In this article I would like to compare two cameras, the Amkov 7000S and the Eken H8R. I decided to make this comparison because these cameras have quite similar specifications.
I’ve been using and in fact have reviewed both of these cameras. You can read those reviews in addition to this comparison.
Before we start, let’s take a look at the product specs of both cameras side by side.
[go_pricing id=”amkov7000s_vs_ekenh8r”]
Accessories
The accessories included with these cameras are nearly the same. The Eken’s look and feel like they might be slightly better quality. Both cameras include many accessories – you can find everything you need because they’re provided. Both sets of accessories are also compatible with GoPro accessories so a wide choice is available.
Design and Build Quality
The design and built quality of both H8R and 7000S is quite good. They’re both well-built but my impression is that the Eken might be a bit better crafted as it feels slightly more rugged in hand. The buttons are firmer and I like the aesthetics more.
Both cameras have a 2 inch screen in back which allows you to preview videos and photos and change options. The Amkov AMK7000s functions better in sunny condition because it’s brighter. The LED’s on the Amkov that indicate mode, recording, etc., are also easier to see in sunlight than those on the Eken.
Menu and Navigation
The two cameras have quite similar menu settings and features (apart from gyro stabilization) but with one big difference: the commands. The Eken is very easy to use. With the power button you can switch menus and scroll down on all the items, with the shot button you can choose the setting and with the Wifi button you can go back or exit from the menu. Where the Eken is very very easy and intuitive to use, the Amkov not. It’s a nightmare.
To enter into the menu you must press the Wifi button (why?) for 5 seconds and once inside, you must press the WiFi button again to scroll down. But wait! The menu is composed of two parts, the first is the video/photo menu and the second is the general settings menu. To switch from the first to the second you are forced to scroll until the end of the page and then press the power button, and if you miss the last spot, you must re-scroll the entire menu! The Amkov’s design is absolutely crazy!
Video Quality
I made these tests while I was at the sea. I held the cameras next to each other and synchronized the videos to have the same image with both cameras. All the videos have been recorded at 1080p with 60fps. Audio was also recorded in every video to compare it too.
In these three videos the cameras were in the waterproof case:
In video test 1 above you can see the differences in the colors. The Amkov has more real-life, faithful and vibrant colors whereas the Eken has more saturation and gives less details due to it’s lower quality image sensor.
In video test 3 you can see the difference between these two cameras in a quick change of light and above water/underwater colors. The Amkov captures more green colors, in fact under the water seems it like a lake (and it was like this). The Eken captures a beautiful blue/light blue under the water and the sky looks great, but the water was green as Amkov captured it because at this time of year there is a lot of seaweed in this zone.
The Amkov is more credible when it comes to colors. In video test 3 however the Eken has a better underwater image, especially in this example. On the other hand, if you are striving for a natural look rather than one that’s too vivid, then Amkov wins this one as well.
In video test 4 you can perfectly see the difference in details and sharpness between the two cameras.
As you can see in the screenshot above the Eken H8R footage has fewer details, it’s all kneaded like a shapeless mass of colors but you can’t understand anything beyond a few meters of distance.
The following video was made without the waterproof case, and a part the better sharpness, you can see the difference of light and exposition between the cameras. Additionally pay attention to gyro video stabilization which Amkov 7000S has but the Eken H8R lacks.
At night or at least in low light the Amkov is completely unusable because, for example, using it as a dashcam you can’t see your own lights – it’s completely black! The Eken is a little bit better but don’t expect a miracle. It’s hard to see your lights with it too.
Photo Quality
In video quality I think the Amkov wins without much problem but about photos?
These photos were captured at 20MP with the Amkov and 12MP with the Eken (maximum resolutions). Please be aware that the 7000s can’t capture native images at these resolutions. As a matter a fact, the Amkov 7000S has only a 4mp image sensor so the resolution is interpolated. Also notice that the Amkov as a narrower FoV (Field of View). In fact it misses a lot of angle on the left and right.
As you can see in these samples, this is where 12MP sensor beats 4MP one – in image sharpness and details. While this is not so important for the video, it matters when you try to crop a still image. Eken H8R wins when it comes to photo quality.
Audio Quality
I included audio in all the preview videos above but then I more or less made this section anyway. Here are dedicated audio tests.
As you can hear the Eken records mostly the low frequencies and the Amkov the higher. The Eken seems to capture more ambient sound but neither microphone is good after all.
With this other video I don’t want to test the distortion, only the quality of the audio:
As you can hear, the Eken captures mostly low frequencies in fact results in a “warmer” sound than the Amkov which captures mostly high frequencies. I don’t know which camera has better sound because both of them have huge frequency gaps.
Battery Performance
The results of battery test are:
As you can see the Amkov has a better battery. There are some differences in the frame rates but the Eken has false 30fps at 4K because it make 15fps doubled. Anyway the Eken has better optimization with the high resolutions but I think that 4K and 2.7K are too big for a normal screen so they’re unusable. I think it’s more important have better optimization at 1080p or 720p as with the Amkov.
Summary
The Eken offer the same accessories as the Amkov and this is good for both cameras. The Amkov has a problem with the menu – it’s very annoying to use. Instead the Eken has a great menu concept. Both cameras have waterproof case issues. The Amkov has a little dot on the plastic in front of the lens (I fixed it myself) and the Eken has a gasket problem. Other features of both cameras are the same. Amkov fixed its Wifi issues and now it’s perfect like the Eken. The remote controller is better than the Eken
It’s a good match but the Eken has a serious drawback, the video quality. You can shoot the best photos in the world, you can have the best WiFi and remote control, you can have the best menu of all the other cameras, but if you are an ACTION CAMERA and you CAN’T shoot good videos, I’m sorry but you lose this match and probably a lot of other matches with other cameras too.
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