On the lookout for the best action camera you can find, but don’t know exactly what to look for? Here’s a quick breakdown of the more important features to keep in mind when checking out all the top action cams being sold in the market:
- HD Resolution – 720p is the bare minimum when it comes to HD action cameras, with 1080p being ideal. Anything less than 720p, and the pixels start to have a significant effect on picture fidelity. You may not notice this degradation on the smaller screen of the rear LCD panel or your smartphone, but its effects will be well pronounced on larger screens.
- Wide-Angle Lens – having a field of view of at least 90degrees is a must when it comes to the best action cameras in the market. Anything less, and the cameras start to miss out on what could have been an exciting scene. This is especially important when you want to catch breathtaking shots of your stunts.
- App Compatibility – the best sports cameras out there have an app on the Google Play or Apple iTunes store. This allows the cameras to work with smart devices linked up to them via wireless Internet access – always a good idea when you want to remotely monitor the camera’s feed in real-time with the aid of a separate camera operator.
- Wearable Remote Control – speaking of remote controls, the best sports cams almost always come with a wearable (i.e. watch, bracelet, goggles etc.) that let you run, pause and modify a few settings on the camera even when you’re the one doing the stunts. This gives you – or whoever the stunt man is – more control over when and how the video is captured.
- Waterproof Case – the manufacturers of the best action cameras know how their gadgets will often be used in rugged environments, which is why a waterproof case is one thing that is almost always included in the box. Not only do these protect against water, but also against the sand, dirt, dust and mud that your camera will inevitably come into contact with.
- Image Stabilization–electronic image stabilization is a must-have for the top action cameras in the market. They go a long way to ensuring smooth video – especially when you consider how much vibration these digital cameras have to deal with. Firmly mounting the camera helps reduce unnecessary vibration, but the matching software will help eliminate a larger chunk of it while processing the video.
- External Memory – working with the best action cameras means working with HD videos – which in turn means that you’ll need a lot of space to store that raw HD footage. Having an external SD card slot that supports at least 32 GB is a must, although 64 GB to 128 GB comes highly recommended if you plan to do BluRay quality video at 1080p.
- Versatile Mounting Straps – while duct tape can help you attach your camera where you want it to, the top action cameras use official mounting straps designed to streamline the whole process. This prevents you from having to deal with the muck that comes off of duct tape when you’re not careful peeling it off.
- High FPS – if you want to capture slow-motion video, then you’ll want to look for the best action cameras that can capture at the very least 60 frames per second. The higher the FPS – you can go all the way up to 240 with some models – the smoother the slow-motion playback will be.
Keep these in mind, and you’ll be able to identify the features that actually make best action cameras worth the heftier than normal price tags!
Chinavasion is a Hong-Kong based gadget wholesaler that gets all the best action cameras straight from the manufacturing heart of China – Shenzhen. Visit Chinavasion.com today to learn more about the company’s gadgets and gizmos!