Action Cameras are quickly becoming a popular choice for outdoor enthusiasts, families, or anyone who loves capturing life’s moments “on film.” What makes action cameras so convenient is that they’re compact, easily capture both high quality videos and photos, and can be used in a wide range of environments and settings. With this post, I share my Akaso Brave 7 LE Action Camera review. I’ll provide important information you should know before buying and give example videos and pictures taken by the Brave 7 LE Action Camera by Akaso.
I received a complimentary Akaso Brave 7 LE Action Camera in exchange for my honest review.
The first thing I noticed about the Akaso Brave 7 LE is that it’s surprisingly affordable for an action camera. Coming in at under $140, it’s a great price for a camera that can film in 4K, take 20MP pictures, and can take videos underwater using the included waterproof case.
The next thing I noticed was that this action camera has a dual-color screen design. This is a great feature for vloggers or taking selfies as it allows you to actually see what you look like while filming.
Now that first impressions are out of the way, let’s take a better look at the Akaso Brave 7 LE Action Camera in our review.
Brave 7 LE Features Overview
As I started browsing the Brave 7 LE users manual (one of the rare times I actually took time to read a manual – haha!) I was pleasantly surprised by how many features this camera has. From slow motion to video stabilization, wind cancellation to adjustable exposure settings, the Brave 7 LE is packed with features. All of the features can easily be accessed through the button menu, touch screen, or by using the swiping shortcuts. Some of the other Brave 7 LE features include:
- Digital zoom function – You can quickly zoom in on your subject using the touch screen to adjust the zoom level
- Several camera shooting modes – Burst, Time Lapse, Self-Time, and Long Exposure
- Variety of Professional Video Modes – Loop Record, Time Lapse, Slow Motion, Fast Motion
- Adjustable Video Settings – Wind Noise Reduction, Auto Low Light settings,
- Adjustable Camera and Video Settings – Metering, Exposure, Image Quality
I also really liked that Akaso included a huge variety of accessories and attachments for the camera. Whether you want to attach the Brave 7 LE to a helmet, handlebars, or hold it, there was an array of clips and mounting kits to meet your need, including a waterproof case.
They included remote control wristband was a nice accessory as well, allowing you to remotely take a picture or control video recording with the click of a button.
How Good is the Brave 7 LE at Taking Videos?
I decided to put the Brave 7 LE action camera to the test in a variety of situations. I was curious to see how it would fare in comparison to my experience with the GoPro. First up, I attached the Brave 7 LE to the handlebars of my bike for a quick ride around the property.
It was easy to install the action camera onto the handlebars using the provided accessories. I used the Waterproof Housing and the Handle Bar/Pole Mount attachments. With just a few turns of the thumbscrews, I was ready to start filming.
This was filmed on a dirt driveway and a slightly bumpy shortcut. I filmed this clip with the microphone off as the manual says it doesn’t record while in the waterproof case. I think the camera did a great job capturing the colors and the scenery of the area. One of my favorite features is the built-in image stabilization. The Brave 7 LE uses a powerful 6-axis gyroscope design that transformed this otherwise bumpy video into smooth film footage that doesn’t relay every bump in the road.
Next up I decided to see how the camera would capture some of the local wildlife. The remote control comes in very handy in this case because I could start the recording while standing several feet away, providing some nice up-close shots of the wild turkey.
I also took this slow motion video of some wild birds visiting the bird feeder. The camera films slow motion video at 720p, 120fps, creating a great visual effect. I love how you can clearly see the birds swooping in before opening their wings to land.
I appreciate that I didn’t have to use any attachments to get this video. I was able to mount the Brave 7 LE camera directly onto my regular camera tripod.
Overall, the Brave 7 LE action camera exceeded my expectations when it came to video performance. I suspect that as I learn the optimal settings for different lighting environment, they quality will get even better. (I’m not used to an action camera that lets me make so many adjustments!)
Taking Pictures with the Brave 7 LE Action Camera
It’s easy to transition between taking pictures and videos by hitting the Mode button on the top of the camera.
The Brave 7 LE offers several advanced settings for taking pictures, including adjusting the picture resolution (from 2MP up to 20MP), setting the ISO (100 to 3200), and adjusting the exposure. It also has a zoom setting so you can capture an up-close picture or video.
It does seem that the Brave 7 LE does better at taking landscape shots than up-close pictures. I did notice that the camera had difficulty focusing on very close subjects and resulting pictures also had a bit of distortion from the curvature of the lens. You can see in this unedited photo that the flowers aren’t perfectly crisp and there’s a slight bend to the shot.
Compare that to this landscape picture which appears to capture everything in view perfectly. I can still notice the slight bend, but I love the wide-angle of the pictures the camera takes.
Akaso Brave 7 LE Action Camera Review: Final Thoughts
The Brave 7 LE blew me away in terms of features and performance. Once I learned about all of the different things it could do, I started feeling more confident in being able to film more videos. It is taking me a little time to figure out the best settings for videos and pictures. For example, I’m playing around with metering, exposure, etc. in different light settings.
After testing the camera in a variety of scenarios, I do think the Akaso Brave 7 LE Action Camera excels with videos. It offers a lot of flexibility when it comes to video quality settings. Also, easy access to many popular video styles – like time lapse or slow motion – with just a touch of the screen makes it very user friendly.
For me, one of the differentiators is the front-facing color screen. If you’re wondering whether something is in frame while you’re filming yourself, you can easily see what the viewer by switching to the front screen. It’s easy to switch between screens simply by holding the Mode button.
I will mention that fully zoomed-in pictures and videos do see an impact in sharpness. I noticed that pictures or videos where I zoomed in became a bit more pixelated. They’ll still work for most web-work, however, as you can see with the below example. If you want print-quality photographs, you should stick with the DSLR or a high-end camera. But for quick images to capture the moment, this will still do the trick.
I feel the Brave 7 LE is designed more as a video camera that takes pictures compared to a camera that takes videos. It captures both media forms well, especially given its affordable price point. The Brave 7 LE is a great action camera that will meet, and possibly exceed, most people’s video and photographing needs.
One perk to the Akaso Brave 7 LE I have yet to explore is the integration with the Akaso app. The Akaso GO App is available in Apple’s App Store or on Google Play. Using the Akaso Go app, you can easily playback your photos and videos on your phone or iPad.
If you’re looking for an affordable action camera that will help you capture the best videos, I definitely recommend the Akaso Brave 7 LE. It’s currently available on Amazon for just $139.99.
Where to Buy the Akaso Brave 7 LE Online
AKASO Brave 7 LE 4K30FPS 20MP WiFi Action Camera with Touch Screen
Looks like a great camera. I like how the bike video was smooth and didn’t give me motion sickness.