CD-R King Action Camera Review (CAM-RE006-SL): Is This GoPro Alternative Worth The Money?

When it comes to affordable electronics, CDR King has become the go-to for most budget-minded Pinoys. The unassuming electronics store sells everything from blank CDs and mice all the way up to electric scooters, or Eco-Bikes as they like to call them. So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that CDR King has decided to jump into the Action Camera trend, offering a couple of models of their own.

CDR King Action Camera

I was fortunate enough to have been given a review unit that I can play with. The CAM-RE006-SL is smaller than the SJ400 knock-off that CDR King also sells and even one-ups it by offering capacitive menu controls. On paper, the CAM-RE006-SL should offer comparable performance, delivering Full HD video captured by a wide angle lens that allows more of the scene into any shot. But how does it really fare? Find out in my full review of the CDR King Action Camera.

Build Quality and Design

Front

Physically, the CAM-RE006-SL differs from CDR King’s other Action Camera offering, the CAM-RE005-M in that it’s slightly smaller and features a textured plastic surface. On the front, you’ll find that the lens, CD-R King branding and an indicator light.

Left Side

On one side of the camera, you’ll find the micro USB port, mini HDMI port, and micro SD slot.

Right Side

The other side features a microphone pinhole and a screw that keeps the front shell screwed onto the back.

Back

At the back of the camera is where you’ll find the small LCD display, as well as the capacitive navigation controls. Unfortunately, the back is very scratch-prone, which is ironic considering it’s a surface meant for touch controls.

Top

On top is where you’ll find the power button and the larger shutter/record button.

Bottom

At the bottom, you’ll find a threaded hole that allows the camera to be attached to a tripod and other mount accessories.

Front With Waterproof Case

Of course, being an action camera, you’re supposed to at least be able to use it in the water. As such, it comes with a waterproof case that still allows you access to the power and shutter/record buttons.

Back With Waterproof Case

However, touch controls are a no-go. That means, you’ll have to take it out of the case every time you want to fiddle with the settings before going back into the water.

Features

Capture Modes

The CD-R King Action Camera has 3 basic modes: image capture, video recording, and car mode. Image capture and video recording are pretty self explanatory. Car mode still records video, but it’s optimized for use as a dashboard camera for your car. Rather than shoot continuous video though, it will save everything into approximately 3 minute clips for easy management in case you want to go back and review a clip. It starts shooting video as soon as it’s powered on, which is pretty convenient. The action camera is capable of shooting anywhere from VGA (640 x 480) to 12mp resolution images. However, the sensor itself is only capable of Full HD resolution (2mp), so anything more than that is really just interpolated. Video capture is limited to 720p (30/60fps) and 1080p (30fps) recording.

Accessories

The CAM-RE006-SL comes with a waterproof casing and 3 different mounts: suction mount, handlebar mount, and a flat adhesive mount. The one you’re most likely to use is the waterproof casing as it gives your camera a nice layer of protection against bumps, scratches, and being dunked in the occasional pool.

Waterproof Casing Front

It still gives you access to basic controls, namely the shutter and power buttons. Waterproof Casing Back

However, once you close that quick release clasp, playing around with the settings is a no-no.

Suction Mount

The suction mount is best for temporary yet sturdy attachment to smooth surfaces, like your car’s windshield if you plan to use the CD-King Action Camera as a dash-cam.

Adhesive Mount

For a semi-permanent mounting solution, there’s the adhesive/helmet mount which you can attach to a flat surface via the included dual-sided mounting tape. You can also strap it down instead.

Handlebar Mount

Finally, there’s the handlebar mount for those who want to use the action camera with their bikes and such.

CD-R King Action Camera Floating in Water

While you get all of the basics when it comes to mounts, there is limited interchangeability between the accessories and you don’t get any extra pivoting arm accessories that let you play around with your mounting options. Also, the screws on the handlebar and adhesive mounts that lock the camera into place are pretty stubby. This makes it a little challenging to use them with the waterproof casing, although certainly not impossible. Still, I like that the waterproof casing is indeed waterproof. Heck, it even floats!

Image and Video Quality

While the CD-R King Action Camera’s appeal is in its low price tag, you’re getting what you pay for in terms of image and video quality. Here’s a 12mp sample down-sized to a web-friendly 620 x 465. CD-R King was actually kind enough to include a selfie stick with the review unit. However, as you can see, I didn’t actually need it as the wide angle lens would still be able to capture the entire barkada even without it.

Still Image

I can’t say I like the quality though. This shot was taken mid-afternoon. The sun wasn’t overly bright and it felt like the perfect kind of lighting where almost any camera would be able to produce optimal images. However, still images from the CD-R King Action Camera are a bit on the dark side.

Now, I’m not exactly the most athletic person, nor do I like any extreme sports. So basically, I ended up using this action camera as a dashboard camera. Here’s a daytime sample in the middle of the afternoon.

It still seems a bit dark, and license plates are virtually unreadable, even when they were right in front of the camera. That’s sort of a big deal if you’re going to use this thing in the car. Let’s see if it did any better at night.

Surprisingly, there doesn’t seem to be that much of a drop-off in terms of quality at night. License plates are still unreadable though.

So Should You Buy the CD-R King Action Camera (CAM-RE006-SL)?

CDR King Action Camera

Although it lacks any extra pivoting arms to let you play around with your mounting options, it’s a nice touch that the CD-R King CAM-RE006-SL Action Camera  already comes with all the basic mounts. Just install them where needed and simply transfer the camera between them. Image and video quality could have been better though, but certainly not a deal-breaker at the low, low price of just Php3,380. Add a Bluetooth selfie stick and you’ll be capturing some impressive wide angle shots your smartphone camera won’t be capable of.

5 thoughts on “CD-R King Action Camera Review (CAM-RE006-SL): Is This GoPro Alternative Worth The Money?

  1. kaya lumalakas ang china ehh dahil isa ang pinoy na malakas tumangkilik sa producto ng china.. tapos ngaun binu bully tau lalo na ngaun sa issue ng west philippine sea.. hay nako

    1. Walang kinalaman ang mga produktong pumapasok sa pinas galing china… Dahil kung gawa yan sa pilipinas doble ang presyo dahil wala tayo masyadong resources para mag manufacture ng electronics kaya ang iPhone,Samsung etc assembled sa china…

    2. Halos lahat naman po ng electronics assembled in China, mapa iPhone man yan o kahit pa rip-off ng Nokia. Sa sobrang dami nga ng electronic waste doon is may dump site sila na para lang sa electronics waste.

    3. This is a tired argument, myopic and uneducated. Even if the whole Philippines will not buy Chinese products will not mean China will be weakened considering the size of our market. China is the biggest economy not because of the Phil but because of its size and capitalist business practice: China does its business anywhere its profitable regardless of politics and human rights record. Ironic isn’t it, that this communist country is using capitalist practices to overwhelm while traditionally capitalist countries like the US is burdened by socialist reactionaries. Read international trends and learn why Chinese world expansion is leaps and bounds faster than other economies, even the mighty US.

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