I really wanted to hate the Runcam Split FPV camera with HD recording capabilities - but I don't. Despite my initial misgivings when Runcam announced the Split, it's actually a pretty cool bit of kit that works very, very well. Of course it's not perfect so here's a list of the pros and cons:
Pros:
- saves weight over a separate FPV/HD setup
- makes for a very tidy installation in the stack
- latency is very low for an HD CMOS sensor
- less affected by jello than many other CMOS cameras
- fantastic wide-dynamic range (gobsmacking actually)
- very quiet (from an RF perspective)
- super cheap considering it replaces your GoPro and your FPV cam
Cons:
- flat-flex cable may fracture over time
- microSD card setup could be an issue for some
- pretty hungry (600mA @ 5V)
- inflexible voltage range (only 5V)
- the HD recording may have the quad's props in frame
- "Memory Full" message too big when card is full
- board should be conformal coated
Summary:
It's cheap, it works very well and it can save a lot of weight -- what's not to like?
Stars out of 10: at least 8.