Last Updated on January 13, 2019
GoPro has been the undisputed leader in the action camera market, but they might face tough competition with So Special Labs, a relative newcomer that has put out quite an impressive product to rival GoPro’s flagship action camera. The Mokacam’s selling points are not just its small size – therefore portability – and it’s really pocket friendly price tag. The 4K action camera is also packed with incredible features that may just interest users who are looking to get such a product but at a reasonably low price.
The features
Mokacam retails at $270, a price that is $200 less than the flagship 4K camera of GoPro. One other thing that So Special Labs’ product has got going is offers what’s lacking in its rival. For instance, the camera sports a 16-megapixel sensor whereas the GoPro Hero4 Black only has 12. In addition to that are a couple other features such as the capability to shoot 4K video at 25fps, hot-swappable magnetic batteries, software stabilization and motion detection.
So Special Labs takes “doing things better than you competition” at heart: the features of their Mokacam seem like improvements on the failures of their rivals, particularly GoPro. In a number of forums, you will most likely see complaints about the battery life and image stabilization of GoPro cameras, and you will see that Mokacam specifically addresses those faults.
With the hot-swappable batteries, users could – in theory – continue using the camera until the memory card is full. The battery is also features a magnetic back which allows users to mount the camera on metal surfaces without the need for accessories. Even better, the LCD screen doesn’t use the camera’s battery – it has its own.
The software side of the camera is equally impressive as well. While the stabilization feature of the iPhone 6 Plus is still the best, the Mokacam does a better job at it than its rivals. The Mokacam also comes with a motion detection feature which allows the camera to be used as a security camera or to shoot wildlife. It’s clear to see that So Special Labs is intent on addressing both hardware and software issues in order to please customers.
The Flaws
Given its outstanding features, there must be some flaws with the Mokacam, right? Well, the hot-swappable batteries can get knocked off during periods of activity and is particularly bad for a product aimed for use in “action” settings. The LCD screen is useful but its menu isn’t intuitive and the key features are difficult to find.
But bad qualities aside, we have to be reminded that Mokacam is a crowdfunded project and is the first released by So Special Labs. As such, they can be forgiven for gaffes in their action camera. But for customers who are looking for a 4K camera that takes high-quality photos and videos, is portable and is reasonably priced, the Mokacam is a good choice. But the Mokacam is quite frankly, not quite ready to be used as an action camera. Yes, it has high-end features and has a friendly price but it still needs work in order to truly compete.
