The SJCAM SJ20 Is the First-Ever Dual Lens Action Camera
The SJCAM SJ20 is the first action camera to include a dual-camera system with specialized day and night lenses. The company claims that it will be able to capture “crisp” footage in any lighting scenario.
SJCAM can shoot 4K, 2.5K, and 1080p Full HD films, as well as photographs with resolutions of up to 20 megapixels (but it can also capture 8, 10, 12, 14, and 16 megapixels). Videos are saved in MP4 format and can be encoded as h.264 or h.265.
4K film is limited to 30p, 2K footage can be caught at up to 60p, and Full HD footage can be shot at up to 120p.
The company claims to have two independent cameras, which most likely means two sensors behind it, as is typical with smartphones. However, SJCAM has not released any specific information on the size of those sensors. Aside from noting that each lens has a 135-degree field of vision and that one has an aperture of f/2 and the other has an aperture of f/1.3 (for day and night capture, respectively), almost nothing more regarding the picture-capturing mechanism is explained.
“Users can easily switch between the different lenses depending on the environment and light to ensure the best image capture at all times, even in dim light conditions,” according to the business. It does not appear that the camera can record with both lenses at the same time.
Motion recognition, slow motion, pre-recording, and timelapse are among the capture modes available on the dual-lens action camera. It can theoretically link to a mobile device over 2.4 and 5GHz WiFi, although SJCAM makes no mention of a companion app.
The SJ20 is designed with two touchscreens. The rear screen measures 2.29 inches, while the front screen is substantially smaller at 1.3 inches. Because menu controls are probably managed by touch, there are only two buttons on the camera’s body: one for recording and one for initiating menu access.
The SJ20 is waterproof to 16 feet without a dedicated case, but it can be extended to 130 feet with one. It also has a six-axis gyroscope, according to the firm, for seamless capture.
The SJ20 has a claimed battery life of seven hours per charge, yet the company’s marketing fails to mention that the 800mAh internal battery is only capable of 2.5 hours of 4K recording. To achieve the advertised seven hours, a supplementary 1,050mAh external battery pack that mounts to the bottom of the camera is required, which costs an additional $20. SJCAM will also release a camera grip with camera control buttons and a larger 4,800mAh battery that can function underwater.
SJCAM’s SJ20 is available for $229.
