Five worthy alternatives to Sony and GoPro action cameras

The compact "baby" from AirOn is an affordable alternative to the many times more expensive GoPro cameras, in the image and likeness of which the model was created.

The factory packaging with an action camera is many times larger than the camcorder itself for active filming. The thing is that a huge pile of related accessories is carefully placed in it: a waterproof box (up to 30 m), a microUSB cable for charging the camera, helmet and steering wheel mounts, safety and multifunctional belts and much more. Due to the richness of the equipment, only the most avid adherents of active types of filming will need to buy other fasteners in a pair with an action camera.

The "4K" prefix appears in the name of the camera for a reason at all — it clearly hints at its support for video recording in ultra-high resolution of 3840x2160 pixels. And if in the early copies of the model, the frame rate of the video when shooting in this format was only 15 fps, then in the future the manufacturer prudently added digits in the framerate value (up to 24 fps). The smoothest picture is obtained in FullHD resolution (1920 x 1080 pixels), and the user can also shoot in 2.7K (2704x1520 pixels, 30 fps) and HD (1280x720 pixels, 120 fps) formats.

The AirOn ProCam 4K object looks at the surrounding reality with an unchangeable viewing angle of 170°, thanks to which most of the space in front of the action camera is placed in the frame. The back panel of the plastic case of the model is entirely given over to a 2-inch display with a modest resolution of 320x240 pixels. Instead of the screen, a smartphone can be used to remotely control the shooting parameters, however, there is no own mobile application for these purposes and the user will have to be content with a set of unadapted standard programs (Ez iCam, iSmart DV, etc.). Also, mediocre sound recording quality and lack of stabilization are recorded in the category of weaknesses of the camera. All this is excusable against the background of the democratic cost of the model, which is one of its "fat" advantages.

The "aerial", in the sense of a lightweight version of the SJCAM SJ6 Legend action camera, differs from its older counterpart in the absence of an additional service screen on the front panel. It was assigned the functions of duplicating information from the main display, which, in fact, many users of the model simply do not need.

The device is made in a rectangular form factor characteristic of the class of action cameras with an object protruding from the front of the case. In the field of view of the built-in optics, a viewing angle of about 166 ° is captured. In the detailed parameters of the video recording, the angle of the field of view can be changed from wide to normal or narrow.

An equally significant difference between the Air model and the classic SJ6 Legend camera is the use of its own SJCAM A9S chipset, which provides the ability to record video at a maximum resolution of 140x1440 pixels with a frame rate of 30 fps. However, the action camera can also shoot in 4K (with a frame rate of 24 fps), but the ultra-high resolution of the picture can be obtained solely through interpolation.

For sighting during photo and video shooting, as well as navigation through the tiled menu interface, a 2-inch display is used, stretching along the entire perimeter of the rear part of the camera body. It has got support for both touch input and push-button control, which is particularly relevant under water (paired with the SJCAM SJ6 Legend Air aquabox, it can withstand dives to a depth of 30 m). In addition, the action camera can be remotely controlled from a smartphone over a Wi-Fi network. The main thing is that the functional SJCAM Zone application is pre-installed in the memory of the mobile gadget.

The model deserves special praise for the implemented gyrostabilization system, which successfully suppresses image shaking when shooting "on the go". And among the special programs on board the action camera, underwater filming and DVR mode are highlighted (the device starts recording when external power is applied). By the way, the brainchild of SJCAM is powered by energy from a 1000 mAh battery, the capacity of which is enough for 80 minutes. video recording with the Wi-Fi module turned on and for 110 minutes. when the wireless network is disabled.

At one time, the Xiaomi Yi Sport Basic Edition action camera made a lot of hype around its own person. It remains relevant to this day, offering high-quality images for little money. But no one canceled the forward movement and a new player appeared in the segment of cameras for active shooting with 4K support — the Mi Action Camera 4K model.

In the design of the action camera, notes of minimalism are observed — on the case of the rounded "bar" you can only find an object with an aperture of f/2.8 and a viewing angle of 145°, one mechanical key, a sliding shutter behind which the microUSB port is hidden, and a battery compartment cover combined with a microSD memory card slot. Also, the equipment of the device does not differ in richness — it includes a battery with a capacity of 1450 mAh and a charging cable. This, oddly enough, is all, so fasteners and additional accessories will need to be purchased in a separate order.

The camera writes videos in 4K format (3840x2160 pixels) at a speed of 30 fps, and in FullHD, the frame rate doubles, thereby achieving a smoother picture without jerks and frame drops in dynamic scenes. In addition, when shooting at a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels (and at lower resolutions) an electronic stub is active, effectively compensating for vibrations and shaking of the camera.

The back face of the model is entirely given over to2.4-inch touch screen with a resolution of 960x480 pixels. It greatly simplifies the sighting process, and if you need to change the shooting parameters remotely, a smartphone with the Mi Home application comes to the rescue, in the interface of which there are sometimes flaws with localization. Another not the strongest side of the action camera is the lack of dust and water protection of the case. However, for the proposed cost, there is practically no better option to be found, which is why the model is forgivable for minor flaws.

The advanced camera in the SJCAM model range is marked with the "star" prefix Star. It pleasantly surprises with the high quality of the video in full 4K resolution (3840x2160 pixels).

Support for recording 4K videos with a frequency of 30 fps is the merit of the flagship Ambarella A12S75 chip installed "under the hood". This platform is known for its "hot character", therefore, for better heat dissipation, the edges of the action camera are made of metal, and there was no place for a standard tripod socket on them. Mounting the model on a tripod or monopod is carried out using a complete frame from a large detachment of "boxed" accessories.

In addition to UltraHD resolution, the video sequence is written by the camera in all the most popular formats: 2.7K (2704x1520, 30 fps), FullHD (1920x1080, 60 fps), HD (1280x720, 120 fps) and VGA (640x480, 240 fps). At the same time, the object of the action camera captures the maximum of the surrounding space (166 °) in its field of view. All data is recorded in the memory of a microSD drive with a maximum capacity of up to 128 GB.

A significant plus of the camera is the electronic gyrostabilization system of the image, which effectively handles with shaking when walking or cycling. Unfortunately, the stub does not work in 4K, which is why you will need to stabilize ultra-high-resolution video by external means. In addition, in the piggy bank of the advantages of the model, it is worth recording support for remote control of functions from a smartphone, which replaces the touch change of parameters by tapping on the touch display on board the action camera (by the way, not the most responsive). In offline mode, SJCAM's brainchild is able to stay on for about an hour when shooting 4K video or up to an hour and a half when recording video content in FullHD format, which is quite an ordinary result.

Garmin has made a name for itself on high-precision navigation systems, and recently the brand's multi-sport watches and heart rate monitors have been very popular with the public. The VIRB Ultra 30 action camera also has a focus on extreme athletes with a lot of useful "chips" that the closest rivals in the class cannot boast of.

A whole galaxy of sensors integrated into the G-Metrix system hides from prying eyes in the depths of the body of the usual "block" format. They collect data on the speed of movement, altitude, acceleration, time in the air and much, much more, after which, at the post-processing stage, this information can be linked directly to the captured video. The system includes an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a barometer, an electronic compass and a GPS module.

Additional information will never be superfluous, but the main thing is not in them, but as a video recording. The videos are recorded in the maximum resolution of 4K (3840x2160 pixels) at a speed of 30 fps. At the same time, many features become available only when the resolution is lowered to FullHD format (1920 x 1080 pixels). These include high-speed video recording with a frame rate of 120 fps, support for changing the viewing angle of the object and the inclusion of a 3-axis image stabilization system to improve the smoothness of the video sequence.

The Garmin VIRB Ultra 30 has an interesting way to start recording video — the usual shutter release button on the upper face of the case is combined with a mechanical lever, which starts the video recording process. To build the frame, a 1.75-inch touchscreen display is used, which remains operational even in an aquabox. In addition, the camera can recognize voice commands and is controlled from a smartphone with the Garmin VIRB programme preinstalled. And external sensors from Garmin (heart rate monitors, thermometers, etc.) are connected to it using ANT+ technology, which allows you to measure many parameters of the user's physical activity when shooting extreme video.