Review SOONPHO M-6 Remote&Tracking Pan Tilt

This item allows you to move a camera, camera, smartphone, or any other object that has a 1/4" hole at the bottom for the classic screw used in camera equipment to be clear. The construction is solid and not just plastic, but even pops up a few metal details here and there, such as the side screws that allow swinging.

M-6 Remote&Tracking Pan Tilt 

Has a dual function: remote and monitoring. It mounts stepper motors with higher accuracy than traditional motors.

• remotely has 8 speeds for pan and tilt. 
• wide speed adjustment range from 4r/ min to 0.03r/ min
• 2 preset positions in memory and can be recalled with a button
• 100 channels

Also can automatically scan between A and B, and the scanning speed can be adjusted. The M-6 has a shooting port and connects the camera by cable and can take photos remotely. Such as pan tracking and pan tilt, supports gesture recognition, can charge camera phones up to 2 kg. There is a 1/4" screw hole at the bottom of M-6 and can be easily installed on the tripod. 

Can be used for live streaming, photos, etc.

First operation: charge the battery of M-6 and insert the 2 batteries (provided in the package) into the remote control. Charging M-6, if the battery is low, can take several hours.

This is how it appears:

Instruction Manual

M-6 is turned on by moving the slider to the 0 position and is already ready for horizontal rotation (H) and vertical tilt (V).

The display has 3 lines and indicates

CH = channel (must be the same as that of the remote control. Channel 5)    A B are the positions

V = Vertical   028.0 the degrees of tilt starting from 0.0 (all tilted forward) to 53.9 (all tilted backward). So 30.0 is the position parallel to the plane on which M-6 is resting.

S:8 = Vertical speed 8 (on 9 speeds) 

H = Horizontal. 020.2 Are the degrees of the horizontal axis starting from 0.0 to 359.9 

S:6 = Horizontal speed 6 (on 9 speeds) 

Set A and B positions

To rotate M-6 from position A to position B, the 2 positions must be memorized, which can be preset and recalled with a single key.

These settings must be made with the keypad of M-6 

.

Select a position by moving M-6 with the remote control, then long press the "A" button until the "A" on the LCD turns green. In this way, position A is memorized.

To memorize position B repeat the same operation.

When the two positions are memorized just press Auto and A or B at the same time and M-6 will move to the memorized position.

Remote control

The remote signal turns green if the channel number of M-6 is the same as the remote channel. When the signal is green, the remote control is ready for use. If the channel number is not consistent with the remote channel number, the red character "SELECT CH" flashes on the LCD.  At the same time, the channel number also flashes. Press the UP or DOWN key to change the remote channel, and when it is the same channel as M-6, press OK to confirm.

Warning

Turn on M-6 ( POWER switch) first and then turn on the remote control. The remote control will automatically turn off after 5 minutes, if it has not received commands then it will be necessary to act on the POWER switch again.

Select channel with remote control

Long press the menu button on the remote control, the remote channel number will flash, press the UP or DOWN button to change the channel number. Press OK to confirm.

Long press the MENU button on the remote control, and the channel number will flash
then press the UP or DOWN key to change the channel number.
Press OK to confirm.

Select the rotation and tilt speed with the remote control

Quickly press the MENU key, and on the display the rotation speed number flashes.
Select the speed with the UP or DOWN keys.
Press OK to confirm.
Press the MENU key again, and the tilt speed number flashes on the display.
Select the speed with the UP or DOWN keys.
Press OK to confirm.

Return to positions A and B

Pressing Auto and "A" at the same time, M-6 to position A automatically.

Pressing Auto and "B" at the same time, M-6 to position B automatically.

The A and B icons on the LCD will flash until M-6 returns to the correct position.

Rotation scan from A to B

Pressing the Auto and S keys simultaneously will cause the M-6 to scan repeatedly from A to B according to the selected speed. Press the S key again to end the scan.

Warning

Positions A and B must be reset after the scanning mode.

Continuous rotation

Simultaneously pressing the Auto button and the LEFT arrow will automatically rotate the M-6 to the left, press the LEFT button again to stop the rotation.

Tracking mode

The power switch has 3 positions: middle is off, top is remote, and bottom is tracking.

Move the switch up to remote mode and adjust the camera angle so that it frames the face of the person to be tracked. Move the switch down, to the tracking mode, the tracking light comes on and tracking is started.

• Green light on = tracking
• Green light flashing = weak signal or missing target
• Red light on = stop tracking

Tracking supports gesture recognition:

• OK with hand = start tracking
• Stop with hand = stop tracking

Warning

The camera lens embedded in M-6 tracking cannot recognize gestures or people if the ambient brightness is too dim: the tracking result may not be correct, and sometimes the gesture may not be recognized.

Remote photography

Use a shutter cable to connect the M-6, turn on the camera, turn on the M-6, turn on the remote control, press the PHOTO button to take photos.

Warning

Shutter cable is not included in the accessories.

Noise

Slight noise is always present.

However, as far as noise is concerned, it all depends on the weight of the camera and what lens it is equipped with. 

Nikon D780 + Nikkor 24-120 weight 1,750 Kg

• In horizontal rotation no appreciable noise.
• In front vertical ascent there is, in addition to the slight engine noise, some noise of gears straining rather noticeable from 3° to 14°
• In rear vertical ascent no appreciable noise.

Jerky motion

In horizontal rotation, no appreciable jerk; movement is smooth.

Very noticeable in rear vertical end-stop and restart.

Nikon Coolpix  500 grams

In horizontal rotation no snap , the movement is very smooth

In front and back vertical ascent no snap.

Conclusions

For the price it is a good PTZ, motion is reasonably smooth, and motion noise is all in all acceptable (due to the good idea of using stepper motors, by the way much more expensive, instead of the usual electric motors with brushes) as long as the recording microphone is at least 50 cm away and directed forward.  This is if you are using smartphones, small cameras with a weight not exceeding one kilogram. For objects weighing more than or close to 1.5 kilograms, M-6 has some limitations and then it depends on the work to be done. 

As a hobbyist object it may be fine, it does its job decently for the price. More demanding or professional applications require the use of more expensive equipment.

Review YT-1200 Smart Wireless Electric PTZ

The brand name of this item is in this case "Andoer," but it is an item that is produced by a Chinese factory without any printed brand name so those who sell it can call it whatever they want and it is identified as YT-1200 or YT1200. There are many of them under different names.

This item is a motorized head (with 1/4" photography screw on the quick release plate) for tripod that allows, via remote control, a camera or smartphone to turn right, left, forward backward. Which is very convenient for live shots, panorama, etc.

I bought it on Amazon and in general it works quite well, however, the one that has come to me has a major flaw that we will see later. The manual is in English and Chinese and is rather "basic" as I show at the bottom of this review.

The box arrived in miserable condition, visibly unsealed, dented and crushed despite being inside another box, a clear sign of a product already used and (probably) returned.

Let's look at the features:

• Rotation: 360° at 9 speed levels
• Front tilt: 35°
• Rear tilt: 35°

Cameras weighing no more than 1 kg can be placed on the base.

The remote control transmits at 2.4 GHz up to 100 meters (stated by the manufacturer), has 99 channels, 

housing for 2 1.5v mini-stylus batteries, 

all functions usable with a color display on 4 lines of text.

Provided in the package also are:

• USB C cable for charging the 2 Amp Li-ion battery
• Battery 2 A Li-ion

• Smartphone stand

• Quick release plate with 1/4" threaded screw

Movement is smooth both horizontally, vertically, and 360° as long as the camera weighs no more than 1 kg.

The options are quite a lot and let's see them with the manual (in English or Chinese only) which is very complicated and poorly written in hard-to-understand English.

Power on

Turns on manually by pressing the leftmost button for 2 seconds.

Battery check

When the PTZ is turned on, a click on the power button will display the battery charge percentage.

Channels

By default the selected channel is 0. Make sure it is otherwise press the S key on the remote control for 2 seconds and select it.

The functions that this YT-1200 performs, in addition to the movements we saw earlier, are:

• Time lapse
• Panorama
• Remote shutter release (with cable not supplied)
• Saving and recalling 99 positions

Dimensions

134 mm x 129 mm x 115 mm

Weight 540 g + 55 g phone stand

Conclusions

The construction is quite solid and the controls work properly. The sample I purchased could not charge the battery beyond 65% (I tried different USB chargers).

The item is lightweight, so if you plan to use a DSLR with a lens heavier than a 50 mm, I don't recommend it because in front and back tilt it has some snap. Compact cameras and smartphones give no problems.  

Another problem is the instruction booklet in English ( and Chinese).  There are too many controls, the booklet is minimal, and the functions are unfortunately explained in a telegraphic way that is difficult for those without PTZ experience to understand.

Overall it is a good PTZ, the price is attractive because it is under 100 euros, and maybe I will buy the same model again since I am now familiar with the controls and need to mount a compact camera that weighs little, 450 grams, hoping that it will arrive to me sealed and fully functional.

Manual

Remote control

The connection distance between the remote control and the YT-1200 is stated in 100 meters, but from my tests I was able to establish the connection up to 150 meters.

Hey everyone! 

You can download the App by clicking on this link which will take you to the Play Store.

Today, I want to tell you how Tiiips app has evolved over time. 

In the first version, the Tiiips app read product barcodes. 

In order to give users the widest possible result when searching for ingredients, we opted to read the label containing the ingredients, abandoning the barcode, thereby significantly improving functionality. 

Often barcodes are out of date, missing on many products, especially those made by small manufacturers offering natural or environmentally sustainable alternatives. 

To provide useful and simple dietary guidance, we have created several mathematical formulas that produce quick and effective results, working on:

The relevance of "Relevant quantity" and "Small quantity"

Food products and diet

• products containing ingredients in red should be avoided. This judgment is derived from scientific studies on the subject that are posted on tiiips.com in the ingredient description.

• if "Relevant quantity" appears next to the orange ingredient you should avoid the product or take only one serving per week

• "Minimum quantity" next to the ingredient will help you choose the best product.

Cosmetic products and skin contact

• products containing ingredients in red should be avoided.

• if "Relevant Quantity" appears next to the orange ingredient , we recommend using the product sporadically while checking for irritation.

• "Minimum quantity" next to the ingredient will help you choose the best product.

So, we upgraded! The new version of Tiiips is even more accurate and reliable. Now, instead of just reading barcodes, it analyzes ingredients directly. This way, you can make safer and more informed choices about the products you use and that's the button:

The App also has other useful functions:

it lets you find out the country of origin of a product by photographing the EAN barcode

this button leads to the previous "Search Product with Barcode" function, but there are relatively few products.

you can write down the shopping list

you can check out the website Tiiips.com

view the Terms and Privacy

Ready to learn more about Tiiips?

The Tiiips App scans labels and helps you choose the right product for your lifestyle. Each ingredient has a color and the characteristics and studies are given on the website tiiips.com

• Green ingredients are considered safe and healthy.
• Orange ingredients  may have some contraindications,
• Red ingredients  are not recommended  by Tiiips.

When the app detects a very caloric or dangerous component, it signals the amount with "Relevant amount" or "Small amount" so that the user can decide.

Step 1: Installation

Open Google Play Store on your Android device. Click on this icon:

• Search for "Tiiips" and locate the app in the search results.  
• Tap on the app icon to view details.

• Tap the "Install" button to download and install the app on your device.

• Tap the icon Open to install the app on your smartphone.

You can use this App directly on products (food, cosmetics) you see in stores, supermarkets, but we recommend you try it also more conveniently from home, on manufacturers' websites (each product has its own list of ingredients) by framing the ingredient list at a distance from the monitor that is not too close, but 30 to 50 centimeters.  By first taking a photo of the product and then scanning the label, you will have a convenient photo archive on your phone where you can calmly review products and decide for a better choice (Pictures/TiiipsPics).

The green square, which appears on your phone screen as you frame the list, will help you focus. 

Step 2: Start the app

• After installation, find the "Tiiips" icon on the home screen or in the app drawer.

• Allow you to take photos by clicking on "While using the app."
• The menu has many options. 

Click  Take photo of ingredients

Step 3: Using Tiiips

Once the app is launched, frame the product you want to examine with your smartphone.

• Point the phone camera lens at the ingredient area of the product label you wish to scan. Make sure the label is well lit and focus by tapping on the screen (ingredients area).

A red or yellow rectangle will appear, and when the rectangle turns green   you can shoot by tapping the camera icon.

• When the ingredients are in focus, click the camera icon to take a picture or use the flash icon and then shoot.

• When the photo is taken you can continue by confirming with a click on the check icon if the photo is Ok, or you can take it again by clicking on the X icon and retake the photo.

or by clicking on the icon in the upper right-hand corner

• If the photo is okay, surround the "Ingredients" area with your fingers and click Crop.

• The app Tiiips will process the image (moving green circle) and analyze the ingredients.

Step 4: Results 

Tiiips will categorize the ingredients it detects according to their colors as on the Tiiips.com website:

• Red ingredients  are not recommended  by Tiiips.
• Orange ingredients  may have some contraindications.
• Green ingredients are considered safe and healthy.

Step 5: Review the results

• The app Tiiips will provide you with the following information based on the ingredients detected:
• If all detected ingredients are green, a message will be displayed in green text saying Ingredients detected by Tiiips. There are no particular contraindications. However, it is advisable to run a second scan just in case. There may be ingredients that Tiiips does not recognize for various reasons: blurred area, ingredients in a curved part of the label, unusal symbols before or after the ingredient (you can report these to info@tiiips.com).
• If any ingredient that has orange color is detected, an orange text message will be displayed saying "Average product, be careful with..." and orange colored ingredients will be listed.
• If any red ingredient appears a red text message will be displayed that says "Product not advised, be careful of..." and red colored ingredients will be listed.

If you want to check all the ingredients click on

You can explore each ingredient by clicking on the ingredient name 

You can explore any contraindications by clicking on

Step 6: What to do.

• If all ingredients are green, the product contains safe ingredients. However, there may be ingredients that Tiiips does not recognize for the reasons given earlier (you can report them to info@tiiips.com).
• If there are orange ingredients, consider any contraindications before using the product. Click on the ingredient and check on Tiiips,com what contraindications are attributed to the ingredient. Tiiips' ratings are based on a proprietary database and are documented by  scientific studies,
• If there is any  red  ingredient, Tiiips does not recommend the product.

Step 7: Where do I find the photos I took?

• You will not lose any of the photos you have taken because they are all available in your phone so that you can keep track of all the products you have photographed. For better archiving you can take the product photo first and then the photo to scan. That way you can remember that the photo of the scanned label matches the photo of the product. You can access a log of your scanned products within the app to keep track of your past scans in the folder that is located, for example, in a Samsung Galaxy Series 12 Android phones:

Appl/Archive/Internal Storage/Pictures/TiiipsPics

• Click on SEARCH

• Click  Internal storage space

• Click  Pictures

• Click  TiiipsPic

Step 8: Support and Feedback

If you experience problems with the app Tiiips, can't find an ingredient, or have suggestions please contact our support team at info@tiiips.com

Use the Tiiips app to make informed product decisions!

Troubleshooting

LUMIX G VARIO 12-60 F3.5-5.6 ASPH POWER O.I.S.

The Panasonic LUMIX G VARIO 12-60mm F3.5-5.6 ASPH. POWER O.I.S. is a versatile and compact standard zoom lens for the Micro Four Thirds system, offering a 35mm equivalent focal range of 24-120mm. It's lightweight at 210g and has a weather-sealed construction with a metal lens mount. The lens features an inner focus system with a stepping motor for near-silent autofocus, making it suitable for both stills and video. It has some barrel distortion at 12mm and noticeable light fall-off at maximum aperture, but these are not excessive. The lens is not designed for macro photography, but it has a close focusing distance of 0.20m and a maximum magnification ratio of 0.27x

Pros

• Zoom: versatile range suitable for various photographic genres.
• Compactness and portability: Ideal for travel and street photography.
• Design: resistant to weather and adverse conditions.
• Focus: internal with fast and silent autofocus, useful for video.
• Image Stabilization: effectively reduces blur.

Cons

• Optical distortions: barrel distortion at 12mm.
• Vignetting: light fall-off at open apertures.
• Build quality: mostly plastic.
• Macro: limited capability as it does not offer true macro magnification.

This lens is a good choice for those seeking a lightweight, versatile lens for everyday use, but may not satisfy those who need specialized features or the highest optical quality

Specifications

• Lens construction 11 elements in 9 groups (3 aspherical lenses, 1 ED lens)
• Nano Surface Coating 
• Micro Four Thirds Mount
• Optical Image Stabilizer Yes (POWER O.I.S.)
• Focal length f = 12-60 mm (35 mm camera equivalent: 24-120 mm)
• Aperture type 7 aperture blades / circular aperture diaphragm
• Maximum aperture F3.5 (wide angle) - F5.6 (telephoto)
• Minimum aperture F22
• Minimum focusing distance 0.20 m/0.66 feet (wide angle), 0.25 m/0.82 feet (telephoto)
• Maximum magnification Approx. 0.27x/0.54x (35 mm camera equivalent)
• Diagonal angle of view 84.05° (wide angle) to 20.44° (telephoto)

Dimensions and weight

• Filter size φ 58 mm/2.3 inches
• Maximum diameter φ 66 mm/2.6 inches
• Total length Approx. 71 mm/2.8 inches (from lens end to mounting base)
• Weight Approx. 210 g (excluding lens cap, rear lens cap and lens hood)

LUMIX 12-60 F 2.8-4 ASPH LEICA DG VARIO ELMARIT

The Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 12-60mm f/2.8-4.0 ASPH is a versatile zoom lens for Micro Four Thirds cameras. It offers a focal range equivalent to 24-120mm in 35mm terms, combining wide-angle to medium telephoto perspectives. The lens features an aperture range of f/2.8-4.0, making it suitable for a variety of lighting conditions. It includes advanced elements like aspherical and ED lenses to minimize aberrations and ensure sharp images. The lens is also equipped with Power O.I.S. for image stabilization, helping to reduce camera shake. Its autofocus is silent and fast, making it suitable for both stills and video recording. The construction is compact and lightweight, with a metal lens mount and a design that's dust and splash-proof, and freeze-proof down to -10℃. The lens accepts 62mm filters and comes with a petal-shaped hood,

Pros

• Zoom versatility and robust build quality.
• Good stabilization performance and fast autofocus.
• Pleasing bokeh.

Cons

• Slight light fall-off and distortion at 12mm.
• Variable aperture may limit performance in low light.

Specifications

Max Format Size: Micro Four Thirds

Lens Mount: Micro Four Thirds

Lens Type: Standard Zoom

Focal Length: 12-60mm (24-120mm in 35mm terms)

Aperture

• Maximum: f/2.8-4.0
• Aperture Ring: No
• Number of Diaphragm Blades: 9

Image Stabilization: Yes, Power O.I.S.

Optics: 14 elements in 12 groups (including 4 aspherical lenses and 2 ED lenses)

Focus

• Minimum Focus: 20 cm at 12mm, 24 cm at 60mm
• Autofocus: Yes

Physical

• Weight: 320g
• Length: 86mm

LUMIX 12-35mm F2.8 Leica Vario HD

Optics

 The lens's optical construction comprises 14 elements arranged in 9 groups. This design includes specialized elements to enhance image quality and minimize aberrations.

Aperture Details

 The lens features a 7-blade diaphragm, which contributes to a more pleasing bokeh effect in the out-of-focus areas of the image.

Focus System

 It has an autofocus system and supports full-time manual focus override aren't specified. The focus method is internal.

Excellent lens that has the following special features:

Pros

• 24-70 mm in full frame
• waterproof, so it is able to work in dusty or splashy conditions. Ideal pairing is with the GX8 or GH4.
• has a low weight (305 grams) and is only 8 centimeters long
• the autofocus is extremely quiet
• O.I.S the electronic stabilization, it can be activated/deactivated with a button

• especially suitable for landscapes, street photos, events
• vignetting acceptable, does not create problems
• distortion within the limits of a lens in this price range
• maximum magnification 0.17 x
• minimum focal length 25 cm
• bokeh excellent, very close to macro performance
• flare barely noticeable, but still present as is the case with all Four Thirds lenses. A millimeter shift of the lens solves any problem.

Cons

The only drawback is the price. It is a lens that cost about $900 and can be found used today around $400. For this price it is a very good investment.

Specifications 

• Max Format Size: Micro Four Thirds
• Lens Mount: Micro Four Thirds
• Lens Type: Zoom
• Focal Length: 12-35mm (24-70mm 35mm equivalent)

Aperture:

• Maximum Aperture: f/2.8
• Minimum Aperture: f/22
• Aperture Ring: No
• Number of Diaphragm Blades: 7

Image Stabilization: Yes

Optics:

• Elements: 14
• Groups: 9

Focus:

• Minimum Focus: 25 cm
• Autofocus: Yes

Physical:

• Weight: 305 g
• Length: 73.8 mm

Nikon D780

Year: 2020 

Price : $ 2.200

The D780 is the result of a marked improvement in quality and performance from the D750. The sensor has 24 MP with with phase detection on the sensor and a 51-point AF system. 7 frames per second (12 fps in electronic). The EN-EL15c battery has a capacity of 2,260 shots, and the D780 also accepts EN-EL15 batteries, but these cannot be recharged in-camera. Dual UHS-II SD card slots. 

First of all, I must say that the D780 is an outstanding camera, at the top of its class and very close to the more expensive D850. Before I look at the Pros and Cons I will say right away that the D750 in summary represents some good sides of mirrorless cameras and some good sides of DSLRs. The technical details are at the bottom.

Pro

1 - Very fast autofocus. 

Phase detection live view autofocus. It responds immediately with precision. Since I have also tried some mirrorless cameras I would say that there is no comparison in speed and accuracy, but this is a known problem with mirrorless cameras (and not the only one).

The lever to change the focus mode is located on the lower left side

AF: auto focus

M: manual focus

Tip: By selecting AF-A the D780 automatically sets AF-S for static subjects and AF-C for moving subjects.

Tip: You can use Focus Peaking (Live View) for both movies and photos in manual focus and you will get the areas in focus in brighter color.

Rating: excellent

2 - Shutter speed

The speed of this shutter is remarkable and goes up to 1/8,000 sec (1/4,000 sec in the D750) and there is also an interesting option for those who want to shoot in the dark: the shutter speed, which you can extend in manual up to 15 minutes. There is no such option in other Nikon DSLRs and it is an interesting plus.

3 - SD slots: 

For 2 cards. It is then possible to save all the settings of U1 and U2 in the SD1 card. Then you can save the file NCSET001. BIN in slot 1 (not in 2) before any repair or share the settings with other D780 users. The second card can serve as a backup: 

Rating: excellent

and also...

• JPEG color. I must say it is the best color so far: excellent
• For sports and moving subjects: excellent
• Direct live optical finder: excellent
• Viewfinder AF tracking: excellent
• 4K UHD video: excellent
• Wi-Fi and Bluetooth: easy
• 2 standard SD card slots. Not expensive QXDs
• Compatible with almost all Nikon lenses even those without CPU
• Battery life: 2,260 shots (1250 in the D750)
• Battery charging: USB-C 

Cons

• No flash
• Burst speed at 12 fps with slight rolling shutter (rolling shutter effect). Solution: increase shutter speed.
• Extracting the monitor is hard and difficult. The slots are too close to the rubber eyecup.
  

• ML-L3 remote control no longer works. Use MC-DC2 or Nikon app.
• no GPS

Features

• Sensor Type: Full-frame (FX format) BSI-CMOS sensor 35.9 x 23.9 mm

• Effective Pixels: 24.5 Megapixels.
• Image Size (Pixels): 6048 x 4024.
• File Formats: JPEG, RAW (NEF).
• Movie Frame Size/Rate: 4K UHD 3840 x 2160 at 30/25/24p.
• Video Format: MOV, MP4.
• Audio Format: Linear PCM, AAC.
• ISO Sensitivity: 100-51,200, expandable to 50-204,800.
• Monitor: 3.2-inch tilting TFT touch-sensitive LCD with 2,359,000 dots resolution.
• Interfaces: USB Type-C, HDMI Type-C, 3.5mm headphone and microphone jacks, accessory terminal.
• Wi-Fi: Built-in.
• Bluetooth: Built-in.
• Dimensions (W x H x D): Approx. 143.5 x 115.5 x 76 mm (5.7 x 4.6 x 3 in).
• Weight: Approx. 840 g (1 lb. 13.7 oz.) with battery and SD memory card.

2 slots SD

Wi-Fi: Integrated.

Bluetooth: Integrated.

Dimensions (W x H x D): Approx. 143.5 x 115.5 x 76 mm.

Weight: About 840 g (with battery and SD memory card).