The Yi 4K+ uses a new processor. It has four advantages due to its being more powerful and more energy efficient:

1. One can now shoot UHD (4K) video at 60 fps.
2. One can shoot UHD at 30 fps with EIS that is very sophisticated.
3. Battery life is longer.
4. No overheating.

Why do we care about 60 fps? Actually, I can never detect the difference between video shot at 30p and 60p. The key advantage is that you can slow down the video and still have 4K, using 30p as the rendered video.

Why is slowing down useful? You can smooth out camera moves - it smooths out pans and, most importantly, smooths moving with the camera (on a gimbal) - and subject action slowed down makes that action more interesting.

I decided to test out this new camera, taking advantage of its 60p in 4K. I had a gimbal, so I could move with the camera (it also produces motorized pans). To achieve the minimum weight (125 grams) for the gimbal (Feiyu Crane M) I put the camera in its waterproof case. So, I was going to shoot on the beach, temperature over 80 degrees (F) sealed in an airtight case! Will it overheat?

The results:

1. I shot for a period of 1 hour 31 minutes, never turning off the camera in the hot sun, until the battery ran out (first charge). This is longer than any small camera I have used.

2. I shot 50 minutes of 135 Mbps “footage” taking up 51 GBs on the micro sd card during that time.

3. No overheating - again, the camera was on the whole time, and 55% of the time the camera was recording. No other small camera I have used (Sony RX100 IV, GoPro Hero 4 Black and Hero 5, Samsung 360 Gear, Kodak 360 4K) could do that, not even close. Now, overheating can shut the camera down or it can cook the sensor (hello, GoPro and Kodak and Samsung), resulting in low-resolution results. Neither happened.

And here is the edited video, shot on the gimbal - with smooth slowed pans, and slowed moving with the camera and static shots, some slowed. You are seeing 4K, a dynamic video and slow motion!

Yi 4K+ and Gimbal at Savin Rock Beach in 4K on Vimeo

Now, what about using the camera without a gimbal? How good is the EIS in 4K (30p) in eliminating shakes? Here is the 4K test video, all handheld (static shoots).

Yi 4K+ Handheld Stability Test in 4K on Vimeo

Pretty amazing, and I do not see much loss (if any) in resolution. Handheld, 4K, tiny camera - better than the Sony BOSS.

Concerning the first video there is a problem with skipping a frame every second or so.
How did you convert the 60p to 29.97p?

Also the video has superwhites,if you bring the superwhites into legal you can recover some highlights.

Concerning the first video there is a problem with skipping a frame every second or so.
How did you convert the 60p to 29.97p?

I noticed that too. I used Vegas Pro 14: velocity envelope to 52%, then stretch, disable resample. The frame skipping (or whatever it is) ruins the idea that slowing down smooths! Allowing resample results in ghosting/

I do not know Vegas, can you reinterpret the footage as 29.976 in Vegas? That way it just renders the frames at a slower pace instead of changing/skipping them.

I do not know Vegas, can you reinterpret the footage as 29.976 in Vegas? That way it just renders the frames at a slower pace instead of changing/skipping them.

"Reinterpret" is not a command. all the 60p frames were rendered at 30p, and the ones not slowed down are perfect.

Still there is something that went wrong.

Still there is something that went wrong.

Yes, I agree. Perhaps someone with experience with Vegas can also help. I may play around with some settings to see. Thank you for looking, and noticing.

I will be uploading the replacement video tonight (the fraction slowdown had slipped away from 50%).

very nice stuff
I've sworn off buying any new cameras but..
What about charging it if I don't have any usbc. I thought I did when I got a hp envy4k but it wasn't
That dramatic music blasting from some speakers somewhere around there? lol

very nice stuff
I've sworn off buying any new cameras but..
What about charging it if I don't have any usbc. I thought I did when I got a hp envy4k but it wasn't
That dramatic music blasting from some speakers somewhere around there? lol

The usbc port is on the camera, you get a usbc to usb A cable in the box. All a.c. adapters giving out at least 1.5 amps (5 volts) will work to charge, as they all have the standard usbc a port. The camera will work without a battery, just needs 2 amps from an external battery or ac. For $17 from Amazon you can get a charger and two extra batteries. So you can lose the cable...

Whenever people walk in slow motion there must be dramatic music :).

Same link (but I will repeat it here). Smoother motion in the slow motion segments from fixing my glitch in the software.

Yi 4K+ and Gimbal at Savin Rock Beach in 4K on Vimeo

Thanks for your time,Mark
The footage looks good.

Yi 4K+ 4K Video Time Lapse: View From East Rock on Vimeo

This was made from 4000x3000 4:2:2 jpegs.

In and around water.

Yi 4K+ 4K Video: Whitney Woods Water Play on Vimeo

Impressive footage from an action cam, even though I can only watch it at 1080. I checked it out, but looking at the EU model it doesn't seem to have a 25/50p option. Shame.

It does do 25p/50p. Same with 4k and others as well (EU model). Just change the video system settings from NTSC to PAL.

OK, cheers! I couldn't find that info, so assumed it didn't.

Here are the specs:
https://www.yitechnology.com/actioncamera/specs/id/11

YouTube streamed in 4K60p:

https://youtu.be/_n7CXuRq__Y

Vimeo version streamed in 4K 30p, but the original 4K 60p video is downloadable:

Yi 4K+ and Zhiyun Evolution Gimbal: Sound Test in Washington Square in 4K 60p on Vimeo

Sounds from a saxophone, fountains, construction equipment, guitar.

It looks to be quite an improvement on the GoPros, slightly cheaper here too!

Out of interest Mark, how did you capture the audio, internal mikes, external mike or separate recorder? I ask because it sounds pretty clean to me.

I begin to wonder if there is any great need for any other camcorder for general use!:-)

It looks to be quite an improvement on the GoPros, slightly cheaper here too!

Out of interest Mark, how did you capture the audio, internal mikes, external mike or separate recorder? I ask because it sounds pretty clean to me.

I begin to wonder if there is any great need for any other camcorder for general use!:-)

When one uses a lightweight gimbal dedicated to action cams the internal mic ends up right against a motor. So an external mic is necessary. I used the Sony ECM-CS3, clipped to the gimbal.

At the end of this short video I show the "rig" - camera, gimbal and mic.

https://youtu.be/penajKu_Dxs

https://youtu.be/F5rOzqyd7aU

Yi 4K+ on a the Zhiyun Evolution gimbal at the end of the day. Can be viewed in 4K 60p.

https://youtu.be/_Tp_Crs8bQA

Mark, I thought that camera could not accommodate an external mic.

Mark, I thought that camera could not accommodate an external mic.

This is the Yi 4K+. It supports an external mic through the usb-c port (same as the GoPro 5). Yi sells a cheap adaptor - analog port to usb-c.

One must use an external mic when the camera is mounted on most gimbals, because the internal mics are so close to the gimbal motors, and the motor noise is recorded. As you hear in the videos above, there is zero gimbal noise. I use the tiny Sony ECM-CS3 mic, attached with its clip to the gimbal bracket (not the handle, so there is no handling noise and no motor noise).

The rig is pictured at the end of this short video:

https://youtu.be/penajKu_Dxs

https://youtu.be/eWmAQcS-Io0

Note the dynamic range of the audio at the end, when the real train (Amtrak Acela Express) comes.

Mark, got any suggestions on the batteries and cards? My intent is to set up a pair of these to cover me when I am moving.

Mark, got any suggestions on the batteries and cards? My intent is to set up a pair of these to cover me when I am moving.

These batteries work fine, and you get a charger that works well too (I have this set):

https://www.amazon.com/Newmowa-Replacement-Battery-3-Channel-Charger/dp/B01HM8L0Z6/ref=pd_bxgy_421_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=A1BPG4QYYWZTSY2QHKG8

Yi has a list of microsd cards that work on their web site:

https://www.yitechnology.com/yi-4k-plus-action-camera-specs

https://youtu.be/wcrO3V-6O2c

fantastic watching on a 4k 27" hp envy monitor and it's quite lovely.
Any focusing or is the depth of field everything out there?
Have you shot any stage stuff with it?

fantastic watching on a 4k 27" hp envy monitor and it's quite lovely.
Any focusing or is the depth of field everything out there?
Have you shot any stage stuff with it?

The wide-angle lens ensures a big DOF. See the close-ups of the telescope, with the distant vista still in focus.

No stage stuff yet - the camera does need a lot of light.

Have you defished the footage or is it unaltered?
Most cameras do well in daylight so it will be interesting to see some spotlit stuff

Have you defished the footage or is it unaltered?
Most cameras do well in daylight so it will be interesting to see some spotlit stuff

No alteration in post, except some gamma adjustments.

There is a spot meter mode, which will be very useful for spotlit scenes!

Yi 4K+ 4K Slow Motion Video: Hudson River Park Strollers and Runners on Vimeo

Yi 4K+ Cinema Sample on Vimeo

24p, 2:39 aspect ratio, shot flat color and color graded.

I'm wondering if the Yi 4K +1 will employ the DSCRX0 1" sensor?
Have you any indoor footage to show? please and thank you :)

I'm wondering if the Yi 4K +1 will employ the DSCRX0 1" sensor?
Have you any indoor footage to show? please and thank you :)

Here is low-light 4K test footage - shot at 4K24P ISO 800. It was very dark - one light bulb in the ceiling. This was shot to imitate what the scene looked like, not to push to make it brighter than it looked to the naked eye.

Yi 4K+ 4K Low-Light (ISO800) Test Video on Vimeo

Is there any control over the audio level or is it AGC like the GoPros?

thanks, that was illuminating :)
not to shabby at all and quite natural. I could get 2 of these for the price or a RX0

Is there any control over the audio level or is it AGC like the GoPros?

I hate AGC, squashing dynamics and pushing up noise when there are low level sounds. However, in recent years almost all cameras use a limiter rather than aggressive AGC, and it is much better.

The Yi 4K+ allows setting two levels for audio, low and high. High is the "natural" setting. The dynamic range is large, with no pumping. 'Low' is for rock concerts, where the levels are very loud and constant.

At 2:34 in this video, a train passes by. You can hear the incredible dynamic range - from soft to very loud to soft again. That can only happen without aggressive AGC. I can see it on the audio waveform.

https://youtu.be/eWmAQcS-Io0

If you listen to some of the above posted videos with ambient sound, you will also hear large differences in amplitude depending on closeness to subject and subject levels.

Thanks Mark.

I had to ask, we went for a ride on a road "train", a diesel powered mock steam locomotive with a few seated cars behind. I only had the GoPro (Hero 4 Silver) handy, so I used it with the stereo Igomic, which gives better quality audio at a lower level than the cheapies, but as we passed buildings the sound level was pumping like mad. Editing is going to be fun!

I am impressed with both the video and audio from your Yi 4K+, so now I need to decide whether to replace the Hero or do without as I did before.

I bought the Yi 4K camera a couple of weeks ago rather than the 4K+ version as I didn't need the extras and the general technical spec was pretty much identical. I am generally pleased with the overall performance of the camera compared with my GoPros and SJ4000s with one exception. Neither my 4K LG tv or my editing system Magix Media Edit Pro 7 will play any of the files from the camera. Magix will normally play absolutely anything and I frequently mix 4K footage from my Panny cams with HD footage. With footage from the Yi, Magix just locks up, although Windows media player will play it. The LG tv comes up with a message that says 'unplayable Format'.

Although the files show as MP4, I don't understand why they are not recognised by Magix or the LG. Has anyone else had this problem with the Yi or can suggest a solution?

Something else I have noticed is that in moderate low light, there is quite heavy graininess/artefacts on any movement. of the subject or the camera. Mark's low light test video is on a totally stationary subject so doesn't show it. It seems to be a common problem with all the action cams, but I expected a bit more from the Sony chip and a 4K spec.

Roger

I bought the Yi 4K camera a couple of weeks ago rather than the 4K+ version as I didn't need the extras and the general technical spec was pretty much identical. I am generally pleased with the overall performance of the camera compared with my GoPros and SJ4000s with one exception. Neither my 4K LG tv or my editing system Magix Media Edit Pro 7 will play any of the files from the camera. Magix will normally play absolutely anything and I frequently mix 4K footage from my Panny cams with HD footage. With footage from the Yi, Magix just locks up, although Windows media player will play it. The LG tv comes up with a message that says 'unplayable Format'.

Although the files show as MP4, I don't understand why they are not recognised by Magix or the LG. Has anyone else had this problem with the Yi or can suggest a solution?

Something else I have noticed is that in moderate low light, there is quite heavy graininess/artefacts on any movement. of the subject or the camera. Mark's low light test video is on a totally stationary subject so doesn't show it. It seems to be a common problem with all the action cams, but I expected a bit more from the Sony chip and a 4K spec.

Roger

This is an odd post in a thread labeled and devoted to the 4K+. The 4K+ has a processor that is twice as powerful as the one in the camera you are posting about. That is relevant not only to the ability to shoot 4K60p, which your camera cannot, but also to low light IQ, since low-light video undergoes noise-reduction processing - that is very processor intensive. So, we cannot know whether what you are seeing in terms of artifacts in low light is the result of having a processor that is too weak, a processor that is similar in power to all action cams that have come out prior to the 4K+.

This is an odd post in a thread labeled and devoted to the 4K+. The 4K+ has a processor that is twice as powerful as the one in the camera you are posting about. That is relevant not only to the ability to shoot 4K60p, which your camera cannot, but also to low light IQ, since low-light video undergoes noise-reduction processing - that is very processor intensive. So, we cannot know whether what you are seeing in terms of artifacts in low light is the result of having a processor that is too weak, a processor that is similar in power to all action cams that have come out prior to the 4K+.

Sorry to make an odd post on your thread Mark I thought there might be some advice available but my bad! I'll disappear and wear sackcloth :-)

Roger

https://youtu.be/iof-YMJnmOA

On the Zhiyun Evolution gimbal.

I set the bitrate at 200 Mbps and shot for 1.25 hours, resulting in 47 GB's of video clips. The temperature was 76 F, with direct sunlight. No overheating, no frames dropped. Perfectly normal, except for somewhat higher battery draw, but I had still had 33% left when I stopped.

Here is the 200 Mbps-shot 4K 60P video:

https://youtu.be/bH0hSS3mcAo

This "hack" does not alter the firmware, it just loads the settings in memory. Doing that does not invalidate the warranty, and is easy to install.

Does 200 Mbps make a difference compared with the default of 135 Mbps (a 50% increase)? Who knows; but it does not hurt!

Wow! - where did you get this hack from? It sounds interesting 😊.

Even without this hack, this is a little beast of a camera, which I mainly use for wideangle shots (recording 2.7k50p or 4k50p) with other cameras.

I've got a classical concert coming up this December at an Anglican-style church venue (to accomodate 500 people approx), where I'm going to use two of these little beasts (balcony shot, and audience shot from stage).

Thanks for your clips 😊

https://github.com/irungentoo/Xiaomi_Yi_4k_Camera/tree/master/4k+/bitrate

Gorgeous image! I would be afraid of the hack.....just my luck that I would brick my camera.

https://youtu.be/eIk0qsiF8DU