We re only mildly exaggerating when we say that everyone has a camera in their pocket. According to the latest Australian Mobile Phone Lifestyle Index, 89% of Australians own a smartphone of some kind, all capable of taking stills or shooting video. As pervasive as they are, they re not exactly ideal for situations beyond filming something spontaneous, nor are they much chop underwater, or fixed to anything that suffers serious, circuitboard-loosening vibrations. Enter, the action cam ready and willing to take the hard knocks. The concept s been around since the mid-80s when an American television network used footage from a Canon CI-10 that was strapped to the side of a motorbike rider s helmet. It was comparatively gargantuan compared to today s tiny boxes, hanging off the side of the rider s lid.
Now, action cameras have lost a lot of weight and can be placed in some incredible places, not least on vehicles but on people. Many are capable of being submersed to 40m, and some up to 100m.
GoPro has become the catch-all name for the category, largely due to the brand s explosive growth throughout the mid-noughties, and nous with social media. It s pushing the category as much as it can, and it s skirting ever closer to hitting professional-grade quality. Despite challengers entering the action cam market, trying to beat their neighbour either on price or function, the majority of them are compatible with GoPro mounts. It s a sensible eco system, as it means that replacement pads, screws, handlebar clamps, even a harness to attach to your dog, can be swapped in and out. While cams are better than your phone s lense, they re not about to leave smartphones behind entirely a lot of them actually rely on that pervasive device so you can actually see what you ve been filming.
Action cameras checklist
Remote
A handy optional extra, allowing you to be out of arm s reach of your camera. Some come bundled, most are optional extras.
App
A good smartphone app acts as a viewfinder, and a easier way to flick through menus.
Mounts
Cams that use GoPro mounts generally get a thumbs up, as replacement parts are abundant.
GPS
Some cameras utilise GPS so you can track where you ve been, and match up to the footage on screen.
Waterproof
Depending on how wet you want to get, you ll add weight for better waterproofing.
Battery
Planning on shooting for more than two hours at a time? Look for a model that has a removable battery.
Charge cable
Most of the cams here use micro USB, some mini-USB. A bespoke cord can be annoying if it goes missing.
HDMI out
Very handy for quickly revisiting and enjoying footage, but if you re going to edit it before showing it off to the world, this isn t so necessary.
How we tested
All cameras were mounted to a helmet and also to a motorbike, and used in rainy and bright conditions. They were also tested inside under fluorescent lights, and on a ski field.
GoPro Hero4 Black Edition
Glance at GoPro s lineup of cameras and you ll see a range that echoes the strategy employed by many smartphone manufacturers there s a device to suit every niche which can be bewildering. The Hero4 Black has been on sale for more than a year and is still the top of the range, but the hero of GoPro s lineup is in need of a slight overhaul if it s to stay there.
The Hero4 Silver has an LCD screen for view-finding duties, which the Black eschews in favour of improved video capabilities. You can also connect it to the all-in-one app on your Android or iOS if you do want a viewfinder, and to browse clips stored on the camera s memory card. There s not much the Black can t do 4K at 30fps, 1440p at 80fps and 1080p at 120fps and it does it all with aplomb. Image quality is top notch, no matter what mode you re shooting in, and stills are also clear. It s rare for the action cams in this roundup to be able to do both, but the images we took were packed with detail and rich colours with no purple or green tinges in high-contrast situations.
However, there s no image stabilisation, and you need the housing for it to be waterproof, making it a little bulky. Plus, there s no GPS built in a feature that the next line of Heroes will need to compete with cameras that are smarter, but not yet classier.
Price: £749.95
From: GoPro1
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
GoPro Hero4 Session
While the Session is the newest to the Hero range, it s marketed as being somewhere between the regular Hero and the Hero4 Silver. Don t let that mid-tier status put you off: it s a star performer and stands out for a few reasons. First of all, it doesn t look like a GoPro, being distinctly cube-like. It also only has two buttons, one to turn on Wi-Fi pairing and the other to start/stop recording. You ll need the separate remote or a smartphone to alter any other settings, as the tiny dot-matrix screen only shows off battery and SD card info.
While it s deeper than the Black, it s far narrower, and the cube design with revised cradles means this is a cam that s far more flexible than anything else we ve tested. Where other cameras needed bar extensions to get that just so angle, you can place this facing forwards, backwards and upwards straight out of the box, and its radically lighter than Black or Silver. The new design is also waterproof to 10m without needing an additional case, further cutting down on bulk and weight. Video quality is excellent, smooth, clear and vibrant in HD, or stick it on 120fps for slow-mo shots.
However, there are drawbacks. The battery is hard-wired in, though it promises up to two hours of life, and the record button has about two seconds of lag before the camera turns on and starts shooting this is common across the GoPro range. For a simple, solid performer, the Session is a winner.
Price: £449.95
From: GoPro2
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
360fly
Here s a concept that makes you think why didn t someone think of this sooner . The 360fly records the world 360 horizontally, and 240 vertically. This means that, after you hit the record button, you ll see everything that is in front, behind, beside and up and over your head.
Essentially, it s a 1mm lens that captures footage in an extreme fisheye effect, and relies on an Android/iOS app (or OSX/Windows software) to then make sense of it. You could play the .mp4 files in any media player, but you d see raw video that s extremely warped. Plus, the software shows off what this camera was designed for social media and easy sharing. Both the app and desktop software edit clips, either locking the point of view in the direction(s) of your choice, or (as long as the recipient has the software) allow them to view and explore the footage. Or upload to YouTube, using the explore tool on the site.
Keep it on your mobile and you can convert it to work with Google Cardboard VR very cool. It s also dead simple to use, with one button for all operations, and it vibrates instead of beeping to let you know it s working. As exciting as it is, the 360fly is in its early days. Yes, it s waterproof to 50m (as long as you use the plug for the mic); yes, it s compatible with GoPro mounts; but the video is harsh, pixelated and struggles with high contrast lighting. It s also very expensive.
Still, this model will appeal to anyone who s looking for something different, less concerned with fidelity and more with capturing the moment no matter where it s happening.
Price: £649.95
From: 360fly3
Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5
Garmin VIRB XE
Without data, it s just video is Garmin s tag for its high-end unit that goes a long way in turning your thrilling footage into something more tangible. As it records in HD and 1440p, the XE also records your location via GPS, and with it your speed and bearing, while the gyroscope and accelerometer measures how many Gs you were pulling. Play it back on your smartphone or PC/Mac (with the software installed) and you ll have a speedometer, course map and location, altitude and more, presented in a variety of attractive overlays.
It s a real point of difference that reveals just how dumb other action cams are, and the options for this fine information are staggering if you attach optional extras like, say, a heart-rate monitor, or a RPM monitor for your car. While it s waterproof to 50m without the need for an enclosure, GoPro still has it beat in physical design. Still, this chunkiness makes it robust, and is easy to operate with an easy-to-find rotating power switch. Attaching it to a helmet or handlebars is a cinch if you already have a selection of GoPro mounts, as they re all interchangeable.
You ll have to experiment with the settings as out-of-the-box video footage is a little washed out, even in bright, streaming sunshine, and stills in bright light have an annoying purple tinge. Depending on what you re doing (and how close you are to a power source to plug in the proprietary charging cable) you may want to pick up a second battery, as you ll get two hours max out of this.
Price: £529
From: Garmin4
Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5
GoPro Hero+
To avoid confusion, GoPro s Hero+ isn t a first-generation Hero, but an entry-level model with the basics for high-def recording and Wi-Fi capability thrown in on top. Like the LCD iteration, the Hero+ welds the camera to the case, meaning the battery can t be replaced. The only customisation open to you is replacing the rear door and the size of your microSD card.
It s a slick move. The Wi-Fi option means your smartphone can be your viewfinder and extended menu system, rather than relying on the functional but tiny screen on the camera itself. Of course, you can trim and share the footage from the app, though we found the low-res option was very poor: high-res is much less choppy. On a computer, though, image quality is on par with the LCD variant, producing more than acceptable results with good colour representation, holding up well in high-contrast situations.
It s locked into a wide field of view, and the fisheye effect is pretty apparent if you re filming close to any objects, and the image is very stable with only minor distortion. In many ways, the Hero+ is a slightly lumpier version of the Session, both physically and in terms of image quality. Both can be turned on and start shooting with one button press. Both utilise the app as a viewfinder. However, one costs £150 more than the other. The Session is the better camera, though if you simply want HD footage at 60fps, you ll be quite content with the Hero+.
Price: £299.95
From: GoPro5
Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5
GoPro Hero+ LCD
At first, the LCD model in GoPro s entry level range seems redundant. Why bother when it can also connect via Wi-Fi to a smartphone for video revision? One simple answer: it s ideal for anyone who loves to film in and under water.
There s nothing revolutionary happening here, as the specs show, they re near identical to the Hero+. The screen is touch sensitive and it s very responsive too, and more than big enough for the clumsiest of thumbs to dash through the menus, changing settings on the fly. But you wouldn t buy the LCD variant for that feature. It s easy enough to select playback using the physical buttons mounted on the front, top and side of the case, reviewing footage without opening the rear door, taking the guesswork out of underwater shoots. Like the Hero+, the LCD is waterproof to 40m in depth, with great colour representation. Even when mounted on a surface that suffers a lot of vibration, the LCD minimises wobble, though the forced ultra-wide setting is apparent when close to objects.
Again, like all GoPros, the LCD can turn on and start shooting with one press of a button. As it s mounted in its case, you can t replace the battery, though with the screen and Wi-Fi off, you ll get up to two and a half hours of use. A solid, reliable performer, best for an adventurous life spent in the water.
Price: £449.95
From: GoPro6
Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5
Sony FDR-X1000V
There s a lot to like about Sony s updated action cam. Splash-proof without its case, packed with 4K and super slow 240fps, with a GPS tracker, and easy to use software for your smartphone, PC and Mac.
Plus, by comparing the footage on the Sony and any GoPro, you d see two class leaders going head-to-head bright, clear and smooth, and the motion stablisation for video is a dream. Sony s camera feels like it s largest in this group, which works for and against it. It s easier to hold when you re flicking through the settings, and the extra real estate affords a clear, easy-to-read screen. But the sheer volume means it has a strange centre of gravity a concern if you have this mounted on a helmet.
Like the Hero4 Session, the Sony turns on and starts recording with one button, and while there s a couple of seconds of delay, the chime means you know it s working. With GPS data enabled, Sony s Action Cam Movie Creator software maps out your speed, route taken, plus the length of time. You don t get much choice for overlay options, but they re pleasing enough. There are limitations. With our card formatted by the camera, the most we could shoot in one 1080p/60 file was 4.26Gb, 22:33 of footage. Also, if you want to stitch together two files from the same shoot, you can t use your GPS data.
Plus, the really annoying part is that, while the camera and case have a standard quarter-inch thread, Sony s mounts are incompatible with GoPro s. Third-party adapters to fit the Sony exist, but it s one more problem to solve.
Price: £599
From: Sony7
Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5
Kaiser Baas X100
First glances suggest the X100 and the X80 are identical, but take a second look and you ll see a few key differences that make it worth the extra cost. The lens is a little larger and it also sports a wireless remote, as well as the option to use your smartphone as a viewfinder, which is a nice inclusion at this price point. Luxuries stop there, however. This is a basic unit, but one that produces reasonable results.
Motion stablisation is nonexistent, as is altering the field of view. Get too close to another object (say within half an arm s length) and the fisheye effect is immediately apparent. Strapping it to an object that experiences a lot of vibration produces an unsettling rippling effect. Keep it on your helmet or chest, however, and you ll be fine. Plus, the results are a too sharp and a little noisy, missing the punch of colour found in the GoPro and Sony cameras.
You have to be careful how you put it in its case, too get it off-centre and the lens picks up the grommet around the cover of the case, which gives an accidental vignette. That case is pretty much mandatory, as control via smartphone is basic. You can choose your resolution, whether you want to film or take photos, and that s about it. More advanced options like changing the time are only accessible on the camera itself.
Price: £179.95
From: Kaiser Baas8
Rating: 3 stars out of 5
TomTom Bandit
At first glance, TomTom s Bandit is an odd piece in a disparate range of products: the company has its name on dedicated vehicle GPS devices, fitness watches and an action camera. But those last two categories neatly dovetail much like Garmin s ecosystem with this unit, which gets as much right as it does wrong.
One seemingly ingenious design idea lets the Bandit down big time. The base with the mounting points rotates around the lens so that it can roll over 180 degrees, and when coupled with one of two included mounts, means it s possible to point the Bandit in all sorts of weird and wonderful angles, though not quite the full six degrees of freedom. But that rolling ring doesn t lock into place. During our tests, we d constantly see that the camera had twisted around upside down when mounted to a vehicle, possibly shaken loose due to the vibration.
Image quality is also so-so, with colours that lack punch, chromatic aberration and that miss fine detail, which is a shame when it s otherwise a joy to use. The monochrome LCD is big and clear, with a familiar four-way input that ll have you dancing through the options. Tagging exciting moments is easy both on the unit and with the included remote. Choose the smartphone app instead (sadly no PC or Mac equivalent exists) and you ll find a best-in-class experience that creates highlight reels with bright icons that pick out your finest moments based on speed, rotation and acceleration. With a better lens and mounting system, this would worry the leaders of the pack.
Price: £579
From: TomTom9
Rating: 3 stars out of 5
Kogan Action Camera 3+ Black Edition
Kogan s cut-price camera offers remarkable bang-for-buck, coming in at under £100 with almost enough change in your pocket to pick up extra, compatible third-party mounts, and with features you don t find on more expensive units. You do have to live with a lot of compromises, though.
First glances suggest an attractive unit for weekend adventurers. A handy laser pointer makes lining up the camera a cinch, and the four-way button makes zipping through menus a breeze (and they need to as there s no remote option for an app). Its 1.5-inch LCD screen works well as a viewfinder, too. The 3+ Black is a hefty unit in shape and weight, especially once it s inside its waterproof case. You ll have to find a hard point to mount it to, rather than a helmet, especially if you re going to be using this at speed. Careful when you do, though, as 1080i brings spotty results with obvious interlacing, and full HD is limited at 30fps.
No matter what resolution and frame rate you choose, footage suffers from a strange buckling effect, and like many cheaper cams, there s significant chromatic aberration in high-contrast situations. Although the Kogan is compatible with GoPro mounts, once the camera is inside its case and turned on, you need to open the case to turn it off. That s not so bad, but the camera will automatically turn off and the only way to turn it back on is to open the case again. If your budget is tight, and you simply want a camera that will get the job done, the 3+ Black is a fine option.
Price: £89
From: Kogan10
Rating: 2.5 stars out of 5
Shotbox S71
If you ever wanted people to know you have an action camera, the Shotbox is for you because it is enormous. With buttons and switches lashed all over it, the S71 looks like a camera that means serious business.
Sadly, it overreaches and ends up struggling, while emulating what better cameras achieve. The S71 ticks the boxes for basic action camera functionality HD recording, stills and burst photography, plus 4K (albeit at an action-unfriendly 15fps). Incredibly, the case is rated to be waterproof up to 100m. The screen on the rear acts as the menu system and as a viewfinder, or you can download a rudimentary app for viewfinding duties.
One interesting feature is the G-sensor , which starts shooting as soon as the camera detects it s moving. However, like much of the design, it s a flawed feature as it s over sensitive and begins working immediately you re better off pressing record than relying on this. The problems continue. The image rollover function (which flips the image 180 depending on whether the camera is upside or not) is only available on resolutions of 720p or less. Because of its mass and volume, especially when placed inside its waterproof housing, you ll feel the weight if you mount it on a helmet. And you can t turn Wi-Fi (or any of the other switches placed on the front) on or off once it s in the case.
All of this counteracts the otherwise perfectly acceptable video quality, which is a little hazy compared to the better video we ve seen, but otherwise would ve put it close to a podium finish.
Price: £439
From: Shotbox11
Rating: 2.5 stars out of 5
Kaiser Baas X80
The Kaiser Baas range wins points for simplicity they re easy to set up, and the X80 takes inspiration from GoPro in its menu system. There s one power and one shoot button, and the two are used in concert to make selections in the menu. So it s disappointing that the X80 loses out elsewhere positives counterbalanced with drawbacks. Like the X100, you ll have to rely on the waterproof case (submersible to 30m) to be able to mount this to anything, and it s wise to hitch it to a helmet rather than anything that ll suffer too much vibration.
As we ve seen with cheaper cameras, there s a lot of buckling. Remarkably, there s little to no chromatic aberration, but with little nuance in colour representation. It s a bright, high-contrast image, though colour appears in big block, with video compression really taking its toll and destroying any fine details. This result worsens as you lower the resolution (as you d expect). What s really odd and infuriating is that the X80 automatically splits up 1080p footage into two-minute chunks, while 720p files run out to a maximum of 17:34, and taking up 196.4MB. We can t explain it.
This does mean you ll get a lot of footage, and the battery life is reasonable, lasting for approximately 2.5 hours between charges.
In the battle of the cheaper cameras, the X80 has a slight advantage over the Kogan with its physical size, but the Kogan has it nailed in terms of sheer value.
Price: £129
From: Kaiser Baas12
Rating: 2 stars out of 5
References
^ GoPro (www.gopro.com)
^ GoPro (www.gopro.com)
^ 360fly (www.360fly.com)
^ Garmin (www.buy.garmin.com)
^ GoPro (www.gopro.com)
^ GoPro (www.gopro.com)
^ Sony (www.sony.com.au)
^ Kaiser Baas (www.kaiserbaas.com)
^ TomTom (www.tomtom.com)
^ Kogan (www.kogan.com)
^ Shotbox (www.shotbox.net.au)
^ Kaiser Baas (www.kaiserbaas.com)