Hawkeye has launched one other compact HD digital camera, the Thumb 2. That includes related specs to the 4K Thumb, it provides 4K 30fps video capabilities and helps Gyroflow stabilization. Nonetheless, my expertise means that the Hawkeye Thumb 2 won’t be the most effective match for FPV drone purposes.
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The place to Purchase?
You should purchase the Hawkeye Thumb 2 digital camera from these distributors:
Included within the field, you’ll discover:
- A guide
- A cap mount
- A neck mount
Specs
- Sensor: SONY 12MP
- Discipline of View: FOV 170 levels
- Video Decision:
- 4K 50/30FPS
- 2.5K 4:3 50/30FPS
- 2.5K16:9 50FPS
- 1080P 50/30FPS
- Word: 4K 50FPS doesn’t help Gyroflow stabilization, all others do
- Video Format: mp4/H.265
- TV Out: PAL/NTSC with a latency of 40ms
- USB Port: Sort-C
- Battery Life: As much as 100 minutes
- Further Options:
- AV out help
- RC distant management functionality
- WiFi preview performance
- SD Card help: 8-256GB (U1 or above)
- Energy Provide: DC 5-23V
- Measurement: 53×23×22mm
- Weight: 34.5g
- Max Present: 550mA@5V
What Modified from the Thumb V1?
The Hawkeye Thumb 2, measuring 52.5 x 23 x 21.7 mm and weighing 34g, comes with an built-in 1S 620mAh LiPo battery. This battery permits for as much as 100 minutes of recording at 1080p with out WiFi, in accordance with the producer.
It helps a telephone app related by way of WiFi for previewing, video recording playback, digital camera management, and settings adjustment, providing flexibility much like that of a GoPro by way of digital camera parameter changes.
Notably, the Thumb 2 now features a built-in battery, enhancing its versatility for on a regular basis filming—not only for FPV. The digital camera will be charged utilizing a USB-C connector or by way of DC enter (5 to 23V). Its casing is magnetic, facilitating straightforward attachment to the included mounts. Nonetheless, not like the Insta360 Go, it isn’t waterproof as a result of cooling holes within the housing.
Moreover, the digital camera can connect with a flight controller (FC) by way of a UART port and be managed from radio switches by way of Betaflight, though the required cable will not be included.
The lens is appropriate with the Thumb V1, that means you should use ND filter from the earlier digital camera.
Why The Thumb 2 Isn’t For FPV?
The Hawkeye Thumb 2 appears to be focused extra in the direction of normal utilization fairly than pure FPV drone purposes.
First off, the equipment included with the Thumb 2 remind me of these supplied with the Insta360 GO 2, equivalent to mounts for caps or neck. Truthfully, a majority of these mounts usually produce shaky footage with unpredictable angles, and in my expertise, they’re not sensible for capturing high quality video. Moreover, not like the GO 2 or GO 3, the Thumb 2 lacks water resistance, decreasing its versatility for out of doors actions.
The built-in battery lets you use this digital camera by itself, not like the Thumb V1 which requires further energy from the drone. Nonetheless, this design change leads to a heavier and bulkier digital camera, which is lower than ideally suited for smaller FPV drones. Having a battery additionally means you might want to cost it each 30-40 minutes to keep away from shutting down mid air when it runs out of juice. The excellent news is you possibly can join it to an exterior energy supply to maintain it powered on a regular basis, nevertheless it doesn’t include this cable!
Whereas there’s a port for connecting the digital camera to a flight controller—permitting management by way of your radio by way of Betaflight—the absence of the required cable within the bundle means that FPV pilots won’t be the first viewers Hawkeye had in thoughts for this product.
Picture High quality
Within the first a part of my check video, I used to be holding the digital camera in my hand whereas strolling. Regardless of making use of Gyroflow stabilization, it’s nonetheless fairly wobbly—I feel my telephone’s built-in stabilization performs higher. That stated, the colour, sharpness, and general picture high quality are commendable.
Within the second a part of the check, I strapped the digital camera to my 3″ quad utilizing a zipper tie as a result of lack of 3D printed mount (identical drone i used to check the Thumb V1). The footage was extremely prone to “jello”. Utilizing the default FOV setting in Gyroflow, the black edges remained seen within the stabilized video—not like my footage from the DJI O3 and Walksnail, which permits zooming out to 1.1 and even 1.2 with out exhibiting black edges. When you zoomed in to eliminate all of the black edges, the FOV is simply too slender.
General, it simply seems like this digital camera doesn’t work that nicely with Gyroflow.
Conclusion
When you’re on the lookout for a standalone 4K digital camera for non-FPV filming and never choosy about picture high quality, the Thumb 2 is an honest, budget-friendly different to the Insta360 GO 2 and GO 3. Nonetheless, its efficiency with Gyroflow is subpar, leading to insufficient stabilization and extreme cropping.
You should purchase the Hawkeye Thumb 2 digital camera from these distributors:
For FPV pilots, I like to recommend sticking with the unique Hawkeye Thumb digital camera. It’s cheaper, lighter, consists of the required cables, is much less liable to jello, provides related picture high quality, and works higher with Gyroflow.
See my evaluation of the Hawkeye V1 right here: https://oscarliang.com/hawkeye-thumb-4k-camera/
