Compare Our Top Pick Action Cameras
Max Video Specs Battery Life Max Bit Rate FOV Screen Weight (including battery) DJI Osmo Action 6 8K (16:9): 7680×4320@24/25/30fps (FOV options to Standard, Natural Wide, and Wide), 4K Custom: 3840×3840@24/25/30/48/50/60fps, 4K (4:3): 3840×2880@100/120fps 122 minutes 4k/60 fps 120 155 degrees, expandable to 182 with the BoosBoost t Boost FOV lens. Aperture: f/2.0-f/4.0 Focus Range (at aperture f/4.0): 0.2 m to ∞ Rear: 2.5-inch rear OLED touchscreen Front: 1.46-inch OLED touchscreen 149g GoPro Hero 13 Black 5.3K/60 fps (with 10-bit log), 4K/120 fps, 2.7K/240 fps, & 720p/400 fps with Burst Slo-Mo 75 minutes 5K/ 60fps, 91 minutes 5K/ 30fps, 4k/ 60fps 88 minutes 120 (200 with GoPro Labs firmware) 156 degrees, expandable to 177 with Ultra Wide Lens Mod Rear: 2.27-inch Touch Front: 1.4-inch Color Display 159g Insta360 Ace Pro 2 8K/30 fps, 4K/120 fps (with 8-bit color, no log) 105 minutes at 4k/30 fps 180 (but only 8-bit color) 157 degrees Rear: 2.5-inch flip touch LCD 177g DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro 4K/120fps (with 10-bit D-Log), 1080p/240 fps with Slo-Mo mode 118 minutes 4k/60 fps 100 155 degrees, expandable to 182 with Wide Angle lens Rear: 2.5-inch rear OLED touchscreen Front: 1.46-inch OLED touchscreen 145g DJI Osmo Nano 4K/60 fps 53 minutes at 4K/ 60 fps 120 (10-bit color) 143 degrees 1.96-inch touchscreen LCD 124g Insta360 Go Ultra 8K/60 fps 65 minutes 4K/ 30fps (pod only)/195 minutes 4K/ 30fps (using base station) 180 (but only 8-bit color) 156 degrees Rear:2.5-inch flip touch LCD 53g (pod)/160g (with base) GoPro Hero 12 Black 5.3K/60 fps (with 10-bit log), 4K/120 fps 49 minutes 4K/ 30fps 120 156 degrees, expandable to 177 with Max Lens Mod Rear: 2.27-inch Touchscreen Front: 1.4-inch color 154g Olympus TG-7 4K/30fps 330 shots/~50 4K/ 30fps 100 4x optical zoom (35mm equivalent: 25mm to 100mm) 3-inch 1080p LCD 249g
The B-Roll
All those cheap cameras on Amazon: Readers often ask, why spend $400 on a GoPro when they can get a camera with 4K video for $100? It's a fair question, and the answer comes down to software, primarily image stabilization. Action cameras are designed to be strapped to helmets or clipped to your chest while you skydive, rock climb, and race through the city on a scooter. Without stabilization, the results are something even your closest friends won't sit through. So yes, you'll get 4K footage with the cheaper cams, but it'll be footage no one wants to see. In our view, you're better off spending another $100 for an older GoPro (Hero 11 or 12) on sale.
Best Accessories to Trick Out Your Camera
Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
Once you have an action camera, you're good to go for most use cases. GoPro, Insta360, and DJI all provide helmet mounts and other ways to stick your camera where you want it. But there are some nice extras that can make getting that shot you're dreaming of even easier. Here are a few:
A good microSD card: You may get an SD card with your camera. Insta360's SD cards are pretty good actually, but I tend to use SanDisk's Extreme cards because they're fast and, as a bonus, waterproof. You can pick up a 512-GB card for around $70. I also like Samsung's Pro Plus microSD cards, which are a little faster in my tests. You can grab a 256-GB for around $96. DJI has some specific recommendations for microSD cards to use with the Action 6. Of their list the one I recommend is the Lexar Professional Silver Plus ($24).
GoPro Media Mod for $79: GoPro's sound is OK out of the box, but if you want higher-quality audio, this is where you start. Not because the Media Mod produces great sound—it's better than the camera, but still not great. What it offers is a microphone jack. Plug in a high-quality microphone and you'll finally have awesome sound. (Not recommended while skydiving.)
Handlebar/seatpost/pole mount for $40: This is my favorite mount for mountain biking, but it'll also work on ski poles and any other round object you want to clamp it to.
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