Hawkeye has launched one other compact HD digital camera, the Thumb 2. That includes comparable specs to the 4K Thumb, it presents 4K 30fps video capabilities and helps Gyroflow stabilization. Nevertheless, my expertise means that the Hawkeye Thumb 2 may not be the perfect match for FPV drone purposes.
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The place to Purchase?
You should buy the Hawkeye Thumb 2 digital camera from these distributors:
Included within the field, you’ll discover:
- A handbook
- 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 assist Gyroflow stabilization, all others do
- Video Format: mp4/H.265
- TV Out: PAL/NTSC with a latency of 40ms
- USB Port: Kind-C
- Battery Life: As much as 100 minutes
- Extra Options:
- AV out assist
- RC distant management functionality
- WiFi preview performance
- SD Card assist: 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 keeping with the producer.
It helps a telephone app linked 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 may 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. Nevertheless, in contrast to the Insta360 Go, it’s not water resistant because of the 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 shouldn’t be included.
The lens is suitable with the Thumb V1, which means you need to 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 direction of normal utilization moderately than pure FPV drone purposes.
First off, the equipment included with the Thumb 2 remind me of these supplied with the Insta360 GO 2, akin to mounts for caps or neck. Actually, all these mounts typically produce shaky footage with unpredictable angles, and in my expertise, they’re not sensible for capturing high quality video. Moreover, in contrast to the GO 2 or GO 3, the Thumb 2 lacks water resistance, decreasing its versatility for out of doors actions.
The built-in battery means that you can use this digital camera by itself, in contrast to the Thumb V1 which requires extra energy from the drone. Nevertheless, this design change ends in a heavier and bulkier digital camera, which is lower than best for smaller FPV drones. Having a battery additionally means it is advisable 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 may 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 package deal means that FPV pilots may not 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 mentioned, 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 because of the lack of 3D printed mount (identical drone i used to check the Thumb V1). The footage was extremely vulnerable to “jello”. Utilizing the default FOV setting in Gyroflow, the black edges remained seen within the stabilized video—in contrast to my footage from the DJI O3 and Walksnail, which permits zooming out to 1.1 and even 1.2 with out displaying black edges. If you happen to zoomed in to eliminate all of the black edges, the FOV is simply too slim.
Total, it simply seems like this digital camera doesn’t work that properly with Gyroflow.
Conclusion
If you happen to’re in search of a standalone 4K digital camera for non-FPV filming and never choosy about picture high quality, the Thumb 2 is a good, budget-friendly various to the Insta360 GO 2 and GO 3. Nevertheless, its efficiency with Gyroflow is subpar, leading to insufficient stabilization and extreme cropping.
You should buy 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 vulnerable to jello, presents comparable picture high quality, and works higher with Gyroflow.
See my assessment of the Hawkeye V1 right here: https://oscarliang.com/hawkeye-thumb-4k-camera/
