After watching this back on youtube - I can confirm that my 1080p clips do look to be running at a lower frame-rate here (making them look jerky). I'd recommended downloading the "1080p Bike" clip from my blog to see how smooth and sharp the real footage is.
BiggerByte I was once interested in the laser keyboards - read up on them, watched a few reviews and now I think that they are just a novelty with little practical purpose so I don't intend to get one in to test.
Techmoan Ive seen some with ipads being sold in a bundle, I see no point in iPad keyboards, I just wanted a decent review on one and your videos are the only ones that provide good detail, good quality, good reviews. Thanks for the reply by the way. I look forward to your next video.
If you find the links don't have any stock that'll be because they.........SOLD OUT!!! Options available, 1)Goto TECHMOAN.COM where you'll find additional links. 2) Wait until the retailers get More Stock.
I just want to mention - if you find that this is not for sale in your country...just hang on a while. No doubt someone on ebay will start selling these to all countries soon. It's a pretty new camera and these things take a little while to get established.
Hi. Is this still the best camera for under £100 or do you think the sj4000 is now the best camera for under £100? I'm getting one or the other but can't decide which one out of the two. Can you help me in my decision?
I bought one around Christmas, based on your review. Thank you! I also bought a Mobius and two Emerson's. I just returned from a 151 mile ride around Moab's White Rim trail with the TCL SV200 attached to the top of my helmet visor. It was easy to turn on and off while riding just by feel. I recorded 30 segments as the loop took 7-1/2 hours total recording time was about 2 hours. I suggest getting a spare battery, as a 64GB chip has excess space for the battery. The visuals are wonderful and the mic picked up my voice while riding as well as the motor noise, which is nice for us dirt bike riders. The high pitched whine you mentioned, is in the playback, and although my ears can't hear it, my mates were really annoyed by it. They suggested using a 15Khz filter to strip it out of the video. The Emerson's were crap. I used them to look backward, but the engine made them shake too much..The Mobius works great when mounted on my dog's head. I an now going to buy another of these (in the form of the Coleman Conquest). I'll post the videos on my channel once I figure out how to put the segments together into one video, Editing is my weak point.
Anyone wondering about the mic input here is the skinny. I just received my svc200 and accompanying gear today. The mic input is STEREO so you need a stereo mic AND stereo 2.5 millitmeter to 3.5 adapter. The camera has the 2.5 imput but the standard mini plug is 3.5. I use the Sony ECMCS3 stereo mic matched with an Artpot adapter cord. Works perfectly with the camera and the audio was quite clear covering a fairly large audio range. I could not get the mic to break up when being loud and when whispering from 3 feet away I was picked up well. The camera seems to have great control of the gain. It's too bad more people don't know about this Cam. It's the best value for an action cam that I can find and only one of a few that have a mic imput. Also, the price is now down below $90. Good luck! P.S. Thanks for the great review Techmoan. Very professional.
If you want to USE this AS A DASH CAMERA, set it to car mode, remove the battery, keep the slider to record position and connect it to your car socket. The camera will turn on when it gets power (you start your engine) and will shut down as soon as it looses power. To mount it onto the windshield I used some stronger Velcro (the camera is pretty light without battery), stuck it at the bottom of the "angle mount" and the other side of the Velcro went onto the windscreen right behind the rear view mirror. I lead the cable behind interior panels so that it hangs from the top exactly where the camera is. L-shaped connector is suitable here. This way, you can forget about the camera if you keep it there all the time. However, if you want to hide it away, it is very easy to do so (because of the Velcro). The best part is that you remove the mount with the camera, so the thief does not notice it and thus does not go searching for the camera into your glove box. You are welcome. =)
Additionally, I found out that if I keep the recording switch on all the time, the camera sometimes has problems starting back up. It asks me if I want to restart recording and resets itself to the action mode. So now I just got used to stop recording before leaving the car and start recording right after starting the car up.
This camera does work well as a dash cam, you have to leave the yellow slide switch in the on position, and then the camera will turn on and record when it gets power. It will also power down when it looses power. So as long as the switch is on it works fine as a dashcam ☺ thanks Techmoan for the review I have been using this cam for the last 4 months and it works great.
Just bought mine off a seller on ebay based on this review techmoan 👍. They said it comes with a 1 year warranty which gives some peace of mine. Thanks for the review techmoan and hopefully I'll get it onto my motorcycle helmet soon!
Just want to say thanks for the info on this little camera, just arrived today and really pleased with it, I have had £300 cameras on my bike and this is as good if not better than those. For those who think cheap is bad think again it's a great buy.
Great motorcycle helment action cam! I used the suction cup mount on the left side of my helmet with great results (had to shorten the adjustment knob to clear the helmet) used a safety line attached to the helmet's chin strap (just in case) and ran a remote mic inside the helmet. The SVC200 actually looked good mounted on my helmet this way, video looked great and the remote mic inside the helmet is a great option. Techmoan is correct - the SVC200 is the best action cam for the money - buy it.
Excellent review as always. The external audio jack is a real plus on this camera, however, there is a big oversight if you want to use it as a vlogging device. The camera in its naked form allows you to insert an external mic. But in that state its not waterproof. It doesn't get waterproof until you put it in the case, at which point you can't use the external mic cause there's no hole in the waterproof casing. So if you want to use this on your bike, in the UK (where the weather is often wet) you need the case, but then you can't record audio.
Another fine review from Techmoan but.... now here is MY tech-moan. This is a great little camera if you can buy it on it's own and you already have a memory card. I could only get it with the useless, (for me), mounting kit which adds another £30. Then I had to spend £25 on a card, then £10 on an USB cable. Then I found you can't use it as a web cam/security cam using just USB! You can do this using HDMI but my monitor doesn't have HDMI. You have probably guessed that I am not technically savvy but I did as much research as I could before I bought it though maybe I wasn't asking the right questions. So..... good camera, but not for everyone.
Hi Techmoan! I'm a big big fan of your reviews, and I think that you are one of the best reviewers out there. What do you think are the advantages of this camera over the sj1000? I can see the bitrate is a bit higher, not too many fisheye effect, you can't see the borders of the waterproof case and have audio input. But from your review i think that the sj1000 is a bit sharper, have better low light IQ, HDR mode, Motion detection and is cheaper.. What made you consider this camera as a better one than the sj1000? I'd love to Know your opinion!! Thank you for everything!!
I prefer this for all the reason you mention as well as the more robust case and the tripod mounting system. If you have £60 to spend then the SJ1000 is the best camera, but if you have £100 then this one is the one to go for (in my opinion...which is the only one I have). The SJ1000 is more of a multi-purpose camera than this one, but for pure action cam use, this one wins out.
You have a lot of good information in your videos and I really like your presentation. Your voice reminds me of James May from Top Gear, (That's a compliment BTW).
for auto-on and record in a vehicle, you could perhaps rig up some sort of electo-magnet, that provides a magnetic field much like the water-proof case does. this could be powered through an adapted usb lead, after all, an elctro-magnet is just a coil of wire
WOW very nice review Techmoan, I have the Sony DHR-AS15 just two week ago I really like, nice, clear, bright, colors, excellent Battery life BUT this one TLC SV200 look like is really amazing, incredible how Sony Corporation is just behind this camera.
Image quality and features are great but after purchasing several 808 cameras that seem to have a short lifespan, I'm concerned about reliability and ruggedness. Sony has a reputation to uphold so I assume the reliability would be better but who knows, they could be built in the same factory in China as this camera. I love your town. Looks like a nice place to live.
You are right - there's really no way to tell with something like this. It does feel well made compared to many cheaper cameras I've tested...but I can't vouch for it's long term reliability. Not all of Manchester looks smart... I try to film the nicer looking areas but I'm happy to live 40 miles away from it, I just work there.
I have recently bought the svc400 for use as a helmet cam and some moto vlogging, I cant see any differences in spec, ive watched a lot of your reviews and ive got to say thank you because I have finally found a decent camera for very little money, the svc400 is currently on ebay for around 45 pounds, I found one brand new for 27 pounds odd, it was cheaper because it didn't come with the remote that the 47 pounds camera does and it doesn't come with all the different mounts, just a waterproof case a usb lead and a go pro style adapter to use a go pro style mount, ( which are a bit of an eye sore with all the connecting arms and bulky tightening screws ) this is the reason I didn't want to go down the go pro route I don't like boxes stuck on my helmet making me look like some terminater teletubby crossbreed, then I found the exact same helmet mount that comes with the 47 pound camera for 2,49, which is a far better design than the go pro mount as far as looks although not as good as regards to getting the camera in the exact right position instead you have to be a little more carefull attaching the base mount to your helmet, I have no use for the remote and having found the helmet mount separate I got all I needed for just over 30 pounds, very pleased with that, BUT, I am having problems with low external mic sound, I am using a 2.5ml to 3.5ml adapter with a cheap mono lapel mic that comes out next to my mouth in my helmet, do you know of a fix for this problem ? or do you know of a more suitable budget mic if there is such a thing, thanks again, I bet your collection of gadgets is HUGE,
Recently purchased a Sony as20 on a great deal. In direct comparison with the svc200 the Sony has an inferior picture. The Sony has things I like about it but it's not going to be my main Helmet Cam. Will be great aimed backwards and camping trips. The 200 is a home run in my book. A model to be improved upon perhaps.
That magnetic sensor is an interesting feature, I can see people using this on RC models either using a servo with a magnet stuck on it or using a small electromagnet. If it worked, the electromagnet would also give a way to turn it on in a car.
Great alternative to the Drift HD 1080. Most features are the same, right down to the 2.5mm mic socket. About £40 difference in price. Looking at it, I probably would have bought the TCL over the Drift if it was available at the time. Good video.
who better action camara with all the accessories in the box? (remote control ""TCL" or remote control with live view "SONY") TCL SVC200 or The Ultimate Sony AS100V
wow, the test footage is amazing, looks much better than the gopro 3 white and sony you reviewed! I'll wait until another camera comes along with the same innards in a gopro style form factor!
the camera also looks a lot like the Midland XTC cameras, bu those don't have a screen. and the submersible case is the same, with the magnet. great reivew as always.
Would the mount on the side be for a light? It would be helpful to have a light shine parallel to the camera lens and with an illumination angle to match the viewing angle of an action camera, especially if you wanted to test the diving performance, 30 metres down would be gloomy!
For car use, a modder/techie could take a small 12vdc solenoid coil, mount it where a magnet would normally activate the camera. When the car is turned on, it turns on your cigarette lighters power, powering the solenoid that will create a proper magnetic field that will in turn, put the camera in record mode. The average techie could easily make such a device.
After watching over a dozen videos using this camera, as well as the Coleman Conquest (which seems to be a rebranded clone), I can conclude that this camera is NOT good for motorcycling/helmetcams. It absolutely has way too much 'jello' effect, which means the image stabilization is not cut out for bumps. Even some videos where someone is walking down the street shows some jello effect. And the poor recording quality pretty much makes an external microphone a requirement for this camera. I think I would have to recommend the Polaroid xs100 over the SVC200 for use on bikes as it has much better image stabilization and picks up a significantly richer sound.
It seems the sound of the wind while riding the bike is suppressed by external microphone. Is this the case? Also, I can't hear any rattling Sony action cam is notorious for.
In my opinion I think the clouds are a bit overexposed? They look to bright and you can't see any detail in them, would be a let down for use in skydiving... What do you think Techmoan?
I find that having the LCD screen on the left of it a let down as I would prefer to have it on the the righthand side ( this being due to review any footage without having to remove the camera from its mount everytime i wanted to do this.) YES!!! there is a bit of a high pitch squeal at low level as you pointed out & without being able to use the external mic in use with the weatherproof housing that`s also a big let down due to very poor sound quality. So this camera will be a no, no choice for me..
I just posted my own review of the Coleman CX7WP aka TCL SVC200 action cameras, in my mounting and experiences of it on my KTM dirt bike (43 minutes). Check out my channel for all the videos I've made using these cameras. th-cam.com/users/edit?o=U&video_id=zBsf9TuNleo
Thanks for showing the price in Vietnamese Dong :) I actually live in Hanoi ... and while the cams are most likely made in nearby China, getting stuff here is not so easy :) ... maybe for 7mil D :) cheers
This looks almost exactly like the Braun Sixzero which is twice the price (available in Europe). I reckon it's more or less the same device, from the same manufacturer, just under a different label?
Would you suggest this over the SJ1000 considering the $50 cost difference? Edit: The price went from $130 to $160 making it twice the cost of the SJ1000. That being said, do the advantages of the SVC200 make the camera "worth" twice as much?
Techmoan They should release a SVC300: The same but with Bluetooth. We could then securely use a standard Bluetooth Mic through the waterproof enclosure.
I think the ridges on the side of the camera may be so you can add in a microphone with a hot/cold shoe mount..? they looks similar to that to me.. though mounting a mic on this would be unweilding
I think the SJ1000 video quality is a bit better than this in both 1080 and 720p. The timelapse feature is perhaps the best part, and I can see that coming in handy for a lot of things.
Curious... if I record in the highest 1080P settings, edit my video in iMovie and export out at 720P to .MOV... Would that result in better video quality than relying on youtube to "compress" down to 720P?
Have you found an action cam that is better than this one at he same price(or close in price) since this vid is about a year and a half old? A "mic in" is mandatory. Thanks for all the awesome vids!
Hi l have just bought this camera from amazon but it does not come with any attachments only an a adapter so you will have to buy some before you can use the camera unless you already have some attachtments . So when l get my attachtments l hope to give you a update on the camera which at this moment of time appears to work ok.
I think that these clips at the side of the camera and the water proof case are there so that you can attach the controller on, or at least so it appears.
I've had a nightmare trying to buy this camera. One seller in China has multiple accounts on Ebay (UK) using a distribution centre - Allport Cargo Services, Allport House, Thurrock Park Way, Tilbury RM18 7HZ. They are the only sellers so far as I can tell. The first unit was faulty straight out of the box. Since returning it I've been struggling to get either a replacement or a refund. They are very hard to communicate with and they avoid using the resolution centre. I've sent them proof of receipt and they are now asking me where it was posted to. It's a real shame that such a good camera is so difficult to buy.
I've watched 4 of your "Action Camera" videos now and none of them contain the one tidbit of info I'm looking for (and something you've never mentioned in a review that I've seen). I have a TH-cam travel channel and I like to incorporate stills mixed in with my two other video cameras footage to moderate the look and "feel" of the video. This video was the first one I saw whereby when you were demonstrating the viewfinder and you snapped off a photo, the photo seemed to display at 16:9 ratio on the screen but then when you talked about the photos, you casually mentioned they were in 4:3 ratio. All video comes out of most cameras at 16:9 and I'm amazed that the photos typically don't as well. In order to insert photos into a video presentation, the 4:3 has to be cropped to fill the 16:9 screen and you lose 30% of the image. Please tell me that this camera will adjust photos to display in 16:9 and if it doesn't, do you know any Action Cameras that do ? Thanks for the education Mate ... Cheers, Like your bike also :-)
After hunting for a cheap camera to capture some footage of my ZZR and seeing your video I decided to buy one of these as a starter camera with the link on techmoan.com. OMG thank you so much, This little camera ticks all the boxes for a starter camera and then some. The only down side as you have said is the internal microphone (is really bad for wind noise) but have attached a 2.5mm jack mic to the unit and passed it through to my helmet headset boom mic attached to the inside of the mic's fuzzy shield works like a dream Many thanks and keep up the good work
I have this camera and love it. But recently it keeps saying insert sim when the card is in. Tried two different ones and it still says the same. Please help
I just got mine from Ebay and it seems to have a bunch of really small dots, even when I go out side. I've seen your footage but I don't see any. Help? I'm at 1080 p
however what about battery...how much cost 1 battery and is compatible with nokia mobile battery? and remote control is into the pack when buy camera or separately?
Amazing review. Just a quick question. Does thee remote clip to the side of the waterproof case and car mount? It looked like it could do. Was this the 'missing' accessory? Perfect for controlling while wearing gloves while riding or in the rain with the waterproof case. It was just a thought. Love the review.
Do you happen to know the difference between the SVC 200 and SVC 400 - which seems to be a bit better available at the moment and similarly priced? They seem to be pretty much the same, video-wise, the only difference I found in your shot of the box seems to be the stills resolution - which I am not going to use. I could not find much on the internet, not even on the TCL website. Thanks!
Hi there. Looks a great camera for my needs to work on model RC planes and on my kayak BUT seems the remote control unit for the camera has been removed from the package now which is a real shame and a feature I wanted. Other than that a great review as usual from you. Regards Peter
Hey great video reviews!! One thing I noticed you haven't mentioned in any of your video's is how to change the battery and where to get replacement batteries?
Your reviews are fantastic, thank you for taking your time to create them! Additionally, between this and SJ1000 which would you personally recommend. After watching both reviews, it's difficult to pick a winner?
I honestly say that I really love your reviews, it's really reasonable and specific. I'm going to buy one of the camcorders that you had review... but I really don't know which one is the most useful for outdoor activity /extreme sports. I would like to ask you which one is the best choice for outdoor activity /extreme sports in your opinion? A. TCL SVC200 B. SJ4000 C. DXG 1080p Thank you very much :)
Is there any real difference between the SVC200 and the SVC400 ? Other than a few firmware changes in how they connect to a PC, I don't see any real image differences. I'm guessing it was just rebranded for certain markets?
Thanks for the excellent review, this camera is at $80 in the US now including accessories and I am thinking of buying it after I was considering the SJ4000 but it what I concluded from the review is that there is no way to switch between photos / videos or change settings when the camera is in the water proof case, is that true ?
Just as Nick and Maarten I am considering the TCL SVC200 or the SJ4000 WiFi. I am particularly interested in the overall and low light performance. Thank you!
what would be the most recommended memory card for this? because I've read that gopro is finicky and would only accept certain memory cards so i thought it would probably do the same here..
Techmoan, i like your videos cause your unbiased reviews about alot of action camera stuff. Plus you're a rider too. Would you please review CamOneTec Infinity and ReplayXD. if you could. Thanks appreciate it very much!
I bought this camera, but it seems that it comes with zoom. That bothers me a lot. I want to shoot my paintball games, but the camera shooting with a zoom so strong that my marker does not appear in the footage. PS: The camera is attached to my mask. I really need help because I'm from Brazil and the price of this camera here was not little. Sorry my bad english. Thanks in advance.
Hello Sir, This camera vs the Sony HDR-AS15? It will mainly be used to shoot incar video (mostly during the day) during trackday events with a external microphone attached. Metering of light is important, it will be shooting from inside the car trough the windshield, on the inside is darker and some cameras overexpose the exterior. Do you know if the amazon TCL seller provides any kind of warranty?
Hey Techmoan, while you were testing it on your motorcycle, was it in the waterproof case or how did you set it up with the mic? Would it be safe to repeatedly use it like this on a motorcycle? Love the vids man, keep em coming!
Thank you so much for your review. Even though I ask you four times to do the review. could not wait and bit the bullet and purchase one. I need your help because the one I purchase the screen does not shut off at all while recording. Please let me know because the battery does not last long. Also please do not shorten your unbiased reviews.
Strange. Mine shuts off after 3 mins in action cam mode as shown in the review. There's no option to alter this setting. Perhaps you have an earlier firmware in yours. How long does your battery last when recording 1080p video.
Is there any way to eliminate the fisheye distortion? It hurts my eyes and actually makes me a little queasy. If those cameras don't have that capability, I guess I won't be trying one anytime soon. Otherwise an excellent video! Thank you! 👍
Hi Techmoan. I've recently bought the camera from ebay and I've noticed that it only records 9 minutes and 26 seconds at 1080p 30fps. The microSD card I use is a 32gb class10 SanDisk. Have you encountered this problem? Or has anyone?
...so you think this is better than the 'Exdreme' 1080p that I bought following your review? The issue I had with the non-adjustable mic. level was rectified with the £2.99 volume controller you advised me to get....so ta very much for all your help!
Can anyone help me please, I recently got this for x-mas and I'm useing a Samsung class 10 32gb micro sd card. My problem is the camera stops recording anywhere from 5 to 10 minutes in sport mode, It didn't come with any instructions or CD, I can't find any support for this camera online and the company TCL doesn't seem to have any backup for the camera nor can I find any firmware online
Seems to me like a faulty SD card or camera. Try a different SD card and if the problem is not solved, try to return the camera if it has any warranty on it.
How does this camera compares to the SJ1000? I was planning getting a sj1000 but I just saw this one and Im having second thoughts! Thank you for the great reviews!
Your video convinced me to buy this ! The Braun Sixzero says it supports 1920x1080i (60 fps) , 1920x1080p (30 fps) , what is 1920x1080i ?? Oh and I don't understand how can you use the microphone with waterproof case closed?? If not , is the camera "weatherproof" or it will break down in the rain?? Thanks ! I 've seen many of your videos and was gonna buy SJ2000 for motovlogging but I think I am gonna buy this instead !
After watching this back on youtube - I can confirm that my 1080p clips do look to be running at a lower frame-rate here (making them look jerky). I'd recommended downloading the "1080p Bike" clip from my blog to see how smooth and sharp the real footage is.
Thanks techmoan ive wondered this for a while. Can you review a red laser keyboard? the ones that shine on almost any surface and work via bluetooth?
BiggerByte I was once interested in the laser keyboards - read up on them, watched a few reviews and now I think that they are just a novelty with little practical purpose so I don't intend to get one in to test.
Lucky Cannon You won't find that for £100 (not this year anyway).
Lucky Cannon
Get a Sony Action Cam
Techmoan
Ive seen some with ipads being sold in a bundle, I see no point in iPad keyboards, I just wanted a decent review on one and your videos are the only ones that provide good detail, good quality, good reviews. Thanks for the reply by the way. I look forward to your next video.
PLEASE READ THIS
>>>>>>>>> THE CLIPS DO NOT HOLD THE REMOTE
Not about the clips, but do you know where i can get some spare 3M adhesive strips mine didn't come with any spare
Jonathan Macha ebay ofc.
Techmoan is it better than the SJ5000+
Techmoan I think those clips are for adapt Gopro acesories like the mount.
If someone have both camaras, please try it. Thanks
I bought this one as Hama Activity-30 and there is a head/belt strap mount as you can see here: uk.hama.com/bilder/00095/awx/00095286awx10.jpg
If you find the links don't have any stock that'll be because they.........SOLD OUT!!! Options available, 1)Goto TECHMOAN.COM where you'll find additional links. 2) Wait until the retailers get More Stock.
Received mine yesterday. Very pleased. From joovuu.com/home/88-tcl-svc-200.html Crikey he had 5 in stock. Out already. Chuffed to get one.
Do you recommend this camera, or do you have a better suggestion for under £150
I recommend this camera.
Have you had any problems getting the external mic in. I've contacted joovuu but they're a tad vague in helping.
xjburty Not sure what you mean...its a 2.5mm socket so get a 2.5mm to 3.5mm adaptor.
Well done sir! the guy that was singing was wonderful!
I just want to mention - if you find that this is not for sale in your country...just hang on a while. No doubt someone on ebay will start selling these to all countries soon. It's a pretty new camera and these things take a little while to get established.
Probably this.
Hi. Is this still the best camera for under £100 or do you think the sj4000 is now the best camera for under £100?
I'm getting one or the other but can't decide which one out of the two. Can you help me in my decision?
Peter I Ive just purchased an SJ4000 and am now wondering if this would have been better, TechMoan, Whats your opinion, please, thanks
Peter I Whats the best in your opinion Techmoan? Trying to decide between the SJ4000 and this one.
Many thanks
I bought one around Christmas, based on your review. Thank you! I also bought a Mobius and two Emerson's. I just returned from a 151 mile ride around Moab's White Rim trail with the TCL SV200 attached to the top of my helmet visor. It was easy to turn on and off while riding just by feel. I recorded 30 segments as the loop took 7-1/2 hours total recording time was about 2 hours. I suggest getting a spare battery, as a 64GB chip has excess space for the battery. The visuals are wonderful and the mic picked up my voice while riding as well as the motor noise, which is nice for us dirt bike riders. The high pitched whine you mentioned, is in the playback, and although my ears can't hear it, my mates were really annoyed by it. They suggested using a 15Khz filter to strip it out of the video. The Emerson's were crap. I used them to look backward, but the engine made them shake too much..The Mobius works great when mounted on my dog's head. I an now going to buy another of these (in the form of the Coleman Conquest). I'll post the videos on my channel once I figure out how to put the segments together into one video, Editing is my weak point.
Anyone wondering about the mic input here is the skinny. I just received my svc200 and accompanying gear today. The mic input is STEREO so you need a stereo mic AND stereo 2.5 millitmeter to 3.5 adapter. The camera has the 2.5 imput but the standard mini plug is 3.5. I use the Sony ECMCS3 stereo mic matched with an Artpot adapter cord. Works perfectly with the camera and the audio was quite clear covering a fairly large audio range. I could not get the mic to break up when being loud and when whispering from 3 feet away I was picked up well. The camera seems to have great control of the gain. It's too bad more people don't know about this Cam. It's the best value for an action cam that I can find and only one of a few that have a mic imput. Also, the price is now down below $90. Good luck! P.S. Thanks for the great review Techmoan. Very professional.
Yeah I love when you review items for making food and stuff like that and not just cameras!
If you want to USE this AS A DASH CAMERA, set it to car mode, remove the battery, keep the slider to record position and connect it to your car socket. The camera will turn on when it gets power (you start your engine) and will shut down as soon as it looses power.
To mount it onto the windshield I used some stronger Velcro (the camera is pretty light without battery), stuck it at the bottom of the "angle mount" and the other side of the Velcro went onto the windscreen right behind the rear view mirror. I lead the cable behind interior panels so that it hangs from the top exactly where the camera is. L-shaped connector is suitable here.
This way, you can forget about the camera if you keep it there all the time. However, if you want to hide it away, it is very easy to do so (because of the Velcro). The best part is that you remove the mount with the camera, so the thief does not notice it and thus does not go searching for the camera into your glove box.
You are welcome. =)
Thank you so much! I was tearing my hair out trying to work out how to get it to auto power on for use in my car. Works perfectly now. :o)
Additionally, I found out that if I keep the recording switch on all the time, the camera sometimes has problems starting back up. It asks me if I want to restart recording and resets itself to the action mode. So now I just got used to stop recording before leaving the car and start recording right after starting the car up.
This camera does work well as a dash cam, you have to leave the yellow slide switch in the on position, and then the camera will turn on and record when it gets power. It will also power down when it looses power. So as long as the switch is on it works fine as a dashcam ☺ thanks Techmoan for the review I have been using this cam for the last 4 months and it works great.
Just bought mine off a seller on ebay based on this review techmoan 👍.
They said it comes with a 1 year warranty which gives some peace of mine.
Thanks for the review techmoan and hopefully I'll get it onto my motorcycle helmet soon!
Just want to say thanks for the info on this little camera, just arrived today and really pleased with it, I have had £300 cameras on my bike and this is as good if not better than those. For those who think cheap is bad think again it's a great buy.
Great motorcycle helment action cam! I used the suction cup mount on the left side of my helmet with great results (had to shorten the adjustment knob to clear the helmet) used a safety line attached to the helmet's chin strap (just in case) and ran a remote mic inside the helmet. The SVC200 actually looked good mounted on my helmet this way, video looked great and the remote mic inside the helmet is a great option. Techmoan is correct - the SVC200 is the best action cam for the money - buy it.
Hi I have the HDR-as15, val I grieve the change?
Those funny looking mounts on the side looks like it's for the remote!
Excellent review as always. The external audio jack is a real plus on this camera, however, there is a big oversight if you want to use it as a vlogging device. The camera in its naked form allows you to insert an external mic. But in that state its not waterproof. It doesn't get waterproof until you put it in the case, at which point you can't use the external mic cause there's no hole in the waterproof casing. So if you want to use this on your bike, in the UK (where the weather is often wet) you need the case, but then you can't record audio.
Another fine review from Techmoan but.... now here is MY tech-moan. This is a great little camera if you can buy it on it's own and you already have a memory card. I could only get it with the useless, (for me), mounting kit which adds another £30. Then I had to spend £25 on a card, then £10 on an USB cable. Then I found you can't use it as a web cam/security cam using just USB! You can do this using HDMI but my monitor doesn't have HDMI. You have probably guessed that I am not technically savvy but I did as much research as I could before I bought it though maybe I wasn't asking the right questions. So..... good camera, but not for everyone.
- "Thanks for watching."
- Thanks for another, great video review :)
Also the best camera review I have ever seen, tells you everything you wanted to know and a bit more.
Hi Techmoan! I'm a big big fan of your reviews, and I think that you are one of the best reviewers out there.
What do you think are the advantages of this camera over the sj1000? I can see the bitrate is a bit higher, not too many fisheye effect, you can't see the borders of the waterproof case and have audio input. But from your review i think that the sj1000 is a bit sharper, have better low light IQ, HDR mode, Motion detection and is cheaper..
What made you consider this camera as a better one than the sj1000? I'd love to Know your opinion!!
Thank you for everything!!
I prefer this for all the reason you mention as well as the more robust case and the tripod mounting system. If you have £60 to spend then the SJ1000 is the best camera, but if you have £100 then this one is the one to go for (in my opinion...which is the only one I have). The SJ1000 is more of a multi-purpose camera than this one, but for pure action cam use, this one wins out.
You have a lot of good information in your videos and I really like your presentation. Your voice reminds me of James May from Top Gear, (That's a compliment BTW).
Great channel, great reviews! The worse part is: I purchase all good cameras and need wait 30 days to arrive here in Brazil ;)
for auto-on and record in a vehicle, you could perhaps rig up some sort of electo-magnet, that provides a magnetic field much like the water-proof case does. this could be powered through an adapted usb lead, after all, an elctro-magnet is just a coil of wire
WOW very nice review Techmoan, I have the Sony DHR-AS15 just two week ago I really like, nice, clear, bright, colors, excellent Battery life BUT this one TLC SV200 look like is really amazing, incredible how Sony Corporation is just behind this camera.
and by the way GoPro Tooooooooo. very faraway, Sony can make something better tan this. F* Corporation$$$$$.
Image quality and features are great but after purchasing several 808 cameras that seem to have a short lifespan, I'm concerned about reliability and ruggedness. Sony has a reputation to uphold so I assume the reliability would be better but who knows, they could be built in the same factory in China as this camera. I love your town. Looks like a nice place to live.
You are right - there's really no way to tell with something like this. It does feel well made compared to many cheaper cameras I've tested...but I can't vouch for it's long term reliability. Not all of Manchester looks smart... I try to film the nicer looking areas but I'm happy to live 40 miles away from it, I just work there.
I have recently bought the svc400 for use as a helmet cam and some moto vlogging, I cant see any differences in spec, ive watched a lot of your reviews and ive got to say thank you because I have finally found a decent camera for very little money, the svc400 is currently on ebay for around 45 pounds, I found one brand new for 27 pounds odd, it was cheaper because it didn't come with the remote that the 47 pounds camera does and it doesn't come with all the different mounts, just a waterproof case a usb lead and a go pro style adapter to use a go pro style mount, ( which are a bit of an eye sore with all the connecting arms and bulky tightening screws ) this is the reason I didn't want to go down the go pro route I don't like boxes stuck on my helmet making me look like some terminater teletubby crossbreed, then I found the exact same helmet mount that comes with the 47 pound camera for 2,49, which is a far better design than the go pro mount as far as looks although not as good as regards to getting the camera in the exact right position instead you have to be a little more carefull attaching the base mount to your helmet, I have no use for the remote and having found the helmet mount separate I got all I needed for just over 30 pounds, very pleased with that, BUT, I am having problems with low external mic sound, I am using a 2.5ml to 3.5ml adapter with a cheap mono lapel mic that comes out next to my mouth in my helmet, do you know of a fix for this problem ? or do you know of a more suitable budget mic if there is such a thing, thanks again, I bet your collection of gadgets is HUGE,
Recently purchased a Sony as20 on a great deal. In direct comparison with the svc200 the Sony has an inferior picture. The Sony has things I like about it but it's not going to be my main Helmet Cam. Will be great aimed backwards and camping trips. The 200 is a home run in my book. A model to be improved upon perhaps.
That magnetic sensor is an interesting feature, I can see people using this on RC models either using a servo with a magnet stuck on it or using a small electromagnet. If it worked, the electromagnet would also give a way to turn it on in a car.
Great alternative to the Drift HD 1080. Most features are the same, right down to the 2.5mm mic socket. About £40 difference in price. Looking at it, I probably would have bought the TCL over the Drift if it was available at the time. Good video.
Looks like a good starter cam for motovlogging. BTW the magnet "mechanism" works exactly the same on contour cameras :)
Thanks - I haven't got a Contour waterproof case, so it's the first time I'd seen this.
i just love your reviews. thank you for this one, i was looking for action cam, for my bike and i think this will be perfect.
That man is an amazing singer.
who better action camara with all the accessories in the box? (remote control ""TCL" or remote control with live view "SONY")
TCL SVC200 or The Ultimate Sony AS100V
just bought one from the ebay link, on the strength of this review. Thanks Techmoan :)
Thanks Chris.
wow, the test footage is amazing, looks much better than the gopro 3 white and sony you reviewed! I'll wait until another camera comes along with the same innards in a gopro style form factor!
I'm glad you had a look at the downloadable clips - the youtube encoding really takes away the magic.
the camera also looks a lot like the Midland XTC cameras, bu those don't have a screen. and the submersible case is the same, with the magnet. great reivew as always.
Would the mount on the side be for a light? It would be helpful to have a light shine parallel to the camera lens and with an illumination angle to match the viewing angle of an action camera, especially if you wanted to test the diving performance, 30 metres down would be gloomy!
Just realized that you went through chorley! That was a shock ... nice video!
Very Tempted to get this but still using my mobius camera you reviewed great reviews keep it up
For car use, a modder/techie could take a small 12vdc solenoid coil, mount it where a magnet would normally activate the camera. When the car is turned on, it turns on your cigarette lighters power, powering the solenoid that will create a proper magnetic field that will in turn, put the camera in record mode. The average techie could easily make such a device.
After watching over a dozen videos using this camera, as well as the Coleman Conquest (which seems to be a rebranded clone), I can conclude that this camera is NOT good for motorcycling/helmetcams. It absolutely has way too much 'jello' effect, which means the image stabilization is not cut out for bumps. Even some videos where someone is walking down the street shows some jello effect. And the poor recording quality pretty much makes an external microphone a requirement for this camera. I think I would have to recommend the Polaroid xs100 over the SVC200 for use on bikes as it has much better image stabilization and picks up a significantly richer sound.
It seems the sound of the wind while riding the bike is suppressed by external microphone. Is this the case? Also, I can't hear any rattling Sony action cam is notorious for.
In my opinion I think the clouds are a bit overexposed? They look to bright and you can't see any detail in them, would be a let down for use in skydiving... What do you think Techmoan?
I find that having the LCD screen on the left of it a let down as I would prefer to have it on the the righthand side ( this being due to review any footage without having to remove the camera from its mount everytime i wanted to do this.) YES!!! there is a bit of a high pitch squeal at low level as you pointed out & without being able to use the external mic in use with the weatherproof housing that`s also a big let down due to very poor sound quality. So this camera will be a no, no choice for me..
Hi,
And one more plus for Sony - has designed microphone holes in waterproof case :)
BTW. Review is good as always.
Cheers!
Another great review buddy :D Keep them coming
I just posted my own review of the Coleman CX7WP aka TCL SVC200 action cameras, in my mounting and experiences of it on my KTM dirt bike (43 minutes). Check out my channel for all the videos I've made using these cameras.
th-cam.com/users/edit?o=U&video_id=zBsf9TuNleo
Thanks for showing the price in Vietnamese Dong :) I actually live in Hanoi ... and while the cams are most likely made in nearby China, getting stuff here is not so easy :) ... maybe for 7mil D :) cheers
This looks almost exactly like the Braun Sixzero which is twice the price (available in Europe). I reckon it's more or less the same device, from the same manufacturer, just under a different label?
Would you suggest this over the SJ1000 considering the $50 cost difference?
Edit: The price went from $130 to $160 making it twice the cost of the SJ1000. That being said, do the advantages of the SVC200 make the camera "worth" twice as much?
Techmoan They should release a SVC300: The same but with Bluetooth. We could then securely use a standard Bluetooth Mic through the waterproof enclosure.
I think the ridges on the side of the camera may be so you can add in a microphone with a hot/cold shoe mount..?
they looks similar to that to me.. though mounting a mic on this would be unweilding
I think the SJ1000 video quality is a bit better than this in both 1080 and 720p. The timelapse feature is perhaps the best part, and I can see that coming in handy for a lot of things.
Curious... if I record in the highest 1080P settings, edit my video in iMovie and export out at 720P to .MOV... Would that result in better video quality than relying on youtube to "compress" down to 720P?
Thank you Techmoan, just what i was looking for!
Have you found an action cam that is better than this one at he same price(or close in price) since this vid is about a year and a half old? A "mic in" is mandatory. Thanks for all the awesome vids!
beautifull camera and great quality !! many thnaks, you are doing great jod Techmoan !!!!
Hi l have just bought this camera from amazon but it does not come with any attachments only an a adapter so you will have to buy some before you can use the camera unless you already have some attachtments . So when l get my attachtments l hope to give you a update on the camera which at this moment of time appears to work ok.
I think that these clips at the side of the camera and the water proof case are there so that you can attach the controller on, or at least so it appears.
Nope - see the earlier comments.
I've had a nightmare trying to buy this camera. One seller in China has multiple accounts on Ebay (UK) using a distribution centre - Allport Cargo Services, Allport House, Thurrock Park Way, Tilbury RM18 7HZ. They are the only sellers so far as I can tell. The first unit was faulty straight out of the box. Since returning it I've been struggling to get either a replacement or a refund. They are very hard to communicate with and they avoid using the resolution centre. I've sent them proof of receipt and they are now asking me where it was posted to. It's a real shame that such a good camera is so difficult to buy.
AND YOU GIVE YOURSELF AWAAAAY AND YOU GIVE YOURSELF AWAAAAY....
WITH OR WITHOUT YOU
I've watched 4 of your "Action Camera" videos now and none of them contain the one tidbit of info I'm looking for (and something you've never mentioned in a review that I've seen). I have a TH-cam travel channel and I like to incorporate stills mixed in with my two other video cameras footage to moderate the look and "feel" of the video. This video was the first one I saw whereby when you were demonstrating the viewfinder and you snapped off a photo, the photo seemed to display at 16:9 ratio on the screen but then when you talked about the photos, you casually mentioned they were in 4:3 ratio. All video comes out of most cameras at 16:9 and I'm amazed that the photos typically don't as well. In order to insert photos into a video presentation, the 4:3 has to be cropped to fill the 16:9 screen and you lose 30% of the image. Please tell me that this camera will adjust photos to display in 16:9 and if it doesn't, do you know any Action Cameras that do ? Thanks for the education Mate ... Cheers, Like your bike also :-)
After hunting for a cheap camera to capture some footage of my ZZR and seeing your video I decided to buy one of these as a starter camera with the link on techmoan.com. OMG thank you so much, This little camera ticks all the boxes for a starter camera and then some. The only down side as you have said is the internal microphone (is really bad for wind noise) but have attached a 2.5mm jack mic to the unit and passed it through to my helmet headset boom mic attached to the inside of the mic's fuzzy shield works like a dream Many thanks and keep up the good work
I have this camera and love it. But recently it keeps saying insert sim when the card is in. Tried two different ones and it still says the same. Please help
I can't seem to find the user manual for this thing. Does it have an option to flip the video 180 degrees?
i always enjoy watching your review.
I just got mine from Ebay and it seems to have a bunch of really small dots, even when I go out side. I've seen your footage but I don't see any. Help? I'm at 1080 p
however what about battery...how much cost 1 battery and is compatible with nokia mobile battery? and remote control is into the pack when buy camera or separately?
Amazing review.
Just a quick question. Does thee remote clip to the side of the waterproof case and car mount? It looked like it could do. Was this the 'missing' accessory? Perfect for controlling while wearing gloves while riding or in the rain with the waterproof case.
It was just a thought. Love the review.
I'm 7 years late but I was looking through comments when the remote was shown, specifically for This comment.
Superb review mate. Really helpful, thanks
Do you happen to know the difference between the SVC 200 and SVC 400 - which seems to be a bit better available at the moment and similarly priced? They seem to be pretty much the same, video-wise, the only difference I found in your shot of the box seems to be the stills resolution - which I am not going to use.
I could not find much on the internet, not even on the TCL website.
Thanks!
The mounting rails you couldn't figure out are for the slots on the back of the remote.
Awesome Review. This was really helpful! Liked and Subscribed!
Hi there. Looks a great camera for my needs to work on model RC planes and on my kayak BUT seems the remote control unit for the camera has been removed from the package now which is a real shame and a feature I wanted. Other than that a great review as usual from you. Regards Peter
Hey great video reviews!! One thing I noticed you haven't mentioned in any of your video's is how to change the battery and where to get replacement batteries?
Your reviews are fantastic, thank you for taking your time to create them!
Additionally, between this and SJ1000 which would you personally recommend. After watching both reviews, it's difficult to pick a winner?
I honestly say that I really love your reviews, it's really reasonable and specific.
I'm going to buy one of the camcorders that you had review...
but I really don't know which one is the most useful for outdoor activity /extreme sports.
I would like to ask you which one is the best choice for outdoor activity /extreme sports in your opinion?
A. TCL SVC200
B. SJ4000
C. DXG 1080p
Thank you very much :)
Is there any real difference between the SVC200 and the SVC400 ? Other than a few firmware changes in how they connect to a PC, I don't see any real image differences. I'm guessing it was just rebranded for certain markets?
The mic on this camera really made Bono sound good
Thanks for the excellent review, this camera is at $80 in the US now including accessories and I am thinking of buying it after I was considering the SJ4000 but it what I concluded from the review is that there is no way to switch between photos / videos or change settings when the camera is in the water proof case, is that true ?
Just as Nick and Maarten I am considering the TCL SVC200 or the SJ4000 WiFi. I am particularly interested in the overall and low light performance. Thank you!
what would be the most recommended memory card for this? because I've read that gopro is finicky and would only accept certain memory cards so i thought it would probably do the same here..
Techmoan, i like your videos cause your unbiased reviews about alot of action camera stuff. Plus you're a rider too. Would you please review CamOneTec Infinity and ReplayXD. if you could. Thanks appreciate it very much!
I try to review cameras that have just been released (where possible), I missed out on those two, so it's very unlikely I'll pick them up now, sorry.
No Worries Mate
Looks like a winner! Does the microphone jack support "plug in power"?
That's something I don't know - sorry.
I bought this camera, but it seems that it comes with zoom. That bothers me a lot. I want to shoot my paintball games, but the camera shooting with a zoom so strong that my marker does not appear in the footage. PS: The camera is attached to my mask. I really need help because I'm from Brazil and the price of this camera here was not little. Sorry my bad english. Thanks in advance.
Hello Sir,
This camera vs the Sony HDR-AS15? It will mainly be used to shoot incar video (mostly during the day) during trackday events with a external microphone attached. Metering of light is important, it will be shooting from inside the car trough the windshield, on the inside is darker and some cameras overexpose the exterior.
Do you know if the amazon TCL seller provides any kind of warranty?
Excellent, just what I was after just placed my order
Hey Techmoan, while you were testing it on your motorcycle, was it in the waterproof case or how did you set it up with the mic? Would it be safe to repeatedly use it like this on a motorcycle? Love the vids man, keep em coming!
Thank you so much for your review. Even though I ask you four times to do the review. could not wait and bit the bullet and purchase one. I need your help because the one I purchase the screen does not shut off at all while recording. Please let me know because the battery does not last long. Also please do not shorten your unbiased reviews.
Strange. Mine shuts off after 3 mins in action cam mode as shown in the review. There's no option to alter this setting. Perhaps you have an earlier firmware in yours. How long does your battery last when recording 1080p video.
Is there any way to eliminate the fisheye distortion? It hurts my eyes and actually makes me a little queasy. If those cameras don't have that capability, I guess I won't be trying one anytime soon. Otherwise an excellent video! Thank you! 👍
Hi Techmoan. I've recently bought the camera from ebay and I've noticed
that it only records 9 minutes and 26 seconds at 1080p 30fps. The
microSD card I use is a 32gb class10 SanDisk. Have you encountered this
problem? Or has anyone?
...so you think this is better than the 'Exdreme' 1080p that I bought following your review? The issue I had with the non-adjustable mic. level was rectified with the £2.99 volume controller you advised me to get....so ta very much for all your help!
The video quality on this cam is probably the best of any action camera I've tested. The high bitrate means that you never get any blocking.
Can anyone help me please, I recently got this for x-mas and I'm useing a Samsung class 10 32gb micro sd card. My problem is the camera stops recording anywhere from 5 to 10 minutes in sport mode, It didn't come with any instructions or CD, I can't find any support for this camera online and the company TCL doesn't seem to have any backup for the camera nor can I find any firmware online
Seems to me like a faulty SD card or camera. Try a different SD card and if the problem is not solved, try to return the camera if it has any warranty on it.
Hi,such an important question,can't believe you didn't answer it. Can external microphone be used together with waterproof case?
Theres a company in the USA called Coleman that makes a mount for the two side mounts on the case...
Long time ago I know, don't suppose you know which cable it has do you? My wife has thrown my one away.
The two unused mounting clips, are they to mount the remote control maybe ?
your videos are very informative. thanks!
How does this camera compares to the SJ1000? I was planning getting a sj1000 but I just saw this one and Im having second thoughts! Thank you for the great reviews!
Your video convinced me to buy this ! The Braun Sixzero says it supports 1920x1080i (60 fps) , 1920x1080p (30 fps) , what is 1920x1080i ?? Oh and I don't understand how can you use the microphone with waterproof case closed?? If not , is the camera "weatherproof" or it will break down in the rain?? Thanks ! I 've seen many of your videos and was gonna buy SJ2000 for motovlogging but I think I am gonna buy this instead !