old4570
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jun 11, 2015
- Messages
- 1,963
- Reaction score
- 763
- Country
- Australia
- Dash Cam
- Front: 70MAI , Ausdom A261, Mini 0826 , Rear: A118c
Q3H-2 Action cam from Banggood.com
Product Page
I have the Q3H-2 Action Cam from Banggood for review and for just under $50USD the Q3 is another action cam in the budget price category . I am not quite sure just how many cams are out there that would be considered budget priced , but for me it's any cam that comes under $50USD . So far this cam has not failed me , previous Action cams ( SJ4000 clone and V3 from GB ) have been disappointing to various levels . Both the SJ and V3 locked up on me requiring the removal of the battery to reset the cams . The Q3H-2 ( I will just refer to it as the Q3 from now on ) has had no such issue . It is hard to buy a budget cam without something being not quite right ( NQR ) and for the Q3 it was the factory focus . Again with any budget cam ( Be it action or dash cam ) , focus can be a little hit or miss . Fortunately with action cams the cure is very simple and easy . ( More detail later )
I am really starting to like the Action cam concept as there are so many options and possibilities on offer with these products . As well the huge amount of accessories for mounting the cam . If there ever was a do everything product the Q3 gets as close as any cam possibly can at a budget price . Wifi , time lapse , loop recording ( dash cam mode ) , stills camera mode , slow motion , and lots of video resolution and frame rates to play with . For me the most important thing is image quality ( IQ ) , if the video is overly soft or out of focus then ( ? ) , well I like a nice sharp detailed video . And we are back to focus , so lets bite the big one and get it out of the way . The factory focus on the Q3 was not well done . A common problem with the cheaper cams is that the focus may be adjusted in a cool environment and when the cam heats up ( say hanging off a windshield ) the lens tends to expand ( heat expansion ) and the cam goes out of focus . The Q3 was not the exception to this phenomenon .
Video uploaded @ 2560 x 1440 ( supported by Youtube )
Refocusing :
Ok , so what is happening is that the lens body is heating up and expanding , enough to affect the focus of the cam . This occurs because the cam was focused a little bit the wrong way . ( not everyone is a lens expert ) Thankfully the cure is relatively simple .
1. First we need to get to the lens . With the Q3 the camera face plate is snapped into position . One simply needs to gently pry the face plate off from the edges and remove it . ( There are no screws )
2. Then we need to pry the lens shield off ( clipped in place ) Just be gentle .
3. Now the lens is exposed , and we first mark the lens position ( for accurate adjustment )
4. I twist anti clockwise first to break the glue ( yeah the lens is glued ) , so best to break the glue bond first ( really want to be careful )
5. Once the lens is moving , we want to go back to the factory focus setting and take some test footage , then twist the lens clockwise a few mm and take more test footage . We do this until we have nice sharp video . I found that generally , I have twisted the lens maybe 5mm clockwise from where the factory had it set .
6. Once you are happy with the focus , re assemble the front of the action cam .
Refocused video footage :
Video uploaded @ 2560 x 1440 ( supported by Youtube )
With the Q3 refocused , I have to say I am impressed with the video , for a budget action cam it is rather good especially considering the price entry point . There are a lot of people that want $500 action cam video quality for $50 . To be realistic its just not going to happen , a cam that costs you one tenth of a upper middle of the range cam from the big boys . ( Your dreaming )
Here is the Q3 run against the Viofo A119 and the Viofo is almost double the money .
Video uploaded @ 2560 x 1440 ( supported by Youtube )
Video uploaded @ 2560 x 1440 ( supported by Youtube )
I went for a walk with the cam attached to my head . ( Well , head band cam mount )
I have to say I got some interesting gawks from some car drivers ( ? Pedestrians camming up = Oh dear ! ) . Anyhow as I walked I changed the video resolution and frame rates to see what the cam could do in the real world . ( This is after refocusing the lens ) And I am some what impressed with the results I have to tell you .
Q3H-2 : The good and the bad !
The Good :
Video quality is good for a $50 cam @ 30FPS ( 4k , 2.7k , 1080 , 720 @ 30FPS )
So far no issues with lock ups ( my other action cams lock up some times )
Lots of options to play with ..
Works well as a dash cam , also shuts down relatively quickly when compared to my other action cams .
Recharges quickly ( 30 to 45 minutes depending on the state of the battery )
Over all , good value for the money .
The Bad :
The lens was poorly focused from the factory ( relatively easy fix )
The cam does not like higher frame rates ( IQ loss )
Conclusion :
The first thing we have to bear in mind is the price point . At $50USD this is a relatively cheap action cam and depending on what price point you are comparing it too ( $100 - $1000 ? ) it performs relatively well . In fact after re focusing the cam I was a little surprised that the Q3 produced such decent video footage . The cam is very capable at 30FPS , unfortunately it simply can not maintain IQ at higher frame rates . ( This so far seems to be the trend with the cheaper cams I have tested ) As for the focus , this is very much hit or miss unfortunately and is something any cam can suffer from . Almost half my dash cameras have had to be focus corrected , and so far all my action cameras have had to be focus corrected . So focus being a little NQR ( not quite right ) is a very common issue with cams over a very broad price range . Fortunately correcting focus on a action cam is relatively simple and just requires a little care . If you are really after a high frame rate camera with good IQ then I dare say you may need to spend more money , and how genuine some youtube video is ( well that's the $50 dollar question ) .
Would I recommend the Q3H-2 ? , yes I would . Bottom line , your getting a lot of cam for your $50 .
Do I need to give the Q3H-2 a score out of 10 ? If so then -1 for loosing IQ at higher frame rates and -1 for needing to be re focused . That's 8 out of 10 . Bearing in mind the price point this action cam is being sold at .
Product Page
I have the Q3H-2 Action Cam from Banggood for review and for just under $50USD the Q3 is another action cam in the budget price category . I am not quite sure just how many cams are out there that would be considered budget priced , but for me it's any cam that comes under $50USD . So far this cam has not failed me , previous Action cams ( SJ4000 clone and V3 from GB ) have been disappointing to various levels . Both the SJ and V3 locked up on me requiring the removal of the battery to reset the cams . The Q3H-2 ( I will just refer to it as the Q3 from now on ) has had no such issue . It is hard to buy a budget cam without something being not quite right ( NQR ) and for the Q3 it was the factory focus . Again with any budget cam ( Be it action or dash cam ) , focus can be a little hit or miss . Fortunately with action cams the cure is very simple and easy . ( More detail later )
I am really starting to like the Action cam concept as there are so many options and possibilities on offer with these products . As well the huge amount of accessories for mounting the cam . If there ever was a do everything product the Q3 gets as close as any cam possibly can at a budget price . Wifi , time lapse , loop recording ( dash cam mode ) , stills camera mode , slow motion , and lots of video resolution and frame rates to play with . For me the most important thing is image quality ( IQ ) , if the video is overly soft or out of focus then ( ? ) , well I like a nice sharp detailed video . And we are back to focus , so lets bite the big one and get it out of the way . The factory focus on the Q3 was not well done . A common problem with the cheaper cams is that the focus may be adjusted in a cool environment and when the cam heats up ( say hanging off a windshield ) the lens tends to expand ( heat expansion ) and the cam goes out of focus . The Q3 was not the exception to this phenomenon .
Video uploaded @ 2560 x 1440 ( supported by Youtube )
Refocusing :
Ok , so what is happening is that the lens body is heating up and expanding , enough to affect the focus of the cam . This occurs because the cam was focused a little bit the wrong way . ( not everyone is a lens expert ) Thankfully the cure is relatively simple .
1. First we need to get to the lens . With the Q3 the camera face plate is snapped into position . One simply needs to gently pry the face plate off from the edges and remove it . ( There are no screws )
2. Then we need to pry the lens shield off ( clipped in place ) Just be gentle .
3. Now the lens is exposed , and we first mark the lens position ( for accurate adjustment )
4. I twist anti clockwise first to break the glue ( yeah the lens is glued ) , so best to break the glue bond first ( really want to be careful )
5. Once the lens is moving , we want to go back to the factory focus setting and take some test footage , then twist the lens clockwise a few mm and take more test footage . We do this until we have nice sharp video . I found that generally , I have twisted the lens maybe 5mm clockwise from where the factory had it set .
6. Once you are happy with the focus , re assemble the front of the action cam .
Refocused video footage :
Video uploaded @ 2560 x 1440 ( supported by Youtube )
With the Q3 refocused , I have to say I am impressed with the video , for a budget action cam it is rather good especially considering the price entry point . There are a lot of people that want $500 action cam video quality for $50 . To be realistic its just not going to happen , a cam that costs you one tenth of a upper middle of the range cam from the big boys . ( Your dreaming )
Here is the Q3 run against the Viofo A119 and the Viofo is almost double the money .
Video uploaded @ 2560 x 1440 ( supported by Youtube )
Video uploaded @ 2560 x 1440 ( supported by Youtube )
I went for a walk with the cam attached to my head . ( Well , head band cam mount )
I have to say I got some interesting gawks from some car drivers ( ? Pedestrians camming up = Oh dear ! ) . Anyhow as I walked I changed the video resolution and frame rates to see what the cam could do in the real world . ( This is after refocusing the lens ) And I am some what impressed with the results I have to tell you .
Q3H-2 : The good and the bad !
The Good :
Video quality is good for a $50 cam @ 30FPS ( 4k , 2.7k , 1080 , 720 @ 30FPS )
So far no issues with lock ups ( my other action cams lock up some times )
Lots of options to play with ..
Works well as a dash cam , also shuts down relatively quickly when compared to my other action cams .
Recharges quickly ( 30 to 45 minutes depending on the state of the battery )
Over all , good value for the money .
The Bad :
The lens was poorly focused from the factory ( relatively easy fix )
The cam does not like higher frame rates ( IQ loss )
Conclusion :
The first thing we have to bear in mind is the price point . At $50USD this is a relatively cheap action cam and depending on what price point you are comparing it too ( $100 - $1000 ? ) it performs relatively well . In fact after re focusing the cam I was a little surprised that the Q3 produced such decent video footage . The cam is very capable at 30FPS , unfortunately it simply can not maintain IQ at higher frame rates . ( This so far seems to be the trend with the cheaper cams I have tested ) As for the focus , this is very much hit or miss unfortunately and is something any cam can suffer from . Almost half my dash cameras have had to be focus corrected , and so far all my action cameras have had to be focus corrected . So focus being a little NQR ( not quite right ) is a very common issue with cams over a very broad price range . Fortunately correcting focus on a action cam is relatively simple and just requires a little care . If you are really after a high frame rate camera with good IQ then I dare say you may need to spend more money , and how genuine some youtube video is ( well that's the $50 dollar question ) .
Would I recommend the Q3H-2 ? , yes I would . Bottom line , your getting a lot of cam for your $50 .
Do I need to give the Q3H-2 a score out of 10 ? If so then -1 for loosing IQ at higher frame rates and -1 for needing to be re focused . That's 8 out of 10 . Bearing in mind the price point this action cam is being sold at .
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