Extreme sports are getting closer to the average consumer. Ten years ago, to get impressive skydiving footage, you had to use very expensive equipment. And now it is enough to have a GoPro! And it's still expensive. Xiaomi has gone one step further and made shooting extreme video even more accessible with a camera called the Yi. Let's talk in detail about the device in review.

Equipment

All products of the Chinese company are supplied in a box made of very thick cardboard without any bright, identifying signs. The packaging is simply and tastefully made from recycled materials. And an adult can safely stand on the box. Why all this? Probably to reach the jar of jam on the top shelf. In general, it was personally verified by me - the package withstood 85 kg easily, like, in fact, the box from the fitness bracelet.

In nature, there are two types of equipment: regular and tourist. We got the latter to tell you not only about the device itself, but also about the branded monopod that comes with the extended delivery.

Inside the package, the gadget itself is neatly stowed, and next to it is a telescopic monopod. A micro USB cable is hidden under the cardboard layer for recharging the device from the computer ports (there is no power supply included), a battery of a very modest capacity of 1010 mAh and a battery cover.

No additional holders, mounts or underwater cases are provided by the manufacturer. All this is sold separately, or rather, will be sold in the near future. By the way, because of the lens slightly shifted to the middle and the power button, cases from GoPro or from Chinese cameras from Alibaba for 70 bucks will not work. In Yi, everything is in its own way, and don't be embarrassed that this is also a Chinese camera for 70 bucks. This is Xiaomi, which means a separate conversation.

Design

The buyer can choose from only two color variations: all white and bright green shades. Since at the time of ordering from Aliexpress there was only a white Travel version of the camera available, there was no question of choice for me: I need a monopod, I need to tell you everything.

The body of the gadget is entirely plastic. There is a matte finish on the front and back, and a ribbed design around the perimeter.

In front, above the front surface, a 24mm lens in diameter seriously sticks out. Of course, it is not covered by anything, and the bezel around the convex glass is made of dark plastic. And here I immediately want to scold the company. Yes, protective cases are sold separately, but what if I don't need them or can't buy them?

An uncovered lens can be easily scratched, and the Chinese did not even bother to report to the gadget some kind, even a bad one, but a cover. It can't, it can't.

On the front side there is a wide mechanical power button. One press switches the shooting mode from photo to video and vice versa. Long press turns off the camera. The button has a round LED that glows blue, purple or red depending on the battery level. When connected to a power source, the power button is always highlighted with a red halo.

In addition, four more indicator lights can be found around the perimeter of the case. The top, bottom and back reflect the set shooting mode, the side is responsible for wireless activity. The backlight can be turned off in the settings completely or left active only at the time of shooting.

On the top edge is the shutter button. It is single-section, since Yi does not have autofocus. On the underside, there's a standard screw mount for a tripod, monopod, selfie stick, and more. The hole is unified and suitable for any accessory. By the way, we'll talk about them later.

On the right side there is a Wi-Fi and Bluetooth activation key. There is no separation. I want to draw your attention to the fact that the camera is very thoughtful. After turning on and establishing a stable connection with the smartphone, it takes about 10-15 seconds. Previously, the gadget will not be able to be found by the phone.

Inhibition is also present at the moment of photographing. I pressed the shutter and the photo is ready, but the device thinks for another second or two before hanging from the process of creating a photo.

Of course, the camera is equipped with a microphone. Under it there is a hole in the upper part of the device. We will talk about sound recording later.

On the back side is the battery cover, as well as all the connectors of the gadget, hidden under a plastic cap. It is strange that the plug is not attached to the case in any way and it costs nothing to get lost. Be careful. Of the available ports, there are Micro USB, Micro HDMI and a slot for a memory card.

The device can also be controlled blindly without connecting to a smartphone. The top, bottom and rear LEDs will serve as a reference point, which light up red at the moment the video recording is activated and go out when set to photograph.

Monopod from the kit

Now let's talk about what users overpay their money for when they get a Travel package - about a monopod. The latter gives the impression of a quality and reliable thing. Perhaps even more reliable than the camera itself.

Indeed, the accessory is made entirely of metal, and the handle is made of soft, very hooky and pleasant to the touch material. The total weight of the stick is 183 grams. The camera itself, by the way, has a mass of 71 grams.

The head is attached to the telescopic body of the monopod by a spherical bone. The lever on the right tightens or loosens the rotary mechanism. Due to all this design, the head can rotate 360 ​​degrees.

The structure of the base consists of five metal elbows, which are opened and secured by turning them to the left or right, respectively. At first, the opening mechanism works rather tight, but after a dozen or two opening-folding cycles, everything returns to normal.

As a fastener, a tight fastener for the belt and a rope loop at the very end of the holder are provided here. The latter tends to unwind and at one fine moment the loop may remain on your wrist, and the monopod with the gadget will fall to the ground. Not a very thoughtful moment.

Specifications of Xiaomi Yi Camera:

• 16-megapixel (Sony Exmore R CMOS) sensor with back-illuminated matrix (BSI), image resolution 4608 x 3456 pixels
• 155-degree (wide-angle) F 2.8 aspherical lens
• optical stabilization and 3D noise reduction
• shooting speed: up to 7 photos/second
• Time Lapse function 0.5 - 60 seconds
• Ambarella A7LS processor
• Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi for file transfer and video streaming to a smartphone (Broadcom chip)
• support for Micro SD memory cards up to 128 GB (10 class)
• triaxial accelerometer
• Panasonic battery (lithium-ion)
• dimensions 60.4 x 42 x 21.2 mm
• weight 72 g
• H.264 video codec
• sound recording up to 96 kHz, 92 dB

Photography

The whole device is based on a 16-megapixel Sony Exmore R matrix. Above it is a lens with aspherical lenses and aperture F 2.8. The latter does not affect the appearance of a beautiful blur (bokeh) in any way, because the focus is set to infinity, starting from 20 cm. Accordingly, it will not work to take real macro photographs. I tried and it didn't work for me. You can see the result below.

Of course, the lens used here is wide-angle and can capture the space 155 degrees in front of you. And thanks to the use of aspherical lenses, this is a real Fisheye. Some people will definitely like it, and some won't. We'll talk about this a little more later.

The maximum image resolution is 4608 x 3456 pixels. You can set the resolution to 13, 8 or 5 megapixels.

I don't know what good things can be said about the photo part. Yes, the photos are good, but not impressive.

The quality of the images lags behind modern flagship smartphones and more or less tolerable digital cameras.

Let's start with the details. The 100% crop examples below show that the Yi Action camera cannot be compared with the picture that the Sony Xperia Z3 produces - one of the best camera phones of 2014-2015. Fuzziness, digital interference - all this is present in the brainchild of the Chinese digital industry.

I suggest a little more look at the pictures taken on the smartphone Sony Xperia Z3 (left) and Xiaomi Yi (right).

With the clarity of the picture in the corners of the photos, there are generally big problems.

This is especially noticeable when distortion suppression (barrel effect) is turned on. At this point, the system, using its own algorithms, removes the excessive roundness of the shots, which is characteristic of fisheye lenses. Together with this operation, the photo is smeared along the edges in one hundred percent of cases. Below, as an example, I have given a piece of a picture with the original image (on the left) and a piece of a photograph on which the system has already managed to conjure, removing lens distortion (on the right).

Notice how badly blurred the picture is in the right image. When you activate this function (Lens rectification), be prepared that the photo will be clear only in the center of the frame - the rest will float.

Here are some original fisheye photos (left) and images with distortion reduction (right) as an example.

Didn't like the exposition. In most photos, the machine is mistaken and instead of juicy and bright colors, the image becomes yellow-green.

Attempts to change the exposure metering did not lead to anything. The system is wrong and everything continues to turn yellow, as in the desert. Of course, later, on a computer, photographic materials can be corrected and as a result something like this will turn out (on the left is the original, on the right is the simplest color correction).

On the other hand, given the affordability of the camera and its versatility, provided that protective cases are used, we get a very good photo solution for active life. Still, you won’t be able to dive into the Red Sea with a smartphone, but with Xiaomi Yi it’s easy and even relatively budget.

We look at examples of all the other photos.

The originals of all images can be downloaded in one archive from here.

As additional modes, there is timer shooting, Burst mode (up to 7 frames per second) or Timelaps. AT last time between shutter releases can be set from 0.5 to 60 seconds. As a result, several hundred pictures will be obtained, which later, using special programs, can be combined into one video.

By the way, some specifications declared by the manufacturer on the official website do not correspond to the real state of affairs.

So, it was initially indicated that the time intervals when shooting Timelaps are from 3 to 15 seconds, although in reality they are completely different. The same goes for shooting video: real 50 frames per second in maximum quality, instead of 60 declared or 240 at 420p resolution (it is not in the parameters at all). The Chinese are so Chinese.

Camera can shoot only in a horizontal position. Despite the fact that the manufacturer claims support for the accelerometer, it is clearly not intended for automatic orientation reversal.

Of course, there is optical stabilization, so the picture does not shake so much even if you hold the monopod with the gadget at arm's length. In this kind of devices, without it, nowhere.

The maximum possible video recording quality is 1920 x 1080 pixels at 50 frames (16:9) per second. Below is a list of other supported resolutions:

• 1920 x 1080 25 FPS (16:9)
• 1920 x 1080 48 FPS (16:9)
• 1920 x 1080 24 FPS (16:9)
• 1280 x 960 50 FPS (4:3)
• 1280 x 960 48 FPS (4:3)
• 1280 x 720 50 FPS (16:9)
• 1280 x 720 48 FPS (16:9)
• 1280 x 720 100 FPS (16:9)
• 848 x 480 200 FPS (16:9)

Movies are recorded with a maximum length of 5 minutes. This cannot be changed, however, you can set the memory to be continuously filled with such five-minute segments until the space on the map runs out.

Full HD resolution at 50 frames is perhaps the most optimal setting for recording video on a device. At 25 or 24 frames, objects in the video move in jerks. An example of such a video is below.

In addition, it is possible to record 100 and even 200 frames per second. However, the picture resolution noticeably drops to 1280 x 720 pixels and 848 x 480 respectively. An example of a 100-frame shoot is below this sentence.

Now about recording audio. The camera does not record sound well. Even at a distance of an open monopod, it is very difficult to distinguish a voice on the street, where the wind often blows. In addition, the sound is muffled and sounds quite unflattering. The Buzzer volume setting does not correct the situation in any way, in fact, as well as some kind of 3D noise reduction declared by the manufacturer. You can listen to the sound in the video example below.

And again, an action camera is not designed to record an audio stream. This is not its main function. The focus is on the video, not how you scream while riding a rollercoaster. In addition, you can always put some cool music on the background.

However, some craftsmen have already found a way out. Here on the video you can see how to improve the quality of the recording of the audio stream on your own and with the help of a screwdriver.

Yi Camera app

To work with the device, you need a special application. For now, there is only an Android version. The developers promise to add iOS support in the future.

Don't bother looking for the utility on Google Play. On the this moment she's just not there. To install the program, you need to scan the QR code from the instructions and follow the link recognized by the scanner.

Not bad, of course, to get also your own account on mi.com. The system will prompt you to do so.

Those who complete the quest will be rewarded installed application in English-Chinese. The thing is that part of the menu has been translated into English, while the other half has remained in native Chinese. It all looks especially funny when you try to activate some function, and the application instead gives out an inscription with hieroglyphs.

In fact, there is no inconvenience from crookedly translated software. 80% of the required parameters are transferred to the public English language, and the rest is clear and so.

The main feature of the application is the Lifeview mode, that is, the smartphone screen acts as a viewfinder for the camera. The picture transmitted from the device to the phone is slightly delayed (by about 0.5 seconds) and its quality leaves much to be desired. On the other hand, the main thing is to compose the frame and the image transmission quality is sufficient for this to the fullest.

The connection range does not exceed 100 meters. In reality, about 20 meters or a couple of rooms with relatively thick walls are enough to transmit a picture without breaks.

The company claims that the utility also has a built-in image editor, but I did not find it. Maybe it is securely hidden behind various buttons in Chinese, or it can be available exclusively on Xiaomi branded phones.

In conclusion, I will still give a link so that you can download the Yi Camera application. For Android devices, download from here. Owners of iOS devices, look for your application, but later.

Battery Life

The built-in battery manufactured by Panasonic has a capacity of 1010 mAh (3.7 V and 3.74 Wh). I want to say right away that batteries from GoPro or from Chinese fakes from Alibaba are not supported. Xiaomi closed a loophole for cunning users who want to save on consumables.

Continuous shooting of Full HD-video (25 fps) ate the entire 100% battery charge in one hour and fifty minutes. At the same time, only a quarter of the time the device was connected via Wi-Fi to a smartphone.

In Timelapse mode (photo every 60 seconds), the camera worked for only 1 hour and 41 minutes when connected to a smartphone. By the way, Lifeview is not available in this mode.

A full charge from a 2A power supply takes 1 hour 40 minutes, which is a lot. When recharging from the USB connector of the computer, it will take more more time.

Accessories for Xiaomi Yi

What will be available accessories Directly from Xiaomi - not yet known. Judging by the available official photos and videos, so far the list is limited only to an underwater case (diving up to 40 meters) and special straps for attaching the device to a pet. Perhaps the company will come up with something else interesting or go along the beaten track, copying GoPro accessories cleanly.

A little more about what we have in stock. The only inconvenience in a regular monopod is the lack of a shutter button. As a remote control, you can use a connected smartphone or blindly control the camera. Only in this way and this somewhat limits the user.

However, the Bluetooth button is found on other, third-party selfie sticks that are actively sold on the Internet. We have already reviewed a couple of these. Yi made friends with them easily and naturally, but again, not without a crutch. The role of the latter is a smartphone, to which you need to connect a Bluetooth monopod. The Xiaomi app easily recognizes accessories such as a regular Bluetooth keyboard, with which you can shoot. Thus, we get three devices at once that need to be actively used when shooting: Yi itself, mobile phone and a selfie stick with a built-in shutter button. The only pity is that we only have two hands.

Outcome

In the photos, and in reality, the camera looks very decent. The paper specs are also impressive and make you reach for your wallet for money or a credit card to place an order as soon as possible.

In fact, the device has a fairly large list of shortcomings. These are the design nuances that we have already discussed, and the quality of photos and videos, of course.

Of course, it is slightly behind the popular GoPro Hero 3 in terms of features and settings. The latter has a huge fleet of accessories and more freedom in setting up video shooting. Comparing Xiaomi Yi Camera with Hero 4 is incorrect. These are products from different categories, both price and quality.

Xiaomi Yi seems to me to be a kind of starting device for those who want to try and understand for themselves what an action camera is. Do you travel a lot? Love to snorkel or even scuba dive? Do you climb mountains and skydive? So why not give this thing a try for yourself? Suddenly hooked and have to go to the yard? Further more. Open a channel on Youtube and become a famous extreme. Separately, you can highlight shooting from a multicopter. For a relatively small amount (copters are different), you can shoot amazing aerial shots at home.

Thinking about purchasing Yi Camera, you need to keep in mind its cost. This is the main and most advantageous advantage of the novelty. Price at 399 and 499 Chinese yuan, which at the current rate (1 yuan = 8.23 ​​rubles) is about 3281.85 rubles for the basic package and 4104.37 rubles for the extended one (with a monopod). However, you can immediately relax, since it is almost impossible to buy Yi for this price. And it's not even that the purchase requires a real Chinese address and a Chinese bank card. All batches periodically thrown out by the manufacturer in the online store are bought up by resellers and sold at various online auctions or in their shops directly in China. The domestic consumer should look towards Aliexpress, as I did.

Release date: already on sale from resellers from China Price: 399 and 499 yuan

Interesting to read:

All buyers know that a monopoly in the electronics market is not welcome. Therefore, it is not surprising that the world-famous action camera Hero GoPro a worthy competitor appeared, which will be discussed in this article. Chinese mobile technology manufacturer Xiaomi Yi has unveiled its product to the public, which claims to oust the world's best camera for shooting in the world from the market. extreme conditions. After all, it’s not in vain that action Xiaomi cameras Yi are called the "killers" of Hero GoPro.

Company pricing policy

It’s better to start with the fact that Xiaomi is considered a serious Chinese brand. For comparison: the world-famous manufacturer Lenovo is inferior in quality and price to all products released under the Xiaomi brand. Therefore, the opinion that the digital camera for shooting in extreme conditions, released by the Chinese, is of poor quality, is erroneous.

All Xiaomi products are manufactured at the Foxconn factory. This company produces high quality computer and network equipment. One of the company's lines produces world-famous Apple products: Iphone, Ipad, Iwatch and Ipod.

As for the affordable cost of all Xiaomi products, everything is simple here - experts assure that pricing Chinese goods There are no advertising and branding costs. The company is young (on the market since 2010), so purchasing power is attracted by reducing the cost of high-quality goods.

Xiaomi Yi action cameras: first acquaintance

The Chinese somehow strangely decided to remove their competitor Hero GoPro from the market. Having recreated the device in a rugged case, endowing it with great functionality and affordable price, the manufacturer did not take care of the action camera package. An ordinary gray cardboard box, without any identification marks, causes strange feelings in all buyers. And the equipment is completely capable of upsetting the future owner: a camera, a battery, a monopod tripod, an interface cable and instructions in Chinese.

No mounts or boxes for underwater shooting, not to mention the usual strap for transportation digital device. Naturally, the manufacturer promises to fix the flaw, but this statement is unlikely to help the owner of the camera. On the other hand, many users believe that additional accessories are unnecessary, because most athletes already have reliable mounts and no one wants to overpay for additional equipment.

Appearance

Action camera Xiaomi Yi, the price of which is Russian market is 5500 rubles, has a miniature size (two matchbox superimposed on each other). But even such a small device, the manufacturer managed to provide external beauty and create all the conveniences for the user. On the main panel of the camera, the owner will find a built-in lens and a large power button. Just one click is enough to switch photo and video modes. Around the button there are LEDs that inform the user about the battery charge.

On one of the ends of the camera there is a button to turn on the Wi-Fi module with an activity indicator. At the bottom, the manufacturer placed a mount that has a threaded connection and is adapted for a monopod tripod. On the rear wall of the device, the user will find a compartment for installing the battery, as well as a panel for installing a memory card and connecting interface cables.

Autonomy of work

Built-in lithium battery with a capacity of 1010 mAh is enough for one and a half hours of video shooting. The indicator is small, but, taking into account the physical dimensions of the portable camera, it still commands the respect of others, judging by the reviews of the owners. It's funny that it also takes 1.5 hours to charge the battery. Naturally, in order to extend the shooting, the user will need a spare battery. Only underwater shooting is embarrassing - it will not be possible to replace the battery without rising to the surface, and the gadget does not have a secure interface for connecting additional power.

Create high quality photos

The 16-megapixel sensor guarantees the future owner the creation of worthy photographs, and the wide-angle lens of the built-in lens (155 degrees) is an excellent choice of exposure both in nature and in a darkened room. In addition, the manufacturer installed a photosensitive Sony Exmor, which will positively affect the photo and video shooting of objects in poor lighting conditions. Actually Xiaomi Yi camera is high quality digital camera, only reduced by several times. Matrix, sensor, control buttons and lens - a complete set for creating a conventional camera.

Full video shooting

Action camera Xiaomi Yi Sport can shoot video in HD and FullHD. This serious statement of the manufacturer is confirmed by all owners of the device in their reviews. However, there are disadvantages that future owners should be aware of. First, the manufacturer kept silent about the frame rate when shooting video. So, in FullHD format, the gadget can shoot at a frequency not exceeding 50 frames per second. For normal shooting of dynamic objects, this is quite enough, but for a photographer who is on the move himself, this frame rate will not be enough to get a high-quality video.

Xiaomi Yi action cameras support H.264 codec and save video in MP4 format. In fact, the manufacturer managed to achieve the golden mean in video stream processing - to get a small file at the output without quality loss. Judging by the reviews of the owners, this is one of the main advantages in this device.

Handheld camera display

Many users may find it strange that the action camera does not have an LCD screen. At first, it looks wild and from the outside it resembles shooting with an old film camera, where you can see the results of the work only after developing the photos. Okay, underwater shooting - you can’t see through anything anyway, but how to choose the right exposure in the bosom of nature?

Everything is very simple. Suffice it to recall other products of the company - most of them are controlled using the Android operating system (Xiaomi fitness bracelet, watches, acoustics, headphones). Digital camera is no exception, the user only needs to connect the device via Wi-Fi to any phone. Naturally, for management you will need a proprietary software, which can be downloaded from the Play Market for free.

Covert surveillance camera

The Xiaomi Yi product - camera - will be of interest not only to fans of extreme sports, but also to people whose work or hobby is inextricably linked with surveillance. A miniature camera can be placed anywhere and discreetly observe any living organisms. The footage does not have to be downloaded from a memory card or transferred to a computer via an interface cable. A wireless connection allows not only to control the action camera and observe the subject, but also to download footage directly to a device running the Android operating system. To solve the issue with autonomous power supply of the device, the camera would have no price at all. At least that's what all the owners think, judging by their reviews.

System performance

There is no need to think that a small processor is installed in a miniature device. Xiaomi Yi action cameras are equipped with a powerful crystal, because in order to save the video stream in high quality requires a lot of mobile platform resources. The same goes for random access memory with a video adapter and a wireless module - in terms of performance, an action camera is not much inferior to a modern mobile phone.

It is worth noting that the sound adapter present in the camera has its own sound processor, which has a positive effect on the operation of the entire system. The sound card has a built-in noise reduction system, can automatically adjust the microphone sensitivity and records sound in stereo.

Professional use

The lack of optical stabilization in the Xiaomi Yi device causes dissatisfaction among many buyers. After all, using the camera as a video recorder in a car or when traveling off-road on a two-wheeled vehicle just impossible. This is a major oversight by the manufacturer. While testing the camera under extreme conditions (cycling, skydiving, or ice skating) demonstrates acceptable high-definition video capture, camera shake is still noticeable.

The action camera behaves rather strangely in winter conditions. The plastic case of the device does not protect the battery from the cold. As a result, instead of an hour and a half video, users manage to shoot only 30-40 minutes of video material in a twenty-degree frost. This is a very low figure.

Finally

Xiaomi Yi action cameras are a desirable purchase for many users who decide to capture the pleasant moments of their lives in extreme conditions. Low cost, portability, convenient functionality and a wide range of features can attract many buyers to the new product. There are, of course, flaws, but many camera owners simply turn a blind eye to them, because Xiaomi Yi has not so many competitors in the electronics market - the nearest Hero GoPro costs 5 times more and differs little in functionality from the Chinese product.

To begin with, we were forced to spend about two hours getting the camera ready for use. This is not just a long time, but a very long time! All of us have long been accustomed to the fact that most devices are easy enough to turn on, and then everything is clear on an intuitive level and without any instructions.

First experience of use and negative points

Immediately after turning on the Xiaomi Yi camera basic edition action camera, it reported that for some reason it was working in photo mode. This circumstance seemed very strange to us, because we are dealing with a video camera ... Where is the logic here? And if you switch the device to video mode, and then turn it off and turn it on again, it will again be in photo shooting mode.

You can change the camera settings only through a special application that must first be installed on your smartphone. The program requires Android version 4.1 or higher.

Also a lot of inconvenience delivers the lack of a display, even if only for elementary navigation through the menu.

The logic of the display system

Successful turning on of the camera is announced by the main light indicator and a sound signal. However, this does not mean at all that the device is ready for use, you will have to wait another ten to fifteen seconds. Why it was impossible to accompany this moment with a sound signal is not clear. After updating the software, the time to turn on the camera was reduced to a few seconds and the "blinking" of the indicators became more logical and understandable. While copying footage to a computer, the camera gets quite hot.

In addition, it cost us a lot of effort to find a Xiaomi Yi basic USB cable for the action camera (only one of the three worked). Therefore, we recommend using a card reader to exchange information with a PC.

The protective cap that covers the USB, memory card slot and HDMI is very small and losing it is a trifling matter. It would be much better if it was attached to the body.

The scope of delivery is very meager, it includes only: the camera itself, a rechargeable battery, an interface cable. In the Travel version, the manufacturer has also become generous with a monopod.

Speaking of monopods, you most likely won’t be able to use any third-party you like. It's all about the too short screw hole, which does not securely fasten the camera. However, this problem can be solved with the help of a rubber washer mounted on the screw of the monopod.

Camera Benefits and Longer Use Experience

• Dimensions - we decided to mention them, despite the fact that almost without exception, action cameras are very small. Now I don’t want to use something bulky to shoot a video.
• Video quality, in our subjective opinion, is very worthy. There was not much to compare with, only Sony a6000 and Canon 7d were at hand - typical representatives of a more serious niche. For everyday needs or even video blogging, the capabilities of this device are more than enough.
• Low cost - about $ 70-90, (in the green case it is somewhat more expensive).
• You can easily use branded GoPro accessories through a special adapter.
• Battery life - when shooting videos in 1080p 25fps mode, the camera is able to "stretch" a little less than two hours without recharging.

Well, a few more words about the impressions that have developed after solving the main problems associated with the operation of the camera. Shooting with an action camera is incredibly cool! We were literally delighted. Firstly, it is very convenient that the device can be put into your pocket at any time, and then very quickly removed from there and continue shooting.

In the outstretched hand, the camera is practically not felt, this is not for you. reflex camera hold when the hand becomes numb after a few minutes. Also pleased with a small number of control keys, almost completely eliminates the possibility of accidentally pressing them during shooting, shifting the camera from hand to hand or when choosing an angle.

Today we offer you to look at the main competitor of GoPro among budget action cameras - the Xiaomi Yi camera. We will also learn how to set up the camera on Xiaomi and how to control it.

Even before the official sale, this unit made a lot of noise among users, because the manufacturer stated that it would receive the same characteristics as the GoPro, but at a very ridiculous price. Previously, the price was announced at $ 60, which, you see, is very, very tempting.

Almost all Xiaomi camera functions are available for control through special applications on a smartphone, which can be pre-installed via links and Remote Video. While there are not very many of them, however, it is possible that with the update of the firmware of the gadget, its functionality will expand. So far, the program allows you to make settings for photo and video modes, choose the quality of shooting and adjust the operation of the camera itself, as well as choose the possibility of visually displaying the image from the matrix.

In the photo mode in the application, we see the following picture: most of the display was occupied by the area for previewing the image from the camera matrix, and the selected resolution for shooting is written below. At the bottom are the keys for controlling the action camera, and even lower is the status bar with the current battery charge of the phone, the camera and the Wi-Fi signal level. In video mode, the program looks almost the same. In addition, there is a Snapshot mode for creating quick shots at a resolution of 640x480.

Parameters and their meanings

Setting Xiaomi Yi action camera is produced through a special application, which we wrote about above, but there is an important point here - the application is only available for Android smartphones, and the owners of Apple products are still out of work. So, let's look at some of the modes with which I set up the camera. They are divided into several blocks.

• video. This is the mode for video settings. There are such items as Quality (video quality), Resolution (resolution), Time Stamp (display time and date on video), Standart (video standard) and Metering Mode (exposure level measurement);
• photo. It is logical to assume that this is a mode that adjusts photography. There are such sub-items as: Resolution (also photo resolution), Default Photo Mode (this option allows you to select the default photography mode, for example, you can select normal, self-timer, burst and time lapse). Also available are the functions of displaying the date and time on the photo and Camera Default Start Mode (selecting the mode in which the camera will turn on by default);

• camera. The camera is configured here: Preview (preview), Loop Recording (endless recording or recording in DVR mode), Lens Rectification (turn on / off Fish Eye), Auto turn on WI-Fi with Device (turn on Wi-Fi with the device), Buzzer Volume (sound volume control), as well as much more, such as Wi-Fi settings, LED indicator mode, setting the time and date, and turning off the camera after a certain period of inactivity;
• devices. This block contains complete information about the device, such as model name, serial number, current firmware version, as well as information about the flash card and the possibility of formatting it. In addition, here you can turn on the camera search function if it is lost somewhere nearby (it starts to make sounds) and reset all settings to factory settings.

Conclusion

In general, we briefly got acquainted with the capabilities of the sensational Xioami Yi action camera and found out what each item in the settings means. In general, the camera shows very good results for its price, but the functionality could be expanded. We hope that the manufacturer will take into account the wishes of users and in new version firmware will present us with new opportunities for such a small and bright unit.

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Xiaomi Yi Action Camera (Basic Edition) Review: GoPro Killer

The tech world is buzzing about the Xiaomi Yi Action Camera.

This is the first brainchild in the video camera niche of the Chinese smartphone manufacturer.

The nickname most often used in these rumors is the GoPro killer, but is it justified?

For a long time, this niche was occupied by only a few manufacturers proven over the years, including Olympus and Sony.

But it's time for a change. Xiaomi have released their device in this segment.

Camera on a budget

Xiaomi Yi Action Camera is a low budget .

By purchasing it, the user gets the opportunity to record video in 2K format and create 16 mega pixel photos.

The inevitable popularity of this instance was preceded by massive advertising, paid press releases and publications of bloggers.

Many noted that for such a brand the price is simply minimal.

Xiaomi Yi Action Camera is a lightweight camcorder that records Full HD video at 30 and 60 fps.

In addition, it can take 16 megapixel photos.

Its biggest advantage is its price.

Yi cameras come in two different versions:

• Standard (Basic edition)
• For travelers (Travel)

The only difference between these revisions is that in the Travel package, the user gets a very neat .

It does not creak, does not fall apart, looks very stylish.

Specifications

• Lens: 16MP CMOS F2.8 155° wide angle
• Sensor: Sony Exmor R BSI CMOS 16 million pixels
• Dimensions: 6 x 2.1 x 4.2 cm / 2.36 x 0.83 x 1.65 inches
• Memory: Micro SD, cards up to 64GB supported
• Video system: PAL, NTSC
• Video format: MP4
• Sound: 96KHz 2 channels, 92dBA noise reduction
• Battery 1010mAh
• Charger: USB when connected to a PC or via the supplied AV adapter
• Modules: Bluetooth 4.0 WiFi
• Photo Format: JPEG
• Selfie Timer: 1-15 sec
• Time interval: 0.5/1/2/5/10/30/60 sec

Even at first glance, we can say that the characteristics look impressive.

And the developer offers all this to its potential buyers for only $89.

Equipment

Once you open the Xiaomi Yi Action Camera box, here is what you get:

• 1x Xiaomi Yi Action Camera
• 1x USB to microUSB cable (used for charging and syncing with PC)
• 1x 1100 mAh battery

Design

Many adherents of this gadget often call Xiaomi Yi Action Camera "Chinese Apple".

Their directors are called next. The same pedantry, the same attention to detail.

Parallels are often drawn between these two personalities.

The minimalistic approach is visible even in a simple cardboard box.

In an inconspicuous compartment, the USB cable for connecting to and the battery are neatly packed.

When it comes to choosing a color, the device comes in three colors:

• Green
• White
• Black

It's a pity, but I would like the choice of colors to be more diverse.

The brightest among them is green.

White looks simple, it will suit those who prefer minimalism.

But it’s worth saying right away that this is a very easily soiled color, so get ready to wipe your pet often.

And connoisseurs of strict forms and classics will certainly choose a black set.

It is fairly solid and feels like it is built with quality materials both inside and out.

This sets it apart from cheaper counterparts.

Main disadvantage

The company sacrificed functionality by ditching the LCD screen.

Yes, for many this is a significant drawback, but it is worth noting that such a detail can significantly increase the cost of the camera.

Now there is a solution for connecting external LCD displays.

In addition, you can connect an external battery, which will double the recording time.

All settings in the camera can only be changed when connected to a computer.

So before you start using it, you need to download it, connect the camera to your PC and set it up.

You can, of course, use the camera in this way, but all the functionality will not be available.

Dimensions and weight

The device measures 60.4mm x 21.2mm x 42mm and weighs only 72 grams when fully assembled.

They are slightly heavier than similar camcorders, especially when compared to the SJ4000 and SJCAM M10.

Lens and sensors

Ambarella A7LS is responsible for photo processing, in the kit for it the user receives a Sony Exmor R BSI CMOS 16 MEGA Pixels sensor and an ST 3-Axis G-sensor.

Buttons and ports

The camera does not have many buttons and ports, you can disassemble them in the first 10-15 minutes.

Buttons, ports and LED indicators

• The front button is a power on/off button. Allows you to turn the camera on or off, as well as switch modes.
• The button on top is the shutter button, when pressed, it will take a photo or start/stop video recording.
• On the side is a button that turns WiFi on/off.

• 1/4″ tripod port
• Micro SD card slot
• USB port (charging, PC connection)
• HDMI port (for transferring images and videos to TV)
• Battery clip (push to open battery compartment)

Indicators

• LED indicators (indicate whether recording is currently in progress or not. The round indicator changes color as the battery drops)

Video

The colors look quite natural. The images are decent and much sharper than the video. Even when the camera is turned on directly in the sun, the colors do not darken.

Sony's 16-megapixel CMOS sensor ensures that you get high-quality images even on a bright sunny day.

Many analogues produce a darker image. In Xiaomi Yi Action Camera, the colors are very natural brightness.

Time-lapse photography

The camcorder has a single-frame shooting mode. This setting can be set via the app.

Basically, it allows your machine to continuously take photos at the interval you set. You can set the time interval to 0.5/1/2/5/10/30/60 seconds.

For example, you can set the time interval to 5 seconds (this is the time that is used most often).

I wish the camera itself would take a frame-by-frame of your photos, but unfortunately this option is not provided.

If you understand technically, you can set the indicator to 2 hours (10800 seconds) and set the shooting interval to 10 seconds.

At 1080p 60 fps, you get 18 seconds of time lapse video. It's not as difficult as it sounds, you can see a lot of YouTube video tutorials on how to create this kind of video.

Self-timer

Single shooting and self-timer are different functions. Frame-by-frame is a constant number of photos.

The camera will work without interruption for a set period of time, and the self-timer takes just one photo after a certain period of time.

The timer allows you to set a delay before a single photo.

This is a useful option for group photos where you can put the Yi Action Camera on a stand and it will automatically take a photo.

Timer can be set to 3, 5, 10 and 15 seconds

snapshot

Snapshot is probably the least useful feature for any photographer.

With the Snapshot function, you can create a short animation with a ridiculous resolution of 640 x 480 / 4:3 / 30p.