Got some more questions answered from Yi themselves (note Xiaomi actually has no part in this camera). I'll post replies to those that asked but here is some additional details. 1: What is the MAX size Micro SD card supported in the Yi2? 1A: 1 We suggest 64GB which is the best to be compatible with action cam but the max size 256G would be no problem 2: Is there any external microphone support? 2A: We'll have a bluetooth mic for it 3: The Front indicator light turning off when the camera starts recording, is this a bug? 3A: The old firmware we set to turn off the front indicator light as it may interfere with video quality when recording but as many users suggesting turn on, so in the new firmware the front light won't turn off. 4: Have you noticed any issues with sound when recording inside the case with WiFi turned on? Some users questioned wifi interfering with the microphone similar to cells phones near speaks back in the day. 4A: The YI 4K beta machine might have had problems with the audio as its still in old build but all final version of YI 4K won't have such issues. 5: (this one is me again) what accessories are coming to the Yi2? 5A: Waterproof case, 3D gimbal 😊 , UV filter, and other cool accessories. (Assume 3D gimbal is probably a 3-Axis gimbal) 6: (me again) What is the expected US price for the Dive case and battery. 6A: We'll get back to you when final pricing emerges for the US marketplace.
Nice review, Mark. I posted it in my review of the cam on my italian website. Just a question: what's the relationship between Yi, Xiaomi, and this camera?
+MarkHawkCam I thought Xiaomi had financial stake in YI technology at company level, not the product level. They've put their investment arrangements to an end? Xiaomi official store in China doesn't carry Yi 4k, and the claim of being a Xiaomi ecosystem company disappeared from Yi's website (which they tend to emphasize at every occasion not long ago). Wonder if there's any happened.
Some questions I got via email: -Is this also possible to set manual shutter while doing a time-lapse? (would be useful for a night-lapse): Not at launch but Xiaomi said they were trying to bring it to a future firmware update. -Can the ISO be adjusted manually for a time-lapse?: Yes -What can be done with the Bluetooth remote, can you change settings, or just start/stop filming?: Can be used to start and stop recording or swap between photo/video. Nothing can be adjusted.
This is the best Yi 2 4k Action Cam preview on RUclips so far. Excellent job! You also get around to some beautiful places in this country of ours. Congratulations. I bought a couple of these caneras, and they are so much easier to use than my Gopros. The touchscreen is the frosting on the cake. That alone is enough to make this the best action cam out there for the moment. I keep hearing rumors about a Gopro 5 for this fall, but I wonder if that won't be delayed. Gopro stock has fallen and others have picked the technology up and run with it to good effect. In any case, it's nice to see that this little camera niche is as competitive as it is.
Thanks for the feedback. I was surprised to see GoPro launching the new Hero Omni before the Hero5 announcement. Has me a bit worried but hoping to see some news trickle out this Sept. If not Sony and other camera manufacturers seem to have some interesting stuff on the horizon.
Really good review! Thank you for your time making it and giving enough details so that it's worth the time watching. I purchased the camera and can't wait to arrive to start playing around with it! I think it's really a strong tool for just casual recording, summer holidays etc! Cheers.
Thank you again for a in depth review. Can't wait for you to do more video on this action cam. I actually place an order for one a month ago. Can't wait for it to arrive.
Looks like a legit review. Just saw some misleading reviews comparing this to GP H4B and the videos looks really great except not from the unit itself or only one unit on two screen with different editing.
Sold on your review! Ordered mine at Amazon already! Thanks for a good review! Good 4K vid and great features for $200 cheaper than GoPro. Built in touchscreen ftw!
Glad to hear. Wouldn't mind hearing what viewers thought after you've had sometime with it. Helps others looking to buy in the future. Also if you ever want to support the channel, referral links in the more information section below this video help me keep buying these cameras. Thanks for the feedback :D
Got mine in the mail today! I've tested a few shots at the beach sundown and so far good. Very crisp even in low-light! Though... I just realized, been watching a few videos in the last few days and most of the reviews/unboxing I watched have the phone holder. I got mine from Amazon - the selfie stick kit but only came with the stick and blutooth button. No phone holder.
Great review. As a Xiaomi Yi user I am glad to see this company stepping up and improving its model. Surely this is going to be a deal in the action camera market. Now I realize that the build quality of Xiaomi Yi wasnt actually all that bad, and maybe a bit more useful (I could change atleast a mode while inside of the case).
If it's anything like the Yi 1 launch, hoping Xiaomi sees the feedback and address it. They put out new hardware version of the Yi 1. My 2 launch models weren't nearly as good as the US based on I ordered 6 weeks ago.
Late adoption Yi owners get rewarded pretty well though. They often update their hardware over the life of a product similar to a gaming console. Coming in late just means your Yi1 is better then my launch day ones ;)
The best review of YI AC 2! I was waiting your review about this camera. Can you tell about the new remote control, is it the same as remote control of first YI action camera? They are looks the same. I mean, will the first version of remote control correctly work with the YI action camera 2?
Great review, I just ordered one yesterday with the selfie stick. I don't know if 2.7K was available when you did the review but looking at their website it seems to be a great res as it is in 16:9 and up to 60fps and works with the EIS! :)
Hoping so too. Currently waiting for Premiere to fix a memory leak bug. Soon as that's done, the AC is fixed, and the ash from the fire is out of the air ducts we'll be back in business. It's been a rough month ;)
+MarkHawkCam sorry to hear that! you do a fantastic job with your videos. in one you say that the yi action cam has a battery defect. has the firmware been updated to eliminate this?
damn it... you are right. Tried forever on my trip to peel that off. Just thought it was some weak coating. Tried again just now. Peeled away super each. Guess drying after getting wet help. Thanks.
It'll happen in time. The field of view differences between the two are insane though. Plus the GoPro was a good bases of comparison for most. I know there is debate if it's better then Sony's camera but I knew the bigger question at launch was how it stacked up against the GoPro brand. All I do is comparisons here, so of course it'll go toe to toe against all the big dogs.
Hablo en español y por eso te respondo asi; la marca gopro es excelente no hay quejas significativas NO SER por el PRECIO, marcas como xiaomi con la yi en su primera versión dio batalla a la gran empresa gopro, con un precio que era una locura la calidad es muy buena y ahora con la versión dos supera aun mas.. sinceramente no puede dar una opinion muy fundada ya que no he tenido ninguna d elas dos a mano, y tu si, seguramente lo que tu digas sea mas coherente que lo que yo.. por el simple hecho de que tu has tenido en la mano las cámaras, lo que si digo es que ha perdido terreno las gopro, actualmente una cámara deportiva decente la podes encontrar por 150 dolares, y si deseas algo mas ''profesional'' tenes también algunas variantes que no sean goprop, hay entra Sony con su gama hdr, la az1 en adelante tienen una imagen muy nítida, al menos viendo tus videos y todas tus comparativas he sacado la contusión, que las sony en eso superan o igualan a gopro, pero donde si sony saca pecho y paso por encima a gopro es en audio, y en mi caso es mas que importante, tanto como la imagen. Mi intención no era crear un enfrentamiento absurdo, ya que cada uno tiene su opinion y puede pensar libremente. MI OPINIÓN ACTUALMENTE ES QUE LA SONY FDR X1000V ES SUPERIOR A CUALQUIER GORPO Y AL MISMO PRECIO! GRAN CANAL SALUDOS DESDE URUGUAY! EN INGLES: (UTILICE EL TRADUCTOR PORQUE NO SE HABLAR NI ESCRIBIR EN ESE IDIOMA): ''I speak Spanish and so I respond well; GoPro brand is excellent no significant complaints were not for the price, brands like xiaomi with yi in its first version gave battle to the great gopro company with a price that was crazy quality is very good and now with version two surpasses even more .. honestly can not give a founded opinion and I have not had any d elas two hands, and you if you say surely be more coherent than what I .. for the simple fact that you have been holding the cameras, so if I say is that it has lost ground GoPro, currently a decent sports camera you can find it for $ 150, and if you want something more '' professional '' also got some variants that are not goprop, there comes Sony with its hDR range, the az1 on have a very sharp image, at least watching your videos and all your comparisons I got the concussion, that Sony that exceed or equal to gopro, but where if Sony takes chest and ran over gopro is audio, and in my case is more than important, as well as the image. My intention was not to create an absurd confrontation, because everyone has their opinion and can think freely. MY OPINION IS THAT CURRENTLY SONY FDR X1000V is superior to any GORPO AND THE SAME PRICE! GRAND CANAL GREETINGS FROM URUGUAY!''
Definitely picking one up thanks for the insight was looking for a cheaper go-pro but since this almost out preforms the hero 4 and it nearly half the cost i think its worth it.
Thanks Mark. This is another great review from you. Do you plan to make a review of new Action Cam from Olympus? It looks very interesting. I would love to see your review abut this product.
Been getting a lot of requests for it. It's not for lack of wanting to but mostly a lack of time and budget. It's not off the table just don't have a time-frame for it right now.
Hi. Very good and detailed review, like all the others! I found the "AS50_vsAS200_vs_AZ1_files.rar" Files (thx for uploading by the way) but are there some Files of the Yi 4K? 1920x1080 in 30fps would be perfect to compare! The reason I ask for in this video at 16:56 and 23:49 the 1920x1080 resolution in 30 & 60fps looks very bad, so I'm not sure if the Yi 4K just makes great videos in 4K? Makes the Sony HDR-AS50 for example better videos in in 1920x1080 in 30fps?
Hey, I have a couple of questions: 1. When starting a RUclips channel, would this be an efficient camera for vlogs? if so what setting would I use for vlogs? 2. I'm planning on doing a sky dive, what settings would you use for this? So as you can see I'm mainly interested in the quality to choose along side it's fps
Why is the 2.5K video at 17:15 so much less sharp than the 4K image? Lower bitrate also? And could you tell me the frame rate that 2.5K can reccord? I didn't see it in your video. Great review though! Thanks for taking the time.
Oh my god you helped me so much with the interview/questions you asked YI I want to buy the YI2 and a gimbal, I was kinda looking at the feiyutech but now I see that YI is also going to make one. So I will wait a bit before buying :D Thanks. Are you also going to reviews gimbals such as the feiyutech g4s and the Zhiyun Z1-Evolution and maybe the YI 3d gimbal?
#MarkHawkCam where I can buy YI ACTION CAMERA KIT 2 visible at 22:09 ? Gererally I'm interested into monopod with phone holder but I can't find it anywhere....
Thanks for the great reviews Mark, any plans of doing these? 1. Olympus Stylus TG-Tracker 2. Yi 4k vs Sony AS50 (I know it's not 4k but they are same price range and both have stabilization!! For someone having a $200-300 budget, these two are really great options and it would be helpful to see how their stabilization, sharpness and color reproduction compares)
1: Not at this time. Might be something I do later in the year as a general budget camera face off. Currently waiting till Sept to see what all the options are. 2:Plan on doing this. Should be filming it this month.
Looks like you are going to be very busy with new reviews Mark! Sony 300 & 3000, Nikon KeyMission 360, 170 & 80 :) All are launching/shipping in Sept. end or Oct. !! Hope you can make it before thanksgiving ;)
Excellent comprehensive review - thanks for making it and uploading. Camera seems terrific overall - the picture in particular looks very sharp - but it seems over expose a lot of shots? Is there a way of adjusting this in the settings rather than in post production?
You can mess with the ISO a bit but Yi Technologies has stated the final launch will have some more color control and maybe adjusted based on feedback.
I see there is slight difference in the options. I have 4k 24fps on Ultra but you have 30fps. On 1080 ultra i have max 60fps but yours 120. I am running firmware 1.10.9 whats yours?
Wow this was so thorough and awesome! Thank you! And out of curiosity...Santa Clarita or Antelope Valley? Definitely recognize the environment from growing up in these areas.
Thanks great overview. Does the waterproof case increase the glare a lot? I wish the lens was not as wide. I mount it on a quadcopter and the background is too far. I wish there was a 100 / 90 degree FoV option
comprehensive review...cant find any other better review of Yi 4k......there is no lens distortion correction for video mode in my Yi 4k action camera ??
Very detailed review! liked and subbed. Can you briefly explain how well this works as a car dash cam? What settings would be most suitable for a 1 hour commute to work in the city?
You'd have to set up recording manually. I'd suggest Loop mode at 2K 60fps or 1080p 60fps with, lens rec turned on, stabilization off, and play with any zoom/field of view features that were added in the last update. After a unique event, make sure you manually stop and restart your recording to save the primary 20-minute loop otherwise Yi 4K will keep re-recording over the last 20minute loop.
Great video. I would like to ask you if there is exposure setting in the photo time lapse mode (like on the gopro 4 silver / black) which is good for continuous 12Mp timelapse of night sky. And what else you can set up in this mode
The issue with stabilisation being bad is due to having Lens Rectification turned on at the same time as Image Stabilisation. If you turn off lens rectification it works great.
Possible but I don't recall if I purposely had Lens Rec on while stabilization on. That being said, could be exactly the reason why some of that footage looked really rough.
Great review! I have the latest firmware and I can't find 1080 ultra @ 120 fps. The highest 1080 ultra mode is 90 fps. However, I do have 1080 (non ultra) @ 120 fps. What exactly does "ultra" do? Also, sharpness was set to medium by default. Should this be changed to high?
I'm not sure if anyone asked this already but if not then I'm asking now: is it possible to use Yi 2 as a dashcam ie. it starts recording after connecting to usb/lighter in a car?
Great reviews on your channel. Thanks for those! Do you know what the depth of field bias for the Yi 2? I'm looking for a POV (likely head mounted) action cam to highlight laboratory work. So the focus would really be between quarter to full arm's length (0.6-2.5 feet? imperial units... not my strength).
This is was great review, but today i'll see about the color of Yi very different than gopro. Should you give me choice which one of the best of action cam?
Could you carefully check if you hear any difference in audio when WiFi is enabled - compared to when it's disabled please? (testing inside the waterproof housing would be the best, since it reflects the WiFi signal a bit) Cause this is a HUGE problem with the GoPro Hero4 series, almost all units record an audio-interference of GoPro's own WiFi signal, you can find tons of example videos bei searching for "GoPro helicopter noise". I hope they can add a 2.7K 16:9 video-mode at 60fps in a new firmware later on, this is what's missing compared to the Hero4 black. And if the cam could record some still photos every 2 seconds or so at the same time, this would be awesome! And I would love to get a wrist-remote with live-preview screen, similar to the one that's available for Sony's actioncams.
Got some feedback from Yi themselves. 4: Have you noticed any issues with sound when recording inside the case with WiFi turned on? Some users questioned wifi interfering with the microphone similar to cells phones near speaks back in the day. 4A: The YI 4K beta machine might have had problems with the audio as its still in old build but all final version of YI 4K won't have such issues.
I hope Yi is more trustworthy than GoPro is, and they really take care of it. GoPro claims to manually test the cameras their customers send in because of the "helicopter noise", but they send out thousands of units with exactly the same problem as replacements. It happens you spend months of your life discussing with them and testing and sending the cameras around the globe 3, 4, 5 or even more times instead of being able to use it. Or at some point they simply start to deny there's a problem at all. You can read through 14 pages (and for sure more soon) about it in their own forum: community.gopro.com/t5/Cameras/Hero-4-Black-Noise-issue-when-using-WiFi/td-p/2287/highlight/false/page/14 I really hope Yi (or someone else) takes over the lead, cares about problems and their customers - and GoPro goes bankrupt after the way they treated them and the way they ignore the problem for more than 1 year already...
Oh trust me, I know the frustrations dealing with Action Camera manufacturers. All of them have their own quirks and annoying aspects but some are better then others. Anyway, I'll wait till the final build and launch firmware comes out but if that happens and you don't hear back, feel free to buzz me.
No Flat LUT-less version at launch though it is coming in a firmware update Xiaomi told me. Used a modified Dshot Z-ONE 3 Axis gimbal. It's edges all bevel out which means it doesn't fit into the square groves designed for most GoPros. I attached a new place ontop of what was there to secure it in. Not as maneuverable but good for my Downhill tests.
14:51 Uh oh. Looks like the grain levels being better at low light might be due to a more aggressive noise reduction algorithm? The sharpness doesn't seem as good at the GoPro Hero4 Black in that footage. NOT a GoPro backer comment. Actually, I'm looking into the Yi 4K due to price. I think GoPros are RIDICULOUSLY expensive!!
Great review! With the latest firmware updates does the auto white balance still shift and over emphasize reds in certain situations? Or do you have to use the cooler color profile to avoid that? If so, is the cooler profile natural looking or too cool (I haven't seen any examples). Thanks!
Yeah, the stabilization is a bit iffy. Stabilization is more constant on the SJCAM SJ7 Star at 1080p60 anyway. I have this camera and the YI 4K Plus also. Stabilization is a bit better on the Plus. Thanks for sharing:)
Another Question. I tested my Yi 4k this morning on a ride to work. I had it set for 1080/60. Half way thru the ride i noticed the red recording light was not blinking anymore. I assumed the battery went dead because I only had about 50% to start. When I got to work, I noticed it had chopped my video into two 11 minute increments and a 4 second video (3 total clips). Did I have the settings correct? Is there something i missed?
When the video gets to a specific file size, it needs to segment the into different clips. It's to handle limitations with how some operating systems handle basic micro sd card formats as well as the camera. Most action cameras do this with the exception of the Sony line of action cameras.
Got some more questions answered from Yi themselves (note Xiaomi actually has no part in this camera). I'll post replies to those that asked but here is some additional details.
1: What is the MAX size Micro SD card supported in the Yi2?
1A: 1 We suggest 64GB which is the best to be compatible with action cam but the max size 256G would be no problem
2: Is there any external microphone support?
2A: We'll have a bluetooth mic for it
3: The Front indicator light turning off when the camera starts recording, is this a bug?
3A: The old firmware we set to turn off the front indicator light as it may interfere with video quality when recording but as many users suggesting turn on, so in the new firmware the front light won't turn off.
4: Have you noticed any issues with sound when recording inside the case with WiFi turned on? Some users questioned wifi
interfering with the microphone similar to cells phones near speaks back in the day.
4A: The YI 4K beta machine might have had problems with the audio as its still in old build but all final version of YI 4K won't have such issues.
5: (this one is me again) what accessories are coming to the Yi2?
5A: Waterproof case, 3D gimbal 😊 , UV filter, and other cool accessories. (Assume 3D gimbal is probably a 3-Axis gimbal)
6: (me again) What is the expected US price for the Dive case and battery.
6A: We'll get back to you when final pricing emerges for the US marketplace.
I use 128gb without any problem (with few xiaomi yi1)
Finally, some information on an external microphone!
Thank you so much!!
Nice review, Mark. I posted it in my review of the cam on my italian website.
Just a question: what's the relationship between Yi, Xiaomi, and this camera?
There is no relationship. They were a distributor/investor for the first Yi camera. This time, Yi Technology is independent.
+MarkHawkCam I thought Xiaomi had financial stake in YI technology at company level, not the product level. They've put their investment arrangements to an end? Xiaomi official store in China doesn't carry Yi 4k, and the claim of being a Xiaomi ecosystem company disappeared from Yi's website (which they tend to emphasize at every occasion not long ago). Wonder if there's any happened.
I can see the hardwork & genuine thought process that went into the making of this video. Hatsoff. I just bought a Yi 4k.
Thank you. Love from India.
When in video mode. How do you pause and start back? When I pause the video it starts over. And I keep getting different video frames when recording
How's the quality of video bro...just tell me your experience
Awesome. Thanks for the great review! Enjoy YI 4K!
Can you change lens mode
OMG ITS THE REAL YI TECH. OMG I AM SUCH A BIG FAN OF THE YI 4K I LOVE YOUR CAMERAS!
Best cam ever
How to connect mick with this camra ya Bluetooth handfree
Some questions I got via email:
-Is this also possible to set manual shutter while doing a time-lapse? (would be useful for a night-lapse): Not at launch but Xiaomi said they were trying to bring it to a future firmware update.
-Can the ISO be adjusted manually for a time-lapse?: Yes
-What can be done with the Bluetooth remote, can you change settings, or just start/stop filming?: Can be used to start and stop recording or swap between photo/video. Nothing can be adjusted.
could you please provide a link or two for a bluetooth microphone..? that would be really helpful..thanks
This is the best Yi 2 4k Action Cam preview on RUclips so far. Excellent job! You also get around to some beautiful places in this country of ours. Congratulations. I bought a couple of these caneras, and they are so much easier to use than my Gopros. The touchscreen is the frosting on the cake. That alone is enough to make this the best action cam out there for the moment. I keep hearing rumors about a Gopro 5 for this fall, but I wonder if that won't be delayed. Gopro stock has fallen and others have picked the technology up and run with it to good effect. In any case, it's nice to see that this little camera niche is as competitive as it is.
Thanks for the feedback. I was surprised to see GoPro launching the new Hero Omni before the Hero5 announcement. Has me a bit worried but hoping to see some news trickle out this Sept. If not Sony and other camera manufacturers seem to have some interesting stuff on the horizon.
Really good review! Thank you for your time making it and giving enough details so that it's worth the time watching. I purchased the camera and can't wait to arrive to start playing around with it! I think it's really a strong tool for just casual recording, summer holidays etc! Cheers.
Thanks for the feedback :D
Clearly the BEST review I saw in a while. I love this camera.
Congratulations and thanks for the quality review!
Thank you again for a in depth review. Can't wait for you to do more video on this action cam. I actually place an order for one a month ago. Can't wait for it to arrive.
After you've had sometime with it I would be curious to hear how your experience with it was.
Looks like a legit review. Just saw some misleading reviews comparing this to GP H4B and the videos looks really great except not from the unit itself or only one unit on two screen with different editing.
I think you got the best review so far for the Yi Action Camera 4K. :D. Thanks for the great review!
Now that's a comprehensive, well thought out, well planned, and well executed review. Thank you.
thanks
It is so rare to see such extensive and well done review! Good job!
Now you made me want this camera. :)
Thanks for the much needed feedback. Hopefully we'll have more to come soon.
Sold on your review! Ordered mine at Amazon already! Thanks for a good review! Good 4K vid and great features for $200 cheaper than GoPro. Built in touchscreen ftw!
Glad to hear. Wouldn't mind hearing what viewers thought after you've had sometime with it. Helps others looking to buy in the future. Also if you ever want to support the channel, referral links in the more information section below this video help me keep buying these cameras. Thanks for the feedback :D
Got mine in the mail today! I've tested a few shots at the beach sundown and so far good. Very crisp even in low-light! Though... I just realized, been watching a few videos in the last few days and most of the reviews/unboxing I watched have the phone holder. I got mine from Amazon - the selfie stick kit but only came with the stick and blutooth button. No phone holder.
I've been waiting for this for quite awhile lol. I got the original Yi after watching your in depth comparison of the Yi and GoPro
Sold very helpful. Everytime I got ready to type a question you pretty much answered it in the video lol
The best type of feedback I can hope for. Thanks :D
you did a big job, Mark. Nice review! After the review i made an order for the Y2. :) Thank you very much and keep going!
got a new subscriber here mate, great videos and contents.
Nice detailed video. I'm pretty much sold on this camera!
Thanks for the time spent for this rewiev ! It was very clear and professional :)
Subscribed, cheers from Italy !
This must have taken so much hard work and time, great job!
Great review. As a Xiaomi Yi user I am glad to see this company stepping up and improving its model. Surely this is going to be a deal in the action camera market. Now I realize that the build quality of Xiaomi Yi wasnt actually all that bad, and maybe a bit more useful (I could change atleast a mode while inside of the case).
If it's anything like the Yi 1 launch, hoping Xiaomi sees the feedback and address it. They put out new hardware version of the Yi 1. My 2 launch models weren't nearly as good as the US based on I ordered 6 weeks ago.
this is the best and the most complex review I've ever seen! Good job! Now I'm just sad I bought Yi 1 and didn't wait for the second version...
Late adoption Yi owners get rewarded pretty well though. They often update their hardware over the life of a product similar to a gaming console. Coming in late just means your Yi1 is better then my launch day ones ;)
When using the timelapse video mode (converts to video in camera) is it 4k? Thanks!
If you set it to 4k, it will be in 4k yes.
Good review. I'm surprised Yi has not replaced the 4K model till today (Almost Dec 2019)!
I've been eyeing that camera big time. For the price ... it's awesome.
The best review of YI AC 2! I was waiting your review about this camera. Can you tell about the new remote control, is it the same as remote control of first YI action camera? They are looks the same. I mean, will the first version of remote control correctly work with the YI action camera 2?
Great review, I just ordered one yesterday with the selfie stick.
I don't know if 2.7K was available when you did the review but looking at their website it seems to be a great res as it is in 16:9 and up to 60fps and works with the EIS! :)
Great review man, thanks so much!
Thanks for video.
First look, Impressive action camera. I'll buy one maybe.
going on a big trip soon, hope your yi vs yi 4k video comes out soon! having a tough time deciding which to take along
Hoping so too. Currently waiting for Premiere to fix a memory leak bug. Soon as that's done, the AC is fixed, and the ash from the fire is out of the air ducts we'll be back in business. It's been a rough month ;)
+MarkHawkCam sorry to hear that! you do a fantastic job with your videos. in one you say that the yi action cam has a battery defect. has the firmware been updated to eliminate this?
That was with the Yi1. It was a hardware issue. They fixed in later iterations.
Thanks for clarifying the modes!
@ 3:51
It looks like the protective plastic film is still on the glass of the Yi 1 (had a similar issue with my Eken h9r)
damn it... you are right. Tried forever on my trip to peel that off. Just thought it was some weak coating. Tried again just now. Peeled away super each. Guess drying after getting wet help. Thanks.
Very good, very Quick!!! Thanks man!
Xiaomi Yi 2 4K and fdr-x1000v > HERO 4 BLACK
I totally agree with you.
It'll happen in time. The field of view differences between the two are insane though. Plus the GoPro was a good bases of comparison for most. I know there is debate if it's better then Sony's camera but I knew the bigger question at launch was how it stacked up against the GoPro brand. All I do is comparisons here, so of course it'll go toe to toe against all the big dogs.
Hablo en español y por eso te respondo asi; la marca gopro es excelente no hay quejas significativas NO SER por el PRECIO, marcas como xiaomi con la yi en su primera versión dio batalla a la gran empresa gopro, con un precio que era una locura la calidad es muy buena y ahora con la versión dos supera aun mas.. sinceramente no puede dar una opinion muy fundada ya que no he tenido ninguna d elas dos a mano, y tu si, seguramente lo que tu digas sea mas coherente que lo que yo.. por el simple hecho de que tu has tenido en la mano las cámaras, lo que si digo es que ha perdido terreno las gopro, actualmente una cámara deportiva decente la podes encontrar por 150 dolares, y si deseas algo mas ''profesional'' tenes también algunas variantes que no sean goprop, hay entra Sony con su gama hdr, la az1 en adelante tienen una imagen muy nítida, al menos viendo tus videos y todas tus comparativas he sacado la contusión, que las sony en eso superan o igualan a gopro, pero donde si sony saca pecho y paso por encima a gopro es en audio, y en mi caso es mas que importante, tanto como la imagen.
Mi intención no era crear un enfrentamiento absurdo, ya que cada uno tiene su opinion y puede pensar libremente.
MI OPINIÓN ACTUALMENTE ES QUE LA SONY FDR X1000V ES SUPERIOR A CUALQUIER GORPO Y AL MISMO PRECIO!
GRAN CANAL SALUDOS DESDE URUGUAY!
EN INGLES: (UTILICE EL TRADUCTOR PORQUE NO SE HABLAR NI ESCRIBIR EN ESE IDIOMA):
''I speak Spanish and so I respond well; GoPro brand is excellent no significant complaints were not for the price, brands like xiaomi with yi in its first version gave battle to the great gopro company with a price that was crazy quality is very good and now with version two surpasses even more .. honestly can not give a founded opinion and I have not had any d elas two hands, and you if you say surely be more coherent than what I .. for the simple fact that you have been holding the cameras, so if I say is that it has lost ground GoPro, currently a decent sports camera you can find it for $ 150, and if you want something more '' professional '' also got some variants that are not goprop, there comes Sony with its hDR range, the az1 on have a very sharp image, at least watching your videos and all your comparisons I got the concussion, that Sony that exceed or equal to gopro, but where if Sony takes chest and ran over gopro is audio, and in my case is more than important, as well as the image.
My intention was not to create an absurd confrontation, because everyone has their opinion and can think freely.
MY OPINION IS THAT CURRENTLY SONY FDR X1000V is superior to any GORPO AND THE SAME PRICE!
GRAND CANAL GREETINGS FROM URUGUAY!''
yeah but that lens distortion better be addressed in the X3000 ;) Looking forward to the new body design too.
MarkHawkCam They did. The body design is the same as on the AS50 - just with the bigger lens. Even the case is the same the AS50 uses.
Very informative, thanks!
Keep creating!
Definitely picking one up thanks for the insight was looking for a cheaper go-pro but since this almost out preforms the hero 4 and it nearly half the cost i think its worth it.
Thanks Mark. This is another great review from you. Do you plan to make a review of new Action Cam from Olympus? It looks very interesting. I would love to see your review abut this product.
Been getting a lot of requests for it. It's not for lack of wanting to but mostly a lack of time and budget. It's not off the table just don't have a time-frame for it right now.
Great review, thank you!
i just fell in love with this
Great review! Wish I watched it before I ordered my non-brand action cam for a bit more than the Yi 2... We'll see how it looks when it arrives.
Which one did you order?
I ordered mine yesterday. I was going back n forth with the Activeon and the GitPro 2. I saw this yesterday and jumped right on it.
Sorry, I'm a little confused on what you said about lens rectification @16:15 and @17:43. Can you please clarify?
Hi. Very good and detailed review, like all the others! I found the "AS50_vsAS200_vs_AZ1_files.rar" Files (thx for uploading by the way) but are there some Files of the Yi 4K? 1920x1080 in 30fps would be perfect to compare! The reason I ask for in this video at 16:56 and 23:49 the 1920x1080 resolution in 30 & 60fps looks very bad, so I'm not sure if the Yi 4K just makes great videos in 4K? Makes the Sony HDR-AS50 for example better videos in in 1920x1080 in 30fps?
What a great review. Thanks!
What is that lower lumbar back camera mount? at 20:27- 21:15 ?
Hey, I have a couple of questions:
1. When starting a RUclips channel, would this be an efficient camera for vlogs? if so what setting would I use for vlogs?
2. I'm planning on doing a sky dive, what settings would you use for this?
So as you can see I'm mainly interested in the quality to choose along side it's fps
EXCELLENT review! THANK YOU! Wow
Why is the 2.5K video at 17:15 so much less sharp than the 4K image? Lower bitrate also?
And could you tell me the frame rate that 2.5K can reccord? I didn't see it in your video.
Great review though! Thanks for taking the time.
Very good review. Thanks.
Nice review Mark...
great review-looks like a great camera
Oh my god you helped me so much with the interview/questions you asked YI
I want to buy the YI2 and a gimbal, I was kinda looking at the feiyutech but now I see that YI is also going to make one. So I will wait a bit before buying :D Thanks.
Are you also going to reviews gimbals such as the feiyutech g4s and the Zhiyun Z1-Evolution and maybe the YI 3d gimbal?
Great review!!!...... Thanks!
#MarkHawkCam where I can buy YI ACTION CAMERA KIT 2 visible at 22:09 ? Gererally I'm interested into monopod with phone holder but I can't find it anywhere....
Thanks for the great reviews Mark, any plans of doing these?
1. Olympus Stylus TG-Tracker
2. Yi 4k vs Sony AS50 (I know it's not 4k but they are same price range and both have stabilization!! For someone having a $200-300 budget, these two are really great options and it would be helpful to see how their stabilization, sharpness and color reproduction compares)
1: Not at this time. Might be something I do later in the year as a general budget camera face off. Currently waiting till Sept to see what all the options are.
2:Plan on doing this. Should be filming it this month.
Looks like you are going to be very busy with new reviews Mark!
Sony 300 & 3000, Nikon KeyMission 360, 170 & 80 :) All are launching/shipping in Sept. end or Oct. !! Hope you can make it before thanksgiving ;)
Wow. Looks impressive.
Excellent comprehensive review - thanks for making it and uploading. Camera seems terrific overall - the picture in particular looks very sharp - but it seems over expose a lot of shots? Is there a way of adjusting this in the settings rather than in post production?
You can mess with the ISO a bit but Yi Technologies has stated the final launch will have some more color control and maybe adjusted based on feedback.
Thanks Mark. Just final question - does using EIS degrade the picture quality in any way? ie would leave EIS permanently turned on?
Superb review!
Really great review, very thorough and lots of great examples.
I see there is slight difference in the options. I have 4k 24fps on Ultra but you have 30fps. On 1080 ultra i have max 60fps but yours 120. I am running firmware 1.10.9 whats yours?
Very nice and comprehensive review. One question: what is the longest exposure available currently? thinking about some nightlapse in the himalayas :)
There will be a future update for adding shutter control in time-lapse. Currently, it's only available for single shots.
Great video!
Wow this was so thorough and awesome! Thank you! And out of curiosity...Santa Clarita or Antelope Valley? Definitely recognize the environment from growing up in these areas.
Best review out there
Where did you get phone holder and selfie pole from? I can't find such stuff... Can you give a link? Anybody?
Thanks great overview. Does the waterproof case increase the glare a lot?
I wish the lens was not as wide. I mount it on a quadcopter and the background is too far. I wish there was a 100 / 90 degree FoV option
what is this custom gimbal you are using? Works great so I'd like to see how you made it
so! as i understood from the video - yi2 - the best choice for that money, am i right?
Definetly looks like it is.
Yasss
Nice Review, what did you use during review yi color or flat?
Very good review, I'll wait for price drop
Can't wait X3000/AS300 review
Dear Sony... please email me.
Same here :D
Thanks! Bud where did you bought the camera?
comprehensive review...cant find any other better review of Yi 4k......there is no lens distortion correction for video mode in my Yi 4k action camera ??
I hope you do understand that "Lens Distortion Correction" is only for still images so you see it under Photo mode only and not a video.
If I would buy it - I would go for the white one - it helps a lot with heating up.
Wow, the night-time-footage looks way better on this one, than on the GoPro.
How worse or better is the GoPro Session actioncam? I am chosing between these two. Any info would be great.
Will there be coloured filters available for deep diving as well as polarised lense?
Very detailed review! liked and subbed.
Can you briefly explain how well this works as a car dash cam?
What settings would be most suitable for a 1 hour commute to work in the city?
You'd have to set up recording manually. I'd suggest Loop mode at 2K 60fps or 1080p 60fps with, lens rec turned on, stabilization off, and play with any zoom/field of view features that were added in the last update. After a unique event, make sure you manually stop and restart your recording to save the primary 20-minute loop otherwise Yi 4K will keep re-recording over the last 20minute loop.
Perfect!
Thank you very much Mark.
Great video.
I would like to ask you if there is exposure setting in the photo time lapse mode (like on the gopro 4 silver / black) which is good for continuous 12Mp timelapse of night sky. And what else you can set up in this mode
The issue with stabilisation being bad is due to having Lens Rectification turned on at the same time as Image Stabilisation.
If you turn off lens rectification it works great.
Possible but I don't recall if I purposely had Lens Rec on while stabilization on. That being said, could be exactly the reason why some of that footage looked really rough.
Hi. What is the model name that you used in biking attached on your back/waist. Thanks.
Great review! I have the latest firmware and I can't find 1080 ultra @ 120 fps. The highest 1080 ultra mode is 90 fps. However, I do have 1080 (non ultra) @ 120 fps. What exactly does "ultra" do? Also, sharpness was set to medium by default. Should this be changed to high?
I'm not sure if anyone asked this already but if not then I'm asking now: is it possible to use Yi 2 as a dashcam ie. it starts recording after connecting to usb/lighter in a car?
Hey, great video. what equipment did you use when using the bike? it seemed almost perfectly steady?
Great reviews on your channel. Thanks for those!
Do you know what the depth of field bias for the Yi 2? I'm looking for a POV (likely head mounted) action cam to highlight laboratory work. So the focus would really be between quarter to full arm's length (0.6-2.5 feet? imperial units... not my strength).
This is was great review, but today i'll see about the color of Yi very different than gopro. Should you give me choice which one of the best of action cam?
Could you carefully check if you hear any difference in audio when WiFi is enabled - compared to when it's disabled please? (testing inside the waterproof housing would be the best, since it reflects the WiFi signal a bit) Cause this is a HUGE problem with the GoPro Hero4 series, almost all units record an audio-interference of GoPro's own WiFi signal, you can find tons of example videos bei searching for "GoPro helicopter noise".
I hope they can add a 2.7K 16:9 video-mode at 60fps in a new firmware later on, this is what's missing compared to the Hero4 black. And if the cam could record some still photos every 2 seconds or so at the same time, this would be awesome!
And I would love to get a wrist-remote with live-preview screen, similar to the one that's available for Sony's actioncams.
I'll look into it.
Got some feedback from Yi themselves.
4: Have you noticed any issues with sound when recording inside the case with WiFi turned on? Some users questioned wifi
interfering with the microphone similar to cells phones near speaks back in the day.
4A: The YI 4K beta machine might have had problems with the audio as its still in old build but all final version of YI 4K won't have such issues.
I hope Yi is more trustworthy than GoPro is, and they really take care of it. GoPro claims to manually test the cameras their customers send in because of the "helicopter noise", but they send out thousands of units with exactly the same problem as replacements. It happens you spend months of your life discussing with them and testing and sending the cameras around the globe 3, 4, 5 or even more times instead of being able to use it. Or at some point they simply start to deny there's a problem at all. You can read through 14 pages (and for sure more soon) about it in their own forum: community.gopro.com/t5/Cameras/Hero-4-Black-Noise-issue-when-using-WiFi/td-p/2287/highlight/false/page/14
I really hope Yi (or someone else) takes over the lead, cares about problems and their customers - and GoPro goes bankrupt after the way they treated them and the way they ignore the problem for more than 1 year already...
Oh trust me, I know the frustrations dealing with Action Camera manufacturers. All of them have their own quirks and annoying aspects but some are better then others. Anyway, I'll wait till the final build and launch firmware comes out but if that happens and you don't hear back, feel free to buzz me.
No Log-Curve video profile? Like Pro Tune on GoPro...
Info about gimbal... which you use?
No Flat LUT-less version at launch though it is coming in a firmware update Xiaomi told me. Used a modified Dshot Z-ONE 3 Axis gimbal. It's edges all bevel out which means it doesn't fit into the square groves designed for most GoPros. I attached a new place ontop of what was there to secure it in. Not as maneuverable but good for my Downhill tests.
Flat LUT is really good news, thanks for your help!
14:51 Uh oh. Looks like the grain levels being better at low light might be due to a more aggressive noise reduction algorithm? The sharpness doesn't seem as good at the GoPro Hero4 Black in that footage. NOT a GoPro backer comment. Actually, I'm looking into the Yi 4K due to price. I think GoPros are RIDICULOUSLY expensive!!
What set-up did you use for custom gimbal?
@MarkHawkCam would you suggest this over Sony HDR as50? I am looking to use one of these for vlogging.
Are you going to review the Olympus TG-Tracker?
can you please do a review/comparison of this camera to the nikon key mission 170?
Great review! With the latest firmware updates does the auto white balance still shift and over emphasize reds in certain situations? Or do you have to use the cooler color profile to avoid that? If so, is the cooler profile natural looking or too cool (I haven't seen any examples). Thanks!
Yeah, the stabilization is a bit iffy. Stabilization is more constant on the SJCAM SJ7 Star at 1080p60 anyway. I have this camera and the YI 4K Plus also. Stabilization is a bit better on the Plus. Thanks for sharing:)
hello mark , do they make any filter for yi 4k waterproof case ? red filter to scuba diving
I really hope it has manual white balance (shouldn't be difficult since it has a touch screen).
Is the image stabilization called EIS?
Did you edit any of that footage? they look awesome
Another Question. I tested my Yi 4k this morning on a ride to work. I had it set for 1080/60. Half way thru the ride i noticed the red recording light was not blinking anymore. I assumed the battery went dead because I only had about 50% to start. When I got to work, I noticed it had chopped my video into two 11 minute increments and a 4 second video (3 total clips). Did I have the settings correct? Is there something i missed?
When the video gets to a specific file size, it needs to segment the into different clips. It's to handle limitations with how some operating systems handle basic micro sd card formats as well as the camera. Most action cameras do this with the exception of the Sony line of action cameras.
what about it vs fdrx100 ? image stabilisiation and night time ?