Dealosaurus Rex reviewed:
Excellent value, great video quality, tons of accessories!,
January 20, 2016If there's one thing I've learned from the last few days of testing the GeekPro 4.0 Action Camera, it's that you don't need to shell out three to four hundred dollars to get a killer action camera! I've had so much fun testing this camera out, so I wanted to share some of my observations about it and hopefully help people decide if this is a suitable replacement for a more expensive, name brand action camera.
The first thing you will realize when you open the package is that this camera comes with a huge assortment of adapters, straps, cases and other accessories for using the camera in a variety of situations. Keep this in the back of your head when you're comparing the prices between this camera and others. I promise you that GoPro doesn't include most of these with any of their action cameras. The most useful ones I've found so far are the adhesive shoes for mounting the GeekPro to a dashboard or other hard surface, the remote control for starting video or taking a picture when the device is not easily accessible and the non-waterproof case, which is great for indoor use, capturing sound and using the camera for long periods of time since it can be plugged in while using this case. Another great thing to realize about the accessories is that the GeekPro will work with nearly any of the hundreds of accessories that are available for GoPro. They all utilize the same attachment scheme, so you get to tap into that thriving ecosystem in case you need something specific that wasn't included. The only thing that's not included that would have been nice is a microSD card. You're on your own for that.
On to the camera itself. When it's out of its case, it's a tiny little thing. Turning it on (by pressing and holding the power button) puts it immediately into video recording mode at its highest resolution: 1080P (30 FPS). Unlike the GoPro, the GeekPro's back is made up of an LCD screen that is just big enough to frame your shot, verify settings and navigate the menu tree. The record/stop button is on top, there's a power/mode button on the front and two buttons on the side that function as menu navigation as well as some secondary functions depending on the mode you are in. On the opposite side, there's a slot for the microSD card, a mircoUSB port and a mini-HDMI port. The only thing I'm a little disappointed with is the battery door. it's pretty flimsy and seems like it could open accidentally. However, this is not an issue if you have it in either of the housings.
So far, the recordings I've made with this camera have been really nice looking. I love having the wide angle lens when recording as a dash cam. It better captures the full scene in front of the camera instead of feeling boxed in. The video is quite smooth for 30 FPS and low light performance appears to be quite good when I shoot indoor videos at night with just standard room lighting.
Navigating the menu took a little getting used to. it's a combination of the top button and the two navigation buttons on the side, but it was not always clear how to go back. sometimes it's the 4th button, sometimes you navigate to the "X" in the UI. Once you get used to it, though, it's not a problem. The mode button cycles between Video, Photo, Burst Photo, Time Lapse and Settings. Settings include Video Resolution, Looping Video, Time Stamp, Exposure, Photo Resolution, Burst Photo, Time Lapse, Continuous Lapse, Power Frequency, Language, Date & Time, Sound Indicator, Screen Rotation, Screen Saver, Auto Power Off and Format.
Just to highlight a few of the settings: the only available video resolutions are 1080P (30FPS) and 720P (60FPS). I'd recommend the later setting if you want to slow down any of your footage or if you've got extremely fast action to capture. Otherwise, just leave it set to 1080P. The time lapse setting is very nice, as it includes a wide range of time intervals from 2 seconds all the way to 60 seconds. Screen rotation will be useful if you are ever hanging your GeekPro upside down.
GoPro has very convincing ads and in-store displays showing off crisp 4K videos of people jumping off of airplanes and sticking their heads in alligator mouths and I've always kind of wanted one. However, I could never justify the price when A) I don't have the kind of A/V hardware needed to appreciate that kind of camera power and B) I'm not recording anything that benefits from better-than-HD resolution. So for me, this is the perfect little action camera and can't wait to see what kind of videos I can come up with next!
TL;DR:
PROS:
- Excellent video quality
- Great starter package of included accessories
- Compatibility with GoPro accessories
- Included remote control
- Great range of time lapse intervals
- Built in LCD Panel
- Overall value vs. GoPro
CONS:
- No 60 FPS mode at 1080P
- Menu navigation is somewhat confusing
- Flimsy battery door
- No microSD card included
GeekPro was kind enough to provide me with a discount so that I could test out the GeekPro 4.0 and provide an informed review. I was very impressed!
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