ATC 3000 Action Camera

The ATC3000 is the model up from the ATC2000, and for the little bit extra it cost, it does have some nice, extra features!  I should start of by saying, the ATC3000 model is very similar to the previous one, it looks more or less the same, other than the ATC3000 is completely black (the ATC2000 has a nice bit of silver on it).

It is the same size as the previous model, it uses 2 AA batteries, it comes with 32mb of on-board storage and this can be expanded with an SD card.  Unlike the ATC2000 which only accepts 2GB memory cards, the ATC3000 can record onto cards of up to 4GB.  This is a great improvement, especially for long days of out door activities.  Carrying extra SD cards can be a bit of a faff, especially as they’re very easy to drop and loose!.  The ATC3000 can record at resolutions of  640 x 480 (VGA) and 320 x 24o (QVGA).  On the highest resolution, at a 30fps frame rate you will get a nice 2 hours worth of footage, though if you’re after a bit more you could lower the resolution and get many more hours!

Compared to the ATC2000, one of the best improvements (or at least the one I would like the most) is that the new ATC3000 has a better lens, with a wider field of view.  The ATC3000 has a FOV (field of view) of 48 degrees which is about 5 degrees more than the ATC2000.  Basically, this means you’ll be able to capture more footage as you turn the camera compared to if you turned the older model to the same degree.  I think the benefits from this would best be seen from helmet camera footage, compared to if you’re using the camera statically (eg, on handlebars).  If I use my ATC2000 for cycling, I find when I look at junctions the footage doesn’t see very far down on the road.  When I’ve seen footage of the ATC3000 in similar conditions it is definitely a lot better!

The ATC3000 comes with the same accessories as before, including a large and small Velcro helmet mounts, a rubber helmet mount, along with a handle bar mount.  Some bonus features of the ATC3000 is that it can also be used as a web cam, and it comes with a handy web cam tripod, and all the software you need for it is on a CD!

What can I use the ATC3000 for?

The ATC3000 is designed for action, out door activities so what you can use it for really is just limited by your imagination.  They come with attachments so you can attach it to pretty much any helmet.  You also get a handle bar mount which means you could attach it to your bicycle or motorbike.  You may also be able to use this kind of mount to attach it to a kayak paddle and things of a similar shape.

The ATC3000 is waterproof to 3 meters, so you could take it snorkelling and this does mean you don’t need to worry about when it starts to rain!  I have seen videos where ATC cameras have been taken down to nearer 7 meters which does suggest Oregon Scientific over engineer their cameras, which can only be a good thing!

Are there any disadvantages of the ATC3000?

I think that any of the downsides to any of the ATC cameras can easily be forgiven when you can get them for such a good price.

Like all the cameras in the ATC range, they do fall down in poor light conditions.  Don’t expect to be able to record anything worth watching when it’s pitch black out and when it is overcast, the footage isn’t as good as in good light.  This might be a downside if you’re going through a forest or out in the rain.  The videos in low light conditions are still quite watch able, but they do fall down a bit.

The other downside of the ATC3000 is that it doesn’t have a screen to watch the footage.  You do get a little display which tells you how long you’ve recorded for, how many more minutes you can film for, if the battery is low and it allows you to adjust the resolution and delete footage.  Without being able to see what the lens is seeing, until plugging it into your computer later on, does mean that at times your footage may not be lined up as well as you’d of hoped.  This can result in getting a little bit too much sky, or ground in your film.  It just takes a little patience to line it up correctly.  If you don’t have the patience for this, then maybe check out the newer model.

Should I get the ATC5000 instead?

The ATC5000 is a little bit more expensive, at around half the price again.  The ATC3000 is a great camera for the money, but because it doesn’t have a screen it can be a bit fiddly to mount for the best shots.  The ATC5000 has an inbuilt screen which would make lining the camera up before activities even easier, along with allowing you to play back all your clips instantly!  This is great if you’re out with mates and want to boast about what you’ve just done (or maybe have some footage of yourself falling over which can be a good laugh – as long as it didn’t hurt too much!).

The other way that the ATC5000 is improved on the ATC3000 is that it has a wider field of view, again.  It’s really up to you, to weight up if it’s worth the extra money or not.  If you can live without the screen, then it might not be worth the extra money.  Be sure to think it through – you don’t want to change your mind after you’ve already spent quite a lot on this camera.

As part of this website I have created a list of some of the best places to buy an ATC3000.  With this tool you will be able to find the cheapest place to pick up one of these cameras.