The Best Sports Action Cameras Are as Fearless as You Are
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For the most daring of mountain climbers, oceanic explorers and cave-divers, capturing the wildest moments of your most perilous journeys is a task best handled by a powerful, portable and tough-as-nails camera. Sure, a traditional camera or a great smartphone can handle some of your adventures, but there’s so much more that an action-style camera can do.
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Fortunately, the best sports and action cams are rugged, lightweight and waterproof. You’ll forget they’re there, but they’ll help you preserve your memories. They also have stabilization features, so your footage won’t be too wobbly to watch. And today’s sports and action cams fit in your bag as easily as they fit in the palm of your hand, making them an essential gadget to travel with on your next trip or extreme sports adventure.
From a top-of-the-line option from GoPro to more affordable budget picks, these are the best sports and action cams to get.
1. Insta360 ONE RS Twin Edition
BEST OVERALL
When it comes to arresting, action-heavy video, no action or sports cam captures lightning in a bottle like the Insta360 ONE RS Twin Edition. It’s unique for its modular design, which allows you to swap out its camera lenses. The Twin Edition comes with 4K and 360-degree lenses, so you can choose what suits your needs. The latter is especially noteworthy because it allows users to shoot video and worry about the framing later. And when you factor in the camera’s Auto Exposure Bracketing for snapping multiple pics at once, the excellent Insta360 app for customizing all your best photos and the tough waterproofing, it becomes clear why the Insta360 ONE RS Twin Edition tops our list
Additionally, there’s also the Insta360 One R 1-inch Edition to consider. This device has a powerful Leica one-inch sensor (hence the name) and optics. This Insta360 also delivers jaw-dropping color, contrast and frame-by-frame accuracy, thanks in part to its 5.3/30FPS image-capture capabilities.
Insta360 ONE RS Twin Edition
Insta360 ONE R 1-inch Edition
2. GoPro Hero11 Black
TOP-NOTCH RESOLUTION
The GoPro Hero11 captures 5.3K video that provides more than 91% resolution over 4K video, as well as 24.7MP stills. You can even play back footage in 8x slo-mo so that you never miss a single moment of the action. Pair that with GoPro’s HyperSmooth Stabilization and multiple other features for a near-perfect image each and every time, and the GoPro Hero11 is easily one of the best action cameras on the market.
GoPro HERO11 Black
3. DJI Action 2
BEST FOR ACCESSORIES
Tough as nails, the DJI Action 2 can take on drops, dings and dunks of all kinds. Capable of being submerged in up to 10 meters of water, you’ll come for the portability and durability and stay for the near-endless accessorizing. The Action 2’s magnetic body allows you to instantly attach several DJI and third-party peripherals to the cam, from tripods to suction cup mounts. We also love the RockSteady 2.0 Stabilization, an onboard feature that delivers the kind of motion-clarity typically reserved for expensive gimbal attachments.
DJI Action 2
4. Insta360 Go 2
A BITE-SIZED OPTION
About no bigger than the average index finger, the Insta360 shoots at 1440p/50FPS, which is impressive when you consider how much processing power can be stored in such a small body. But that’s only scratching the surface. Packaged with a series of magnetized accessories, you’ll have an attachment for every cinematic situation, as well as a multi-purpose charging case that also as a remote and tripod for the Go 2.
Insta360 GO 2
5. GoPro Hero9 Black
ANOTHER AWESOME GOPRO
If the GoPro Hero11 is a bit out of your price range, the Hero9 is a solid second-best. Delivering 5K resolution video and 20MP photos, you’ll get all of the responsiveness and sharp detail that one expects from the GoPro brand, on top of HyperSmooth 3.0 stabilization for dialing in the action. The Hero9 will save you a few bucks and provide a shooting experience that is nearly identical to what you’ll receive with the Hero10.
GoPro Hero9 Black
6. AKASO EK7000
BEST FOR UNDERWATER VIDEO
The Akaso EK7000 is designed for life under the sea. Capable of being submerged up to 98 feet with its waterproof case attached, you’ll be able to use the EK7000 for all of your scuba, water-skiing and surfing needs. And with its 170-degree field-of-view and the ability to shoot 4K video at 30FPS, you won’t miss a second of whatever aquatic action you plan to capture.
Akaso EK7000
7. DJI Pocket 2
BEST IMAGE STABILIZATION
When it comes to stabilization, the DJI Pocket 2 is the way to go when it comes to the best action cams. With its motorized three-axis gimbal system, the Pocket 2 follows its subjects smoothly and accurately, delivering photos at up to 64MP and videos in 4K resolution, both free of blur and other photographic and video-based inconsistencies. On top of its medley of customizations and app features, the Pocket 2 is lightweight (only 116 grams) and has a powerful 140-minute battery.
DJI Pocket 2
8. Dragon Touch 4K Action Camera
BEST VALUE
On its long list of laurels, the Dragon Touch 4K Action Camera stands out in multiple ways. For starters, you’re getting a sports and action camera that shoots at up to 4K/30FPS, has a lens that captures a wide 170-degree field-of-view, can be submerged up to 100 feet and includes several handy accessories and in-app editing capabilities. But the real win is the Dragon Touch 4K’s price. You can score this amazing action cam for under $70! It may not be the most powerful action cam on the market, but it can certainly go toe-to-toe with the best of the best, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find this competitive price elsewhere.
Dragon Touch 4K Action Camera
9. Ricoh Theta SC2
IMMERSIVE 360-DEGREE IMAGERY
Designed to capture breathtaking 4K picture and video, the big calling card here is the SC2’s 360-degree field-of-view. Whether you’re trying to capture all of your family and friends at the biggest birthday party you’ve ever thrown, or you don’t want to miss an inch of the action at whatever sporting event you attend, the Theta SC2 won’t miss a beat.
Ricoh Theta SC2
10. GoPro Max
ALSO CONSIDER
In the world of the best sports and action cams, nothing says “reliability” like the GoPro name. And if you require a solid 360-degree style but don’t want to go with the Ricoh model, the GoPro Max is a stellar alternative. On top of regular photos and video, the Max can shoot 360-degree scenes as well as 270-degree panoramic shots. That’s on top of Max HyperSmooth for ultimate image stabilization and your choice of four digital lenses for the perfect framing of every single shot.
GoPro MAX
11. Insta360 X3
The Insta360 X3 makes capturing footage as simple as it can possibly be. Not only does it shoot 360 degrees around it in 5.7K resolution, but it makes it easy to reframe the shot from any angle in post-production. Dual 48MP sensors let you capture 72MP photos, 8K timelapses, and much more, while the 4K Single-Lens Mode makes it a snap to take wide-angle footage. All of this is made possible thanks to the FlowState Stabilization and 360 Horizon Lock features that combat shaky-cam footage, as well as a feature that automatically crops out selfie sticks from footage.
Insta360 X3
How We Chose the Best Sports and Action Cameras
When it comes to action-oriented cameras, you need a device that’s easy to use, lightning-fast, durable, portable and simple to accessorize. When researching the top sports and action cams, here are several of the key criteria that we took into consideration.
Resolution and motion capabilities: With 4K a current consumer tech staple, we expect every action cam to deliver HD resolution that’s at least over 1080p. Additionally, we made big efforts to only include cameras that delivered motion features that best enhanced whatever resolutions were available. Not only should your photos and videos be filled with color and depth, but the action should be sharp and crystal-clear, with minimal blur and artifacts. The potential for greater-than-8K-resolution is also a plus.
Durability and portability: The best sports and action cams should be armored to the teeth, complete with rugged casings, strong weather resistance and waterproofing metrics that guarantee safety on the high seas. Additionally, we made sure to include cameras that were easy to throw in a bag, clamp to a helmet and throw on a mount. When it comes to action cams, portability is just as essential as durability.
Accessories and other attachments: We looked for action and sports cams that could be accessorized. Some of these cameras are magnetized to allow add-ons like cases, mounts and other quick-snap peripherals. Then there are options like the Insta360 Go 2 that come with a bunch of attachments right out of the box. Variety and customization are the name of the game with accessories, and we did our best to represent both.
Modularity: A lot of action cameras are now modular, which means you can invest in only the accessories and parts you need. If you have no interest in a wide-angle lens, you don’t have to buy one. The modular nature of these cameras makes it easier to get your foot in the door without breaking the bank.
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