The great advantage of an action camera is that you can use it during sporting activities, even extreme sports. Thanks to the various mounts, you can mount the camera on your helmet, surfboard, or bicycle, for example, to get as close to the action as possible. This allows you to film in places and situations where an ordinary camera or smartphone would not dare to go. Due to the compact, square shape, without too many protrusions, action cams are also less breakable. Add to that an extra (waterproof) housing and your camera can certainly take a beating! Action cameras are also very popular among travel or family vloggers thanks to their light, compact size.
When choosing an action camera, be sure to check the following specifications:
- What is the video resolution? It should be somewhere between 1080p (for beginners) and 4K (for professionals).
- How many frames per second (FPS) can you record? The higher the frame rate, the smoother the images will be. This is best between 30 FPS and 60 FPS.
- Is the memory expandable with a micro SD card?
- Is the housing robust and possibly waterproof?
- How long does the battery last? Can you buy a spare battery with it?
- What accessories are included? A tripod or special mounts?
- Is the camera easy to use and compact to store?
- Does the camera also have a ‘selfie screen’ at the front?
A decent action camera stands out because of its good image quality and ease of use. Since this type of camera is mainly used for outdoor activities, a robust housing is also a big bonus. In addition, good image stabilisation ensures beautiful, smooth images.