Hawkeye Firefly 8S Action Camera Review: Smooth Gyro + 4K

Hawkeye first released their Firefly 7S last year, and I was fairly impressed with it. At a very low price point, it offered premium features including a gyro and high-quality images. However, it didn't offer true 4K footage.

Fast forward to September 2017 and Hawkeye's newest model, the Firefly 8S (http://bit.ly/2x684Ix), has arrived, with true 4K footage at 30fps. Gearbest hooked me up with a review sample of this new action camera, and I'm happy to report it did a great job in a variety of environments. Read on after the jump for my take on the new 8S model.

Specifications:

Video format: MP4
Video Resolution: 1080P (120fps),1080P(60fps),2.5K (60fps),2.7K (30fps),4K (3840 x 2160, 30FPS),720P (240fps)
Video Frame Rate: 120fps,240fps,30FPS,60FPS
Image Format : JPG

Image sensor: IMX117

Brand: Hawkeye
Model: Firefly 8S
Type: Sports Camera
Type of Camera: 4K
Chipset Name: Ambarella
Chipset: Ambarella A12S75
Function: Anti-Shake,Camera Timer,Remote Control,Waterproof,WiFi
Application: Aerial Photography,Extreme Sports,Ski,Underwater
Features: Wireless

Package Contents: 1 x FIREFLY 8S 4K WiFi Sport HD DV Camera, 1 x Waterproof Case, 1 x J-shaped Mount, 1 x Long Connector + Screw, 2 x Short Connector + Screw, 1 x Bike Handlebar Seatpost Pole Mount, 1 x 360 Degree Rotation Adapter, 2 x Mount, 2 x Adhesive, 1 x Metal Cable Tie, 4 x Plastic Cable Tie, 1 x Cleaning Cloth, 1 x Clip, 1 x Clip Case, 1 x English / Chinese Manual

Battery Type: Removable
Battery Capacity (mAh): 1200mAh
Charge way: USB charge by PC
Working Time: 1.33h
Standby time: 5h
Charging Time: 2.5h

Notice the IMX117 image senor. That's the same sensor found in the much-toted GoPro Hero 4 Black. Impressive! Also comes with app compatibility for iOS and Android (See links below).

Also, it comes with two unique accessories: a lens hood device (Great for cutting down on sun glare) and a neat little necklace detachable holder. Haven't seen either one included with other action cameras.

Performance:

I took the Firefly 8S out in a variety of settings in Southern California: Hot, sunny days, and cloudy, overcast conditions, both on sea and on the land, as well as underwater. It performed well in all conditions. I tried out the 4K footage and was especially impressed - it's incredibly sharp and detailed, perhaps even more than my beloved ThiEye T5E action camera's 4K footage. The gyro is only available on the 1080p setting, which is consistent with other cameras at its price. It's a better gyro than the Firefly 7S, but still not as stable at the awesome GitUp2 gyro. Photos were very sharp and clear as well, and the waterproof case handled my underwater fish release shots with ease.

I only had the camera freeze up on me once while using it, after filming a particularly long clip, and removing the battery quickly rectified the situation. Battey life was excellent, and the batteries are similar to the SJ4000 batteries, allowing for cheap replacements. The older Firefly 7S waterproof case fits the Firefly 8S as well. There is an audible "chirp" when filming on/off, easy to hear even outside of the case. Finally, audio quality ain't bad either. You can note the audio here:

Audio test

The menu is VERY easy to navigate. It's probably one of the least "fiddly" action camera menus I've run into as of late. Hawkeye has streamlined the options available to the user, making it easy to access from just about any recording mode. Additonally, they made the "smart" decision to turn off Date/Time stamp by default. Thank you! Very few people prefer Date/Time left on by default, nice to see a company understand this in their software.

Sample Photos with Firefly 8S Default Settings No editing

Summary:
It's amazing what one can buy for a little over $100 - a true 4K action camera with a host of useful accessories and high-quality images. That, in a nutshell, is the Firefly 8S. It's a very good action that performed excellently for me while fishing and exploring SoCal over the last few weeks. I'm very pleased with it and will definitely continue using it, likely as a primary action camera on my upcoming trips. You can purchase the Hawkeye Firefly 8S from Gearbest here: http://bit.ly/2x684Ix

Video Review