Review of the best EKEN action cameras for 2022

Even some 10 years ago, camcorders were huge, which made shooting on the move a difficult process. However, now, to the delight of people who lead an active life, action cameras have “come”. These devices are quite small, they are easily attached to a motorcycle helmet. This article provides an overview of the best EKEN action cameras.

What is it for?

It is necessary to buy an action camera for users involved in active sports or recording videos under water and in other extreme conditions. Recently, such gadgets have been popular for cyclists.The fact is that the ability to fix the action camera on the head guarantees video recording from the 1st person, which makes it possible to demonstrate the actual events without being distracted by the shooting procedure itself.

The presence of an anti-shock shell makes the device resistant to mechanical damage, for example, if the operator fell to the ground. The water-resistant design makes it easy to use action cameras for underwater shooting.

Interesting! A couple of years ago, they wanted to use action cameras to record staged films, but they abandoned this idea because of the poor quality image from the subsequent post-processing of the material.

Action cameras are also used as a DVR for a car, since they are mounted in almost the same way as ordinary webcams. A good viewing angle ensures that everything that happens on the road is fixed.

The question is often raised among users whether it makes sense to take such a gadget for photographs of ordinary celebrations and similar holidays. In these cases, experts advise using an ordinary camera or a camera that can record videos.

A description of the parameters of all popular models and significant characteristics for their normal operation clearly shows that they need to be used when it is unrealistic to deal with long-term configuration, adjust focus and use all the experience that is useful for good shooting quality.

Rating of the best EKEN action cameras

Telephones actively broke into human life, taking the place of photo and videographic equipment there. But any technique needs careful use. A shattered display and a broken case are common device breakdowns.What if you need a camera for a quadcopter or shooting video in any extreme conditions?

N. Woodman has formed his own niche - action cameras. These are practical devices that can easily cope with such purposes. Technology is advancing rapidly and there are many Go Pro alternatives in the electronics market. Many brands are trying to repeat the success of the latter, from “no-names” to recognized “forerunners” in this area, among which Sony, Xiaomi and Olympus are worth highlighting. This article has compiled a rating of quality action cameras from EKEN.

"5th place: EKEN A8"

The popularity of models of this brand should start with this camera. Budget gadgets, namely the A8 belongs to this price segment, most often have a lot of drawbacks. For a “modest” fee, a person will receive full support for the Full HD format at his own disposal. The company did not make experiments and equipped the device with an ordinary 12 MP CMOS type matrix.

The autonomy of a single battery charge should be considered a clear advantage: the gadget writes at the maximum parameters for about 2 hours. This is a very fine value for an inexpensive camera.

The viewing angle is 120 degrees, there is a widescreen mode. In addition, the model is equipped with a full LCD screen, the diagonal of which is 2 inches. By the way, with its help you can watch the recorded videos. The role of communication is an ordinary USB interface.

Shooting is done exclusively on a flash drive, since the model does not have enough capacity for long-term recording. Support for memory cards only microSD format. There is no possibility to use innovative and ultra-high-speed carriers.

The gadget weighs only 64 g, which is why it feels very comfortable in the hand, and even if it is fixed on the shoulder or head, there is no feeling of discomfort. It is worth noting that such action cameras are in demand today.

Advantages and disadvantages

• Durable shell;
• Cute design;
• Lightweight;
• The maximum operating time is not less than 2 hours;
• It is possible to take pictures;
• Support for widescreen mode;
• The recording format is 1080p.

• There is no image stabilizer;
• Not enough configurations;
• Poor image quality.

The average price is 2,600 rubles.

"4th place: EKEN H5S PLUS"

A very productive brand from China, EKEN, is profiled in the manufacture of action cameras with excellent functionality. The simplest equipment consists of a camera, an aquabox, a remote control with a lock on the arm and a set of fasteners for a tripod. The appearance is very balanced - the gadget fits comfortably in the hand, and is also intuitive to use.

This device is equipped with an excellent touch screen display with a good viewing angle. The same should include shooting parameters in several modes with high FPS. All this is due to the Ambarella A12 processor. Very high quality electronic type stabilization is performed in the gadget. The camera also has disadvantages, one of which is poor translation of the menu. But with the best recording quality, you should put up with it.

Advantages and disadvantages

• Pretty solid equipment;
• Excellent multi-touch display with a good viewing angle;
• There are high FPS modes;
• Acceptable recording quality;
• Unusual appearance;
• The matrix is ​​made by Sony.

• Bad stabilizer;
• Poor quality menu translation;
• High price.

The average price is 6,800 rubles.

"3rd place: EKEN V8S"

This model is the most expensive of all the five cameras considered in this review. But it is this action camera that will be a good purchase for fishing, as the gadget has performed well in underwater tests. It is worth noting that if you charge the device with a “non-native” charger that comes with the package, but for example, from a laptop, then it heats up excessively.

In addition, the charger indicator on the auxiliary display can show an almost full charge, and after a couple of minutes it is completely dead. In fact, this model is not much different from the ones discussed above, so it is up to the user to decide which one to choose.

Advantages and disadvantages

• UHD 4K support;
• The package includes a remote control for photo and video shooting remotely;
• Wide-angle optics, which is 170 degrees;
• Auxiliary display;
• Moisture protection up to 30 meters in a specialized box;
• Best of all showed itself in underwater photography.

• English instruction only;
• There is no flash drive included;
• There is no auxiliary battery in the set;
• All slots (HDMI, microSD, microUSB) are open;
• It heats up if you charge it with a "non-native" memory;
• Incorrect battery charge indicator.

The average price is 8,800 rubles.

"2nd Place: Eken H8 Plus"

The model is equipped with two screens - a tiny information (0.95), which is located in front, and a second LTPS. The resolution of the latter is 320x240 px, it is located at the back, there is no multitouch. All control is exercised by mechanical keys, which are located on the shell. There is a connector for microSD, microUSB and HDMI, which, by the way, are not covered by anything.

Matrix type - 12.4 MP sensor IMX 078 from Sony, which was released back in 2011. The same matrix is ​​installed in the SJ5000X Elite and Firefly 6S cameras.

The model has a wide-angle type optics with a lens focal length of 170 degrees. It is worth noting that it is not possible to change the viewing angle in the configuration, but, if necessary, you can change the optics to a less wide-angle one, due to which it is really possible to reduce distortion. Optics has an ordinary thread m12x0.5. In the role of media in the model, microSD format flash drives are used, the capacity of which is not more than 64 GB. The nominal speed class is U3, which is equal to 90 Mb / s.

It is worth noting that this model has a time-lapse photo, so the gadget is able to take individual pictures using a pre-set time interval. Each picture is written to its own file. The model cannot save time-lapse into a complete video, you will have to do this yourself, using specialized software for an amateur.

In addition, the device is controlled remotely using a phone or tablet that is connected via a wireless Wi-Fi network. The brand does not have a proprietary program, but on the official website the company provides an opportunity to download the Ez ICam application, which is available for both Android and iOS phones.

The program allows you to use your phone as a viewfinder, download and watch videos and pictures taken, switch between modes, and activate/deactivate recording. It is worth noting that on smartphones running Android, users notice periodic braking and crashes, and if you move more than 10 m, the video signal or connection disappears.

Advantages and disadvantages

• Interchangeable lens;
• Excellent recording quality;
• Supports time-lapse;
• Controlled remotely via smartphone or tablet.

• No stabilization;
• Long start.

The average price is 7,000 rubles.

"1st Place: EKEN H9R"

A great option to become the owner of a good action camera for a relatively budget price. The model is standardly executed as Go Pro, from the side of the form factor, and also has an acceptable bundle. For those who like to save money, there is good news - the camera is sold not only on aliexpress, but also in almost all other stores in the Middle Kingdom.

The kit comes with a special box, a set of clamps, as well as a remote control for controlling the camera from a distance on the belt.

The recording quality at this price should be considered acceptable: the model is very similar to the well-known SJ4000 - it has an ultra-precise automatic white balance. But the engraving "4K" on the shell, in any case, must be treated with a "slice" of skepticism. The fact is that the model claims a resolution of 4 MP, but in fact, to shoot in 4K, you need a matrix of at least 8.

In this regard, it would be advisable to set the 1080p mode, especially since the model shoots at 60 FPS in it. Compared to the same SJ4000, in this mode, shooting is carried out only at 30 fps.

It is worth noting that the optics here are relatively narrow-angle. Its viewing angle is 140 degrees, but, most likely, this is even an advantage. The fact is that lenses with a wide viewing angle in models of this cost segment do not guarantee good quality, but only change the picture at the edges of the picture. By the way, you will need to direct the action camera accurately, and the 2-inch auxiliary display acts as an assistant for this.

Advantages and disadvantages

• Excellent equipment;
• Writes in H.264;
• Acceptable duration.

• As with many inexpensive action cameras - a low-quality microphone.

The average price is 4,500 rubles.

Comparative characteristics of EKEN action cameras

How to choose an action camera?

The criteria for choosing an action camera are similar to buying a camera or camcorder. First of all, it is worth paying due attention to the quality of the lens, the type and number of matrices. It is worth remembering that if the result is a soapy picture with multiple noises and distortion at the edges, then there is no way to fix this with the help of software.

In the budget segment of action cameras, it makes no sense to focus only on viewing angles. The fact is that a wide-angle device of good quality will not fit into such a price, so it would be advisable to purchase a lens that is “narrower”, but also of better quality.

The maximum shooting resolution should always be less than the matrix parameters. Otherwise, recording at the maximum resolution will not give any advantage over the lower one: the quality will decrease, and the costs of the media and battery power will increase pointlessly.For gadgets with an electronic type stabilizer, the difference between resolution and shooting should be completely different at times.

And, of course, autonomy, durability and moisture protection are very significant for such a device, since you will have to shoot in extreme conditions.

Naturally, this review does not cover all models of EKEN action cameras, but in reality, the gadgets presented in this article are the most fascinating of those that make sense to take a closer look.