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Price, resolution, viewing angle, wireless connection: there are many elements to consider before purchasing a cheap action cam
Until recently, the word action camera was mainly associated with GoPro. In recent years, the market for these small, durable devices has grown and prices have dropped drastically. But the wider the offer, the greater the confusion. Which Action Cams Should I Choose?
Let’s start by explaining what an Action Cam is and how it can be used. These are devices that allow you to take photos and record high-definition videos in any situation. Even the most difficult ones. They are waterproof and waterproof, do not get dusty and do not break when dropped. They are mainly used in extreme sports, they are usually mounted on a support – e.g. a helmet – and allow you to shoot movies in the first person, i.e. from the author’s perspective. As such, there are many factors to consider before purchasing an action cam, ranging from its technical characteristics to its price.
Action cameras, what advantages?
Buying an action camera has undoubted advantages: it can be used where ordinary cameras do not reach and is easy to use. Action cameras do have their limitations though: they don’t have a zoom lens, and some don’t even have an LCD display where you can view everything that’s recorded. With all that said, let’s move on to the elements you should consider before purchasing your Action Cam. First of all, we need to understand what we need it for. There is no point in spending 300 € to film our vacation or a bike ride. Good action cameras can be found for much less. The prices range from EUR 50-70 to EUR 250-300.
First thing to consider: resolution
Technical parameters are closely related to the price. Let’s start with the resolution. The entry-level action camera can record at a resolution of 720p, or HD (1280 x 720 pixels). Full-HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) goes up, followed by more advanced 4K (3,840 x 2,160 pixels). Needless to say, the higher the resolution, the sharper the images. There is also no doubt that a 4K Action Cam will cost more than HD.
Frame rate and shooting angle
Another factor that should not be taken lightly is the frame rate, which is the number of consecutive frames an action cam can capture in one second. An ordinary action camera records an average of 30 frames per second. More advanced cameras can record up to 60fps, and some cameras, ideal for slow motion filming, up to 120fps. Of course, the choice depends on what you want to film.
Another important factor is the shooting angle, which is the focal length of the action camera expressed in degrees. The higher its value, the greater the visual coverage of the lens. And don’t forget that Action Cams are not SLRs, and while they do allow you to take photos, the resolution of your shots will always be limited.
Waterproof
We said that action cameras are waterproof and watertight. It’s a big difference. Some of them may only be submerged for a few meters. Therefore, before you buy an action camera, you need to check its waterproofness.
Other important factors to consider: assembly and battery
It is also important to consider how and where to mount your Action Cam. Most of these small cameras have a universal system that allows them to be mounted on any surface. For example, they can be placed on a helmet, the handlebars of a bicycle or motorcycle, or on the wrist. If you have special needs, you will have to reach into your wallet and buy additional mounting accessories. Please also take this into account before making your purchase.
Let’s move on to the battery, an important element. Usually, the batteries in action cameras last for several hours of operation. If you don’t want to run out of power, it’s a good idea to add a few spare batteries to your initial budget.
Internal memory, GPS and wireless connections
Are we finished? Not quite yet. There are three other important factors to consider before purchasing an action cam, and they are internal storage, wireless connections, and GPS. Let’s start with the first. Action cameras need a lot of gigabytes because they record high definition video. Please consider your camera’s memory capacity before purchasing, and also remember to purchase an SD card. And not just any SD card, preferably class 10 cards.
The second element. Bluetooth, Wifi and NFC are important if you want to control the Action Cam with your smartphone or tablet. The latest action cameras are almost all equipped with these three connectivity features. Of course, they raise the price bar.
Last item: GPS. This is only necessary if you want the Action Cam to take into account your position in videos and photos, otherwise you can do without it. Now you have all the information you need to decide which action camera to buy.
