J. M.
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This camera does follow file creation in a similar way to what Go Pro and some action cams do, and that is just that one video will also produce a thumbnail the (".THM files"), a 240x360 low resolution video which is an MP4, as the main file with extension of ".SEC" in adition to the main video file output with the extension ".MP4". The Camera also does incorporate data compression for video and stills which can increase digital noise in the images, and this setting is not adjustable.
You can use an IR illuminator in many cases, or even a regular flashlight as the sensor and camera CPU are working as a "Light Amplifier". Useful video resolution in IR mode is 2K, and the distance you can resolve details of the subject will depend on light that is available, but do not expect the same level of image definition as you would see in videos shot with indoor lighting or daylight
Current units have the still image area as high as 48 MegaPixels, the resulting image file size is closer in size to those of a 6 Megapixel camera. Not a terrible thing, but large prints made from those images will have a soft focus appearance.
It accepts 37mm camera filters, though the plastic you thread your filters to is a little soft, with modest care you should have no issues. If you want to make videos with vibrant colors in autumn (or other times of year), you will want to have a "Linear Polarizer" as you will see color intensifying when setting the shot up, as you rotate the filter (Rotating the Linear Polarizing filter 90 degrees from your peak color, will mute the colors while also making water reflections or windows of a building more reflective. A "Circular Polarizer" only perks up color slightly, and rotating a CP filter does nothing more.). Due to how the camera is made, you will get "ghost images" as demonstrated in the video when cam is pointed towards the moon, so keeping that in mind for use at night and avoiding (when possible), light sources being immediately in front of the camera..
As you see in the video a lot of camera movement due to it being hand held, which I try to avoid doing for this very reason (though you see such camera motion being done on purpose on TV and movies for that "Documentary Style".). Adding a "cage" Like the Zeadio can help reduce excess camera motion as you have more to hold onto, or possibly an inexpensive gimbal for even smoother image recording. Or just use a tripod (Even with the cage attached to the camera.).
Overall, this is a decent camera, especially for the IR aspect. If you are hunting ghosts with this, this is not a bad way to go. For budding videographers, this is a good starting point all the around, but what I found with a high end editing program, the ends of each video are "rough" which just means you have to trim a few frames off each end, or the video tends to halt at the edit points when rendering.
There is an issue in the firmware, minor, but it prevents the camera memory card from being recognized when plugged into a computer running Windows 10. Leaving ejecting the SD card to download as the only option (use care as dropping the card even 1 foot can in some cases erase files.). There are inexpensive card readers available, so a good "add on" to consider at check out.
I tried to present many of the conditions one might use this camera for. Indoor performance was fine and as you would expect; so I chose to show those situations you may only think of as after thought.
The faults with the camera are few. Be aware most importantly of the fact that the "image counter" of the camera resets to zero if the battery is removed or allowed to run down to zero charge; which means you should either unload the video segments from the SD card at the end each shooting period, or carry extra SD cards and swap those when you change the battery. However, of important note is the camera can operate "tethered" via the USB cord to an external battery (With no battery in the camera, I tested specifically for this.) (or even via the wall adapter you use for charging.). The counters will be "remembered" as long as the battery is not removed or discharged excessively,
DAKTRAN