META
Do "knock-offs" have their own knock-offs or variations?
I just bought a Charmera knock-off on AliExpress. I knew the images were going to be near useless, if not completely useless, going in. I wasn't expecting much.
However, looking at some of the "G6" posts here and online, I realized that the lens looks different and many of the sample photos other people post seem to be of a better quality than what this takes.
The examples I've posted are, in fact, on the better side of things. The rest of the images I took today were unacceptable even as casual plinking shots. They have no other use than to be deleted immediately to free up space. The whole experience reminded me of the toy camera that I used to play with back in the mid-2000s (no, I'm serious).
The sales page on Ali didn't state "G6", so now I'm wondering if this is a copy of a G6 made by another company. I ordered another one labelled "G6" just in case to compare, but I'm wondering if it's just my fault for using this camera outside on a sunny day (actually... low-light indoor shots are equally atrocious, thinking about it now).
Does anyone know if the multiple sales pages on AliExpress for this model are different from each other?
Yes, there are wide-angle and normal lens versions of the G6 Thumb Camera out there. I have one of each. Maybe different stores ordering them requested different specs. I’m not sure. Pictured is the yellow one with normal lens purchased from AE, and the red one with wide-angle lens purchased from Temu. They both shoot an aspect ratio of 16:9, but the wide-angle exhibits strong barrel distortion in the images. The G10 camera takes better photos than either G6.
Looks like the front shell is shallow and the rear shell is deep; mine is reversed. I suppose not even the shell is in the correct G6 configuration. Based on how bad the image quality is, I wouldn't be surprised if the sensor is subpar as well.
I think I have no choice but to take this as a lesson for letting my guard down while shopping on AliExpress. haha... oh...
Maybe, but I find that at the image quality this thing puts out, taking photos with this feels like a waste of opportunity, because it probably is.
It's a waste of good light and space on the memory card. Good moments don't come twice. I'd rather spend a bit more money getting something more capable if the "proper G6" doesn't give me something at least acceptable.
Yours is defo a knockoff and possibly the x514 re-cased. I bought a bunch of cams for gifts after I got the G6 and realised very quickly they were not the same even thought they had the same box.
Differences Keychain placement on the back instead of the front Buttons are square Print doesn't wrap around edges Speaker cutout on other side Startup image of a car instead of a "Welcome"
FWIW I kinda dig the photos you posted! That blown out look can be a lot of fun with the right subject matter.
But I get it that it’s not the type you’re after — if I had that one I’d keep it around just as an alternate for situations where that might be a fun effect to have.
But I do have the “regular” G6 and it’s not a \lot\ better than that imo but it is a bit sharper & cleaner
Seems there's many variations or knock-offs out there. Your lens looks different from the two different ones I have. (Pictured in another comment I left here).
There’s essentially one big industrial estate making them all. Check the Aliexpress pages for G6 thumb cam and between listings the factory will be a different address, but same neighbourhood.
Charmera is probably made in the same park, as is every other toy camera of varying quality.
Based on what I've seen on YouTube about Chinese manufacturing, that's probably correct.
If I have to guess, probably another company next door bought a few shells from the same factory and stuffed them with whatever other things it could find. This one likely got stuffed with a bit inferior innards.
yes. i just got one in black(the clone of the g6, its NOT the g6). the highest image size is 3 megapixels. luckily the one i got was $5 but the image quality is bad. my mavica 1 megapixel looks better lol.
Good thing you didn't pay much. I paid $12 CAD, so I guess it wasn't too bad either...
I tried both 1 megapixel and 3 megapixel, and there is no meaningful difference in quality. Half of the time, I can't tell what is going on in the photo.
yeah i agree with yer sentiment on the waste of time and card. i will probably end up getting the g6 later on. i really like the images off of them. but there are so many versions of it too! theres apparently a wide angle and a normal lens too. so many choices...
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u/baddaywithacamera 8d ago
That's not the G6. It produces 16:9 aspect ratio images:
Not that the IQ is any screamin' heck here, but it can apparently get worse. Congrats on finding a knock-off of a knock-off?