Cambox V4 Pro camera is reviewed by MCN's videographer who "was left disappointed"

1 out of 5

Cambox V4 Pro Camera

from Amazon
£460.00 View offer
Updated: 23 October 2024

As the videographer at MCN, I’m always on the lookout for the best tools to capture my rides. With track-day restrictions tightening around chin mounts for safety reasons, I thought the idea of a discreet, in-helmet camera sounded promising. Enter the CamBox V4, which seemed like a great alternative—at least in theory.

Expert rating:

1.0
Price: $529.00
Tried and tested by Joseph Wright for six months and 650 miles

Pros

  • Discreet filming

Cons

  • The video quality is poor
  • It's unreliable
  • The app connectivity isn't good
  • The stabilization is a let down
  • Disappointing finish quality
  • Set up and build
    1.0
  • Video quality
    1.0
  • Sound quality
    3.0
  • Value
    1.0
  • Verdict
    1.0
Video quality 4k
Lens view 150 degrees
Audio 2 HF microphone
Battery up to 70 minutes
  • Discreet mounting
  • USB-C cable
  • Velcro attachment
  • Comes with a fabric pouch
  • Includes quickstart guide
  • Choice of metallic colours

How easy is the set up and building of the Cambox V4 Pro?

The CamBox V4 features a unique design, but the homemade, 3D-printed finish is underwhelming, especially when compared to the refined look of other action cameras. Considering its hefty £460 price tag, this lack of polish is disappointing.

The camera doesn’t include a screen, so you must rely on an LED light system to know if it’s recording. Unfortunately, the smartphone connectivity, which is crucial for setup and control, is unreliable and often slow. It doesn’t automatically connect to your device and disconnects within minutes, leaving you wondering if the product was properly tested before hitting the market.

Mounting the CamBox involves using Velcro inside the upper visor gap of your helmet. Its banana-shaped design fits snugly in all of my motorcycle helmets, and while the adjustable lens lets you tweak the angle, the vertical field of view (FOV) is too limited. It doesn’t capture enough of the road ahead or the bike in front of you.

Cambox V4 Pro camera

Adjusting settings through the app is an exercise in frustration—when the app works at all. It often crashes the camera, and the settings are confusing. I also found that shooting at 24fps results in severely overexposed footage, even on the lowest brightness setting.

Recording time is limited to 5 minutes per clip, which would be manageable if the camera looped properly. Instead, it shuts off, corrupting the next file. Though the battery is claimed to last 70 minutes, I’ve never had it function long enough to confirm that.

What’s the video quality like on the Cambox V4 Pro?

As the top-tier model in the CamBox range, I expected decent video quality, but I was left disappointed. Though it supports 4K Ultra HD, the footage feels outdated, reminiscent of early GoPros with soft, pixelated images. The tiny sensor doesn’t help, resulting in poor auto-exposure and inaccurate white balance.

Cambox V4 Pro camera footage

The stabilization, which is critical for an action camera, especially for extreme sports, is a letdown. And while the in-helmet design is a clever concept, dropping the visor reduces video clarity further due to interference from the lens and Pinlock. When the sun is low, you even get a strange reflection of your own eyes in the footage.

Cambox V4 Pro camera footage

What’s the sound quality like?

Sound quality is marginally better than the video, but it’s still lacking in key areas. There’s no way to adjust the decibel levels or reduce wind noise. Worse still, the camera doesn’t support external microphones, which is surprising for a product at this price point.

Is the Cambox V4 Pro good value for the money?

It pains me to say this, but the CamBox V4 simply does not justify its high cost. I’ve tried multiple times to make it work, but each attempt leaves me more disappointed than the last. Initially, I thought the camera might be faulty, but after reading other reviews, it’s clear this is a common experience. With better, cheaper options like the Insta360 Go 3s on the market, it’s hard to see why anyone would choose the CamBox.

The Insta360 Go 3S is a small portable camera ideal for vlogging with video stabilization, AI editing capabilities and is waterproof to 10m.

OK, so what’s the verdict?

If you are looking for a track day accessory to use for strictly data purposes and are not fused by video quality, then this product could be an option, but the user experience and setup is so bad I can’t see any use for this product for motorcycle users especially when it is the most expensive option on the market.

Expert rating:

1.0
Price: $529.00
Tried and tested by Joseph Wright for six months and 650 miles

Pros

  • Discreet filming

Cons

  • The quality is poor
  • It's unreliable
  • The app connectivity isn't good
  • The stabilization is a let down
  • Disappointing finish quality
  • Set up and build
    1.0
  • Video quality
    1.0
  • Sound quality
    3.0
  • Value
    1.0
  • Verdict
    1.0
Video quality 4k
Lens view 150 degrees
Audio 2 HF microphone
Battery up to 70 minutes
  • Discreet mounting
  • USB-C cable
  • Velcro attachment
  • Comes with a fabric pouch
  • Includes quickstart guide
  • Choice of metallic colours

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