Best Budget Action Camera - SJCAM, EKEN or Xiaomi?

Evaluating the appearance of action cameras does not make any sense. All of them are made in the same form factor, borrowed at the time from GoPro. Even the weight is practically the same - in four cases out of five it is approximately 65 g. By the way, it is he who best of all indicates that not the most advanced components are inside. And if expensive cameras of this type have two LCD displays, then budget ones have only one. In front, only the lens is most often found. Xiaomi, SJCAM and EKEN also have an additional button in this place, usually used to change the operating mode. EKEN H9R generally has a large number of keys - only two can be found on the side end. This greatly simplifies handling in sub-zero temperatures when you are wearing gloves.

Many of the top five action cameras we're reviewing come with an underwater case. He hints unequivocally that the devices themselves will not withstand immersion under water. Alas, this is the trouble of all budget models. They are not afraid of the rain. As for the aquabox, its use leads to the fact that the microphones simply do not hear what is happening around. Slightly better than the others, the action camera from Xiaomi is protected from moisture.But its manufacturer does not guarantee that the very first underwater dive will not disable the device. We have warned you.

Any action camera must have wide-angle optics. The fact is that such devices are usually used for shooting all sorts of tricks, skiing and other similar events. And it will be very disappointing if something like this ends up outside the frame. That is why the viewing angle of many of the cameras we are considering reaches 170 degrees. This setting is really ideal for shooting action. But it is impossible not to admit that the effect of a fish eye can scare someone away. Fortunately, when shooting a vlog, you can adjust the framing, as a result of which the aforementioned effect will almost completely disappear. But the quality of the picture will also decrease, because not the entire area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe matrix will be used.

Unfortunately, nothing more can be said about the optics. In expensive action cameras, it boasts an interchangeable front lens. Here, nothing of the kind is observed. If you have damaged the front glass, you will need to repair it. And at such a low cost of the device, it is simply impractical.

Xiaomi action camera lens has the smallest viewing angle. This is due to the fact that the manufacturer decided to rely on a wide-open aperture. In this case, it has a value of f / 2.6. As a result, the camera is slightly better than the rest for shooting video in the dark.That is why the Xiaomi product deserves a higher score from us.

The most eminent companies try to integrate as large a matrix as possible into their creations, because the quality of the final image depends on its size. As for the manufacturers of inexpensive action cameras, they can't afford it. This is evidenced by the modest weight of the models we are considering. Reading the technical specifications only confirms this. Even most smartphones use a larger sensor!

Interestingly, almost all manufacturers ordered a matrix from Sony. Now it is she who creates the largest number of sensors designed for installation in action cameras and smartphones. It is also curious that the resolution of the matrices is quite different. The smallest parameter is observed in EKEN H9R - in it it reaches only 4 megapixels. This means that it is better not to even try to use this model for photography. Even a cursory comparison shows that competitors do their job noticeably better. Perhaps the best choice for shooting still images is SJCAM. Yes, the X-TRY has a higher resolution, but with the same sensor size, this only leads to an abundance of digital noise, especially in low light around.

We all remember the days when action cameras could only shoot video in Full HD resolution. This applied even to the best models that were sold for a lot of money. Now the situation has changed. Absolutely all the devices included in our comparison are ready to shoot video in 4K resolution! However, not all so simple.

The modest dimensions of the matrix still make themselves felt. Especially with the Digma DiCam 850. When using this camera, it seems that in fact its sensor should have been shooting at a lower resolution. However, the EKEN product shows itself even worse. He is not far from ultra-budget smartphones. The best result is given by SJCAM and Xiaomi. But you should not expect an outstanding picture from them either. YouTube viewers will not spit on her, and thanks for that.

Another thing to note is the frame rate. To shoot action, you will need to switch to low resolution, since only in this case high-speed shooting becomes available. X-TRY and Digma capture 240 frames every second when 720p video recording is activated! Excellent result! But you need to understand that the quality of the picture in this mode drops dramatically. Xiaomi and SJCAM degrade it not so noticeably, but they only give out 120 fps.If we talk about 4K resolution, then again, these two action cameras only shoot at 30 frames / s in it.

Alas, cheap action cameras are not able to adequately deal with image shaking when the device is in the hands or attached to a moving object. This is due to the fact that savings do not allow their manufacturers to use any powerful processor inside that quickly processes video in real time. However, this does not mean that all the models we are considering did without stabilization at all.

As you might guess, none of the cameras received an optical image stabilizer. This is due to the form factor - such a structural element requires significantly more space. However, we managed to get used to this, because even the esteemed GoPro company cannot implement it. That is why all five cameras have exclusively electronic stabilization, when the picture gets rid of judder by cropping it. And worst of all, EKEN H9R copes with its task. However, Digma also wants to disable this function, since it negatively affects the quality of the video, its detail.

Xiaomi knows a lot about smart technology. In this regard, it is not surprising that it is in her budget action camera that stabilization is implemented in the best way. However, SJCAM SJ5000 X also shows its good side. Its manufacturer was helped by experience - this company has been creating budget action cameras for many years.

Manufacturers of inexpensive devices almost never write in the specifications about how many microphones their creation is endowed with. And the creators of top models do not indicate their quality either. You have to rely on reviews and reviews. If you read them, then a sad picture emerges. None of the cameras record sound in perfect quality. However, this problem is inherent in the vast majority of currently existing devices.

Curiously, the Digma DiCam 850 received a 3.5mm microphone input. Apparently, its creators understood that the device itself would not write sound in the best way. But you need to understand that this is a crutch. Like it or not, but using an additional accessory in the form of an external microphone is inconvenient.

And yet, which of the models will not cause disgust with the quality of the recorded sound? Perhaps, Xiaomi Mijia Seabird 4K buyers have no particular complaints. The camera copes mediocrely with fixing high frequencies, but there are no special problems with the rest. As you might guess, it is difficult to make claims against SJCAM. The first models of this manufacturer wrote something indistinct, as if the buyer was using an old cassette recorder. But the action camera called SJ5000X no longer suffers from such a sore. Digma and EKEN record the sound in mono. And that's it.If you decide to purchase one of these cameras, then try to train yourself to record sound in parallel to some other device, such as a smartphone.

All five action cameras have a removable battery. The batteries are made as spartan as possible. They do not have any processors and other complex structural elements. That is why batteries are sold at a very low price. However, not every owner of an action camera will want to make an additional purchase. That is why we want to praise Xiaomi company. She optimized the hardware in the best possible way, as a result of which the device is ready to shoot video for about an hour and a half. Not a bad result, which is not always achieved even by manufacturers of much more expensive cameras of this type!

As for the other four models, when using them, you have to count on an hour of video shooting. Or even less. In particular, EKEN and X-TRY perform very poorly. Some copies of these cameras are also capable of overheating, especially when in the aquabox. This means that long continuous video shooting can be problematic.

Usually in this section we talk only about the price.However, in this case, we need to talk about the configuration. If she turns out to be very rich, then it makes sense to overpay, doesn't it? Especially if you are really going to use all the accessories. In this regard, the Digma DiCam 850 is of the greatest interest. Putting aside a relatively small amount for a purchase, you expect to get the action camera itself, a charger cable and a battery. However, a lot of other useful things will be found in the box. We do not even undertake to list the entire list, as it is tedious and long. The manufacturer EKEN H9R also focuses on accessories. However, it is difficult to find fault with the SJCAM SJ5000 X in this regard. But this camera is sold much more expensive!

Xiaomi is asking for the most money for its product. It is felt that this is already some margin for the brand. And this would not be anything to worry about if it were not for the meager equipment. In the box with the device, you will find only a battery and a USB cable. Mounting hardware will need to be purchased separately. By the way, in this comparison, we did not mention interfaces. This simply does not make any sense, since absolutely all cameras have at their disposal a wireless Wi-Fi module and a micro-USB connector. And they write the material on a removable drive in the form of a microSD card.

If you carefully read our material from the very beginning, you have already understood everything.X-TRY, Digma and EKEN are unknown to the vast majority of our readers for a reason. Under these brands, frankly passing products are produced that cease to suit a couple of months after the start of use, and sometimes even faster. These action cameras suffer from a number of shortcomings. They write a picture of average quality, even despite the support for 4K resolution, have a mediocre microphone, and the battery life leaves much to be desired.

As for Xiaomi and SJCAM, these brands are heard by a much larger number of people. And not just like that. Under them, much better action cameras are already being produced. Even if we are talking about very inexpensive models. The most difficult thing is to decide in favor of which particular device to make your choice. They both have about the same video quality. The difference is only in appearance and configuration. If you are going to shoot underwater, then it is better to take SJCAM. The fact is that it is quite difficult to find an aquabox for a Xiaomi product on sale.