YI TECHNOLOGY
YI4K+
MSRP $219.99; housing included
CONTACT yitechnology.com
As the only other camera capable of shooting
4K at 60 frames per second, it shouldn’t come
as a surprise that the Yi4K+ was the only
camera in the test to go toe-to-toe with Go-
Pro’s top-tier video. It managed to edge out
the Hero7 for clarity—where the Yi4K+ took
its only excellent score—and ranked second
place for overall quality. (It’s also capable of
shooting RAW images.) “Really clear shots!”
one test diver enthused. “ Totally amazed,”
another said. Even without an underwater
mode, a solid white balance and good con-
trast helped the Yi’s footage appear natural
in ambient conditions, although color dimin-
ished quickly with depth. Still, testers rated it
as very good for the quality of its color. “Crisp
defi nition and color in a range of conditions,”
one tester commented. In the water, test div-
ers appreciated the size of the camera’s 2.2-
inch display for framing shots and confi rming
settings, but also noted lots of glare in sunny
conditions. Navigating menus and chang-
ing settings is easy with the touchscreen.
However, when using the included under-
water housing, divers only have access to a
single push button, which acts as both the
power and record button. This button is also
the only way to swap between the camera’s
multiple photo and video modes underwater.
The limited functionality required more time
to go through menus, but helped the camera
earn very good scores for ergonomics and
intuitive operation. “Very easy to follow and
understand” is how one diver described the
operation. This camera’s lower-than-average
price, simple operation and outstanding foot-
age make it ideal for mounting onto a profes-
sional rig as a backup camera. Those traits
also made it popular with our testers, with
multiple divers choosing it among their fa-
vorites. The Yi4K+ is our Best Buy.
ErgonomicsVideo QualityBattery Life»»
»
» Image Sensor
12 MP
» Released
February 2017SCORES/ SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019 / 35ASK ROBBY
Q:How can I improve my action camera's battery life?
A: Many action cameras come with quick-record features that allow them to
start recording as soon as you turn them on. This means you can keep the
camera off until the action starts without missing unexpected moments. Ad-
ditionally, you can turn off any extra features you won't be using underwater.
Voice control, GPS tracking and touchscreens are useful topside, but only
serve to drain the battery underwater. Shooting at a lower resolution can also
improve battery performance, but will reduce the quality of your footage.BEST
BUY
2019