5 signs you can tell that you are going to buy a fake 4K sports camera!

Let’s first clarify what it means to have a sports camera fake. This article does not imply abuse of the manufacturer's name or logo. In this case, the point is at 4K, which shows that the camera is capable of recording video in 4K resolution. A camera that we read in its specification to be able to do this while not is, in my interpretation, fake because it deceives the buyer.

Fooling us with the camera’s specification is at least as serious a problem as being tricked into the name. If we buy a camera because we want to take 4K shots with it and the camera is physically incapable of it, it is already a criminal category in normal countries.

So let’s see in 5 points how we can cover up fraud!

1. The easiest, believe your eyes!

   You don't have to be an MTA researcher to decide which camera has a better or worse picture based on the camera tests on Youtube. Pay attention to colors, such as sky blue, to see how sharp or wrinkled the outlines of objects are. Sometimes stop the image and look at the quality of the still image. Observe how smoothly the image moves in the case of film.

2. Check out the price of the camera!

   At the moment, a real 4K-capable camera is definitely not available for under $ 100, and even if you find a serious promotion, it won’t be cheaper either. At $ 130. For less money, a more serious camera simply doesn’t come out.

3. Try looking at the chip used in the camera (SoC)

   

   The specifications of most cameras include the type of chip working in that camera. If you can't find one, it's already suspicious, don't even deal with the tool, look for another one. If you have found the type, search for it on the net, preferably on the manufacturer's website. There you will see if the chip is suitable for 4K recording.
   Commonly used types unsuitable for 4K recording: Sunplus 6350, Allwinner V3, NT96660.

4. Try looking at the image sensor used in the camera

   

   Manufacturers almost always incorporate a Sony sensor into their cameras, at least on paper. However, even if this is true, there is no guarantee that the sensor will be able to record in 4K resolution, not so much that there is often simply not as many pixels on the sensor as are needed for 4K resolution. In this case, the manufacturer generates the pixel score in software. This is called interpolated resolution.
   Commonly used non-4K sensors: OV4689, AR0330, Sony IMX-078, Sony IMX-206

5. Pay attention to the image refresh!

   In the best case, cameras specify how many frames per second at a given resolution. You can find this in something similar to 1080p / 60FPS. Here, first the resolution, then the number of frames, Frame Per Second. These numbers will tell you how strong the camera hardware is.
   It should be noted that 4K resolution is prevalent today in terms of four times the number of Full HD resolutions. Most flat-panel TVs currently in use support this resolution, meaning they work with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels.

   As a general rule of thumb, a camera that is unable to produce 1080-100 FPS at 120p will not be able to deliver 4 FPS at 30K.

You are now armed with some abilities against fraudsters. Let's see how they cheat!

One, and perhaps the ugliest, way is for the camera to put together a movie from photos and mix sound into it. We could say that, after all, they used to work like this in the age of analog films, there is nothing wrong with that. But there is. On the one hand, these are no longer analog methods, on the other hand, instead of the promised 30 frames per second, we get a speed of 5-10 frames per second.
How to cover up fraud? Download MediaArea.net's MediaInfo program, open a 4K recording with it, and if you see JPG (which is a photographer's format) in the format, you can know that the recording is put together from images.

The second method is interpolation. In this case, either the image sensor or the chipset, or worse, none, can capture the pixel score required for 4K resolution. This requires 12-megapixel sensors, but in most cases, due to savings, only 4-megapixels are built in, which is enough for Full HD resolution only.
How do you cover up fraud? I have already written above, check the sensor manufacturer's page to see if your product is suitable for 4K resolution.

Is it worth buying a fake 4K camera?

You will surely be surprised, but my answer is yes. From the fact that some cameras don’t know the promised 4K resolution in 1080p, they can still have beautiful images. If you are already looking for cheap chip sets, look for the Novatek NT96660, which is the strongest of the cheapest. It doesn't know 4K, but with a suitable sensor it can already be enjoyed in 2K resolution, and in 1080p it gives excellent quality. So, if it’s important to you to watch your vacation footage in Full HD, i.e. 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution on your current television, then look for a camera that is priced at over $ 50 but more than $ 60, look for test footage on Youtube, preferably one in which you can see images of two or more cameras side by side, and based on that, decide if you like the image you see, if so you won’t be disappointed with your new camera!

Finally, two truly 4K capable “cheap” cameras:

HawKeye Firefly 8S

For more information, purchase: HawKeye Firefly 8S 4K Sports Camera

ThiEYE T5e

For more information, purchase: ThiEYE T5e WiFi 4K 30fps