The action camera market is full of options, but one problem still remains — poor low-light video quality. Even popular cameras like GoPro or DJI used to struggle when the sun went down.
That’s where SJCAM’s new SJ20 comes in. It’s claimed to be the world’s first action camera with two dedicated lenses — one for bright daylight and the other for low-light or night scenes. It’s actually a smart idea, because most budget action cameras perform well in daylight but lose detail and color when shooting in the dark.
Of course, recent models like the GoPro Hero 12, Hero 13, or DJI Osmo Action 4 have improved a lot thanks to bigger sensors and better image processing. Even Insta360 gives you the option to swap lenses for better low-light results. But these cameras are all expensive and far from the budget range.
The SJCAM SJ20 tries to bring that low-light improvement to a more affordable price range. However, with a starting price of around $200 (₹17,000) to $220 (₹18,000), it doesn’t really feel like a true budget camera either — especially when GoPro or DJI options are available for just a bit more.
Still, the dual-lens concept is something new and exciting, and that’s the reason I wanted to test it. In this review, we’ll find out how it performs in daylight, low light, and photo quality, and see if this idea really works in real-world use.
SJCAM SJ20 Specifications
| Model | SJCAM SJ20 Dual Lens Action Camera |
| Chipset | NTK |
| Image Sensor | 20 Megapixels CMOS |
| Dual Lens System | Day Lens: f/2.0 aperture Night Lens: f/1.3 aperture 7G lens (Contains 2 glass aspherical lenses) |
| Field of View (FOV) | 135° – 154° |
| Video Resolution | 4K at 30fps 2K at 60/50/30/25/24fps 1080P at 120/100/60/50/30/25/24fps 720P at 120/100/60/50/30/25/24fps 1080P Portrait (9:16) at 30fps |
| Video Format | MP4 |
| Video Encoding | H.264, H.265 |
| Photo Resolution | 20MP, 16MP, 14MP, 12MP, 10MP, 8MP |
| Photo Format | JPG |
| Video Modes | Normal Mode, Time-lapse, Slow Motion, Car Mode, Loop Recording, Pre-recording, Delayed Recording, Motion Detection, Portrait Mode, Photo & Video Recording, Livestream, Webcam |
| Photo Modes | Single Shooting, Interval Photography, Burst Mode, Continuous Shooting, Time-lapse Photography |
| Image Stabilization | 6-Axis Gyroscope Stabilization (EIS) |
| Digital Zoom | 8x |
| Exposure Compensation | +2.0 to -2.0 |
| White Balance | Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Underwater Mode |
| ISO Range | Adjustable |
| HDR/WDR | Yes |
| Rear Screen | 2.29 inch IPS Touchscreen |
| Front Screen | 1.3 inch LCD (Non-touch) |
| Built-in Battery | 800mAh, 3.7V, 2.96Wh Li-ion |
| External Battery | 1050mAh, 3.7V, 3.89Wh Li-ion (detachable) |
| Battery Life | 60-180 minutes (4K/30fps recording) Up to 8 hours with camera grip (Pro Kit) |
| WiFi | Dual-band 2.4GHz / 5GHz |
| Connectivity | USB Type-C (charging & data transfer) |
| App Control | SJCAM Zone (iOS/Android) |
| GPS | Yes |
| G-Sensor | Yes |
| Microphone | Built-in single microphone (stereo capable) |
| Speaker | Built-in speaker |
| Storage | microSD card up to 128GB (Class 10 or higher recommended) |
| Waterproof Rating | 5 meters (16 feet) with protective frame 40 meters (131 feet) with waterproof case |
| Dimensions | 70.5 x 55 x 30 mm |
| Weight | 370 grams (with external battery) |
| Operating System | Compatible with Windows 7/8/10, macOS |
| Additional Features | Live Streaming, Dual-screen Display, Night Vision, Lens Switching, Vertical Video Mode, Slow Motion (4X at 1080P/120fps, 8X at 720P/120fps) |
| Box Contents | SJ20 Camera, External Battery (1050mAh), 2x Frame Brackets, Waterproof Case, 2x Base Mounts, 2x Helmet Bases, 2x 3M Adhesive Stickers, 2x Base Adapters, USB Type-C Cable, Wipe Cloth, User Manual |
Variants and Battery Life
The SJCAM SJ20 comes in two versions — the Regular Edition and the Pro Kit. Both have the same camera hardware and performance, but the Pro Kit includes an extra accessory: a Rechargeable Camera Grip with a built-in 4800mAh battery.
This grip can extend the total battery life by around 7–8 hours, even when shooting in 4K. That’s a huge plus for vloggers and travel users who record for long sessions. The best part is that the price difference between the two versions isn’t very big. The regular SJ20 costs around $200–$215 (₹17,000–₹18,000), while the Pro Kit is roughly $35 (₹3,000) extra. For the extra battery life and grip, that upgrade makes a lot of sense.
Battery life has always been one of the biggest issues with action cameras. You usually need to carry multiple small batteries to get through a long shoot. I really like that SJCAM is trying to solve this with smart accessories.
In fact, the SJ20’s setup reminds me of the Insta360 ONE R, which also uses a detachable battery base. The SJ20 itself has an 800mAh built-in battery, plus a 1050mAh detachable battery, and if you get the Pro Kit, you also get the 4800mAh battery grip on top of that.
In my testing at 4K 30fps, I got around 3 hours of battery life without the grip, and roughly 7–8 hours total with the grip connected. That’s slightly below the company’s claimed numbers, but still quite impressive compared to most other action cameras.
For reference, even the GoPro Hero 13 offers only about 1.2–1.3 hours of recording in 4K per battery. Of course, GoPro batteries are easier to swap, but the SJ20’s extended setup still performs very well in real-world use.
Included Accessories – Everything You Need in the Box
One thing I’ve always appreciated about SJCAM is that they include almost all the important accessories right inside the box. You don’t need to spend extra money buying separate mounts or cases — everything you need to start shooting is already there.
The SJ20 continues this tradition. It comes with two frame mounts, including a special one designed to fit when using the detachable battery — a small but thoughtful addition. You also get two base mounts (a curved and a flat one), along with high-quality adhesive stickers that can easily attach to a helmet, car bonnet, or bicycle.
A waterproof case is also included in the box, which protects the camera up to 40 meters underwater. This makes it great for underwater shots, swimming, or even rough weather conditions.
SJCAM has even added small touches like foam padding for the microphone area to help reduce wind or handling noise — something you rarely get at this price.
Overall, it’s great to see that SJCAM still focuses on value and practicality. You can start using the camera right away without spending extra on essential accessories — a big plus for beginners and vloggers alike.
Design, Build & Handling Experience
Now, talking about the first impression — it almost looks like the Insta360 ONE R. Just like that, it has a very compact design and doesn’t feel heavy at all — it’s lightweight. However, once you attach the detachable battery, the weight increases a bit, which can make it slightly uncomfortable for some sports activities or while bike riding.
Other than that, the build quality is decent. Of course, it’s not as premium as the GoPro Hero 12 or DJI Osmo series, but still quite solid and sturdy — definitely not bad at all. So, don’t worry, there won’t be any issues in terms of durability.
The camera itself is waterproof up to 5 meters, even without a waterproof case. Also, the microSD card slot and Type-C port are protected under a hard cover, so dust won’t easily reach them. It supports up to 128GB microSD cards, which is lower compared to GoPro Hero 12 or 13, but for most users, that’s not really a problem — you can easily store 2–3 days of video footage in it.
Display and Microphone Performance
Like most modern action cameras, the SJCAM SJ20 comes with dual screens — a main 2.29-inch touchscreen on the back and a smaller 1.3-inch front display. The main screen is bright and responsive enough for daily use, and the touch controls work smoothly. The display quality isn’t top-tier like GoPro or DJI, but it’s good enough that you don’t feel any major compromise while framing or changing settings.
The front screen is a simple display meant mainly for vloggers who record themselves. It’s not a touch panel, but it’s handy for checking your frame while shooting.
When it comes to audio, though, the experience is an average. The SJCAM SJ20 has a single microphone on the front, and its quality is below average. The audio tends to capture a lot of background noise, and even at full gain, the voice doesn’t sound very clear or rich.
To be fair, even cameras like the GoPro Hero 12/13 or Insta360 ONE R don’t have studio-quality built-in mics — but the SJ20’s could definitely use some improvement.
If you plan to use this camera for vlogging or professional content, you’ll almost certainly need an external microphone to get clear and balanced audio.
Video and Photo Quality
Let’s start with the specifications. The SJ20 features dual lenses: one with a f/2.0 aperture for daylight shooting, and another night lens with f/1.3 for low-light conditions. It supports up to 4K at 30fps, which is a bit disappointing — I would have expected at least 4K at 60fps, especially for fast-action shooting. At 1080p, it can record up to 120fps, and at 2K, it supports 60fps, but for 4K, 30fps can feel a bit slow for motovlogs or sports — the footage may appear slightly sluggish.
Other standard features include time-lapse, slow-motion recording, photo mode up to 20MP, and photo-lapse mode. It can also function as a dashcam via USB Type-C or even as a webcam.
The default UI might feel old-school to some users, though it works fine. Thankfully, there’s an alternative, more modern UI option that looks cooler. Like most action cameras, it also has app support, allowing you to access nearly all settings and live view remotely. The app is easy to connect and has a clean, user-friendly interface.
I tested the SJCam SJ20 mostly in 4K during morning, afternoon, and evening. In bright sunlight, the camera struggles a bit. The sky often looks too bright, and the rest of the frame becomes darker, so some details are lost.
During morning or evening, when the light is softer, the exposure looks better. The video is more balanced, but the details are still just okay. Colors sometimes look a bit faded or less natural.
The 6-axis stabilization works fine for normal use. It keeps the video smooth, but it’s not as strong as what you get on GoPro or DJI cameras. For casual shooting, it’s good enough.
The night mode is the main highlight of this camera, but honestly, it’s not as amazing as advertised. The video looks bright and colorful, but when you look closely, it’s not very sharp, and fine details are missing. Still, compared to other action cameras like GoPro Hero 12/13 or DJI Osmo Action 4, the SJ20 does a little better in low light—but not by a big margin.
You can manually change things like contrast, saturation, sharpness, ISO, and white balance, which helps a bit. But it still misses advanced options like shutter speed or motion blur control, which would have made a big difference for pro users.
For photos, the SJ20 actually performs well. In daylight, the pictures look clean and detailed, sometimes even close to GoPro Hero 10 or 11 quality. The camera automatically reduces noise and adjusts brightness nicely. In low light, photo quality drops, but it’s still decent for the price.
Other creative modes, such as time-lapse and photo-lapse, work decently well, producing consistent results. Overall, while video performance may have some limitations, the photo capabilities of the SJ20 are a strong highlight, especially for casual photography and vlogging.
Final Verdict
Overall, the SJCAM SJ20 is an average action camera. The dual-lens concept is definitely a good idea, especially for low-light shooting, but it doesn’t seem fully utilized — perhaps future software updates could improve this.
The biggest drawback, however, is the price. At its current cost, it’s not far off from premium options like the GoPro Hero 12, DJI Osmo Action 4, or Insta360 ONE R, which are only around ₹5,000–7,000 more but offer better video quality, advanced features, and finer controls.
On the positive side, the SJ20 excels in battery life, included accessories, and photo quality, which are quite good for casual use. However, these strengths alone may not justify the current price for professional content creators or vloggers.
If your goal is professional-level vlogging or high-quality content creation, the SJ20 may not be the ideal choice. But if you are looking for a camera for casual trips, personal use, or capturing memories, it is still a solid option.
It could also become a great beginner-level action camera if the price drops to around $180 (₹15,000) or below.
Competitors – How the SJ20 Stacks Up
The SJCAM SJ20 brings a unique dual-lens system and excellent battery life, making it a solid option for casual users and beginners. However, in terms of video quality, advanced features, and price, it faces stiff competition from other well-known action cameras. Here’s a comparison:
1. GoPro Hero 12
- Price: Approximately $299 (₹24,999)
- Why it’s better: Exceptional video quality, smooth stabilization, and great low-light performance. It also offers more manual controls and software features.
- Verdict: Ideal for professional vloggers and action sports, but comes at a higher price.
2. DJI Osmo Action 4
- Price: Approximately $350 (₹25,990)
- Why it’s better: Superior sensor, smooth 4K/120fps recording, and user-friendly interface. Low-light handling is more reliable than the SJ20.
- Verdict: Perfect for users who want high-quality footage with ease of use, but again more expensive.
3. Insta360 ONE R
- Price: Approximately $450 (₹54,990)
- Why it’s better: Modular design with interchangeable lenses, including 1-inch sensors for great low-light and creative flexibility.
- Verdict: Excellent for creators looking for versatility and high-quality output, but pricey.
Where the SJ20 Excels
- Dual-lens system for daylight and low-light shooting
- Decent photo quality and battery life, especially with the Pro Kit grip
- Accessories included in the box make it ready to use out of the box
- Affordable compared to premium competitors
Limitations Compared to Competitors
- 4K limited to 30fps, which can feel slow for fast-action recording
- Video stabilisation and low-light video could be better
- Microphone quality is average
The SJCAM SJ20 is a good mid-range action camera, especially for beginners or casual users who want dual lenses, battery life, and accessories without breaking the bank. However, if your priority is high-end video quality, advanced controls, or professional vlogging, cameras like GoPro Hero 12, DJI Osmo Action 4, or Insta360 ONE R are more suitable — but at a higher price.
