled when the camera is sealed in its protective case, so you might have to tweak the audio record in post-production, mainly to get the higher frequency range more acute. There is an optionally available slotted back door for the protective housing which warrants better sound acquisition. But then, rain, dust and smoke are also invited in along with the soundwaves, so this option requires careful choice of circumstances.
My test was made at 80% microphone level recording the natural sound with some added tones, both with and without the casing, so you can hear the difference. Let me just say that the camera’s audio performance is satisfactory, which is another good point for the buyer.
ThiEYE T5e Battery Test
I have alternatively tested both batteries that came with the camera. Good news right away: there was no significant difference, and both batteries performed within two minutes.
All tests were made at room temperature with the camera out of its waterproof casing. Batteries were re-charged in-camera, using NIKON EH-71P charger outputting 1A/5VDC.
The testing was done at settings of highest resolution and also of highest frame-per-second rate. In all tests the monitor and WiFi emitter were constantly set ON, to generate the highest energy spending.
- Resolution
- 3840x2160px @ 30fps (aspect 16:9)
- 2560x1440px @ 60fps (aspect 16:9)
- 1920x1080px @ 120fps (aspect 16:9)
- 1280x720px @ 200fps (aspect 16:9)
- Thieye T5E Battery 1
Recording time : 45min
Recharging time: 117min
Recording time : 58min
Recharging time: 117min
Recording time : 74min
Recharging time: 117min
Recording time : 90min
Recharging time: 117min
- Thieye T5E Battery 2
Recording time : 45min
Recharging time: 116min
Recording time : 56min
Recharging time: 116min
Recording time : 74min
Recharging time: 116min
Recording time : 90min
Recharging time: 116min
Take these values as anything but guaranteed, since there are variables that influence the tests, such as ambiental temperatures, internal temperatures (recording with or without protective housing), specific chargers, battery production batch, and also taking care to switch on only what is required.
When the battery is depleted, ThiEYE T5e emits a triple warning sound, stops recording, and switches off.
Waterproof Case Care
Outdoors people will use their camera within its protective case. As noted before, the casing command buttons do not respond so crisply to pressing, because you’re pressing against their biased springs, and there are also dry rubber ring seals around the pins. The sluggish button response can be remedied, and here’s how:
You will need WD-40, a small vial, shot glass, or something similar, and a wooden toothpick.
Spray some lubricant gently from the pressurized can of WD-40 into the vial or shot glass. When the propellant evaporates, you have some pure, chemically neutral oil in the vial. Open the waterproof case and locate the commands from the inside. Press the command button in as far as it goes. Use the toothpick to carefully transfer one small droplet of oil to each command button pin. The thing to remember is: use as little lubricant as possible!
Work the button several times and note the difference.
Alternatively you could oil the command button pins from the outside of the casing, but button springs make it more difficult to reach the pin. However, after adding the lubricant and working the command button, use tissue to remove as much of the surplus oil from the area as possible. The trick is not to smear the oil around because it will eventually end up all over the camera, especially where you don’t want any.
Sometimes the camera hatch sealing sticks in opening and closing, which twists the sealing ring. This can dangerously affect the quality of the seal and you risk water ingress. Again, this can be remedied by careful application of little WD-40 or silicone grease.
Do not use any other kind of lubricants, as some can chemically damage the materials of the casing! Lubricants do not seal; these just make sure that sealing elements slide properly to their position. In this sense, silicone grease is preferred for diving purposes, as it does not wash off so easily as oil.
Do it this way:
Open the hatch, remove the cam. Pinch the hatch seal with thumb and forefinger on its left and right side and slide the sealing ring along its groove until it pops out on the hatch top side. Gently remove it from the groove.
Pull the ring through lubricant-greased fingers. Don’t use too much; the ring just needs to appear grease-shiny from all sides. Carefully replace the ring to its groove, making sure it is properly seated. Pass the greased finger along the inner rim of the housing where the seal engages. This will ensure proper seating of all the sealing parts.
Wipe off all lubricant from anywhere on the case so it won’t attract lint, hair and alike. It doesn’t take much dirt to break the seal and let water in, so work carefully.
When you need to take the camera out of wet casing, always wipe it dry first. Even then, remember always to open the casing with the hatch pointing downward (careful: don’t drop the cam). There will be some water in the sealing gap, and that’s the way to keep it from entering the case. If there are droplets along the sealing area of the casing, remove those with dry tissue.
Before re-closing the housing, carefully inspect the sealing surfaces for any dirt. Prior to locking the hatch make sure it is symmetrically and completely pressed closed.
Never touch a camera casing with alcohol, benzene or similar chemical solvents. Wash it closed, using only warm water and non-abrasive cloth. If need be, apply only small quantities of dishwashing gel. Rinse in running water and dry in the shade. Never leave the casing, much less an encased cam, in the sunlight – not even in wintertime!
When you use the camera in the sunlight for long time, such as using its Timelapse function, whether with or without the casing, remember to arrange some shade for it. You can add a piece of cardboard from the cam’s sunny side to keep it from getting too hot (and consequently switch itself off, ruining the recording). DIY shades are the best, if you take care to arrange it so that it shields the cam during the whole recording time; especially shading the lens from direct insolation. Remember that the lens concentrates the sunlight to the sensor, and you don’t want to destroy it.
Following these advice will keep your equipment in good working order for a long time.
Summary
I enjoyed working with this cute li’l cam. Its form factor is not revolutionary as it is designed in a way that can be regarded as classic, but it is small and handy. The cam fits easily in any windbreaker pocket, or in the corner of any photo bag. And it works as advertised, which is the best it can, returning good value for your money. I can say it is well worth its price, and thus one safely suggested buy.
Its range of accessories isn’t as wide as some other manufacturers offer, but the basic connecting elements are there. Anyway, it all depends upon what you need. But the camera does have a standard metal ¼” tripod bush which makes it widely applicable.
That being said, a caveat: the accessories that come with the ThiEYE T5e are not entirely compatible with those of other manufacturers! Its quick-release rotating buckle-type connector will not fit the similar mount of, say, a GoPro or SJCAM. It looks similar, but there are certain milimeters of difference there to frustrate. A pity, really. All such cams should have totally compatible mounts by now.
However, the connecting point swivel on the underside of the waterproof casing accepts GoPro / SJCAM counterparts, as long as you use those longer tightening screws. So starting from there you can combine other manufacturers’ camera attaching systems, as per your requirements.
One thing I am missing in this ThiEYE model is the ability to record the inverted image. This means the camera mount has to be under, which is awkward if you use it as a dash cam mounted under your rearview mirror. I have suggested to ThiEYE to add the option of inverting the image to their next firmware, but so far it is still a maybe.
Good things are easy:
- Small format
- Solidly made
- Attractive design
- Comprehensive menu.
- Satisfactory audio quality
- The batteries perform as promised, although only after first two or three chargings the full capacity is achieved.
- Audio sensitivity is good, but normally muffled when the camera is within its closed casing, which is to be expected. If the ambiental sound is important, use the camera out of the casing and experiment a tad with the sensitivity setting to find optimal sound recording level.
- The camera has a tripod bush right below its optical axis, which allows for correct leading when tripod mounted. So there is no need for additional skeletal mounts: smart decision.
- One thing which I see as very important is the company’s Support team. If you have any problem or just a doubt, they will answer quickly and do their best to help with your inquiry. Many other manufacturers would do good to follow such an example.
Not so good things… also easy as there aren’t many:
- Accessories are neither plentiful nor diverse; there are only so many ways to mount the camera that come in the box. But there are standalone manufacturers which can supply what is missing, since the protective casing has the same swiveling attachment point as most other cameras of this type. Just take care to choose long screws, so the finger grip can always clear the casing rim.
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Audio recording offers only Mono, maybe important for people who prefer Stereo sound.
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The camera does not have INVERT PICTURE option (yet).
- The ThiEYE web page could do with some redesign, as it has been conceived to promote the new products, while you have to search somewhat to find whether there is a new Firmware for your model. Here and there, the page and other textual information (in English) also needs some minor English corrections.
- So far, there is only a Quick Start Guide for this model; both as a booklet and on-site. But considering the large number of options that the camera offers, a full-fledged, detailed User Guide for all ThiEYE camera models should exist. I’d suggest that ThiEYE adds an User’s Guide booklet to the box, and also has it available on their pages as soon as possible. And a chapter about Waterproof Case Care should be an important part of this information!
TOTAL VALUE FOR MONEY: 4/5
I feel confident to regard the T5e as a very good buy. This is augmented by the impression of ThiEYE being a company very interested in advancing their product line and also their relations with consumer horizon. A company to keep Thy Eye upon, so to say!
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Excellent review. Thank’s.
How do I update the firmware, I found the file on Thieye website, but I find no pdf or instructions on telling how to get that file onto the camera , Thanks, Billy
If you found the firmware RAR container, you will also find instructions within. Unpack the downloaded RAR; there will be a .bin file (actual firmware upgrade), and also a .txt file which is Instructions. Simply follow instructions; it is a rather simple procedure.
Thanks, Boro, I’m glad you liked it. The wealth of information on this site can answer lots of dilemmas about action cameras – and more! Be sure to bookmark us for future reference.
Have a Good Light! 😉
A 4k action camera that supports microSD cards of maximum 64GB? Even my git2 can (theoretically?) support 128GB microSD cards, maybe ThiEYE can consider modifying the firmware to support larger cards for the huge size files that 4k videos can produce!
If you need to have a larger capacity card in your cam, maybe you’d wish to check out the ThiEYE i60e models. See here: http://www.thieye.com/features_i60e.html
These support Micro SD / SDHC / SDXC cards up to 128G class 10 or UHS-1.
But maybe the firmware to the ThiEYE T5 can be modified too, as you say. Let’s wait and see!
Its really stupid that u cant buy from their site…btw great review this seems like a decent camera to have
Dzolek, try GearBest!
And I’m glad you liked the review. This is one good product at a very reasonable price.
have you looked into scene modes ? some are very visible like night mode but landscape mode that is supposed to give maximum detals shows no difference with normal mode even when pixel peeping a captured frame. have you tried ev-2, it gives a more contrasty image and limits the overblown highlight but for video it lowers the shutter speed that is already way too high for video ( i am typically at 1/1600s in bright sunlight) i tried a nd filter but the cheap nd4 are not dark enough. do you have advice to lower shutter speed in video other than nd filters ? (is it possible to unscrew the lens and insert a smaller iris hole anf shut dow the aperture to f8 or f11 (from thew always full opened at f2.8 we have have in action cams) ? it will not only limit the overblown highlight but also improve image constrast and sharpness as all prime lens have their peak sharpness 3 stops down from their max aperture ? thanks.
It all depends on what scenery you are covering. Try experimenting with measuring modes… Also, sometimes it helps to dial Cloudy (WB) to enhance color rendering.
True, for someone handy with miniature tech it would also be possible to exchange iris for smaller aperture, why not?
Bear in mind that this is an Action Camera where the whole idea is based upon simplicity which delivers good results in averaging (imaged or calculated) situation, while remaining a sturdy product that can stand lots of rough usage. I would say that, were the manufacturer to introduce all the elements needed for all extreme situations, the camera would be built in another way… perhaps using the Lomo system for aperture / filter interchange in the lens system. This would then require producing and having certain extras available, which would inevitably raise its price.
But hey, never say never! Maybe we just gave ThiEYE some ideas!
Enjoy the Good Light!
Whether its spare Li-ion Battery 1100mAh available in the market.
There are spare batteries to be had, of course.
Take a look here: http://www.thieye.com/accessories.html
what would you recommend to get with the camera? Which diving accessories are compatible with this? I’ll be diving for the first time in Thailand. Any filters or sticks?
Good luck with your Thailand trip! I hope you bring back lots of nice memories.
Without knowing any more details about the kind of divings you have planned there… I’d mention a floating handgrip or floating wrist strap (sometimes combination has both functions), and perhaps a diving LED light (there are some you could look up, even on eBay). These are often made so that the cam mounts on the upper side, while the rest of the mounting system goes below the light unit.
These lights vary in size, charge duration and number of LEDs, so you can have your pick. Bear in mind that your cam has an extremely wide angle lens, and your lightsource should cover the most of it. So, maybe you’ll need more than one unit.
Whatever the type of dive, do not expect the light to be very effective on distances over 1.5 – 2 meters, but then, the camera lens will make you come closer anyway, so the videos / images should be okay.
And lastly, depending on your powersources… you might want to consider an outside charger / craddle, so the spare batteries can be topped while you are working with your camera. Good news is, ThiEYE comes with two batteries in the box! Happy dives!
Sorry, plain forgot to add a thought about filters that you mention.
Underwater, we mainly see the daylight from the surface side, and an exception to this would be either during the night dive, or deep enough for daylight to become insufficient. The human eye can adapt itself to about 5000%, so we can distinguish shapes even under 90 meters seawater (not much detail though).
Cameras are inferior in that sense, but set to Daylight (5000 – 5500 deg Kelvin) it will record the loss of light components similarly. As the warm part of the light spectrum is totally filtered out after the first 15 meters, what remains is blue-greens… and the cam will eventually record what we also see – an ambient in its NATURAL light!
There are various underwater camera modes, and there are also optical filters which virtually add the colors from the warm spectrum part. I personally don’t like those, as they’re not natural. To me the best course of action would be to bring my own lightsource which would then illuminate the objects through lesser water layer thickness, thus bringing natural object colors to become visible again.
Some ThiEYE cameras have a filter-adding option… with other models, one can experiment with DIY add-on arrangements. I prefer having the photos and videos recorded the way I see them… only maybe tweak the color range during post-production for some serious reasons (like, if my life depended upon it ;)…
But whatever you decide – enjoy!
This is the best most comprehensive review on the web. Thanks for doing this. I like this camera quite a bit. I hope Thieye takes into consideration some of the firmware upgrades you suggested. Inverted filming is even on my old sj4000 which is a pretty basic cam. Also having a larger memory card capacity seems logical. I think just adding those two things would make this camera much more competitive in the market. Still….I think I’ll pick one up and gamble on the improvements in the firmware. Worst case is that I’m stuck with what it is and what it is is still pretty good at the price point. I’ve been torn between this and the Git2 which has superior image stabilization but the colors on that camera are just too much for me. The T5E takes much better picturs in my opinion although the Git2, oddly enough, takes much better low light dark video.
Thanks for your kind comments! Enjoy the cam (whatever it is), since with all kinds of photo and videography it was / is / will always be 90% author and 10% equipment.
Does it support fpv? AV output at the usb connector?
Yes, it has a HD connector next to the USB (data / charging) point. There is also a dedicated ThiEYE App which is your wireless connection, meaning a distance-limited fpv photo and video transfer.
Awesome review!!
I’m really curious though. What is the stick that you have attached to the underwater housing in this picture? https://pevly.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/thieye-t5e-grass.jpg
I’m confused as to which mounts will support the underwater housing. I understand that the plastic prongs are actually bigger than the gopro, so I will be unable to attached the underwater housing to any go pro accessories. But I’m confused as to what I can attach the underwater housing + black mount to… can you please enlighten me?
Thanks for liking the review!
The stick under the cam is an ancient camera clamp, I use this instead of tripod. Other than the clamp which you can use to fix the camera(s) to various objects, it also has on its underside a combination of an 3/8″ tripod screw / bushing and when you turn the screw around, its other side is made in a conical wood-screw. So you can fix the whole thing to anything wooden. Small, lightweight and very practical.
You can find some camera clamps on eBay, newer models and concepts, but also this type.
The swiveling point (double-prong joint) under the camera casing IS compatible with connecting accessories (triple-prong joints) of other manufacturers; it is only that quick-release rotating mount that comes with the cam does not fit into the similar receiving part of other production! So you can connect, say, any GoPro triple-joint to the camera casing’s double-joint, and then form your attaching system from any among GoPro mounts.
See the camera clamp better, here: https://www.viewbug.com/photo/56605749
I purchased a multi-piece mount kit for GoPro cameras and found some tight on the case. I used an emery board, for nail filing, on the Thieye case for a better fit. Just file between the tabs. Also, the Polar Pro red filter for GP,s 3 & 4 fit perfectly, $30. A red filter is mandatory for underwater use.
Some among the accessories I bought were also a tight fit, but not overly so, didn’t require filing. But I’ll agree – if you found them too difficult to use, filing should help. Besides, it adds a rougher surface to the joint sides, which ensure better friction.
As to the red filters… it depends entirely upon your taste, but you can’t register color where there already isn’t one, and the whole warm part of the daylight spectrum is already filtered out by water at -15 meters depth. Red filter can’t replace that. You could see reds until 1.5 meters(seawater), but deeper down there effectively won’t be any. Me, I prefer to record what I actually see if I’m seeing only by daylight. Deep-dive videos will look nicer with the light brought close to the object(s), especially when combined with daylight the way it looks. However, I understand that tastes differ – so, whatever works for you will be fine!
You can replace filtered-out light frequencies by bringing artificial “daylight” (5000-5500K), so as to diminish the water layer between the camera and your object. Underwater LED lights are generally not expensive nowadays (there are some that are, though). The only question is how many you’ll need, considering that lighting should cover the wide-angle lens FOV.
A 35mm dry-land lens with uncorrected (flat) port will be about 50mm underwater, and as far as I know, all action cam casings have flat ports in front of the lens. So if your cam has, say, 170 degrees field, underwater it will behave maybe like 140, and I’d suggest two standard reflectors, adjusted for proper spread to cover the scene.
Enjoy! 🙂
Whats the difference between i60 and T5?
The i60 can accept memory card up to 32GB, records in .mov / H.264, but only in resolutions up to 1920 x 1440. It also has a tad smaller monitor (1.5″ vs. 2″), and its w/a lens covers 152 degrees…
I’m sure you can find all the other details at http://www.thieye.com/features.html
Enjoy! 🙂
Nice review of a cam I never saw before.
I have to questions (can´t find the answere because I´m not native english speaking)
1. I can rotate the cam about 180° so recording bottom top. This is important for mountainbiking where the cam is a the chest.
But then I CAN´T rotate the video inside the cam so it has the right orientation?
(“no invert image”)
That would be a no go
2. Can I use all the budget accessoires I can find on internet for a gopro? I need some mounting stuff for my motorcycle.
maybe the wrong camere with good video quality and I have to search an alternative cam.
Thank you
Tabby, there is a chance that ThiEYE might add the “invert image” recording mode to a future firmware upgrade; I have specifically asked them for this feature, which would be useful for dashboard cam use and also the applications you mention. So far, I don’t know if they’ll deliver.
But then, you can always invert the recording in some post-production editor, right? So it shouldn’t be a big problem, especially since majority of raw video records require post-production anyway.
Yes, you can use budget accessories from either GoPro or other manufacturers, many stand-alone accessories can be applied. Only thing, in combining those with your camera, you have to begin at either the cam’s 1/4″ standard tripod screw bush, or at the camera protective case’s swivel joint. You only can’t combine the quick-snap “male” lock delivered with the camera with similar “female” receiving part of other manufacturing.
For bikes and motorcycles, there are some nice metal handlebar connecting elements to be found (for instance, on eBay). Many are hex-screw mountable so you can leave them in place when you remove the camera.
As the 1/4″ tripod bushing and/or swivel two-prong joint mentioned are standard, these will easily connect to other parts, but use long(er) joint screws for tightening because of the camera case width.
Great review, just one question in relation to time lapse video recording. When I went to utilise that option in the setting menu, it appeared to a be dull, like it couldn’t be selected. When I went to select it, it didn’t allow me any access to the function. Any ideas ? will it only work on certain resolutions (I had it set at 1080P)?
Thank you
Hey, Gavin… I could not reproduce this problem on my cam, so I can’t really say what caused it. See, however, whether you have the latest firmware in your cam; update if not. Might help, that.
Alternatively, you could ask: [email protected] – maybe they’ll suggest the solution for your problem.
Hello. Great review indeed. I’ve just received my own T5e. Unfortunately its video seems having a big problem! Artifacts appear in the video even with the slightest movement of camera. The artifacts appear as parallel lines in the video. I do not know how to explain it by it seems that the frames refresh rate have serious problem and is out of sync . I have test several settings, latest firmware but to no avail. Even if the video quality and colors are excellent, these artifacts are VERY annoying and makes the camera almost useless (to my opinion) and inferior to other (for instance a Sony AS20 I also own) . Before I sent it back, is there any idea to overcome the problem?
Thank you in advance.
Hi, Argiris… It occurred to me that maybe your memory card is inadequate, or you’re using some video player that may have problems with the file. I suppose you converted the videos to .avi? If not try this first. Some video players I tried also had problems with the original files, gods know why!
I also had some problems with Sandisk card (class 10, 64GB), and I tried replacing it with the similar card – but Kingston, which I had in my SJCAM M10+.
So I switched the cards. Now both cams work okay. SJCAM had no issues with SDcard, but seems that T5e works better with the Kingston card.
Mind you, both cards are Class 10 / 64GB, but there still is some difference. So much about “standards”!
Hope this helps. Enjoy! 🙂
Hello, Fil.
Congrats on the review, it has helped me a lot.
I’m torn between the T5e and the Git2 (they are practically the same price). Have you ever had any experience with the Git2? If so, which do you prefer?
I problably won’t need the 4k resolution, my needs are more related to photo quality, night images and, maybe, the gyro.
Thank you very much for the attention!
Hello, Danillo… Thanks for liking the review. Actually I’m quite fazed at the interest it generates…
As to your question, look here https://pevly.com/gitup-git2-review/ for answers… Our Pavle is an expert on many more action cameras that I have ever seen! Me, I have not had the chance to use the Git2.
Best, and have a Good Light!
Customer support??? There is NO customer support at all. I have contacted them 4 (!) times with regards to a problem I have with my new T5e asking them for some advise.
I have got no reply at all.
They customer support really sucks.
Argiris, this is news (bad news, actually) to me. Sorry to read this.
I have mailed the [email protected] about this, hopefully they’ll be of more help to you.
hi,
Just wondering if I can use go pro accessories with this camera?
Hi, Cynthia! Yes, you can. Both GoPro and stand-alone manufacturers’ accessories can be used with ThiEYE T5e, if you use either the 1/4″ standard tripod bush on the underside of the camera, of if you use standard swivel beneath the camera’s protective casing.
What you can’t use is some original ThiEYE snap-on connector with SIMILAR connecting part from other manufacturers – you have to use either the dedicated complete snap-on from ThiEYE or a complete snap-on from alternative manufacturer.
So, as long as you’re not mixing those, it will work.
Enjoy!
Most informative review I’ve ever read! I hope there’s a feature firmware update to upgrade storage also.
Andrew, you might want to watch this space for any firmware news:
http://www.thieye.com/support.html
To this date, the latest changes for T5 & T5e are described in the Changelog for:
Version No. : TI/UN5-170228-V5.0
Release Time: 2017/3/06
Hi,
first i have to say Sorry for my bad english! 🙁
I´m very confused with all the Cams and Tests.
Searching for the best decision in different Situations.
I not really need 4K. I think Full hd is enough for me, but i want a good Photoquality too.
I wondering about Git2, SJ6 Legend & many others.
Now i think the Thieye T5 should be the best decision, because i saw many testvideos of all cams. And the t5 has the best Quality in my view.
Sadly i found less Pictures of Photos made with the Cams to compare.
Additionally the Tests are from different Times.
(i think 4stars in 2015 can´t be the same like 4stars in 2017)
First i tought the git2 is the best, but i saw much Clips was too Dark, blurry and in many Situations the Colors was horrible ( to much green or blue). Ist no longer an Option for me.
Then i tought the Sj6 Legend could be the one.
It has so many options they speak for it, especially the Gyro, the Touchscreen and the compatibility with other Eqipment and Batterys inclusive external loaders.
But at the end it is Picturequality that counts! It is the Product of every Cam!
Real Colours, Sharp Pictures, smooth Video and Details.
My Question:
Is the Thieye 5 an Option to have better Picture in Video & Photo ?
Or is the SJ 6 legend the better Option because i really don´t need 4K
I´m really interested about your opinion 🙂
Thanks a lot
best regards
Mr.B
Hi, Mr.B
My colleague Alessio has tested the SJ6 Legend, so please see here: https://pevly.com/sjcam-sj6-legend-review/ – you might wish to compare the features and decide for yourself.
If it is any solace (of sorts)… every camera you pick may shine in one aspect, and possibly have some inferior performance in another (and that goes for high-priced models too). It all depends on your needs.
Some people are entirely into action videos, and may completely ignore still photos. With other people it will be the other way around. Some will ignore relatively poor sound quality, since they plan on dubbing the sound in post-production. Others need natural sound.
Me, I was pretty happy with the THiEYE T5e during the tests. Well stabilized, it will create good photos in low light. It will also record solid videos, to my needs, of course – and I don’t pixel-peep.
I also don’t really need remote control, and while its app works quite well, it is not so important to me; might be to someone else.
Same thing with the touchscreen. It is no doubt an easier and quicker way to setup your cam – SJ6 Legend has this feature, and T5e doesn’t. Important? Might be all the diff – to some. I tend to use an action cam underwater, and a touchscreen use is limited there, so I make do with buttons. Etcetera.
In the meantime there’s a new kid on the block: there’s a new SJ6 Legend Air, which should arrive for testing in the next few weeks. Can’t really say when its review will be ready… So watch this page!
Have a Good Light!
I would like to get a dual battery charger for this unit. Do you know if the dual charger for the i60 will work for the T5e?
Hi, Heath!
This is what the ThiEYE page shows:
“The T5/T5e rechargeable battery (1100mAh li-ion) … is just compatible with ThiEYE T5/T5e.”
Although superficially the batteries for T5/T5e and i60 look about the same and show the same power characteristics, in the Accessory section ThiEYE says about the dual battery charger for i60:
“The dual battery charger can quickly charge two Li-on batteries …” … “Compatible with ThiEYE Action Cam i60 / i30”.
So I’d say these are not expressly compatible, and the difference may just not be visible (like layout and/or polarity of the contacts). However, please check by mail at their Support: [email protected]
It is quite possible that this dual charger box could be actually used with T5/T5e batteries, but someone there just forgot to add that info.
I have never handled this charger, so I can’t offer more accurate information.
Hi,
I am thinking about buying this and was wondering if it will fit on a GoPro Surf Mount? as that will be what i will mainly use it for.
Thanks
Hi, Dylan! The camera’s waterproof casing has a typical two-pronged swivel mount on its underside, and this will fit the (three-pronged) accessories used by GoPro and many other manufacturers. Seems like this has become a standard of sorts, with just a few exceptions.
So whether you’re planning to connect the cam casing directy to the Surfboard mount, or use some inbetween elements, make sure you start with GoPro-like mounting element right from the casing.
Another thing… although the usual 3M double-sided stickers are usually sufficient for safe accessory attaching, in some extreme situations these can fail (like, uneven or not perfectly smooth / clean attaching spot, or board/kayak/boat being in the sunlight for a long time).
Thus, don’t forget a short safety line! The knots on both ends should be immobilised by a drop of superglue, and I’d screw down the safety line point where it attaches to the board/kayak/boat instead of gluing it to the vessel. Be sure to coat the screw richly with superglue gel too, so as to seal the hole in the board surface.
Be safe, and enjoy!
After multiple bad experiences I had with Thieye “Support”, I would warn any possible buyer, that by purchasing this camera you have ABSOLUTELY NO SUPPORT!
The Thieye support is just absent. The clips that secures camera waterprooof case,
just broke after 4-5 uses (very bad quality) and I am trying to purchase a new one since Thieye and Gearbest does not offer a real warranty (it is a two-months camera) !!
However the video/photo/sound quality are amazing (in 1080p/60fps by far outperforms my Sony HDR-AS30 / AS20 cameras (that cost almost the double).
Hi, I have a SJ 4000 headband set, would Thieye T5E fit the frame of SJ 4000 that attaches to the headband ? If not, will there be a headband that fits? I need to use it without the plastic waterproof housing as I need to record sound as well. Thank you.
We haven’t tested such headband, but in most cases it should fit.
I have recently bring my T5e underwater for 5 dives at 20 meters (~66ft) in
Catalonia – Spain(Mediterranean Sea). I am very satisfied with the result as I was a bit sceptical before diving.
I haven’t used any special accessory to enhance the image quality (no red filter, no flat lens, no specific lighting). I used the underwater mode of the camera at 1080p60.
For close shooting, a flat lens would be very helpful. I asked ThiEYE about the possibility to replace the original lens, here is their answer :
“The sensor for T5e is Sony IMX117.
It is hard to replace the lens, and will cause the mismatched problem with chip.”
So the answer is “No, you can’t”.
Hi, Piwi! Remember the saying “Never Say Never”? I’d suggest you try to add some higher dioptric lenses to, say, an 46mm adapter ring that you can easily add in front of the underwater port… Just make sure the water can enter between the casing port and the back of the lens. You might be surprised with the results.
Take the lenses to water first for some tests, and if you find the right one, you can create some more permanent arrangement.
As for fixing the adapter ring, you’d need to create an element that will fit the protruding lens port on its inner side, and the said adapter ring to its outer rim. Can be cut out of a bit of Plexiglass. There are other ways too, but before you fix anything, just make it tight fit push-on.
A bit of DIY is all it takes if you find the right lens. Used to do the same with my Nikonoses, decades ago, by ‘inventing” an adapter ring with hinges, so as to swing the add-on lens in or out of the optical line of the lens. Worked like a charm! 🙂
hey,
im looking for the black Mount Adapter (for waterproof case)
any link ??
thanks
Go to eBay, use the “action camera accessories” as a keyword. It will open about ten million suggestions in a jiffy! Enjoy! 🙂
Hi,
What’s the point in recording in 4k if there’s no EIS as I plan record underwater? Are there any cams in the same price range that does 1080p with EIS better?
Hi! New cameras appear daily, and prices go down (mainy because of that). I suppose you can find some in the price range you might find appropriate.
Otherwise, see our newest reviews… some interesting models there.
Finally, you could consider making a hydroplane base for your underwater shooting. This was used ages ago, and it will be as useful nowadays.
It is basically a wing with handle(s). It helps you guide the camera through the water,as if you flew a small airplane.
Cut a piece of plexiglass of similar material (transparent is best) in 1:2 ratio, say, 30 x 15 cm. Round the corners nicely, and make all cuts smooth on its upper side. Drill a hole for the cam adapter in the middle of the plane width, far enough forward so the camera doesn’t see the plate edge. Drill two more holes left and right of the camera, somewhat back of the camera mount (like about the middle of the plate length: 7.5 cm from forward edge).
Use any kind of material you like and make handles by fixing them to these holes on the plane’s upper side. Use longer stainless screws for this purpose.
Now you can guide the hydroplane by the handles, and operate the camera commands, the cam being accessible by either hand.
There is enough place there to later add maybe the lighting units, and also a small spirit bubble level were you can see it, and control the cam horizontality. You might want to add a compass or whatever you need… what you have is actually an oversize camera base that “flies” in the water.
That’s how we stabilized underwater cameras in the old, film days!
Enjoy!
firmware 0628 corrects a few bugs(parameters such as ev were not restored) and improves image quality (there is less oversharpening)
Thanks for the great extensive review. You helped me to decide to get the T5e. Happy owner for a few weeks now! 🙂
Do you happen to know which cases/housing of other brands and models will fit the Thieye T5e?
I am specifically looking for a skeleton frame and a skeleton backdoor. Lens caps as well.
GoPro Hero4 backdoor does not fit (too small and the metal pin of the T5e is thicker). And SJC4000 lens caps are too big for the T5e lens).
Hi, KK
… and no, to my sorrow I couldn’t say which cases would fit the T5e (outside of ThiEYE program), since majority of models manage to differ in just as many minor aspects as to guide the user to the products of original manufacturer.
But the situation can always be overcome by DIY, of course. I’d suggest you get one more case from ThiEYE and put it through some changes until you get what you want from it. Or try to build a new skeletal frame from Plexiglas sheet material. Save the sawdust / filings and thaw these in Chloroform – you can use this solution as a glue. It is more like chemical welding, since you’re using original material in liquid form to connect the joints.
WARNING: While working with Chloroform, make sure you’re not breathing the fumes, and that you’re far from fire and sparks!
As to the lens cap, this can be created from PET bottle cap inlaid with, say, Neoprene foamy material or something similar. Also, look up the new SJCAM’s Legend Air. There is a lens cap in its range of accessories, and it will fit the T5e tightly.
Me, I’d go for DIY, since it is quicker…
Have a Good Light!
Hello
Have you used the underwater housing for some diving purpose (maybe 20 -25 m deep) ?
Can you rely on it ?
Is there any leak or drowning issue known for this cam ?
Do you know some sample video taken around 20m deep ?
Thank you for your great review
Hi, Chris
Yes I have. All the cams I had the privilege to test in the summer months were depth-tested in accordance with manufacturers’ limits, e.g. mainly to the maximum of 12-15 meters. I can still reach that depth in apnea, and generally don’t bother with SCUBA gear any more.
But when you consider that 10 meters depth represents a pressure rise of 100%, it is already enough to check the sealing points.
So if the cam case is built for, say, a maximum of -30 meters (4Bar), it will either stand it – or leak at 10 meters depth.
As regards the bending of the case itself, all flat surfaces will theoretically tend to be pressurized inwards, but with materials used and its thickness, the resilience and tolerances are sufficient.
At times, I do some depth tests which are conducted by lowering an empty case to its recommended maximal depth plus 10%, and leave it there for 2 hours or so. Then I pull it out and check the “state of the straws”, a test I have “invented” to measure the caving-in of the case. When in doubt, anyone can easily repeat this test.
As you know, almost all action cam cases have flat surfaces which tend to bend inwards under the pressure, even if only theoretically.
My “straw test” consists of three pairs of plastic drinking straw pieces. Each pair consists of two pieces; one in the other, making a tight “telescopic” fit. The pairs are glue-connected together in the middle, stretching along one axis each:
– one pair touches the left and right inner side of the casing,
– the second pair touches front and back inner side, and
– the third pair extends between upper and lower inner surface
… of the insides of camera case.
The straws are marked and closed inside the casing so that all straw ends spread tightly between their corresponding camera sides.
Now when the casing is exposed to outside pressure, the surfaces will bend inwards, pushing the pair of telescopic straws out of their marked lengths. So when I pull the case up from the depth, I can already see whether the pairs are shorter, i.e. if the outside pressure has bent the case, and how much each dimension. If the casing was compressed at all, I can see by the straw pair marks out of alignment, and how much exactly, that I can measure by a caliper.
There is one exception, though, as regards the pliable “touch back” hatches. These are usually rated at -3 meters, and should not be tested if the camera is not in there, since the plastic material relies upon the rigidity of the camera monitor to support it. If used with no camera, the plastic can stretch out of shape and later become unusable. This kind of hatches should have some camera-sized hard block inside to support the touch port from the inside (industrial hard styrofoam should suffice). Anyway, do never test such hatches at more than rated pressures plus 10%. Time should not play any role in such tests, and even if the manufacturer’s test was conducted for, say, 30 minutes, the case should stand the same depth for two hours easily.
If all goes well, then you can trust your camera inside that casing! Also, I’d suggest you read the article about watertighting, right on PEVLY pages: https://pevly.com/waterproofing-key-underwater-photography/
Enjoy! 🙂
when i look up action camera accessories on amazon, those packs of tons and tons of generic accessories show up. I have no clips or mounts for the 5te so should i buy those and are they compatable?
It will mainly depend upon the kind of a mount you need. The camera has its 1/4″ standard tripod bushing, and you could combine the accessories from there. On the other hand, if you plan to attach the camera within its protective case, you should begin with triple-prong swivel mounts that attach below the casing.
In general, save for some quick mounts (quick attach) that are sometimes different, 99% of generic mounts should fit. As regards, the quick-attach mounts mentioned, there will be no problem as long as you acquire the “slide-in part” and its “shoe part” from the same manufacturer / model.
Used it for volcano bay and the video quality is poor not steady play back and a lot of the times not watchable just a mass of colour
Same as card In my normal camera and videos are good quality
No good in heat this one I have
Any suggestions
Hi, Leslie! Can’t say that I have tested the camera in such circumstances, so its hard to say what caused the problem.
If it was caused by sheer heat, the obvious suggestion would be to shield the cam in some way; maybe using some reflective material over the added insulation?
If the problem is connected with massive IR component of heat, some light filtering would be in order. To be on the safe side, try to contact ThiEYE Support (sup[email protected]), see what the manufacturer has to say about it.
Good Luck!
I purchased this action camera on the strength of this review.
I have been impressed with the results so far. The t5e is used almost exclusively for scuba diving.
Whilst I am happy with the camera, I am totally bamboozled by the ThiEYE App on my IPhone and the WiFi connection.
It seems to have a mind of its own, sometimes it works but most of the time it doesn’t.
An additional problem then arrives when camera and IPhone fail to connect and the APP keeps looking for the ThiEYE camera. It simply doesn’t stop “connecting”. My only way around that at this point has been to delete the APP from the IPhone and reinstall
A further issue is the selection of specific videos to download. I can not work out a way to do this, so consequently each download from camera to IPhone includes everything on the SD card, clearly a waste of time.
Can you resolve these issues?
As with some contributors above I have found “ThiEYE service” to be prompt for one enquiry but then NON existent after that.
I believe the Firmware is up to date : TI/UN7-170908-V5.0
Hi, I’m glad that you have trusted our review for your purchase!
As to the App on your iPhone… you’ve got me there. I was only able to test it with Android (v.6.0), and it worked okay, so I can’t say anything responsible or inspirative to that.
While I don’t use apps for data transfer (mainly cam/card-to-laptop, by USB), I can relate to folks which need or prefer the smartphones for it. Normally, there is no problems with card contents transfer; neither all nor specific. The best I can suggest is that you keep contacting ThiEYE Support until they solve the iPhone App glitches.
Incidentally, as many people read this, maybe there is someone around who could offer some solution to the issues you’re experiencing.
Enjoy your cam, dive safely, and have a great new year, with lots of Good Light!