When you discover the GoPro or DJI Motion cameras too costly or heavy to your micro FPV drones, the RunCam Thumb 2 might be an important different. This tiny digicam provides 4K recording and Gyroflow compatibility at a budget-friendly worth of simply $99. RunCam Thumb 2 goals to offer important options for FPV flying with out the excessive price usually related to premium motion cameras like GoPro. Let’s take a more in-depth have a look at the options, efficiency, and general worth of this compact digicam.
New to FPV drones? Take a look at my purchaser’s information on Motion cameras: https://oscarliang.com/action-camera/
The place to Purchase
You should purchase the RunCam Thumb 2 from:
Within the field, you’ll discover:
- The Thumb 2 digicam
- USB-C cable for management, video output and energy
- JST1.25 3-pin energy cable
- 3D-printed mount
- Guide leaflet
An ND filter set (ND8, ND16, ND24) are optionally available at buy for an additional $10.
An optionally available ND filter set (ND8, ND16, ND24) is out there for an additional $10. Moreover, Banggood provides a appropriate 128GB SD card for $12. When you’re shopping for your individual SD card, be certain that it’s a minimum of U3 Class and A2 Pace-rated for 4K recording. Right here’s my SD card information: https://oscarliang.com/sd-cards-fpv/#GoPro-DJI-and-Different-HD-Cameras-4K-Movies
Specs
The Runcam Thumb sequence has come a good distance from the unique 1080p 60fps mannequin to the Thumb 2, which now information in 4K at 60fps. Right here’s a fast rundown of the specs:
- Picture Sensor: IMX586 (4800MP)
- Resolutions: 4K at 60/30fps, 2.7K at 60fps, 1080p at 120/60fps
- Discipline of View: 160°
- Video Format: MP4
- Gyro: Constructed-in
- Micro SD Card: As much as 512GB
- Energy Enter: 5V DC (USB-C or JST 1.25)
- Management Interface: PWM/UART
- Energy Consumption: Max 700mA at 5V
- Dimension: 26mm*27.5mm*55mm
- Weight: 27.8g
Construct High quality and Design
In comparison with its predecessors, the RunCam Thumb 2 contains a extra refined design with vent holes for cooling and Gorilla Glass safety for the lens. This improve enhances sturdiness and makes it very best for tough situations. The lens cowl is replaceable, and the digicam helps ND filters, that are essential for capturing cinematic FPV footage. You possibly can take a look at my cinematic FPV suggestions right here: https://oscarliang.com/cinematic-fpv-drone-video/
Whereas the Thumb 2 is bulkier than the Thumb Professional, weighing practically 28g (in comparison with the 16g Thumb Professional), it stays comparatively compact and light-weight. The added weight may have an effect on the flight efficiency of smaller drones, so be aware of this for those who’re flying weight-sensitive fashions.
The USB-C port, a big improve from earlier fashions, permits for handy firmware updates and video output, and may energy the digicam through an influence financial institution. It additionally has a UART port, permitting you to attach it on to your drone’s flight controller for distant management. This implies you can begin and cease recording with a easy swap in your radio. It eliminates the necessity to contact the digicam mid-flight, which provides to the general comfort.
The digicam helps micro SD card as much as 512GB, double the capability of the earlier model, which is great for lengthy recording classes. Remember that recording in prime quality 4K can rapidly eat up cupboard space, with every minute of footage consuming nearly 1GB.
Picture High quality
For the value, the picture high quality is spectacular. RunCam has made vital enhancements, particularly in sharpness and readability. The 4K decision delivers detailed photos, and the built-in gyro helps clean out footage, although it’s not flawless.
Evaluating to DJI O3
When in comparison with the DJI O3, the Thumb 2 holds its personal by way of picture element, although the colour profile is noticeably hotter. This may be corrected in post-processing by adjusting temperature and tint, as defined in my shade grading tutorial: https://oscarliang.com/color-grade-fpv-videos/. Personally, I would cut back the temperature, and add extra magenta tint to it.
The colour can also be not as vibrant because the O3 in comparison facet by facet, and appears a bit extra washed out. Rising saturation and distinction may assist.
When recording in 16:9 facet ratio with out stabilization, the FOV (area of view) of the Runcam Thumb 2 is barely smaller than that of the DJI O3.
The Thumb 2’s dynamic vary is similar to the DJI O3, although its default publicity is barely excessive, inflicting some overexposure in vibrant skies.
General, the picture high quality is spectacular for its worth vary, although the DJI O3 nonetheless edges out the Thumb 2 in shade profile, FOV, and 4K 60fps recording in 4:3. Additionally the default temperature and tint settings nonetheless want a little bit of tweaking. And the DJI O3 is less complicated to make use of as a result of you possibly can change settings and examine your publicity within the goggles, which could be very handy.
Resolutions and Bitrates
I examined the digicam in all resolutions, the decision improve does add extra element and readability, which is confirmed by the upper bitrate too. That is typically a pitfall for cheaper cameras that declare 4K however merely upscale from decrease resolutions. On this case, the RunCam Thumb 2 provides real enhancements as you improve the decision.
Listed below are the obtainable resolutions and bitrates for the RunCam Thumb 2:
- 4K 60FPS – 100Mbps
- 4K 60FPS XV – 100Mbps
- 4K 30FPS 4:3 – 80Mbps
- 4K 30FPS – 80Mbps
- 2.7K 60FPS 4:3 – 80Mbps
- 2.7K 60FPS – 80Mbps
- 1440p 60FPS – 60Mbps
- 1080p 120FPS – 60Mbps
- 1080p 60FPS – 50Mbps
- 1080p 60FPS XV – 50Mbps
For comparability, the DJI O3 provides 130Mbps on 2.7K 60fps, 150Mbps on 4K 60fps.
XV is just like GoPro’s Superview, it provides you barely extra FOV, are likely to stretch and distorted the perimeters of the picture, which can not look nice throughout yaw spins or panning photographs.
Stabilization
The Thumb 2 features a built-in gyro and is appropriate with Gyroflow, an open-source stabilization instrument. Nevertheless, not like high-end cameras that file gyro knowledge inside the video file, the Thumb 2 saves it in a separate .gcsv file. You’ll have to load this file in Gyroflow throughout post-processing. Right here’s my information on how one can use Gyroflow: https://oscarliang.com/gyroflow/.
As of now, Gyroflow doesn’t work optimally with the Thumb 2 as a result of lack of a lens profile, hopefully it would get higher when a lens profile is added.
For now, you should use the onboard stabilization, although it’s not as efficient as Gyroflow. It is available in two modes—Regular and Tremendous—with the Regular mode being the higher alternative attributable to much less aggressive cropping and zooming.
ND Filter
On a sunny day, I usually use ND16 filters on my motion cameras with ISO at 100 and the shutter velocity set to double the body fee. Nevertheless, with the RunCam Thumb 2, ND16 appears to trigger underexposure, so I switched to the lighter ND8 filter.
When you want a lighter ND filter for overcast situations or dawn/sundown, you gained’t have one, because the lightest obtainable ND filter is ND8. I’d recommend RunCam take into account changing the ND24 with an ND4 for extra versatility.
Extra on ND filters right here: https://oscarliang.com/nd-filter-fpv/
Audio High quality
The built-in microphone is a pleasant addition, however the audio high quality continues to be fairly poor. Nevertheless, it’s higher to have audio than not, particularly in a budget-friendly digicam.
Person Expertise
Right here’s my expertise utilizing the RunCam Thumb 2.
Powering the Digital camera
To save lots of on weight, the RunCam Thumb 2 doesn’t include a built-in battery. As an alternative, it requires a 5V energy supply. Importantly, it solely accepts 5V, so watch out to not provide another voltage. There are two methods to energy this digicam, through the USB-C port, or the 3-pin JST connector on the again.
Throughout testing, the digicam drew as much as 0.65A of present when recording 4K 60fps. In case your flight controller’s 5V BEC is rated for 2A or extra, it ought to comfortably energy the Thumb 2 alongside different frequent 5V gadgets like an ELRS receiver or FPV digicam. Nevertheless, for those who’re utilizing different power-hungry 5V elements like RGB LEDs, or in case your 5V BEC is rated under 1.5A, it’s possible you’ll wish to take into account a devoted regulator to soundly energy the digicam, corresponding to this one: https://oscarliang.com/3a-voltage-regulator/
Right here’s a breakdown of the facility consumption at numerous resolutions:
- Powered off: 0.00A @ 5V (might be drawing a tiny quantity, however undetectable by my instruments).
- Powered on, not recording: 0.45A @ 5V
- Recording 4K 60fps: 0.65A @ 5V
- Recording 2.7K 60fps 4:3: 0.5A @ 5V
- Recording 1080p 60fps 4:3 XV: 0.5A @ 5V
At the moment, I’m utilizing an adapter from Flywoo, which powers the digicam from a LiPo steadiness lead and steps the voltage right down to 5V. This eliminates the necessity for soldering onto the flight controller and I can simply use the digicam on completely different drones. You possibly can take a look at the adapter right here: https://s.click on.aliexpress.com/e/_DEHH2jb
Getting Began
The included 3D printed mount shouldn’t be appropriate with my drones, however I managed to in some way apply it to my Sub250 Oasisfly25.
One of many digicam’s greatest strengths is its plug-and-play nature. There’s no want to fret about charging batteries or navigating difficult menus. As quickly as you join it to energy, the digicam activates. Throughout initialization, the inexperienced LED flashes, and when it’s prepared, it switches to a strong purple. If the SD card is lacking, the purple LED flashes quickly, offering clear, intuitive suggestions.
Right here’s the included mnaual:
Altering Digital camera Settings
To vary the digicam settings, you’ll want the RunCam app, obtainable on each iOS and Android. The app generates QR codes, which the digicam scans to use your settings.
With the app, you possibly can modify settings like decision, body fee, stabilization mode, ISO, shutter velocity and lots of extra. After producing a QR code, you merely energy on the digicam, go into QR scanning mode (press the button twice), and level the digicam on the code. It’s a simple course of when you get used to it.
Whereas not so simple as altering settings instantly on a GoPro or DJI Motion digicam, it’s nonetheless comparatively simple. Nevertheless, the shortage of a display or preview performance means you’ll want to check the settings and assessment footage on a pc earlier than flying to make sure all the things is about appropriately, particularly when adjusting publicity and lighting.
Limitations and Areas for Enchancment
For me, the primary promoting level of the Thumb 2 was its means to file in 4K at 60fps. Nevertheless, the shortage of a 4:3 facet ratio at this decision means stabilization causes extra cropping and a smaller area of view (FOV).
The app and guide additionally lack explanations of what the settings do. It might be useful in the event that they added tooltips or transient descriptions for every setting.
At the moment, there’s no official lens profile for this digicam in Gyroflow, so stabilization doesn’t work correctly with it in the meanwhile. It is a vital disadvantage, particularly for individuals who depend on Gyroflow for post-processing stabilization.
One other limitation for superior customers is the shortage of a flat shade profile, which restricts flexibility in shade grading in publish.
Utilizing ND filters additionally presents some challenges. With no option to preview the footage, you’ll have to file pattern movies and assessment them in your laptop to examine the settings—requiring you to both deliver a laptop computer to the sector or put together underneath comparable lighting situations beforehand.
A minor however notable problem I encountered throughout testing was the digicam randomly shutting off, which resulted in corrupted video information. Fortunately, reinserting the SD card and powering the digicam again on mounted the information, although I did lose the gyro knowledge. I’m not positive if it is a frequent problem as I’ve not been in a position to replicate it on the bench.
Whereas the onboard microphone is a pleasant function, the audio high quality leaves room for enchancment, with wind noise typically drowning out different sounds.
Closing Ideas: Is the RunCam Thumb 2 Price It?
Whereas it doesn’t match the standard of a GoPro or DJI Motion digicam, and even the onboard recording of the DJI O3 Air Unit, the RunCam Thumb 2 nonetheless has its place out there.
Most individuals would purchase this digicam for its affordability and flexibility. At slightly below 28g, it’s mild sufficient to be mounted on nearly any FPV drone, together with micro drones. Whereas the video high quality doesn’t attain GoPro or DJI ranges, it’s completely high-quality for many customers, particularly these seeking to add to platforms like Instagram or YouTube. And at $99, crashing or dropping it gained’t damage as a lot as dropping a GoPro.
You should purchase the RunCam Thumb 2 from:
For many who need the most effective video high quality in a compact type issue, a unadorned GoPro is the superior alternative: https://oscarliang.com/flywoo-naked-gopro-v2/
When you’re flying with the DJI O3 or Walksnail Moonlight, there’s little profit to utilizing the RunCam Thumb 2.
Nevertheless, for those who’re nonetheless flying analog, particularly with a micro quad, the RunCam Thumb 2 is a superb, budget-friendly possibility for recording FPV flights in HD. It provides options usually present in a lot pricier cameras, together with 4K 60fps video, guide shutter velocity, distant management, and light-weight design. Whereas it could not meet skilled requirements, it’s greater than ample for the typical hobbyists. Nevertheless, the present lack of Gyroflow assist is a big draw back for me, and I hope a lens profile may be added quickly.
