INTRODUCTION

   Action cameras may have been around for years now but due to high sales numbers lately it seems that a large number of the consumer base has just now noticed them (or just decided they needed one). Some also attribute the large bump in sales numbers to all the new 4k (and above) models but whatever the case currently the action camera industry is blooming. 4k models both native and interpolated are indeed at the top of sales worldwide and so we decided to gather as many models as we possibly could to check and see which of them are really worth your hard earned money. EKEN has been around for roughly a decade now and after several successful action camera models they released the V8S (they just now also released the V9s) their first "serious" attempt to enter the native 4k market and so this is the first model out of the many models we have in our lab.

   Founded in 2006 and based in Shenzhen, China, EKEN is a pioneer in imaging technologies and services. With more than 500 associates around the world, we bring imaging technology to the outdoor and sports market. We design and create action cameras that inspire people to capture the beauty of life, helping you seize the moment and relive every memory. Our mission is to become a global brand by creating products that are high quality and affordable. We are always navigating new possibilities in the fast changing technology world. Our motto is “keep moving forward.”

   The EKEN V8S is an compact action camera based on the Ambarella A12S75 SoC camera processor (features an ARM Cortex-A9 CPU running at 792MHz with H.264 encoding and advanced image stabilization) and the Panasonic MN34112 CMOS image sensor (has a native resolution of 1080p at 60fps so 4k is achieved through upscaling) via which it can record content at a resolution of up to 4k 3840x2160p @ 25fps (2560x1440@30fps/1920x1080@60fps/1920x1080@30fps are also supported) and stills at 14MP resolution (4320x3248p). The EKEN V8S also features 170 degrees wide angle lens, 2 inch rear color OLED screen (320x240p), 0.96 inch forward status LCD screen, 802.11 b/g/n wireless transmitter and a 1050mAh rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack which provides power to the V8S for up to 50 minutes (4k recording). So the time has come for us to finally see what this tiny action camera is capable of.

SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES

PACKAGING AND CONTENTS

The V8S arrived inside a box which is partially made out of clear plastic so you can check the product from all sides.

Both the product features and the contents of the bundle are listed on the two sides of the box.

At the rear of the box EKEN lists the specifications of the V8S right over a 2D barcode which points to the generic Ez iCam App which you can use with your smartphone.

Along with the V8S and its remote control you will also get a waterproof housing with an extra rear door, USB power adapter, USB charging cable, short tripod, several cable ties, plastic frame for use with the included mounts, two bases, 4 mounts and the user manual.

THE V8S

The V8S features an aluminum faceplate and measures just 59.3mm in length, 41.1mm in height and 21.4mm in thickness.

To have a better idea about its size we placed the V8S right next to the S-50 by Rolley and the S60 WiFi by Soocoo.

At the front of the camera EKEN has placed a small 0.96 inch status screen and the on/off power button (also used to change recording modes and enter the settings menu).

EKEN has equipped the V8S with wide angle lens (170 degrees).

The start/stop recording (take stills) button is placed at the top of the camera right next to the internal microphone.

If you decide to use the WiFi feature of the V8S (we did but were not impressed by the EZ iCam App) you can enable it via the button placed on the right side.

Moving on the left side we see the micro USB charging port, mini HDMI port and the micro SD card slot.

For good or bad the 2 inch OLED screen at the rear of the V8S can't be controlled by touch.

The battery compartment is located at the base of the camera and it contains a 1050mAh lithium-ion battery pack.

Via the bundled remove control you can take stills and start/stop recording.

EKEN bundles the V8S with a waterproof case which according to them can withstand pressure of up to 30 meters (100ft) but we were only able to test it at 2 meters depth (without issues).

The bundled tripod is a good touch but at just 102mm height we were hoping it would be taller.

USING THE V8S

By pressing the power button 4 times you will enter the main menu from where you can playback recorded clips, view taken stills and enter the settings menu.

From the first settings screen you can set the video recording resolution (between 3840x2160p@25fps/2560x1440@30fps/1920x1080@60fps/1920x1080@30fps), check the stills resolution (only 4320x3248p is available), set the video intervals (1/5 minutes) and you can also enable/disable loop video recording.

From the 2nd screen you can set the time stamp, use the exposure controls, adjust burst stills mode and set the time lapse photo interval (can be set at 3/5/10/30/60 seconds).

The third screen allows you to adjust the video resolution (only between 3840x2160p@25fps and 2560x1440@30fps) and video interval for the time lapse feature (you can enable time lapse recording from the TL Photo and Video settings).

Via the 4th screen you can set the power frequency (60/50Hz or Auto), set the language (23 languages in total), enable/disable the remote control function and set the time and date.

You can turn all audible indicators/alerts off, set the screen saver and power saver timeouts (1/3/5 minutes) and format the mounted micro SD card from the 5th screen.

Finally you can reset the device at its factory settings and check the installed firmware version.

AUDIO / VIDEO QUALITY

Just like with our car dash camera tests we use each action camera for roughly two months prior to posting our review and our test clips (both day and night) are stored as they are on our server. This is done to preserve their exact same quality (YouTube compresses clips) but at the same time that also means we need to cut down their length considerably in order to reduce server load (to download the clips directly just click on the above images or click and save as).

CONCLUSION

   Due to extreme workload we’ve placed action camera reviews far at the rear of our reviews so the V8S by EKEN is actually the very first native 4k camera model to reach our lab and thus we had very high expectations from it. Because of that when we started using it we weren’t very impressed by its image quality yes even at 4k resolution. Now we don’t know if this is due to the Ambarella A12S75 processor not being at the top of the “food chain” currently or because of the Panasonic CMOS sensor which uses upscaling to reach 4k (from its native 1080p resolution) but for whatever reason the V8S image quality is far from perfect (bitrate is not a problem since our clips went as high as 72400kbps). We did compare it to several 1080p models and it’s indeed better in most cases but certainly not what we’d expect from a native 4k action camera. As for battery life EKEN claims the V8S can run for 50 minutes before the 1050mAh lithium-ion battery runs out of juice but we never made it over 40 while recording at 4k. Also we need to point out that the enclosure of the V8S runs very hot while recording at 4k so we do suggest using it in places where it’s not very hot.

   As I type these lines you can get your very own V8S Native 4k Action Camera for just USD95.99/82.74Euros directly from Banggood (by using the EKEN20%3 discount coupon) a price tag which is not really set high for a native 4k model. Still with the brand new V9S model just USD7/6Euros away from the V8S we don’t see how that’s the best possible option for consumers. True we’ve yet to check the V9S out (and it doesn’t come with a front 0.96 inch status screen) but our guess is that EKEN further improved the V8S. That being said the V8S offers a good price/performance ratio and although it may not be the best 4k action camera in the market today it’s still certainly worth checking out.

PROS

- Size & Design
- Good Image Quality (Native 4k)
- Built In 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi
- Bundle (Waterproof Housing / Tripod / Mounts)
- Android/iOS App
- Price (With Discount)

CONS

- Heat Buildup
- Battery Life (Roughly 40 Minutes)
- Tiny Price Gap With The New V9S