Brinno Time Lapse Camera BCC300-C Bundle: Full Review

Brinno is well known for making high-quality time-lapse cameras for construction sites, weather monitoring, and other applications requiring durable and reliable time-lapse photography. The Brinno BCC300-C is one of their more affordable action camera models aimed at consumers who want an easy-to-use time-lapse camera for outdoor activities.

The BCC300-C captures full HD 1080p video and 12MP still images. It comes bundled with a waterproof housing, extended battery, 32GB SD card, and other accessories to get you started right out of the box. While it lacks some of the advanced features and video modes of GoPros and other action cameras, the BCC300-C focuses on doing time-lapse photography well at a more budget-friendly price point.

Design

The Brinno BCC300 is compact and lightweight, making it easy to transport and mount in various locations. It measures just 4.4 x 1.6 x 1.1 inches and weighs only 5 ounces. The small size allows it to be discreetly placed to capture time lapses.

The outer housing is made of durable ABS plastic that provides protection from bumps, drops, dust, and moisture. It has an IPX4 water resistance rating, meaning it can withstand splashing water from any direction.

The camera has a rectangular shape with rounded edges. There are standard 1/4"-20 threads on the bottom to mount it to any tripod. The housing also has an integrated clip for attaching the camera to pipes, poles, beams, and more at construction sites.

Despite its light weight, the plastic housing feels solid. The matte black finish resists scratches. Overall, the BCC300 is designed to be compact, lightweight and rugged enough for outdoor use.

If you are looking for an alternative, the BRINNO Empower TLC2020 Time Lapse Camera is another excellent option. This camera offers high dynamic range (HDR) and full HD 1080p resolution, ensuring detailed and vibrant time-lapse videos. It's user-friendly, with an intuitive interface for easy setup and operation. The TLC2020 is designed with a long battery life, making it suited for extended projects, and it also features versatile mounting options to adapt to various environments and uses.

Image Quality

The Brinno BCC300-C captures images at 1080p Full HD resolution, resulting in detailed and sharp videos even when zoomed in. Its wide 140-degree field of view allows you to capture expansive scenes.

With a smooth frame rate of 30fps, the Brinno BCC300-C records natural-looking timelapses without choppiness. Slow motions come out clean and blur-free. The CMOS sensor and F2.0 aperture take in plenty of light for capturing vivid videos in low light conditions.

Features

The Brinno BCC300-C comes with an impressive array of features for a camera in its price range. Here are some of the highlights:

Timelapse Modes

The BCC300-C has several different timelapse modes to choose from depending on your needs. It can capture standard timelapses at intervals ranging from 1 second to 1 hour. There is also a "Dynamic Timelapse" mode that auto-adjusts the interval based on the level of activity in the scene. This helps avoid issues with exposure changes during sunrises/sunsets. Finally, there is an HDR timelapse mode that takes bracketed exposures to deal with high contrast lighting situations.

HDR

Speaking of HDR, the BCC300-C has a robust HDR mode for both still photos and timelapses. You can set the EV bracketing range from -2 to +2 EV. The camera then combines the exposures in-camera to create a high dynamic range image with reduced blown out highlights and blocked up shadows. This allows capturing high contrast scenes like sunrises and sunsets.

WiFi & App Connectivity

The camera has built-in WiFi which allows you to connect to the Brinno app on your smartphone or tablet. This allows remote control of the camera, live view, and downloading photos/videos. The app provides a lot of info like battery level, SD card space, and the ability to update firmware. This wireless connectivity makes it easy to place the camera in hard-to-reach spots and still control it.

Battery Life

The Brinno BCC300-C comes with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that provides excellent battery life for time lapse photography. The camera can capture up to 130,000 images on a single charge, which translates to around 5-7 days of continuous shooting depending on your time lapse interval and other settings.

Charging the battery is simple - just connect the included USB cable to the camera and plug it into a USB charger, computer, or power bank. A full charge from empty takes approximately 3 hours. There's also the option to purchase additional spare batteries if you need extended shooting time.

The long battery life is a major advantage of the BCC300-C, as you can set it up for time lapse capture without worrying about frequently recharging or swapping batteries. This makes it very convenient for long-term outdoor time lapse projects like construction site monitoring or plant growth tracking. Overall the battery performance is a strong suit of this camera.

Durability

The Brinno BCC300-C has impressive durability features that make it suitable for outdoor use. The camera itself is housed inside a rugged water-resistant case that provides an IPX4 water resistance rating. This means it can withstand splashing water from any direction with no issues. The case is also designed to protect the camera from dust, dirt, and sand.

For shock resistance, the case and mounting clamp are made from durable materials that can handle accidental drops and knocks. The camera can be securely mounted using the included clamp and will stay in place even in windy conditions or on vibrating surfaces like construction equipment. Some users have even mounted it on their vehicles to capture time lapses while driving off-road with no problems.

Overall, between the water and shock resistance, the Brinno BCC300-C has the durability to be used outdoors and in demanding environments like construction sites, travel adventures, or weather monitoring stations. The protective housing gives peace of mind that the camera will keep working despite exposure to the elements.

Ease of Use

The Brinno BCC300-C has a simple yet functional user interface that prioritizes ease of use over advanced controls. The camera itself has just a few physical buttons to start and stop recording, toggle modes, and navigate basic settings. There is no rear display screen on the camera itself.

Instead, the Brinno Time Lapse app provides a intuitive way to remotely control the camera and adjust settings through a paired smartphone or tablet. The app makes it easy to adjust resolution, frame rate, exposure, time lapse interval, and more. It also provides presets for common scenarios like construction sites or sunrises.

Navigating the app is straightforward with logical menus and options. The live view feature lets you frame shots properly and preview the results. Settings can be tweaked until you get the desired look before starting the time lapse recording.

The app also wirelessly transfers photos and videos from the camera for instant previewing. For users who don't want to fuss with manual controls, the Brinno offers decent auto mode options to handle most settings automatically. Overall, the streamlined physical interface and functional app provide a user-friendly experience for time lapse photography.

Accessories

The Brinno BCC300-C comes with a good selection of included accessories for getting started with time lapse photography and videography.

In the box, you get the camera itself along with a rechargeable lithium ion battery, 32GB microSD card, USB cable, adjustable clamp mount, and weather resistant housing. The included battery offers up to 4 hours of operation per charge. The adjustable clamp is useful for mounting the camera in different positions and angles. And the weather resistant housing has an IPX4 water resistance rating, allowing you to use the camera outdoors even in light rain showers.

Some optional accessories are also available to further expand the capabilities of this camera. An external power adapter can provide continuous power for longer time lapse shoots. Spare batteries are handy for swapping when one runs out of juice. Various mounting accessories like suction cups, tripods, and poles allow flexibility in positioning the camera. And a carrying case provides safe storage and transport.

Overall, the included accessories cover the basics well. And the availability of additional accessories allows customizing the Brinno BCC300-C setup for your specific time lapse photography needs.

Pros

The Brinno BCC300-C has several notable pros that make it a great choice for time-lapse photography:

• High resolution images: The camera captures full 1080p HD video at 30fps, resulting in high quality 12MP still images. This allows capturing sharp, detailed timelapses.

• Long battery life: The removable 18650 battery provides up to 4 months of standby time or up to 2 weeks of continuous shooting on a single charge. This allows capturing timelapses over long periods without swapping batteries.

• Weatherproof housing: The IPX4 water resistant housing protects the camera from the elements like rain, dust and dirt. This is ideal for outdoor timelapse projects.

• Flexible mounting: The bundled mounting clamp securely attaches the camera to objects like poles and beams at adjustable angles. This allows mounting the camera in optimal positions.

Cons

The Brinno Time Lapse Camera BCC300-C has a few drawbacks to consider:

• The battery life could be better. The camera can record up to 130 minutes of 1080p video on a full charge. For longer time lapse captures, you'll need to connect it to a power source.

• The LCD screen is small at just 1.5 inches. It can be tricky to compose shots and navigate menus on the tiny display. A larger screen would make operation much easier.

• The camera lacks onboard storage. You must insert a microSD card (sold separately) to save your videos and time lapse footage. A built-in storage option of 16GB or 32GB would be convenient.

• The plastic housing feels a bit cheap and flimsy. For a camera designed for outdoor use, the housing could be more rugged and durable. It may not hold up well to drops or impacts.