[Device Reviews and Information] Alberto96:
Introduction

This is the GizCam GZ20

Hardware

This device is powered by a Novatek NT96660 Chipset with a Sony IMX078 Sensor, so 16MP Resolution is interpolated from 12MP. Maybe the box is right, you can read 12MP here, but official specs together with the software say 16MP.

Official Specs are not so complete, so i do not anything else about the camera. Anyway, i am sure that this is a re-branded SJ8000/SJ9000 with a new firmware.

Unboxing

As most of all Action Camera, its packaging comes with lots of accessories:

1 x Action Camera (of cours

1 x Multi-language Manual

2 x 900mAh Li-ion Battery

1 x Waterproof Housing

1 x Camera Front Cover

1 x 90 Degree Adapter

1 x Bicycle Bracket

1 x Cleaning Cloth

1 x Camera Clip

2 x Helmet Base

2 x 3M Adhesive

1 x USB Cable

1 x Rear Clip

3 x Adapters

2 x Bandage

1 x Base

Following the usual GoPro design, this camera fits inside GoPro accessories and is pretty compact. Just 5.89x4.09x2.46mm.

On the front side there is the Power/Mode button, some words about the camera and the big fish-eye lens.

On the the right side there are the Selection Buttons, up/down, used to manage the menu, increase-decrease zoom, etc...

On the back side there are: the display, not IPS, with a decent resolution, and two LEDs for Power & Activity.

On the upper side there is the OK button with a Yellow LED that seems to be pretty useless because works just like the Activity LED placed on the front.

On the lower side there is just the battery slot covered by the battery door.

Device

Screen

The screen is bright, but being a TN variant, not IPS, the viewing angles are pretty bad. Maybe a better quality display would have been much better.

Camera Sensor Quality

As regards the Sony IMX078 sensor, well...it works sufficiently good for Videos up to 1080p. After 1080p there are no noticeable Quality Differences even though the resolution is higher. All videos have been recorded with Gyro RSC feature, that is Software Stabilization.

Unfortunately, just like on almost all Chinese Action Cameras, the 4K resolution is not real, but interpolated from 2K. Basically, anything over 2K is useless with this Camera Sensor and Chipset. There is no native 4K resolution supported here.

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1080p 60fps quality is pretty good, real 60fps video, smooth and with a nice quality.

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720p 120fps is weird, this is what is used for Slow Motion and it is definitely broken. The video is saved at 720p 30fps, and the slow motion quality is pretty bad. I would have expected something better.

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All other resolutions are not useful to be tested, but you can see almost all supported video res.

I don't know why they call this Stabilization "Gyro" when there is no gyroscope or electronic stabilization here, this is weird. Anyway, it works good enough even if it is software-only, still better than nothing.

Microphone Quality seems to be decent, no complains about it and the speaker quality is surprisingly crisp.

Photos Resolution goes up to 16MP, interpolated from 12MP.

WiFi Feature

The Wi-Fi feature enables this camera to be controlled using an Android or iOS smartphone, using the GizCam GZ20 app.

The App isn't great, old UI and no features at all, but it works completely with no issues at all.

It supports remote playback of stored files, pretty useful for those who do not want to switch the MicroSD card.

Battery Life

The 900mAh battery seems to be hard-to-discharge, i managed to record all test videos and i still have to discharge the first battery! This is awesome, real 900mAh power is here, or maybe even more. Great Battery Life.

Charging Times are high though, it took more than 2 hours to recharge a battery, so please be patient with this process.

Software

The software is easy to use, and features some nice options such as Car Mode, Motion Detection and so on...

Conclusions

Being my first Action Camera review you might have expected something better, and please tell me if you need to know anything else. After all these tests, and considering the price of this camera, i'm not sure if this is a best-buy. The price is too high, even though the quality is decent.

So, do I recommend it? If you can't find anything better at this price, yes, but remember that this won't provide real 4K videos.

Pros:

Great Battery Life

GoPro Accessories Compatible

Bright Screen

Lots of Accessories included

Awesome 1080p 60fps Quality

Cons:

4K 24fps Videos are not real

720p 120fps Slow Motion is weird

No IPS screen

Price is too high

Rating: 8.2

Packaging and Accessories: 10

Design and Materials: 9

Performance and Videos Resolution: 7

Screen: 7

Camera Sensor Quality: 8

Sound: 8

Battery Life: 9

Software: 8

OEM Support: 9

Price: 7

You can find full-res images (I know, Quality isn't excellent) here: http://imgur.com/a/r98kh

Official Website: http://www.gizcam.com/

You can buy it on Amazon.​