Hawkeye Firefly Micro
“Hawkeye” has already made a name for itself in model making. In addition to conventional action cams, the manufacturer also offers a range of particularly compact and lightweight cameras, which can often be found on drones and other aircraft models. The Firefly Micro is a mini camera model released at the beginning of 2018 that is already available for less than €25.
Coin-size design
The Firefly Micro is a tiny bit among high-resolution action cams. The not even coin-sized, rectangular case is only 24 mm wide, 24 mm high and 32 mm deep. The weight is a light 14g. Thus, the mini camera is particularly suitable to expand light model aircraft with an additional camera function. A corresponding bracket is included. The case does not offer water protection.
The energy is supplied via a permanently integrated 230 mAh battery. According to Hawkeye, this is enough for a maximum recording time of 60 minutes. According to the manufacturer, the charging time is 2 1/2 hours. The luxury of a WiFi or Bluetooth function is dispensed with. Neither does the mini camera have a display. It is operated purely via two control buttons.
Full HD recording function
The Firefly Micro records videos in 1080p (Full HD) and 720p (HD). The refresh rate is 30 frames per second. The built-in 2 megapixel image sensor comes from “Generalplus”, whose sensors are mainly used in inexpensive dash cams. The recordings created in AVI format can be saved on a MicroSD memory card. A 160 degree wide-angle lens ensures a particularly wide field of vision. Matching the video, the sound is also recorded via an integrated microphone. An AV signal can be accessed via the Firefly Micro's USB socket.
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The Hawkeye Firefly Micro is not a usual action cam, but is mainly aimed at hobbyists who are less concerned with a variety of functions and much more with a low weight and a compact housing. According to initial reports, the Hawkeye mini camera has appeared in direct competition with the SQ11 mini camera and delivers a slightly better recording quality in direct comparison. However, the 1080p resolution given by Hawkeye is most likely just an interpolated resolution. It is also often criticized that even on 720p a maximum frame rate of 30 frames per second is supported, which leaves a bitter aftertaste, especially with regard to FPV. If we receive a test copy of the camera, the detailed test report will follow here!
