If you are looking for professional action cameras in the budget category, then the SJCAM SJ20 camera is best for you. Today we are going to do SJCAM SJ20 review, the latest action camera of SJCAM I wanted to start with introducing SJCAM. So, if you are a fan of active recreation or you need a camera that will follow all your motions, then the given review is for you.
In this SJCAM SJ20 review, I will provide you with all the information you need to know about this camera, including its features, quality, price, and more, so that you can make a decision on whether to purchase the camera or not.
SJCAM SJ20 review
The SJ20 camera was introduced to the market in November of the previous year and hit the shelves in January. There is a standard kit and a pro kit. In the box, apart from the camera, you get a battery, a waterproof case, numerous attachments, and two frames.
This Pro kit also features a larger battery and is perfect for vaping at home when you do not have to be too discreet. The camera is available for just a dollar; the standard kit is at $229, and the Pro kit is at $249. The prices are relatively affordable for most people, and thus the kits can easily be obtained.
Design of the SJCAM SJ20
The SJ20 looks very similar to the Insta360 One R and One RS action cameras, almost like a clone. The main difference, apart from the build quality, is that the SJ20 has a 1.3-inch front screen for use when filming yourself and a 2.29-inch touchscreen on the back for accessing settings.
There are just two buttons on top: one to switch between the day and night cameras, and a record/shutter button that also doubles as the power button.
The camera has a built-in speaker and a door panel that covers the microSD card slot and USB-C charging port. Annoyingly, opening this door requires the external battery to be removed and then reinserted for charging, and this process is reversed once charging is complete.
It’s not the end of the world, but it’s one of those design elements that could have been better thought of.
Battery and build quality
The SJ20 has a built-in 800mAh battery and an external 1050mAh battery that clips onto the bottom, just like the Insta360 One R. Battery life is good, but it never comes close to the suggested maximum of three hours when capturing 4K video.
Whether you’re using the camera with its internal battery or with an external clip-on battery, the kit includes two frame configurations that wrap around the camera and offer water resistance up to 5 meters/16 feet, while the dive housing extends this to 40 meters/130 feet.
The build quality is average and certainly not excellent – the camera feels a bit cheap, and doesn’t offer the premium feel and intuitive operation of the Insta360 cameras it’s clearly inspired by.
But that’s not surprising given the SJ20’s very low cost and the fact that Insta360 is a premium action camera maker, alongside DJI and GoPro, with all three brands occupying the upper end of the market.
Features and Performance
SJ20 is very easy to use, but its user interface seems a bit old. In most action cameras, settings are changed by swiping on the screen, but the SJ20 has buttons on the screen. This may seem a bit strange, but there is no problem with its use.
The 2.29 inch screen of the camera is good, but sometimes it takes a while to touch. The 1.3 inch front screen is good for taking selfies, but you cannot touch it, you will have to make the settings on the back screen in advance.
The camera has a lot of modes. It has features like slow motion, time lapse, and motion detection. You can also use it as a live stream or webcam.
Stabilization is fine. The camera has 6-axis gimbal stabilization, which reduces minor shakes but becomes a bit weak in big shakes. For example, shooting on a skateboard can show a little bit of shaking, but the stabilization works well when you’re walking slowly.
The camera shakes a lot when you’re running or walking, especially when you’re shooting at night. The night video on SJCAM’s website looks pretty good, but it looks like it was shot while riding a bicycle, so the shake is less visible.
The camera has a timestamp option, which is on by default. This should have been turned off, as most people don’t want the time and date on their photos.
Video Quality
As for the video capability, the SJCAM SJ20 has a 4K feature in it and this is quite good for this price. Daylight video quality is satisfactory; the video is clear and colours are rendered well.
It should also be noted that the analysis of videos decreases the quality of the obtained images substantially in weak lighting conditions, a large number of noises and loss of detail.
The camera has a frame rate of 60 fps, making it perfect for creating slow-motion clips. However, the same is not the case when it comes to 60 fps, where the video quality slightly decreases.
Overall, the video performance of the SJCAM SJ20 that we have observed is fairly good in well lit environment, but it falls short in ill lit environment.
Image Quality
Depending on the capability, the SJCAM SJ20 allows you to capture images of up to 12MP. In terms of the photo, the picture quality is pretty descent during the day and it has vibrant colour and sufficient details.
However, poor image quality appears, especially in low light areas, and the exam presents noise as well as loss of image detail.
Unfortunately, what Nokia has done on the camera front is that it has included some elementary photo features like time-lapse and burst mode. However, these modes do not appear to have any special characteristics that set them apart.
So, in the general sense, the SJCAM SJ20 takes fairly good photos in the daylight but might disappoint at night.
Audio Performance
SJCAM SJ20 produces average built-in microphone. Using the camera, the recorded audio is good when indoors, but if it’s outdoors, then the sound is rather loud. For the audio enhancement, you will have to use a separate microphone since the built-in one will not suffice in terms of QUALITY.
All in all, the audio output of SJCAM SJ20 is acceptable at average to low and is unsuitable for action sports.
Connectivity and Apps
The SJCAM SJ20 is fitted with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, so you can share the camera with your smartphone. Remote operation of SJCAM, changing settings, or viewing recorded footage is all possible via a smartphone.
The design and organization of the app are nice and simple, although the performance of the interface can occasionally be a little slow. Furthermore, the app also has some short-comings in the sense that it has some missing functions.
All in all, the connectivity and apps of SJCAM SJ20 are reasonable but still have issues.
Accessories
On buying the SJCAM SJ20, the buyer is provided with some simple accessories, like the waterproof case, the handle bracket, and the sticky pads. But it has so many mediocre accessories that one probably requires better accessories for their phone.
Should you buy it or not?
The SJCAM SJ20 is a budget-friendly action camera. If you don’t have a lot of money and want basic action videos and photos, this could be an option for you.
But keep in mind:
- Its image quality, especially in low light, isn’t great.
- Stabilization is also a little below average.
- If you want the best quality for action sports, you may have to spend a little more money.
If these shortcomings don’t matter to you and you just want a budget action camera, the SJ20 could be for you. But if you want better quality, you should consider other options.
Conclusion
The SJCAM SJ20 is a mid-range action camera that offers some good features at its price point. Its video quality is good in daylight but can disappoint in low light conditions. Image stabilization is also average, and it may not be enough for action sports.
