If you’re in search of the best video cameras for action, then you have come to the right place. The best action cameras are quite different from any other camera. Their design allows you to easily attach them to cars, surfboards, helmets, and other objects. In addition, they are easy to operate, tough and small and are equipped with a lens that can easily capture the universe in HD video.
Given their point of view and small size, they have become popular with people who engage in extreme sports and need to record their adventures. This they do by attaching the camera to their gear or themselves. In addition, TV production companies also use them in instances where using a regular camera is undoable.
Action cameras have not just been designed for people filming their own TV shows or adrenaline junkies but are also best suited for those fun-filled, action-packed vacations that you take with your family or friends. While GoPro are known as the market leader when it comes to the best action cameras, – they invented the action genre – they also face stiff competition from other brands.
With that said, let’s take a look at some of the best video cameras for action that you can pay some attention to.
1. GoPro HERO5 Black Camera
Intro
Given that the GoPro HERO series of cameras are some of the best action cameras, the GoPro HERO5 starts our list with its sleek and compact design yet designed with great features for the win.
Pros
- Available in different styles and configurations giving you the freedom to choose one that works best for you
- Very easy to operate
- Has a rugged and compact design that makes it durable
- The camera is waterproof which can allow you record extreme underwater and on water activities
- Lightweight and portable and therefore it’s a good travel camera
- Edit amazing videos from your footage thanks to the QuikStories feature that lets you share the video to your social media or store them in a cloud service
- Has an image stabilization feature that provides smooth videos regardless of whether you are shooting having mounted the camera or while holding the camera with your hand
- Ability to use the voice control feature to command the camera and use it hands-free
- Easily preview your shots, playback and modify your settings and still trim your footage
- Can be used to film music videos besides your action type of content
- Supports recording 4K videos
- Reasonably priced
Cons
- The touchscreen display isn’t vibrant
- Poor battery life
- It doesn’t have a charger included
2. GoPro HERO7 Black Camera
Intro
The GoPro HERO7 is considered as the king of all action cameras and all with a good reason as this camera has more features than its predecessor and is an improvement from the HERO6.
Pros
- Ultimately the best action camera that anyone can buy today
- Enjoy hyper smooth video stabilization as the camera can easily predict your movements and make corrections for camera shakes to deliver very smooth footage
- Enjoy capturing time warp video as you move around and increase the speed of the videos by up to 30x to get shareable moments from longer activities
- Delivers high-quality images and videos
- Perfect for shooting any underwater activity thanks to its waterproof design
- Supports 4K video recording at 60 fps and is also perfect for capturing slow-motion videos
- Has the Live Streaming feature that easily lets you live stream your most precious moments using the Facebook Live Stream option
- Control your camera hands-free thanks to the voice control and touchscreen feature
- Easy to use because of its intuitive menu
- The camera applies the HDR, noise reduction and local tone mapping to help you optimize your shots
- Available in three different colors and is reasonably priced
Cons
- Recording in 4K causes the camera to overheat
- Battery life is poor
3. Olympus OM-D E-M10 Digital Camera
Intro
The Olympus OM-D E-M10 digital camera is another great camera for shooting a fast-paced sporting activity given the excellent features and is also well built.
Pros
- Nice looking camera which is a plus for those who like to create statements with their gears
- Has a compact design and is lightweight given the mirrorless design which makes it portable
- Very comfortable to handle thanks to the small size
- The camera comes with a TruePic VII processor, an inbuilt flash and Wi-Fi as well as a large electronic viewfinder
- Enjoy excellent resolution and image quality thanks to the featured M Zuiko professional-grade lens
- Has a 16MP Live MOS sensor that provides fantastic resolution and vibrant colors
- The camera boasts of a 3-axis image stabilization that helps you get sharp images and videos
- Has a metal build which makes the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Digital Camera durable
- Inbuilt Wi-Fi gives you the freedom to conveniently share your videos and images
- Enjoy an 8 frames per second continuous shooting and high-speed autofocus technology that lets you capture any high-speed action without missing any single shot
Cons
- Lacks a 60 frames per second video support
- It’s not waterproof hence you can’t shoot any fast-paced action underwater or use it in harsh weather
- Doesn’t have a mic or accessory port
4. Panasonic Lumix G85 Camera
Intro
The Panasonic Lumix G85 is a camera that provides advanced features making it possible to shoot some really serious sporting action.
Pros
- Quite easy to handle given the excellent build quality
- Delivers an excellent video and image quality
- The camera’s weather sealed design makes it usable in any type of environmental
- It boasts of a fast and accurate autofocus
- Its mirrorless design makes it a lightweight camera and gives it the compact design
- Has a dual image stabilizer which results in clear and sharp images even when you are shooting fast-moving subjects
- The camera’s grip has an ergonomic design that lets you shoot using one hand
- Has a Lumix 4K photo feature for shooting video sequences of up to 30fps
- Enjoy an increased camera stability thanks to the 5-axis gyro sensor
- Has the post focus feature that lets you review any image taken and sharpen the are you wish while the new focus stacking feature lets you choose multiple focal points in one image
- The Panasonic autofocus technology results in a fast and accurate AF performance
- Easily frame your shot and shoot any subject of your choice with the help of the live viewfinder
- The 16-megapixel MOS sensor helps you capture sharp images
Cons
- Limited ISO range
- Poor battery life
5. Sony Alpha a6000 Camera
Intro
The Sony Alpha a6000 camera is sleek, compact and lightweight and weight almost half the size of a normal DSLR. The interchangeable lenses help make the Sony Alpha a6000 quite versatile.
Pros
- The Sony Alpha a6000 camera is an inexpensive camera that shoots quality fast-paced sporting activities
- Being a mirrorless camera, it is lightweight and has a recording frame rater of 11 fps for ultra-fast speed
- Has an autofocus tracking with an excellent speed that lets you take high-quality videos and photos even when the subject is fast-moving
- Portable camera that is very easy to use
- Camera has a 24.3MP APS-C image sensor and BIONZ X engine for image processing that results in excellent details and image enlargements
- Has a durable and rugged design
- Easily control your camera using your smartphone or tablet via the PlayMemories Camera app
- Ability to edit your images directly from your mobile device and upload them to social media or cloud services
- The ISO range of 100-25,000 allows you to shoot even in low light conditions
- Easily access all camera features and functions
- It has 2 dials and a control wheel that is located on the top so you can easily access the camera settings and choose the shooting modes you want
- Enjoy a wide viewing angle thanks to the OLED viewfinder and a 100 percent frame coverage that helps improve the visibility
- Easily shoot videos in full HD at 1080p at 24p or 60p or frames of 60i
- 3-inch LCD screen display lets you shoot from different angles and has the WhiteMagic technology that boosts the image visibility
Cons
- Easily overheats when used to shoot continuously for an hour or more
Final Thoughts
Today, most action cameras have the ability to shoot in 4K. However, there are other cameras that do a better job than others by delivering faster frame rates and smooth video footage. In addition, the best video cameras for action also boasts of a slick image stabilization system to ensure that the user gets the most out of your camera.
While most action cameras are primarily meant for shooting videos, they also shoot excellent still images, but they’re not any better than a point-and-shoot camera. Other features to bear in mind when looking for an action camera is Wi-Fi connectivity, touchscreen, and GPS control.
While such features may make a camera more costly and are invaluable, you are still able to get good footage without those features. If your action activity includes shooting footage underwater, consider getting yourself a waterproof camera.
