AKASO EK7000  Camera Review

Reviewed Mar 18, 2021 at 09:12am
Test bench update Dec 21, 2022 at 12:41pm
Tested using Methodology v0.12 
AKASO EK7000
5.1
Travel Photography 
5.9
Landscape Photography 
4.4
Sport & Wildlife Photography 
5.1
Vlogging 
5.0
Studio Video 
5.6
Action Video 
 0

The AKASO EK7000 is a compact camera that's designed for action video. With its included case, it feels pretty solid, and you can easily mount this camera on a helmet rig thanks to its lightweight design. Also, its good video stabilization performance helps to smooth out camera shake, even if you're moving quickly while filming. That said, its video quality isn't the best, and there's some visual noise present, especially if you're filming in low-light conditions.

Our Verdict

5.1
Travel Photography 

The AKASO EK7000 is awful for travel photography. This camera isn't really designed for photography, as the camera doesn't let you adjust ISO, aperture, or shutter speed. It doesn't come with an autofocus system, either, which can be disappointing if you want it to automatically track moving subjects.

Pros
  • Portable, water resistant design.
Cons
  • No autofocus system.
  • ISO, aperture, and shutter speed can't be adjusted.
5.9
Landscape Photography 

The AKASO EK7000 is poor for landscape photography. This camera isn't designed for this use, as it doesn't let you adjust ISO, shutter speed, or aperture. It also doesn't come with an autofocus system. While it's quite portable, its materials don't feel very robust without its included case.

4.4
Sport & Wildlife Photography 

The AKASO EK7000 is poor for sport and wildlife photography, though it isn't really intended for this use. The ISO, aperture, and shutter speed can't be adjusted manually, and you can only shoot continuously in three-shot bursts, which is quite limiting. There isn't an autofocus system, either, so you don't have any assistance with tracking fast-moving subjects. On the upside, it has a high maximum shutter speed, which is handy if you want clear pictures of fast-moving subjects.

5.1
Vlogging 

The AKASO EK7000 is disappointing for vlogging, though it isn't designed for this use. Though this camera has a lightweight, portable design, it has a fixed screen, so you can't turn it to face you while you record. It does a good job smoothing out camera shake; however, overall video quality is poor, especially in low-light settings.

Pros
  • Portable, water resistant design.
  • Good video stabilization performance in 4k and FHD.
Cons
  • Poor video quality in 4k and FHD.
  • Build doesn't feel very robust without the case.
  • Fixed screen doesn't rotate.
5.0
Studio Video 

The AKASO EK7000 is disappointing for studio video. It isn't designed for this use, and video quality is poor in 4k and FHD, so your footage isn't very sharp or detailed. It lacks a video autofocus system, so there aren't any tools to help you track moving subjects. It doesn't have inputs for videography accessories like headphones or a microphone, either.

Pros
  • Easy-to-use menu system.
Cons
  • Poor video quality in 4k and FHD.
  • No autofocus system.
5.6
Action Video 

The AKASO EK7000 is middling for action video. This small, lightweight camera can easily be mounted on a helmet rig. With its included case, it has a solid build, and it's even rated for water resistance when used with its case, though we don't currently test for this. It also does a good job smoothing out camera shake. That said, its video quality in 4k and FHD is poor, and it doesn't offer a lot of frame rate options for recording slow-motion footage.

Pros
  • Portable, water resistant design.
  • Good video stabilization performance in 4k and FHD.
Cons
  • Poor video quality in 4k and FHD.
  • Build doesn't feel very robust without the case.
  • Limited frame rate options.
  • 5.1
    Travel Photography
  • 5.9
    Landscape Photography
  • 4.4
    Sport & Wildlife Photography
  • 5.1
    Vlogging
  • 5.0
    Studio Video
  • 5.6
    Action Video
  • Changelog

    1.  Updated Dec 21, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 0.12.
    2.  Updated Dec 20, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 0.11.
    3.  Updated Oct 03, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 0.10.
    4.  Updated Sep 02, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 0.9.

    Differences Between Sizes And Variants

    The AKASO EK7000 comes in 'Blue', 'Black', and 'Silver'. We tested the 'Black' variant, and you can see the label for the model we tested here. We expect the other color variants to perform similarly.

    AKASO also produces the AKASO EK7000 Pro, which is very similar but comes with a touchscreen, in-camera electronic video stabilization, and 16MP photos. However, we haven't tested the Pro, so we can't confirm its performance.

    If you come across another version, please let us know in the discussions so we can update our review.

    Popular Camera Comparisons

    AKASO Brave 4

    The AKASO EK7000 and AKASO Brave 4 are similar cheap action cameras. The EK7000 is a bit better overall since it can record in true 4k resolution and offers more frame rate options.

    Test Results

    perceptual testing image
    Sort:
    RATINGS
    Category:
    All
    Design
    9.9
    Portability
    Height
    1.6" (4.1 cm)
    Width
    2.3" (6.0 cm)
    Depth
    1.2" (3.1 cm)
    Volume
    4.7 in³ (76.3 cm³)
    Weight
    0.13 lbs (0.06 kg)
    5.0
    Build Quality

    • No hinge or retention mechanism for battery cover
    • No input or SD card covers
    • Materials for the camera itself feel okay, but it feels much more robust with the included case
    • Only rated for water resistance while using the included clear case, but the camera isn't advertised for water resistance on its own
    Body
    Body Type
    Action Cam
    Water Resistance
    Waterproof, with included case
    Mirrorless
    Yes
    Rugged
    Yes, with included case
    Hot Shoe
    No
    Customizable Button
    No
    Command Dial
    0
    Tripod Mount
    Yes, with included accessory
    Lens Mount
    No Lens Mount
    Built-In Flash
    No
    Fastest Shutter Speed
    1/4,000 s
    In The Box

    • AKASO EK7000 camera body
    • Camera case
    • Quick reference guide
    • Akasogo Club card
    • Micro USB cable
    • 2x AKASO PG 1050 battery
    • Battery charging cradle
    • Remote
    • Metal cable
    • Zip ties
    • Helmet mount straps
    • Helmet mount accessory
    • Handlebar mount accessory
    • Tripod mount frame
    • Shirt clip mount accessory
    5.5
    Ergonomics & Comfort
    Hand Grip: Small Hand
    No Hand Grip
    Hand Grip: Medium Hand
    No Hand Grip
    Hand Grip: Large Hand
    No Hand Grip
    Hand Grip: Extra-Large Hand
    No Hand Grip

    • It's intended to be used as an action camera, but can be used to take photos/videos handheld
    • No touchscreen, so you can only change settings using the arrow buttons or the shutter button
    Viewfinder
    Viewfinder Type
    No Viewfinder
    Advertised Coverage
    N/A
    Advertised Resolution
    N/A
    Advertised Magnification
    N/A
    1.9
    Screen
    Screen Articulation Type
    No Articulation (Fixed Screen)
    Screen Max Brightness
    315 cd/m²
    Advertised Resolution
    N/A
    Size
    2.0" (5.0 cm)
    Touchscreen
    No

    Update 07/23/2021: Measured screen brightness and updated score accordingly.

    8.5
    Menu System
    Guide Mode
    No
    App Name
    iSmart DV

    • Menu is simple and very easy to navigate
    • Limited selection of features, no image settings adjustments like focus or exposure settings
    • No Guide Mode to provide additional information about settings
    5.6
    Built-In Lens
    Maximum Aperture
    2.8
    Max Aperture (Full-Frame Equivalent)
    N/A
    Minimum Focal Length
    N/A
    Maximum Focal Length
    N/A
    Max Focal Length (Full-Frame Equivalent)
    N/A
    Optical Image Stabilization
    No
    Luminance
    65.3%
    Light Falloff
    43.9%
    Sensor
    Sensor Type
    Unspecified
    Advertised Effective Pixels
    12 MP
    Sensor Size
    Unspecified
    Processor
    Unspecified
    Extended ISO Minimum
    N/A
    Native ISO Minimum (Base ISO)
    100
    Native ISO Maximum
    1,600
    Tested Firmware
    KM20.0703V1STB
    6.5
    Battery
    Battery Type
    AKASO PG 1050
    USB Charging
    Yes
    Use When Charging
    No
    Advertised Battery Life In Photo
    N/A
    Tested Battery Life In Video
    100 min
    Photo General
    4.3
    Photo Shooting Speed
    Low Speed Continuous
    N/A
    High Speed Continuous
    3 fps
    Silent Shooting Continuous
    3 fps
    Raw Buffer Size
    N/A
    JPEG Buffer Size
    3 Photos
    Buffer Empty Time
    0 s
    0.0
    Photo AF-C Tracking
    Autofocus Tracking ShotsN/A
    Perfect Focus Hit Rate
    N/A
    Usable Focus Hit Rate
    N/A
    0.0
    Photo AF-C Center Point
    Autofocus Center Point ShotsN/A
    Perfect Focus Hit Rate
    N/A
    Usable Focus Hit Rate
    N/A
    0.0
    Photo Image Stabilization
    Minimum Shutter Speed Achieved
    N/A
    In-Body Image Stabilization
    No
    Photo Image Quality
    0.0
    Photo RAW Dynamic Range
    Dynamic Range At Base ISO
    N/A
    Dynamic Range At 1/500s Exposure Time
    N/A
    Dynamic Range At 1/2000s Exposure Time
    N/A
    Dynamic Range At 1/4000s Exposure Time
    N/A
    0.0
    Photo RAW Sharpness
    Vertical Edge MTF50 At Base ISO
    N/A
    Horizontal Edge MTF50 At Base ISO
    N/A
    0.0
    Photo RAW Noise
    SNR 18% At 1/8 Exposure Time (125 ms)
    N/A
    SNR 18% At 1/125 Exposure Time (8 ms)
    N/A
    SNR 18% At 1/1000 Exposure Time (1 ms)
    N/A
    SNR 18% At 1/4000 Exposure Time (0.25 ms)
    N/A
    Pictures Sample Gallery
    The Skate Park Picture
    JPEG Skate Park PictureDownload
    RAW Skate Park PictureN/A
    The Polish Church Picture
    JPEG Polish Church PictureDownload
    RAW Polish Church PictureN/A
    The Studio Picture
    JPEG Studio PictureDownload
    RAW Studio PictureN/A
    The Stairway Picture
    JPEG Stairway PictureDownload
    RAW Stairway PictureN/A
    Video General
    Video Features
    Full HD Video
    Yes
    4k Video
    Yes
    6k Video
    No
    Clean HDMI Output
    No
    Advertised Max Chroma Sampling Over HDMI
    Not Advertised
    Advertised Max Bit Depth Over HDMI
    N/A
    Log Picture Profile
    No
    Recording Light
    Yes
    Audio
    Audio Test Sample
    Audio Recording
    Stereo
    Microphone Level Display
    No
    Video File Format And Compression
    MP4 H.264 / MPEG-4 AVC
    No
    MP4 H.265 / HEVC
    No
    MOV H.264 / MPEG-4 AVC
    Yes
    MOV H.265 / HEVC
    No
    AVCHD H.264 / MPEG-4 AVC
    No
    All-I Compression
    No
    4k Video
    4.5
    4k Video Frame Rate
    240 fps In 4k
    No
    120 fps In 4k
    No
    60 fps In 4k
    No
    30 fps In 4k
    No
    24 fps In 4k
    Yes
    4k Crop At Max Available fps
    1 x

    Note: The AKASO EK7000 can only shoot 4k video at 25 fps. Because we don't have a comparison for 25 fps, we've marked 'Yes' for '24 fps in 4k' since the two frame rates are roughly equivalent.

    7.9
    4k Video Internal Recording
    Bitrate Maximum In 4k
    60 Mbps
    Bitrate Minimum In 4k
    60 Mbps
    Chroma Sampling In 4k
    4:2:0
    Bit Depth In 4k
    8 Bit
    Record Time Limit In 4k
    N/A
    Overheat Recording Interruptions in 4k
    0
    0.0
    4k Video Autofocus Performance
    Object Tracking In 4k
    N/A
    Face Tracking In 4k
    N/A
    Face Detection In 4k
    No
    Eye Detection In 4k
    No
    4.0
    4k Video Quality
    Low Light Capability In 4k
    4.0
    Test Scene Extract In 4k
    4.0
    8.8
    4k Video Rolling Shutter Effect
    4k Rolling Shutter
    1.3°
    Full HD Video
    8.5
    FHD Video Frame Rate
    240 fps In FHD
    No
    120 fps In FHD
    No
    60 fps In FHD
    Yes
    30 fps In FHD
    Yes
    24 fps In FHD
    Yes
    FHD Crop At Max Available fps
    1 x
    7.8
    FHD Video Internal Recording
    Bitrate Maximum In FHD
    16 Mbps
    Bitrate Minimum In FHD
    12 Mbps
    Chroma Sampling In FHD
    4:2:0
    Bit Depth In FHD
    8 Bit
    Record Time Limit in FHD
    N/A
    0.0
    FHD Video Autofocus Performance
    Object Tracking In FHD
    N/A
    Face Tracking In FHD
    N/A
    Face Detection In FHD
    No
    Eye Detection In FHD
    No
    4.0
    FHD Video Quality
    Low Light Capability In FHD
    4.0
    Test Scene Extract In FHD
    4.0
    8.8
    FHD Video Rolling Shutter Effect
    FHD Rolling Shutter
    1.3°
    Storage And Connectivity
    Storage
    Card 1 Slot
    microSD Card UHS-I
    Card 2 Slot
    No 2nd Card Slot
    4.8
    Inputs / Outputs
    USB
    Micro USB
    HDMI
    Micro (Type D)
    Headphones
    No
    Microphone
    No Microphone input
    Wi-Fi
    Yes
    Bluetooth
    No