With the help of an action camera, you can easily shoot bike rides, as well as other types of outdoor activities. Not for nothing there are a huge number of accessories designed for such devices. For example, you can purchase a pipe mount or a sticker with which the device is mounted on the roof of a car. As for the action cameras themselves, their quality varies from very lousy to perfect. In today's compilation, we will consider only those devices that delight both the result of video filming and ease of use.
Content:
Action camera which company to buy
Garmin
Initially, Garmin positioned itself as a manufacturer of GPS navigation technology. The company was born in 1989. Surprisingly, buyers immediately appreciated the tourist, car, sea and other GPS-navigators.
Certain claims they had only the cost of products. This lack of Garmin products still exists - it is much more expensive than the products of most competitors. But in recent years, the company has significantly expanded the range.
Bicycle computers and action cameras appeared on the market. The latter, oddly enough, also have in their composition a navigation chip. It allows the video editor to overlay a separate window on the image, which shows a map with the current route.
GoPro
Elite manufacturer of action cameras. It was founded in 2002, its headquarters is located in California. Perhaps the GoPro action cameras are the most expensive, especially the top models. But then they provide the highest quality photo and video.
This product also features high resolution support (up to 4K) and support for accelerated shooting. The second function is supported by competitors, but there you have to sacrifice a lot of permission to use it.
Sjcam
The most famous Chinese manufacturer of action cameras. Its products look very similar to any GoPro Hero. However, Chinese action cameras are sold at a much lower price. But you should not expect any advanced technologies from these devices. Budget models are the most annoying - the picture they keep does not hold water. Top models shoot a little better, but their videos may gradually begin to seem not enough quality.
Sony
The Japanese company Sony is working on the creation of video cameras is not the first decade. The most popular are the usual Sony camcorders, which have rather large sizes and support for optical zoom. However, Japanese action cameras can be found on store shelves.
Their price tag may seem high, especially against the background of Chinese products. This is due to the excellent quality of shooting, which only slightly falls short of the GoPro level. Sony's top action camera models are backed by 4K resolution shots.
Xiaomi
Another Chinese manufacturer who decided to try creating video cameras for extreme sports. This company makes the most money by selling smartphones, while the action cameras are made to expand the product range, almost as an experiment.
The Chinese are focusing on low cost, which allowed them to immediately become the leader of various ratings. In particular, Russians most often make their choice in favor of Xiaomi products, not paying attention to what it does not do in the best way - they consider it much more important that such a camera is several times cheaper than GoPro devices.
Top action cameras rating
In this rating, which is based on numerous user reviews, it is taken into account:
- Maximum video resolution;
- Video shooting frequency in different modes;
- The presence of image stabilizer;
- Dimensions and weight;
- Used matrix;
- Average cost in Russian stores;
- Used interfaces and connectors;
- Equipment;
- User complaints.
Best Action Cameras
Sony FDR-X1000V
One of the few worthy competitors action cameras GoPro. The Japanese model records the picture in good quality, which is facilitated not only by the proprietary 12-megapixel matrix, but also by the presence of an electronic image stabilizer.
Advantages:
- The possibility of 4K video;
- Up to 120 fps at Full HD resolution;
- The presence of HDMI-out and microphone input;
- Ability to use NFC and Wi-Fi;
- The presence of a GPS module;
- High-quality CMOS-matrix.
Disadvantages:
- High enough cost;
- Expensive accessories;
- High memory card requirements;
- Decent size.
Reviews on the Sony FDR-X1000V indicate that this action camera is not without flaws. Accessories for her are expensive, a memory card for her should be high-speed, and even this miniature device can not be named. But you forget about all these shortcomings after you realize that there are some functions that GoPro does not have yet! In particular, this shooting with a frequency of 120 frames / s using 1080p resolution, as well as the ability to save navigation coordinates. We should not forget about the stabilizer, even if it is electronic, not optical.
Xiaomi Yi Action Camera Basic Edition
A tiny Chinese action camera that weighs barely 72 grams. The wireless technologies it supports include not only Wi-Fi, which is usual in such cases, but also Bluetooth.
Advantages:
- Very low cost;
- Availability of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi;
- Low requirements for microSD card;
- Compactness and minimum weight.
Disadvantages:
- 120 frames / s only at HD resolution;
- The lack of 4K video recording;
- Image quality is far from ideal;
- Scanty grade.
Reviews on Xiaomi Yi Action Camera Basic Edition show that buyers do not expect miracles from this device. Everyone understands that this product is released for those who do not need video in 4K resolution. Also, this device is not designed for photographing - this task is much better to handle your smartphone. But to record video in Full HD resolution can not find fault here. The picture quality is not perfect, but very close to how budget camcorders are shot. We will, by the way, talk about them in one of the upcoming articles.
Garmin Virb Elite
Action cameras are almost never equipped with a display. This is explained by the minimum battery capacity - the screen quickly consumes the charge of such a battery. However, exceptions to the rule still happen. An example of this is the Garmin Virb Elite - on the top of this action camera there is a small LCD display. First of all, it is designed to display the current speed, which will be especially relevant for cyclists and motorcyclists.
Advantages:
- The presence of an electronic image stabilizer;
- Excellent 16-megapixel CMOS-matrix;
- The presence of a small screen;
- On the case there is a microphone input and HDMI output;
- Synchronization with a smartphone via Wi-Fi;
- Built-in GPS chip;
- Very rich equipment.
Disadvantages:
- Overcharge;
- Great weight (125 g);
- Low frequency video;
- You can forget about 4K resolution.
The high cost of Garmin products will someday play a cruel joke with the manufacturer. Enough to read reviews on the Garmin Virb Elite, to understand that this action camera must be much cheaper.
The fact is that when shooting in 1080p resolution, the frequency here drops to 30 frames / s! Only with HD-resolution can you increase the frequency. And about 4K should be forgotten! Against this background, the importance of the presence of a GPS module and microphone input is lost.
SJCAM SJ5000 WiFi
This action camera was released by a Chinese manufacturer in early 2016. The resolution of the matrix installed here is increased to 14 Mp. This further improved the quality of the picture. Everything is in order here and with the lens, the aperture of which is open to the value of f / 2.8. You can only be upset because of the frequency of video, which can not be called high.
Advantages:
- Democratic price tag;
- Ideal size and weight;
- Synchronization with other devices via Wi-Fi;
- The presence of a two-inch LCD display;
- Connect to TV via HDMI;
- Using virtually any microSD memory card;
- Included is everything you need.
Disadvantages:
- The maximum resolution is only 1080p;
- Shooting at 60 frames / s - only at HD-resolution;
- Very bad microphone.
Knowledgeable people have never understood why SJCAM action cameras have become so popular. Yes, they write a high-quality picture, but at the same time reduce the frequency to the limit. All this they supply with low-quality sound. All this is evidenced by reviews on SJCAM SJ5000 WiFi - a novelty of the Chinese company. After viewing the result of shooting, even 74-gram weight does not please you. However, it should be noted that the action cameras that are not in our list are capable of shooting even worse. Or they with identical characteristics are sold at a higher price.
GoPro HERO4 Black
An ideal that competitors will not reach soon. This device lacks only an image stabilizer. All other characteristics here are at the highest level. The disadvantage of GoPro traditionally remains the high cost of the camera itself and additional accessories.
Advantages:
- The presence of Time-Lapse;
- 4K-resolution support;
- The presence of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi;
- Connect to a monitor or TV via HDMI;
- High frequency;
- Optimum weight and dimensions;
- Good lens and matrix;
- No questions to reliability.
Disadvantages:
- Very scary price;
- Branded accessories are also expensive;
- Specific requirements for microSD.
Reviews on GoPro HERO4 Black show that as of the summer of 2016, nothing is better yet. This is undoubtedly the most surviving camera. There are no complaints about the quality of the picture. The camera shoots well even at night, which the vast majority of competitors cannot boast of. And the included waterproof box allows you to drop to a very decent depth - an additional accessory is not required even for real divers. In short, you can talk about GoPro HERO4 Black for a long time, but it's better to try this device yourself. This is the only way to appreciate its functionality.
What action camera to buy
1. The undisputed leader of our today's collection is GoPro HERO4 Black. This action camera provides the maximum opportunity that can be expected from such a compact device. But not everyone is ready to pay such a huge amount of money for such a device.
2. If you're looking for something a bit cheaper, then take a look at the Sony FDR-X1000V. To this model there are no serious complaints in terms of image quality. Slightly scared only its size - the device turned out a little more compact than the usual camcorders. But somewhere inside the gadget there is a GPS module - this is a kind of bonus.
3. Among the budget action cameras should be noted Xiaomi Yi Action Camera Basic Edition. This model provides a tolerable picture quality, approximately the same words can be said about sound. Not forgotten here and the module Wi-Fi, with which synchronization with the smartphone. But on the high resolution or shooting sloumo you have to forget. As with the purchase of SJCAM SJ5000 WiFi. This model is generally not recommended for purchase at least because of the quality of the audio track. How not to seriously consider the option of buying Garmin Virb Elite, unless you have already bought the other gadgets of this manufacturer.
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