An action camera has become an essential tool for online content creation, expanding beyond its original use in endurance sports and aquatic activities. Today, it's embraced by travellers and vloggers, and is a key element in documenting the prevalent side hustle culture. We've tested the SJCAM C200 Pro Action Camera, priced at £189.00, to evaluate if it truly deserves the 'pro' label and if it’s affordable features can compete with GoPro's offerings.

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Design & Controls:

The SJCAM C200 Pro Action Camera boasts an incredibly compact size of 68 x 34 x 26.5mm and weighs only 78g, making it effortless to carry during adventures. Whether clipped onto your chest, held in hand, or slipped into a pocket, its lightweight design ensures convenience without any hassle. Its sleek and durable construction, even without the protective case, feels robust and agile, particularly during outdoor use. For underwater exploration beyond 5m the included case is essential, extending its waterproof capability to a depth of 30m.

A 1.3″ touch screen resides on the back. It’s quick in responsiveness and offers the main function menu, normal mode, time-lapse, slow video, video+photo, car mode and loop video. Its screen doesn’t work when it the case, so the front power button also doubles as a record button, which the case utilises nicely, as well as two side buttons for setting adjustments. Although we’re still puzzled how to go back to the recording window if we press either of these, so we just don’t touch them. Playback is here as well as an inbuilt speaker for previewing clips.

Media

Transferring MP4 video clips and JPEG photos from the camera seems to be achievable through only two methods. Despite having USB-C for charging, our testing revealed that file transfers using this method were not possible. Therefore, the options are to either remove the micro SD card and insert it into a compatible device to access the files directly or utilise the SJCAM app, which makes it simple to wirelessly transfer files. As it records using the widely accepted H.264/H.265 video codecs, we anticipated an ease in terms of editing which proved to be correct.

Video & Audio Quality

Foremost we were impressed by the 135° FOV Ultra-wide-angle lens, as it exhibits only mild distortion right into the corners and edges of the image and captures an expansive view. This is particularly useful for showcasing vista views and for use in-car, for which the camera has a dedicated mode, effectively making it a dashcam when the ignition is on. Bike riders, long boarders, surfers and any other action sporting enthusiasts, will benefit from the six-axis gyro as it very effectively stabilises footage. We found that processing the footage using iMovie on an iPhone can further enhance stabilisation.

4K video at 30 frames per second is continually touted as a flagship feature of the C200 Pro 20-megapixel sensor. It’s a mini powerhouse, capturing action from running, cycling and b-roll type footage with clarity and precision. C200 Pro delivers smooth and immersive footage, even in challenging conditions outdoors (such as a recent snow flurry which the image sensor had no issue with in terms of blurring). Artefacts are coherent and there’s little noise, and overall sharpness impresses. Although there’s sadly absolutely no macro functionality at all, which is fairly typical on action cameras. Compared to the latest iPhone 15 Pro, when using its ultra wide lens, it’s able to hold its own and is a much better value offering than anything from the current GoPro mini lineup. All of our daytime naturally lit footage absolutely makes the grade for online content creation, with audio that is clear and crisp and the two microphones will pick up sounds from 3-4 metres away.

Indoors, under entirely warm white artificial lighting, even in well lit environments flooded with thousands of lumens, the sensor produces a less impressive image by comparison. In our studio we changed the light colour to a cooler tone and then the sensor behaved and the image looked great. This may be because the camera's default recording colour profile leans towards the cool, meaning more noticeable judder from sudden fast motions and overall sharpness is weaker. For variety content creators going indoors and outdoors like vloggers to those who keep track of their side hustles on TikTok, such as by recording their first person shopping experiences in thrift type stores, indoor footage may therefore need colour correcting in an editor.

Verdict

The SJCAM C200 Pro earns its 'pro' label with all its features, making it a valuable choice for those seeking a budget-friendly yet capable action camera option. Its ultra compact design and lightweight build make it ideal for adventurers and content creators alike, while its robust construction ensures durability in outdoor settings. The camera's 4K video capability, impressive stabilisation, and wide-angle lens deliver high-quality footage suitable for various activities, from sports to vlogging. However, its indoor performance under warm lighting may require colour correction for optimal results.

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