If you are very adventurous and have a passion for taking environment suitable photography, the Action Camera provides several advantages compared to smartphone cameras and other digital cameras. An action camera is much more compact than shooting on a DSLR. They can be mounted anywhere and used to take high quality videos and photos, from your dashboard to under water. One of the main advantages of action cameras is portability. Most of them are small enough to fit into the palm of your hand. To help you in this perspective, we are representing a list of the 5 best action cameras out there, to make it easier for you to choose the best option.
1. GoPro Max
Specification
- Weight: 163g
- Waterproof: 5m
- 6K spherical video: Up to 30fps
- 1440p 2D video : up to 60fps
- Stills resolution: 16.6MP
- Battery life: 108 minutes (1440p), 78 minutes (5.6K)
GoPro implies (and even says) that the new Max does everything the Hero series does. The GoPro Max is a hugely compelling upgrade over the previous generation GoPro Fusion. They’ve made some major steps in making the product user friendly for day to day users, to the point where it is a very viable option for both 360° and non-360° content alike.
Shooting at 5.6K in 360° gives the user the ability to reframe any portion of that into a more normalized 1080p flat video that one adventurous photographer already knows and loves. And with Max, GoPro has done a great job at following others in the industry in making that experience incredibly smooth and painless.
So the first thing to understand about Max is that there are two core video modes in Max: ‘Hero’ and ‘360’. In the case of Hero, the photographer can use a single lens at a time, in roughly the same way as a normal GoPro Hero action cam. This functionality, while common in most other 360° action cams, is actually new to GoPro on the Max.
On the flip side, GoPro is using some of that lens overhead to do stabilization and a much wider field of view. It is waterproof up to 5m, and if one knows he/she is going to be throwing some rough and tumble its way, one can wedge some half-orb lens-guards onto either side, though these do impact the quality of video captured.
Overall, The GoPro Max is undoubtedly one of the best action cameras which delivers the best value against the cost.
Pros
- 360-degree capture
- Intuitive software tools
- Also works as a single-lens camera
- Waterproof without a case
- Integrated mounting clips
Cons
- Effective resolution is really 1080p
- Single-lens capture tops out at 60fps
2. GoPro Hero 9 Black
Specification
- Weight: 158g
- Waterproof: 10m
- 4K video: up to 60fps
- 1080: up to 240fps
- 720: up to 240fps
- Stills resolution: 20MP
- Battery: 1720mAh
The GoPro Hero 9 Black features a new 23.6-megapixel image sensor and is powered by the GP1 processor from the previous model. This camera can Shoot stunning video with up to 5K resolution which is perfect for maintaining detail even when zooming in. It can Capture crisp, pro-quality photos with 20MP clarity. And with SuperPhoto, HERO 9 Black can automatically pick all the best image processing for you.
There’s a new front-facing colour LCD display which is useful for framing your shots when you have the camera pointed towards you. It is a dazzling new front display which makes for easy framing and intuitive camera control.
Besides it has HyperSmooth 3.0 which makes users’ experience ultimate smoothness with their most advanced video stabilization ever and allows the users to slow down the hyperlapse videos to real-time speed with audio or half speed for a slow-motion effect, by simply tapping the display. It is also capable of performing horizon levelling within the camera itself if you select the ‘Linear+Horizon Levelling’ option.
The GoPro Hero 9 Black is waterproof up to 10 meters also. It supports a single microSD card and has a USB Type-C port for charging. The camera continues to have the foldable mounting fingers.
After overall considerations of the features, GoPro Hero 9 can be a best option for vlogger, natural lover photographers, and cinematic shots.
Pros
- A useful front-facing screen
- 5K video and 20-megapixel photos
- Stable connection to a phone
- Still rugged build quality
Cons
- Unresponsive touchscreen
- Voice controls improved but still slightly buggy
- Slow HDR processing
3. Sony RX0 Mark II
Specification
- Weight: 110g
- Waterproof: 10m
- 4K video: 30p
- 1080: up to 1000fps
- 720: up to 1000fps
- Stills resolution: 15.3MP
- Battery life: 60 mins
The Sony RX0 II is one of the strangest cameras that, on the surface, looks completely conventional.The RX0 Mark II boasts a 1.0-type (13.2 x 8.8 mm) stacked Exmor RS CMOS image sensor that delivers an effective maximum resolution of 15.3 megapixels .. It’s paired with an advanced BIONZ X image processor that supports both JPEG and RAW. RAW files for stills plus XAVCS and AVCHD (V.2.0) for video.
The Sony RX0 II is a rugged mini-camera designed for capturing photos from any angle and location. The system can be scaled so multiple cameras can be tied together for applications such as VR and filmmaking.It has a fixed 24mm F,4 Zeiss lens, 16 fps burst shooting and an anti-distortion shutter that supports shutter speeds as fast as 1/32000 sec.
The RX0 can capture both oversampled 4K (which can be output over HDMI) and super-slow-mo 1000 fps video. The RX0 is waterproof to 33m/33ft, shockproof from 2m, crushproof to 200kg and dustproof.
So as a portable B cam, or for filmmakers that want a miniaturised rugged camera that puts out a great image, for them this can be an awesome option.
Pros
- Flip-up screen makes framing a vlog easier
- Good image quality with ability to separate subject from background
- Surprisingly good audio quality
- Very rugged design
Cons
- Lack of continuous autofocus makes it hard to shoot quickly
- Field of view not nearly as wide as a GoPro
4. Garmin VIRB XE
Specification
- Weight: 151g
- Waterproof: 50m
- 4K video: no
- 1080: up to 60fps
- 720: up to 120fps
- Stills resolution: 12MP
- Battery life: 2hrs
The VIRB XE is Garmin’s latest action camera. The VIRB XE action camera shoots rich, high-definition, wide-angle footage at 1080p60fps, 12 megapixel photos at up to 30 frames per second, and captures more of your action. It has been designed for the toughest environments. VIRB XE is able to dive to 50 meter depths without a case, allowing capture of cleaner and clearer audio.
Use the VIRB App on your smartphone for real-time viewing while recording, remote control and instant share functions. The VIRB XE Aviation Bundle provides pilots with all they need to begin capturing exciting in-flight HD video in a single package. The Aviation Bundle features a stereo headset audio cable, so pilot-to-pilot communications and air traffic control transmissions can be heard and embedded within the video.
Overall this one can be the best choice for you. Hopefully this product will give you the best output if you want great image quality compared to other options which are available in the competitive market.
Pros
- Onboard GPS
- ANT+ sensor compatibility
Cons
- ANT+ sensors drop occasionally
5. GoPro Hero 7 Black
Specification
- Weight: 118g
- Waterproof: 10m
- 4K video: up to 60fps
- 1080: up to 240fps
- 720: up to 240fps
- Stills resolution: : 12MP
- Battery life: 1-3hrs estimate
The GoPro HERO7 Black is designed to capture super-smooth footage of your latest, greatest, not-so-serene adventures.
The GoPro HERO7 Black supports up to UHD 4K60/50 video resolutions, and captures 2.7K 120fps/100fps slow-motion and super-slow motion video at rates up to 1080p 240fps/200fps. Still images can be captured in up to 12MP resolution in bursts of up to 30 images per second.
The HERO7 Black’s HyperSmooth stabilization produces a gimbal-like flow without the added bulk of a gimbal. Camera updates include direct streaming to Facebook Live, an intelligent still
photo mode, and stabilized time-lapse video. A vertical portrait mode enables the users to add social media-style video and stills to their Instagram and other accounts.
Like its predecessor, the HERO6 Black, the HERO7 Black is waterproof to 33m, suiting it for surfing, snorkeling, and swimming activities. A housing is available separately for even deeper underwater activities.
Overall considering the services the tech analysts say that this product will fulfill your expectation and hopefully it is the best one.
Pros
- Crazy smooth video stabilization
- Easier-to-use touchscreen UI
- Live streaming adds a new way to “share”
- Huge range of mounts and accessories
Cons
- Can struggle with voice commands
- Minor hardware improvements for upgraders