Comment Advantages: 1. A huge number of scripts - plugins that can change the picture to an incredibly high quality level, more on that below. 2. International version! Of the advantages of the international version over the Chinese: 2.1. 990 mAh battery from Sony in international versus Chinese 1010 mAh in Chinese. Guess which one is more alive? 990 mAh international! Somewhere around 20 min. There is a video test on YouTube on request: Chinese vs International Version (black version) Now the Chinese versions are also equipped with 990 mAh batteries. 2.2. In the international version. A battery cover with a metal plate, in theory, does a better job of cooling the battery. Now Chinese versions have also begun to be equipped with such covers. But you can get on the old batch. 2.3. Smartphone app in English and Russian. 2.4. It is believed that international versions are new batches of cameras with 100% fixed problems of previous versions! And the Chinese versions may be from old batches, tk. have been around for a long time! Size 3! It really is like a matchbox! I was pleasantly surprised! 4. There is an application made specifically for Xiaomi cameras, which allows you to flexibly manage settings and display the current recording mode of the camera. Connection with a smartphone via Wi-Fi. 5. The camera is literally hung with indicators of its work. Front, rear, side, bottom, everywhere there are diodes that make it clear what mode the camera is in. All this can be turned off in the settings through the application, and focus only on sound, to save battery. 6. To motorists! It is possible to set up automatic video recording when the camera is turned on, there is a cyclic shooting mode. Those. in fact, it is also a 60 FPS DVR. 7. Supports charging the camera via USB with the ability to continue recording. (When traveling, you can use PowerBank) 8. Support for high-speed SDXC memory cards! Info below! Flaws: Before installing scripts! 1. Out of the box with factory settings, the camera shoots decently, but with very compressed quality, the full potential of which is hidden for some reason! The video does not have 100% clarity, the photo has watercolor elements in the background. The video bitrate is 25 Mbps with the H264 codec level 4.2, which cannot but affect the quality. After installing the scripts, the camera shoots much better! 2. Sound. It is very quiet, records at 128 kbps 48 Khz quality and surprisingly in stereo (although the camera only has one mono microphone) 3. No display! A tiny monochrome display would not hurt to display the current state of the camera, instead of a bunch of diodes throughout the camera. You don't have to constantly think - "What mode is my camera in now?" (This is when taking photos and videos without a smartphone). With a smartphone, it is much easier to control the camera, but the battery on the camera runs out faster. 4. The camera out of the box does not allow you to shoot long videos in one file, but splits long videos into several maximum possible files for it. By default, this size is 2 gigabytes (expandable to 4Gb with scripts). Those. if you shot a video with a total complexity of 8 gigabytes (30 minutes video), then on the card you will see 2 files of 4 gigabytes each. Before installing the scripts, it would be 4 files of 2 Gb each. What do you agree is not convenient. Comment: My opinion: 1. The quality of shooting, in my opinion, is many times better using scripts from the w3bsit3-dns.com forum and various other thematic resources on the camera. Their essence is simple: Scripts are simply launched by the camera from your memory card at the moment the camera is turned on and do not affect the camera's firmware. These are a kind of presets or, more simply, equalizer settings. You can always remove them, while the camera will start with the settings from the manufacturer, as after purchase, or replace it with newer ones and experiment with quality further. Using them, you can: Increase the bitrate of video recording, change the color of the picture (warm-cold), white balance and other parameters. Everyone can find something for themselves. Xiaomi Yi SuperView Mod to help, and then see for yourself. The number of scripts is just huge! 2. I do not recommend flashing the camera! 3. All these shortcomings - low bitrate, color balance, after installing the scripts are corrected, the camera starts to play with new colors! Namely, the video bitrate can be raised up to 50 Mbps with codec level 5.0, which will positively affect the recording quality. Those. It's not in the camera itself, but in the settings specified by the manufacturer. After all, the camera really can and can do much more! 4. I think the optimal bitrate for video is 35 Mbps, but not 25 Mbps out of the box! 5. It is advisable to take an SDXC memory card for the camera with the ability to record at least 40 Mbps, at least 10 UHC-I class, otherwise, after installing scripts with the ability to record video with a high bitrate, the sound will lag behind! The version of my camera is Z23L and on the forums they discuss that this revision is considered one of the best with excellent recording quality and without jambs. So it is, the camera is really good, but I saw a video on YouTube, how the same Z22 shoots even clearer than the Z23L. Fortunately, in any camera, the lens can be adjusted by yourself, but the fact remains! Happy shopping everyone!

Chinese manufacturer Xiaomi released its next hit - Yi Action Camera, which was immediately nicknamed the "GoPro killer". Lightweight and very compact action camera can not only shoot video, but also make high quality photos. At any time, you can download them via Wi-Fi to your smartphone through a special application. For information on how to work with the Xiaomi Yi camera, read our instructions in Russian.

Appearance Xiaomi Yi

Procedure for turning on the device

Turning on the camera is very simple - just press the button (1). You may hear several beeps during the process.

Around the power button, you can observe a light indicator, the main function of which is to signal about current state your device. If it glows, the camera is enabled, if not, then it is disabled accordingly.

Additional color indication allows you to determine the current battery level:

• Blue color - high level
• Purple - about half of the capacity left
• Red - about 15% of the capacity is left and it's time to recharge the camera.

Turn off the camera

To do this, it is also necessary to use the key (1), while pressing should last about two to three seconds. Immediately before turning off, the camera will signal it three times with light and sound.

How to start shooting

Shooting both photo and video materials is carried out using the button (2) located on top. In the "photo" mode, pressing it will result in a picture, while the process of its creation will be accompanied by two short beeps.

In video mode, pressing this key starts the recording process (accompanied by one short beep), pressing it again stops recording (you will hear two short beeps).

Switching between PHOTO and VIDEO modes

Immediately after turning on, the device enters the "photo" mode (the default mode can be changed in the settings). Changing the current mode is carried out by quickly pressing the power key (2).

You can determine which of the modes is currently active by looking at the light indicator next to the above key:

• The indicator is lit - the "video" mode
• The indicator does not light up - the "photo" mode.

Charging the battery

Attention! Before starting charging, make sure that the device is turned off! After that, connect the camera to a source of electrical energy (UMB, electrical outlet or the appropriate port on your PC) using the USB -> MicroUSB interface cable and wait. The charging ports are located on the back of your camera body under a removable protective cover. It may take 60 to 80 minutes to fully charge the battery.

Resetting the camera to factory settings

To cancel all current settings and return the device to its original state, you must simultaneously hold down the capture, power and WiFi control and hold them for five seconds. In addition, you can reset it programmatically through the corresponding menu section.

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After the release of the successful Yi Sport action camera, active athletes showed interest in Xiaomi products, and the second version was already expected. After the publication of the characteristics, the question arose by itself: “won’t the second Yi be a worthy competitor GoPro HERO four?" The first in the public sector for good value price / quality gained popularity, and the second could well repeat the success. wide angle review, 12-megapixel sensor, A9SE95 processor… The specifications look promising.

Supplied in a small cardboard box:

But thanks to the ¼ inch threaded socket, the Yi 2 4K can accommodate many versatile mounting systems.

Unfortunately, due to the increased width compared to the GoPro 4 (66 vs. 59 mm), it is not possible to use the camera in conjunction with boxes for GoPro.

Location of controls and general forms Yi 2 4K are similar to those of GoPro, which has long been an unspoken model when creating third-party models. Alas, this form cannot be called optimal, especially considering the scope. Otherwise, there is nothing to complain about: Yi 2 4K fits comfortably in the hand, is easy to control and pleases the eye with rounded body features.

The storage uses a microSD card installed in the compartment next to the battery.

Clicking on the arrow next to the inscription "Video" opens the menu for selecting camera modes:

Additional options are selected on the main screen (gear icon in the lower right corner):

Video quality is good at night and excellent during daylight hours at maximum resolution.

But the 4K format, although it is trendy, is not yet provided with a sufficient amount of reproducing equipment (monitors). Another thing is 1080p, which is already firmly established in everyday life as the default format. And here Yi 2 4K comes in handy because of the ability to shoot FullHD video not only with the standard 30 fps, but 60 and even 120.

Image stabilization only works when shooting at 30 fps; I think it's the relatively small processor power.

For dynamic scenes (where action cameras are used most often), this is very useful: 25 or 30 fps is not enough, the picture is a little jerky, the freeze frames are blurry. For the same reason, the Slo-mo mode is good, allowing you to consider many processes in slow motion. It is a pity that the resolution in Slo-mo is only 720p, and not FullHD.

With photographs, the situation is similar: with a sufficient amount of light, the frames are juicy and clear, colors are lost at dusk, the amount of light noise increases, and the frames are blurry.

About sound. It is, and yes, two-channel (stereo). But due to the lack of wind protection, the recording is interrupted by even the slightest breeze, and at speeds of more than 10 km / h, nothing is heard except noise (therefore, all videos are without sound). A case with wind protection for microphones would be very helpful for such a camera.

An important note for those who will mount the camera on a helmet and choose third-party mounts: at speeds above 100 km / h, aerodynamic drag is very high. Subjectively, at 120 km/h, a Yi 2 weighing less than 90 grams feels heavier than another camera weighing over 170 grams due to less drag. Going beyond 140 km / h can be felt without a speedometer, as the head begins to pull back strongly.

The battery life of the camera is more than 2 hours when recording 4K video with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned off, and when changing the mode to 1080p, more than 3 hours. Compared to other action cameras, the Yi 2 is much less likely to require a USB connection for recharging.

Thanks to the voice acting, you can perform basic actions (start-stop recording, take a photo, turn it on and off) by touch, focusing on the sounds made. The volume of the speaker is enough to hear the conventional signals on the road with a helmet on (with good sound insulation).

In custody general impressions. is a well-designed product with many video and photo shooting modes. The video quality is good (by the standards of action cameras), you can watch 4K videos shot at dusk and not spit. Wi-Fi remote control also works flawlessly, and battery life is top notch. A quick start and an intuitive menu are also the advantages of the Xiaomi product.

Camera Features:

Bonuses for those who have read

In addition to the main heroine of our review, there are many interesting coupon and flash sales going on right now on Gearbest.

• A popular and reliable smartphone - 5.5 inches, 4000 mAh battery, Android 5.1 is available on the flash sale without too much modesty
• According to the GBMI2 coupon, the lightweight and comfortable Original Xiaomi Mi Band 2 fitness bracelet will cost only $29.59. The offer is more than attractive, only 1000 pieces are available, one buyer can buy only one bracelet.
• Slim Wi-Fi Router

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Xiaomi Yi camera came to me action camera. This is my first Chinese action camera... And indeed the first camera of this format. Prior to that, more and more DSLRs / mirrorless / telephone / soap dishes filmed video. But there was a need and desire to try action cameras and I had a lot of things. One such camera was the Xiaomi Yi from a famous Chinese brand.

This camera was given to me for testing. To be honest, I asked for the SJ5000+, because the reviews about it were better at first glance, but they sent Xiaomi. Hopefully after a while I will have 1-2 more cameras and I can compare which is better. Looking ahead, I’ll say that I liked the camera from Xiaomi, and I didn’t.

The Xiaomi Yi Action camera was provided to me by the Chinese online store Banggood. You can also find a description there. specifications, price and possibility to order. They usually sell it for $80-90, in Moscow they cost more.

But you can take the camera and take it on Aliexpress. There are a million options with it, for example, this one is sold immediately with a set of mounts, an aquabox, well, or a naked camera, you can choose.

Life hack - when shopping on Aliexpress, you can get cashback up to 11% through (they have a browser plugin, an application for phones). I wrote everything in great detail in my own what it is and how to use it.

Pros and Cons of the Xiaomi Yi Camera

Cons and first acquaintance

I'll start from the very beginning, with an introduction. I had to spend a couple of hours before I could start using the camera. It is too long! I'm already used to the fact that I turned it on and without instructions everything is intuitive. I remember I bought it right before the flight to Poland, and already at the airport, just taking it out of the package, I started using it. I note that the camera is quite heaped up, but everything is clear. And here is a small box with a couple of buttons, and first, kindly spend 2 hours on the Internet.

• When you turn on the camera, for some reason it turns out to be in photo mode, although this is a video camera! That is, I press and press the shutter button, and the camera takes pictures. Not logical. Moreover, if I switch to video mode and turn off the camera, then it does not remember it and when it is turned on again it turns out to be in photo mode. Yes, there is a setting in which mode the camera will turn on, but how to change it is below.
• The camera settings can only be changed through the application in the smartphone, which is not available on Google Play. The Android version must be from 4.1 and the phone's processor is not Intel (I'm not sure about the processor, but I met such information). UPDATE. The app is already on Google Play.
• There is no screen, even for the menu.
• Illogical indicators, and I did not immediately understand how everything works.
• When the camera is turned on, the main indicator lights up and a beep sounds. However, this does not mean that the camera is ready to go. You have to wait another 10-15 seconds. Why couldn't this moment have been signaled? UPDATE. After updating the firmware, the camera turns on in a few seconds and the indicators now blink more clearly.
• The camera gets very hot when you transfer pictures and videos from it.
• The camera is very sensitive to the cable, I only earned the 3rd in a row. UPDATE. You just need to transfer it from a flash drive through a card reader.
• The cover that covers the USB, flash drive and HDMI connector is quite small and easy to lose. I would make it with a body mount.
• Poor delivery package: only the camera, battery, USB cable. The Travel version also has a monopod.
• Not every third-party monopod will fit, because the screw hole is very short, you can’t tighten the screw all the way and the camera dangles. The solution is to make a rubber washer and put it on the screw of the monopod. On the other hand, it is convenient that at least the thread is standard.
• In some instances, the focus is knocked down - sharply only near, a dull sound - as if someone plugged the microphone hole with a finger (and this is without boxing!), And there is a problem of self-discharge in the off state. There is a solution, but they are not trivial, I will talk about them below. The only problem I have is bad sound.

Camera pros and second impressions

• Dimensions. I decided to write this paragraph, although all action cameras are very small. It's just that now I don't want to shoot a video with something bulky.
• Video. It shoots well, I liked the quality. But I have nothing to compare with, only with the Sony a6000 and Canon 7d, with which it is not at all correct to compare. In general, I have enough quality for a blog for sure.
• Low price. It costs around $ 70-90, plus or minus, the green one is a little more expensive. And now, as I said, you can buy it for $70.
• Through the adapter, you can use GoPro accessories.
• Working hours. In 1080p 25fps mode, it will run for about 1 hour and 50 minutes.

I will add my impressions after the main issues have been resolved. Shooting with an action camera is very cool! Here's a thrill! It is really convenient that you can put it in a regular pocket and then quickly get it at any time. In an outstretched hand, it is not felt at all, it is not a DSLR to hold when the hand gets tired after a few minutes. It’s convenient that there are few buttons, you won’t accidentally press anywhere while you turn it and shift it from hand to hand during shooting (that’s why I don’t like to shoot video with a smartphone).

I will not paint about the quality of photos and videos. There are a lot of examples on the net, in every review, both in text and on youtube, it is not difficult to find. As I said, the quality of the video suits me, only the stabilizer is missing, it shakes when moving. The quality of the photo is not particularly worrying, because there is a separate camera and a smartphone. Below are some photos and a short video.

A photo

Photo without any processing. Resizes are displayed in the article, and by clicking on the resize, the original will open in a pop-up Lightbox, from where you can download and view it. Well, or directly from the download link (each photo refers to the original).

Video

The first part of the video was shot on a Xiaomi Yi Action camera, the second part on a Sony a6000 camera. I deliberately inserted a piece of video where I didn’t do anything with the sound, so that its volume and quality were clear.

Xiaomi Yi Camera Features

The disadvantages I listed can be considered features. And for one, this is a direct minus-minus, for another, nonsense, not worth attention. You probably already understood my opinion, so excuse me, I will tell through the prism of my vision. For those who take the camera in their hands for the first time, I hope it will be useful, because most of the information from the forums, in the reviews, is omitted.

Camera control

Camera control, as far as I understand, is quite ordinary. There are two buttons: the first is On / Off and it is also Photo / Video, and the second is the shutter release for video or photos. The camera is turned on with a short press, switched to Photo / Video by a second short press on the same button, and turned off with a long one. The shutter button also works as standard for video mode: one press - Start, second press - Stop; for photo mode: press = photo.

Around the camera power button is a ring light indicator, the color of which indicates the battery level: blue 50-100%, purple 15-49%, red 1-14%.

But the mode indication can be confusing. Near the shutter button is a red LED responsible for the mode. How can I know the algorithm of the indicator? It is like this: if the indicator is off, then this is a photo mode, if it is on, then video mode, if it blinks continuously, then video recording is in progress. It seems nothing complicated, but all my life I thought that the burning of a red light means a video recording, so I did not immediately understand how everything works. Perhaps in all action cameras this is the principle.

Further. The indication of the photography process is also a bit confusing at first, I would only indicate the shutter release directly. The Xiaomi camera has a double indication: you press the button (beep), after a while the shutter is released (beep + blink). "Some time" can be 1-2 seconds.

Camera settings change via smartphone

All camera settings are changed only through applications in the smartphone. Including the same ill-fated "Photo" mode when you turn on the camera. I don't think this is a very convenient solution. Not only do you need to always have your phone with you, but in general the connection to the phone appears, which is why the camera ceases to be an independent device. And if there is no smartphone, broken, discharged? At least switching video modes would be done, just another button with cyclic switching. In addition, I want, for example, to give the camera to another person to use, which means I will have to install the application on his phone as well. What if there is no internet?

But okay, this is nitpicking, although I concluded for myself that it would be more convenient for me to have a menu right in the camera. In general, I liked using the application, everything works without problems and the functionality is good. It is convenient that you can put the camera somewhere, connect your phone and see what gets into the frame.

Connecting to a computer

The next nuance, which I also already listed in the cons, is the sensitivity to the quality of the USB cable. And so much so that the native cord from the kit can be thrown out. It's funny, I checked 3 cables and only one liked the camera (every other time), but they are all working and through them I can easily transfer something to my smartphone. With the rest, when connected to a MacBook, the camera either did not see at all, or hung tightly so that I had to pull out the battery. Judging by the forum, everything is the same on Windows, but it all depends on the specific instance, someone does not have such problems. What on Windows, what on Mac OX, the camera is defined as a flash drive.

Thus, you need a microSD card reader or an SD card reader and a microSD to SD adapter. This is the option I use now. You can also see photos and videos by transferring them to your smartphone through the application.

Firmware

The firmware can be downloaded from the official website or installed through the application. But you need to know your serial number, which is located under the battery on the camera. The fact is that the camera has 6 revisions, and depending on them, the firmware is different. If the firmware is from a different revision, then you can get a bricked camera. That is why it is better to download on the site only by serial number.

Solution of problems

I won't go into details, but we were lucky, many problems have already been solved, since the camera has been on sale for several months and the craftsmen are on the alert. As I understand it, the components in the camera (microphone, lens) from different manufacturers, and therefore it all depends on the specific instance, someone is lucky, but someone is not. It also happens that the focus is knocked down, but the sound is good, or the focus is excellent, but the sound is muffled.

• Bad focus. Most often, the problem occurs with black lenses. It is necessary to disassemble the camera and twist the lens (instructions one and two). You may not get everything right away.
• Quiet sound. To slightly improve it, you need to disassemble the camera and remove the cloth from the microphone. But in any case, you should not expect anything special from the sound, only if the microphone is soldered at all. Search YouTube for video instructions.
• Self-discharge in the off state. It is necessary to disassemble and put the dielectric under the board ( Video instruction).
• The camera writes video in chunks of 15-30 seconds, interrupted and losing part of the video. The solution is to replace the flash drive with a better and faster one. I have such a problem, but it appears at the end of the flash drive (when it is almost over), so I scored.

Conclusion

Xiaomi Yi did not make a very good impression because of its jambs: sorted through USB cables to connect to a computer, downloaded different versions of applications from the forum, googled about the operation of indicators, made an elastic band for a monopod. In general, I spent the whole evening on all these ordeals, instead of going out into the street and starting to shoot. In principle, you can get used to almost all the shortcomings (considering the price of the device), they are not critical. Even linking the camera to a smartphone does not bother you later, because you don’t often need to change the settings, set the mode (for example, 1080p 30fps) and use it in most cases.

Therefore, the main disadvantage is the technical problems of the camera (focus, sound, self-discharge). Yes, they are also sometimes solvable, but climbing into the camera is not a very civilized approach, it seems to me. In my copy, the sound is bad (the focus is in order), but now I don’t have a screwdriver at hand in China and I have no time to look for it, so I can’t fix it, I’ll do it only when I return to Moscow.

While I have a Xiaomi Yi camera, I’ll use it for a while, I’ll just understand if I need an action camera and what I need from it (for now I know for sure, I need a louder sound, but maybe the level will be enough after fixing the bug). Then maybe I’ll buy myself something like the Sony HDR-AS100V, it’s also inexpensive, and everything is in order with sound and focus, there is a screen for changing settings, and there is a stabilizer, albeit an electronic one.

Which camera to choose for travel?

I still have a question. Are there cameras of similar size but better quality? Let it be more, even with moisture protection (just from rain, not for diving), even with fewer mounts, even with an electronic stub, but writing normal sound and video?

Many appeal to the fact that you shouldn’t demand much from the Action Camera format, because why do you need to record a normal sound when you are snowboarding down a mountain, you still put music on it. Why do you need a super duper video if it's mostly selfies and not professional landscapes or Timelapses. I agree, everything is correct. Action camera needed, first of all, for extreme sportsmen.

But what about NOT extreme travelers who do not want to carry a DSLR / mirrorless camera with them, and who would be more comfortable filming themselves and everything around with a small box, commenting on everything that happens during the trip?