How does the Tacticam 5.0 video quality compare to something like a GoPro on a sideshot mount?
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Tactacam vs sideshot vs phoneskope vs...
- Thread starter Redick
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I have all of them. I know NUTS. They are all good. Like guns pluses and negatives with all. The sideshot using the phone is probably the best bang for the dollar. The go pro is nice but it's some what challenging to set up because the video screen is so small it makes focusing and adjustments difficult. Just hard to see what's up. However once you get it right it's nice to use. smaller then the phone.
THE BEST VIDEO'S I'VE TAKEN ARE using my I phone X max with a skopephone adaptor fixed to me leupold spotting scope. I have a good one and I'll get the model for if anyone is interested. Paid about $1000 for it and this is giving me the very best video's and it's easy to set up and use. To tell you the truth after stumbling onto this adaptor for the spotting scope I'm not so sure I would have bothered with the thru the rifle scope systems.
NOW it's not as fast as a thru the lens scope. That's the critical difference. The way I'm going to use it is set the spotting scope up looking at a ground hog hole or a pigeon perch on a silo and then trigger the recording on with a remote shutter release. I also will film thru the rifle lens. Trying to do both. I have such a slow internet connection that I can't download anything. Maybe I can resolve that.
My conclusions on the three systems are it's hard to say which one is the best. I'd lean towards the I phone and the side shot but then you need a second phone if you want to record two video's. Which is what the big dogs are doing.
THE SECOND thing I've learned is the quality of the scope you are filming thru is probably as important as any other factor in this. Lots of these rifle scopes lose a lot of clarity when on high magnification. Your' going to notice that with both the side shot go pro system and the tactacame. The sideshot with the phone adaptor compensates for that because you can have the rifle scope on medium power and then zoom in with the phone.
THE BEST VIDEO'S I'VE TAKEN ARE using my I phone X max with a skopephone adaptor fixed to me leupold spotting scope. I have a good one and I'll get the model for if anyone is interested. Paid about $1000 for it and this is giving me the very best video's and it's easy to set up and use. To tell you the truth after stumbling onto this adaptor for the spotting scope I'm not so sure I would have bothered with the thru the rifle scope systems.
NOW it's not as fast as a thru the lens scope. That's the critical difference. The way I'm going to use it is set the spotting scope up looking at a ground hog hole or a pigeon perch on a silo and then trigger the recording on with a remote shutter release. I also will film thru the rifle lens. Trying to do both. I have such a slow internet connection that I can't download anything. Maybe I can resolve that.
My conclusions on the three systems are it's hard to say which one is the best. I'd lean towards the I phone and the side shot but then you need a second phone if you want to record two video's. Which is what the big dogs are doing.
THE SECOND thing I've learned is the quality of the scope you are filming thru is probably as important as any other factor in this. Lots of these rifle scopes lose a lot of clarity when on high magnification. Your' going to notice that with both the side shot go pro system and the tactacame. The sideshot with the phone adaptor compensates for that because you can have the rifle scope on medium power and then zoom in with the phone.
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Side shot go pro to tacticam. Hard to say imagine quality superior one to the other. The tacticam is easier to use and MUCH less money. If you want to have mounts set up for a bunch of different guns the go pro allows that easier. Pluses and minuses all around.
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I've had them all......Sideshot, Tactacam and Eaglevivion. By far the best video is the Tactacam. Also if you want to just download and post, the Tacticam videos in the proper orientation (no reverse image like Sideshot and Eaglevision). JMHO
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I have a sideshot and just can't get the video right, it always washes out when white objects are in the frame. I am still playing with it. Not to hijack, but if anyone can share tips it would be great. (PMs would work).
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Hajimoto
Member
I have experience with every single manufactured scope camera setup that is commercially available. I started down this rabbit hole to satiate a need for a better scope camera capture method and ended up building one of my own. It was a prism or reflection based design that used a GoPro for image capture. The issue always ended up being the attachment method. One bump and the camera were off-center and all you captured was black clouds or partial images. In my search for a better mousetrap, I purchased all that as available.
Here is a list of the units I personally own and have tested:
ATN X-SIGHT 4K PRO 5-20X (Proprietary camera)
Eaglevision Cam GOPRO 5,6,7 Side-Cam kit
Hajimoto's Scope cam assembly (only for comparison)
Phone Skope (GoPro Hero 5,6 or 7 version)
RusBears Scope Cam (EKEN camera)
SideShot For Gopro Hero 5,6 or 7
TactaCam FTS 5.0 System (Proprietary camera)
First and foremost, there is no other small robust video capture device that does better than a GoPro. While there are several other video capture device options, the most important is clarity or resolution. The technological advancements that GoPro has made means that they are the only commercially viable option that offers a resolution of 1920x1080 and captures at 240 frames a second (FPS). The FPS is important only if you want to track the projectile in flight. For me personally, this was very important and can not be achieved if the image clarity and FPS capture rate were not part of the package. An FPS of 120 can still capture projectiles in flight but not as well as 240 and in most cases, if the other camera does offer 240 FPS you needed to lower the resolution which results in less defined or more pixelated images.
While each manufacturer could offer a rebuttal of how their unit can achieve what I described above, I can tell you that I have tried it and while the camera will capture, it does not capture a superior image than what the GP 5,6 or 7 captures.
There was very specific criteria that needed to be applied in evaluating each of these systems. The criteria and the level of importance of each category are shared below:
That said, any of the units that utilize the GoPro 5,6 or 7 are the best option. They will require a lens change so that you have a larger image in frame as well as the ability to focus the lens on the crosshairs and target.
Because the top two most important criteria were solved with a GoPro 5,6 or 7, that leaves:
Of these, I will rank them in order:
Eaglevision Cam GOPRO 5,6,7 Side-Cam kit
SideShot For GoPro (Hero 5,6 or 7)
Phone Skope GoPro (Hero 5,6 or 7 version)
Phone Skope
The Phone Skope is a good unit and uses a clamping or attachment method that uses rubber, steel, and plastic. The GoPro adaptor plate is 100% reliant on the GoPro Square lens protector to be installed which in some cases, a lens change means this square protector must be removed rendering the Phone Skope no way of attaching to the GoPro (see image below). So these hurdles took the Phone Skope out of the running for me.
It was a tough choice between EagleVision and the SideShot because of their superior build quality and rigid attachment. Either of these units is the world's best scope camera option but we must have a winner and that winner would have to be.......
Eaglevision.
Because the unit offers a choice of 50% to camera, (reflection), 50% pass to your eye, (transmission). Ideal for recording at darkish times or poor eyesight. 75% to the camera, (reflection), 25% passes to your eye, (transmission) Ideal for professional who wants a better quality of the recording. The ease of mounting from scope to scope without the need for additional brackets is awesome. The disadvantage of the collet system used by the Eaglevision system is if you have a scope with a nonconcentric eyepiece or a battery compartment like shown at #10 you may not be able to clamp it on.
Side Shot
I will say that when it comes to a rigid capture platform, not one of the units tops the Side Shot for a super solid camera mount. when the clamp is on the scope you can remove the unit to use on another rifle in 5 seconds. Also when you want to capture video, it can be mounted and ready to capture in about 8 seconds. Very repeatable and firm attachment method. The super awesome feature of the Side Shot is that it can pretty much be mounted to any nonconcentric eyepiece or a battery compartment (see image below) type scope as the attachment ring is out of the way and any image rotational issues can be corrected in post-production.
Again, if you are looking for superior scope cam capture, the camera drives the choice and the mounting system is a slam dunk with either the Side Shot or the Eaglevision setups. The manufacturers of these two systems are awesome people passionate creators and it shows in their products.
I hope this helps.
Here is a list of the units I personally own and have tested:
ATN X-SIGHT 4K PRO 5-20X (Proprietary camera)
Eaglevision Cam GOPRO 5,6,7 Side-Cam kit
Hajimoto's Scope cam assembly (only for comparison)
Phone Skope (GoPro Hero 5,6 or 7 version)
RusBears Scope Cam (EKEN camera)
SideShot For Gopro Hero 5,6 or 7
TactaCam FTS 5.0 System (Proprietary camera)
First and foremost, there is no other small robust video capture device that does better than a GoPro. While there are several other video capture device options, the most important is clarity or resolution. The technological advancements that GoPro has made means that they are the only commercially viable option that offers a resolution of 1920x1080 and captures at 240 frames a second (FPS). The FPS is important only if you want to track the projectile in flight. For me personally, this was very important and can not be achieved if the image clarity and FPS capture rate were not part of the package. An FPS of 120 can still capture projectiles in flight but not as well as 240 and in most cases, if the other camera does offer 240 FPS you needed to lower the resolution which results in less defined or more pixelated images.
While each manufacturer could offer a rebuttal of how their unit can achieve what I described above, I can tell you that I have tried it and while the camera will capture, it does not capture a superior image than what the GP 5,6 or 7 captures.
There was very specific criteria that needed to be applied in evaluating each of these systems. The criteria and the level of importance of each category are shared below:
- 40% - Clarity of video images.
- 20% - Capture speed (Frames Per Second).
- 20% - Build quality.
- 19% - The rigidity of the mounting system.
- 1% - Esthetics.
That said, any of the units that utilize the GoPro 5,6 or 7 are the best option. They will require a lens change so that you have a larger image in frame as well as the ability to focus the lens on the crosshairs and target.
Because the top two most important criteria were solved with a GoPro 5,6 or 7, that leaves:
- 20% - Build quality.
- 19% - The rigidity of the mounting system.
- 1% - Esthetics.
Of these, I will rank them in order:
Eaglevision Cam GOPRO 5,6,7 Side-Cam kit
SideShot For GoPro (Hero 5,6 or 7)
Phone Skope GoPro (Hero 5,6 or 7 version)
Phone Skope
The Phone Skope is a good unit and uses a clamping or attachment method that uses rubber, steel, and plastic. The GoPro adaptor plate is 100% reliant on the GoPro Square lens protector to be installed which in some cases, a lens change means this square protector must be removed rendering the Phone Skope no way of attaching to the GoPro (see image below). So these hurdles took the Phone Skope out of the running for me.
It was a tough choice between EagleVision and the SideShot because of their superior build quality and rigid attachment. Either of these units is the world's best scope camera option but we must have a winner and that winner would have to be.......
Eaglevision.
Because the unit offers a choice of 50% to camera, (reflection), 50% pass to your eye, (transmission). Ideal for recording at darkish times or poor eyesight. 75% to the camera, (reflection), 25% passes to your eye, (transmission) Ideal for professional who wants a better quality of the recording. The ease of mounting from scope to scope without the need for additional brackets is awesome. The disadvantage of the collet system used by the Eaglevision system is if you have a scope with a nonconcentric eyepiece or a battery compartment like shown at #10 you may not be able to clamp it on.
Side Shot
I will say that when it comes to a rigid capture platform, not one of the units tops the Side Shot for a super solid camera mount. when the clamp is on the scope you can remove the unit to use on another rifle in 5 seconds. Also when you want to capture video, it can be mounted and ready to capture in about 8 seconds. Very repeatable and firm attachment method. The super awesome feature of the Side Shot is that it can pretty much be mounted to any nonconcentric eyepiece or a battery compartment (see image below) type scope as the attachment ring is out of the way and any image rotational issues can be corrected in post-production.
Again, if you are looking for superior scope cam capture, the camera drives the choice and the mounting system is a slam dunk with either the Side Shot or the Eaglevision setups. The manufacturers of these two systems are awesome people passionate creators and it shows in their products.
I hope this helps.
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Are there any continental US resellers for Eaglevision selling the 75/25 Eaglevision GoPro H7 Scope Cam mount and the 12mm lens, or is Eaglevision in the UK the only ordering option?
I see several Eaglevision distributors in the US, but none seem to stock the GPH7 scope cam mount.
If ordering from the UK is the only option, does anyone know how long it is taking these days?
Thanks.
I see several Eaglevision distributors in the US, but none seem to stock the GPH7 scope cam mount.
If ordering from the UK is the only option, does anyone know how long it is taking these days?
Thanks.
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I f your a shooter and you want to see or show others what you do out there 
the tactacam is the way to go very easy setup and very user friendly I set one up on my IOR RECON here's some footage at 28X magnification now I can see the images a little brighter and clearer through the scope than the video but you can still see the pellet holes in that pole and the video is good enough for a 450.00 dollar setup the Tactacam has a vibration feature also so you know your filming 
I couldn't tell if my light was flashing or not so I set mine up to vibrate when I start recording in zoom or slo mo for regular 240 it just flashes when recording
https://youtu.be/PDAb7Jo0Udo
the tactacam is the way to go very easy setup and very user friendly I set one up on my IOR RECON here's some footage at 28X magnification now I can see the images a little brighter and clearer through the scope than the video but you can still see the pellet holes in that pole and the video is good enough for a 450.00 dollar setup the Tactacam has a vibration feature also so you know your filming I couldn't tell if my light was flashing or not so I set mine up to vibrate when I start recording in zoom or slo mo for regular 240 it just flashes when recording https://youtu.be/PDAb7Jo0Udo
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Which Eagle vision do you recommend 50/50 or 75/25 I shoot mostly in the shade I have a Element optic helix I have the side shot gopro and it’s not working good with the helix but good with my 4-16 Hawke scope Maybe the Eagle vision will let in more light
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There are two key places you can improve the light that gets to the GoPro... the lens and the beam splitter. If you want the most light available for making the video, use the lens that lets the most light through, and the 75/25 Eagle Vision beam splitter. The Eagle Vision 1/1.8 12mm lens is better than the 1/2.3 12mm lens as far as light goes. After that, it's pretty much up to your camera settings to improve the quality based on the light that is available.
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I use the eagle vision with a firefly 8se 90 degree lens and adapter I built for it. I’m pretty OCD with my video quality and the only system, I haven’t tested is the GoPro with Backbone lens that will cost More than my rifle, no thanks.
Im pretty happy with the quality of the firefly camera, 120fps in HD so happy that I have another adapter for the sideshot, the quality is good with the sideshot but the 75-25 eagle vision gives so much light to the camera that it's impossible to compete with that. Really wish sideshot had a better prism, because the system is better than the eagle vision, mount once and forget. The eagle vision is a pain to align.
Let me mention this, because this is really really important, it wasn’t until I did this that my videos really went to another level. Remember you are filming and optics are really important. It wasnt until I bought a bad ass scope with a super glass that I sarted to see the difference on the footage. You can have whatever system you want, if your scope glass is not up to the other glass you are filming then you are not going to have same quality you see on the big youtubers videos.
I’m going to film a video and share what I’ve learned in my quest to a better scope footage. And I’ll show a comparison between my scope and another low end scope and same equipment. Hope people will find that interesting
Im pretty happy with the quality of the firefly camera, 120fps in HD so happy that I have another adapter for the sideshot, the quality is good with the sideshot but the 75-25 eagle vision gives so much light to the camera that it's impossible to compete with that. Really wish sideshot had a better prism, because the system is better than the eagle vision, mount once and forget. The eagle vision is a pain to align.
Let me mention this, because this is really really important, it wasn’t until I did this that my videos really went to another level. Remember you are filming and optics are really important. It wasnt until I bought a bad ass scope with a super glass that I sarted to see the difference on the footage. You can have whatever system you want, if your scope glass is not up to the other glass you are filming then you are not going to have same quality you see on the big youtubers videos.
I’m going to film a video and share what I’ve learned in my quest to a better scope footage. And I’ll show a comparison between my scope and another low end scope and same equipment. Hope people will find that interesting
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Orion... it looks like you're in the US (Florida). Did you order your Eagle Vision GoPro Side Cam system directly from Eagle Vision Cam in the UK? If so, did it get held by US Customs for an extended inspection coming into the States? Also, did you have to pay addition duties/tariffs to get it released for delivery? How long did it take from order to delivery?
I have one still in Customs going through inspection (2 days to get to the US, 30 days and counting in Customs...). I had to pay an additional $44 in duties, and am still waiting.
Thanks for the feedback on your order.
I have one still in Customs going through inspection (2 days to get to the US, 30 days and counting in Customs...). I had to pay an additional $44 in duties, and am still waiting.
Thanks for the feedback on your order.
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Hi Chuck,
Wow my experience was not like that at all! It came from their site in the UK but it was really quick, I remember ordering and after around 2 weeks I had it on my hands! Any explanation on why you have to pay import duties on the adapter? Man that really sucks!
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Well, that's good. Sounds like this might just be a thing where it just sucks to have your package randomly selected for in-depth inspection. Could also be they recognized it as an item that could have duties charged. Who knows... and there is no such thing as fighting with US Customs and winning, so I just paid the duties and am trying to patiently wait. I actually thought about buying a second one and seeing if it sailed through and arrived before the first one, but my luck would be they'd both be detained and have duties applied.
Fortunately, I have a Side-Shot with a GoPro HERO 7 with the 1/1.8 Eagle Vision lens installed to get me by until it arrives. I am looking forward to the 75/25 beam splitter to give the video that extra bit of light to improve the quality. Nobody thinks about all the videos they see from South Africa showing that beautiful slomo pellet/slug in flight at 240 fps. They are always in beautiful sunny conditions, bright as can be. I get a lot of overcast days, or shooting at something in shadow, and the light is at that threshold where the video just doesn't look clean and crisp. Light is King in this "pellet in flight" video game, so you have to give it every bit you can. Hope it is worth it, and can be visibly seen as an improvement.
How is yours working out?
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Mine is great. I didn't like the image quality I was getting out if the GoPro with their lens. Is like if the image is too soft, so I did an adapter and I'm using my firefly with it, no lens removal, work out of the box, but needs to be the 90 degree lens.
I like way better the definition I got out if this camera, sharper images. I'll post later a picture of my creation
I like way better the definition I got out if this camera, sharper images. I'll post later a picture of my creation
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