Shooting in action style: TOP 5 cameras for outdoor enthusiasts

Xiaomi Yi Sport Travel Edition

Inexpensive extreme camera from well-known manufacturer smartphones and consumer electronics.

Resolution — 1080p 60fps, 960p 60fps, 720p 120fps, 480p — 240fps, FOV — up to 155°, photo resolution — 16 MP .

The Chinese company Xiaomi, which literally "shot" with its devices in a relatively short period of time (recall, its history dates back to 2010), continues to find new niches for itself. Swinging no less than the GoPro position, she offered her vision of an action camera in the form of the Xiaomi Yi model, which, first of all, attracts the buyer with its affordable price.

Visual form factor Xiaomi Yi is similar to GoPro HERO cameras. The differences are more cheerful body colours (besides green-blue, a white version is also available) and the conspicuous absence of a monochrome service display. From the point of view of price reduction, it is acceptable, but it is much less convenient to manage. Three buttons on the device provide control only for basic functions and switching between photo / video modes. To fine-tune the camera, you will need to install a proprietary application on your Android or iOS smartphone, which can also be used as a viewfinder.

The 16-megapixel Sony Exmor R BSI sensor in conjunction with the Ambarella A7LS processor provides Xiaomi Yi with a high image quality, at the level of third-generation GoPro cameras, which is confirmed by independent tests. The 2.8 aperture lens gives a field of view of 155°, which is slightly less than 170° for the main majority of action cameras. At the same time, the camera has a built-in mode for correcting geometric distortions of the fisheye lens, which will allow, if necessary, to get a more “smooth” final image.

Photo shooting functions include continuous shooting up to 7 frames / sec and Time Lapse mode 0.5 — 60 seconds. However, the creation of a video from a series of received photos falls on the user's shoulders, the built-in “gluing” function is not provided in the camera.

Xiaomi Yi comes in two versions — Standard and Travel. In the latter, for a slightly higher price, you also get a telescopic monopod. Although the basic package is very limited, numerous additional accessories are already available for the camera, including boxes for underwater shooting. It is convenient that, unlike GoPro cameras, the Yi body has a standard tripod mount, which saves an inexperienced user from using additional adapters.

The lithium-ion battery (removable) will provide the camera with up to an hour or two shooting in Full mode HD, depending on whether the wireless functions are enabled. For long sessions, it is worth having one or more extra batteries in stock in the form of PowerBank.

One of the obvious drawbacks noted by camera owners is the relatively low recording quality from the built-in microphone. Also, Xiaomi Yi is characterized by general shortcomings of low-cost performance — the quality of the plastic used, plugs, etc. In general, given the affordable price and good technical characteristics, Xiaomi Yi can be a good choice, especially if you do not shoot regularly, but only occasionally .

SJCAM SJ5000 WiFi

An affordable and functional gadget from one of the famous Chinese action camera manufacturers.

Resolution — 1080p 30fps, 720p 60fps, 480p 60fps, FOV up to 170°, still image resolution 14MP.

SJCAM SJ5000's main feature is 2" display with a resolution of 960x240 pixels on the rear panel. Its presence allows you to effectively control the camera offline and practically eliminates the need to connect the device to a tablet or smartphone.

The camera is based on the Novatek 96655 processor and the Panasonic MN34110PA sensor. Perhaps the main drawback of this bundle is the limited frame rate — only 30 frames / sec are available in Full HD, and even at 480p, those who like to radically “slow down” the video stream will not receive an increased shooting speed. In photo mode, continuous shooting is available up to 10 frames / sec, as well as Time Lapse mode with an interval of 1 — 60 seconds. It is worth noting that SJCAM SJ5000 also works without problems as a DVR in a car, providing continuous loop recording.

The camera is controlled and the footage is viewed using the main display, two navigation buttons on the side surface and a confirmation button on top panel of the case. The front button on the SJ5000, traditionally for action cameras, is responsible for turning on the device and switching shooting modes. External connection is via microHDMI and microUSB connectors. Built-in Wi-Fi complements the already good functionality of the camera and allows you to remotely control it from your Android or iOS mobile device.

A nice feature of the SJCAM SJ5000 camera is the package. In it you will find not only a waterproof housing for underwater shooting at a depth of up to 30 m, but also more than a dozen mounts and adapters for all occasions (you can see them on the SJCAM official website).

Users comparing the inexpensive SJ5000 with GoPro products, complain about the low-cost quality of the construction and underwater box, as well as the relatively poor sound quality from the built-in microphone. The lack of built-in Bluetooth makes the camera unsuitable for use with selfie sticks equipped with a dedicated shutter button.

If you're looking for more performance and slow motion capabilities, the Ambarella A7LS75-powered version of the SJ5000 Plus is worth a look. Or you can save money by purchasing the SJ5000 version without Wi-Fi, which will cost a little less than the SJ5000 Wi-Fi.

The SJCAM SJ5000 camera can be recommended to those who are looking for a low-cost analogue of the GoPro HERO4 Silver or for the first acquaintance with the world action cameras. After all, everything you need is already present in the box with the camera. In addition, the manufacturer offers as many as 7 colour variations of the device.

GoPro HERO 2014

The most affordable model in the 4th generation of GoPro cameras.

Resolution — 1080p 30 frames / sec, 720p 60 fps, 720p SuperView 60 fps, angle of view — up to 170 °, photo resolution — 5 MP.

Trendsetters in the action camera market — GoPro — have released a low-cost (on company standards) the HERO model (for convenience, it is called HERO 2014). With its help, GoPro wants to cover the most massive segment of tourists, athletes, adventurers and travelers who choose their first camera. Compared to older brothers in the HERO line, it compares favorably with the price, but at the same time, it also has a number of features. The first is a non-separable design with a waterproof case, which will allow you to shoot at a depth of up to 40 metres. The camera also has a minimum of controls and connection ports (only microSD for memory cards and miniUSB for data). The service LCD on the front panel makes it easier to control the camera and change the shooting parameters.

Unfortunately, HERO cannot “communicate” with mobile devices in live mode, so control and advanced settings have to be done on the camera itself . The battery is also non-removable, which can be critical for long shooting sessions.

One of the GoPro's unique features is the SuperView mode, which provides the widest viewing angle at 720p resolution. The presence of proprietary modes QuickCapture and AutoLowLight will allow you to shoot quickly and adapt to difficult lighting conditions. The owner will also be pleased with the proprietary GoPro Studio software, which will allow you to easily upload material from the camera and create the final video.

Noting the excellent battery life (twice as long as that of older models), camera owners at the same time complain about austerity in handling and a rather modest delivery set, which, in addition to two interchangeable back covers (protected and acoustic skeleton versions), offers only 2 surface mounts. Other accessories for the camera will have to be purchased.

With the advent of new affordable and high-tech action cameras from Chinese manufacturers, the slogan “GoPro for every extreme” , under which the basic HERO went to the masses, has somewhat lost its meaning. Because attractive alternatives are available to buyers in the face of Xiaomi Yi, SJCAM SJ5000 and other models. But both fans of the brand and many novice videographers who plan to switch to older GoPro models in the future will certainly be interested in this camera.

GoPro HERO4 Silver Edition

The flagship model from market leader GoPro action cameras in a "custom" version.

Resolution — 2160p 15fps, 1520p 30fps, 1440p 48fps, 1080p 60fps, 720p 120fps, 480p 240fps, FOV up to 170°, still image resolution 12MP.< /p>

The GoPro HERO4 Silver Edition is the second in the lineup after the top-of-the-line Black Edition and allows you to enjoy almost all the benefits of the latest model. Unlike the Black version, which offers full-fledged 4K video shooting, this mode is only available in the camera at a frame rate of 15 frames / sec, which is of little use for creating a full-fledged “movie” in ultra-high resolution. At the same time, Silver offers 2.7K video recording at 30 frames per second, and Full HD mode is available in both standard wide-angle format and SuperView branded panoramic view. Compared to the third generation GoPro, the camera delivers significantly better image quality in low-light conditions.

In exchange for the somewhat reduced shooting capabilities, HERO 4 Silver offers the user a 1.75-inch touchscreen display on the rear panel. According to many owners, its presence is a much bigger plus than the possibility of full-fledged shooting in 4K. The display will help you correctly frame the frame and avoid unnecessary mistakes, because now you are not controlling the camera “blindly”. Professionals who choose the Black version due to technical characteristics can be advised to purchase a display as an option. In addition, HERO4 can also be configured and controlled over Wi-Fi using the proprietary GoPro App utility.

An important difference between the camera and low-cost analogs is the high quality of sound recording. The GoPro HERO4 has doubled the dynamic range and completely redesigned the noise reduction algorithm. In addition, using an adapter, purchased separately, it is possible to connect an external microphone to the camera or output a composite audio-video signal.

An update that will undoubtedly please professionals and advanced users is the ProTune tuning options, which in versions of HERO4 are available for both photo and video. These include setting a high bitrate for video, correcting the colour profile, white balance and other parameters for maximum results in post-processing. The final movie can be created either in the proprietary GoPro Studio or in any of the available editing programs.

The photo shooting functions in HERO4 are also impressive. So, continuous shooting at a speed of up to 30 frames / sec is possible, Time Lapse mode is available with an interval of 0.5 — 60 seconds. At the same time, there are special modes Night Photo, Night Lapse, which significantly improve the results of night shooting. When shooting Time Lapse, the camera itself can create the final video file. It is also possible to simultaneously shoot photos and videos, which is not available in the third version of HERO and in HERO 2014.

The camera package does not abound with many mounts, such as in the SJCAM SJ5000, but it will please with the presence of a branded waterproof case. As an interesting option for the camera, the Smart Remote is available — with it you can control the shooting process from a distance of up to 180 m.

HERO4 Silver users comparing the product with the previous generation of GoPro cameras note improved photo sharpness, significant improvement in night shooting quality and better battery life compared to the Black Edition. work.

Sony FDR-X1000V

One of the most technically advanced sports cameras on the market.

Resolution — 2160p 30fps , 1080p 120fps, 720p 240fps, 480p 240fps, FOV up to 170°, photo resolution 8.8 MP.

peace to leading electronics manufacturers and they offer competitive solutions. Sony initially positioned its FDR-X1000V camera as a solution that meets the maximum demands of demanding users.

The camera records in 4K with a maximum bit rate of up to 100 Mbps, and in Full HD mode up to 50 Mbps. The Exmor R CMOS sensor, BIONZ X processing engine and ZEISS Tessar optics with a 170° viewing angle are responsible for high image quality. Video stream compression in maximum quality mode is performed by the professional XAVC S codec. It may be a fly in the ointment that the camera will need performance and expensive SDXC card of the UHS standard to record such a stream I/U3. At the same time, the presence of a timecode function for video makes it much easier to use it for professional shooting.

In operation, the camera has impressive speed performance, many call it the best choice for slow-motion recording