Awesome addition to my layout for just $21!!!!

John,

I just got one of these (with WiFi) and it has a problem. It won't recognize the trans flash card. It messages that I must insert a memory card when the card is already inserted and is secure (removing requires pushing down on the top card edge to pop it up).

The card works fine and formats successfully when in its SD card carrier on my Mac. I've tried formatting as both FAT and EX-FAT with the same result.

Can you provide any insight on this issue?

Thanks!

tackindy posted:

RickM46 posted:

John,

My camera arrived today.  Came in a mailing envelope and the factory box was in good shape inside the envelope.  One question, how do you get it out of the waterproof case??  Tried sliding the catch at the top and lifting that black gate at the top but it won't budge.

The black clamp on top.  Pull the little tab with the arrow and pull up on the black plastic beside it and the clamp will come undone.  It might be a little tough as it is clamped pretty good, but that is how it is done.  The clamp lifts up from the front of the camera first I believe (at work so cannot see it).  It is tricky until you figure it out.

Thanks John!!

That did the trick.  I was erroneously sliding the tab with the arrow and then pulling at the large black latch on top.  It is the small housing that the tab is seated in that you have to pull upward from its front.  Now to charge it and see how it works.

Some of the regular digital cameras are small enough to fit on an O-gauge car. I mounted my older Canon A540 on some wheelsets for a layout tour. It was close clearance in places, but it made use of a camera that I already had.

Barry Broskowitz posted:

John,

I just got one of these (with WiFi) and it has a problem. It won't recognize the trans flash card. It messages that I must insert a memory card when the card is already inserted and is secure (removing requires pushing down on the top card edge to pop it up).

The card works fine and formats successfully when in its SD card carrier on my Mac. I've tried formatting as both FAT and EX-FAT with the same result.

Can you provide any insight on this issue?

Thanks!

Hmmmm.  I'm guessing you don't have a PC to format the card with do you?  Do you have any other microSD cards you could try?  Seeing as these are cheap camera's it is possible you got a bad one.  I mean, for this price I wouldn't expect the best in quality control, but I'm hoping the problem is just the formatting of the card.  Did you format FAT32?

Barry Broskowitz posted:

John,

I just got one of these (with WiFi) and it has a problem. It won't recognize the trans flash card. It messages that I must insert a memory card when the card is already inserted and is secure (removing requires pushing down on the top card edge to pop it up).

The card works fine and formats successfully when in its SD card carrier on my Mac. I've tried formatting as both FAT and EX-FAT with the same result.

Can you provide any insight on this issue?

Thanks!

It sure sounds like the card is not seating properly, given you need to manipulate it to remove it.  Any card that doesn't seat properly will throw an error that no card is present.  I can't imagine it is in upside down.  Have you visually inspected the socket with a magnifying glass to see if any of the contacts are misaligned? 

I ordered my cam from ebay for 21.24 including shipping from yallstore in New Jersey.  It is the HD1080P version with no WiFi and is a copy of the SJ4000.  It showed up after about 5 business days in a padded shipping envelope in a colorful English factory box with all accessories.  With only little use so far, I am impressed for the money.  I will be ordering extra batteries and a charger.  Here are some observations:

• The micro memory card must be a class 10 of either 8, 16, or 32 gig capacity - max 32 gig.  I used a Transcend 32 gig.
• To remove the camera from the waterproof case, you must slide the tab at the top and lift the small housing around the tab from its front.
• When you connect the camera via the supplied USB to a Windows 8.1 PC, it is recognized immediately and you can manage your videos on the memory card via Windows.  You can play your videos using Windows Media Player.  I tried using an OLD micro mini USB cable I had laying around and Windows would not recognize the camera.
• When you connect the camera via the USB cable, it will immediately begin charging and signal that by a blue/red led on the top of the camera.  When it is done charging, the led will stay solid red.  With the factory battery, that only took a few minutes.
• Be careful of the battery box door.  When you slide the catch to release the door, it will pop up.  There is a very fragile spring on the door to pop it up when the door is released.  Note the position of the small extended tab on the door.  When putting the door back on, that tab goes opposite the slide catch. 
• The battery has a very firm fit.  You have to pull firmly on the tape tab attached to the battery and it will slowly come out.  It it wasn't for the tape tab, you would not be able to remove it.
• Pressing the ON/OFF button cycles you thru the various modes and allows you to eventually set date, time, and various options.
• Now for experimenting with it.

Mike,

I don't need a PC. My Mac will format a card in any Mac or PC format I choose.

I first tried the card with its factory FAT file format and, when that didn't work, I reformatted the card for both PC formats, first FAT and when that still failed, EX-FAT, in my Mac. In all 3 cases the error was the same. I've also tried using a different Micro SD card.

I've contacted the Amazon seller and they're sending a new camera which should arrive early next week. I was just thinking that there might have been a quirk that wasn't covered in the somewhat meager instructions.

Thanks for responding.

George,

The card seats just fine.

Pushing down on the top edge is how just about every SD or smaller memory card is removed from a device. The exception is that when removing a Mico-type card from an SD card carrier, one must pull it straight out.

Rick,

The micro memory card must be a class 10 of either 8, 16, or 32 gig capacity - max 32 gig.  I used a Transcend 32 gig.

Mine is a Sandisk ULTRA microSDHC UHS-1 32 GB card. Its  the acrd hat Amazon suggest for use with the camera.

I bought the $21 camera.  It does take videos and photos pretty well.

I am having a problem where the camera only charges to about 10-20%.  I can see the files on the camera's sad card so it is making the connection.

I just sent the seller an email but I was wondering if anyone had an idea about it not charging fully.

Thanks,

Ed

Ed Walsh posted:

I bought the $21 camera.  It does take videos and photos pretty well.

I am having a problem where the camera only charges to about 10-20%.  I can see the files on the camera's sad card so it is making the connection.

I just sent the seller an email but I was wondering if anyone had an idea about it not charging fully.

Thanks,

Ed

Do you have the camera powered off when charging?  I'm not sure what could be causing that.  Mine came with a full charge right out of the package I think!