While gentlemen still take each other's word for it, it's better to have visible evidence of their adventures to share with friends, family, or blog subscribers. And here you can not do without a good action camera.
But which action camera should you choose? It all depends on your budget and the cases for which you plan to use this device.
How to choose an action camera for an amateur
What to look for when buying if you are first faced with choosing a camera for active sports.
- Action camera mount
- Most models will fit on a regular helmet, although if you're looking for unique viewing angles you will need additional accessories such as an arm, frame or chest mount.
- Always look at the package contents of the model you like, sometimes various mounts are offered along with the action camera.
- There are also versatile action cameras that have been designed for just about any sport and can be mounted on any surface, from the handlebars of a bicycle to the tip of your skis. These models usually have image stabilization so you can record smooth images while doing any vigorous activity.
- Specifications
- Resolution Is the amount of detail a camera can capture, measured by the number of pixels in each frame. 1080p is Full HD, 720p is standard HD, and 4K has four times the pixels of Full HD. Thus, the higher the resolution, the more detailed the images will be.
- Viewing angle Is how many objects the camera can "see" in one frame. Having a wide viewing angle means you can get a more immersive perspective.
- Frames Per Second (FPS) Is the number of consecutive shots that the camera can process per second. Most cameras shoot at 30 frames per second, while more expensive ones can shoot at 60 frames per second, so you get smoother and less blurry images. If you want crisp, clean slow-motion footage, shoot video at the highest FPS possible.
- Useful functions
- Wireless communication (Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, less often - NFC) Allows you to use your phone or tablet as a camera screen. This makes it easy to configure settings and control the camera remotely using the app.
- Image stabilization Is another important factor, as most action cameras are designed to take footage on the go. Therefore, the image should be as smooth as possible, unless you intend to use the camera shake effect. Cameras with good image stabilization will allow you to record motion sickness-free video when viewed.
- Waterproofing. If you plan to dive underwater with the camera, its housing must be waterproof, or an aqua box must be included.
Action cameras rating 2019
10. Mijia Mi Action Camera 4K
The average price is 7,900 rubles.
Characteristics:
- UHD 4K video recording
- matrix 8 MP (1 / 2.5 ″)
- microSD cards
- Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
- stabilizer
- up to 1 hour of battery life
- weight 99 g
Sample video:
Admit it, have you been waiting for a Xiaomi product to appear on this list? Well, we and Yandex.Market users agree with your expectations. On this resource, the Mijia Mi camera has a high rating (4.5 out of 5 possible) and good reviews.
Its Sony IMX317 sensor is capable of shooting at 1080p (60fps) with image stabilization and 4K (3840 x 2160) without image stabilization.
In bright sunlight, the colors in the images captured by the Mi Action Camera appear vivid, and the image as a whole has no less contrast than the GoPro. It's hard to believe that this action camera costs less than RUB 10,000.
There are many different functions that you can play with, including slow motion, burst, and loop recording. And the camera timer can count down 3, 5, 10 or 15 seconds for perfect single or group shots.
pros: Excellent build quality, intuitive controls, touchscreen display, RAW photo capture capability.
Minuses: mediocre sound in windy weather, bad Russian localization, only works with fast memory cards.
9. Olympus Tough TG-Tracker
The average price is 18,900 rubles.
Characteristics:
- UHD 4K video recording
- matrix 8 MP (1 / 2.3 ″)
- SD memory cards
- Wi-Fi
- electronic stabilizer
- up to 1.5 hours of battery life
- weight 180 g
Sample video:
Perhaps the Olympus TG-Tracker does not look as presentable as most of the participants in the action camera rating. But here, as they say, "or checkers, or go." After all, this model has undeniable advantages, such as compactness, strength and waterproof housing. Moreover, a flip-up screen that gives you the opportunity to look at what is happening from a different angle.
Some of the most interesting features of TG Tracker include video recording at 240 frames per second with the resolution down to 720p HD. This allows you to use this action camera while mountain biking or snowboarding.
4K video comes at up to 30 fps. The Tough TG-Tracker's video quality is on par with some big-name action cameras, and the relatively low price point certainly makes it an attractive option for those of you looking for a good all-round action camera.
pros: there is a tripod socket with a standard thread, excellent ergonomics, excellent image stabilization, good quality when recording sound (even in aqua box).
Minuses: Olympus Share app only allows short video recording, poor color reproduction in low light.
8. TomTom Bandit
The average price is 20,200 rubles.
Characteristics:
- Support for high definition UHD 4K video
- maximum video resolution 3840 × 2160
- widescreen video mode: yes
- matrix type: CMOS
- number of matrices: 1
- matrix: 16 Mpix
- up to 3 hours of battery life
Sample video:
Thought TomTom did some of the best GPS navigators, hours and nothing more? But no. This company has made this the perfect low-profile model that can be strapped onto your helmet when you are mountain biking, snowboarding or off-roading.
Smart software automatically edits footage, which saves people with little experience in video editing from unnecessary work.
The Bandit is by far one of the heaviest models in our 2019 Action Camera Ranking as it weighs 190g but is easy to use and captures great shots.
pros: This action camera is compatible with GoPro mounts, has a user-friendly interface and a splash-proof housing.
Minuses: 4K only shoots at 15 fps.
7. GoPro HERO 5
The average price is 20,500 rubles.
Characteristics:
- UHD 4K video recording
- 12 MP (1 / 2.3 ″) matrix
- microSD cards
- Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth
- electronic stabilizer
- up to 2 hours of battery life
- weight 118 g
Sample video:
Surfers, kayakers and snorkelers will enjoy this device as it allows you to dive to a depth of 10 meters without a protective cover. This camera is also renowned for its durability and sturdiness, which is important if you plan to take it on extreme hikes.
Videos can be recorded up to 4K at 30fps, and the camera also shoots 12MP RAW photos.
The GoPro HERO5 has a two-inch touchscreen on the back, making it easy to change settings.
pros: There is video stabilization for smooth shots, many photo settings, you can install a smartphone app for remote camera control, image preview and video playback.
Minuses: expensive accessories, image stabilization works when shooting at less than 60 fps.
6.YI 4K Action Camera
The average price is 7,978 rubles.
Characteristics:
- UHD 4K video recording
- 12 MP (1 / 2.3 ″) matrix
- microSD cards
- Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
- electronic stabilizer
- up to 1.5 hours of battery life
- weight 95 g
Sample video:
One of the most affordable models in the top action cameras. Equipped with a 12MP Sony IMX377 Exmor R sensor, it shoots noise-free even in low light.
YI 4K users praise it for good sound (no aqua box), fast Wi-Fi data transfer, excellent battery life and very fast charging (up to 100% in an hour).
Another plus in comparison with competitors is inexpensive accessories.
pros: excellent shooting quality, the set includes an aqua box, user-friendly interface and touch controls, electronic image stabilization.
Minuses: tight plug of the usb port, extremely demanding on memory cards, sometimes it does not work even with Class 10 cards, the lens glass is prone to scratches, as it sticks out of its frame.
5. Sony FDR X3000
The average price is 19,990 rubles.
Characteristics:
- UHD 4K video recording
- matrix 8.2 MP (1 / 2.5 ″)
- MS, microSD memory cards
- Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
- optical stabilizer
- up to 2.35 h of battery life
- weight 114 g
Sample video:
Even in 2019, this model remains the best Sony action camera. It uses optical image stabilization, which works even when shooting 4K video.
With its Exmor R CMOS sensor, back illumination and superior optical image stabilization, the Sony FDR X3000 is an excellent support for a vlogger who often shoots videos in low light. In daytime, its capabilities match those of the GoPro Hero 7 Black and Osmo Action.
If you plan to shoot in 4K, it's best to do so at a low frame rate so that the camera has more time to catch light.
pros: excellent picture quality in any shooting mode, the set includes an aqua box, a simple menu.
Minuses: heats up when shooting for a long time in high resolution, expensive branded accessories.
4. SJCAM SJ8 Pro (Full box)
The average price is 14 390 rubles.
Characteristics:
- UHD 4K video recording
- microSD cards
- Wi-Fi
- stabilizer
- weight 85 g
Sample video:
If you're looking for a 4K 60 fps GoPro-compatible action camera, we recommend you opt for the SJ8 Pro. This model also offers many other resolution options, including 1080p (120 fps) and 720p (240 fps) for video recording.
The SJ8 Pro lens features 7 layers of glass for greater clarity and less distortion, and has a fixed 2.8mm focal length, f2.8 aperture and 170 ° field of view.
The ace up the sleeve of this camera is the 8x digital zoom feature that allows you to capture extreme close-ups.
prosCamera with tripod mount, 6-axis image stabilization, 2.33-inch IPS Retina touchscreen.
Minuses: No voice control and waterproofing of the case, but a waterproof case is included.
3. DJI Osmo Action
The average price is 29,990 rubles.
Characteristics:
- UHD 4K video recording
- 12 MP (1 / 2.3 ″) matrix
- microSD cards
- Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
- electronic stabilizer
- weight 124 g
Sample video:
Chinese company DJI has spent most of the decade dominating the drone world, developing advanced image stabilization technology and intuitive flight controls. And now she has put that know-how into creating her first action camera.
The Osmo Action is slightly larger and slightly heavier than the Hero7 Black, but that's acceptable considering it has a color front screen in addition to a 2.25-inch touchscreen on the back.
Like GoPro, Osmo Action offers a wide range of control options, including voice activation. The device has two built-in microphones, but we recommend adding an external microphone to enjoy the best sound quality.
In terms of specs, the Osmo Action is not much different from the Hero7 Black. It costs less and offers a front-facing screen, which is a great choice for video bloggers.
However, Osmo Action doesn't support live online streaming, so if that's important to you, go for the Hero7 Black. Likewise, if you want the widest possible field of view, choose the Hero7 Black with SuperView wide-angle mode.
The Osmo Mimo app is also limited compared to the installed GoPro companion app, and its set of accessories is smaller than that of the GoPro. However, this camera is compatible with some third party mounts.
pros: The action camera is easy to use, waterproof, and provides all the benefits of RockSteady electronic image stabilization.
Minuses: no auto-lock of the screen by timeout, the viewing angle is sometimes too small.
2. GoPro HERO 7
The average price is 28,990 rubles.
Characteristics:
- UHD 4K video recording
- 12 MP (1 / 2.3 ″) matrix
- microSD cards
- Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth
- electronic stabilizer
- up to 1.5 hours of battery life
- weight 116 g
Sample video:
More recently, this king of action cameras from GoPro felt comfortable on the throne. But in the fall of 2019, it was replaced by a new market leader. However, HERO 7 is still one of the best action cameras on the market. And there are several reasons for this:
- This model is portable and simple in design. It has a touchscreen on the back for easy operation and a small monochrome display on the front. It displays information about what you are shooting: the length of the footage, the resolution and frame rate, as well as how much battery power and space on the memory card are left.
- The GoPro Hero7 can shoot at up to 4K at 60fps.
- The camera has a built-in 12-megapixel sensor that can be used to capture stunningly detailed photos.
- GoPro offers HyperSmooth, an intelligent system that predicts your movements and can correct camera shake for smoother videos. You can then preview your footage in the GoPro app, where you can manually select photos and videos.
- The camera even supports some voice commands. For example, you can say something like "GoPro, take a picture" and she will take a picture. There are similar features for videos that come in handy when you want to use speakerphone.
pros: even beginner friendly menu, waterproof, excellent sound on video, maximum ISO 100 can be set.
Minuses: at subzero temperatures, the battery runs out quickly, heats up during prolonged shooting, poor equipment (without aqua box).
1. GoPro HERO 8
The average price is 34,990 rubles.
Characteristics:
- UHD 4K video recording
- 12 MP (1 / 2.3 ″) matrix
- microSD cards
- Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth
- electronic stabilizer
- up to 3 hours of battery life
- weight 103 g
Video review:
Top action cameras of 2019 are led by a new from GoPro - an improved version of the Hero 7 Black. It can shoot in 4K at 60 fps and 1080p at 240 fps.
The following changes are announced:
- Enhanced HyperSmooth 2.0 image stabilization that works at all frame rates and resolutions as standard.
- Improved TimeWarp 2.0 time-lapse shooting, compatible with Protune.
- As well as expanded functionality and a new accessory system called GoPro Mods.
The most noticeable thing about the new GoPro camera is the bezel-less screen design and two foldable metal "ears" at the base. They are flat when not in use, but pull them out and you can use the camera with any GoPro mount.
And a new GoPro accessory called Display Mod adds a front or rear flip-down display to your action camera. Unfortunately, it is not yet available for ordering, but should appear in the near future.
The best action camera of 2019 also has four digital lenses, making it easy to choose the perfect angle of view for shooting.
The sound from the front microphone has also been improved with enhanced wind cancellation. Again, the upcoming Media Mod will further enhance the Hero 8 Black's sound.
With this camera, you can dive without an aqubox to a depth of 10 meters.
pros: voice control in Russian, many new modes, such as LiveBurst (a three-second burst of 99 images in 4K resolution), SuperPhoto + HDR for creating realistic photos with a wide dynamic range, the ability to stream online in Full HD 1080p.
Minuses: high price.
Both the camera and its mods are still available only for pre-order. The camera will go on sale on October 22, mods - a little later.