EKEN V8s was just released and according to EKEN it is their first camera to feature image stabilization in 4K resolution. Furthermore it is real 4K resolution, not interpolated, compared to the very popular EKEN H9 camera which was labelled 4K but it is actually interpolated.
I’m writing very late about this camera as I still have my doubts about the published specs. I’ll list all the infos I got from EKEN and add some facts for you to decide:
EKEN V8s – 4K 30fps with EIS (electronic image stabilization)
EKEN V8s Specs
Image Sensor:
EKEN V8s features a 14 MP Panasonic MN34110 sensor.
According to the data sheet from Panasonic 4K output is not listed. The only action cams, I’m aware of, which use this sensor are the SJ5000 series (not SJ5000+ or SJ5000X!) which were released over 2 years ago.
Chipset:
EKEN V8s uses an Ambarella chip, currently I don’t have confirmation which one. Some websites say it’s the A12 chip, same used in Thieye T5.
YI 4K Action Camera features the better Ambarella A9 chip. According to my info the only processor that enables image stabilization in 4K is the new Ambarella H2 processor. That’s why YI uses H2 processor in its YI 4K+ action camera, the first action cam announced to feature EIS in 4K resolution.
Frame Rates:
The available resolutions stated on EKEN’s website are as follows:
- 4K – max. 25fps (EIS)
- 2,7K – max. 30fps (EIS)
- 1080p – max. 60 / 30 fps (EIS)
There were some speculations about 4K 30 or 25fps. Now it is confirmed that the max. frame rate in 4K is 25 fps. The image on the top shows 1080p with 120 fps but this selection is not available according to the manual.
As all resolution settings include EIS and there is no option to turn it off!
Photo resolution:
Photo output is the same resolution as the sensor offers in effective pixels: 14 MP in .jpg format.
Lens:
EKEN V8s has a 170° lens.
Connectivity & Ports:
Wifi is built in to connect with the EZ iCAM app (Android & iOS).
It also offers a HDMI as well as a micro USB port.
Microphone input via USB & A/V out via USB are not available.
Remote Control:
Usually EKEN models feature an “R” in their name when the remote is included, nevertheless the controller is included with V8s.
It is splash proof and has a working distance of 8m / 26ft.
Storage:
32 and 64GB microSD cards are supported, U3 (90 MB/s) cards are required and according to the manual FAT 32 and exFAT formatted cards can be used.
These are the card requirements and recommended cards according to the manual:
from EKEN V8s manual
Display:
The EKEN V8s has a “dual display” similar to H8 series cameras, which means a data/status display on the front and a 2” live view screen on the backside. Same layout compared to GoPro Hero 4 silver. The 2″ display on the back has a 320×240 pixel resolution.
Battery:
Like the other EKEN models, V8s features a 1050 mAh battery. Charging time is 3 hrs and recording time in 4K is stated with 50mins.
Attention! Earlier H9 models were compatible with SJCAM SJ4000 & SJ5000 batteries. The new EKEN batteries with the rounded corners are NOT compatible with SJCAM SJ4000 or SJ5000 series batteries!
According to the manual you can not take photos / videos while charging the camera. So you can’t use it as dash camera.
EKEN H9 vs EKEN H8 battery
The new rounded batteries are available at Banggood for 4.99 USD.
Dimensions:
EKEN V8s has the same size & button layout as EKEN H8 series and GoPro Hero 4 cameras. EKEN H9 is a bit larger and has the same size as SJCAM cameras (SJ4000 & SJ 5000 series). As EKEN V8s is the same size as a GoPro Hero 4 it is compatible with most GoPro accessories.
59 x 21.4 x 41 mm; 61g (including battery)
EKEN V8s – Dimensions
Accessories:
Compared to other EKEN cameras the included mounts are less than for others, but still a lot of accessories included:
EKEN V8s – included Accessories
Retailer / Price
- Banggood: 111.99 USD – Coupon Code: EKEN20%1
- Gearbest: 109.99 USD (confirmed by EKEN!)
- Geekbuying: n/a
- Aliexpress: 112.21 USD (Seller: ATPowers – confirmed by EKEN)
- Amazon (Official EKEN Store):
Functions & Settings
EKEN V8s – Front- & Backside
Scrolling through the menu is the same as for other EKEN cameras. With Mode button on the front of the camera you can cycle through the main menu. To start recording, press the shutter button on top, if you reached the settings, also press the shutter to enter the sub menu. The main modes consist of:
- Video
- Time-lapse Video (a video file of your time-lapse is created)
- Photo
- Burst Photo
- Time-Lapse (which is photo time-lapse where individual photos are taken)
- Playback (Video & Photo)
- Settings, with the following options:
Settings
Video Resolution:
- 4k – 30fps (EIS)
- 2,7K – 30fps (EIS)
- 1080p – 60fps (EIS)
- 1080p – 30fps (EIS)
It is currently not possible to turn off image stabilization.
Photo Resolution:
The only option is 14 MP (= sensor size).
Video Interval:
There are two selections available 1 min. and 5 min. This interval will come to action when selecting loop recording.
Looping Video:
The camera will record short clips and overwrite the earliest clip when the microSD card is full. This option is not available in 4K and 2.7K resolution.
Time Stamp:
You’ve got the option to show date or date & time in your recordings.
Exposure:
You can select: +-2.0/+-1.7/+-1.3/+-1.0/+-0.7/+-0.3/0 to correct the exposure of your camera manually.
Burst Photo:
In burst mode you get the same options compared to EKEN H8 Pro & Plus: 3 photos in 1s / 7 photos in 2 s / 15 photos in 4s / 30 photos in 8s.
Time Lapse:
A new feature for EKEN is the availability of both video & photo time-lapse:
TL Photo Interval:
You can set an interval for the camera when it takes pictures:
3s/5s/10s/30s/60s
This is a photo time-lapse mode, so the EKEN will take individual pictures but not generate a video clip out of it, which you have to do manually.
TL Photo:
You have to switch it on to take time-lapses.
TL Video Resolution:
You can select either 4K 30fps or 2.7K 30fps for your time-lapse video.
TL Video Interval:
The selection is similar compared to photo time-lapse mode: 3s/5s/10s/30s/60s
This is a video time-lapse mode, where the output is a combined video file.
TL Video:
You have to switch it on to take a time-lapse video, even when selecting time-lapse mode in the main menu.
Power Frequency:
You can select 50Hz, 60Hz or Auto.
I guess it controls the shutter to avoid flickering as the frequency in lighting is different in several countries.
Language:
There’s a huge variety of languages you can set your menu, even more than for previous cameras:
English, Traditional Chinese, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Dutch, French, Czech, Polish, Turkish, Russian, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish, Hungarian, Slovakian and Greece.
Remote Control:
You got the option to switch on/off to allow V8s the use of the remote controller, which is included.
Date & Time:
Be sure to enter when using the time stamp option.
Sound Indicator:
You have several options to control when your camera should beep and the volume.
Screen Saver:
A nice option which shuts off the display to save battery:
off, 1 min, 3 min or 5 min.
Power Saver:
Same for the camera itself. You can select and the cam will turn off automatically when in standby:
off, 1 min, 3 min or 5 min.
Format:
To format your SD card.
Reset:
To get your camera back to factory settings.
Version:
Your camera’s firmware version is displayed.
App (Ez iCam)
EKEN V8s uses Ez ICam App (same as H9 & H8 series cameras) available for Android and iOS.
How to connect:
- You have to switch on the camera’s wifi and then look on your phone for network iCam-V8s followed by a series of numbers.
- the standard password is 1234567890
- Open up the EZ iCam App and select your camera – then the live view is show.
EKEN V8s uses Ez iCam App (iOS & Android)
Comparison
It seems that EKEN V8s is hardly available anymore. The most comparable camera recently released is the new EKEN H6s. Here’s a comparison chart of the currently available cameras.
| Model | EKEN H5s Plus | EKEN H6s | EKEN V50 Pro | EKEN H7 black | EKEN H7s | EKEN H8/H8R/H8s | EKEN H9R Plus | EKEN H9/H9R/H9s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 EKEN H5s Plus |  EKEN H6s |  EKEN Alphawise V50 Pro |  EKEN H7 black |  EKEN H7s |  EKEN H8s |  EKEN H9R Plus |  EKEN H9s | |
| Remark | skull design | also branded "Alfawise EKEN" | out of production | (to be confirmed) | ||||
| Sensor | 12,4 MP Sony IMX 078 | 14 MP Panasonic 34110 | 13 MP Sony IMX 258 | 12,4 MP Sony IMX078 | 14 MP Panasonic 34112 | 12,4 MP Sony IMX078 | 14 MP Panasonic 34112 | 4 MP Omnivision OV4689 |
| Processor | Ambarella A12S75 | Ambarella A12S75 | Ambarella A12S75 | Ambarella A12S75 | Sunplus 6350 | Ambarella A12S75 | Ambarella A12 | Sunplus 6350 chip |
| Lens / FOV | 170° | 170° | 170° | 170° | 170° | 170° | 170° | 170° |
| 4K Resolution max. framerate | 30fps native (real 4K) | 30fps native (real 4K) | 30fps native (real 4K) | 30fps native (real 4K) | 30fps native (real 4K) | 30fps interpolated (not real 4K) | 30fps interpolated (not real 4K) | 25fps interpolated (not real 4K) |
| 2,7K Resolution max. frame rate | 60fps | 30fps | 30fps | 60fps | 30fps | 30fps | 30fps | 30fps |
| 1080p Resolution max. frame rate | 100fps | 60fps | 60fps | 100fps | 60fps | 60fps | 60fps | 60fps |
| 720p Resolution max. frame rate | 200fps | - | 60fps | 200fps | 120fps | 120fps | 120fps | 120fps |
| Image Stabilization | yes up to 4K 30fps | yes up to 4K 25fps | no | yes up to 4K 25fps | no | no | no | no |
| Photo Resolution (native - unscaled) | 12 MP | 14 MP | 13 MP | 12 MP 16 MP interpolated | 14 MP | 12 MP | 14 MP | 4 MP |
| Display | 2" touchscreen | 2" live view | 2" live view | 2" live view | 2" touchscreen | 2" live view | 2" touchscreen | 2" live view |
| Front Display | yes | yes | no | no | no | yes | no | no |
| Facebook Live | no | no | no | no | no | only H8s | no | only H9s |
| Battery | 1050 mAh | 1050 mAh | 1050 mAh | 1050 mAh | 1050 mAh | 1050 mAh | 1050 mAh | 1050 mAh |
| WiFi | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Remote Control | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | only H8R & H8s | yes | only H9R & H9s |
| Ports | micro USB, micro HDMI | micro USB, micro HDMI | micro USB, micro HDMI | micro USB, micro HDMI | micro USB, micro HDMI | micro USB, micro HDMI | micro USB, micro HDMI | micro USB, micro HDMI |
| A/V out via USB | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Mic in via USB | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Dimension (mm) | 59.3 x 21.4 x 41.1 | 59.3 x 21.4 x 41.1 | 59.3 x 21.4 x 41.1 | 59.3 x 21.4 x 41.1 | 59.3 x 21.4 x 41.1 | 59.3 x 21.4 x 41.1 | ? | 59.3 x 24.6 x 41.1 |
| Mounts & Case | included | included | included | included | included | included | included | included |
| Aliexpress (ATPowers) confirmed retailer | $ 88.77 | $ 74.99 | $ 45.98 | - | - | - | $ 64.11 | EKEN H9:$ 36.99 EKEN H9R:$ 44.99 |
| Banggood | $ 122.99 | $ 91.99 | $ 71.99 | $ 101.99 | - | $ 75.99 | $ 91.99 | H9: $ 49.99 H9R: $ 44.99 |
| Gearbest: | $ 133.15 | $ 87.99 | $ 56.99 | - | - | - | - | H9R: $ 46.99 |
| Amazon US (official EKEN store) |  |  | - | - | - |  |  | EKEN H9R: |
Fur further infos on out of production models see my EKEN comparison article.
Conclusion
Currently I’m not sure about the EKEN V8s. It’s either an awesome camera or some specs are not correct. The only camera which currently offers electronic image stabilization in 4K resolution is YI 4K+ Action Camera, price 299 USD. Thats 3 times the price of EKEN V8s. The cheapest real 4K camera is probably Thieye T5, priced 105 USD. Still more expensive than V8s. Even the real 4K EKEN H8 Plus with image stabilization up to 1080p with 60fps is more expensive. So it’s hard to believe EKEN released a camera better and cheaper than all of them.
The sensor data sheet is not showing 4K video output. As far as I know only Ambarella H2 processor is capable of stabilizing real 4K video. So I’m still having doubts that the stabilized image is real 4K, but interpolated instead.
It also seems that electronic image stabilization is not an option as you can’t turn it off. EIS does not always benefit video recording. When moving the camera sideways the camera thinks it has to stabilize that motion. Therefore the video judders resulting in EIS having a negative effect on the video.
I’m working on getting more infos about this camera.
Retailer / Price
- Banggood: 111.99 USD – Coupon Code: EKEN20%1
- Gearbest: 109.99 USD (confirmed by EKEN!)
- Geekbuying: n/a
- Aliexpress: 112.21 USD (Seller: ATPowers – confirmed by EKEN)
- Amazon (Official EKEN Store):
