SJCAM C400 – Review
If you’ve ever tried to capture a fast-moving family holiday or a busy day out with standard camera gear, you will know the frustration. You are usually left wrestling with awkward mounts, missing the action while waiting for the unit to boot up, or panicking the second a spot of rain hits the lens.
I’ve been using SJCam’s previous model, the C300, for a good while now. For the budget, it is a cracking little device that has done a decent job of capturing our family moments and lots of hobbyist content, despite limitations.
However, the new SJCAM C400 takes things to a different level in terms of usability, build quality, and the final end result. It has clearly taken some design inspiration from premium vlogging gear like the DJI Osmo Pocket series (my favourite camera), and it completely transforms how quickly you can get from pocket to recording.
What’s in the box
- SJCAM C400 Action Camera
- Wireless Handheld Controller Grip
- Waterproof Case
- Base Mounts
- Helmet Bases
- 3M Adhesive Pads
- Locking Screws
- Mount Adapter
- Frame Bracket
- USB-C Charging Cable
“A massive leap in usability”
Out of the box, this is a nice unit. It looks good, feels good in the hand and from an operational perspective, this new version is miles ahead of its predecessor. For instance, rather than having to press and hold a button to switch the unit on, a quick flick of the rotatable screen wakes the camera up instantly. You’re ready to shoot before you’ve even fully processed that the camera is out of your pocket!
The dual-screen setup is brilliant too, but the touchscreen performance is the big upgrade that makes this camera’s usability so good. It is incredibly responsive, crystal clear, and makes navigating the menus and switching your shooting options so much easier than the older version. SJCAM have kept the massive array of attachments too, meaning you can easily switch from a handheld setup to mounting it on a helmet, a backpack, or bike handlebars.
“The end results were great”
To give the C400 a proper trial, I handed it over to my 13-year-old stepdaughter, Meghan. She’s active in every way you could think a teenager to be, and with it she’s a proper ski enthusiast. In the last 12 months, she’s become a budding content creator too – already well-versed in editing videos on her phone.
With her heading off to Italy on a school ski trip, I asked if she would test out the camera, use the helmet mount and see how it handled the slopes.
Safe to say – she jumped at the chance, and in the weeks before she left, she spent time taking it around the house and out on our dog walks to learn SJCAM C400 ropes. She took all the clips of our spaniel-cross Milo going for a walk, capturing everything from the lead going on, walking down the road, running through the woods, and right up to showering the mud off him at the end.
When she popped out the micro SD card and put the footage in to CapCut, she nicely edited everything for a start-to-finish video, and the end results were great. The upgrade in the 4K footage compared to the same 4K quality in the C300 (I have a feeling that was upscaled) was immediately obvious; the colours were punchy, and the internal stabilisation kept the handheld footage nicely smooth.
Roll on the slopes…
“Showed what it can do”
Gathered with her mates, she spent a couple of days getting used to the resort before taking the camera out with her. And it was a wise move, because with confidence high and the red and blue runs at her beck and call, the camera really showed what it could do.
Navigating white snow, bright blue skies, and fast movements can be a nightmare for some camera sensors, but the C400 handled the contrast beautifully. Her helmet-mounted shots were fantastic, delivering clean, steady footage that looked professional enough to sit straight on a YouTube channel.
It handled sunlight and shade nicely, and it was so easy for her to use. Her technique here was simply mounting the camera section to the helmet, and using the backscreen as a controller (did I mention they interconnect via bluetooth to suit your needs?).
This way, she wasn’t forever fiddling to take the camera off her head, stop and start it again…it was a breeze to use.
She returned with over 3 hours of footage, and again – loads of usable content that she’s been able to create long and short-form videos from, straight from the card.
“Leaps and bounds”
Since returning home, the camera has barely spent any time in its storage bag. When we are not using it for family walks, Meghan has it firmly under lock and key in her room, using the included mini tripod handle to film and perfect her ballet moves. Her filming and framing skills have come on leaps and bounds because the camera is just so inviting to use.
We all use it though, and it’s a great way to document family life. We’re thinking of opening up a YouTube channel for our dog, because Milo’s getting ALL the camera attention from the SJCam product when it’s in our hands!
If I have one minor grumble, it is the audio setup. The C400 desperately needs a way to connect an external microphone. Like most built-in action cam mics, the sound can be a bit thin. If you want to capture rich speech while vlogging or clear ambient noise over the roar of the wind, the built-in mic just falls a bit short. Hopefully, that is something they can fix in the next version.
What SJCAM says
“The SJCAM C400 is a modular 4K action camera designed to bridge the gap between traditional action cams and handheld creator devices. Unlike fixed-form competitors, the C400 features a detachable, 3-in-1 design that supports handheld shooting, mounted POV capture, and remote operation via a wireless Bluetooth controller — aimed at users who want lightweight flexibility without adding accessories or complexity. Key technical highlights include 4K UHD video up to 3840×2160 @ 30fps, Electronic Image Stabilisation (SteadyMotion V1.0) with Horizon Stability, a 2.29″ rotatable colour touchscreen for vertical and horizontal framing, up to 7 hours of total battery life and waterproof to 30 m with included housing.“
The verdict
For its price point, the SJCAM C400 is a phenomenal bit of kit for budding content creators or families wanting to log their adventures. While it borrows the shape of premium vlogging tools, it does not carry the eye-watering price tag, making it accessible for teenagers and hobbyists to learn and perfect some proper shooting techniques.
It has completely outpaced its older version, making daily operation an absolute doddle while producing video quality that punches well above its weight. It is rugged, versatile, and loads of fun to use. If you want a reliable pocket camera that can keep up with what you’re doing, this is a great choice.
The SJCAM C400 is available from sjcamstores.com. RRP: £227.00 (vlogging bundle)
Give Steve music, give him food, give him theatre, tech or travel… and he’s a happy man. He’s been writing professionally since 2003, turning to journalism in 2017 when it offered him the chance to enjoy a lot of his existing passions, and learn some new ones at the same time. Steve can be found spending many of his summer nights watching bands at The Piece Hall in his hometown of Halifax, or enjoying a bite to eat and a drink with his wife anywhere in Yorkshire at any time of year. Random fact: He does the best impression of Zippy and George from Rainbow that anyone has ever heard.
