Hawkeye has launched one other compact HD digital camera, the Thumb 2. That includes comparable specs to the 4K Thumb, it gives 4K 30fps video capabilities and helps Gyroflow stabilization. Nevertheless, my expertise means that the Hawkeye Thumb 2 may not be the most effective match for FPV drone functions.
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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 handbook
- A cap mount
- A neck mount
Specs
- Sensor: SONY 12MP
- Area of View: FOV 170 levels
- Video Decision:
- 4K 50/30FPS
- 2.5K 4:3 50/30FPS
- 2.5K16:9 50FPS
- 1080P 50/30FPS
- Observe: 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
- Further 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 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 when it comes to 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 via DC enter (5 to 23V). Its casing is magnetic, facilitating simple 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 hook up with a flight controller (FC) by way of a UART port and be managed from radio switches via Betaflight, though the required cable isn’t 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 basic utilization moderately than pure FPV drone functions.
First off, the equipment included with the Thumb 2 remind me of these supplied with the Insta360 GO 2, reminiscent of mounts for caps or neck. Truthfully, a lot of these mounts usually 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 outside actions.
The built-in battery means that you can use this digital camera by itself, in contrast to the Thumb V1 which requires further energy from the drone. Nevertheless, this design change leads to a heavier and bulkier digital camera, which is lower than splendid for smaller FPV drones. Having a battery additionally means it’s essential 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’ll be able to 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 via your radio by way of Betaflight—the absence of the required cable within the bundle 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 take a look at 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 believe my telephone’s built-in stabilization performs higher. That stated, the colour, sharpness, and total picture high quality are commendable.
Within the second a part of the take a look at, I strapped the digital camera to my 3″ quad utilizing a zipper tie because of the lack of 3D printed mount (similar 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. Should you zoomed in to do away with all of the black edges, the FOV is simply too slender.
General, it simply looks like this digital camera doesn’t work that nicely with Gyroflow.
Conclusion
Should 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 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 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, gives 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/
