Comparison Activeon CX vs SJCAM FunCam

The degree of dust and water protection of the protective case supplied with the camera.

Protected case will save your camera from dust, water, temperature changes, shocks, etc. The specific degree of protection is indicated according to the international IP (Ingress Protection Rating) system, according to which each device is assigned a code of the form IPXX, where X is replaced by specific numbers. The first of them characterizes the protection against the penetration of foreign objects (from 0 to 6, where 0 is no protection). Usually, in boxes for action cameras, this indicator does not go below 5, because otherwise the container would have too large gaps, and its use simply would not make sense. Level 5 provides dust resistance — dust can get inside the case, but in small quantities that do not affect the device inside. Level 6 corresponds to complete imperviousness to dust.

The second digit is protection against liquid ingress (from 0 to 8, where 0 is no protection). Usually, the minimum level of protection against water is 6.

6 — protection against short-term immersion (for example, falling into a sea wave);
7 — protection against temporary immersion under water (up to 30 minutes) to a shallow depth (up to 1 metre), without continuous operation in immersed mode;
8 — protection against immersion to a depth of more than 1 metre for a time of more than 30 m, with the possibility of continuous...operation underwater. The specific level of protection of level 8 can be quite impressive — up to the possibility of diving to several tens of metres.

Note that protective cases for action cameras can be sold separately. Therefore, if the capabilities of the complete container do not suit you, there may be a more secure case on the market. On the other hand, in general, it is still more convenient to buy such an accessory immediately with a camera — so as not to waste time and effort on choosing the right protective case.

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.

For models with several lenses, as a rule, this parameter is indicated for each lens.

Most often (unless otherwise indicated), the specifications indicate the field of view by the diagonal of the frame; in some ultra-wide-angle lenses it can exceed 180°. A special case is made up of lenses for which a 360° view is declared: this means that the optics cover the entire hemisphere in front of it. Such lenses are found in panoramic and 360-degree cameras (see “Product type”).

In general, the field of view primarily determines what area of the scene is being captured into the frame. Accordingly, the wider it is, the more space the camera captures, and the lower the likelihood that something that is happening will be off-screen. On the other hand, it is worth considering that a strong increase in the field of view leads to distortions of the “picture”, especially at the edges, as well as, to a decrease in the size of visible objects and a decrease in detail. Detailed recommendations regarding choosing a camera based on this parameter can be found in special sources.

The presence of a digital (electronic) stabilization system in the camera design.

Any stabilization is intended to compensate for small juddering of the image that occurs due to the instability of the hold in the hands, vibrations from the motor or road roughness (when used in transport), etc. Digital stabilization is carried out as follows: a reserve area is allocated along the edges of the sensor, which under normal conditions does not participate in the formation of the final image. If the device is being shaken, the camera electronics select certain parts of the image from the reserve and build the image in such a way that in the end, it remains stable.

Compared to other methods of stabilization, digital systems are extremely simple and reliable. Moreover, they are inexpensive and have almost no effect on the weight, dimensions, and price of the camera. At the same time, with this method of stabilization, the effective area of the image sensor is reduced, which can adversely affect the image quality and the amount of noise on it.

The presence of a active noise reduction system in the design of the action camera.

This function is relevant only for models with the ability to record sound (see above). The noise reduction system, by the name, monitors extraneous noise in the recorded sound (for example, the rumble of the wind in the microphone array) and eliminates them — thus, the camera captures only “useful” sound with a minimum of ambient noise. Of course, even the most advanced of these systems are not perfect, and errors in operation are inevitable — the camera may miss some noise or reduce the volume of a “useful” sound. However, in most cases, noise reduction somehow positively affects the quality of the recorded audio.

The number of built-in microphones provided in the camera.

This parameter is indicated only for models that have more than one microphone. This design provides additional capabilities, but the range of these capabilities depends on the number of microphones and the features of a particular model. So, most often such devices have two microphones; this can be a pair for recording stereo sound, or one microphone can work to record sound, and the second one can act as a sensor for the noise reduction system (see above). A larger number - 3 or 4 microphones - is found mainly in 360-degree cameras (see “Product type”), where such equipment is used to record “surround” multi-channel sound.

Additional information regarding the sensor installed in the lens. This item can specify both the diagonal size (in inches) and the sensor model, and sometimes both parameters at once. Anyway, such data is provided only if the device is equipped with a high-class image sensor. With the model, everything is quite simple: knowing the name of the sensor, you can find detailed data on it.

The diagonal of the image sensor is traditionally indicated in fractions of an inch — accordingly, for example, a 1/2.3" sensor will be larger than 1/2.6". Larger sensors are considered more advanced, as they allow for better image quality at the same resolution. This is because due to the larger sensor area, each pixel is also larger and receives more light, which improves sensitivity and reduces noise. Of course, the actual image quality will also depend on several other parameters, but in general, a larger sensor size usually means a more advanced camera.

The maximum resolution at which the action camera can take photos. Specified in pixels horizontally and vertically.

This parameter is directly related to the resolution of the image sensor(see above): the total number of pixels in the photo, usually, corresponds to the number of pixels in the sensor. For example, a photo resolution of 4608x3456 corresponds to a sensor of 15925248 pixels, or approximately 16 megapixels. If the number of pixels in the photo is greater than the claimed resolution of the sensor, then the manufacturer uses software tricks that allow you to improve the photo resolution to a higher one than originally. This reduces the cost of devices but also affects the quality of images.

Theoretically, high-resolution images can provide good detail, but in fact, much depends on the specs of the sensor (primarily physical size) and image processing features.

— Photo during video. The ability to take photos directly while recording a video — usually using a separate button. Thus, it is convenient to fix the most significant moments of what is happening. Such photos are much better in quality than "freeze frames" from the captured video.

— Serial photo shoot. This feature allows you to take several pictures at once in a short period (usually it is a fraction of a second). A series of shots increases the chance of capturing a good moment, which can be very important given the specifics of using action cameras.

— One click recording. The ability to quickly turn on the camera for recording — literally at the touch of a button, by the name. Moreover, such a button works even if the device is turned off. However, the recording inevitably starts with some delay; but often this delay is a fraction of a second.

— Online streaming. Ability to stream video to popular services like YouTube and social networks (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, etc.). Usually, the online streaming function is implemented when the action camera is connected to the Internet via a Wi-Fi network, less often via a wired connection. Communication with the World Wide Web can be held directly or through a smartphone or computer. It will require the use of appropriate software.

— Time lapse. A special mode of operation of the action camera, in which video recording is carried out at a slower frequency is mainly used for filming slow processes. Thus, for example, a long journey or a long sunset can fit into a 3-minute video.

— Auto-rotate. The function of automatic rotation of the captured photos and videos to the position corresponding to the position of the camera. Without this feature, all footage during playback would be displayed strictly in landscape orientation, and footage shot with the camera upside down or upside down would have to be rotated in a photo or video editor. Usually, at the beginning of video recording, auto-rotation is blocked — so that the position of the frame at any time corresponds to the rotation of the camera itself relative to its original position.

— Photo panoramas shooting. The ability to use the camera to take panoramic photos. In traditional action cameras (see "Product type"), such shooting is carried out as follows: the camera takes several separate photos, which are then glued into one image. Regarding panoramic and 360-degree models (see ibid.), it is worth noting that not all such models support shooting in panoramic format, so it is advisable to check the availability of this function separately.

— Key points labels. The ability to add special marks to the footage that indicate key moments. While viewing such videos, you can go directly to the labels — this is easier than manually searching for the right moment. This feature is especially useful when shooting long videos, as well as when numerous individual files. The label, usually, is placed right during the shooting by pressing a special button or by voice command.

— Night shooting. Special mode for recording in low light conditions. The specific implementation of this function may be different: in some models, the sensitivity of the sensor is increased, in others, shooting in the IR range is used. Accordingly, specific features may vary: not every camera with this function can shoot in complete darkness, and these nuances should be clarified separately.