Find the right actioncam
In the meantime, you can find action cams from many other manufacturers in addition to the market leader GoPro . Where Sony and Rollei are still well known brands, there are a large number of other manufacturers that are far less well known or only known to insiders. These are, for example, Apeman or GoXtreme these manufacturers, like GoPro, specialize in the development of action cams, software and accessories.
It is not easy to find the right camera for the intended use among this large selection. In addition, the price range is between 50€ – 500€, whereby expensive does not necessarily have to be better. To make your choice easier, we have compared current action cameras in three price categories. In addition to the technical equipment, the cameras also differ particularly in the scope of delivery. Some manufacturers include an underwater housing and various mounts with the cameras, with others you only get maybe an adhesive mount in addition to the camera.
Actioncams up to 100€
In the price range up to 100€, you have to accept cutbacks in features, as expected. But that doesn’t mean you can’t do anything with these action cams. That depends very much on the planned use. The cheap GoXtreme 20133* which can be bought for just under 50€ can be used very well for underwater shots and it also comes with some accessories. What will rather not work is to film a downhill run. It lacks the image stabilizer for that. The Apeman Actioncam* is then more suitable for use. For a good 65€, it at least has an electronic image stabilizer on board. It’s not as good as an optical image stabilizer, which intervenes before the image is created, but it’s better than nothing. If in doubt, try out whether the camera is sufficient for the intended use.
Actioncams for snorkeling and diving
All action cams can be used for snorkeling and diving. Most action cams come with a waterproof housing that makes them waterproof up to 30m.
However, there are also some action cams that are waterproof without an additional housing. For example, all GoPro models* are waterproof up to 10m. This is not surprising, since the founder of GoPro originally wanted to develop an action cam as small as possible, with which he wanted to film himself surfing.
When diving or snorkeling in salt water, the camera with or without the housing must be rinsed well with fresh water afterwards to prevent salt crusts from forming. Before opening the camera, make sure that it is dry.
Action camera with remote control
When asking for a remote control for the actioncam, the first thing to consider is whether you really need such a thing. The action cams can usually all set up a wifi that you can access with your smartphone or tablet via app. For most people this will probably be enough, as you will then also get a live picture.
Current test reports
You won’t be able to use your phone when filming underwater or when downhill skiing, for example. Therefore, a simple remote control with which you can start or stop the filming is definitely a big advantage.
Tip
If you don’t have a live image underwater, for example, you should do a test run and adjust the camera properly before really getting down to business. Most diving or snorkeling masks have a mount for an action cam. For helmets, most action cam manufacturers already provide mounts.
Actioncams 100€ – 200€
In the price range 100€ – 200€ the action cameras have a better equipment. Thus, these cameras usually all have image stabilization, which of course increases the field of application. With some action cams, you can buy a remote as an option if you really need it.
HD Video vs. 4K / UHD
Being able to record 4K/UHD videos sounds interesting at first. But does this really bring more quality to the recorded videos?
The standard for video recording is still HD with an image resolution of 1,920 x 1080 pixels. The decisive factor here is how many frames per second the video is recorded at. The best quality is achieved with 60fps (frames per second). Especially for sports shots with fast movements this is an absolute must. Everything that is recorded underneath looks more or less jerky.
4K videos on action cams, the possible frames per second are the problem. From the resolution of the image sensor, almost all action cams manage to record a 4K/UHD image. The decisive factor, however, is the processing speed with which the camera can process the data stream. Many action cams that can record 4K videos only manage 25fps, which is simply too low for fast movements. Apart from that, 4K videos require many times more storage space and battery life is also severely limited here.
When you consider that most television shows are broadcast in HD resolution at most, the issue of 4K quickly becomes relative. The 4K capable TVs interpolate the HD content, so you won’t notice that much then though. You can only get true 4K content from mainstream streaming services, like Netflix. Then, of course, when all the equipment is optimized for 4K, you get a great TV picture with incredible sharpness and contrast.
Actioncams from 200€
In this price range you get state of the art action cameras. Here, however, it also becomes clear where the manufacturers place a special focus.
The Sony FDR-X3000R* action cam puts a lot of emphasis on optimal optical features. The optical image stabilization Balanced Optical SteadyShot is probably the best on the market right now. For that reason, Sony may have decided to forgo an even higher frame rate for 4K videos. The Sony camera also has a real optical zoom function built in, which makes it possible to change the angle of view without any loss.
GoPro’s flagship is the GoPro Hero 7 Black* without an additional housing, it is waterproof up to 10m. The GoPro Hero 7 Black obeys your every word, so you can control the camera without a remote. Just like the SJCAM SJ8 Pro*, the GoPro Hero 7 Black can also shoot 4K video for fast motion at 60fps.
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Letzte Aktualisierung am 27.07.2024 / Affiliate Links / Bilder von der Amazon Product Advertising API