RunCam has updated the Swift. Therefore, a microphone and an On Screen Display were added. The sensor remains the same. Even if the OSD is very simple, it is a real enrichment and great new feature. Here is an overview of the new Runcam Swift 2.

Where to buy

The camera can be pre-ordered at RunCam and Banggood.

Scope of delivery

• 1× Swift 2 Camera
• 1× metal bracket for mounting
• 1× OSD control unit
• 1× Allen key and various screws
• 1× 5 Pin silicon cable (VCC GND VIDEO AUDIO VBAT)
• 1× 3 Pin silicon cable (VCC GND VIDEO)
• 1× alternative camera housing (3 threaded positions)
• 1× manual

Specifications

• Manufacturer: RunCam
• Lens: 2.5 mm (130°)/2.3 mm (150°)/2.1 mm (165°)
• Model: Swift 2
• Weight (without bracket): 14 g
• Dimensions: 26 mm × 26 mm × 28.5 mm
• Video mode: NTSC/PAL
• Sensor: 1/3″ Sony Super Had II CCD IR Blocked/IR Sensitive
• Housing color:  orange or black
• Resolution: 600 TVL
• Input voltage: 5–36 V
• Microphone: yes
• WDR: D-WDR

Features

• large input voltage range
• integrated OSD (voltage / timer / name)
• integrated microphone
• many mounting options

Camera/Sensor

The sensor in the RunCam Swift 2 is the same as in the predecessor, the Sony Super Had II CCD sensor. This has proved its worth in the field of FPVs and offers, among other things, a lot of adjustment possibilities so that the camera can be configured exactly to the own needs.

Front of the Sony Super Had Sensor. The sensor was glued with Expoy on the board.

On the back is the microphone and two connectors for power/video/audio/vbat and OSD config. Due to the fact that the microphone is mounted on the back, less wind noise should be transmitted.

Lens comparison

The RunCam Swift 2 is delivered with the 2.3 mm lens. RunCam send me two additional lenses for testing. In the following photo you can see how the different lenses look.

Mounting

The RunCam Swift 2 can be mounted in several ways. An alternative housing with three press-in threads on each side is also included.
Both housings have only metallic threads, so you do not have to be afraid that you could turn over the screws like at other cameras.

OSD-Menu

The OSD menu for configuration offers, as usual from the Sony Super Had II CCD Sensor, many possibilities for the configuration of the camera.
To get into the OSD menu, press the button on the control unit.

 
The OSD menu for the FPV-flight can also be accessed with the control unit by pressing  the UP-button for two seconds.

OSD- Features

• Pilot name
• Timer
• Voltage indication
• Baseline (fixed horizon as dashed line)

How to measure voltage for the OSD

Option 1:
Power you Swift 2 directly (VCC/GND) from the LiPo and don’t use VBAT. The Swift measures VCC/GND Voltage. Note, the voltage is a little bit lower (approx 0.1–0.2 V) than the LiPo voltage.

Option 2:
Connect the LiPo to the Swift 2 VBAT/GND Pin. the Swift will measure the exact LiPo Voltage.

Option 3:
If you power the camera through VTX or 5 V, you have to connect the LiPo to VBAT/GND, otherwise it can’t measure the LiPo voltage.

Picture quality

The default settings already make a good impression. The “Color Mode” is active in the factory settings, so the camera does not switch between color and black/white.
I will expand this post as soon as I have DVR footage available.

Conclusion: RunCam Swift 2

The RunCam Swift 2 makes a very valuable impression and the technical data speak for themselves. The Sony Super Had II Sensor can be configured as desired and the microphone as well as the additional OSD evaluates the camera once again clearly. The only camera wich offers the same features is the Foxeer Arrow V2 [article not translated yet] It remains to be seen how the camera strikes during the flight test, but I think there will be the camera as good as the predecessor.