Still little known to us, the Akaso brand has managed to carve out a strong position in the world of video cameras in just one decade, with sales of up to one million units per year. Here at Cyberlayman we met her in the review of the intriguing Akaso KeyChain 4K vlog camera, the Akaso V50 Pro and the Dashcam V1 and today we are among the first to offer you the review of this Akaso Brave 7, full optional Action Cam, just in time for the summer.
Full optional box
The first point Akaso Brave 7 marks it from the box, pleasing to the eye but above all full optional inside. In fact, inside the package we find the real camera, a strap, the USB cable, the charger with two batteries, a wireless remote control and a large series of hooks to connect the small Action Camera to practically everything.
The number and type of accessories should not be underestimated, because in the common offers these are considered separately and their price, alone, can even reach a few tens of Euros, which obviously add to the cost of the video camera, while here it is all included.
Akaso Brave 7 and family, a large series of accessories to use it and connect it to anything, an important bonus
The camera comes in a hard case that also features a small strap hook, but can be easily removed, which is required for battery changes.
The naked camera is rubber coated on the side, with rounded corners that fit perfectly in your pocket or bag, with two displays, a 1.2 “front and a 2” rear display.
The power button, the (protected) housing for the MicroSD card, the housing for the battery and two side buttons for menu control are also located in the side belt.
The battery life is good, since there is a spare battery in the package, from the tests done, the sum of the two batteries is probably enough for what is a normal day of shooting, typically messy and with several breaks: for those who are more miser, the USB-C external charger fits any portable battery we have in our backpack to recharge one battery while using the other.
Ready for the depths
We tried the Akaso Brave 7 in different situations, especially in the open air in the mountains: the stabilizer works well, it is not the top of the market but still accompanies the user by eliminating most of the vibrations even without an external stabilizer, as you can. see from the shots we took.
The two displays are comfortable, especially for those who like to check the details of the shot themselves before taking it, but we must say that under direct sun the brightness suffers a little.
The battery compartment, easy to access
The camera menus and the interface in general are simple, direct and easy to learn, even if the visual impact can be improved, as is the touch screen which sometimes gives unintuitive results.
As on the other hand the voice control, present but which gave very questionable results, it is better to opt for a more traditional control.
We instead appreciated the use of the Akaso Brave 7 with the accompanying App for iOS and Android, which can help a lot in automation and remote control, even if for that there is still a very convenient remote control (included), which at the Sometimes it is more convenient than the App because it does not suffer from the interference typical of a Wi-Fi signal.
the power button, here with active protection. the protection is however easily removable
Also appreciable is the fact that the camera is waterproof, with a certification that allows it to work up to 10 meters deep for 30 minutes continuously even without protection. A factor not to be underestimated because many cameras in the same price range need an additional housing for the same task.
A fanciful way is to use the Akaso Brave 7 as a Dashcam if used in the car and connected to the cigarette lighter: when the driving mode is activated, when the engine is switched on, it starts up and shooting begins. Maybe as a traditional Dashcam it is too much, but if we are on vacation and want to film a particularly winding road in a Jeep, then it can be for us.
Results and technical characteristics
On paper, Akaso Brave 7 is capable of filming videos at 4K at 30 fps, 2K at 60 fps and FullHD at 90 fps, as well as taking still photos at up to 20 MPixel. The Burst reaches 15 shots per second at 12MP and Time Lapse videos in various steps from 0.2 to 60 seconds.
Basically, very respectable characteristics for a model whose cost is under $ 200, even if there are some attentions that should not be underestimated.
The shots are good, even if there is no HDR and the possibility of having RAW movies: the most important aspects that we want to point out only as mentioned are the electronic image stabilization, the reduction of external noise and the elimination of distortion. factors that place the camera on a step that is certainly higher than the price suggests.
On the other hand, we cannot give as much emphasis to photos: although it is possible to obtain fixed shots in Jpeg (better) or in RAW (it did not convince us) up to 20 MP, the result in terms of light balance is below the expectations. A high-end smartphone, not difficult to find for those who use this type of device, does much better.
Considerations
If we consider the Akaso Brave 7 as an Action Camera full of accessories, completely smart and waterproof up to 10 meters at a cost of about 160 Dollars, then this model is really interesting, because it costs half the direct competitor model and about a third. of the most powerful model on the market today, a price / performance factor that should not be underestimated.
From a technical point of view, the Action Camera certainly has compromises, but it also depends on the point of view for which you intend to make the investment: a consumer or prosumer user who needs a device that is powerful enough, flexible and versatile to shoot. (or to do it yourself) will find in the Akaso Brave 7 a valid adventure companion, simple to use and powerful enough to produce good material (video) in any situation, from the mountains to the sea or the lake (or under the lake).
Otherwise, the pro user who wants a model that is an adventure companion for advanced shooting or photos, maybe he has to evaluate something else, but spending (much) more.
Pro:
• Excellent price / performance ratio • Accessories included • Double screen • Interesting stabilizer
Cons:
• RAW photo quality not up to par • Interface to be reviewed • Advanced video management from a pro perspective is missing
Price:
• 159.99 Dollars (from official website)
Akaso Brave 7 is available exclusively in the store of the parent company at a cost of 159.99 Dollars. The Akaso Brave 7 LE model is available on Amazon at the same cost, but with shipping costs included.
