SJCam C300 Review: A Tiny, Inexpensive Action Camera with Many Accessories

It would not be surprising if many are unfamiliar with SJCam, yet the Chinese company has been making low-cost action cameras since 2011. The SJCam C300 is a recent addition to their product line, and at $159.00, it has quite a lot to offer. Those familiar with the GoPro Hero and DJI Osmo Action cameras will immediately ask how does this much-less-expensive camera compare? The quick answer is not particularly well, but considering those cameras cost three times as much, we need to examine the C300 further.

The SJCam is available for purchase as the C300 Pocket or the C300. Both versions are available in either black or white finishes.

The SJCam C300 Pocket kit ($139.00) includes only the camera, the 1000mAh battery, and a USB-C cable. The SJCam C300 kit ($159.00) consists of the camera, the 1000mAh battery and a USB-C cable, a 2800mAh removable battery in an extended handle with a second touchscreen, three different mounts, a lanyard, a helmet installation base and an enclosure waterproof to 98 feet.

We are using the full C300 kit for this review.

The SJCam C300 is unique because it can be used in one of two configurations.

In its smallest form, it uses a removable 1000mAh lithium-ion battery that snaps directly to the camera with a claimed battery life of two hours. In this configuration, the camera is tiny and can be combined with any of the multiple accessories that come in the kit.

In its larger configuration, the camera is extended with a vertically oriented handle and now has buttons and touchscreens on both sides. The larger battery has a claimed life of up to six hours, but the actual battery life may be much less, depending on how the camera is used.

When used in this configuration, you can switch back and forth between the first and third-person perspectives. This extended handle has a standard ¼” screw mount on the bottom for use with tripods. It is important to remember that all of the mounts that come in the full kit are designed to work only with the camera in its smaller configuration.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

The SJCam C300 is designed to be easy to use with 1.3″ HD touchscreens and a removable remote control.

SJCam also offers a companion app that connects by scanning a QR code on the camera’s display screen. I found using the touchscreen a bit annoying as the icons are tiny, and I often select the wrong one.

There are a few functions that are particularly difficult to find; oddly, the playback function is one of them. In order to view photos or videos that are on the drive, users need to swipe down on the touchscreen and then swipe left to reveal the playback function.

Using the companion app greatly improves the experience and also provides a much better view of what the camera sees.

The SJCam C300 offers many shooting options, including video, stills, video lapse, Slow Rec, Car Mode (using motion detection), and Live Broadcast. The camera has a maximum video resolution of 4K with options for 2K, 1080P, and 720P with a maximum frame rate of 120FPS. The C300 can also take 20-megapixel still photos.

Per SJCam, the C300 features built-in noise reduction technology to reduce video noise and improve image quality. The camera captures JPG stills and uses high-quality, low-latency H.265/H.264 video encoding. H.265 encoding reduces the video storage requirement by half compared to H.264 (used on older cameras) while maintaining visual quality.

In my experience, however, the image quality is not up to the quality most consumers have come to expect. The video quality at 4K is noticeably rough. The camera does not do a great job with overcast skies, and even in the still images is noticeably below par.

Could it be that we have all become spoiled with the ever-improving quality of small action cameras?

That may be part of it, but in actual use, the 4K footage does not appear to be any higher resolution than the 2K. Please view the playlist of short videos, each presented in their native resolution and orientation, to get an idea of the capabilities of this camera.

In my research for this review, I came across reviews claiming that this camera’s chipset and sensor are incapable of true 4K video and that it interpolates 2K to 4K. It is possible that the reviewer was testing a prerelease version of the C300. I came across other reviews that cited the C300 as using a 20-megapixel Sony IMX355 sensor powered by the Novatek 96660 chipset.

Like most consumers who will consider this camera, I don’t plan on dissecting it to see what is inside. Instead, we need to go by the results.

Under the correct conditions, this camera yields acceptable results. Under less-than-ideal conditions, the C300 offers users controls for many settings such as sharpness, saturation, contrast, and even white balance and ISO. If the operator takes the time to make the proper adjustments, they can achieve better results.

It is my guess that most consumers who opt for an action camera at this price range may not adjust settings and simply point and shoot. Their results will vary accordingly.

The SJCam C300, being an action camera, comes with a built-in six-axis gyro stabilizer which, using the image processor, does a decent job of reducing shaking and minimizing bumps.

As many who purchase this camera will mount it on mountain bikes, surfboards, or their helmets, the stabilization will be very useful.

Much like the GoPro, the SJCam C300 also features a 60-second pre-record function so that you never miss the beginning of the action. The full C300 kit also includes a wireless remote control which ships attached to the selfie stick, but for some reason, the attachment point is too large to clip onto the stick or your fingers securely. SJCam sells an accessory, available separately, that allows it to be worn like a watch.

As far as connectivity is concerned, the SJCam C300 has built-in WiFi enabling users to download photos and videos to the iOS/Android SJCAM app and share them directly to social media platforms. The app also offers editing tools and allows you to live stream from the camera.

When the 2800mAh battery is in place, the extended handle includes a USB-A port which, when connected to a computer with the included cable, offers three options: Mass Storage, PC Camera, and Charge Only. This direct access to the camera as a drive makes getting large files to your computer quick and easy.

The C300’s 154 degrees FOV lens, high resolution, and small footprint also make it a very decent little webcam to use with Zoom or whatever online meeting app you use.

The SJCam C300 includes a microSD card holder and supports up to 128GB capacity cards for recording. While the capacity is great, the choice of mechanism for holding the microSD card is not my favorite; microSD cards are tiny and fragile, and the lock-down mechanism inside the camera’s body seems likely to wear or damage the cards themselves.

Luckily, with the WiFi connectivity and USB-C cable options, exchanging cards is minimized, but it seems to me that, especially as the body of the camera is not itself waterproof, the issue could have been avoided using a spring-loaded slot as found on most action cameras.

Another unforced error, it seems to me, is the lack of a microphone on the front of the camera. With the lens facing forward, away from the user, the mic on the back of the camera does a mediocre job of capturing sound. Facing the user, the sound is reduced further by half. This is especially strange as one of this camera’s potential uses is for vlogging.

This camera has one capability that is not stressed in the promotional materials, and that is the ability to shoot still images in sequence or “Photo Lapse,” as found in the menu. This is not to be confused with “Video Lapse,” in which the total video is compressed in time, resulting in a timelapse video.

Instead, in photo lapse mode, the camera takes still photos at whatever resolution is selected, up to 20MP at whatever frequency is selected from the menu.

The result is potentially hundreds of high-resolution still photos that can be combined in editing software. This provides the ability to create an HD or 4K window within the photos and create moves within the overall extent of the images. This adds another creative use for a tiny camera that you can throw into your pocket.

What’s in the box?

• C300 pocket action camera
• 1000mAh battery
• Extended battery grip (2800mAh battery)
• Waterproof case
• Frame mount
• Base back clip
• Back clip
• Pendant rope mount
• Lanyard
• Base Mount
• 2X Curved and flat mounts
• Mount Screw
• 2X 3M adhesive stickers
• USB-C to USB-A cable
• Microfiber cloth
• SJCAM Stickers
• Quick start manual

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

My review kit included the following optional accessories:

• Wireless remote control
• Selfie stick
• 64GB SJCam microSD card
• Standard ¼” swivel mount

SJCam C300 Specifications

Should You Buy the SJCam C300?

So, would I recommend the SJCam C300? It depends on the user, how they plan to use it, and their expectations. If you are looking for a replacement for a GoPro Hero or DJI Osmo, then you may be disappointed by the image quality, even at this price range. If you are looking for a small and versatile camera on a budget and are willing to work a bit more to get the right look when necessary, then you may want to consider the C300.

If you decide to buy the SJCam C300, you should absolutely purchase the full kit, as for the additional $20, you get an unbelievable amount of gear.

The SJCam C300 (Full kit) sells for $159.00; it is available directly from the manufacturer and other retailers, including B&H Photo and Amazon.

Source: Manufacturer supplied review sample

What I Like: Price; Huge collection of accessories; Multiple shooting modes; Useful as a webcam; Decent stabilization

What Needs Improvement: Image quality; Questionable 4K resolution; Poor audio and microphone placement; Would prefer an SD card slot instead of the snap-down holder