How to use RunCam Thumb Pro camera - lightweight 4K video camera for FPV drone weighing 16 grams

RunCam Thumb Pro camera is a 4K video camera for micro/FPV drones weighing only 16g. It can also be installed on TinyWoop.

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What is RunCam Thumb Pro Camera?

RunCam Thumb Pro camera is a small and lightweight 4K video camera for micro drones / FPV drones and radio-controlled aircraft developed and released in July 2022 by RunCam , which develops small action cameras. It weighs only 16g and has a FOV of 155 degrees (145 degrees on the old model). As the name suggests, it is as small as your thumb, but you can minimize blur by using the open source image stabilization technology " GyroFlow " with the built-in gyro sensor.
The RunCam Thumb Pro camera has an original model with an FOV of 145 degrees and a NEW (V2) model with an FOV of 155 degrees (RunCam Thumb Pro-W). Currently, only the NEW (V2) model can be purchased.

RunCam Thumb Pro Official site

Introduction to FPV drone for beginner / How to fly Racing drone

Introducing RunCam Thumb Pro Camera

This photo shows a package and a set of bundled items. From left to right, the top row is the packaging box and user's manual (English/Chinese) . The middle row is micro USB Type-B cable, camera, a set of TPU mount, wiring cable, screw. The user's manual is available for download in PDF format from download page .

RunCam Thumb Pro Official site (RunCam)

RunCam Thumb Pro manual (RunCam)

RunCam Thumb Pro NEW version download page (RunCam)

RunCam Thumb Pro OLD version download page (RunCam)

This is an enlarged photo of the camera and the included TPU mount.
The round part to the right of the lens is the power/shutter button. The central part of the button is an indicator lamp.
The TPU mount has several holes for mounting. Details such as dimensions of camera body and mount are displayed at the bottom of official site page.

This photo shows the back of the camera body. The connector is a Micro JST (1.25mm pitch) 4-pin connector.

Buy JST 1.25mm connector (Amazon.com)

When you slide the back cover open, there is a microSD card slot inside. Insert the microSD card with the label side facing the back and the terminal side facing the lens, and insert only the terminal part.

MicroSD card for RunCam Thumb Pro Camera

RunCam Thumb Pro manual (RunCam)

Pin arrangement is RX, TX, GND, DC5V from the top. The camera can be used by connecting at least GND and DC5V. Only 5V power supply is supported. It cannot be directly connected to a battery of 2S or higher.
(Image quoted from RunCam Thumb Pro camera manual)

RunCam Thumb Pro manual (RunCam)

If you use the separately sold RunCam Thumb Pro Camrea Adapter Cable (Flywoo) , you can directly connect a 2S-6S battery as shown in this photo.
In this photo, a 5PCS Power Cable For GP9/GP10/GP11 (Flywoo) with yellow XT30 connectors is connected between the Camrea Adapter Cable and battery.
The Camrea Adapter Cable connector format is JST-SH (1.0mm pitch) 3 pin.
If you use it in this configuration without mounting on your drone, please use a fan to cool it down. Otherwise, thermal runaway may occur.

RunCam Thumb Pro Camrea Adapter Cable (Flywoo)

5PCS Power Cable For GP9/GP10/GP11 (Flywoo)

Buy JST-SH connector (Amazon.com)

There is a micro USB Type-B connector on the side of the camera body. When connected to a computer, the camera will be recognized as a USB memory and you can directly retrieve the recorded video. You can also use it as a web camera by clicking the camera button while connected to your computer. Do not connect the battery to the camera when connecting it to a computer with a USB cable.

Replace lens filter

A dedicated ND filter set and lens protector (RunCam) are available for RunCam Thumb Pro (sold separately). The ND filter set includes ND8, ND16, and ND32.

To replace the filter, first remove the attached lens protector. Twist the lens counterclockwise to remove it.

After removing the lens protector, it looks like this. Align the filter tab with the groove on the camera side, insert it, and turn it clockwise to fix it.

MicroSD card for RunCam Thumb Pro Camera

Maximum bit rate of RunCam Thumb Pro Camera is about 60Mbps. To record 4K 30fps video, you need a microSD card with UHS Class 3 (U3), Video Class 30 (V30), UHS-I or higher performance. Prepare a microSD card with (U3) logo. Format SD card in exFAT format and use it.
Please note that some models of the same series of microSD cards do not support U3 depending on the capacity.
Shooting for 4 minutes at a bit rate of 60 Mbps consumes 14.4 GB. To store 4K resolution video for 10 flights (about 40 minutes), you need about 144GB of capacity. The maximum capacity supported by RunCam Thumb Camera is 256GB.

Buy 128GB U3-compatible microSD card(Amazon.com)

Buy 128GB U3-compatible microSD card(Amazon.co.uk)

How to record video

Turn on the camera

Connect camera (drone) to the battery and wait a few seconds for the camera to power on. Camera's LED will turn solid red. If the LED is flashing red quickly, an SD card error has occurred. Possible reasons include no card, card full, card speed slow, or card damaged. Check if the SD card is set correctly.

Start / end of recording

Press the power/shutter button to start recording. LED flashes red slowly.
Press the power/shutter button during recording to stop recording. The LED will turn solid red.
If you press and hold the power / shutter button while recording is stopped, the camera will stop. The LED turns off.
Note: If you remove battery during recording or continue recording until battery is empty, you will end up with unplayable files. Be sure to press record button to stop recording before turning off the power or removing the battery.

Remote control

By using RunCam App app installed on your smartphone, you can make settings such as shooting mode by reading QR code displayed on the smartphone screen. RunCam Thumb Pro does not have a Wi-Fi function, so it cannot be directly connected to a smartphone. For details, please refer to Connect with RunCam App, Set shooting mode, Remote control .

Image stabilization

RunCam Thumb Pro records the vibration of the camera measured by gyro sensor during video shooting in a text file in ".gcsv" format. Loading this along with the video file into a tool called GyroFlow can eliminate camera shake.

GyroFlow Official site

Install the RunCam App

RunCam action cameras can be controlled with RunCam App. Install RunCam App on your smartphone.
However, RunCam Thumb Pro does not have Wi-Fi functionality. Therefore, you cannot start/stop recording or preview the video remotely. You can set the shooting mode by reading the settings QR code displayed on your smartphone using the app into the camera.

• RunCam App

  

  CAMERA2000 LIMITED Photo / video free

  By connecting the camera via WiFi, you can: * Capture videos/photos with a variety of shooting modes. * Adjust the camera parameters and preview in real time. * Play/Download videos/photos. * Record in landscape and preview in full screen. * Update firmware through App. * Set all camera parameters.

  view details (App Store)

Connect with RunCam App, Set shooting mode, Remote control

Open (RunCam App) app. And tap where the camera name (Runcam scope cam plus) is displayed.

A list of products is displayed. Tap "RunCam Thumb Pro".

The screen will look like this. Tap "QR code setting".

Then the screen will look like this. After entering and changing various parameters on this screen, tap "Generate QR code" at the bottom of the screen to display QR code on the smartphone screen.
This is "Video" setting screen. Other settings can be made by tapping "General Settings" at the top of the screen.

In "General Settings", such setting items can be specified.

Tap icon at the top right of the screen to display a screen like this. You can choose "Reset parameters to default" or "Format Micro SD card".

After specifying the parameters, tap "Generate QR code" and you will see a screen like this.

Next, start RunCam Thumb Pro.
If you use the separately sold RunCam Thumb Pro Camrea Adapter Cable (Flywoo) , you can directly connect a 2S-6S battery as shown in this photo.
Quickly double-click the power/shutter button to switch to parameter setting mode (green light steady on).

RunCam Thumb Pro Camrea Adapter Cable (Flywoo)

Let RunCam Thumb Pro read the QR code displayed on the smartphone screen. Once the reading is complete, the camera will return to shooting mode (red light steady on).

Firmware version confirmation/version upgrade

Version confirmation

A file named "version.txt" is stored in the root of the microSD card set in RunCam Thumb Pro. If you open this with a text editor, etc., you can see the version of the firmware. It is written like "ThumbPW:V1.0.4".

Version upgrade

You can download the latest firmware from RunCam site. Unzip the downloaded file (7-Zip format) to obtain a firmware file with a file name such as "ThumbPW.BRN". Copy this to the root of the microSD card, set it in the camera, and turn on the power of the camera to perform the version upgrade.
The camera LED flashes green while the version is being updated. When the upgrade is finished, LED will turn off and the power of the camera will be turned off. There are two types of firmware, one for original model with FOV 145 degrees and one for NEW (V2) model (RunCam Thumb Pro-W) with FOV 155 degrees .

Firmware download for original model (RunCam)

Firmware download for NEW(V2) model (RunCam)

RunCam Thumb Pro Camera specifications

RunCam Thumb Pro Camera

item	description
Video resolution	4K@30fps, 2.7K@60fps, 1440P@60fps, 1080P@60/120fps
Sensor	IMX577(12MP)
F.O.V	OLD VERSION 145°,NEW VERSION 155°
Video format	MP4
Gyro	Bulit-in
Communication Interface	Micro USB
Micro SD Card Capacity	256G Max
USB Power Input/ Terminal Power Supply	DC 5.0V
Remote Control	Uart
Power Consumption	500mA@5V Max
Dimension	54mm*25.5mm*21mm
Net Weight	16g

Video Bitrate and Codec

Resolution	Video Quality			Codec
	High	Medium	Low
4K@30fps	60Mbps	50Mbps	40Mbps	H.264
2.7K@60fps	60Mbps	50Mbps	40Mbps
1440P@60fps	40Mbps	30Mbps	20Mbps
1080P@120fps	60Mbps	50Mbps	40Mbps
1080P@60fps	45Mbps	30Mbps	22Mbps

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