For all their ups and downs, GoPro is still at the forefront when it comes to action cameras. The latest iteration of their flagship camera, the GoPro Hero 8 Black, has received very favourable reviews since its release last October. But how do the low budget “knock off” action cameras really compare?
That’s what Gene Nagata, otherwise known as Potato Jet, wanted to find out. So, he pairs them up to challenge them side-by-side. Ultimately, it looks like the $349 Hero 8 Black does win, which you’d expect given the cost, although the $119 Akaso v50 Pro doesn’t look too terrible for the price.
Gene runs through a whole battery of tests from colour, detail, stabilisation and more during the video and it definitely highlights a number of weaknesses in the cheaper camera. The image quality isn’t as sharp as the GoPro, the angle of view isn’t quite as wide, and it certainly doesn’t have the dynamic range that GoPro users have come to expect.
The touchscreen also isn’t as responsive as the GoPro, and he was hesitant to even get it close to water without putting it inside the underwater housing – something that hasn’t been really needed with GoPro since the Hero 5 Black unless you’re going more than a few feet underwater.
Still, if you’re on a super low budget, the Akaso v50 Pro doesn’t look completely awful, although it’s very much a case of “you get what you pay for”. At only $119 – and I’ve seen it on sale for $99 in some places – it could be a good option if your demands aren’t too high or you just need something cheap and cheerful that does the basic job. Of course, as mentioned in the video, you might be able to find a good deal on a used GoPro Hero 5 Black if you shop around.
If you need something a little more serious, though, you’d probably be better off looking at the GoPro Hero 8 Black – at least if your choice comes down to these two cameras.
Are you GoPro all the way? Or did you go for a cheaper action camera? Do you regret your choice?
FIND THIS INTERESTING? SHARE IT WITH YOUR FRIENDS!