The ACT20 Action Camera
Tuesday, June 21, 2011 at 6:49PM My review of this camera was negatively coloured by the fact that I couldn't edit or convert the footage using my Mac. I edit all my Youtube videos using iMovie on my Mac and not being able to properly utilise the original footage from this camera meant that I couldn't do an accurate video review.
There is definitely something non-standard about the .avi files created by this camera - however after I posted this video review, I tried editing the footage on my PC in a trial version of Power Director 9 and it worked without a hitch.
So unfortunately this camera is still not ideal for me - but if you use a PC as your main machine, this camera might possibly be just what you are looking for.
To me, the main headline feature of this camera is the fact that it can record for 3 hours on one charge. The HD808 can only manage about 45 mins and then often stops recording after only a handful of minutes (for reasons that I really can't determine). If I ride my motorcycle to work it's a 2 hour round-trip, so for the moment I'll be using the ACT20 as an incident camera - attached to my helmet. I'll set it to loop-record continuously (in 20 min segments) and I'll only pull the footage off the camera if I need to use it for some kind of evidence.
I think when I make my next video review when my new action camera arrives from Dealextreme, I'll give the ACT20 a bit more screen time to redress any disservice that I may have done to it in this video.
Reader Comments (51)
Hi Techmoan, I've been following your reviews of cheap 720p cameras with interest. It appears so far that no device seems to do everything. Also, the prices seem to be climbing into the level of the the GoPros (which now retails for about 115 GBP/US$180).
This unit has me interested. It's apparently called the Poseidon.
It checks off a lot of boxes, plus it has a wireless remote trigger, which would alleviate your issues with inadvertently brushing the button. Plus, for me, I would be able to mount the camera anywhere on my car and still trigger it only when I see something interesting.
It also has more than one button and an LCD display, which would be helpful in settings. If the video quality holds up to the 808 #11, this seems to be the one to get. It also mentions a 120 degree FOV! Doesn't mention h.264 however.
Hope you may get a chance to test that one. Looking forward to your new vids!
Just wanted to say a huge thanks for all these reviews. Very informative, thorough and interesting.
My reason for looking into these cameras is for airsoft, so I need one that functions pretty well in the dark, and has a decent FPS rate due to the fast movement.
Is there anything you would recommend?
Thanks, keep up the vids!
Interesting vid and I have to say that having a 720p fob, ContourHD and Kodak Playsport HD there's no competition especially when you need 60fps - ESSENTIAL for action cams. The the two latter cameras are still the best option cost-wise. The Kodak benefits from being truly waterproof (to 3m) and has EIS digital stabilisation. I think its worth paying £90...
@Steve H. I haven't come across anything suitable for you yet...although the next one I'm getting is supposed to do night vision..but I have my doubts. For fast moving subjects you really need 60fps. These cheap ones all seem to be 30fps. Bear in mind though that most editing packages only output 30 fps video.
@James...I think you may be right. Most of these cheap cameras are a bit of a false economy.
@James My issue with the mainstream units (outside of the Contour and GoPro) is the form factor. I want something tiny and light I can pretty much mount anywhere. 720p (60fps would be nice), 3 hour battery, h264, and image stabilization. That's all I really want. I don't even want a display.
And cheap of course :P
@ Clive C - Yes I've had my eye on the Poseidon, but like you, think when prices edge near £100, I might as well pay the extra for a GoPro 960., also the Poseidon is .avi again, unfortunately. When my next camera arrives - I think it will be pretty much the same at the Poseidon, minus the remote and LCD. It has a 120 degree lens and claims to be waterproof. I've already got a bad feeling about it - I'm expecting more jerky frame dropping due to the mjpeg .avi encoding. It appears that whatever chips/compression these chaps are using in the Chinese 720p HD cameras, just isn't up to the job. So however the next one turns out - it's going to be my last action camera review for a good while - until technology catches up a bit. I'll only try out another camera when I can get it for less than £50 and it does h.264. - and possibly only 60fps.
I have the same problem - Ideally I'm after a smallish keyring cam like the #11 but can be mounted on anything easily, with a 2/3 hour battery life, ideal for Airsoft (mounted to helmet or glasses) and far more robust than the #11 (I'm on my third as they keep packing up)
Happy to have nightvision with it and more of a bullit-form factor/size.
Please let our demands be met soon.... :D
Hi there,
maybe the 120 degree view angle can be created using an replacement for the plexiglass lens cover. If that was a lens, it may able to take footage in 120degree angle. Its worth trying? Maybe the seller sels these things also?
i'm looking forward to the review of the next camera!
@clive c, have you already got experience with that camera? It seems to be more suatable for the job i need it for.
Rutger, no. At that price, I thought it was a tad expensive to try untested technology. I might as well go with a Go Pro 960. If I hear otherwise, I may reconsider.
Nice looking camera
After 20 minutes does it write a new file? and if so does it lose 2 seconds of footage like the d011?
thanks
Kevin
I've discovered that cheap SD cards lie about their "class" rating. Sandisk and Kingston appear to be honest, so I would recommend people stick with those.
I've been playing around with video editors. I use Ubuntu Linux 11.10 as the operating system (free) and Open Shot Video Editor as the free software application available in Linux. Open Shot Video Editor is the equivalent of Final Cut for Mac OS X from reviews that I have read. Anyway, the AVI test file exports & converts quite nicely to mp4 or mpeg for both the video & audio aspects of the test files I've piddled around with. A 65.9 MB AVI compresses to 28.9 MB for the mp4 format and is indicated as You Tube HD 720p resolution & H.264, The You Tube mpeg file is 22.3 MB, 640x480. Playback of each on my computer is virtually indiscernible for the audio portion amongst the 3 files and the video obviously would have differences in terms of resolution reductions. I am using a 28" Hannspree 1080p television as a monitor. Seems that the camera is geared more towards Windows than OS X ? But I've found with the exception of the firmware flashing software utility, the camera is very Linux friendly for moving files off the camera, doing basic video editing and converting the file to other formats that other cameras are using. Hope this helps others.
hi
i been looking in to bying a action cam to use while playing paintball inndoors and outdors
and i found a act20 with 120 degree lens is this bether then the 60 degree lens
(realy great rewives)
bjørn
@Bjørn. Yes get the 120° lens if you can.
Good morning,
I'm not able to update the firmware on mine, as I do?
Hi Mat,
Can't afford to spring for the two action cameras you mentioned recently, so I've gone for an ACT20. I'd like to have 16GB total storage to make best use of the great battery life but am concerned about the frame-lag issue you found with the 16GB card. Was this definitely to do with the capacity of the card? Or could it have been down to something else like the unbrandedness? I'll definitely go for a class 10, but I'm not sure whether it's 2x8GB or 1x16GB storage for me.
Excellent, excellent site by the way,
Alex.
@Alex. If I were you I'd try the 16GB card as long as it's a decent make and not a fake you should be fine. I can't be sure what the problem was with mine - without retesting all over again with my various cards in different situations (not my idea of fun).
Hi, I bought the wide angle model, does a 32gb SDHC memory card fits on it? Or only SD will?
@Oliver any card of 8GB and over is SDHC (HC=high capacity). I'm not sure what the maximum size card that the ACT20 takes is. Some cameras are a bit picky about 32GB.
Hi, I'm updating the ACT20 for a friend. I've updated the firmware as your inttrusctions, all works fine, thanks. But the date and time is still a year or so old and I cannot find a way to update this. Any Ideas please.
thanks
Steve
I just bought the Poseidon and I am having a difficult time editing. Microsoft movie maker wont even play the videos. And the free video editing program i downloaded will play them but i cant edit or convert. Same for Roxio. Any suggestions?
Hello. Thanks for the reviews. One question though. With the flash like shape of the Act20, do you ever get videos that are not level? I'm planning on attaching this to my RC Helicopters. Thanks.
I just rec'd one of these cameras, which i bought after seeing your review. I have managed to get it working, but I cant get to the stttings to cyclerecord, timestamp no etc. When I open file named SETUP.INI, all that is there is goobledegook. I'm in my 60's and not good with 'puters. Can you please help me with set-up?
TeddyS. If you just click on the setup.ini file it will probably open up the wrong viewing program. Try right clicking and choosing to 'open with' notepad or wordpad instead.
Hi, I just got hold of the ACT20 with 120 deg angle lens from eBay for USD72.00 (minus car kit & charger). Still figuring out the time setting which refused to work despite configuring many times.
Besides that, the camera is simply a delight to have for my cycling sport since it is light, inexpensive and functional (durability?!).
Hope to share the results after the weekend road rides with everyone.
Cheers,
Pat
You can watch my test clip on Youtube link below. However I experienced some issue where the cam recorder power down itself after one clip strange but cannot understand why...
Finally got the time stamp working properly though. :-)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y17suqtL2vs&list=UUWG437OYnXYybAPJrK45pfw&index=1&feature=plcp
hello. i have this cam ACT20 (ebay, $73, some month ago).
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ACT20-Waterproof-Video-Camera-Motorcycle-Bike-Cam-120?item=220886866949&cmd=ViewItem&_trksid=p5197.m7&_trkparms=algo%3DLVI%26itu%3DUCI%26otn%3D3%26po%3DLVI%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D8612701464929695501
But it is work bad. I have problem: only recording 20 mins at a time then stopping and turn off. I have also card class 10 16Gb. Also i try card 32Gb. If I stop recording less than 15-20min, then files wrote on flash and i can see them.
i download your firmware, run, and I see "connect device - 0", can select firmware file, but button "SETUP" is not active. Why program dont see camera?
Hi,
I use the ACT20 with 120degree and did record in CycleRecord and nonCycleRecord mode on a 8GB Sandisk Class 10 card. In both modes I got 4 avi files (3 files with 1,96 GB 20min plus 1 file with 366 MB 3:36min). The max battery time is about 3,5 hours which would theoretical fill a 32 GB card. Did anybody test such a size on the cam, as 16 GB is stated as maximum in the documentation.
Cheers,
Ukr
@Technoan The poseidon is now £67 in the uk shipped will you do a review of it?
@Casper It's getting a bit long in the tooth now, so I won't be getting one. There are quite a few reviews and samples on Dealextreme.
Hi,
My recording seems to go off after like one cycle. It does not record continuously which is what I needed. Any recommendation to fix this issue?
Regards,
Pat
If Your Having Issues Setting Your Date And Time, Try My Little App I Wrote After Having To Change The Date And Time A Bit Due To Daylight Savings Time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJO722_GQyc
Note I Don't Check Here Often So Contact Me Via YouTube If Required.
hi
just received the new model ACT35, but it records only 5 minthen stops.
I use a class 10, 16gb card.Any advice?
Thanks
Great review, what would you recommend for hunting 60 or 120 degree?
I have given up on my ACT20 which virtually shuts down after the first recording segment, i.e. 20 mins block. Since then, I found better luck with SJ72 HD Action Cam and made a fair amount of recording tests.
Results are on my Youtube channel for sampling purpose. Latest is a night test as a rear view cam - leave me your feedback there.
http://youtu.be/atwJ61IP05M
Thanks,
Pat
Hi Pat,
I think you have a faulty camera. Can you confirm the card you are using is at least class 4 and more than 2gig?
I had a similar issue, however found out that the card I received was a fake (not from company, brought interdependently).
Depending on how old the stock was that you received, you might of got one of the earlier versions, there is a firmware update you can try, however I would try and return it under warranty.
I would suggest checking out their latest model of the ACT camera range, it is a very nice helmet camera, little bit thicker than the ACT, however brings it more on par with what is released at present.
I am using both the ACT20 & ACT40 on my fire helmet.
http://campark.cn/main.asp?pid=56&id=5
Hi Michael,
Its confirmed that the 16GB Micro SD card (Sandisk Class 10) is authentic. Anyway, I have moved to the SJ72 which works flawlessly as my latest videos in Youtube evidenced.
I will consider your suggestion for my second cam (ACT40) and once again, thanks for the kind thoughts.
Rgds,
Pat
Hi, I am just wondering how to stop the camera from recording 20 min and then stopping, or can you?
update firmware !!! I have also this problem. After update firmware all right.
Hi vitaliy,
Where did you get the firmware?
http://www.campark.cn/download/ACT20_fireware_update.rar
Also Make Sure You Have A Real SD Card With More Than 2GB Storage & At Least A Class 4 Or Higher.
The Camera Saves The Files In 20 Min Segments, Make Sure You Have Enough Room On Your Card For More, I Can't Remember If 20 Min = 2GB or 1GB, Mine Is On My Fire Helmet So I Can't Check At Present.
Is it possible to increase the lens angle?
ACT10 no, ACT20 came in two flavours 60deg and 120deg lens. I know my ACT20 was the 120deg version I could change the res from 1280x720 (30FPS) to 1600x1200 (15FPS) the 1600 res does allow you to see more. The new model the ACT40 uses the GoPro 2 lens and has a 170deg view angle. Hope that helps.
Hi my friends,
After long time stop, my ACT20 don't charge the battery....
Someone help me?
Best Regards
Try connect USB cable for long time: 3-4 hours.
Hi everybody
Is there any way to load an icon in the center of the screen during the recording?
I want to mount the camera on a shotgun and it will be very helpful to know where is my aiming point the video.
Does the firmware supports this, or is there anyway to do it through the setup.ini?
Thanks
Kucha, I connect to USB-cable for 5 hours, and when i disconect the cable, the camera don't turn on.
Anybody have the problem?
"After long time stop, my ACT20 don't charge the battery...."
How many long ???
@Marinos, No sorry not in the firmware or setup file, the only thing you could do is overlay a bmp (bitmap) file after the video is captured using Virtual Dub, just create a cross-hair [ + ] image then overlay it as a watermark.
@Daniel, I suspect you might have a faulty camera, best way to test it though is to use another USB cable and charge it via the computer / wall charger, use both just to ensure you are getting enough power, I tend to use the wall adapter the most. Also try the reset button once charging. Have you tried holding down the button, not just the power button, do you get any lights show up?
@Kucha, I suspect you might have a faulty camera, best way to test it though is to use another USB cable and charge it via the computer / wall charger, use both just to ensure you are getting enough power, I tend to use the wall adapter the most. Also try the reset button once charging. Have you tried holding down the button, not just the power button, do you get any lights show up?