The Tianqu XS809W is a unique quadcopter - it looks very similar to the popular DJI Mavic, but it only costs $50. The low price is for a reason - it lacks GPS, a good camera, stabilization, long range, and pretty much all the cool features of the Mavic. However, it DOES feature a really compact, folding design, a punchy set of brushed motors (I know, I know), and WiFi FPV views. It's a fun quad to fly, and while it doesn't quite carry a GoPro (as seen in the video), it has great battery life and handles flips without a problem. Check it out at Gearbest here: http://bit.ly/2rDiXMe
Remember my budget FPV setup with a smart phone plus EasyCap? How about a dedicated FPV headset for only $50? Gearbest let me try out the Furibee VR01 FPV Goggles and I am pretty impressed. I flew it with my Hubsan H501S, my XK X251, and my MJX Bugs drones, all with great success. The goggles provided a clear signal, and easily found the FPV output signals from the drones (or the onboard video transmitter setuo). A extra battery is required to power the drone, thankfully a 7.4v 2S lipo does the job fine (see video link for battery). Overall, quality is very similar to my FPV smartphone setup, and this is a little easier to setup, saving time and letting me fly more.
Ever wanted a mini camping stove that you could throw into your backpack, then assemble at the end of your hike? The Free Soldier Camping Stove aims to be just that-its a 4-sided metal (supposedly stainless steel) with a base. It comes with a neat little carrying case, with durable design and straps for attaching it to a backpack. The stove takes a little practice to snap together (Watch out for the sharp edges--it doubles as multi-tool device), but once it's done it works quite well. Simply place your tinder/fuel inside the stove, and place your cookware ontop. Voila! Overall, it gets the job done, although some may find it easier to just use a campsite fireplace that's already present. Check your local fire/burn regulations as well before using this stove.
I
recently was sent an action camera from
ODRVM that boasts of filming in 4K, and I took it through its paces to see how
it’d do in the NorCal backcountry. The ODRVM Action Camera and its low-cost
piqued my interest to see how it would hold up.
Video review:
Overview:
The
ODRVM 4K Action Camera is remarkably affordable ($55.99 - $79.99 [with
attachments]) and is loaded with features uncommon to similar action cameras.
I’ll go more into detail down below in the Features section, but know right
away that its Settings Menu is one of the most customizable menus I’ve seen.
Accessories
The ODRVM 4K Action
Camera is loaded with accessories, and the waterproof case is compatible with
GoPro accessories as well. Inside the handy foam-padded case that the camera
arrives in are the following accessories: a waterproof case similar to most
other action camera designs with large buttons, an open non-waterproof backing
to allow sound in, an extra 3.7V Li-ion 1050mAh battery, Wireless Remote with
wrist strap, 2x mounts with adhesive backings, handlebar clip, screw mounts, 90
degrees mount, USB cable, selfie-stick mount, a lens wipe, multiple straps,
multiple zipties, adhesive pads, and a wire tether. Overall, they didn’t skimp
out on accessories with this camera!
Features:
The ODRVM 4K Action
Camera reportedly uses a 20 MP Sony sensor (although the manual says it’s only
a 12 MP Sony sensor) and a Novatek Chipset. A bit of further research (since
it’s not found in the manual or on the Amazon page) showed me that for the
image properties, the Camera Maker is listed as Cosuo and Camera Model is CS96.
Thus it looks like the ODRVM 4K Action Camera actually uses a 12 MP IMX 078
Camera sensor and Novatek NTK96660. I'm not sure if this allows for true 4K, or just interpolated imaged.
All photos files are in
.JPG and all video files are in .MP4. It connects to the wireless remote via a
WiFi signal, and according to the manual, it can “be synced to a mobile device
by downloading the ZSANYCAM app on the app store,” although that specific app
is wasn't reliable for me.
- Time-lapse Record: 100ms / 200ms / 500ms /
1Sec / 5 Sec (note: it is not an actual time-lapse)
- Loop Recording Supported (it will
auto-overwrite files when this option is on)
- Voice Prompt Supported (meaning that the
camera will say “Video Start” when you begin taking a video – it does not mean that you can speak to it and
have it start recording!)
- 5x Digital Zoom – simply press the up/down
arrows on the side of the camera.
- Motion Detection Supported (although it seemed
rather buggy when I tried to use it, with no amount of movement triggering the
camera)
- Frequency: 50Hz/60Hz
- USB Interface: micro USB 2.0, micro HDMI
- Power Source Interface: 5V/1A
- Battery Capacity: 3.7V Li-ion Battery 1050 mAh
(Two Batteries Included )
- Recording Time per battery: 40 minutes/ UHD 24
fps, 60 minutes/1080P 30fps , 70 minutes/720p 120fps (my average was about 45
minutes for 1080P at 60 fps)
- Storage capability: Up to 64 GB according to
the manual, 128 GB according to their online specifications
-Waterproof case: up to 30 meters
-Weight: 2.2 ounces
Sample photos:
Performance:
I took the ODRVM 4K Action Camera up to a cabin in the Klamath Mountains
of Northern California and spent a week hiking through the backcountry, past
thickets of tan oak and up above the snow line. I explored a creek and tested
out its waterproof case in it. The battery seemed to die quickly after only a
few shots and clips. I later found that the cause was because it wasn’t turning
off when I pressed the Power button – this was due to the waterproof case with
the waterproof backing having a bit too much rubber on the seal, thereby not
sealing fully (there was a gap between the plastic case and the plastic
backing) which created space for the camera to not be in contact with the Power
button. I replaced the waterproof backing with the non-waterproof, sound-enabled
backing and it worked much better.
While video quality was on par with most other budget Action Cameras, I
particularly liked the built-in Gyro that enabled me to get fairly smooth
recordings. Having a gyro is a HUGE plus and really helps offer better quality footage. The photos were decent but occasionally had some blueish-pinkish discoloration in the top portions (depending on lighting). I couldn’t seem to nail down the cause, but my guess is
that it had to do with the various color options (Auto White Balance, 0
Exposure, WRD enabled). Audio quality was superb with no weird crackling sounds
or anything of that sort. Overall, it worked pretty well and left me pleased.
Summary:
The ODRVM action camera offers a affordable
action camera price that can record decent HD footage with a Gyro stabilization and take fairly
good photos. The 4K footage isn't as as exciting as I had hoped, but the 1080p footage is sharp and crisp. Photos are fairly good too, and I like the protective carrying case it comes with. Check it out at here on Amazon.
I've been looking for a affordable, simple solar headlamp for a long time. Several years ago, I even saw several on Alibaba, but none were currently available. Fast forward to 2017 and I finally found one! It's dirt cheap (~$10), comfortable, and bright!
There are several variations of this model, but all seem to have the same modes: 3 different light settings (one is just a flashing light), a solar panel on the front of the headlamp for optimal charging, and a LED light with roughly a reported 6 hours of use. I've gotten several hours of use with non-stop light use, but haven't pushed it till it's completely empty. It also comes with a wired charger, in case you dont have a sunny day or need a quicker charge up.
Overall, I'm very excited about this solar headlight. It is exactly what I was looking and I will be using it a lot, on hiking trips (planning to hang this solar headlamp from my backpack to charge while hiking), and late-night fishing trips. You can buy this sun--powered light here: https://tinyurl.com/solarheadlampor on Amazon here: http://amzn.to/2nMlDoa
The MJX Bugs drone (https://tinyurl.com/mg8v6p3) is a very reasonably-priced, budget-friendly drone. It is also a brushless drone, packing powerful motors with a durable, well-designed frame. I'm not sure why they named it "Bugs", but it looks fast and no-nonsense. I really like the included action camera mount. I made it a little more snug by inserting a small piece of foam in it, helping hold my camera tighter. Range on the drone is quite good, although a little less than the XK X251. However, it carries a camera much better than my XK X251 does! Gearbest hooked me up with a review sample of the MJX Bugs, and I love it!
I have taken the Bugs drone and turned it into a great budget FPV drone. Using the simple EasyCap adapter setup, I can now fly FPV style, thanks to my Android smartphone, a pair of cheap VR goggles, a free app, an action camera with video out-recording feature (I use the GitUp1, but the SJ4000 and many others also have this capability), a cheap video transmitter/receiver combo, and the EasyCap adapter. Here's my complete list of gear for this rather bulky but very cheap and quite nice quality FPV setup:
Not counting the cost of a phone and action camera, this FPV setup costs just over $50. Dirt cheap for getting into a very fun hobby! Make sure your phone is OTG USB compatible before jumping into this setup. There is a tiny amount of latency, but not enough to impact my flying. As you can see from the video below, this little setup packs a punch! Sure, you probably wouldn't want to rely on it for competitive FPV racing, but it does a great job for fun hobby FPV flying. As always, make sure to have a spotter when flying FPV style, as I do.
Have any questions about this setup or the MJX Bugs drone? Let me know below, or on YouTube. Check out this bargain-priced brushless drone on Gearbest: https://tinyurl.com/mg8v6p3
Other Gearbest Drones: https://tinyurl.com/lkqldzo
