Looking for an action cam, but can’t afford the GoPro Hero 7? Well the Campark ACT74 is a much more affordable and yet capable option. You get both 4K video shooting as well as a great still image quality, all packed into a compact design that can be mounted anywhere you want it to and be controlled wirelessly through your phone. Compare this with our Zoom H2N handy recorder review for another camera you can take on the go. And with all of that paired with an amazing underwater shooting capability, the Campark ACT74 is probably the best underwater camera for many of you out there. For another camera that’s resistant to the elements, take a look at our Canon PowerShot D30 waterproof digital camera review too.
Why We Like It – Campark ACT74
Offering 4K video shooting along with amazing still image quality, the affordable action cam Campark ACT74 is one of the best choices available out there. It comes with Wi-Fi connectivity as well as the capability to be controlled from your phone and paired with its compact design the Campark ACT74 is both portable and convenient to use. For another waterproof camera option, take a look at our Olympus Tough TG 610 camera review or our Olympus Tough TG 5 review to compare.
- 4K video shooting ability
- High-quality images
- Highly affordable
- No optical image stabilization
Performance
Featuring a 16MP sensor that allows you to take pretty good still images, and also capture 4K video content at 30FPS, the Campark ACT74 is a good start in the world of action cameras. While the image quality isn’t anywhere near to that of the Nikon W300, it still measures up pretty nicely, but only when you and your subject are sitting still. Without any optical image stabilization to speak of, the Campark ACT 74 provides you with a so-so video quality with a motion blur for any or all objects that may be moving. For a camera with optical image stabilization at a similar price range, the APEMAN A79 is a great option worth considering.
However, the Campark ACT74 does also allow you to shoot a little smoother video footage at a video resolution of 1080p @ 60 fps, much like the Crosstour Action camera. Other than that, it also provides you with great underwater shooting capability thanks to its waterproof case that allows it to go under to almost 30metres deep which is considerably greater than what the GoPro Hero 7 is capable of. It’s much better in this aspect over the Canon EOS 5Ds and the Fujifilm X-T30, both of which are not waterproof.
You also get a 170-degree HD wide angle lens which makes for some pretty amazing photos. Adding to that you can also use the Campark ACT74 action camera to shoot in a time-lapse mode, slo-mo at 720p and 120 frames per second as well as take burst photos. As for the audio quality, while it won’t measure up to an external microphone, it does provide decent vocals and surrounding noise. However do keep in mind that it will pick up the wind noise when moving, and with its frame housing on, you will get the best vocals when talking into the camera from the back.
Moving onto its storage, the Campark ACT74 offers a micro SD card slot that will provide you with sufficient memory accordingly and you can also lower the resolution of the photos from 16 to 12, 8, 5, or 2 megapixels to have more space. But on the other hand, you also have the option to connect through the Wi-Fi to your phone for both remote control and to view and download your photos. This makes for some easy controls during any sports action, and considering the fact that it’s very easy to use, you won’t be facing any difficulties.
Despite being a budget action cam, the Campark A79 also offers you two removable 900mAh rechargeable batteries each storing around 90 minutes of charge and taking 2 to 3 hours to fully recharge. This makes for pretty decent battery life, and thanks to the two batteries, like the Akaso EK7000, you can always have some spare time ready at your hands if you run out of juice.
Finally, the Campark ACT74 even provides you with a good amount of functionality thanks to the number of buttons that allow you to control it. You get the power button on the bottom right, an LED light control that can be used to illuminate a scene for better auto exposure and night shooting, a shutter button as well as the mode changing button. You also get a pair of buttons to cycle through the menu on the display as it isn’t a touch screen and they also help with zooming in and out digitally during a photo or video shoot.
Design
Measuring to be 2.3×1.6×1.1 Inches and weighing only 58g the Campark ACT74 is a pretty lightweight and compact camera, which can also be easily mounted with the housing cases to anything ranging from your bike helmet or handle to your diving gear when going underwater.
The issue with the Campark ACT 74 is that while it does have a micro USB port as well as a mini HDMI port for charging and file transfer, they do not have a cover and as a result is vulnerable to water. And so, you will need the housing case to be able to go underwater as well as to mount it on anything. Though once you add the waterproof case and get things set up, you’ll be ready to capture great underwater photos and video footage with the wide-angle lens.
The remote control is a convenient feature as well for underwater situations, and with the Wi-Fi functionality, you don’t have to mess with taking the camera out of the water and ejecting an SD card or micro SD card to download photos and videos.
The battery however does come with a cover that can be completely taken off with your fingernail and you can also connect external hardware such as a microphone or headphones for better audio. The default camera audio quality isn’t the best, so an external mic may be a great addition to improving the sound of your video footage. You should also look at our Fujifilm XP140 review.
Value
Priced at $55, the Campark ACT74 is a very affordable action cam. It provides you with a whole lot of features ranging from numerous modes, 4K video, and also a very portable and durable design. The variety of video resolutions that can shoot in different frames per second contributes to the camera’s versatile shooting capability.
The Campark ACT74 Action Camera’s two batteries take a few hours to charge, which isn’t a huge dealbreaker. The battery life holds up well and it’s nice how they’re rechargeable so you don’t have to constantly purchase more. The lack of a touch screen isn’t a big drawback either.
But where it falls back is that the quality of image and video doesn’t take in any form of image stabilization. And as a result, most of your pictures can include motion blur, making the Campark ACT74 not much of a good choice for sports or other moving activities.
You can, however, get the APEMAN A79 at a similar price which does come with optical image stabilization for better videos and pictures of moving objects. Consider either action camera based on your needs, preferences, and what you’ll use the camera for.
Though if capturing sports action is a big reason for you and unless you’re looking for blurred image quality or shaky video quality, the budget camera Campark ACT74 may not be the best choice. In contrast, the GoPro Hero 7 does possess that feature, giving its in-camera image stabilization the name “HyperSmooth”.
Campark ACT74 Wrap Up
While it may not have as good an image or video quality as the GoPro Hero 7 or even the APEMAN A79, with a multitude of different modes and a commendable battery life, the Campark ACT74 is a great action cam coming at a pretty affordable price. It is amazingly well built and goes 30 meters underwater with the added housing case, so if you’re not someone who’s going to be taking many fast-moving photos or videos, the Campark ACT74 is an amazing option worth considering. If you enjoyed this Campark ACT74 review, be sure to check out our other camera reviews as well.
