Add some action to your life! Review of the new camera Akaso Brave 7: advantages and disadvantages

The manufacturer AKASO is not a start-up company in the action camera segment, since the company has already released several dozen devices during its existence. As part of this review, the design, parameters, functionality and modes of operation of the new Akaso Brave 7 camera are considered.

The gadget is equipped with a 20-megapixel sensor from SONY - IMX458 - which makes it possible to shoot videos in peak resolution corresponding to 4K format at 30 FPS. The manufacturer also installed EIS 2.0 stabilization. The camera supports connecting an external microphone and can be controlled by voice, and now about all this in as much detail as possible.

Specifications

Consider the technical parameters that can attract the attention of users.First of all, it is worth noting that this model differs from most competitors in the presence of a dual display both in front and behind, and the video resolution limit corresponds to 4K format. Videos are recorded at 30 FPS. Of the distinctive features, it is also worth noting the body of the device with full water protection.

In terms of technical parameters, this gadget practically does not lose to competitors in any way, therefore, in order to understand how it will demonstrate itself in practice, let's proceed to a detailed and in-depth review.

Specifications of Akaso Brave 7:

Packing and kit

The packaging design of the novelty is very similar to the box of the 6th or 7th generation GoPro. This is a compact package with a photo of the model with its key features and functions. On the back of the box there is a list of accessories located inside. In addition, through the colorless plastic on top of the package, you can see the gadget itself. The device comes in a separate box that is water resistant. Despite the fact that the model itself has full water protection, this box is needed only for deep and long-term diving.If the owner is not going to dive to a depth of more than 5 m and is not going to spend more than half an hour there, then there is no need for an additional protective box. A separate box contains a large number of other accessories. For example, you should highlight a lot of latches for both the helmet and the bike. In addition, the package includes 2 removable batteries and a charging dock, the latter charging 2 batteries at once, which is actually a very useful feature.

Also included is a remote control with LED display. In total, the kit itself is very extensive in terms of the number of accessories. Most likely, each component will certainly be useful to the user in operation, and therefore buyers are very pleased that the company offers an extensive list of accessories - nothing needs to be bought in addition.

Appearance, assembly and materials

By design, this model is very similar to the gadget brand SJCAM - SJ10. If the form factor and dimensions, plus the control keys, are 100% the same in the two devices, the one difference between them is the additional front-facing display next to the lens sensor. The integrated display on the front of the case is built on a matrix made using LCD technology.

It is designed for shooting video vlogs. This is a really useful display, as the wearer can control how accurately he is in the frame, if he has any parts of his body cut out during the recording process, etc. Anyway, this display is extremely informative. In simple terms, it is in some way a mirror.In addition, it is not touch-sensitive, so it is impossible to control the functionality and other parameters of the device.

On the back of the body of the model is a 2-inch color touch-screen display. Thanks to it, you can control all the functionality and parameters of the camera. It should also be noted that next to the front miniature display is a sensor manufactured by SONY - a 13-megapixel IMX458.

In addition, the manufacturer gives users the opportunity to put a photochromic lens on the lens of the gadget. As for the reliability of the assembly, there are no shortcomings here. The case is made of solid plastic, there are no extraneous sounds and backlashes during operation.

In addition, this model, as already mentioned, has full water protection, which complies with the IPX8 standard. Also, many buyers liked the plastic used. It is matte, and therefore, when doing extreme sports, it will not show tangible marks from scratches.

On the right side of the case are holes for the microphone. Under the flap there is a separate port for a microSD flash drive and a slot for an external Type-C microphone. At the same time, on the left side there are 2 mechanical keys up / down to control certain options in the device's parameters menu.

On the top of the model there is a Wi-Fi functioning indicator and an activation/record video key. At the bottom of the gadget is a tray for a removable battery. One serious drawback should be highlighted here - the camera does not have a ¼ hole for a tripod. Let's move on to the main parameters of the camera and talk about how well it shoots in practice.

Performance, functionality and options

Inside the case of this model is the Hi3559 V200 processor, which is a frequent guest of Chinese-made devices. It was released in 2018, but is still very popular to this day. As for the smooth functioning of the user interface, no shortcomings were noticed.

The 2-inch touch-screen display shows a lot of necessary information, so it will be worthwhile to consider its functionality and features. The main display shows the operation mode icons, the battery level, the video recording time, the current resolution and parameters. If you touch the bottom of the display (the location of the shooting modes and video resolution), the user will go to the category of different operation modes. The first list has video modes, slow motion, time lapse, driving and Wi-Fi settings.

In the parameters, you can change the shooting resolution, and there is also a peak resolution corresponding to the 4K format at 30 FPS. At the same time, the smallest resolution is 720p at 30 FPS. Even in the video recording parameters, the user can enable the image stabilization option, set the video encode, shooting loop time parameters, slow mo recording and time lapse. In addition, in this category of parameters, the owner can specify the white balance, select the scene, filters and distance.

In the general parameters of the model, there are categories of voice control, sounds, viewing angle (varies within 70-170 degrees), driving mode, user interface language selection, etc.

Like most other cameras from this manufacturer, the novelty supports a smartphone program called Akaso Go. This program is compatible with many phones based on Android and iOS operating systems. Synchronization will not take more than 5 minutes from the owner.

This model is interfaced with a smartphone via a Wi-Fi connection, in connection with which it is necessary to select the desired device from the list, and then go through a number of simple steps, after which the model is synchronized with the program. Many buyers do not see the point in using a program for a smartphone, since all the functionality is already in the camera settings, however, for a tick, it should be highlighted - the program is there and it works.

Shooting video and photos

To start shooting a video, you need to install a microSD flash drive, which is not included in the package. The owner can supply a flash drive with a capacity that varies between 32-128 GB, however, it should be noted here that a 32 GB media can record video for half an hour at a resolution corresponding to the 4K format. A 128 GB drive will record about 2 hours of video at the same resolution.

All material is written in H.264 format, but you can set the H.265 format in the parameters. By the way, the first format was enough for most buyers. In addition, if the owner is going to edit different content, then the H.264 format itself is easier to process and import when compared with H.265 format files. It should also be noted that the videos are recorded in the .mov format, which cannot be changed to .mp4.

As for shooting video, the camera has a good gamut of colors and detail, but the image stabilization function is not the best in this segment. In addition, image quality is slightly degraded with the stabilization option enabled, and therefore we advise potential buyers to use an independent stabilizer with the option disabled in the camera.

Considering the price of the gadget, the performance of the camera is excellent. If we compare the top models of the GoPro manufacturer and other brands, then the video recording quality in the new product we are considering is no worse, and maybe even better. The maximum image resolution is 20 MP.

In addition, the camera can record videos in slow mo, besides, there is a time lapse mode, however, there are also disadvantages, the main of which is that the camera does not have a video mode in 4K format at 60 FPS, and also that there is no 1080p mode at 120 FPS. In addition, it should be noted that the integrated microphone does not work very well, however, according to the manufacturer, owners can additionally buy an external microphone and use it with this camera.

Battery and autonomy

As already mentioned, the novelty has 2 removable batteries, the capacity of which is 1350 mAh (each). A 100% charged battery can last up to an hour while shooting 4K video. This is a fairly good indicator, so the autonomy of the model is very good.

If the user has to shoot a lot of material, then the second battery will come in handy. The duration of a full restoration of energy through the docking station is approximately 2 hours.There is also a nice bonus here, which is that 2 batteries can be charged at once.

Advantages and disadvantages

Consider the pros and cons of the new action camera.

• the body of the model is made of high quality materials;
• high assembly reliability;
• the second display, which is located next to the lens of the lens, which allows the owner to see himself when shooting video;
• an extensive list of available compounds;
• two removable batteries;
• rich equipment;
• good video quality;
• bright and detailed image.

• poor quality of the integrated microphone;
• there is no possibility to record video in 4K format at 60 FPS and 1080p at 120 FPS;
• there is no ¼ hole for a tripod on the case;
• interface and instructions in English.

The editors of our site definitely recommend considering this model for purchase, but the user must not forget about its key shortcomings. For example, if high-quality sound recording is important to you, then you should either buy an external microphone or consider other action cameras.