HDZero SharkByte vs Analog Camera Comparisons - RunCam Micro, RunCam Nano, and Foxeer Toothless 2

In my first video I remember saying that there wasn't a HUGE difference between my analog setup and the HDZero SharkByte, but using the system for a while and trying different cameras I was totally wrong. The HDZero Digital system is looking great and the point of this video is to demonstrate this with a direct comparison of three cameras!

In this video I do three back-to-back runs of the same flight path in order to make a fair comparison using the equipment I have available. The cameras I'm using are:
- Foxeer Toothless 2 Mini for Analog
- RunCam Nano for HDZero
- RunCam Micro for HDZero

I've seen a lot of other comparison videos, but they often felt like a bunch of random clips which made it hard to actually compare the video image quality. I hope that this comparison is helpful, and please feel free to ask questions or leave your thoughts. Really curious what everyone thinks!

Thanks for watching and the continued support, cheers. -Pete

0:00 Intro
0:20 Camera Overview
1:30 Image Comparison
2:22 1st Flight Section
3:17 Shadows vs. Highlights
4:05 Distant Objects
4:40 Details in the Forest
5:15 Direct Light Handling
5:45 Fast Cruising Details
6:22 Side Trip Bonus
6:45 What do you think?

6" Drone Setup Details (Changed from 5" to 6" props as I'm focused more on long-range)
- Frame: Some old cheap ZMR250 thing…
- Flight Controller: Matek F405-CTR
- VTX: Divimath HDZero SharkByte (Matek Mini 800mw (Backup Quad: TBS Unify Pro HV)
- GPS Module: TBS GPS Module
- Motors: XING-E 2306 2450KV
- ESC: Aikon AK32 35A 2-4S BlHeli32
- Propellers: HQ Ethix S5 5x4x3
- FPV Camera: Foxeer Toothless which is also very nice, but also really like the Caddx Ratel
- Radio Receiver: TBS Crossfire Nano RX
- Receiver Antenna: TBS Crossfire Immortal T V2 Antenna
- VTX Antenna: Current - TrueRC OCP, Previously - SpiroNET Omni – 5.8GHz CP Antenna
- ViFly Finder 2 Buzzer, highly recommend

5" Drone Test Setup Details
- Frame: Some random thing…
- Flight Controller: Holybro Kakute f4
- VTX: Divimath HDZero SharkByte (Backup Analog: Matek Mini 800mw , TBS Unify Pro HV)
- GPS Module: TBS GPS Module
- Motors: XING-E 2306 2450KV
- ESC: Aikon AK32 35A 2-4S BlHeli32
- Propellers: HQ Ethix S5 5x4x3
- FPV Camera: RunCam Nano SharkByte (Analog: Foxeer Toothless which is also very nice, but also really like the Caddx Ratel)
- Radio Receiver: TBS Crossfire Nano RX
- Receiver Antenna: TBS Crossfire Immortal T V2 Antenna
- VTX Antenna: Current - TrueRC OCP, Previously - SpiroNET Omni – 5.8GHz CP Antenna
- ViFly Finder 2 Buzzer, highly recommend

* For Long Range Missions - I also use/I'm working on a lightweight drone with a Naked GoPro which has an AUW under 250g. Amazing!

Googles/Antennas
- Fatshark HDO with Rapidfire Receiver
- Hd Zero Shark Byte VRX
- Foxeer Micro Lollipop 3 CP
- SpiroNET 5.8GHz 13dB Patch
- DIY 5 Turn Helical Antenna, Amazing!
- DIY 7 Turn Helical Antenna, Even Better!

Controller/Transmitter
- FRSKY Taranis X9D Plus with TBS Crossfire Micro TX V2

Cameras, Footage, and Software
- GoPro Hero 8 Black, shot in 2.7k and 4k
- Various iPhones
- Final Cut Pro X (FCPX) editing software

If you have any questions or comments about my setup please leave a comment.

Note: All equipment and flight plans were in accordance with current local laws. Special thanks to my spotters who hiked hard terrain with me in order to achieve this flight footage.

Keywords: FPV, drone, VTX, Transmitter, RX, Antenna, Fatshark, DJI, Freestyle, Race, Mountain, Forest, Norway, Norge, quad, kwad, taranis, frsky, matek, Foxeer, 21700, 16850, li-ion, tbs, team black sheep, immersion RC, x-ing, xing, motor, brushless, ethix, GoPro, GPS, iFlight, Matek, failsafe, range, test, cinewhoop, cinematic, FCPX, CP, Circular Polarized, Patch, 13dbi, dbi, helical, DIY, build, solder, carbon fiber, diatone, dal props, bheli, esc, runcam, crash, RTH, long range, flow, RCgroups, intofpv, RCIndia, how to, first person view, Hero, ND Filters, Dalprops
Lithium Ion, Divimath, HDZero, SharkByte, digital system; #Sharkbyte #HDZero #Divimath #review #digitalfpv

[ChilkoNZ]

Your HDZero content is some of the best on Youtube, very clear, well planned, and great comparisons. The beautiful locations & smooth flying (particularly in your latest video) are an added bonus. Please keep up the great work, can't wait for more videos.

[aviphysics]

Really nice comparison. Toothless 2 does an amazing job trying to keep up, but HDZero is amazing for seeing those power lines and not getting that rainbow effect on fine structures.

[RyanQuellet]

You did a great job aligning the videos. This is hard to do. Looking forward to more content

[lstbt]

Best honest comparison I've seen so far. Great work!

[BooDevil]

Well done - appreciate the effort you put into these!

[nitronut]

Great content. Spot on with your commentary in the 3 video's it really helps to better understand how the different systems handle different lighting, motion and changing scenarios. Very informative you got another sub. I think we are in the transition phase where analog is going to go away as many people start to transition to HD

[AponeFPV]

Amazing back to back testing, great video

[Jeb]

I'm really impressed with how close the videos are for different flights. Did you do multiple takes to get it close?

[kafie]

HDZero should provide you samples of future hardware releases for tests and comparisons.

Love the work you are putting into this.

[gustav.olsson]

Great comparison! I'm really liking your videos, keep up the good work :)

[firstnamemike]

A+ for the comparison and the 2 runcam digital cams.

[sunsetpark_fpv]

Wow the micro looks amazing! I have the Sharkbyte RX - I'm just waiting for a higher power VTX and I'm in! Great comparison video!

[BlackAdder-wpdn]

I converted 6 of my 9 analog quads to HDZero. I still love analog though, as the breakup is more predictable, compared to the full rainbow blackouts with HDZero. I just ordered a Foxeer T-Rex analog camera for my new Diatone L5 build - so that should tell you analog is not yet dead, or a thing of the past. HDZero image quality is much like the best analog you can get, so not even close to DJI clarity or penetration. I am hoping that firmware updates will make HDZero even clearer in the near future - if they can do that with firmware.

[joevo]

Excellent comparison video! I’m so convinced on getting hdzero now. It’s no longer an analog+ and it’s not too shabby against dji too. Thanks!

[gmivisualsjason]

Absolutely excellent really enjoyed that.
I've just taken delivery of the Digisight V3 and I'd say its a mix of Analogue (oversaturated greens) and the runcam hdzero.
But in your video the Runcam hdzero excelled in my opinion.

Looking forward to being able to purchase one or two.

Perhaps you should get your hands on the Foxeer digisight ceras 1-3

[JonathanBirch]

Awesome video.
Keep on living your dreams.
Regards from South Africa 🇿🇦

[madtoffelpremium]

It's clear that analog is on the way out. Even one of the best analog cameras doesn't even come close to compete with digital. Sure, analog is still fine and compleatly flyable, but it gives you a whole new flying experience to actually see where you are going, the excavator at the end of the road is a great example for that. I am totally planning to upgrade if the parts would actually be in stock at some point.

Also DJI isn't really an option for me, it's an expensive closed system, I don't trust the manufacturer who doesn't interact with the communy (feels like we were just the betatesters before they used it in thier own drone) and I hate the way they handle signal degridation. I can see through a bit of breakup but having your whole image become blurry with incresing latency is just not fun. Sorry for ranting, thank you for your great comparision!

[carmellight]

Wow, really impressive job. You r flying like as if there are sort of virtual air line route. 👍

[unger_cnc]

Great video! Gives a nice perspective to analog pilots for overall breakup and image quality difference they can expect if they decide to switch to HDZero!

[jamesshields]

The micro takes it for me, need to see those treetops in detail doing proximity long-range!