06/02/2024
As an ex-BBC cameraman, I had my doubts about this for the price, and the limitation of plastic construction. However, once you read the instructions several times over, and try it out, realising the limitations, which are as below;
NO STABILISATION
NO LENS ZOOM
NO Focus guidance.
You MUST install the recommended APP and use it with a tablet to get the best video ./ pictures, and preview your videos in appropriate quality. The video is incredible as color night shot, and in zero light, still gives the right colors, but very grainy - to be expected, there is no light. The color is superb. This, for the price, is a very reasonable cmaera, but limited due to the low price. The controls are easy, once you get the idea of how it all works. The lens is a solid mount with the only variable being FOCUS. The zoom is fixed and is very much a telephoto as standard. There is a digital zoom, but it is not enabled, and to be honest, you want the reverse, a wider angle if you're used to a 'normal' video / still camera.
HOWEVER - I will say again, I am blown away by the colour accuracy in virtually no light. The camera MUST be mounted on a solid surface or tripod, as the lens default is a telephoto and has no stabilisation. When I have had more time to work with it, I will post results, video and photos taken with it. For this price, it is worth it - it is not a pro camera in the sense of conventional SLRs but it IS pro in the use of the Sony lowlight sensor, and the ability to recover UHD video in H265 as well as HD options and a full sensor resolution video option that is a bit higher than UHD. All at 30P, although if the camera is not held steady, the encoder of the video has a hard time on the highest resolution. I would have loved a changeable lens or lens zoom system with this, it would have increased the flexibility massively. BUT - as it stands, excellent value for the money, provided you realise that it is more designed as a wildlife night cam in its capability.
As an ex-BBC cameraman, I had my doubts about this for the price, and the limitation of plastic construction. However, once you read the instructions several times over, and try it out, realising the limitations, which are as below;
NO STABILISATION
NO LENS ZOOM
NO Focus guidance.
You MUST install the recommended APP and use it with a tablet to get the best video ./ pictures, and preview your videos in appropriate quality. The video is incredible as color night shot, and in zero light, still gives the right colors, but very grainy - to be expected, there is no light. The color is superb. This, for the price, is a very reasonable cmaera, but limited due to the low price. The controls are easy, once you get the idea of how it all works. The lens is a solid mount with the only variable being FOCUS. The zoom is fixed and is very much a telephoto as standard. There is a digital zoom, but it is not enabled, and to be honest, you want the reverse, a wider angle if you're used to a 'normal' video / still camera.
HOWEVER - I will say again, I am blown away by the colour accuracy in virtually no light. The camera MUST be mounted on a solid surface or tripod, as the lens default is a telephoto and has no stabilisation. When I have had more time to work with it, I will post results, video and photos taken with it. For this price, it is worth it - it is not a pro camera in the sense of conventional SLRs but it IS pro in the use of the Sony lowlight sensor, and the ability to recover UHD video in H265 as well as HD options and a full sensor resolution video option that is a bit higher than UHD. All at 30P, although if the camera is not held steady, the encoder of the video has a hard time on the highest resolution. I would have loved a changeable lens or lens zoom system with this, it would have increased the flexibility massively. BUT - as it stands, excellent value for the money, provided you realise that it is more designed as a wildlife night cam in its capability.
As an ex-BBC cameraman, I had my doubts about this for the price, and the limitation of plastic construction. However, once you read the instructions several times over, and try it out, realising the limitations, which are as below;
NO STABILISATION
NO LENS ZOOM
NO Focus guidance.
You MUST install the recommended APP and use it with a tablet to get the best video ./ pictures, and preview your videos in appropriate quality. The video is incredible as color night shot, and in zero light, still gives the right colors, but very grainy - to be expected, there is no light. The color is superb. This, for the price, is a very reasonable cmaera, but limited due to the low price. The controls are easy, once you get the idea of how it all works. The lens is a solid mount with the only variable being FOCUS. The zoom is fixed and is very much a telephoto as standard. There is a digital zoom, but it is not enabled, and to be honest, you want the reverse, a wider angle if you're used to a 'normal' video / still camera.
HOWEVER - I will say again, I am blown away by the colour accuracy in virtually no light. The camera MUST be mounted on a solid surface or tripod, as the lens default is a telephoto and has no stabilisation. When I have had more time to work with it, I will post results, video and photos taken with it. For this price, it is worth it - it is not a pro camera in the sense of conventional SLRs but it IS pro in the use of the Sony lowlight sensor, and the ability to recover UHD video in H265 as well as HD options and a full sensor resolution video option that is a bit higher than UHD. All at 30P, although if the camera is not held steady, the encoder of the video has a hard time on the highest resolution. I would have loved a changeable lens or lens zoom system with this, it would have increased the flexibility massively. BUT - as it stands, excellent value for the money, provided you realise that it is more designed as a wildlife night cam in its capability.