Hawkeye Firefly 8S
Image sensor and image processor
Action cams from Hawkeye are among the better action cams from China. In addition to a solid hardware combination, the models of the Firefly series are also very popular within the community, as the manufacturer regularly releases firmware updates for its action cams. Inside is a combination of an Ambarella A12S75 image processor and a 12.40 megapixel Sony IMX117 image sensor. This combination is also used by many competing models (e.g. ThiEYE T5e or SJCAM SJ7 Star) and was able to prove itself through the native 4K video recording function and the low price, through an excellent price-performance ratio. How the video quality of the Hawkeye Firefly 8S is to be assessed can be seen in the two following videos.
Update: The action cam was originally introduced with a 170° wide angle. The camera is now also available as a “No Distortion” version with a 90° wide angle!
4K video recording
1080p60 video recording
Stabilization, display and connections
Like already the Hawkeye Firefly 7S the Firefly 8S also offers electronic image stabilization using a 6-axis gyroscope. How the image stabilization works will only be shown in upcoming tests. At least the predecessor was well optimized and delivered acceptable results. On the back there is a 2 inch LCD display with a resolution of 640 x 480 pixels. There is no touchscreen operation. The connections amount to a micro HDMI and micro USB socket, as well as a micro SD memory card slot. The possibility of connecting an external microphone to the camera is particularly interesting, so that a significantly better sound recording can be achieved.
WiFi, App and Battery
The Firefly 8S can be addressed wirelessly via WiFi and Bluetooth. With the appropriate Firefly app, which is also available in the Google PlayStore, the Action Cam can be controlled completely remotely and you have direct access to the recordings stored on the SD memory card. Also worth mentioning is the 1.200 mAh battery, which is slightly larger compared to competing models. The manufacturer promises runtimes of 99 minutes. A very realistic value, unless you record in 4K. On 4K, values between 60 and 70 minutes are realistic. But here, too, it will only be possible to see how the battery life actually behaves in the first tests.
