A budget action cam maker you’ve probably never heard of just took on Go Pro and DJI with an affordable, dual-lens 8K model that looks very tempting — but the specs ring alarm bells for me | Tech Radar

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A budget action cam maker you’ve probably never heard of just took on Go Pro and DJI with an affordable, dual-lens 8K model that looks very tempting — but the specs ring alarm bells for me

We didn't think much of SJCAM's previous action cam. Nevertheless, the SJ30 is a meaty upgrade

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SJCAM's new SJ30 budget action cam shoots 8K video, but just to 20fps

There are plenty of upgrades over its mediocre predecessor

Interested in trying out an action cam? SJCAM has just announced the SJ30, an affordable adventure-centric camera with a unique dual-lens design.

Following on from 2024’s SJ20, the predictably named SJ30 features 8K video recording (but just for 20fps), 4K / 30fps, plus a host of other features that should appeal to beginner mixed-media content creators.

The IPX8-rated body of the SJ30 is waterproof to 17ft / 5m, which is increased to 98 ft / 30m with the camera fitted into an optional waterproof case. That’s right up there with some of the best action cameras on the market.

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It also has a claimed battery life of seven hours – not a bad performance if it is able to live up to that number in the field. The caveat for this specification is that it's when pairing the SJ30 with the optional power handle, which can supply an additional 4,200m Ah of juice. When used body-only, the maximum stated battery life drops to 150 minutes, shooting 4K clips in laboratory test conditions. This battery performance squares with the most obvious competitor, the budget-friendly Akaso Brave 8 Lite, which costs around the same.

The camera features a 2.51-inch touchscreen, which is able to flip through 180 degrees for shooting selfies and should come in handy for everyday vlogging needs. This is an upgrade from the SJ20’s 2.29-inch rear main touchscreen, which wasn’t articulated. Instead, on that previous model, users had to rely on a limited-capability 1.3-inch front screen. There’s no denying that the larger rear LCD offers an advantage in both size and resolution, but I wonder what impact the articulation might have on the rigidity of the body and its resistance to harder knocks while engaging in activities such as mountain biking.

That said, the press release points out the camera’s suitability for working 'in extreme conditions', across a temperature range from of -20°C to 60°C. So on paper at least, the SJ30 still seems built to take a beating, or at least some mild frostbite or sunstroke.

The headline feature, however, is the dual-lens design. The rationale behind this is that one lens sits in front of a 1 /2.0-inch sensor and the other, a marginally larger 1/1.8-inch chip that's fitted with a f/1.8 equivalent aperture. The latter is termed a ‘Starlight” sensor and the former, a “Daylight” sensor, allowing quality shots in all types of lighting.

Why it couldn’t simply have a single 1/1.8-inch sensor and the brighter lens, I’m not certain. If the larger aperture had been paired with the smaller sensor, I’d have understood that this was to allow more light gathering while keeping weight and costs down, but surely having two pairings is more expensive still?

Whatever, the night camera actually features a smaller aperture than the SJ20, which could be opened up to f/1.3. In that review, we weren’t that impressed by the low-light image quality, so it’ll be interesting to see if a new processor has allowed superior noise control.

The SJ30 also makes use of a six-axis gyroscope and upgraded stabilization algorithms, as part of the upgraded Steady Motion 2.0 system. I’m hoping this offers an improvement over the system used on the previous model, which didn’t do too much to help with camera shake in video footage. Another gyro-based function is the 45-degree horizon lock, which keeps footage level while riding over uneven terrain.

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Although the SJ30 allows 8K video shooting, this is just to 20fps, an odd frame rate limitation that could cause issues if you hope to fit clips into the timeline of another video with conventional 24 fps or 30 fps frame rates.

No mention is given in the initial press material about photo resolution, although the SJ20 shot 20MP stills, so I’d be surprised in a camera of this level if this has decreased for the next generation. This falls below the DJI Osmo Action 4, which shoots 4K up to 120fps and 1080p up to 240fps and, being two generations old, is available for around the same price.

For improved sound quality, the newer camera includes a detachable wind guard and supports the SJCAM M4 wireless microphone, although we'll have to test this independently to see if its performance is up there with the best wireless mics. An interesting little feature is the magnetic quick-release mounting system for audio accessories, although how this performs riding along a bumpy trail, only time and a proper test will tell.

When you think of action cameras, SJCam might not be the first brand that comes to mind, but that hasn't stopped them from having lofty aspirations. The most attractive element of its action camera range is the price and the SJ30 stays on form, being available now for $264 / £195 (Australia pricing TBC). More information can be found at the SJCAM website.

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Peter is a photographer, writer, and journalist who served as Editor for Digital Photographer Magazine, working on the title for 8 years.

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Key Takeaways

• News, deals, reviews, guides and more on the newest computing gadgets

• Start exploring exclusive deals, expert advice and more

• Unlock and manage exclusive Techradar member rewards

• A budget action cam maker you’ve probably never heard of just took on Go Pro and DJI with an affordable, dual-lens 8K model that looks very tempting — but the specs ring alarm bells for me

• We didn't think much of SJCAM's previous action cam