Campark ACT74 4K Action Cam With Wide-Angle Lens Review (Video)

I've owned expensive sports action cameras in the past, including several GoPro's, and I've always been a little bit skeptical about buying cheaper knock-off versions. These days, there are many makes and model action cams available. My skepticism was put to an end when I purchased and used the Campark ACT74 4K action cam.

This little camera packs a real punch! it's compact and lightweight, it comes with a waterproof housing and a ton of accessories. The big selling point, though, is that this small camera is capable of recording 4K quality video! What more could you ask for?

So, in this short review, we're going to be unboxing the Campark ACT74 Xtreme I+ UHD 4K Camera (See video below). We'll talk about the build quality of the camera, take a look at the features and UI options, the accessories that come with this camera, as well as use the camera to capture some video and audio footage.

I'll also share some of the things I personally like and the things that I don't like about the ACT74, so, let's get to it.

What is the Campark ACT74 4K Action Camera?

The Campark ACT74 is a small, compact, and lightweight action camera that is capable of recording 1080 HD and 4K video quality as well as audio. This is one of the many cheaper alternatives to more expensive action cameras available on the market, like the GoPro's or DJI Osmo.

Campark is a company that was founded in 2008. They manufacture a range of camera products from hunting and trail cameras, dash cams, to action cams. You can check out their website here.

The ACT74 model is one of the cheapest in the range. I didn't expect a great deal when it did arrive, to be honest, and boy was I wrong.

Top features of this camera

1. Records in HD, UHD, and 4K.
2. Captures at 16mp
3. Records audio.
4. Built-in 170 degrees wide-angle lens (With adjustable view angles).
5. Comes with waterproof casing.
6. Comes with 2 x rechargeable batteries.
7. 2-inch HD screen (not touch sensitive).
8. Share videos and images via WiFi remote.
9. Auto-shutdown to save battery life.

What could this camera be used for?

Whatever your sport might be - Cycling, snorkeling, surfing, skiing, pretty much any extreme land or water sports, thanks to the durable waterproof case this camera comes with. That said, you can also use it for lighter use, perhaps take it away on holiday.

Unboxing the Campart ACT74 action camera

OK, so let's get unboxing this thing. In the box includes -

1 x Campark ACT74 Xtreme UHD 4K Action Camera and Waterproof case.
2 x Rechargeable batteries with charging cable.
1 x pack of mounting accessories and a spare waterproof housing door.

You can check out the video below for the complete unboxing, and hands-on overview of the camera, including some footage I've taken with this camera.

Build quality and waterproof case

The camera itself is made of tough sturdy plastic, in fact, the build quality is very impressive, especially for an action camera this cheap.

The waterproof housing is also of decent quality and capable of keeping your action cam dry for up to 30m (98ft water depth).

What is the video footage and image quality like?

As I've already said, this camera is capable of recording in 1080p HD. Video resolution includes -

• 4K at 30FPS
• 2.7K at 30FPS
• 1080 at 60FPS (Slow motion footage)
• 1080p at 30FPS
• 720p at 90FPS
• 720p at 60FPS
• 920p at 30FPS

Not too shabby, right?

The video quality is not bad at all, I can't really fault it. I have found, however, that from time to time, the recording does cut out if the auto-shutdown setting is set to on. Turning this off fixes the problem, though beware that doing this can run down the battery quickly.

In addition to videos, you can also capture some quality still images at 16MP. Here is a sample of an image I took with the camera, with some nice HDR effect added over the top in post-production.

Video and image stabilization

Unfortunately, this camera does not have an image or video stabilization feature built in. Without stabilization, the video can be very shaky, but if you can get yourself a budget stabilization gimbal, like the Hohem iSteadyPro I reviewed recently, then this should solve your problem.

Alternatively, you can check out the Campark X20 model which has EIS built in.

What about the audio quality?

There is a built-in microphone in the ACT75 model action cam, but as you can imagine the quality of the audio is not that great.

There isn't a dedicated mic input on the ACT74 like there is on the Apexcam M80 Pro, either.

If you're about using this action camera for webinars and live streaming, you could possibly do it, though you'd have to use a separate mic setup for better audio quality.

What about the storage card slot?

There is a dedicated MicroSD card slot on the side of the camera, this isn't closed off. You can install a nice 32GB of memory into this slot (recommended maximum amount).

I use a SanDisk 32GB Extreme Pro memory card, but you can use a cheaper version if you like, just make sure that it's capable of handling the storage of full HD and 4K UHD quality video content.

Exporting your video and image files

You can do that easily by removing the SD card and placing it into your laptop or desktop SD card slot (if it has one). Or you could use the Micro USB to USB cable provided to export your files if you didn't want to keep removing the SD card.

You can also view your videos and images on a TV or monitor using the HDMI output.

What about batteries and battery life?

Batteries are included, two of them, fully rechargeable and can last for a long time, 90 mins per battery, but it really depends on your use.

I used a single battery for a day's worth of recording for my family vacation vlog before having to change the battery. It is recommended that you charge the batteries fully to get the most out of them.

You get a charging cable, but there isn't a charging dock or cradle. You can simply charge via laptop computer, but I've found using a spare Kindle charging lead and plug works just the same if you have one of those.

Screen options

The camera has a built-in 2-inch HD screen that is used to view and change settings and playback your video footage.

The options include - video resolution and sound settings, photo settings, exposure, white balance, light source frequency, and volume settings.

What accessories are included?

The Campark ACT74 4K Action Cam comes with a box of mounting accessories and various adaptors. Here's the full list -

1 x Waterproof Case
2 x Battery
1 X Back Cover for Sound
1 x USB Cable
1 x Handlebar Mount
1 x Fixed base
2 x Helmet base
2 X 3M sticker
1 x Adapter
2 x Base mount
3 x Switch connection
4 X Bandage
1 x User manual
2 X Clip
1 X Wiper
1 x Wire rope
4 x Ribbon

Likes and dislikes

Let's start with the likes -

1. Compact and light
2. Decent build quality
3. Easy to use
4. Great on-screen options and simple UI
5. Built-in microphone (even though the quality isn't the best)
6. Adjustable wide-angle view
7. Slow motion footage setting (recording at 60FPS at 1080p is a pretty cool feature)

Dislikes?

1. No external mic input
2. No touch screen (Check out the Campark X20)
3. No charging dock, lead only
4. No remote control
5. No built-in image stabilizer (EIS - Check the X20 model)

Verdict!

I love this camera, I really do. It's a nifty little camera that anyone can use with ease. It's well built and can handle a few bumps and drops, though the actual design of the camera is not the most aesthetically pleasing, it's certainly usable on almost every occasion.

If you have kids, they'll enjoy using this camera in the pool or at the beach. I've been able to use it to record some pretty cool quality b-roll content for my vlogs and work videos too.

So, if you're looking for a great all-around budget action camera that comes with a lot of options and features, including more accessories than you'll ever need, then do check out the Campark Extreme UHD 4K Action Cam for yourself.