DJ4000 or GoPro

Noa Put · January 17th, 2015, 02:48 AM

That comparison doesn't make any sense, you limit the iso on the gopro to 400 but set it on auto on the dj4000? What's the point of that?

Aldo Erdic · January 17th, 2015, 09:59 AM

Well, I mainly wanted to see how the SJ4000 is in low light and it seems to do pretty good. The next iso level on the GoPro after ISO 400 is 1600 and from previous experience it's pretty grainy. I wish there would've been an ISO 800 level. But even at ISO 400, you can see how the GoPro is more grainy than the SJ4000.

I'll be getting my own SJ4000 and will have time to do a more controlled comparison. (I was using my friend's SJ4000 and he doesn't live in the same city as me, so I didn't have much time.)

Bottom line, except for the white balance, the SJ4000 low light image is quite acceptable to me.

Noa Put · January 17th, 2015, 10:33 AM

If you make a video where you are comparing low light between 2 camera's and you use 400 iso on one and maybe 1600 iso on the other, then it's not a low light comparison.

Aldo Erdic · January 17th, 2015, 10:47 AM

My concern was the GoPro graininess during low light situations. The only way to reduce it is by shooting at ISO 400 instead of ISO 1600. Here's how grainy ISO 1600 looks like even when there's ample lighting:

PS: I will be updating the comparison when I get my own SJ4000.

Paul Ekert · January 18th, 2015, 08:55 AM

What sort of battery life can you get from the SJ4000?

Mark Rosenzweig · January 18th, 2015, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aldo Erdic

My concern was the GoPro graininess during low light situations. The only way to reduce it is by shooting at ISO 400 instead of ISO 1600. Here's how grainy ISO 1600 looks like even when there's ample lighting:

PS: I will be updating the comparison when I get my own SJ4000.

Maybe I missed it, but what model GoPro is being compared? Are you comparing the new SJ4000 to an old or lower-level GoPro model? The new entry-level GoPro, the GoPro Hero 4 Black? what?

I find it hard to believe that this clone, which certainly has an much inferior feature set to the GoPro Hero 4 Black, will yield superior video in any light with the same settings.

Still, whatever model you are comparing it is useful to see.

Dave Farrants · January 18th, 2015, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Ekert

What sort of battery life can you get from the SJ4000?

I had 1.5 hrs with some to spare at a church service over Christmas.

Paul Ekert · January 18th, 2015, 03:28 PM

Thanks Dave. What was the performance like, grain and image quality in the church I mean .

Dave Farrants · January 18th, 2015, 03:56 PM

I was well pleased with it, shot 720 not 1080, minimal noise / grain, auto expose was spot on but auto colour was a bit off but it corrected well in FCPX. I'll try and grab a still and post it. For the price (I paid £54 off eBay) it's the best value for money I've spent on kit in a long while!

I did consider a 'juice pack' usually used for charging mobile phones from Amazon for around £15 but I really don't think it's needed until the battery performance drops off.

Aldo Erdic · January 19th, 2015, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Rosenzweig

Maybe I missed it, but what model GoPro is being compared? Are you comparing the new SJ4000 to an old or lower-level GoPro model? The new entry-level GoPro, the GoPro Hero 4 Black? what?
.

It's the new GoPro Hero 4 Black, the 4K verson. The band clip I posted is from a radio station that I film regularly and for the life of me, I can't get a clean image with the GoPro under those lighting conditions. I always have to touch it up with the Neat Video noise removal program.

Chris Harding · January 20th, 2015, 11:23 PM

I bought a second one too! Shucks for under $200 for two with all the bits and pieces you cannot go wrong! Yes they have auto exposure but also have EV correction too. OK, you don't get 4K video with them but a Hero4 Black is a crazy price in comparison!

SJ have also brought out the 5000 which has a better Panasonic sensor and a better chipset and only a little more in price. You however do lose out on selecting a POV angle like the Hero has but the SJ has a digital zoom which works very well indeed and little if any image quality loss ..I zoom to 1.2 and it takes away all the curvature if you don't want the super wide view.

Chris

Paul Ekert · January 21st, 2015, 11:05 PM

Possibly I've got this wrong, but I think techmoan reported that the sj5000 is made by a totally different company.

Greg Boston · January 22nd, 2015, 01:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Harding

IYou however do lose out on selecting a POV angle like the Hero has but the SJ has a digital zoom which works very well indeed and little if any image quality loss ..I zoom to 1.2 and it takes away all the curvature if you don't want the super wide view.

On the Hero2, which i got a few years ago, when you change the POV to Medium or Narrow, the GoPro does the same thing. It uses a digital zoom. I called GoPro because I thought my camera was defective and sent them a couple sample clips. It looks really grainy and washed out in medium 1080. They told me at the time that it was due to the zoom effect they use to get medium and narrow POV. I think they center crop the sensor image and then up res it to 1080.

-gb-

Chris Harding · January 22nd, 2015, 04:37 AM

Hi Paul

As far as I can see they make a complete range including the 5000. Look at SJCAM Action Camera - New way, new world! - SJCAM

Thanks Greg, that's nice to know that the Hero 2 which I had was also digital. I must admit the IQ from the 4000 (as long as you don't zoom too much) is pretty good

Chris

Paul Ekert · January 22nd, 2015, 06:11 AM

Maybe he was talking about something else then. I'll check up on it.

EDIT - Looks as though he has the SJ5000+ now and is going to do a review soon!

January 17th, 2015, 02:48 AM	#16
Noa Put Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Belgium Posts: 9,509	Re: DJ4000 or GoPro That comparison doesn't make any sense, you limit the iso on the gopro to 400 but set it on auto on the dj4000? What's the point of that?

January 17th, 2015, 09:59 AM	#17
Aldo Erdic Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 34	Re: DJ4000 or GoPro Well, I mainly wanted to see how the SJ4000 is in low light and it seems to do pretty good. The next iso level on the GoPro after ISO 400 is 1600 and from previous experience it's pretty grainy. I wish there would've been an ISO 800 level. But even at ISO 400, you can see how the GoPro is more grainy than the SJ4000. I'll be getting my own SJ4000 and will have time to do a more controlled comparison. (I was using my friend's SJ4000 and he doesn't live in the same city as me, so I didn't have much time.) Bottom line, except for the white balance, the SJ4000 low light image is quite acceptable to me.

January 17th, 2015, 10:33 AM	#18
Noa Put Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Belgium Posts: 9,509	Re: DJ4000 or GoPro If you make a video where you are comparing low light between 2 camera's and you use 400 iso on one and maybe 1600 iso on the other, then it's not a low light comparison.

January 17th, 2015, 10:47 AM	#19
Aldo Erdic Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 34	Re: DJ4000 or GoPro My concern was the GoPro graininess during low light situations. The only way to reduce it is by shooting at ISO 400 instead of ISO 1600. Here's how grainy ISO 1600 looks like even when there's ample lighting: YouTube (Short URL) PS: I will be updating the comparison when I get my own SJ4000. Last edited by Aldo Erdic; January 17th, 2015 at 12:04 PM.

January 18th, 2015, 08:55 AM	#20
Paul Ekert Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Oxford Posts: 66	Re: DJ4000 or GoPro What sort of battery life can you get from the SJ4000?

January 18th, 2015, 03:28 PM	#23
Paul Ekert Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Oxford Posts: 66	Re: DJ4000 or GoPro Thanks Dave. What was the performance like, grain and image quality in the church I mean .

January 18th, 2015, 03:56 PM	#24
Dave Farrants Major Player Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Gloucs, UK Posts: 214	Re: DJ4000 or GoPro I was well pleased with it, shot 720 not 1080, minimal noise / grain, auto expose was spot on but auto colour was a bit off but it corrected well in FCPX. I'll try and grab a still and post it. For the price (I paid £54 off eBay) it's the best value for money I've spent on kit in a long while! I did consider a 'juice pack' usually used for charging mobile phones from Amazon for around £15 but I really don't think it's needed until the battery performance drops off. __________________ https://www.foxvideo.co.uk Last edited by Dave Farrants; January 18th, 2015 at 04:01 PM. Reason: add info

January 20th, 2015, 11:23 PM	#26
Chris Harding Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 8,441	Re: DJ4000 or GoPro I bought a second one too! Shucks for under $200 for two with all the bits and pieces you cannot go wrong! Yes they have auto exposure but also have EV correction too. OK, you don't get 4K video with them but a Hero4 Black is a crazy price in comparison! SJ have also brought out the 5000 which has a better Panasonic sensor and a better chipset and only a little more in price. You however do lose out on selecting a POV angle like the Hero has but the SJ has a digital zoom which works very well indeed and little if any image quality loss ..I zoom to 1.2 and it takes away all the curvature if you don't want the super wide view. Chris

January 21st, 2015, 11:05 PM	#27
Paul Ekert Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Oxford Posts: 66	Re: DJ4000 or GoPro Possibly I've got this wrong, but I think techmoan reported that the sj5000 is made by a totally different company.

January 22nd, 2015, 04:37 AM	#29
Chris Harding Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 8,441	Re: DJ4000 or GoPro Hi Paul As far as I can see they make a complete range including the 5000. Look at SJCAM Action Camera - New way, new world! - SJCAM Thanks Greg, that's nice to know that the Hero 2 which I had was also digital. I must admit the IQ from the 4000 (as long as you don't zoom too much) is pretty good Chris

January 22nd, 2015, 06:11 AM	#30
Paul Ekert Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Oxford Posts: 66	Re: DJ4000 or GoPro Maybe he was talking about something else then. I'll check up on it. EDIT - Looks as though he has the SJ5000+ now and is going to do a review soon!