If somebody mentions ‘’action camera’’, 9 out of 10 people will probably instantly think about the famous GoPro. And nobody can blame them – GoPro is enjoying the same level of exposure and ubiquitousness in the action camera market like Nvidia does in the graphics card field. However, GoPro’s popularity has a downside, in that it overshadows other equally viable, more accessible products like the Akaso EK7000.
In this respect, the Akaso EK7000 is one of GoPro’s collateral victims. It looks almost identically like a GoPro, it handles like a GoPro, and even the photos and videos look similar to the ones rendered by its more famous counterpart. But here is the catch: it is much, much cheaper than a GoPro. In this article, we will be taking a critical look at the Akaso EK7000 and help you decide whether or not it is worth a purchase (spoiler alert: it is). Here is what we think about it.
Akaso EK7000 General Specifications
Before we kick off the actual review, it is worth taking a look at the technical specifications and features so that you will have a good reference point as you are reading the review. So, here it goes:
Dimensions: 60 x 41 x 30 mm
Weight: 74 grams
Field of View: 170
Video resolutions: 4K 25 frames per second, 2,7 k 30 fps, 1080 60/30 fps, 720p 120/60/30 frames per seconds
Photo quality: 12 MP
Shooting Modes: Single Shot, Burst, Time-Lapse
Memory: MicroSD, Class 10, SDXC Cards, amounting to 64 GB
Battery life: 80 minutes at 1080p, 60 fps
The producers included lots of useful goodies in the box, and the offer is more than generous:
- The camera itself
- WiFi Remote Control
- 2x 1050 mAh Battery
- Waterproof Housing up to 30 m
- A Protective Backdoor
- Helmet Mount
- Lens Cloth
- Micro USB cable, AC adapter
- Bicycle Stand, 2 clips, 5 tethers, 7 mounts
As you can see, considering the features and generous package, we can safely say that the price range is more than fair. For about $150 or your regional equivalent, you get a camera capable of shooting in 4k (albeit only at 30 fps, but that should not bother you too much) and in many other resolutions with ease. But let us not end the review before even starting it – let us take a more detailed look at specific features.
Important Features
Despite its relatively low-price tag (it costs a fraction of a GoPro), the Akaso EK7000 is nothing to sneeze at in terms of quality and features. First off, you have the option of shooting 4k, and a 2” LCD screen for viewing videos that allows for some pretty wide-angle lens. The wide angle, apart from enhancing the field of view, makes it very easy to capture videos, no matter how bad the weather is. You can even use it underwater without any issues whatsoever thanks to the fact that it comes with waterproof casing.
Furthermore, the WiFi option is very nice for people who like sharing their experiencing and modifying their work, as it allows for easy editing and montaging on the go. Speaking of ‘’on the go’’, the extra goodies included in the package accommodate people who are always traveling or going somewhere – you can mount the camera on your bike using the stand, you can install it on your helmet using the specialized mount or simply put in on your car’s dashboard using the clips.
Overall Performance
When it comes to performance, the Akaso EK7000 handles itself very good regardless of weather conditions. This Akaso model is capable of rendering 2.7k footage at 30 frames per second and 4k at 25 frames per second. This might not seem like much (especially if you are looking to transition from a GoPro to something else), but you basically get a similar level of quality, only at a much lower price.
The photo quality is nothing to sneeze at, either. The camera captures 12 MP still photos at 30 frames per second. The photo resolution goes up to 4608 x 2592 pixels, in a 16:9 aspect ratio. If that seems like too much, you can reduce the size down to 4 MP, resulting in standard files in JPG format. Furthermore, the 170-degree wide angle lens has enough leverage to offer expansive views with highly immersive effect. The panoramic mode, too, is top-notch, so expect quality similar to the Xiaomi Mi Sphere. While, admittedly, the color scheme could be better, the autofocus is powerful enough to render beautiful photos in high detail.
The photo mode has to options: burst and time-lapse. The burst option allows people to take three consecutive photos over the course of approximately 1.5 seconds, while the time-lapse mode is used to capture a series of photos over a longer period of time. However, there is no time-lapse mode for shooting video, which could disappoint some people. Having to do it manually is surely a drag, but hopefully, Akaso will add this option in future models.
Speaking of downsides, similar to other action cams, the battery life is not the best. At 4k25, you can squeeze about 1 hour and 40 minutes worth of battery life. However, you can artificially expand the duration by turning off the WiFi. Furthermore, the package includes a spare battery, so if you add that to the equation, you can get about 4 hours of uninterrupted shooting.
Conclusion
While it is easy to call the Akaso EK7000 a GoPro clone, in reality, it is several levels above other cheap models. For a hundred bucks (or even less, since it is frequently put on sale) you get nearly the same quality and experience as a standard GoPro camera. If you are looking for a cheaper alternative that is capable of standing on its own, make sure to give the EK7000 a shot.
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