Chatt_Jetsetter
Jet Boat Addict
- Messages
- 176
- Reaction score
- 258
- Points
- 112
- Boat Make
- Chaparral
- Year
- 2020
- Boat Model
- VRX
- Boat Length
- 20
Hey all, this will be where I post my initial review and then a more in depth review of the Akaso Brave 4 action camera once I've had time to fully test it.
I've been wanting to get a GoPro to put on my full face scuba mask for a while now, and I have a trip coming up to explore some water than nobody has dived yet, so I wanted to make sure I got some good footage. I've had a GoPro in the past and they are good cameras. There are some less expensive alternatives out there and I decided this time to give the Akaso Brave a shot. The Brave 4 is an older camera of theirs, they have newer models now but at $80 on Amazon it's worth checking out. It has a 20MP Sony sensor and can shoot 4K@24fps, 2K@30fps, and 1080P@60fps.
Initial impressions:
It came packaged very nicely. It was secured in a plastic display case on top of another box with all the accessories in it, including:
What I like:
The camera has a really easy to use menu with a lot of options for changing settings such as Wide Dynamic Range, the angle of the lens (170, 140, 110, & 70 degrees), image stabilization, etc.
Turning the camera off and on is very quick and the buttons are all very responsive to inputs. It's one button to start/stop recording, and you can do it from the camera body or the wrist strap (which also allows you to take single photos as well).
I turned the camera on this morning and had it on the dash on the way to take the kids to school. You can watch the video clips from the camera display itself, or download them to your computer. I did this when I got home and the video was very clear. I recorded in 1080p, I haven't tried the 4K video yet.
What I don't like:
While the camera itself feels sturdy enough, I'm worried about the longevity of the battery cover. There's a tiny little slot that is used to open it (I use the edge of a credit card) and once the cover is off it's completely unattached, so you have to be careful not to lose it. I just don't know how long the little slot latch piece will hold up. You can charge the battery while it's in the camera so you don't always have to remove it, but it's something to keep an eye on.
The microSD slot is another area I don't love; it's the nature of the beast I guess with these things being so small, but I can't push the microSD card in far enough to get it to lock in with just my fingers. I have to use the edge of a credit card or paper clip as the microSD card has to be inserted until it clicks in, and then it's flush with the camera housing. Removing it is the same process.
I don't like that they want you to download an app to your phone to download the files; I don't download Chinese made software to my phone or PC, and you shouldn't either. You can still get the files off easily enough. For some reason when I connect a USB cable directly to the camera I can get the pictures, but not the videos. For video transfer I just remove the microSD card from the camera and use a card reader through USB to my PC and all the videos are in one folder and the photos in another, so it's easy just to move those directly to your PC.
Summary:
This seems like a solid little camera for the money. They have other models (more and less expensive) with some other features like touchscreen, 4k@30fps, and voice control, but this one should fit my needs. I plan on mostly using it for diving so once I am able to spend a bit more time with it in the field I'll update my review.
To give you an idea of the size, I took a photo of the camera next to a credit card. The picture still throws the perspective off a bit, but it's very compact.
I've been wanting to get a GoPro to put on my full face scuba mask for a while now, and I have a trip coming up to explore some water than nobody has dived yet, so I wanted to make sure I got some good footage. I've had a GoPro in the past and they are good cameras. There are some less expensive alternatives out there and I decided this time to give the Akaso Brave a shot. The Brave 4 is an older camera of theirs, they have newer models now but at $80 on Amazon it's worth checking out. It has a 20MP Sony sensor and can shoot 4K@24fps, 2K@30fps, and 1080P@60fps.
Initial impressions:
It came packaged very nicely. It was secured in a plastic display case on top of another box with all the accessories in it, including:
- 2 rechargeable batteries with USB charger
- remote control wristband (not for underwater, bummer)
- waterproof action case (rated to 100 ft)
- lots of different mounts (a couple base pads, different angle connections, handlebar mount, tripod mount, etc)
What I like:
The camera has a really easy to use menu with a lot of options for changing settings such as Wide Dynamic Range, the angle of the lens (170, 140, 110, & 70 degrees), image stabilization, etc.
Turning the camera off and on is very quick and the buttons are all very responsive to inputs. It's one button to start/stop recording, and you can do it from the camera body or the wrist strap (which also allows you to take single photos as well).
I turned the camera on this morning and had it on the dash on the way to take the kids to school. You can watch the video clips from the camera display itself, or download them to your computer. I did this when I got home and the video was very clear. I recorded in 1080p, I haven't tried the 4K video yet.
What I don't like:
While the camera itself feels sturdy enough, I'm worried about the longevity of the battery cover. There's a tiny little slot that is used to open it (I use the edge of a credit card) and once the cover is off it's completely unattached, so you have to be careful not to lose it. I just don't know how long the little slot latch piece will hold up. You can charge the battery while it's in the camera so you don't always have to remove it, but it's something to keep an eye on.
The microSD slot is another area I don't love; it's the nature of the beast I guess with these things being so small, but I can't push the microSD card in far enough to get it to lock in with just my fingers. I have to use the edge of a credit card or paper clip as the microSD card has to be inserted until it clicks in, and then it's flush with the camera housing. Removing it is the same process.
I don't like that they want you to download an app to your phone to download the files; I don't download Chinese made software to my phone or PC, and you shouldn't either. You can still get the files off easily enough. For some reason when I connect a USB cable directly to the camera I can get the pictures, but not the videos. For video transfer I just remove the microSD card from the camera and use a card reader through USB to my PC and all the videos are in one folder and the photos in another, so it's easy just to move those directly to your PC.
Summary:
This seems like a solid little camera for the money. They have other models (more and less expensive) with some other features like touchscreen, 4k@30fps, and voice control, but this one should fit my needs. I plan on mostly using it for diving so once I am able to spend a bit more time with it in the field I'll update my review.
To give you an idea of the size, I took a photo of the camera next to a credit card. The picture still throws the perspective off a bit, but it's very compact.
