Action cameras are very portable devices that can be mounted on chest straps, helmets, bike handlebars, and more. But high-end cameras can get quite expensive, and amateurs or beginners might not want to empty their pockets on a product that\u2019s not going to return any sort of profit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, the question is: can you buy a quality, affordable action camera without making major compromises in quality? The answer – totally. Let\u2019s discuss an action camera manufactured by Eken<\/a>, one of the emerging manufacturers in the industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Part of the H9 series, like the H9S<\/a> and H9<\/a>, the Eken H9R action camera<\/a>, is a very good deal for the low price of 69.99 US dollars (you can knock 10% off the price using the \u201cXH6FOWJR\u201d coupon code). We\u2019ll be discussing accessories, quality and performance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n First of all, let\u2019s start by seeing what you\u2019re going to get for the low price of 69.99$. It can\u2019t be that great, right? Wrong! The Eken H9R is an out-of-the-box fully equipped action camera.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When opening the package, you\u2019ll find that the H9R comes with a USB cable that you\u2019ll be using to charge the battery and transfer files. The camera doesn\u2019t come with a charger, but we\u2019re certain that you either own an Android, Windows or iOS mobile device, and you can use your own charger to juice-up your battery. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Eken H9R comes with two ports – an HDMI and a USB port. You can use an HDMI cable to either stream recorded or live footage to a display that supports this type of connection. Next to the two ports, you\u2019ll find an SD card slot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The H9R doesn\u2019t have any internal storage, as it\u2019s too compact for a built-in HDD, so you\u2019ll have to add an SD card to the device, as the manufacturers don\u2019t provide one. Don\u2019t cheap out – buy one with a higher transfer rate, so that you don\u2019t bottleneck the camera\u2019s performance with low transfer speed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Something nice about the H9R is the added wireless wrist remote. The remote itself retails at around 15$, so the fact that Eken includes one is pretty outstanding, as is the amount of value this little guy brings to the table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The wireless remote can be used to scroll between modes and videos and can stay connected to the camera via a 2.4G wireless connection at a maximum distance of 10 meters (around 30 feet). It also has two LED lights that indicate if the camera is in picture or video mode. Lastly, the wrist remote is waterproof for up to 10 feet – great features for a very low price.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This particular pack comes with two 1050mAh batteries. I\u2019ll admit, there are batteries out there, but the people at Eken have been considerate enough to address issues that were present in previous models and equip the H9R with TWO batteries, so that you\u2019ll have up to 3 hours of 1080p footage, which is a lot. If that still doesn\u2019t seem right for you, you can purchase an external battery with the money you\u2019re saving and juice it up using a micro USB cable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019ll be getting a waterproof case, which will allow the camera to function in underwater environments while still retaining full functionality, as you still have access to all of the buttons, mounts and features.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The build quality of the case is pretty good, even though it\u2019s just plastic. The case allows the camera to be used underwater up to 100 feet (around 30 meters), so it\u2019s a nice pick for anyone who\u2019s interested in scuba diving and snorkeling. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Lastly, it comes with a big number of mounts. You\u2019re getting two stick-on camera mounts, one with a straight back and one with a curved back, for sticking on helmets and similar pieces of equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019re also going to receive a kind of like slid-in frame that you can use to mount the camera on its different mounts: a tripod, which is great for taking stills and timelapse footage, a handlebar pole mount, for setting up the H9R on a bike, and different mounts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As a final touch, the people from Eken have also included a charging dock in the package, so you can theoretically charge both batteries at the same time, for extra fast results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s take a closer look at the camera, now that we\u2019ve talked about the accessories that come with it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The black version of the Eken H9R action camera has a nice, quality plastic build. It\u2019s pretty lightweight, has a nice texture on the exterior, so you\u2019ll keep a good grip of it and it\u2019s very small – you can fit it in your palm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the front side panel, you\u2019ll find the big power button, an LED that indicates when the camera is active and the beautiful, 170-degree wide angle camera. I\u2019ll be honest, this doesn\u2019t look like a 55 dollar camera, no way! The power button is easy to reach from every position and the camera lens is pretty easy to clean in case you smudge it up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the top panel, the Eken H9R has a shutter button for starting and stopping recordings, for taking pictures and for selecting menu items. The button is, again, very easy to find and offers nice feedback and satisfaction when pressing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The left side panel features the IO, with the aforementioned HDMI, USB and SD card slots. The right side panel has two arrow buttons that allow you to navigate the camera\u2019s modes and settings and also activate the pairing mode for the wireless app and wrist remote and a tiny speaker, so that you can hear your recordings without having to connect the camera to a display or an audio setup every time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The menu is very intuitive to use and it comes in a lot of different languages, with English set by default. In the menu, you can access the different resolutions and framerates, that range from 720p to 4K, different modes, such as burst photo or time lapse, video or photo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The back panel is occupied entirely by the 2 inch FHD display, which actually looks really well at first, but it doesn\u2019t have any fancy gorilla glass or very durable materials used in manufacturing flagship models. It\u2019s very bright and easy to read in daylight, so that won\u2019t be a problem. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Lastly, on the bottom, you\u2019ll find the 1050mAH battery slot, masked by a lid made from the same material as the case. It\u2019s easy to remove and the battery has a little ribbon on it so that you won\u2019t have to struggle with taking it out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To sum it up, for around 55 dollars, you\u2019ll be getting an amazing bargain. The build quality is on-point and I can\u2019t say that Eken has compromised a lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Make sure that you use the water case for more dangerous activities, as it will offer the somewhat frail display a lot more protection than it has, and with a little bit of care, you\u2019re going to be very pleased with the quality of this product.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Well, for starters, what are your options? You\u2019ve got 1280 x 720 pixel<\/strong> resolution at up to 120 fps. This option is great for saving space on your SD card or for creating content that\u2019s easier to edit, as it will be processed much faster, easier to transfer to a hard drive, and most likely best to be used when uploading to Facebook, Instagram or just generally sharing with your friends, as it\u2019s very clear and sharp on mobile devices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When filming in 720p quality, you\u2019ll see that the frame rate will be steady the whole time of the recording. Very fluid video, very enjoyable to watch. The white balance on the camera is actually surprisingly good and the colors are pretty deep, so you won\u2019t have to put up with bland, washed up image quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the things that you should know is the fact that it lacks image stabilization, but that isn\u2019t as much as a drawback as you\u2019d think, because the straps and mounts that are included in the bundle keep it in a very tight position, so the video won\u2019t be vertigo-inducing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Photo quality is also pretty clear, as the camera allows you to take photos at up to 12 megapixels, which is decent. You can also use a burst photo setting to capture specific frames, like a jump or a pose, which is a nice feature to have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Next up, we have 1920 x 1080 pixel<\/strong> resolution video at a 30 or 60 frame per second frame rate. We think this is actually the best setting for the camera, and we\u2019ll explain why. First off, storage. Storage-wise, you\u2019re pretty limited, due to the limited nature of SD cards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Shooting in UHD means dealing with huge video files that take quite a while to transfer, especially when using a USB 2.0 connection, and a lot of space to store. Full HD is a perfect compromise of quality, performance, and utility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We recommend that you choose a fast-grade SD card so that you won\u2019t be facing any performance issues, and go for 32+ GB of storage, as it will comfortably fit videos that you can film on your battery life, which also decreases as you increase the resolution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In 1080p, the camera will perform beautifully, as you\u2019ll be getting steady frame-rates and Full HD quality. Whether you\u2019re choosing 30 fps or 60 fps, you\u2019ll be seeing the same results. 30 fps offers a more cinematic experience and smaller video files, while 60 fps videos are more life-like, but you\u2019ll be taking up more space on your SD card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These are great options for content creation, such as YouTube videos, contest submissions and so on. It\u2019s best viewed on a monitor or any other type of Full HD display. The video is as colorful and rich in contrast as the 720p version, just sharper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s move to 2K resolution (2.7K, actually)<\/strong>, and where things get a bit surprising. First of all, this is where you\u2019ll notice a big increase in video file size and a big surge in battery consumption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While 2K is very nice to have, it\u2019s a bit of a compromise, especially because you need some pretty good hardware to edit and view 2K resolution. Most mainstream PC\u2019s and laptops have built-in GPUs (graphic processing units) and they can\u2019t handle rendering a UHD video, let alone edit it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Make sure that you either have a TV that\u2019s capable of playing 2K video or a PC that\u2019s equipped with a dedicated graphics card that supports high resolution playback.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That being said, we\u2019ve been fairly skeptical about the manufacturer\u2019s claims about the performance and quality of the videos when moving up from 1080p. To our surprise, 2K videos filmed with this thing look pretty darn good and pretty smooth, which came as a shock – obviously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The frame-rates to tend to drop a bit in the low 20\u2019s and sometimes even around 15 frames per second, but the end result is still VERY usable, and you\u2019ll be capturing footage at very high resolutions! <\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, let\u2019s see how this thing handles 4K – the creme de la creme. First off, 4K videos will require the most storage space and battery consumption out of all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is a big compromise, so don\u2019t use it unless you have a really good reason to. Most consumers won\u2019t even be able to watch 4K videos without severe issues on their part. 4K videos are reserved for top of the line Smart TV\u2019s and very expensive PC\u2019s (+1200 $). The same is true for editing such videos. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When filming in 4K, things get a bit tricky. The average frame rate will be in the low 20\u2019s and will dip below quite often, so it\u2019s important to adjust your expectations. We\u2019ve found that 4K works best in well-lit environments that don\u2019t suffer a lot of shifts in lighting and contrast. Additionally, the best, most usable videos that you can capture are static – using a tripod would be ideal for the 4K setting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All of the settings work exactly the same when using the underwater case. The only issue with the case that we could find is the fact that after surfacing, any lingering drops of water will smudge the lens and blur the image quite a bit. While it\u2019s submerged, it works perfectly fine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Timelapse<\/strong>! Yeah, this thing has time lapse too. Depending on the quality, it pretty much works as you\u2019d expect, but with a small issue. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When using time lapse, there are some limitations – well, just one actually.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Contrast is a bit of a problem, so busy streets or any sort of landscape that\u2019s filled with shifting shadows will cause the image to be blurry, as the camera will constantly try to adjust to the new factors and colors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n We don\u2019t consider this much of an issue, as this isn\u2019t really the main use of an action camera.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, let\u2019s talk a bit about some of the strengths and weaknesses of the H9R<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n First of all, this is more of an entry-level product or a budget pick, so we\u2019ll be judging it accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s start with the good. The first thing that\u2019s very impressive about the H9R action camera is the impressive number of accessories it comes with. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Basically, you\u2019ll be 100% ready to use this little guy as soon as it lands at your front door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The different mounts that come with it will allow you to use it in biking, paragliding, scuba diving and snorkeling, skateboarding, driving and any activity that forces you to wear straps, helmets or to have a steady, immobile surface. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The fact that it doesn\u2019t have a touchscreen is solved by the wireless remote, which can be strapped to your wrist, so you\u2019ll have access to your videos, navigation and shutter buttons, and you\u2019ll be able to use it from up to 10 meters (30 feet).<\/p>\n\n\n\n The LED will indicate if the camera is active, so you can get creative with angles and frames, giving you a very professional experience for a very, very affordable price. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to that, the fact that it comes with a water case and TWO batteries also significantly improve the value of the H9R. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The water case will make it watertight, and you can use it in pools, lakes, oceans, seas or in rain, as extra protection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When using it in rain, you can screw off the lense\u2019s plastic lid to avoid smudge and blurry footage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the issues with the camera is the built-in microphone. The sound quality is usable up to a point, but very loud or very rich environments will have a bit of a negative impact on the quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The other is the time it takes to adjust to different lighting settings. With a bit of adjustments, this will significantly improve, but the default settings might cause some blur and tearing in the footage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Make sure to test it a bit in different settings and times of the day to see how you can achieve the best results. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The angle of the lens gives you a full view, and the white balance on the H9R is actually not that bad. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The lack of image stabilization isn\u2019t that much of an issue, as we\u2019ve mentioned before, because the straps and the mounts really keep it in place and you\u2019ll be getting very good quality video in spite of that. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To sum it up, the Eken H9R works best with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Where it should be improved:<\/p>\n\n\n\n In conclusion, the Eken H9R<\/a> action camera is a great purchase. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The camera has a quality build, good, consistent frame rates at high resolutions, includes time lapse and burst photo settings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n AND it comes with mounts, an underwater case, a wireless remote, built-in WiFi which you can use with an app compatible with both Android AND iOS, a tripod, TWO batteries and more, for less than 70$.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re a beginner or on a tight budget, we feel that this offers the least amount of compromise for the lowest price.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Sometimes, we feel the need to share our experiences with our friends, family, and other people that share our passions. The fact that social media has become an integrated part of our lives has led to more and more devices… Continue Reading →<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[207],"wppr_data":{"cwp_meta_box_check":"No"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/actiongadgetsreviews.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1996"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/actiongadgetsreviews.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/actiongadgetsreviews.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/actiongadgetsreviews.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/actiongadgetsreviews.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1996"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/actiongadgetsreviews.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1996\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/actiongadgetsreviews.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1996"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/actiongadgetsreviews.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1996"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/actiongadgetsreviews.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1996"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"Eken](\"https:\/\/actiongadgetsreviews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Eken-H9R-e1506078837220.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nUnboxing Experience<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
H9R Features<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Eken](\"https:\/\/actiongadgetsreviews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Eken-H9R_1-e1506078870221.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOkay, that\u2019s great and all, but how does it perform?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Photo Quality<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Video Quality<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Time Lapse<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Eken](\"https:\/\/actiongadgetsreviews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Eken-H9R_2-e1506078903351.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nStrenghts and weaknesses of the H9R<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nConclusion – Coupon Code Included<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n