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Hawkeye has launched one other compact HD digicam, the Thumb 2. That includes comparable specs to the 4K Thumb, it affords 4K 30fps video capabilities and helps Gyroflow stabilization. Nevertheless, my expertise means that the Hawkeye Thumb 2 won’t be one of the best match for FPV drone functions.
For these looking for a brand new motion digicam for FPV drones, try my complete purchaser’s information right here: https://oscarliang.com/action-camera/
The place to Purchase?
You should purchase the Hawkeye Thumb 2 digicam from these distributors:
Included within the field, you’ll discover:
- A handbook
- A cap mount
- A neck mount
Specs
- Sensor: SONY 12MP
- Area of View: FOV 170 levels
- Video Decision:
- 4K 50/30FPS
- 2.5K 4:3 50/30FPS
- 2.5K16:9 50FPS
- 1080P 50/30FPS
- Word: 4K 50FPS doesn’t assist Gyroflow stabilization, all others do
- Video Format: mp4/H.265
- TV Out: PAL/NTSC with a latency of 40ms
- USB Port: Kind-C
- Battery Life: As much as 100 minutes
- Extra Options:
- AV out assist
- RC distant management functionality
- WiFi preview performance
- SD Card assist: 8-256GB (U1 or above)
- Energy Provide: DC 5-23V
- Measurement: 53×23×22mm
- Weight: 34.5g
- Max Present: 550mA@5V
What Modified from the Thumb V1?
The Hawkeye Thumb 2, measuring 52.5 x 23 x 21.7 mm and weighing 34g, comes with an built-in 1S 620mAh LiPo battery. This battery permits for as much as 100 minutes of recording at 1080p with out WiFi, in keeping with the producer.
It helps a telephone app linked by way of WiFi for previewing, video recording playback, digicam management, and settings adjustment, providing flexibility much like that of a GoPro when it comes to digicam parameter changes.
Notably, the Thumb 2 now features a built-in battery, enhancing its versatility for on a regular basis filming—not only for FPV. The digicam may be charged utilizing a USB-C connector or by way of DC enter (5 to 23V). Its casing is magnetic, facilitating straightforward attachment to the included mounts. Nevertheless, not like the Insta360 Go, it isn’t waterproof as a result of cooling holes within the housing.
Moreover, the digicam can connect with a flight controller (FC) by way of a UART port and be managed from radio switches by way of Betaflight, though the mandatory cable just isn’t included.
The lens is suitable with the Thumb V1, which means you should utilize ND filter from the earlier digicam.
Why The Thumb 2 Isn’t For FPV?
The Hawkeye Thumb 2 appears to be focused extra in direction of common utilization slightly than pure FPV drone functions.
First off, the equipment included with the Thumb 2 remind me of these supplied with the Insta360 GO 2, equivalent to mounts for caps or neck. Actually, these kind of mounts typically produce shaky footage with unpredictable angles, and in my expertise, they’re not sensible for capturing high quality video. Moreover, not like the GO 2 or GO 3, the Thumb 2 lacks water resistance, lowering its versatility for outside actions.
The built-in battery permits you to use this digicam by itself, not like the Thumb V1 which requires extra energy from the drone. Nevertheless, this design change ends in a heavier and bulkier digicam, which is lower than very best for smaller FPV drones. Having a battery additionally means that you must cost it each 30-40 minutes to keep away from shutting down mid air when it runs out of juice. The excellent news is you’ll be able to join it to an exterior energy supply to maintain it powered on a regular basis, however it doesn’t include this cable!
Whereas there’s a port for connecting the digicam to a flight controller—permitting management by way of your radio by way of Betaflight—the absence of the mandatory cable within the package deal means that FPV pilots won’t be the first viewers Hawkeye had in thoughts for this product.
Picture High quality
Within the first a part of my take a look at video, I used to be holding the digicam in my hand whereas strolling. Regardless of making use of Gyroflow stabilization, it’s nonetheless fairly wobbly—I feel my telephone’s built-in stabilization performs higher. That mentioned, the colour, sharpness, and total picture high quality are commendable.
Within the second a part of the take a look at, I strapped the digicam to my 3″ quad utilizing a zipper tie as a result of lack of 3D printed mount (identical drone i used to check the Thumb V1). The footage was extremely inclined to “jello”. Utilizing the default FOV setting in Gyroflow, the black edges remained seen within the stabilized video—not like my footage from the DJI O3 and Walksnail, which permits zooming out to 1.1 and even 1.2 with out displaying black edges. In the event you zoomed in to do away with all of the black edges, the FOV is simply too slender.
General, it simply seems like this digicam doesn’t work that effectively with Gyroflow.
Conclusion
In the event you’re on the lookout for a standalone 4K digicam for non-FPV filming and never choosy about picture high quality, the Thumb 2 is a good, budget-friendly different to the Insta360 GO 2 and GO 3. Nevertheless, its efficiency with Gyroflow is subpar, leading to insufficient stabilization and extreme cropping.
You should purchase the Hawkeye Thumb 2 digicam from these distributors:
For FPV pilots, I like to recommend sticking with the unique Hawkeye Thumb digicam. It’s cheaper, lighter, consists of the mandatory cables, is much less susceptible to jello, affords comparable picture high quality, and works higher with Gyroflow.
See my evaluation of the Hawkeye V1 right here: https://oscarliang.com/hawkeye-thumb-4k-camera/
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