Getting started evaluation of ant 4K sports camera

People who know about sports cameras may have hesitated: Do you need a sports camera in your life?

In foreign countries, GoPro has long been synonymous with sports cameras; In China, small ant sports cameras are also making efforts in this emerging market segment. Last month, the little ant 4K sports camera, the second generation of the little ant sports camera, officially landed in JD.COM for crowdfunding. The standard version was 1199 yuan, and the set version was 1299 yuan. Compared with the price of a generation of 399 yuan, you may have doubts: is it worthwhile to raise the price so sharply? Below, the author will take you to find out.

exterior

The camera I got is a black version, and there are also white and pink versions to choose from.

Compared with the first generation, the face value of the second generation of the small ant sports camera is much higher, and too many lines and textures are removed from the front, so the whole body looks more exquisite. Although the shell is still made of plastic, the improvement in vision and feel is very obvious. Different from GoPro’s quaint style, the second generation of small ant sports camera is more fashionista.

Unpacking three pieces: camera, battery and data cable (note: the camera itself has no memory card and needs to be purchased separately)

There are three buttons in the fuselage of the first generation: the power button, the camera button and the WiFi connection button. Now, in the second generation, the designer of Little Ant has drastically cut off two-thirds of the buttons, leaving only one power button to double as the shutter button, and all other operations are transferred to the touch screen.

The only button in the whole body is designed at the top of the fuselage. Long press the switch and short press to shoot.

Battery compartment at the bottom (containing Micro SD card slot) and bracket interface.

Touch screen on the back

The second generation of ant sports camera is equipped with a 2.19-inch large touch screen-yes, compared with the fuselage, it is really a big screen, and it may be the camera with the highest screen ratio. The PPI of this screen is as high as 330, with a viewing angle of 160, and the operation experience is very smooth. If you must say something insufficient, you probably don’t support multi-touch and can’t zoom the picture.

As the saying goes, you can’t have your cake and eat it. For a sports camera, the biggest disadvantage brought by the simple appearance is the inconvenience of operation. Considering that every minute counts in the motion scene, it seems that even the best touch screen is not as convenient as adding a shortcut button directly on the shell.

performance parameter

In addition to the improvement of appearance, higher prices naturally bring higher configuration, and the parameters are simply listed as follows:

Photo function

For most people who are used to taking photos with mobile phones, it may be difficult to adapt to the curved picture taken by the ant wide-angle lens for a while, but the wide field of vision brought by bending far exceeds that of almost all mobile phones on the market, making selfies no longer like selfies. Although you can also buy a wide-angle lens connected to a mobile phone online, the photos you take often have a weak edge, which is still far from the wide angle of a sports camera.

For photographers who like to capture characters but don’t want to disturb each other, wide angle can just play a "slanting shot" effect. Even if you shoot the sky at a 45-degree angle, the horizon can still be included in the picture.

On the left, the second generation of ant motion camera was shot, and on the right, Samsung S6 edge+ was shot.

Compared with Samsung S6 edge+, the color saturation of the small ant motion camera is lower, but it is also closer to the color of the real scene.

Thanks to the large aperture of F2.8, the small ant motion camera can also get a visual effect close to the human eye at night, and the color reproduction and noise control of the sky, leaves and road lights have reached a satisfactory level.

Video recording function

Wide-angle photography is just a side dish before meals, and video is the real feast that sports cameras bring to people.

Today, the screen of mobile phone is getting bigger and bigger, and the disadvantages of mobile phone video recording are becoming more and more obvious: it is inconvenient to hold it with one hand and carry it with you, not to mention the sour taste if it is hung around your neck. Therefore, for people who love sports and take selfies, a compact sports camera is just needed.

In addition to 4K/30fps video recording, the second generation of Little Ant Motion Camera also supports video recording in 1080P/120fps, 720P/240fps and other formats, which can capture motion moments that are invisible to the naked eye. When playing back in slow motion, you may really feel the power released by body movements at every millisecond node.

Of course, the sports camera is by no means alone. It also has many teammates like gods, such as waterproof case, Bluetooth remote control, and various expansion brackets … From this, your vision can reach many places that mobile phones and SLR can’t reach.

For young artists, sports cameras can help you see the world from a different angle, such as putting the camera on your shoulder and recording while walking, for example, putting it on your pet at home and making a micro-movie from a pet’s perspective.

continue a journey without refuelling

After the author’s two-hour shooting experience in the park, 100 photos were taken, 400 seconds were recorded in 4K and 100 seconds were recorded in slow motion. During the use, the screen was basically on, and finally the remaining power was about 2/3. In view of the huge volume of 4K video files, a large-capacity MicroSD card is essential, and it is recommended to buy more than 64G.

tail

People may not think it is too expensive to buy a mobile phone with more than 1,000 yuan, but if you switch to a sports camera, it is estimated that most people will still retreat. Even the people-friendly price of 399 yuan for the first generation of small ants is enough to keep many people away.

Perhaps the sports camera will never become a popular product, but it is still a unique product. As a point in the demand of modern long tail, sports camera is like a ripple in smart home life, which shows us that life is not just about mobile phones and computers, but also about sports and distance …

Geely’s 2018 Emgrand GL officially went on sale for 788-115,800 yuan.

Geely's 2018 Emgrand GL officially went on sale for 788-115,800 yuan.

  On January 1, 2018, Geely’s 2018 Emgrand GL was officially launched. The new car was also upgraded in appearance, interior and configuration. At the same time, it was equipped with a new generation of G-Netlink 3.2A intelligent in-vehicle system and full-speed ACC adaptive cruise system. The new car has launched 7 models with 1.8L and 1.4T displacement, and the official guide price is 788-115800 yuan.

Geely 2018 Emgrand GL Guide Price car make and model Guiding price (ten thousand yuan) 1.8L manual enterprising type 7.88 1.8L Manual Elite Zhilian Model 8.68 1.8L Automatic Elite Zhilian Model  9.68  1.4T Manual Elite Zhilian Model  8.98  1.4T Automatic Elite Zhilian Model  9.98   1.4T automatic distinguished zhilian type 10.98  1.4T automatic flagship type 11.58 

  In addition, car purchase now enjoys four preferential policies: continuing the national 2.5% purchase tax reduction and exemption policy; Free unlimited traffic for 2 years, and enjoy the intellectual interest interconnection; The whole department has 24 periods of 0 interest, and it is easy to buy a car without pressure; Replacement purchase, enjoy a maximum subsidy of 3,000 yuan for car replacement.

Geely's 2018 Emgrand GL officially went on sale for 788-115,800 yuan.

  In appearance, the new car continues the family design style, but it can also be clearly seen that the appearance adjustment, the grid spacing of the upper grid on the water drop ripple has been redesigned, and the lower grid adopts dense black horizontal stripes, which echoes the stripes below the fog lights on both sides, widening the overall visual effect of the front face; The brand-new far and near light integrated automatic induction headlights adopt LED light source and laser carved "GEELY" logo, which is more recognizable and advanced than the old models.

Geely's 2018 Emgrand GL officially went on sale for 788-115,800 yuan.

  The new car adopts a quick-back streamline shape, and the GEELY LOGO is engraved on the chrome trim at the rear of the car to replace the original Geely shield brand LOGO. The use of LED light guide taillights and the shape change of two exhaust ports on both sides of the rear of the car make the new car look more exquisite.

Geely's 2018 Emgrand GL officially went on sale for 788-115,800 yuan.

  In terms of interior, the new car basically retains the existing design, and still takes simplicity and elegance as the main tone, and makes adjustments in the central control multimedia control area, canceling the original physical buttons on both sides of the 8-inch central control screen and replacing them with touch virtual buttons.

Geely's 2018 Emgrand GL officially went on sale for 788-115,800 yuan.

  In terms of configuration, the new car is equipped with Geely’s new generation G-Netlink 3.2A intelligent in-vehicle system, which has built-in the latest 2.0 generation Gaode map online navigation system, supporting real-time road navigation, one-click synchronization of mobile phone information, real-time online map upgrade and other functions; In addition, the working range of ACC adaptive cruise system for high-profile vehicles has changed from 30-150km/h to 0-150km/h, thus supporting the functions of following the car at low speed, stopping and starting again, and being suitable for traffic jams.

Geely's 2018 Emgrand GL officially went on sale for 788-115,800 yuan.

  In terms of power, the 2018 Emgrand GL will be equipped with a new 1.4T high-efficiency turbocharged engine, which can output the highest power of 98kW and the maximum torque of 215N·m, matching the Gretel 6DCT transmission.

"Behind the Scenes" | He collaborated with Jackie Chan, Zhang Yimou, and Yu Feihong underwater

1905 movie network feature "With us around, the remote water supply can’t be cut off." In the movie, the firefighter Xu Xiaobin, who plays the role, jumps into the sea full of oil and flames in order to clean the water pump.

He worked hard to repair, and the final image of his unfortunate sacrifice was vivid and heroic in the lens of the underwater photographer, causing many viewers to cry.

In the movie, the "Expendables" attacked Jingzhou City by water, and the surging light and shadow added another "color" to the black and white ink painting. 


Here, the photographer and the eldest brother soaked in the biting cold water for several hours before completing the drama of diving in the ice cave. The underwater world in the lens is quiet and beautiful, which is fascinating.


How did the amazing underwater shots in the movie, either thrilling or beautiful, work, and how did this special group of underwater photographers, little known to audiences, work?


In this issue of "Behind the Scenes", let’s follow Sun Xun, a well-known domestic underwater photographer who has been in charge of films such as "Shadow", "Kung Fu Yoga" and "Hero of Fire", into the "underwater mystery" behind the lens.


 01. Every shot is a story

After seven years of formal employment, he was responsible for the underwater shooting of countless movies, TV series, documentaries and advertisements. "Heroes of Fire" has always been fresh in Sun Xun’s memory. Since the film is set in the context of an oil pipeline explosion, there must be oil stains, garbage and flames in the seawater. In order to realistically restore the effect of seawater, the art and props team "mixed" pieces of sticky oil stains with starch and paint, and also put in fresh scallops, oysters and other kinds of seafood. The flames are also real burning, which also poses a big challenge to the underwater photography team.


"The camera, the diving equipment, and the face are all covered in a layer of black oil, just like a miner. After shooting for two days, the seafood was soaked for two days, just like a pot of seafood soup, and finally the whole equipment had to be cleaned. But the props team really bothered to have the final real effect." Sun Xun said. At the "Fire Hero" press conference, recalling the shooting experience, Ou Hao said that he almost drowned and experienced a terrifying moment. In the movie, he was shown with a rope tied around his waist, but in the actual shooting, after going into the water, the person kept floating up, and he could only tie the rope to his feet to let people pull him underwater. In addition, shooting outdoors in winter was very physically exhausted, and he could not advance or retreat for a time. "Even now I think about it, I am still a little afraid."


Sun Xun also praised Ou Hao’s contribution: "The actors are very hard-working, and the director and staff are sparing no effort to recreate the tension at that time… China lacks such a film, and we feel honored to be able to participate in the shooting of such a key scene." If the key word of "Hero of Fire" is "bitter", the largest film that Sun Xun has participated in "water drama" is the crime film "Involved in the Sea of Anger" that will be released in the summer. In order to show the human entanglement in extreme environments, there is a long sea shooting in the film, and even Huang Bo, who has excellent water quality, calls it "the most tiring in history".


Sun Xun also felt the same way, "I first shot in the open sea, the sea was very windy, and I was seasick and vomited, which is also an embarrassing thing for me as an underwater photographer. Then I shot a big play in the water shed. Teacher Huang Bo is famous for his water quality, and the completion is very high. He also cooperates well with Teacher Zhou Xun. In addition, the underwater is a dual-camera shooting, and there is a scene of escape in the car. I am looking forward to the effect of the film." Underwater shooting can be both exciting and beautiful and romantic, and the starring literary film shows this.


"Although the film was not very difficult, the shot was very beautiful. At that time, it was Yu Feihong’s inner scene. The beauty of the underwater shot and the mood of the actors fit perfectly. It had the temperament of an Asian literary film. It was the most satisfactory scene from the creator’s point of view," Sun Xun said.

02. Tired and happy

Sun Xun studied engineering at university, but chose the translation industry for his work. When he worked as a translator for a film crew, he began to get involved in photography because of his interest. It can be said that his career has been challenging himself.


In the process of engaging in film and television photography, Sun Xun found that underwater photography teams in China are very scarce. "The film industry is developing rapidly, and industrialization is becoming more and more complex. At that time, there was a wave of aerial photography, and we thought that we might be able to do it underwater."


In this way, from the "dry duck" who couldn’t even swim at the beginning, to the diving expert who could control the machine in the water and move around, Sun Xun and the team developed a set of underwater photography methodology almost from scratch.


There were many differences between underwater photography and shooting on the ground. In particular, shooting in the field was greatly affected by the weather and water conditions, and it was difficult to communicate underwater and underwater. There were three core members of the team, each performing their own duties, and all of them were indispensable: Sun Xun was responsible for the underwater handheld, composition, and camera movement; the second person was responsible for monitoring the focus on the ground and communicating with the ground photography team; there was another person responsible for equipment, coordinating actors, adjusting underwater props, costumes, etc.


 At the same time, the photographer also has to have multiple roles while holding the camera, not only to control the buoyancy, but also to control the machine, to ensure the focus and composition during the movement, and to always pay attention to the safety of the actors. Many directors are not familiar with underwater shooting, and the pre-designed split shots are difficult to complete in actual shooting. For example, due to the influence of buoyancy, the actors will naturally float up when they fall into the water. In order to achieve the "sinking" effect pursued by the director, the team had to bury the Weiya point underwater, "so that they can pull it in reverse, so that they can control the people to slowly go down."


In addition, the actor’s water and physical fitness will also affect the shooting effect. The photographer needs to make an agreement with the actor in advance for underwater gestures such as "rise, sink, take another shot", and pay close attention to the actor’s state. At the scene, the host Roman also changed into equipment and challenged a "drowning scene" shooting. After just shooting for a while, not only did his nose get into water, but his physical strength was also exhausted, and he experienced the difficulty of shooting underwater.


Sun Xun admits that this kind of "hard work" is the norm in this type of work. Because the crew often focuses on shooting underwater scenes a few days ago or when they are close to finishing, the time is tight and the task is heavy. "Generally, it takes 14 to 16 hours to shoot every day, and sometimes even 20 hours."


"If you really come to the scene to watch our filming, you will definitely feel very bitter, but as people who love this profession, we are very excited to shoot, we don’t feel hard, and we don’t feel cold. My favorite is coming out of the water. The director said: Great, this is what I want, I feel very fulfilled!"


In the process of learning, Sun Xun often revisits the classic Hollywood films. As early as the 1954 film "Black Lake Demon Pond", the pioneers began to experiment with underwater photography, and he was deeply admired for his spirit of exploration.

In contrast, Sun Xun said bluntly that the domestic team has a lot of room for improvement in both technology and equipment, but he firmly believes that with the continuous improvement of the industrialization level of domestic films and the improvement of the process, the trickle will definitely merge into rivers and seas, and the underwater lens will definitely record more exciting Chinese stories.