The market is so vast that buying a camera sometimes becomes a headache and you don't even know where to start. Instead of taking a painkiller after searching, better read this article in which I bring you a list of the best sports cameras and, not only that, also recommendations when choosing the one that best suits your needs.
These types of cameras are ideal for accompanying on great adventures and in all kinds of sports. They are specifically designed so that they can be submerged and so that they can be attached to an infinite number of accessories that allow recording or photographing from impossible angles, placed on a helmet, a handlebar, a skateboard or anywhere you can think of.
They are small and light cameras, but with infinite creative possibilities.
WHAT TO CONSIDER WHEN BUYING
Features you should look at before choosing your sports camera:
- Use. The first thing is to define what use you plan to give it, if you want to submerge it or not, if it is for sporadic use, if you want more professional videos, if you want to record yourself while you check the framing, if the sound is important or not, etc.
- Budget. It is useless to choose a product that you cannot afford. Sometimes it is worth waiting a little longer if you are clear that you are going to be able to and you are going to amortize it. However, if you can't get to X, lower the standards and find what you really need that falls within the budget you can afford. There are cameras of all prices.
- Size and weight. A sports camera should be small and light, that fits in your pocket and that you can attach to various accessories. The weight is very important, for example, if you want to attach it to a drone.
- Resolution. Megapixels are important if you want to crop, enlarge, etc. If you are going to leave your photos or videos as they are, and it is for sharing on social networks and little else, you do not need the camera with the most megapixels on the market.
- Video. Depending on your needs and expectations, look not only at whether it is a 4K or 5K camera, but also at the frames per second, for example, if you want to make videos in slow motion it is very relevant.
- Bit rate . The higher the better video quality and more information. However, it is important to keep in mind that you need adequate equipment as the processing is more complex.
- Image Stabilizer. If you are going to record videos on the move such as running, cycling, motorcycle, etc., it is essential that it has an image stabilizer. There are several types of stabilization:
- External, for example, with a gimbal.
- Optical, it works well to correct vibrations or trepidation without losing quality, although it is not very common.
- Electronics, performs a crop to correct the movements of the camera. Although effective, it may affect viewing quality or viewing angle, depending on the model.
- Sound. What needs do you have? Are you going to create content and need a good sound? Do you care more about the image than the sound? Depending on your needs, take into account what kind of inputs for external microphones and whether it has a wind noise reduction mode, etc., because the internal microphone is usually not a panacea.
- Optics. Look at the type of lenses, the angle, the aperture, etc. The smaller the focal length (mm), the more of the scene you can record.
- Autonomy. Battery life is important. The greater the mAh, the greater the autonomy. Although having spare batteries does not imply excessive expense or excessive weight, if you want long videos without interruptions, for example, it is important to take this into account.
- connectivity. To import your photos directly to the phone, control your camera via the app, etc., you need to have a Wi-Fi or similar connection.
- Accessory compatibility. If you already have a sports camera and want the accessories to work for you, make sure they work for you. Also look, if you want it for something very specific, that it has the necessary accessory or there is one that is compatible.
- Submersible. Observe if it is submersible with or without a housing and how many meters so that you can choose according to your specific needs. It is not the same to snorkel on the shore of the beach than to submerge 10m with a cylinder.
- 360º. Some cameras record in 360º, if you really need this function, you better choose a specific one. These cameras offer a more general and unique vision than normal ones.
- Brand. There are some reference brands that are a safe bet, such as GoPro. Other reference brands in this type of cameras are DJ, or Insta 360. A Xiaomi sports camera may sound familiar to you , not long ago the brand released some cameras that were quite attractive in terms of quality-price, but for now it seems that they have stopped doing so . If you find them second hand you can value them without fear.
BEST SPORTS CAMERAS
Let's first see a comparative table of the best 4K sports cameras of this year and then we will delve into each of them:
| GoPro Hero 10 Black |
Insta360 ONE R/RS |
Insta360 Go 2 |
DJI Osmo Action 3 |
DJI Action 2 |
AKASO V50 Elite |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
| Year | 2021 | 2022 | 2022 | 2022 | 2021 | 2021 |
| megapixels | 23 | 48 | 9 | 12 | 12 | twenty |
| lens angle | 170º | 360º | 120º | 155° | 155º | 170º |
| Video | 5K | 4K 60fps |
1440p 50fps | 4K 120/fps |
4K/ 120fps |
4K 60fps |
| size mm approx |
55x71x33 | 70x49x43 | 53x24x21 | 70×44×32 | 39×39×22 | 60x41x31 |
| Weight (g) |
153 | 135.3 | 26.5 | 145 | 56 | 83 |
| Submersible without housing |
10m | 5m | 4m | 16m | 10m | ? |
| mAh battery |
1720 | 1445 | 1100 | 1770 | 580 | 1100 |
| Stabilization | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| front screen | ? | ? | ? | ? | Module | ? |
| rear screen | 2.27 ″ touch |
6k panoramic mode |
In charging case |
2.25 ″ touch |
Touch 1.76″ |
2″ touch |
approx price |
€450 | €570 | €325 | €360 | €400 | €150 |
Now we will see them in detail, notice that they are not in any special order.
1. GOPRO HERO 10 BLACK: A SAFE BET
GoPro is a reference sports camera, regardless of the model you choose, it is a safe bet. Some with more functions than others but all offer excellent quality.
We included the GoPro Hero 10 Black because it has more of what you'd expect from an action camera priced much lower than the newer model. However, both its predecessor the Hero 9 Blackas the successor Hero 11 BlackThey deserve their place here.
Its main features are: high-performance GP2 processor, 23 MP, 5.3K videos at 60 fps and 4K at 120 fps, 1080p live streaming, HyperSmooth 4.0 advanced video stabilization, front screen with smoother playback and rear screen touch, HindSight: so you don't miss a thing, capture up to 30 seconds before you start recording, scheduled capture and capture duration, resistant and submersible up to 10 m, three modes to share your photos, TimeWarp 3.0 and night time, camera slow motion 8X (2.7K), plus over 30 mounts and accessories.
Its price right now is €469.00
5K video and image quality.
Heating.
- Dimensions : 55 x 71 x 33.6mm
- Weight : 153g
- Battery : 1720mAh
2. INSTA 360 ONE RS TWIN EDITION: FOR THOSE WHO WANT IT ALL
Actually it is more of a modular camera that allows you to choose between different types of lenses, with which you can have a sports camera and a 360º camera all in one .
Image stabilizer, waterproof up to 5m, 48MP image sensor, 5.7K recording, one-inch super wide-angle lens, horizon lock, possibility of adding an invisible Selfie Stick that allows third-person vision, Wi connectivity -Fi, web cam and live broadcast, or editing, among other features.
Its price right now is €455.99
Lens change option. Operating temperature from -20°C to 40°C.
Screen size.
- Dimensions : 70.1 x 49.1 x 43mm
- Weight : 135.3g
- Battery : 1445mAh
