Best action camera 2018: 10 cameras for the GoPro generation

Action cameras do not look like any other type of camera. They are designed to fit helmets, surfboards, cars and other objects, and are small, rugged and easy to use, with a lens that captures the world in high definition video and in a large perspective fish eye.

Their small size and dramatic POV (& # 39; viewpoint & # 39;) images has made them popular among extreme sports participants, who capture their adventures by attaching cameras to themselves or their team. They are also used by TV production companies where it would be impossible to use a normal video camera.

GoPro is the market leader with its iconic box-shaped Hero cameras, but the action cameras also come in a "bullet" style, like the TomTom Bandit. There are many options now, and you should not just buy in the brand: think about what you want from an action camera and how you plan to use it.

If you mount the helmet, then a bullet chamber will probably be the best choice For a chest mount, the design of a box will be more stable. And when it comes to features, do you really need Wi-Fi, 4K, GPS or even a screen? All this increases the price, and while they are invaluable in some situations, you can still get excellent images without them.

1. GoPro Hero6 Black

Refined design

Excellent image quality

Expensive

Touchscreen to use

Although it may seem like a minor update to the Hero5 Black on the outside, a lot has changed inside. The Hero6 Black has a new GP1 processing engine, which allows you to record high-quality 4K shots at 60 fps. Other highlights include an improved image stabilization system, while the Hero6 Black offers a wider dynamic range and better performance in low light than the Hero5 Black. Water resistant to 10 meters, the Hero6 Black has a useful 2-inch touch screen, voice commands and an updated application with QuikStories that automatically transfers and edits the footage for you. If you want the best action camera, this is it.

Read our in-depth review GoPro Hero6 Black

2. GoPro Hero5 Black

If you do not need the latest and the best, this is still a good buy

Voice activated controls

Excellent quality 4K

Touchscreen to use

Few included accessories

May have been overshadowed by the new Black Hero6, but the Hero5 Black still has a lot to offer. By recording 4K shots of up to 30 fps, the video sequences are incredibly smooth, while the ability to take pictures in plain format provides even more flexibility. Water resistant to 10 meters without the need for a protective case, it is also easy to use, while the addition of a rear touch screen, voice control and GPS make it one of the most feature-enabled cameras currently available. The great news is that GoPro simply deleted $ 100 / £ 100 of the price, making it an even more tempting proposition.

Read our in-depth review GoPro Hero5 Black

3. Action camera Yi 4K +

Action camera with best value for money

Video Sharp 4K / 60fps

Complete and simple application

Not mounted in the box

Not water resistant natively [19659002] If it's aquatic – if you need to know exactly where you were and how fast you're going when you've taken a video, buy a GoPro Hero6 Black. However, if you are more interested in saving money on features you did not even want, the Yi 4K + Action Camera is one of the simplest and best designed gadgets. Everyone who is considering buying an action camera should take a look at the Yi 4K + Action Camera because it is almost exactly the same and, in some way, even better than a GoPro.

Read our exhaustive review of the Yi 4K + action camera

4. GoPro Hero

Back to basics, and what's best for him

Easy to use

Good footage Full HD

Without exposure control

1440p footage is 4: 3

If you've been watching a GoPro for some time, but could not justify the price, the stripped hero could be the answer. I
t does not shoot 4K, but it records nice and smooth Full HD images, and it's a great camera for beginners or casual users who just want to capture the action without worrying about the frame rate or the resolution they should use. There are action cameras better specified for a similar price, but they do not have the refined design and perfect control of the Hero.

Read our in-depth review GoPro Hero

5. TomTom Bandit

Shake-to-edit features may tempt GoPro users

Intelligent editing functions

Easy to assemble and fit

Heavy compared to the competition

Requires a waterproof lens change [19659002] Bullet-shaped cams may have fallen out Recently outmoded thanks to GoPro and its box-shaped cameras, but TomTom Bandit defies the trend. In fact, Bandit includes features that other manufacturers should follow if they want to keep up with this newcomer. Taking years of experience in GPS, TomTom has incorporated a series of sensors that not only record the location but also the speed and force G, so that when these sensors detect that something exciting has happened they automatically label the footage. Back in the pub and with the application open and connected, a quick movement of your phone and the application will automatically edit your footage ready to load. It really could not be easier.

Read our in-depth review TomTom Bandit

6. Olympus TG-Tracker

The next generation of sensor-enabled action cameras has arrived

With sensors

Easy to use

Heavy compared to the competition

Without automatic edition of the application

The futuristic design of the TG -Tracker is hard to lose with an ultra-wide 204 degree lens. The main video resolutions include 4K at 30 fps, 1080p at 60 fps and an impressive 240 fps at 720p to capture in slow motion. This is an action camera ready for anything and even has a small built-in LED video light. The sensors are great news for the Tracker with GPS, compass, acceleration sensors plus a barometer and thermometer that capture all the data from inside the compact box. The intelligence of these can be shown when viewing the footage or video editing so you can show how extreme it is. In addition, it is resistant to water up to 30 meters, has built-in stabilizer and can withstand temperatures down to -10ºC.

Read our exhaustive review of the Olympus TG-Tracker

7. YI 4K action camera

4K action camera at a low price

Detailed 4K images

Touch screen larger than GoPro

Without voice activated controls

Too easy to activate and deactivate

How often do you take an action camera underwater? If the answer is not much, then the YI 4K Action Camera could be for you. While there is an optional underwater housing available, the camera is not waterproof. However, there is a large and responsive touch screen, a large battery and fast file transfers, and while it may lack some subtleties, and we would include lens distortion correction and image stabilization in that list, the YI 4K action camera It is still a great value In addition to the backpack of any adventurer.

Read our in-depth review of the YI 4K action camera

8. Olfi one.five

Cheap and extremely cheerful

Foolproof menu system

Clear rear LCD display

Without voice control

The application is basic and a bit clumsy

] There's not much for Olfi The fifth owner runs out of options, even though the unit costs half the price of GoPro's leading camera. GPS, voice activation and the ability to connect external sensors, such as Garmin's numerous cycling products, are some of the things that are missing from the package, but for those who simply want to capture attractive images without getting ruined, there is very little to complain.

Read our detailed review Olfi one.five

9. GoPro Hero5 Session

Back to basics box-shaped action camera

Weight: 74g | Waterproof: 10m | Video 4K: up to 30 fps | 1080: up to 90 fps | 720: up to 120 fps | Resolution of attachments: 10MP | Battery life: 1.5-2hrs est

Compact design

Single-button control

Application required to adjust settings

Without display

The Hero5 session follows from the Hero4 session, reducing the action camera concept to its basic concepts, but sharing many of the same specifications as the Hero5 Black. That includes 4K video capture up to 30 fps, image stabilization, voice control and is water resistant up to 10 m. The large Record button at the top starts and stops the recording, so there is no need to worry about the different modes and options, all this is handled by the application (although it does have a simple menu system if you wish). Go back to the basics, but still capture the quality of the video you'd expect from GoPro.

Read our comprehensive review of the GoPro Hero5 session

10. Sony FDR-X3000R

Action camera with live remote display

Weight: 114g | Waterproof: 60m (box included) | Video 4K: up to 30 fps | 1080: up to 60 fps | 720: up to 120 fps | Resolution of attachments: 8.2MP | Battery Life: 1-2hrs

Image Stabilization

Remote Monitoring

Expensive

Live View Descent

All action cameras now promise 4K at 30 fps , but the effort of Sony is much more than just resolution and frame rate. The tiny claim of the FDR-X3000R is the Balanced Optical SteadyShot image stabilization (B.O.SS), which works in all resolutions and recording modes. It also includes an underwater housing, a rarity in the action camera market, and comes with a portable remote control, a gadget the size of a smart watch that allows you to operate the FDR-X3000R from afar and see your images in real time . .

Read our in-depth review by Sony FDR-X3000R