This new RunCam MIPI camera could be a viable alternative to the Caddx Nebula range of cameras. It's essentially a better version of the RunCam Racer 4 which also had (unofficial) MIPI support that DJI and Caddx started crying wolf over supposedly for using a "stolen" camera identifier from the Nebula so it looked to the DJI Air Unit and Caddx Vista as if it is a Nebula camera. Well, since DJI / Caddx still don't seem to have blocked the use of 3rd party cameras using these supposed stolen identifiers as they threatened to do last year, and since there have been no DJI FPV System firmware updates for almost a year, there is probably a very low risk of 3rd party MIPI cameras now getting blocked. So this is probably a safe buy for anyone who wants an alternative camera to the Caddx Nebula.

https://shop.runcam.com/runcam-mipi

Specifications:

• Model: RunCam MIPI
  
• Image Sensor: 2MP CMOS Sensor
  
• Resolution: Default 1280*720@60fps, Customizable 1920*1080@60fps
  
• Lens: 1.8mm FOV D:160° H:133° V:75°
  
• Shutter: Rolling Shutter
  
• Interface: 4 lane MIPI CSI
  
• Connector: 26 Position 0.30mm Pitch
  
• Current: [email protected]
  
• Housing Material: ABS
  
• Net Weight: 6.5g
  
• Total Weight (with cable): 7.2g
  
• Dimensions: L19mm*W19mm*H17mm
  
• Price: $41.99 USD
  
• Expected Release Date: 15th June 2021
  

   

Great for competition and hopefully bring down prices of digital cameras. 

The video looks good but only a side by side comparison will tell the actual difference between the DJI and Caddx cameras.

The Runcam version seems almost 30% cheaper than Caddx Nebula Pro if its even comparable in terms of quality is something we will need to wait for some reviews to see.

Hopefully the lens is better quality than the cameras RunCam was making for the SharkByte system which were probably made to a price point and users managed to get better results with upgraded lens replacements.

I wonder how the community is going to react after they bought the camera and DJI decides to block 3rd party cameras.

there will come more support for openhd, hopefully :-)
https://intofpv.com/t-open-hd-digital-fpv
https://www.patreon.com/OpenHD

(12-Jun-2021, 10:22 PM)Oscar Wrote: I wonder how the community is going to react after they bought the camera and DJI decides to block 3rd party cameras.

I highly doubt DJI are going to block 3rd party cameras. If they were then they would already have done so for the RunCam Racer 4 but they didn't. And if they did they would end up blocking any existing Nebula Cameras already out there which would create an uproar. So they probably can't do what they originally threatened very easily. In any case, DJI have now clearly lost interest in further developing or supporting the standalone FPV System so we aren't going to get any more firmware updates, which means nothing is going to get blocked, including video out.

Another 60fps (no low latency mode), 16:9 only camera? And heavier than Nebula Pro. Yeah, hard pass

(13-Jun-2021, 12:40 AM)SnowLeopardFPV Wrote: I highly doubt DJI are going to block 3rd party cameras. If they were then they would already have done so for the RunCam Racer 4 but they didn't. And if they did they would end up blocking any existing Nebula Cameras already out there which would create an uproar. So they probably can't do what they originally threatened very easily. In any case, DJI have now clearly lost interest in further developing or supporting the standalone FPV System so we aren't going to get any more firmware updates, which means nothing is going to get blocked, including video out.

So apparently they've already added encryption in all their new cameras like Nebula Pro and new Nano so basically they can lock out 3rd party cams anytime without breaking compatibility with their current cameras. Just some insider info

(16-Jun-2021, 12:44 PM)Oscar Wrote: So apparently they've already added encryption in all their new cameras like Nebula Pro and new Nano so basically they can lock out 3rd party cams anytime without breaking compatibility with their current cameras. Just some insider info

I guess similar to the SharkByte cameras which have some form of encryption and thus we can’t use the Runcam Mipi camera with it.

Gal Kremer's review of the RunCam MIPI camera...

Some better footage of the RunCam MIPI from Gal without the vibrations this time...

Albert's take on the Runcam MIPI ...

I thought the colors looked warmer on the first sample footage they posted, but now that Albert mentioned this pink hue I really can't unsee it

Why anyone would buy this camera is beyond me. I get that Nebula Pro is out of stock, but I'd rather not fly for a few weeks than pay for this crap.

Just saw this from Blunty

(28-Jun-2021, 06:16 PM)Oscar Wrote: Just saw this from Blunty

So DJI will happily spend time trying to lock out 3rd party companies from interfacing with their products, but they can't be bothered to invest any time fixing the existing firmware bugs or completing the half-baked custom OSD integration. If they do that it will prove exactly what sort of company DJI are in that they only care about profits and don't give a    about their customers. But we already knew that. If they lock out 3rd party cameras then that I won't be surprised if they also lock out the ability to use the FPV Out DigiView software.

I guess any existing cameras will continue to work as-is as long as you don't update the firmware on the Air Unit / Caddx Vista, but it will likely mean that newly manufactured cameras probably won't work unless you have a newer version of the firmware installed, which might also lock out other features like FPV Out.

(28-Jun-2021, 06:16 PM)Oscar Wrote:

I see the above statement by Caddx as a way to spread fear in the community and amongst sellers/stores whereas in reality they can't do much about it. 

They had similar statements with the Runcam Racer 4 but never got around to doing anything: