The Uten 4K Ultra HD action camera, available for under £50, offers 4K video at 30fps and 1080p at 60fps, making it an attractive budget-friendly option. It comes equipped with all necessary mounts and a spare battery, presenting itself as a value-packed choice for those seeking an affordable action camera. However, potential drawbacks include subpar low light performance, lens glare issues, soft image quality towards the edges, and noticeable chromatic aberration, particularly in the corners. While it may not compete with higher-end cameras like GoPro in terms of quality, the Uten 4K Ultra HD can be a viable starter camera, offering decent motion capture and smoothness for its price.
The Uten 4K Ultra HD action camera comes with an impressive feature set, particularly given its price point. Here’s a detailed look at its capabilities:
- Video Resolution: The camera supports 4K recording at 30fps, which is commendable for its cost. Additionally, it offers 2.7K at 30fps and 1080p at 60fps, the latter being crucial for capturing smooth action footage.
- Still Photography: It can shoot still images at 16MP, providing decent quality for action shots.
- Lens: Equipped with a 170º wide-angle lens, the camera delivers the expansive field of view typical of action cameras, complete with a slight fisheye effect.
- Additional Modes: Features like time-lapse, loop recording, slow motion, and timed shooting add to its versatility.
- Slow Motion: The camera offers slow motion recording at 1080p 60fps and 720p 120fps, catering to those looking to capture high-speed action in detail.
- Accessories: The Uten includes essential mounts and a wireless wrist remote for convenient control of recording functions.
- Waterproof Housing: A 30m waterproof housing protects the camera, making it suitable for underwater adventures.
- Battery Life: Powered by a 1050mAh lithium-ion battery, it provides up to 90 minutes of recording time, with a spare battery included, enhancing its value.
- Warranty: Uten backs the camera with a 1-year money-back guarantee, reflecting confidence in their product’s quality.
Overall, the Uten 4K Ultra HD offers a comprehensive suite of features and accessories that make it a compelling choice for those seeking an affordable yet capable action camera.
Build and quality
For its price tag of £50 or less, the Uten 4K Ultra HD action camera presents a compelling offer in the competitive market, closely matching the features of cameras like the GoXtreme Vision 4K and the ODRVM. Despite its low cost, the Uten doesn’t seem to compromise much on build quality and handling.
Build Quality:
- Encased in a durable waterproof housing with a single-action lever lock, the Uten is designed to withstand challenging conditions, making it suitable for outdoor adventures.
- While the housing is robust, it lacks some premium features like a rubber pad around the lens insert, which is understandable given the camera’s price point.
- The camera itself feels solid, comparable in build quality to its slightly more expensive counterparts.
Handling:
- The button layout is intuitive, with a standard configuration that includes a shutter button on top, a power button on the front, and navigation buttons on the side.
- Upon powering up, the LCD screen provides a clear and bright display, offering a good preview of the footage and easy navigation through the settings.
- The user interface is straightforward, enabling quick access to various functions without complicated menus.
In summary, the Uten 4K Ultra HD action camera proves to be a solid performer in its price range, offering a user-friendly experience and a build quality that promises durability. While it may lack some high-end features, it fulfills the basic requirements of an action camera effectively, making it a worthy consideration for those looking to capture adventurous moments without breaking the bank.
Performance
The Uten 4K Ultra HD action camera offers a mixed performance, excelling in some areas while falling short in others, especially in challenging lighting conditions:
Low Light Performance:
- The Uten struggles with low light, exhibiting noticeable chromatic grain in the shadows, a common issue for action cameras in limited light. This graininess persists even in brighter conditions, affecting overall image clarity.
Lens Flare and Image Softness:
- The camera housing, despite its promising design, tends to exacerbate lens flare, giving the footage a distinctive, albeit not always desirable, appearance.
- Softness at the edges of the frame and evident chromatic aberration were also observed, impacting the sharpness and color accuracy of the footage.
Color, Tone, and Contrast:
- On a positive note, the Uten handles color, tone, and contrast well, maintaining a pleasing aesthetic in the footage under better lighting conditions.
Motion Capture Quality:
- Despite its shortcomings in low light, the camera redeems itself with the quality of motion capture. Footage at 30fps appears smooth, and increasing the frame rate to 60fps or shooting in 4K at 30fps maintains this smoothness.
- The camera adapts quickly to changes in light, though riding through varied lighting conditions highlighted its limited dynamic range.
In summary, while the Uten 4K Ultra HD faces challenges in low light and dynamic range, it manages to produce smooth, well-toned footage in favorable lighting conditions. Its performance, given its price point, aligns with expectations for budget action cameras, making it suitable for users who can work within its limitations.
Verdict
The Uten 4K Ultra HD is an affordable action camera that offers a decent set of features and functionality for its price point. Here’s the final assessment:
Strengths:
- The camera presents a good aesthetic and user-friendly interface, with an LCD screen that facilitates easy navigation and setting adjustments.
- It delivers smooth footage, performing well in optimal lighting conditions.
Weaknesses:
- The build quality is adequate but not exceptional, with some issues noted in the waterproof housing that could affect image quality.
- The LCD screen’s visibility diminishes when viewed at an angle, which can be a drawback during active use.
- Image quality suffers in low light conditions, exhibiting noticeable grain and limited dynamic range. Flare and internal reflections can also be problematic in bright conditions.