Setup: Akaso Brave 4 Action Camera User Manual

Overview

The Brave 4 Action Camera is a compact camera for recording outdoor activities, travel, cycling, motorcycling, and everyday adventures. It supports video, still photography, playback, wireless control, time-lapse capture, burst photography, and several image-adjustment options.

The camera is designed to be used with the included waterproof housing for protected operation around water. Use the supplied mounts, tethers, and adhesive bandages to attach it to helmets, handlebars, poles, and compatible equipment.

Specifications

• Model: AKASO Brave 4
• Video resolutions: 4K at 24 frames per second, 2K at 30 frames per second, 1080p at 60 or 30 frames per second, and 720p at 120, 60, or 30 frames per second
• Photo sizes: 20MP, 16MP, 12MP, 10MP, 8MP, 5MP, 3MP, and VGA 640 × 480
• Storage: microSD, microSDHC, or microSDXC card up to 64GB
• Required card rating: Class 10 or UHS-I
• Ports: Micro USB, microSD card slot, and Micro HDMI
• Viewing angle options: 170°, 140°, 110°, and 70°
• Digital zoom: Up to 5×
• Wireless connection: Wi-Fi control through the CamKing app
• Remote battery: CR2032 coin cell

What Is Included

• Brave 4 camera
• Waterproof housing with protective backdoor
• Remote control
• Battery and USB cable
• Handlebar and pole mount
• Helmet mounts
• Mounts 1 through 7 and two clips
• Tethers and adhesive bandages
• Lens cloth
• Quick-start documentation

Detailed Description

The front of the camera contains the lens and a screen. The top controls include the Shutter, Wi-Fi, and Select button. A Power, Mode, and Exit button is located on the side, together with the Micro USB port, microSD slot, and Micro HDMI port.

Up and Down buttons control menu navigation and zoom adjustment. The speaker provides alerts and playback sound, while the battery door provides access to the removable battery. The camera does not record sound while installed in the waterproof housing.

The camera operates through four main areas: Video, Photo, Playback, and Camera Setting. The display can show the selected resolution, recording status, exposure value, date, time, and other on-screen data when OSD is enabled.

Safety

• Use the waterproof housing whenever the camera may contact water. The remote control is splashproof only and must not be submerged.
• Do not use the camera or battery if either has been cracked, punctured, crushed, deformed, or damaged by water.
• Do not open, puncture, bend, shred, incinerate, microwave, paint, or otherwise modify the camera or battery.
• Keep the battery away from coins, keys, jewelry, and other metal objects that could bridge its terminals and cause a fire.
• Avoid high heat, strong sunlight, very cold conditions, and sudden changes in temperature or humidity.
• Do not dry the camera or battery with a microwave oven, hair dryer, or another external heat source.
• Unauthorized modifications may affect safety, regulatory compliance, performance, and warranty coverage.

Setup and Operation

Insert a microSD Card

Insert a brand-name microSD, microSDHC, or microSDXC card rated Class 10 or UHS-I, with a capacity no greater than 64GB. Format the card in the camera before its first use. FAT32 storage divides recordings into new files when an individual file reaches 4GB.

Formatting permanently removes stored photos and videos. Transfer important files before formatting.

Power and Mode Controls

1. Hold the Mode button for approximately three seconds to turn the camera on. A beep and status light indicate the startup process.
2. Hold the Mode button for approximately three seconds to turn the camera off.
3. Press the Mode button briefly to move between Video, Photo, Playback, and Camera Setting areas.
4. Press the Mode button to exit the current mode or menu.

Video Recording

Video mode is the default mode after startup. Press the Shutter button once to begin recording and press it again to stop. While recording video, press the Mode button to capture a still image. Use the Up or Down button to adjust the zoom level.

Available video settings include 4K24FPS, 2K30FPS, 1080P60FPS, 1080P30FPS, 720P120FPS, 720P60FPS, and 720P30FPS. High resolutions and frame rates can make the camera warmer and consume battery power more quickly.

Photo Capture

Press the Mode button once after startup to enter Photo mode. Press the Shutter button to take a picture. The Up and Down buttons adjust the available zoom level.

The camera provides single-shot, timed, and burst options. The self-timer can be set to single, two seconds, five seconds, or ten seconds. Burst mode can capture three, five, or ten photographs in rapid succession.

Playback and Deletion

1. Press the Mode button repeatedly until Playback mode appears.
2. Use the Up and Down buttons to browse video and photo files.
3. To delete content, hold the Up or Down button for approximately three seconds.
4. Press the Select button to open the deletion options.
5. Choose Delete Current or Delete All, then confirm with the Select button.
6. Press the Mode button to leave Playback mode.

Camera Settings

The setting menu includes the following options:

• Loop recording: Off, three minutes, five minutes, or ten minutes. When enabled, the camera continuously replaces older loop files as storage fills.
• Gyroscope: Enables motion compensation for smoother footage during activities such as cycling, motorcycling, and handheld recording.
• WDR: Helps preserve detail in bright and dark parts of a scene. It is available in Video mode.
• Time-lapse recording: Off, 100ms, 200ms, 500ms, one second, or five seconds. Time-lapse video is captured without audio.
• Motion detection: Starts recording when the camera detects movement or a change in the surrounding scene.
• Record Audio: Turns video sound recording on or off.
• Date Stamp: Adds the date to captured photos and videos.
• Angle: Selects a 170°, 140°, 110°, or 70° field of view.
• Diving mode: Adjusts underwater color response for tropical or blue water between approximately 10 and 80 feet.
• Special effects: Night Scene, Portrait, or Lightpainting.
• Image quality: Fine, Normal, or Economy.
• Sharpness: High, Normal, or Medium.
• White balance: Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, or Fluorescent.
• Color: Natural, Black & White, or Sepia.
• ISO: Auto, 100, 200, or 400. Higher ISO can brighten dark scenes but may add visible grain.
• Exposure value: Adjustable from +2.0 to -2.0 in the listed exposure increments.
• Anti-Shaking: Helps reduce the visible effect of motion during capture.
• Protect: Locks or unlocks the current file, or locks or unlocks all files.
• Date and time: Uses a year/month/day format and can be adjusted manually.
• Auto Power Off: Off, one, three, five, or ten minutes.
• Beep Sound and Voice Prompt: Control alerts and spoken recording notifications.
• OSD: Shows or hides recording information on the display.
• Car ACC: Automatically starts or stops the camera when connected to a vehicle power source and the vehicle is started or stopped.
• Screen Save: Off, 30 seconds, one minute, or three minutes.
• Frequency: 50Hz or 60Hz to help reduce lighting flicker.
• Default Setting: Restores the camera menu to its default values.
• Version: Displays the installed Brave 4 software information.

Connect to a Smartphone

1. Install the CamKing app on a compatible smartphone or tablet.
2. Turn on the camera and enable Wi-Fi through Camera Setting, or press the Up button in Video mode.
3. Open Wi-Fi settings on the mobile device and connect to the camera network named AKASO.
4. Enter the camera Wi-Fi password shown in the camera documentation.
5. Open the CamKing app to access remote control, live preview, playback, downloads, sharing, and camera settings.

If the CamKing app does not operate correctly, the AKASO DV app may be used as an alternative. On an iPhone or iPad, enable the app's permission to read and write photos before transferring files. High-resolution 4K and 2.7K files may require a card reader rather than wireless transfer.

Transfer Files

To transfer content to a computer, remove the microSD card and place it in a compatible card reader. Use the computer's file explorer to copy or delete files. A card reader is required for transferring photos or audio files directly from the card.

To transfer content to a phone or tablet, open the CamKing app, select the folders area, choose a file, and use the download and save controls. Keep the app open while the transfer is in progress.

Adjust the Zoom

Zoom is available in Video and Photo modes and supports up to 5× magnification. Enter either mode, then press and hold the Up or Down button to move closer to or farther from the subject.

Use the Remote

Confirm that the camera is in Video mode before pressing the remote's gray Video button. Press it once to start recording and again to stop. The camera beeps and its light flashes during recording.

For photographs, select Photo mode and press the remote's red Photo button. The camera produces a shutter sound when the image is captured.

Replace the Remote Battery

1. Use a 1.8mm Phillips screwdriver to remove the four screws from the remote's back cover.
2. Remove the four screws securing the circuit board.
3. Lift the circuit board carefully and slide out the CR2032 battery. Do not rotate the board, because doing so can reverse the button functions.
4. Install the replacement battery with its positive side facing upward.
5. Reinstall the four circuit-board screws and then the four cover screws.

Mount the Camera

Use the supplied mounts to attach the camera to a helmet, handlebar, pole, or other compatible equipment. Select a mount suited to the activity, tighten the connection before use, and attach a tether where practical to reduce the risk of loss if the primary mount comes loose.

Cleaning and Maintenance

• Wipe the lens with a soft, lint-free cloth. Do not touch the lens with your fingers or insert objects around it.
• Remove dust from the microphone openings by gently shaking the camera or blowing across the openings.
• Protect the camera from drops, impacts, high temperatures, and strong sunlight.
• Keep the camera and battery away from condensation caused by abrupt temperature or humidity changes.
• Use the Screen Save feature, lower resolutions or frame rates, and disable wireless connections when longer battery life is needed.
• If the battery reaches zero during recording, the camera saves the file before shutting down.

Reformat the microSD Card

1. Hold the Mode button for approximately three seconds to turn on the camera.
2. Press the Mode button three times to open Camera Setting mode.
3. Use the Up or Down button to select Format.
4. Press the Shutter button and select SD Card.
5. Press the Shutter button again to display the confirmation screen.
6. Select OK and confirm. Wait until the formatting process finishes.

Formatting deletes every file on the card. Always transfer recordings before beginning this process.

Troubleshooting

• The camera will not record: Confirm that a compatible microSD card is inserted, that it has been formatted in the camera, and that available storage remains.
• The camera stops recording: A FAT32 card creates a new file when a recording reaches 4GB. This behavior is expected.
• No sound is present: Check Record Audio and confirm that the camera is not inside the waterproof housing. The housing prevents audio recording.
• Wireless transfer fails: Confirm that the camera Wi-Fi is enabled, the mobile device is connected to the AKASO network, and the app has photo-library permission.
• High-resolution files will not transfer wirelessly: Use a card reader to transfer 4K or 2.7K recordings.
• The date and time are incorrect: Adjust them manually or connect the camera to the app. Removing the battery for an extended period can reset these values.
• The camera becomes warm: High resolutions, high frame rates, warm surroundings, and extended recording increase heat and power consumption. Stop recording and allow the camera to cool if necessary.
• The display turns off: Press any camera button. The Screen Save function may have activated after the selected period of inactivity.

Pros and Cons

• Pros: Broad video-resolution choices, adjustable viewing angles, 5× zoom, time-lapse and burst capture, motion detection, wireless app control, Micro HDMI output, remote operation, and a wide selection of mounting accessories.
• Cons: The camera requires a separately supplied compatible microSD card, the waterproof housing prevents sound recording, and high-resolution footage may need a card reader for transfer to some mobile devices.