Into fire and into water: TOP-5 action cameras

{ !!! block='price' type="big" idgood='295814' !!!}QStar A7 Drive

A budget camera from Taiwan Action camera from renowned car DVR manufacturer QStar Technology Group from Hong Kong .

Resolution - 1080p 30fps, 960p 30fps, 720p 60fps, WVGA, Angle field of view - up to 170 °, focus - 40 cm - infinity, photo resolution - 5 MP. 30 fps, 480p 60 fps, FOV up to 135°, photo resolution 5 MP.

The pluses of this camera, in addition to the affordable price, we will include form factor, largely repeating GoPro models. The camera communicates with the owner using just two buttons and a monochrome LCD display on the front panel. The PQI display uses an abbreviated symbolic display of the main functions and menu settings, therefore, in order to understand the settings in detail and not to fail during real shooting in the active mode, it is worth practicing and studying the instructions in advance. After all, shooting with such an action camera is carried out without using the viewfinder. It is hard to judge how successful the QStar Technology Group engineers were in their attempt to combine a DVR and a sports camera in one device. So, some functions necessary for motorists, for example, cyclic recording, motion detection, turn-off delay, date and time imprinting, may not be useful for extreme sportsmen. But the presence of a full-fledged LCD screen and a simple wired remote control in the kit is already an advantage over traditional action cameras. The manufacturer claims up to 3 hours of battery life. At the same time, it is not known why it does not indicate the weight of the device.

Air Cam is equipped with an underwater case and a handlebar mount, as well as SD memory card. The camera supports the proprietary PQI Air Card - a Wi-Fi adapter in the form of an SD card with an additional slot for MicroSD memory cards. With it, you can equip your device with a Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n hotspot and upload videos and photos wirelessly. It is very convenient in conjunction with a tablet and mobile phone. The disadvantages include increased battery consumption, so to save battery, Wi-Fi mode should be turned off while shooting. block when filming stunts. Alternatively, the buttons can be blocked from accidental pressing and the device can be placed in a backpack or pocket (the cable that goes to the camera has a length of 2 meters). A feature worth remembering is that the built-in microphone is located not on the camera, but on the unit itself. Therefore, for high-quality recording of the sound environment, it is necessary to think over the location of the external microphone in advance (it is included in the delivery package).

The advantages of this model include a large number of fasteners in the kit, including mounting on a pipe / bike handlebar, as well as a threaded connection for tripod. The camera is a versatile two-in-one solution. Although, having installed the device once in the car as a registrar, and hiding all the wires under the skin, it will not be easy to turn it back into the A7 Drive action camera. The package includes only 2 surface mounts, other accessories must be purchased separately. It is worth mentioning the proprietary software for working with video GoPro Studio, which will help you upload footage from the camera and create a movie based on it without professional video editing skills. Most likely, the owner of the basic HERO, having tested the main features of the line, will want more functionality and it will not be an hour before switching to older GoPro models. Although it's not hard to become a YouTube star with this camera.

Panasonic HX-A100

The Japanese manufacturer decided not to go along with fashion and offered its own vision of an perfect action camera. The key difference between the Panasonic HX-A100 and other models is an unusual form factor.

Resolution - 1080p 60/30 fps, 720p 120/60/30 fps, 640x360 240/30 fps, viewing angle - up to 160 °, focusing - 30 cm - infinity, photo resolution - 5 MP, 3 MP.

The action camera consists of two blocks: the camera itself, mounted on a special head holder , and a case connected to it by a cable, on which the controls are located. For convenience, the case is placed in a special pocket attached to the forearm. At first glance, this design may not seem convenient. However, it has its advantages - a wearable all-weather camera practically does not load the head with additional weight, does not protrude too much from the dimensions of the body and perfectly captures “first-person view”.

Therefore, the camera is useful not only for active sports, but also for recording all kinds of reviews, demonstrations and master classes with real-time commentary. It is possible that for this purpose the microphone is also located on the camera so that it primarily records the operator's remarks. An unusual form factor can also help in other non-standard situations - it is convenient to shoot with a camera on a remote cable in any hard-to-reach place, around a corner and over an obstacle. At the same time, it is necessary to ensure that the interconnect cable does not catch on any obstacle during active movement.

image stabilization is not available in all modes. At the same time, the quality of optics is called the main stumbling block for the full disclosure of the camera's capabilities. The undoubted advantages of the Panasonic HX-A100 are a large number of standard and slow-motion shooting modes (up to 240 fps in HD resolution), image stabilization, auto-leveling of the picture, control of the device from a smartphone via Wi-Fi, live broadcasts, connection to an access point , play content on DLNA-enabled devices. Claimed recording time of up to 2 hours 40 minutes in 720p 30 fps mode is practically confirmed by tests, which is a good result for cameras of this type. The Japanese company came up with a sports camera with advanced features and an amateur form factor.

GoPro HERO 2014

A trendsetter in the action camera market, GoPro, Inc. introduced its most affordable HERO model in 2014 .

Resolution - 1080p 30fps, 720p 60fps, 720p SuperView 60fps, FOV up to 170°, photo resolution - 5MP.

If Do you remember what a sensation the release of the Apple Mac mini made, the logic of the HERO model (that's right, without any other identification marks, but for convenience it is called HERO 2014) will become quite clear: "GoPro for every extreme person." The main trump card of the camera, of course, is the price. On the other hand, compared to older GoPro cameras, HERO does not have such convenient controls and a minimum of connectors (microSD for memory cards and miniUSB for data transfer).

The camera is built into a waterproof case (immersion up to 40 meters) and has a non-removable battery. Of the interesting options, the back cover is available in two versions - closed, for maximum protection, and Skeleton - with holes for better recording of ambient sound. Users note that due to the design features of the case, HERO 2014 is prone to spontaneous inclusion in a bag or luggage. Of the features of GoPro shooting, it is worth noting the special SuperView mode, which provides the widest possible viewing angle. QuickCapture technology allows you to shoot immediately after turning on the camera, and AutoLowLight in photo and video mode will allow the camera to adapt to the most difficult conditions in low light and maintain maximum image quality. A review on www.dcrainmaker.com notes almost twice the run time at maximum video quality (up to 2 hours 45 minutes) compared to other cameras. And as for the shortcomings, this is the austerity of control, although the front panel display and the two-button system are convenient to use.

The package includes only 2 surface mounts, other accessories must be purchased separately. It is worth mentioning the proprietary software for working with video GoPro Studio, which will help you upload footage from the camera and create a movie based on it without professional video editing skills. Most likely, the owner of the basic HERO, having tested the main features of the line, will want more functionality and it will not be an hour before switching to older GoPro models. Although it's not hard to become a YouTube star with this camera.

Sony HDR-AS100V

The Action Cam HDR-AS100V is similar to Sony's compact camcorders. Moreover, the similarity is not only in design, but also in construction.

Resolution - 1080p 60/30 fps, 720p 120/30 fps, 480p 240/30 fps, viewing angle - up to 170 °, focus - 30 cm - infinity, photo resolution - 13.5 MP.

HDR-AS100V, like Sony camcorders, equipped with proprietary BIONZ X processor, ZEISS lens and Exmor R sensor. The camera is suitable for beginner extreme sportsmen and not only them. In addition to shooting in HD at standard and high frame rates (up to 120 in 720p mode), it allows you to take advantage of the Pro mode, which shoots at a high video bit rate and is compressed by the professional XAVC S codec. With the ability to include timecode, the camera is suitable for professional filming and editing. Users of the camera in the reviews note good work, especially in twilight and darkness, and in daytime shooting there are complaints about the color reproduction and dynamic range of the image (compared to analogues from GoPro).

The SteadyShot electronic image stabilizer is built into the camera . On the one hand, it is praised, and on the other hand, it is recommended to turn it on only when absolutely necessary, since its work involves blurring parts of the image and working only with a viewing angle of no higher than 120 °. Wi-Fi functions include control of shooting and settings from a smartphone, streaming to the Internet using the Ustream service. There is also a built-in GPS sensor for recording routes and locations traveled.

The body of the camera is protected from moisture, and the supplied underwater box allows you to shoot at a depth of up to 5 meters. As you can see, the depth is shallow compared to some sports cameras. The box also offers options for interchangeable protective lenses - spherical and flat. It is worth noting that this box allows you to fully control the camera and sound recording, and for those who like to dive deeper and divers, there is an optional reinforced box, designed for a depth of up to 60 m.

Shooting with a Sony action camera is convenient not only under water and on the coast. The basic version of the Sony AS100V, in addition to the waterproof case, has an adhesive helmet mount and an adapter for a standard tripod, which expands the possibilities of using the camera. Camera owners have an optional handheld remote control with electronic viewfinder and multi-camera control mode.

Garmin VIRB Elite

I wonder how well-known manufacturer of navigators Garmin turned out to be a worthy answer to the market leader in GoPro action cameras.

Resolution - 1080p 30fps, 960p 60/48/30fps, 720p 30/60fps, 480p 120fps, FOV up to 170°, still image resolution - 16 MP, 12 MP, 8 MP.

For those who like to shoot impressive videos, Garmin has prepared the device according to the original recipe. The camera is maximally integrated into the company's ecosystem of sports gadgets. VIRB Elite supports compatible Garmin products such as smartwatches as a remote control. And the presence of communication according to the ANT + standard allows you to use, along with the GPS sensor built into VIRB Elite, other compatible sensors - a thermometer, heart rate monitor, bike computer, pedometer, etc. All the information recorded by them can simply be combined in the final video with the route you have traveled, speed, time.

In addition to the GPS sensor, VIRB Elite has a built-in accelerometer and altimeter. The latter allow you to implement an interesting function - the camera can start recording simultaneously with the start of your movement or with the start of the ski slope (in this case, the change in altitude above sea level is taken into account). Automatic Time lapse video recording is also available (the camera itself creates the final video at a frequency of 30 frames / sec) and loop recording, similar to DVR. The camera has a special Dashboard mode that displays the readings of each sensor recorded during the session in a visual graphical form.

The LCD display can be used as a viewfinder and for viewing footage. It will allow, if necessary, to accurately set the horizontal level of the device. An image auto-flip setting is also available - it is not difficult to specifically “teach” the camera which side is the top, which is the bottom. It's good that the camera has digital image stabilization and the ability to correct lens distortions.

The degree of protection of the camera allows VIRB Elite to use it in water at a depth of up to 1 m without a case, as well as near open fire, which is confirmed by users. The Garmin Elite version of the camera is perfect for people who are serious about sports and in control of their loads and results, although the final cost with all the necessary accessories and sensors will be no less extreme than the camera.