Comparison ThiEYE i30 Plus vs AirOn Simple 4K

The ability of the camera to record HD video (720p).

The official HD specification provides a resolution of 1280x720. However, in action cameras, there may be resolutions slightly different from this parameter, for example, 1080x720 or 1440x960. Anyway, HD is the most modest of today's high-definition standards, which, nevertheless, provides a fairly clear and detailed image.

Another important parameter given in this paragraph is the frame rate. The higher it is, the smoother the movement in the frame will be, and the details in dynamic scenes will be visible clearly. Technically, 30 fps or even less is enough for video, but 60 fps is considered the perfect value — at this frame rate, motion blur becomes almost imperceptible and at the same time the size of the captured files remains within reasonable limits. However, there are cameras on the market with higher frame rates at HD resolutions — 100 fps, 120 fps, 200 fps and even 240 fps. This speed is usually used for recording slow-motion video, but such a possibility needs to be specified separately.

The ability of the camera to shoot Full HD (1080p) video.

The standard image size in this standard is 1920x1080. However, in the case of action cameras, this category also includes some other resolutions that are similar in quality, for example, 1440x1080. In general, Full HD provides a very good balance between image quality, the volume of captured files and the processing power requirements for processing them, which makes this standard very popular in modern video equipment — both in cameras and in TV monitors.

Another important parameter given in this paragraph is the frame rate. The higher it is, the smoother the movement in the frame will be, and the details in dynamic scenes will be visible clearly. Technically, 30 fps or even less is enough, but 60 fps is considered the perfect value — at this frame rate, motion blur becomes almost imperceptible and at the same time the size of the captured files remains within reasonable limits. However, there are cameras on the market with a higher frame rate at FullHD resolutions — 90 fps, 100 fps, 120 fps and even 240 fps. This speed is usually used for shooting slow-motion video, but the possibility of such shooting needs to be specified separately.

The ability of the camera to shoot QuadHD video.

This standard includes an extensive set of resolutions — from 1440 to 3456 pixels horizontally and from 1440 to 2160 pixels vertically, with almost two dozen intermediate options. It is a rather specific transitional option between the relatively inexpensive FullHD 1080p and the demanding UltraHD 4K, allowing you to shoot higher resolution video than 1080p without significantly increasing the cost of equipment. Note that pure QuadHD resolutions are rare in TVs and monitors, but modern technologies make it possible to comfortably watch videos of this format on any high-resolution screen.

Another important parameter given in this paragraph is the frame rate. The higher it is, the smoother the movement in the frame will be, and the details in dynamic scenes will be visible clearly. For example, a filming speed of 25 fps or 30 fps approximates the standard frame rate in film and television; such an image is quite viewable, but fast-moving objects in the frame will look blurry. With an increase in speed to 60 fps, this effect becomes almost imperceptible. The highest QuadHD frame rate found in modern action cameras is 120 fps; this frequency is used when shooting slow-motion video (as well as models with a frequency of 100 fps) because at a n...ormal playback speed, 60 fps is enough.

The ability of the camera to shoot Ultra HD 4K video.

This format covers several resolutions in which the horizontal frame size is approximately 4K pixels. The most popular in action cameras is 3840x2160 (twice the FullHD frame on each side), but there are other options — for example, 3840x1920, corresponding to an aspect ratio of 2:1. In general, 4K is a kind of successor to Full HD: among HD standards that surpass Full HD, UltraHD is the most popular, in particular, many advanced TVs are produced with 3840x2160 screens. On the other hand, this format is quite demanding in terms of processing power and memory, so it is relatively rare in action cameras, mainly among premium models.

Another important parameter given in this paragraph is the frame rate. The higher it is, the smoother the movement in the frame will be, and the details in dynamic scenes will be visible clearly. However, in UltraHD mode, most modern action cameras produce a very low frame rate — most often 30 fps, and in some models 24 fps or even 15 fps. This video is quite viewable, but fast movement in the frame may look blurry. There are cameras capable of shooting UltraHD at a solid speed of 60 fps — the blurring effect during such shooting is almost imperceptible. However, such a model cost is high.

The number of megapixels in the action camera sensor, in other words, the resolution of this sensor(1 megapixel is 1 million photosensitive points).

There is an opinion that the higher the resolution, the better the image quality. It is true from the point of view that manufacturers are trying to install high-resolution sensors in advanced cameras. At the same time, there are no strict dependencies here, and from the technical point of view, the number of megapixels determines only the maximum image resolution that can be captured using this sensor. The quality of this picture will depend both on several features of the sensor itself (size, type, special design solutions), and the specs of the camera. So when choosing, you should focus not so much on the resolution of the image sensor, but on the general class of the camera and reviews with examples of footage.

— Protective case. A special container that provides additional protection against dust, moisture, shock, extreme temperatures and other similar “troubles”. The specific degree of protection in each case must be specified separately. In order not to interfere with the shooting, the box is made of transparent materials. In addition, we note that some cameras can only be mounted on mounts in a protective case (or in a mounting frame — see below), since the camera body may not have mounts for this.

— Curved mount(helmet). A mount designed to mount the camera on a helmet or other curved surface. The design of such a mount is based on a curved platform with an adhesive layer or hook-and-loop, the shape of which approximately corresponds to the shape of the surface of the helmet. Such a fixture can provide a more secure hold than the classic flat platform (see below).

— Flat mount. One of the basic and simplest mounts used to fix an action camera on almost any uniform surface: snowboard, skateboard, car hood, etc. It is a small flat platform, on one side of which the camera is attached, while the other is fixed on the desired surface (using hook-and-loop, special glue, etc.). Note that flat mounts are often used for mounting on a helmet. However, there is a separate type of mount for this, with a curved platform (see above).

— 3-axis mount. It differs from other types of mounting in the presence of three movable nodes that allow you to rotate the camera at an angle of up to 90 degrees in three axes. This allows you to choose the most interesting or successful shooting angle — on the side of the helmet, for example. Such options are usually compatible with many other mounts, so they can be used in conjunction with a handlebar, curved mount, etc.

— Bicycle/moto handlebar. Mount for installing the camera on a small pipe, such as the handlebars of a bicycle or motorcycle. Usually, it looks like a clamp, and the size of the fastening can be adjusted within a fairly wide range, adjusting it to pipes of different diameters.

— Suction cup(on glass). Camera mount, fixed in the right place with a suction cup. Allows you to install the device on flat and slightly curved surfaces. At the same time, note that such fasteners are not held as securely as flat or curved ones (see the relevant paragraphs). On the other hand, the suction cup is easy to attach and remove and leaves no marks. Therefore, mounts of this type are mainly used for installation on car glass when the camera works as a DVR.

— Clamp (clip). The clip-pin mount is quite versatile since it allows you to hang the camera on almost any suitable piece of equipment (backpack strap, unloading belt, belt, etc.). But at the same time, it is not very suitable for extreme shooting due to the relatively low reliability.

— Head mount. A device for fixing the camera on the head — usually on the forehead, like a headlamp. In addition to being hands-free, this placement has another advantage: the camera lens faces the same direction as the user. In this case, the mount itself is usually a system of elastic straps and is designed to be worn directly on the head, in contrast to the curved platform for the helmet. However, in some models, the possibility of putting on a helmet is also allowed.

— Chest mount. This mount is a system of elastic straps that allows you to fix the camera on the user's chest, shooting a little lower than the "eyeball". Like the head mount (see above), it easily adapts to the desired size.

— Mounting frame. A device designed to mount the camera on various mounts — helmet-mounted, on the handlebar, etc. The camera body itself often does not have mounts for such fixing, which is why you have to use additional equipment. Note that a similar function is often performed by a protective case(see above); the mounting frame, in contrast, provides almost no protection. However, in the frame, the camera body remains as open as possible. This provides additional features — in particular, it allows you to connect various cables and effectively use the built-in microphone, which is not possible with many protective cases.

— Monopod(selfie stick). It is a rod, usually folding, and sometimes adjustable in length; on one end of the rod is a mount for the camera and on the other — a handle for holding in your hand. By the name, such a monopod is intended mainly for filming itself — thanks to the length of the rod, the camera can be held at a convenient distance for this. However, other applications are also possible: for example, with the help of a monopod, you can “look” quite far over the edge of a cliff or around a corner. The main disadvantage of such a device is that one hand is constantly busy.

In addition to those mentioned above, other types of mounts may be included in the delivery package — for example, for musical instruments (for a guitar neck, a drum kit bar, etc.), for a surfboard, etc.

The model name of the proprietary battery used in the camera. Knowing this name, you can easily find a spare or replacement battery for the device.

The capacity of the battery supplied with the action camera.

All other things being equal, a higher capacity allows the device to last longer on a single charge. However, action cameras can differ markedly in design features and, as a result, in power consumption. Therefore, only models with similar specs can be compared with each other in terms of capacity (and even then quite approximately). To assess the autonomy of the device, it is better to use data on the actual operating time on a charge (this data can be indicated by the manufacturer itself or given in reviews).