Update: I just watched the video I uploaded to this Amazon review platform and the video looks all pixelated. My videos are perfect 1080 and look clear and sharp, unlike this Amazon copy.
CT7000 is a good value for general action or sports use. It does take a bit of experimentation because it doesn't come with a very helpful user guide and some settings are not intuitive. Here are a few things I found out as I used the camera.
1. How much recording time does each battery provide? I get approximately 90 minutes of video recording from one battery with a full charge at room temperature. So you can get about 3 hours of recording time from the two included batteries, per outing, without buying additional batteries. They may last a bit longer in warmer temps and shorter if it's cold. Full charge from fully discharged takes a bit over two hours using a wall charger plugged directly into the camera.
2. What size microSD memory card do I need? Normal video recording is saved to the micoSD card in 30-minute file increments. Each increment recorded at 1080p FHD takes up approx. 3GB. If you plan to only use two batteries per recording session a 16GB memory card will hold about 2.7 hours of video, which is close to the max. battery life. At 720p/30fps, a 30-minute video segment is about 1.5GB so an 8GB memory card will hold a bit over 5 hours of video, which is more than you can record with two batteries. At 720p/60fps, a 30-minute video segment is about 2GB so an 8GB memory card will about 4 hours of video I transfer videos from the card to my computer after each session to keep the memory card empty for next time.
3. Settings: Enter the settings menu by clicking the "Down" button on the right side of the camera. At the top of the menu screenm you'll see a video camera and a gear. To toggle between them, press the OK button. Use the UP/Down buttons to move through the menu options, then press OK to enter a menu setting. Again, use the UP/Down buttons to move between options, then press OK to select the one you want.
In the Settings menu, the "Quality" setting if for photo quality, not video. The "Seamless" setting sets the time for each recorded segment in Car mode. If the memory card gets full, the oldest segments will be over-written. For US users, set "Light frequency" to 60HZ.
4. Recording basics: The camera screen will time out after 1, 3, or 5 minutes (set in the Settings menu) if a button is not pressed. Press the OK button on top of the camera to wake the screen back up, then press OK again to start or stop recording. This is important to remember if you have the camera mounted where you can't see the screen, such as when using a helmet mount. The camera will also beep once when recording starts to confirm. I had several times in the beginning where I didn't record because I only pressed OK once after the screen had timed out.
The camera will shut off after 1, 3, or 5 minutes (as set in Settings) if you are not recording and have not pressed a button during this time. If this happens, press the power/mode button on the front for 2 seconds to turn the camera back on.
Set a timer on your phone for 90 minutes to remind yourself to change batteries!
5. Charging tip: I found that my camera automatically starts to record video when I plug in the USB cable to charge the battery. I have to click the OK button to stop recording. Before I discovered this, I charged the battery overnight, then went out for a bike ride the next day and found that the memory card was already full because the camera recorded while charging until the card ran out of space!
This camera is a good mediator for people who don't want to spend on a GoPro, and thats as simple as this review can get. However, as I do, I'm going to break this review down into a few parts to make it more clear whether you should get it or not. I'll split it into Quality, Price, and who I'd recommend the camera to.
Quality: The quality is pretty good, which you can see in my example pictures. I tested it with pretty moderate light, as well as low light. It seems like it can take care of itself quite well in high light, without any issues. When you get into low light, it has to increase the shutter speed for pictures, so you have to hold it more steady, but it is otherwise very good. The video records at 1080p with a moderate fisheye effect. It has a ton of settings in the camera, as well as a few functions. It can either run as a dashcam, camera, or video camera. I showed examples with it as a camera, but some tests in video mode showed that it functioned really well, and is a bit better than what you'd expect from a 40$ action camera.
Price: A gopro hero 3 is double the price and is actually lesser quality. The more recent, higher end gopros that go for a couple hundred dollars obviously preform better, but this is very, very good for its price tag. 40$ with free prime shipping makes it an extremely good deal for its capabilities. It also came with a huge bundle of mounts for it, so you can use it in nearly any situation. It also comes with 2 batteries, and while you can't charge the batteries outside of the camera, you can switch them out after they are done charging to get both ready. For the price, it is the best action cam I could find on Amazon, and for that reason I won't be even considering returning it.
Who I would recommend the camera for: People looking for a multi use camera, kids, people who don't take their videomaking extremely seriously. The GoPro has been generally viewed as a consumer product, but its price tag and capabilities really ought to rank it as more of a hobbyist filmmakers level of gear. This on the other hand, is something that I will definitely be taking with me on any future trips that would necessitate an action camera. At almost 1/10th the cost of the new GoPros, it is something that is worth the 40$, and I can completely vouch for the products reasonable quality.
This was worth every single penny. I bought this hoping to get some good video and pics of my first scuba diving trip in cozumel. I'm and very impressed with the image and quality. We were diving at 60ft and it held up great. I bought another one for my kid since I was so impressed.
Feature Product
- 【FULL HD VIDEO AND PHOTO RESOLUTION】 - 12MP and 1080P together can make sure you capture high quality pictures and videos easily. And 170°wide-angle lens allows you to shoot wider scenes and catch more amazing moment of your surroundings.
- 【30 METERS WATERPROOF PERFORMANCE】 - With the solid and pretty waterproof case, you can dive into water up to 98 feet / 30 meters. Perfect for water sports, such as swimming, diving, surfing and so on. You can explore the unknown underwater world.
- 【WIRELESS REMOTE CONTROL CONNECTION】 - After connecting with your phone via Wi-Fi, you can directly operate the camera in "iSmart DV" APP on your cellphone, such as recording videos, taking pictures. Besides, you can download, delete and view files.
- 【2 RECHARGEABLE HIGH-CAPACITY BATTERIES】 - The camera comes with two rechargeable 1050mAh batteries. No more worry for power running out during the happy times with your family and friends in a short time. You will never miss any precious moments.
- 【2" LCD AND MOUNTING ACCESSORY KITS】 - A larger screen allows you to view videos or pictures more clearly. 18 multifunctional accessories enable you to mount your camera to helmet, bicycles, wrist, etc. Great companion to shoot the exciting moment.
Description
So far this is a great camera for the price. It came with several attachments and detailed instructions. It's fairly simple to use. We bought this for our vacation and wanted something waterproof that was cheap in case it gets damaged or stolen. Very pleased with this purchase. I've attached unedited pictures that I took, I am not a professional photographer and I took these as soon as I opened the camera and formatted the sd card. I'll will update again after vacation if anything changes.
I've had the chance to use these cameras (I have 2) a few times so far. They are not GoPro quality but for the price... they rock!! I use them for filming when flying my paramotor and they work great. I only got about 100 feet on the wifi connection to my phone but it does work up to that point. It came with a spare battery as well, so I got a little over a hour per battery, less in colder temps.
Pros: The price, they work great, 2 batteries.
Cons: Steady shot not great, 1080p isn't real sharp.
Bottom Line: The steady shot needs a little work but it's satisfactory and it's not a sharp 1080p but again, very satisfactory. If you are starting a YouTube channel or just recording life events, these are small, light weight and they have a fairly good image. Again... the price! So, I purchased a 2nd.
This is one awesome, camera. The video is crystal clear, and the sound isn't all that bad, either --though I did run the result through 'avidemux' (available from sourceforge.net), and set the audio Gain to Manual, at 10 decibel, increase. The result was, very, good.
The hardware, that they supply, allows for several different arrangements (some, pictured in the manual) and I discovered a few more, as well.
I emailed a question to support, and it was answered in a timely, manner. They supplied a complete how-to in their reply, so I had no problems following, whatsoever.
I highly recommend this, item.
The CT7000 is a great inexpensive little 1080P camera. The image looks like it has been digitally sharpened with some artifacts, but otherwise, you can't go wrong at that price! I use mine on prototype drones that have a tendency to fall out of the sky when something goes wrong. This camera has fallen out of the sky 50+ feet (15m) onto grass many times, and the image quality and functionality is like new. The accessory kit that comes with it is also very versatile for the price. It's light enough to be lifted by my Syma X8C in good working order.
I have hesitated to buy a HD video camera for my private counseling practice because I didn't want to spend the money. I stumbled on this camera while poking around Amazon and was very surprised at the low cost. With a great deal of doubt, I bought it anyway knowing I could always return it. I was surprised, to say the least. This is a very well-made little camera. It makes nice, clear videos and works perfectly for my needs. In fact, I believe I just may give these to family members for Christmas gifts. The simplicity of operation is a huge plus. I love my gadgets, but groan at having to invest a great deal of time learning the intricacies of operation. This was not required for the Crosstour Action Camera. It's fairly self-explanatory. Additionally, I am impressed with the quality of the outer (protective) case, and the plethora of attachments. I had not planned to use the protective case as mine will primarily be staged in one still location, but I think it's just dandy so, why not? All-in-all I can imagine that I will enjoy many years of having this great little gadget, and most likely will be purchasing a second for myself to use in fun activities.
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