Aukey 4K action cam hands-on: Good quality video and a complete accessory package for just $70

about a month ago, Emily sent me the new Aukey 4K AC-LC2 motion digicam to guage. After seeing the $ 70 value point on Amazon, I was once positive i would prove even more frustrated than I was with the Hero4 Session because of poor high quality and unreliable performance. I used to be utterly improper and if you’re even pondering of attempting out an action digital camera, i might get this primary prior to spending a whole lot of dollars on something you may also not want.

final year before I hit the local rivers to fly fish, i wanted to purchase a low price motion digicam that I might use to prove I did in reality capture something whereas standing in ice chilly mountain water. at the time, the GoPro Hero4 Session was the best choice so I picked one up. Most of my video shot with the Session is missing fish landings and i’m about ready to get rid of it.

The Hero4 Session has confirmed to be irritating with beeps and indicator lights activating in a delayed method in order that I by no means be aware of if the digital camera is on or off or what it is in truth taking pictures. i’ve been working to enhance the experience whereas fishing by way of connecting my Samsung equipment S3 and smartphones, nevertheless it’s nonetheless too many things to debris round with whereas i’m seeking to land a rainbow trout.

specs

• display: 2 inch non-touch lcd display
• digital camera: 170 level broad angle lens, in a position to 12 megapixel nonetheless images and 4K/25fps
• wireless connectivity: 802.eleven b/g/n WiFi
• Storage: microSD enlargement card slot supporting up to 32GB
• Battery: 1050 mAh detachable with ninety minute recording time
• Water resistance: as much as 30 meters the use of water-resistant enclosure
• Dimensions: 59 x 41 x 25 mm and 64 grams

Hardware

The Aukey 4K sports activities action digicam seems much like a GoPro with an oblong block physique, colour reveal taking over lots of the again, and broad attitude lens on the entrance. it is very light at just sixty four grams, however the plastic physique doesn’t feel low cost.

the ability/mode button is found on the entrance with the lens and model identify. a gentle sensor can be placed below the lens.

A microUSB port, microHDMI port, and microSD storage card slot are discovered on the left facet. The respectable specs state it helps a 32GB microSD card, however I efficiently used a Samsung 256GB microSD card without any concerns. You also want a category 10 card to report in 4K decision.

There are up and down navigation buttons on the proper facet, together with an built-in speaker. An adequate button is found on the highest of the camera. The detachable battery is put on the bottom of the digital camera.

Two indicator lights and the non-touch reveal display are found on the again.

probably the most very best options of the Aukey sports activities motion camera package deal is the whole thing that is integrated with the digital camera. A spare battery is in the package deal, along with a 2.4GHz wrist-strap far off regulate that I speak about beneath in the experience part.

here is the whole thing that is incorporated at no further price:

• water resistant enclosure
• camera holder
• quick liberate adapter, kind 1
• quick unencumber adapter, kind 2
• Bicycle bracket
• Belt mount
• Connection adapter 1
• Connection adapter 2
• Connection adapter 3
• 360 perspective adapter
• Screw on base
• Two self-adhesive helmet mounts
• Two small fastening straps and two camera straps
• Spare waterproof enclosure door
• Spare 1050 mAh battery
• microUSB charging cable
• steel securing cable
• 4 cable ties

Aukey makes use of the slightly standard GoPro accessory mount configuration so if you already have GoPro mounts or wish to use a GoPro mount that is not integrated then you definately must have the ability to stable the Aukey camera universally with these other mounts. it is spectacular to get this type of full and complete package, especially at just $ 70.

the only factor that’s not integrated is a microSD storage card so you will need to buy any such to make use of the digicam on account that there’s no inner storage.

camera interface

there’s no touchscreen on the Aukey action digicam so all navigation on the digicam is conducted with the aid of the entrance mode button, high adequate button, and facet up and down buttons. while you navigate around the digital camera a couple of times, then it is straightforward and i to find it rather more intuitive than the restricted buttons on my Hero4 Session that frustrate the heck out of me.

begin by way of pressing and retaining the front mode button down for two seconds to turn on the digicam. Press the mode button once more to cycle through video, photo, burst picture, time lapse picture, and settings modes. When in a specific mode, you merely press the top adequate button to start out recording or seize a picture. When the large instrument seems on the show, press alright to access the settings.

within settings that you may make a selection the video decision, looping video, time stamp, publicity, picture resolution, burst picture, time lapse, continuous lapse, power frequency, language, date/time, sounds indicator, orientation, screen saver, energy shop, layout, reset, and view device model. Scrolling is finished by means of urgent the up and down arrow with a press of alright to access the atmosphere.

Supported video and nonetheless image resolutions include:

• 4k (25 fps)
• 2K (30 fps)
• 1080p (60/30 fps)
• 720p (one hundred twenty/60 fps)
• still: 12MP, 8MP, 5MP, four MP

while in viewfinder mode, you can press the up button on the fitting to enter playback mode. this will assist you to view your pictures and movies proper on the show of the digicam itself. You can not edit photography or video on the camera, however that you would be able to delete them in case there are errant captures or videos you do not need to view later.

iSmart DV phone device

that you may additionally join the digicam to your iOS or Android instrument with the iSmart DV app. The Aukey digicam connects to your cellphone by means of WiFi and a PIN will seem on the digital camera to setup the pairing the first time.

together with your linked smartphone, that you would be able to manipulate the settings and shop them right from your cellphone. that you can view captured content material and in addition use your cellphone to keep watch over the seize experience together with your telephone display additionally working as a viewfinder for the digital camera.

I in my view found it faster and more straightforward to establish the entire settings proper on the camera itself, however preferred using my phone to view videos I captured before modifying on my laptop later.

competition

a pair months after i purchased the Hero4 Session, GoPro dropped the price and altered the name to the Hero Session. it is to be had for $ 149.99 and offers 1080 recording functionality. that you would be able to additionally upgrade to the Hero5 Session for $ 299.99 that features 4K decision, voice keep an eye on, and video stabilization.

I prior to now tested the superb Garmin VIRB ultra 30 and that is a rock stable action digicam priced at $ 399.ninety nine. You obtain a couple of mounts with that package and no extra battery or remote.

Experiences out in the container

i am not a professional videographer and have simply been trying to find a good camera that might assist seize my fly fishing adventures to share with my domestic later. With the Hero4 Session I mostly have video of me slinging dry flies with only a few, if any, fish captured on video. the first time I used the Aukey camera with the at hand wrist far flung keep an eye on I captured each single fish I caught that day.

The package deal features a wrist remote control with a button for video and one for still images. simply ensure that the Aukey camera is turned on and then as you fish you hit the button for your wrist and video or still photography are captured. there’s no pairing required or anything else and the wrist remote carried out flawlessly for me.

As you will find in my embedded YouTube video (make sure you are gazing in 1080p mode) the standard is in fact beautiful just right. I was very impressed with the standard captured through the digicam and expected a lot less for simply $ 70. photographs have been good enough, a pair are in my picture gallery, however i don’t are expecting any motion camera to offer me top quality still images anyway as that isn’t the intent of the usage of such a video digicam.

Audio was also better than anticipated. Please excuse my corny narration all through the fly fishing video. which you can hear the operating water and even the birds chirping within the historical past. The Aukey digicam used to be established in the water-proof enclosure on top of my head for this filming, using a GoPro head mount I placed on my hat.

I carried the spare battery with me, however on my two fishing trips I examined the camera the primary battery lasted me for your entire time I captured video and stills. The 90 minute stated battery lifestyles appears to be about what I skilled so having an extra method which you can seize about three hours of action. Given it’s important to edit it later, that should be lots for many adventures.

The Aukey sports activities motion camera comes with a 24-month guarantee, which is moderately shocking for a $ 70 product that is designed to perform within the components. pick one up and get out of doors to seize movies of your adventures.

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