Akaso EK7000 4k camera can be named as a budget camera. If you don’t have a pocket to buy a GoPro or don’t want to spend a couple of hundred dollars on an action camera because you are a beginner, this camera is for you. This tiny device offers a low price but a plethora of features.
Being inexpensive, some people might assume that EK7000 lacks any of the basic features of action cameras. But this assumption hasn’t any shred of reality. This camera has a strong build, 4k resolution, 1080p/60, 720p/120, a responsive Wi-Fi remote, reliable battery life time-lapse, and burst-photo functions.
There are some compromises, but those are not so major that they can mask the good things this action camera has to offer.
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Akaso EK7000 Pro camera review
One of the latest action cameras by AKASO is the EK7000. The best part is that this is widely available for sale on popular shopping sites like Amazon and eBay, meaning there are high chances you can quickly get it in your country. If you know about action cameras, then, at first sight, you may be able to tell that this camera, and its packaging, somewhat resembles that of the GoPro Hero Action Camera.
And that brings us to perhaps one of the best features of this camera, which is, it’s a touch screen. Everything has two sides to it, and so does this touchscreen feature. It cannot be accessed when caged in the waterproof case that comes in the box.
Coming to the main point, the video quality, let me rate it as average. It does not capture the best picture in low and medium light; however, a good-quality image is produced in bright light. Keeping in mind all these points, the AKASO EK7000 Pro fails to outstand some other comparatively better cameras that lie in roughly the same price range.
Product Overview:
Of course, the three significant features of this camera are the touch screen, 4K video, and Electronic Image Stabilization. And the touch screen makes the camera superior to many others, supporting 4K and EIS but not having a touch screen.
The design of the camera is simple and elegant. Everything is kept simple so that even a beginner can efficiently operate the device. The EK7000’s design with the glossy exterior is somewhat similar to GoPro Hero 05.
Like the core feature of other action cameras, it is also lightweight: 0.2 pounds only. 4k camera with 0.2 pounds weight only does sound impressive, but while using it, you may face the problem of blurs. As image stabilization is absent, the image will be ruined in case of bumps or shakes.
To avoid this, it should be used with either tripod or mounts. The camera’s physical dimensions are 0.9 inches x 2 inches x 1.5 inches (L x W x H).
The first visible thing on the camera is its 2 inches touch-screen. It is bright and displays vibrant colors. Besides this screen, there are ports for an SD card, micro-USB, and HDMI cable. There are four buttons on EK7000 4K, which control almost everything.
The first button is a record button on top, which also acts as an enter button while browsing the menu, then a mode/power button on the front, and two navigational buttons on the side.
Quality accessories
You also get functional quality accessories in the box, which is the reason for the price. Talking about other features, the camera produces a 4K video at 25 frames per second, a 2.7K video at 30 frames per second, and a 1080p video at 60 frames per second.
The magnificent touch screen is a full 2-inch ultra-clear IPS color screen, which eases navigating and changing settings. EIS is essential for any camera’s marketing, especially after users love GoPro’s HyperSmooth.
The AKASO EK7000 Pro`s EIS is not exceptionally good, to be honest. Sample videos prove that the camera produces more or less the same quality with or without EIS enabled, meaning handshaking and movement still lead to fairly unsmooth videos. Next, the waterproof case, up to 131 feet underwater, is an updated version of that in the previous generation.
This camera also features an adjustable view angle that can be set between narrow, medium, comprehensive, and super-wide, perfect for vlogging! Last but not least, this camera’s size and weight are 6 x 4 x 3.3 cm and 115 grams, respectively, again, factors that make it similar to GoPro.
The AKASO EK7000 Pro is pretty well-built and well-designed, which shows how designers have given the most of their potential to make the camera not look cheap. For example, lightweight plastic is covered by textures.
The image quality shows that most of the manufacturing cost has been spent on the lens, and the same goes for the screen, which is perfect in size, is bright like an action camera should be, and does the job when it comes to sensitivity. Commonly, action cameras that retail at this price do not have a screen at the back of the camera! Hence, we can say this one is quite reasonable.
Waterproof
To withstand the environmental conditions, especially water, around 98-100 feet of water resistance is offered. If you are looking for an action camera for diving or underwater photography, EK7000 4k is an ideal candidate.
A drawback with these features is that this camera isn’t waterproof without placing it in the casing. In that case, even using a camera under heavy rain without casing can damage it. But on the other hand, there are some pros of this waterproof casing:
- Additional protection against breakage
- Protection of camera against other weather conditions such as dust storms et cetera
- Extra safety in outdoor use
The waterproof case is reasonably good quality and tightly locks the camera inside it. A plus point is that the camera’s back door has two rubber strips, so vibrations are prevented. However, rattling still occurs as the space around the place where the lens fit has no padding, causing light vibrations.
Remote control
A wireless wrist 2.4 gigahertz remote control comes with a camera to control it. The remote control provides ease of use and better results, handles the camera, frames the shots, video recording, et cetera.
Anyway, the good tight fit makes the case worth it. The case is excellent when it comes to protecting the camera from water, but having the case on can get annoying when you want to access the touch screen, in case you want to change the settings, or you don’t have your remote control, or whatsoever.
This old-styled waterproof case restricts usability by not permitting you to access the touch screen. Furthermore, the case still has old spring-loaded metal buttons that work when exposed to dust but stop working when covered with mud. When you are wearing gloves, they are difficult to access, and you might end up getting your fingers hurt.
Still, it fully allows you to alter the settings and do other things you would otherwise use the touch screen directly for when using the casing. The menu system can be easily navigated with the case, but still, the housing could have been designed more efficiently to make the experience of navigation easier.
To start the recording, you have to hardly push the shutter button, which, unfortunately, also shifts the composition every time. One would prefer to prop the camera out of the case, use the touch screen to adjust the settings, hit record, and pop the camera back in the case rather than using the housing buttons to change the options.
However, using it as an action camera is easier as you may use your smartphone to operate it. The camera’s potential as an action camera is ruined when it’s put inside the waterproof housing. When the camera is popped out of the casing, everything changes for the better!
The touch screen allows heavenly responsive access, with a clear and bright screen while checking the footage. We can conclude that the waterproof housing does its job but highly restricts the camera features and easy access to it.
Footage quality
As 4K in the camera’s name shows that it can take ultra-high-definition videos and images. It can capture an expansive view of regular action cameras with an average field of view of 120° or 90°. All thanks to a 170° wide-angle lens. This is the standard FOV offered, which can’t be changed.
For videos, 4K 25FPS/2.7K 30FPS/1080P 60FPS modes are available. With 4k mode, videos can be captured at 25fps. In the high-end cameras, usually, 4K is offered with 30fps, but in the case of EK7000 4K, decent footage quality masks this shortcoming. For the slo-mo video, the 120fps setting in the 720p size is available. Unfortunately, 4k doesn’t work with these modes. But despite that, the video quality is sharp and clear.
The still images can be captured in 12MP with 30 fps. Images quality is good but RAW mode isn’t offered.
Both images and videos are visibly better than bright lights. Akaso EK7000 4k is a great choice for outdoors but don’t go for it if you plan to use it in low-light situations or night photography.
If you drop the resolution down to 1080p, the footage shows details, but you will notice a vivid negative difference in color and contrast. Another drawback is that the camera fails to perform well with quickly changing brightness. Your footage is likely to have pixeled visuals in such conditions.
Unless the light is beautiful and bright, and the scenery doesn’t move, the camera performs well. Next, when you turn on the image stabilization, you may notice a difference, but with side effects, which will make you feel like the camera performs better with the electronic image stabilization turned off.
Connectivity features
Videos and images can instantly be shared using built-in Wi-Fi and HDMI. It can capture Wi-Fi signals within a range of ten meters. To connect the Wi-Fi with the camera, you first need to download the Smart DV app of Akaso on a smartphone or tablet and then connect it to EK7000.
Talking about the app, it is not complex at all to use it easily. Connect it to the camera and enjoy recording easily.
Impressive battery life
In this price range of action cameras, EK7000 4K offers the longest battery life. The battery can record around 90 minutes in 1080p mode, whereas, for 4K and 2k shooting modes, the battery supports 1 hour of continuous shooting. A dual dock charger is in the package to charge the batteries.
Besides this, here is the best part: this action camera comes with 2 rechargeable 1050mAh batteries. The 90 minutes battery time is for the individual battery. Collectively both can provide 3 hours of continuous shooting time. Akaso ensured that at least the action camera’s battery life won’t hold you back from capturing your adventure!
Box contents:
- Remote Control
- Dual Battery Charger
- 2 x Batteries (1050 mA)
- Waterproof Case
- 3 x Standoffs
- 2 x Brackets
- Skeleton Case
- Backpack clip
Pros:
- Budget oriented
- Touch Screen
- Wi-Fi
- Full HD action camera
- 1080p having electronic image stabilization
- Exposure adjustment
- Smartphone application available
Cons:
- Not suitable to use as a primary 4k shooting device
- Only has stabilization in full HD
- Slow-motion in 720p looks pretty bad
- The waterproof case doesn’t allow access to the touchscreen
Final Verdict for Akaso EK7000:
The AKASO EK7000 Pro is budget-friendly <- Affiliate Link 🙂 yet offers a lot of features. Keep in mind that the provision does not entirely meet what was provided. For what you get, you should have gotten it for a little less money. No doubt that the touch screen is a fantastic feature, but a significant drawback is the imperfect video quality.
The condition for clear footage with this camera is a bright sunny day. Otherwise, you are unlikely to be fully satisfied with the quality of the footage. Even in bright light, if the subject is moving, the camera struggles to keep up. The excellent quality touch screen cannot cover up for the footage quality entirely below what you expect it to be.
Plus, paying this much for more or less the same old-school waterproof housing that restricts the use of perhaps the only outstanding feature, the touch screen, is a little unpleasant. Another major feature that attracts buyers to the camera that is electronic image stabilization does not stabilize your image in the best way and bizarrely impacts your footage, which again is a significant pullback.
So, this camera is worth buying for the verdict if you are looking for an inexpensive and budget-friendly camera to capture family or friend moments. The best part is that you do not need to be a professional to know how to use the camera as it is designed.
You might have trouble with the housing. Nonetheless, it does its job by protecting your camera against water up to 131 feet and dust. Plus, you get a lot of cool good quality accessories.
As per action, the camera is not pro at it, and so you might be paying a little extra than you should, but if you are looking for a camera for capturing memories with family and friends in good light, the camera does a promising job. In my opinion, it does a good job, but not it is not the best action camera.
