ATLI X10 review: this 4K timelapse camera’s got a real lens and everything!

Timelapse cameras tend to be one of two things – cheap and serviceable, or expensive and high-quality. The ATLI X10 4K is something of an outlier in that it sits elegantly in the middle. Capable of capturing 4K timelapse footage over short or long intervals, it’s a cut above the cheap Full HD timelapse cameras that saturate the market, but it’s also a lot more nimble than the big construction timelapse cameras that cost thousands of dollars and are designed to be left for months on end.

Tiny enough to slip into a pocket, but boasting a proper focusing lens with a six-element construction and a filter thread, the ATLI X10 aims to strike a balance between portability and performance. It offers the ability to schedule timelapses, and can even capture long 30-second exposures for low-light shooting.

Has ATLI struck the perfect balance for timelapse shooters? I took the X10 for a test drive to find out.

ATLI X10 4K: Specifications

ATLI X10 4K: Price & Availability

The ATLI X10 4K can be purchased directly from ATLI for a retail price of $399 – it’s only priced in dollars, though they are willing to ship internationally, so you can just convert the cost to your local currency. They offered me a shipping cost of $23 for the UK; it may be different for other territories. It’s currently listed on Amazon US at $369, so there’s potential to make a saving there if you’re in the US.

ATLI also offers some mounting accessories for the X10, which are a must if you don’t already own any. The 11“ Magic Arm & Clamp Kit can be bought directly for $28.80, while the C-Clamp and Ball Head can be picked up for $49.90.

ATLI X10 4K: Design

If you have some experience with timelapse cameras, the design of the ATLI X10 probably immediately got your attention. Whereas most timelapse cameras tend to look like webcams or security cameras, the ATLI X10 looks, well, like a real camera. Its box-like body isn’t going to win awards for ergonomics, but that’s a real six-element lens on the front, one that includes an aspherical element to cut down on distortion and get rid of the ‘fishbowl’ look that’s common among timelapse cameras.

The lens also offers adjustable focus from 12cm to infinity, as well as even a 52mm filter thread. The ATLI X10 comes with its own UV filter, but if you want to stack it with ND filters and polarizers, you by all means may do so. The body itself is IP64 weatherproof, meaning it won’t survive a full dunking in water, but should be fine in rain and general outdoor unpleasantness. There’s also a standard tripod screw thread on the underside of the camera.

One feature that is notably missing from the ATLI X10’s design is a rear screen. Connecting it to the app is mandatory, not just to see what you’re doing, but also to trigger the camera at all; though the power button is invitingly placed in the position of a shutter button, it doesn’t function as one. This means that even though it can capture 8MP stills and 4K video clips, you’re not going to be using the ATLI X10 handheld the way you would an ordinary camera, since you’re always going to need a hand spare for the phone.

ATLI X10 4K: Performance

Connecting the ATLI X10 4K to your phone is a slick, smooth process. Download the app, scan the QR code on the bottom of the camera body, grant it every single one of the many permissions it asks for, and you’re away. The app is sensibly laid out, with all options and settings very immediately intuitive. I’m always a bit torn by this sort of thing – in general, I don’t like it when a device is impossible to operate without the use of a third-party device. But, the app interface is also so, so much clearer and more effective than peering at a tiny LCD, and stabbing at unlabelled buttons that all have at least three context-dependent functions. Maybe I just need to get over it and embrace the app life.

I did experience a very pronounced lag in terms of the live view functionality, with the display always a good couple of seconds behind the action. Not really a big deal for timelapse shoots, but worth mentioning.

When I took the X10 out, conditions were pretty drab and overcast (full confession: this review was delayed by a few days while I waited in vain for a bit of sunlight, and eventually gave up. I am, of course now writing this under beautiful blue sky. C’est la vie.)

In general, I find the footage to be quite decent. The dynamic range isn’t the best, with the sky being blown out into featureless white, but the colours have a better pop to them than you’d get from most timelapse cameras. Details are solid up close, but quickly get blurry at distance – and this is with focus locked at infinity. I think the X10 would do a brilliant job of a close-up still-life timelapse, like a plant growing, but for complex scenes like the ones I captured, it’s more ‘okay’.

ATLI extols the low-light capabilities of the X10, which is unusual for a timelapse camera, so I also took it out at night and captured a few stills. There’s a generous selection of shutter speeds, with a maximum of 30 sec available, and the app gives you a live(ish) preview that allows you to intuitively pick the right settings for your situation. I captured a couple of low-light images, and the story was similar: good detail up close, a bit muddy at distance, and with some pronounced blur from the longer shutter speeds. If you want to make night timelapses, I think this camera would be a very good bet.

ATLI X10 4K: Sample Footage

Above: Here are a couple of short timelapse clips captured with the ATLI X10 4K, exported in 4K at the maximum frame rate of 30p.

ATLI X10 4K: Verdict

The ATLI X10 4K offers significantly better image and still quality than most timelapse cameras, without too much extra cost. Part of me wishes it were at least possible to use the camera without having to have a phone in your hand, but I can’t deny that the app interface is very slick and user-friendly. Super-lightweight and portable, with a useful tripod mount, this is a timelapse camera that can come on adventures with you.

ATLI X10 4K alternatives

The Brinno BCC300 is a similarly priced alternative to the X10 4K, and it can operate completely standalone, with no app required (or even available). Its quality isn’t as good, but it does have its own fully waterproof housing, and I would probably be more comfortable leaving it in the elements for long periods.

The ATLI Eon is still for now available, though it seems that ATLI is slowly phasing it out, as it is only available now in some colors. It's cheaper than the X10, though only shoots Full HD rather than 4K, and takes AA batteries rather than having its own rechargeable power pack.

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Check out our full guide to the best timelapse cameras