[EKEN/Alfawise] V50 Pro (A12+IMX258) action camera.

[nutsey]

I'm not going to say if the V50 Pro cam is good or bad or something like that. So, here are my first conclusions on it (2018-07-19 FW):

1. 4K30 mode is very usable with sharp details and nice natural colors.
2. 2.7K30 mode is 2560x1440 and looks like that 2x2 binning mode is enabled here. So it is upscaled from 2100x1176 resolution.
3. 1080p30 and 720p60 modes most likely also use 2x2 binning.
4. 1080p60 mode is even worse with 3x3 binning sensor readout (1400x752).
5. The lens has pretty wide FOV and moderate distortion. No obvious drawbacks here.

[nutsey]

This cam has some hidden features like Youtube streaming app.

I belive that '/usr/bin/youtube_live' Linux binary can be used for live streaming, it tries to open these files in the MISC folder of the memory card:
livestream_config.json
client_secret.json
access_token.json

[nutsey]

A funny fact: the 8S/SE lens hood perfectly fits the V50 Pro cam (moreover, I have to say it's backward compatible when we talk about the V50 Pro's mounting frame).

[nutsey]

4k30, 2k30, 1080p60 and 1080p30 raw video samples: https://drive.google.com/drive/folde...C-?usp=sharing

[petesimon]

my 5 cents - https://yadi.sk/d/p5yy_Yh2569tHQ

[nutsey]

Press and hold the shutter button when connecting a USB cable to enter recovery mode (the battery should be removed).

[petesimon]

i sold the Eken V50 a few days ago,
so, hm, interesting. i'll try that and other buttons on my Eken H8 Plus and H5s Plus.

I got this in my W10 Device Manager. USB\VID_4255&PID_000A\123456789ABC . So what are VID_4255 and PID_000A ?


image link - https://i.imgur.com/RSmnM4k.jpg

[nutsey]

Does anybody have an ELF file to unbrick the V50 Pro cam?

[petesimon]

same question for me. i want to help people who may have this camera and funked it up.

[nutsey]

Thanks Eken support for providing me the firmware file.

If your cam is bricked follow these steps:
1. Copy AmbaSysFw.bin to the root of your memory card.
2. Remove the battery.
3. Connect your cam with the shutter button on.
4. Use AmbaUSB to upload the BIN file to your camera. Ignore any errors.
5. Reboot your cam and wait until flashing is done.
6. Enjoy unbricked device.

[nutsey]

This firmware file and the way to flash it are for recovering bricked devices only. Please don't use it if your camera is not bricked!

[petesimon]

can you share the FW .bin and/or .elf file ?

[nutsey]

It is stock 2018-08-04 bin. I'm planning to share a MOD based on this version.

[petesimon]

I just like to share all firmware for people who may have bricked their camera (the FB Eken H9 group is a good example of that), and share fw for other nerdy people who want to study the firmware. So please share the stock and mod and whatever else fw you got 🤓. If you want, you can upload files to my pcloud https://goo.gl/yU7HLA

[nutsey]

Done.

[petesimon]

nutsey - thanks. download Eken_V50_Pro_STD_EKIK_20180804.rar here - https://yadi.sk/d/G4spapk1r4DMMw
* latest Winrar or 7-zip is needed to open the .rar file.

[nutsey]

It's time to think about customizing the V50 Pro camera firmware.

First of all I want to improve the photo mode as the real sensor resolution is 4208x3120, but the cam shoots in 4000x3000 obviously loosing fine details by downscaling the picture. I've also found a way how to control JPEG compression level, but more tests are to be done here.

[nutsey]

I've managed to change photo resolution to maximum possible 4160x3120 (4:3 13Mp) and the HFOV increased from ~118 to ~125 degrees which is also a nice improvement to have.

[petesimon]

did you get an .ELF file for this cam yet?

[nutsey]

No, but I've managed to unbrick it without one.

[nutsey]

Guys, I've found a way how to enable video modes (like 4k25 or 1080p50) not listed in settings with a script.

Unfortunately only 25, 30, 50 and 60 fps modes are implemented in current fw and the 50/60 modes real resolution is limited with 2100x1176 pixels due to 2x2 sensor binning enabled.

So, here is the modes list (potentially working modes for NTSC are bold):

NTSC

3840x2160 30P 16:9
3840x2160 30P 16:9
3840x2160 25P 16:9
3840x2160 15P 16:9
2880x2160 30P 16:9
2560x1920 30P 4:3
2560x1440 60P 16:9
2560x1440 30P 16:9
HDR 2560x1440 30P 16:9
2304x1296 30P 16:9
1920x1440 60P 4:3
1920x1440 30P 4:3
1920x1080 60P 16:9
1920x1080 60P EIS 16:9
HDR 1920x1080 60P 16:9
1920x1080 40P 16:9
1920x1080 30P 16:9
1920x1080 30P EIS 16:9
HDR 1920x1080 30P 16:9
1920x1080 60I 16:9
1440x1080 60P 16:9
1440x1080 30P 16:9
1440x1080 60I 16:9
1600x1200 60P 4:3
1600x1200 30P 4:3
1440x1080 30P 4:3
1600x900 30P 16:9
1280x720 60P 16:9
1280x720 30P 16:9
HDR 1280x720 30P 16:9
848x480 60P 16:9
848x480 30P 16:9
720x480 60P 16:9
720x480 30P 4:3
1280x960 60P 4:3
1280x960 30P 4:3
960x540 30P 16:9
640x360 30P 16:9
640x480 60P 4:3
640x480 30P 4:3
432x240 60P 16:9
432x240 30P 16:9
320x240 30P 4:3
352x240 30P 4:3
2560x1440 50P 16:9
1920x1080 48P 16:9
1920x1080 24P 16:9
1920x1080 15P 16:9
1600x1200 48P 4:3
1600x1200 24P 4:3
1280x960 48P 4:3
1280x960 24P 4:3
1280x720 48P 16:9
1280x720 24P 16:9
848x480 48P 16:9
848x480 24P 16:9
640x480 48P 4:3
640x480 24P 4:3
Precise
1920x1080 120P 16:9
1920x1080 100P 16:9
1280x720 240P 16:9
1280x720 200P 16:9
1280x720 120P 16:9
1280x720 60P 16:9
848x480 240P 16:9
848x480 120P 16:9
640x480 240P 4:3
640x480 120P 4:3
432x240 240P 16:9
432x240 120P 16:9
320x240 120P 4:3

PAL

3840x2160 25P 16:9
3840x2160 25P 16:9
3840x2160 25P 16:9
3840x2160 15P 16:9
2880x2160 30P 16:9
2560x1920 25P 4:3
2560x1440 50P 16:9
2560x1440 25P 16:9
HDR 2560x1440 25P 16:9
2304x1296 25P 16:9
1920x1440 50P 4:3
1920x1440 25P 4:3
1920x1080 50P 16:9
1920x1080 50P EIS 16:9
HDR 1920x1080 50P 16:9
1920x1080 40P 16:9
1920x1080 25P 16:9
1920x1080 25P EIS 16:9
HDR 1920x1080 25P 16:9
1920x1080 50I 16:9
1440x1080 50P 16:9
1440x1080 25P 16:9
1440x1080 50I 16:9
1600x1200 50P 4:3
1600x1200 25P 4:3
1440x1080 25P 4:3
1600x900 25P 16:9
1280x720 50P 16:9
1280x720 25P 16:9
HDR 1280x720 25P 16:9
848x480 50P 16:9
848x480 25P 16:9
720x480 50P 16:9
720x480 25P 4:3
1280x960 50P 4:3
1280x960 25P 4:3
960x540 25P 16:9
640x360 25P 16:9
640x480 50P 4:3
640x480 25P 4:3
432x240 50P 16:9
432x240 25P 16:9
320x240 25P 4:3
352x240 25P 4:3
2560x1440 60P 16:9
1920x1080 48P 16:9
1920x1080 24P 16:9
1920x1080 15P 16:9
1600x1200 48P 4:3
1600x1200 24P 4:3
1280x960 48P 4:3
1280x960 24P 4:3
1280x720 48P 16:9
1280x720 24P 16:9
848x480 48P 16:9
848x480 24P 16:9
640x480 48P 4:3
640x480 24P 4:3
Precise
1920x1080 100P 16:9
1920x1080 100P 16:9
1280x720 200P 16:9
1280x720 200P 16:9
1280x720 100P 16:9
1280x720 60P 16:9
848x480 200P 16:9
848x480 100P 16:9
640x480 200P 4:3
640x480 100P 4:3
432x240 200P 16:9
432x240 100P 16:9
320x240 100P 16:9

[nutsey]

Here is the script for 4k25 video mode (tested with 20180804 fw): V50-Pro_4k25.zip

[Grunta]

What was the HDR results like ??
did you test ....?

[nutsey]

It does not work as it's not implemented in firmware...

[Grunta]

Why the list ... What the sensor or chip are capable of ??

[nutsey]

The list is in the source code by default for all A12S cams. The IMX258 sensor and the A12 SoC together are capable of rendering HDR video, but as I mentioned above this was not implemented in firmware...

[xeros]

Is anything being done for V50 Pro recently?
I just bought this camera and I'm quite disappointed.
Previously, I had Hawkeye Firefly 7S, which was great, until the battery exploded for the 2nd time (used in a car) and destroyed it completely.

Now comparing to 7S, this Eken V50 Pro firmware is very poor with available options - I miss saturation, HDR/WDR, EIS, timestamps, more resolutions to choose, etc. features.
Default saturation is poor (I'd like to increase it) and sky is often burned (white instead of blue), but that's probably by lack of HDR/WDR.
Are you able to do anything with colors saturation?
I'm also interested in mentioned higher resolution for 50/60FPS modes (if that's possible).
My camera is also recording 2 video files at once (one with *AA.MP4 and lower resolution *AB.MP4 file). Is there a way to disable recording of the low res videos? I can't find it in menu.

Btw. my V50 Pro shows firmware version 20181127. Is there an update or a way to download it from camera to share?
Can I help with my camera anyhow?

At the other side, I bought V50 Pro without any accessories (as I had everything from 7S and suspected that they may fit) and I was right - everything fits, including waterproof case.
Even battery is the same PG1050 as replacement battery which I had in 7S.
Just wifi button is not reachable in waterproof case, but that's fine for me as other buttons are OK.

[nutsey]

Hi,

You can use this script for saving your firmware: https://www.goprawn.com/forum/ambare...1936#post11936

[nutsey]

The IMX258 CMOS sensor outputs 2100x1176 at 60 fps so I can try increasing FullHD resolution to these values. This can be useful for getting stabilized FullHD video in post.

[Grunta]

When used in the car - remove the battery and run off 5v charger