Buying Guide cameras cheap action: How to choose the best among many models

GoPro has become the market leader chambers of action but is not alone. No, not talking about its direct competitors like Sony or TomTom but a lot of coming manufacturers in China who have decided to join the category with affordable models with cheap prices and where sometimes no blush copies design Hero family.

More and more and being so affordable it is inevitable that have succeeded in drawing public attention. Among this avalanche of cameras, there are some very interesting models and many are dispensable. With this buying guide, we want to help separate the wheat from the chaff because although you’ve heard that ” records as well as a GoPro and worth less than half ” do not listen to your brother. This is all you need to know.

Basic features

When we begin to see action cameras first thing that attracts our attention is the resolution. For some time, this number does not mean much because having more pixels on the sensor does not translate into better image quality. It’s easy to find what model takes each: Sony, OmniVision, and Panasonic…

Specifications we can see at a glance in an action camera there are two aspects that should interest us. On the one hand battery: important to look good on how much capacity of each model. Autonomy is highly variable and depends on a lot on how we record video if we do Full HD we will take a little less than in HD 720p if we do well lit WiFi can use it for less time…

Buying Guide cameras cheap action

On the other hand, we support accessories. Many manufacturers have decided to copy the coupling system using GoPro to use different accessories. From sealed to protect it from water and blows with sticks and supports all housings. Normal is that in most cameras come with us to see something like the system shoe and screw GoPro. Figures well because having variety means using more power the camera and give you more uses.

Of the remaining specifications, we take into account other details such as the lens opening or slot type used for cards. If you want to know the actual quality of these cameras have to look beyond the technical specifications because although manufacturers promise us a lot of resolution sensors, there are many important details that are not reflected the naked eye.

And the native resolution that record? In the models, we will see today in almost the entire standard is Full HD at 60 frames per second. Some go up to 2K with 30 fps but none still reaches 4K UHD. That remains the exclusive province of the top end of time.

As mentioned, not all sensors in these cameras and image quality only see through recorded by other user’s videos. So far no manufacturer has managed to put a good sensor in these models and this means that what we record may have quality far from what we expected at first. So our first tip when we specifically interested in a model that we will see some samples.

We must pay close attention to compression artifacts. In digital photography, they are very common today but most sensors used in cameras or mobile phones do not create many distortions. In action cameras low cost is easy to find these artifacts, i.e. lose many quality images, blurred details; the colors are not displayed naturally…

Another important aspect is that sometimes we ignore the image stabilization. We have an action camera, ergo we will move much and therefore, we do not want that image or when mounting the device in a fixed location (a helmet, handlebars of a bike …) we record the video vibrate and do not allow us to enjoy a smooth image. Again: important to review recorded with each model because in some cases the stabilization absent thus killing of grace to use one of these cameras videos.

If you look on the outside of the chambers, most opt for a fish eye type lens that allows us to take pictures and record video with a wide angle. It also allows us the option to keep the proportions but not all of the cameras make a similar cut. Take a good look because in some models you will see that many image slouch when we move from one mode to another.

There is one aspect that tends to fall into oblivion when we recorded with a camera action and that is the audio. All cameras come with built but not all pickup sound equally well microphone. On some models, a lot of noise by little the wind blows and other catches anything that barely sneaks away. Normally all make water and only a few are successful.

Special to mention the mobile application used by each manufacturer, this element will be the link that we expedite the transfer of video and images to your smartphone so that we can share directly with our friends and not have to pass the contents on a computer and a USB cable. Some of them do very well as Xiaomi or SJ but others are quite disastrous.

Before moving on to discuss the cameras a little summary: Look at specifications such as battery and compatibility with accessories. The sensor is an element that at first glance does not tell us much and it is best to look videos to check items that are not seen with the naked eye: compression devices, image stabilization, natural color representation … The application mobile, without being a key player, should work well for the experience of transferring files not frustrating.

Xiaomi Yi Camera

Among the many manufacturers there Xiaomi action camera is the one that stands out because of the reputation that has already been created with their mobile. Camera Yi was clear they wanted to compete with GoPro and be a reference in the line of basic models. Options that exist in the list is one of the most interesting: decent image quality, ease of use both to take pictures and to record video and image stabilization correct.

The only downside is that the battery tends to become very hot when we turned on the WiFi outside we are recording video or transferring files to your mobile. Removing that’s one of the best options and can be found in different stores at a good price.

YI CAMERA
Dimensions 60.4 x 42.0 x 21.2 mm
Weight 72 grams
Sensor 16 megapixels
Opening F / 2.8
Native resolution 1920 x 1080 pixels at 60 fps
Battery 1010 mAh
Accessories If
Connectivity WiFi 802.11 b / g / n, USB 2.0
Storage microSD Cards

SJ5000 Plus

SJ is another great brand with Xiaomi aims to fight for the throne of being the best cheap camera action. It has many models in the market and has to look good when we get one because it is easy to find counterfeits or other cheaper models camouflaged with your name. Its best-known model is the SJ4000 but the more powerful the SJ5000 Plus.

The SJ5000 Plus is ambitious, but not started on the right foot (1.4 firmware had many problems) with subsequent updates has become one of the best options. Good image quality, a decent microphone, recording many options … still continues to fail in some aspects such as recording in slow motion but removing it is a highly recommended model.

SJ5000 PLUS
Dimensions 60 x 41 x 24.7 mm
Weight 72 grams
Sensor 16 megapixels
Opening F / 2.8
Native resolution 1920 x 1080 pixels at 60 fps
Battery 900 mAh
Accessories If
Connectivity WiFi 802.11 b / g / n, USB 2.0
Storage microSD Cards

 

SJ4000, chamber thousand names

SJ4000 very careful with a camera that is going to find in many online stores by different names, only the original model will see the logo of SJ, the rest are clonic with similar image quality but in many cases lower. The identification because the body is not and logo of SJ and instead appears to Newer or CS720, QUMOX, Buyer, Cooler. It is the little sister of the SJ5000 Plus and technically is a step below.

Microphone quality is not the best in class so if this aspect is important to us, better discard it. The WiFi connectivity with the application is improved and large video files you have trouble moving them. It is not the best choice of our list but if we find recessed, is an interesting model if you do not want to toil away a lot of money.

SJ4000
Dimensions 60 x 41 x 24.7 mm
Weight 72 grams
Sensor 12 megapixels
Opening F / 2.8
Native resolution 1920 x 1080 pixels at 30 fps
Battery 900 mAh
Accessories If
Connectivity WiFi 802.11 b / g / n, USB 2.0
Storage microSD Cards

Blackview Hero 1

Blackview is probably the manufacturer has less shame when copying GoPro: packaging very similar, identical design, a wink in the name with that Hero … Fortunately, it is not only in appearance and image quality we surprise with a Sony sensor that is able to record video at 60 fps 2K.

Not only is a resolution, image quality is good and although the image stabilization is improved, it is a very good option price / quality ratio. Its major flaw is the software: slow, with many problems to synchronize with mobile. Here Black view still has a lot to improve but if we are a little patient, we have a very good camera at a good price.

The second version of this Black view called Hero 2. Take Omnivision sensor instead of Sony and also includes the ability to control the camera with a remote control. Except that you have much interest in having a snap to record distance, the Hero one deserves more punishment.

BLACKVIEW HERO 1
Dimensions 59.27 x 41.13 x 29.25 mm
Weight 71 grams
Sensor 16 megapixels
Opening F / 2.8
Native resolution 2304 x 1296 pixels at 30 fps
Battery 1050 mAh
Accessories If
Connectivity WiFi 802.11 b / g / n, USB 2.0
Storage microSD Cards

SOOCOO S60

Just our list with a sports model, the S60 SOOCOO, its sensor is capable of recording video at 1080p and 30 fps. It has an LCD screen on the back and autonomy is average compared to other models. The image quality is acceptable but the most interesting of this model we have the ability to match it with the remote control included.

This accessory comes with an adjustable strap that allows us to control the recording and even using a digital zoom of four increases. Maybe not the most attractive at first glance but considering that it is capable of recording video to good quality and not too hot, it is a good option if you do not want to toil away much.

 

SOOCOO S60
Dimensions 67 x 70 x 45 mm
Weight 94 grams
Sensor 10MP
Opening F / 2.8
native resolution 1920 x 1080 pixels at 30 fps
Battery 1010 mAh
Accessories If
connectivity WiFi 802.11 b / g / n, USB 2.0
Storage microSD Cards

Is it worth then buy one?

Action cheap cameras have become my social circle again Will I buy it? And my answer is always the same: it depends on. With none of the cameras that we have seen today, and nor with the infinity of variations and models on online stores, we will get a good image quality such as a GoPro top end. Nothing happens are two different leagues and you had to understand why one is worth 400 dollars and another just over 100 with shipping.

There are key points that currently Chinese manufacturers have failed to make the cut: optical image stabilization is poor and moving image vibrates a lot, sensor and image processing sometimes shows unreal colors, many devices, mobile application It presents connectivity issues … Small details that make the difference.

If you simply bites our curiosity and we have very clear if we will use over time, go to for any of these models, it’s a small investment, you can get acceptable results but in my opinion are all having short if we something more ambitious. That’s where then we wonder whether it is worth making the leap.

If we are aware that we will record a long video with it (either for work or leisure) and also want a very good image quality, GoPro or any other action camera top end it is what we are looking for. It is more money, yes, but do not be deceived, the price difference is more than justified and sometimes you have to assume that the cutting edge of the market is not for us and we just do everything with something more modest.