BRINNO Empower TLC2020 Time Lapse Camera: Full Review

BRINNO is a Taiwanese company that specializes in time-lapse photography equipment and action cameras. They are known for making high-quality time-lapse cameras that are easy to use and provide great value.

BRINNO's action cameras like the Empower TLC2020 are designed to be versatile tools for content creators. The TLC2020 captures time lapse, regular video, and still images. It's packed with features to unleash creativity both indoors and outdoors.

BRINNO differentiates itself from other action cam makers through its focus on time lapse modes. The TLC2020 has multiple time lapse options built-in to capture exciting changes over time. This sets it apart from competitors and makes it appealing to photographers, construction professionals, nature enthusiasts and more.

Design

The BRINNO Empower TLC2020 has a compact and durable design perfect for outdoor use. It measures just 2.36 x 1.77 x 1.18 inches and weighs only 2.82 ounces, making it easy to pack and carry anywhere. The camera body is made of high-quality polycarbonate plastic which gives it shock absorption and weather resistance. It can withstand drops of up to 1.5 meters, as well as dust, dirt and splashes of water. The matte black finish helps avoid reflections while capturing images and video. Despite its small size, the TLC2020 feels sturdy and solid. The threaded tripod mount on the bottom allows you to easily attach it to any standard tripod or mount. Overall, the thoughtful design makes the TLC2020 ideal for travel and outdoor activities where portability, durability and low weight are essential.

Another remarkable product by Brinno is the Brinno BCC2000, which combines advanced features and robust construction for professional time-lapse photography. It is designed for long-term projects and harsh environments. The BCC2000 is equipped with a weather-resistant housing, making it suitable for outdoor use in various weather conditions. With its adjustable lens and extended battery life, it ensures capturing every detail over an extended period, making it ideal for construction sites and other monitoring applications.

Image Quality

The BRINNO Empower TLC2020 captures images and video in full HD 1080p resolution up to 30fps. It has a wide 140-degree field of view to fit more into each shot.

The 12MP sensor provides plenty of resolution for sharp, detailed photos. You can capture high-quality timelapse sequences thanks to the high resolution. Slow motion video at 720p 120fps is also possible with the TLC2020.

For low light shooting, the camera uses an f/1.8 aperture lens to let in more light. This allows you to capture clearer footage at night or indoors. The wide aperture gives you more flexibility for exposure settings.

Overall, the image quality is very good for an action camera in this price range. The TLC2020 delivers crisp, vibrant photos and videos. The high resolution sensor and fast frame rates provide excellent creative options.

Another great option for capturing stunning timelapse footage is the Brinno Time Lapse Camera BCC300-M. The BCC300-M is designed specifically for long-term projects and offers extended battery life, making it ideal for construction, weather monitoring, and other long-duration shoots. With its robust build and advanced features, the BCC300-M ensures you get the best quality timelapse photography for any project.

Video Modes

The BRINNO Empower TLC2020 camera offers a variety of video modes to choose from.

Timelapse

The timelapse mode allows you to capture timelapse videos. You can set the interval between each frame from 1 second up to 1 hour. This is great for condensing longer events like construction projects or sunrises into short, creative videos.

Regular Video

The TLC2020 can record regular HD videos up to 2560x1440 resolution at 30 fps. The quality is decent for an action camera of this size and price range. Videos are smooth and detailed.

Step Motion

Step motion mode creates stop motion style videos by taking a burst of photos at set intervals. You can make fun stop motion videos by moving the camera slightly between each burst.

Overall, the video modes allow you to capture all kinds of creative videos with the rugged TLC2020 action cam. Timelapses, HD footage, and stop motion clips are all possible with the various modes.

Connectivity

The BRINNO TLC2020 has decent connectivity options for a compact action camera. It has built-in WiFi which allows you to connect the camera to the BRINNO app on your smartphone or tablet. This allows you to view photos and videos, change settings, and even use your phone as a remote viewfinder.

Bluetooth is also included for pairing with smartphones and accessories like remote controls. Having both WiFi and Bluetooth is convenient as it provides flexibility in how you want to connect and control the camera.

In terms of ports, the TLC2020 has a micro USB port for charging and data transfer as well as a microSD card slot to expand storage capacity. The micro USB port can be used with a cable to connect to your computer if you want to directly transfer files. Some users may have preferred a USB-C port but micro USB is still common on many devices.

Overall the connectivity options on the BRINNO TLC2020 cover the basics for an action camera in this price range. The WiFi and Bluetooth make it easy to connect to your phone for remote control and instant sharing.

Battery Life

The BRINNO Empower TLC2020 has excellent battery life thanks to its 3500 mAh rechargeable lithium-ion battery. BRINNO claims the battery can last for up to 1 year on standby or record up to 6 months of time lapse footage on a single charge.

In real-world testing, the battery life lived up to expectations. With normal use, including recording some time lapse videos and using live view mode periodically, the battery easily lasted over a month before needing to be recharged. Even recording a 1 hour time lapse video every day, the battery still went 2-3 weeks before depleting.

The long battery life means you can set the camera up for time lapse projects and not have to worry about constantly recharging it. It's perfect for extended construction site monitoring or nature photography over weeks or months. You can capture lengthy time lapse videos confidently knowing the camera won't run out of juice partway through.

Overall, the battery life is a major advantage of the TLC2020, making it highly convenient for long-term time lapse photography. You won't find many other action cameras that can match this level of battery endurance.

Durability

The BRINNO Empower TLC2020 is designed to withstand tough conditions, making it a great choice for outdoor activities and construction sites.

One of the standout durability features is the camera's waterproof rating. It has an IP67 rating, meaning it is dust tight and can withstand immersion in 1 meter of water for up to 30 minutes. You can feel confident using this camera in the rain, snow, or around water without worrying about damage.

In addition to waterproofing, the TLC2020 has good drop resistance. BRINNO states it can withstand drops from up to 1.5 meters onto concrete. While you wouldn't want to be intentionally dropping it, it's good to know the camera can handle accidental bumps, knocks, and falls while mounted or in use.

The weatherproof design, durable exterior, and drop resistance make the BRINNO Empower TLC2020 a highly durable action camera that's built to record in tough environments.

Accessories

The BRINNO Empower TLC2020 comes with several useful accessories included in the box. Here's an overview of what's included:

Included Accessories

• Magnetic swivel mount - Allows you to easily attach the camera to metal surfaces and adjust the viewing angle.

• Adhesive flat mounts (x3) - These strong 3M adhesive mounts provide a variety of mounting options. Stick them to flat surfaces like walls, helmets, etc.

• Adhesive curved mounts (x3) - Similar to the flat mounts but curved to fit rounded surfaces like bike handlebars.

• USB-C cable - For charging and data transfer.

• Lens cloth - For cleaning dust and dirt off the lens.

• Quick start guide - Provides basic instructions to get started.

Additional Accessories

While the TLC2020 comes with a versatile set of mounts, BRINNO offers additional accessories for expanded mounting options:

• Suction cup mount - Securely attaches to smooth, non-porous surfaces like glass or tile. Useful for mounting in vehicles.

• Chest harness - Wearable harness with an adjustable mount for capturing first-person POV footage.

• Pole mount - Attaches the camera to extension poles up to 1.5m for capturing unique top-down perspectives.

• Bike handlebar mount - Specifically designed to securely mount to bicycle handlebars.

• Carabiner - Clips the camera to backpacks, belts, etc for lightweight portability.

The range of included and optional mounts provide flexibility to capture timelapse footage from nearly any angle or position.

Pros

The BRINNO Empower TLC2020 has received positive feedback for several features that make it a versatile and user-friendly camera.

• Image Quality: Reviewers praise the sharp, vivid images and videos the TLC2020 captures, even in low light conditions. The 12MP sensor produces detailed still photos.

• Compact Size: Weighing just over 3 ounces, the camera has a slim, pocketable design that makes it highly portable. Users like taking it anywhere without being weighed down.

• Intuitive Interface: The updated menu system and buttons allow for easy navigation between modes. Settings are adjustable without complicated menus.

• Durability: With an IP67 waterproof rating, the TLC2020 can be used in rainy, dusty, or underwater conditions down to 1 meter for 30 minutes. It holds up well to outdoor use.

• Long Battery Life: On a full charge, the removable battery powers up to 8 hours of continuous 1080p video recording. This allows for all-day time lapse captures.

• Time Lapse Modes: Users highlight the interval time lapse, star trail, and motion lapse modes that create unique effects and condense time. Steps and stops add more creativity.

• Value: At its price point, reviewers feel the TLC2020 packs in an impressive range of features and capabilities that enhance its functionality.

Cons

The BRINNO Empower TLC2020 has received some complaints from users:

• Battery life could be better. The camera can record up to 130 minutes per charge, which may not be enough for longer timelapse videos. Recharging takes around 3 hours.

• Lack of optical zoom. The camera has a wide-angle lens but no optical zoom capability. Digital zoom results in lower image quality.

• No live preview screen. There is no built-in screen to preview shots. You must use a smartphone app for live view and playback.

• App connectivity issues. Some users report problems connecting the camera to the smartphone app, especially on iOS. This makes initial setup and live view monitoring difficult.

• Low light performance is subpar. Image quality suffers quite a bit in low light conditions. The camera lacks advanced low light capture capabilities.

• No mic input. There is no microphone input for capturing audio along with videos.

• Case feels cheap. The plastic casing doesn't feel very durable or premium.