Start with the entry price you actually pay
Camera gear is bought outright, so the number that matters is the one-off price at checkout rather than a monthly plan. campark lists from $18.99, Defender Cameras from $15 and Scan from £48.98. Each figure is the cheapest item in that seller's range, in the currency shown.
Currencies are mixed, so $15 is quoted in dollars while £48.98 is in pounds. Convert before you rank them, then add delivery, since neither Defender Cameras nor Scan ships beyond a single market and freight can erase a price gap. Across the wider listings in this group, prices run €13.15 to €1,679.38, so a single entry price tells you little on its own.
Check what kind of camera the entry price belongs to before you treat a bargain as one. Defender Cameras' entry price sits on a plug-in indoor and outdoor security camera, and Scan's comes from its monitor range rather than a body or a lens. Start from the Cameras and lenses rankings, then price the exact model on your shortlist.
Match the camera type to what you shoot
campark builds action cameras and compact models, action camera and compact, which suits pocket, bike and travel work. Defender Cameras lists panoramic and used cameras, 360 camera and used cameras, aimed at home and premises monitoring. A used body is the cheapest route to a spare or a beater camera, but weigh that against the shorter life you get from its batteries and seals.
Scan is a retailer rather than a camera maker. Its store spans computers, audio and gaming, and its camera and pro video range includes consumer drones listed with flight time of 23 min. Buying through a retailer lets you compare many makers in one basket, though the body and the lens may come from separate suppliers with separate warranties.
Resolution, stabilisation and the rest of the spec
Maximum resolution is the quickest number to compare: campark reaches 4k, Defender Cameras reaches 4k, and Scan's camera range reaches 8k. Higher resolution only helps if you crop or display large, and it draws more battery and storage, so match it to where most of your footage ends up.
Both campark and Scan list stabilised models, and on a bike, a board or a handheld rig, steady footage often beats a resolution jump. If you shoot indoors or after dark, check low-light performance and microphone quality on the specific model rather than on the range as a whole. A fixed lens you will actually carry is a better buy than a zoom that stays in the cupboard.
Who is behind the brand and where they ship
Age and legal identity tell you how established a seller is. campark was founded in 2008 and trades as TOGUARD ELECTRONICS CO.,LIMITED from CN. Defender Cameras was founded in 1999 and trades as Empowerment Technologies Incorporated from CA. Scan was founded in 1986 and trades as Scan Computers International Ltd from GB.
Reach matters as much as pedigree. campark ships to a long list of destinations, US, GB and DE, while Defender Cameras sells into a single market, US, and Scan sells into a single market, GB. If you sit outside those markets, availability decides the winner before price does, and duty on the way in can add more than the saving you were chasing.
Warranty, returns and support
Warranty lengths vary widely here. campark covers its products for 1 years and Defender Cameras for 1 years, while warranty terms recorded across the wider listings run 0.02 to 6 years. Read what the term excludes, because sensor damage and water ingress are the usual exclusions on action cameras.
Returns are the sharper differentiator. Scan accepts returns within 14 days and offers an extended warranty, which leaves you room to test autofocus, battery life and low-light footage at home before you commit. That window is worth more to a buyer than a slightly cheaper body.
Support also differs in shape. campark offers email, chat and help centre, Defender Cameras offers chat, email and help centre, and Scan offers email, chat and phone along with click and collect. A phone line helps when a body or lens fails out of the box, and collecting in person lets you inspect a seal before you leave.
How to shortlist, and where to read next
A simple decision follows from those differences. Pick campark if you want a maker's own action cameras with a broad shipping footprint and a long market list. Pick Defender Cameras if the job is home or premises security. Pick Scan if you want several brands in one basket, a long return window and collect in person.
Then read the individual reviews before you buy: campark, Defender Cameras and Scan. For further names in the category, the Cameras and lenses rankings also cover Wex Photo Video, Wyze and Vantrue.