To help you choose, here is a comparison of the best sports cameras -
Dmytro Vietrov
The editorial staff of 20 Minutes did not participate in the production of this article.
Who has never seen a video of athletes filming their personal exploits on the web?
Very popular and often full of thrills, they are only possible with suitable sports cameras.
In a reduced format, with a wide capture angle and designed to be resistant, this type of device is a concentrate of technologies, always more versatile and sophisticated.
How to best choose your sports camera?
Robustness above all
An action-cam claiming to be able to follow an athlete everywhere must above all be robust to shocks and the elements.
If the first models appearing on the market had to be equipped with a waterproof case to be protected, more recent and more elaborate models can now do without it.
Stable and efficient video capture
A sports camera, like any camera, must also offer the latest capture standards, and therefore at least Full HD or 4K.
But more importantly, it is subject to tremors and rapid movements which preferably require image stabilization.
The importance of autonomy
Action-cams must find a fair compromise between a reduced size, but also sufficient autonomy to achieve beautiful images.
Currently, most models offer an autonomy of one hour, which is in principle sufficient for a big workout.
A variety of accessories
One of the strengths of sports cameras is their ability to be mounted anywhere to provide suitable and creative viewing angles.
It is therefore important to see what accessories are supplied with the camera.
The selection of the best sports cameras of the moment
GoPro Hero9 Black: one of the best sports cameras on the market
GoPro Hero9 Black Sport Camera - DR
The GoPro Hero9 Black is surely the best on the market today.
Heir to the long line of the Hero, she therefore takes all the qualities of her elders, while correcting some flaws.
It offers excellent image quality in Ultra HD at 60 fps, effective stabilization and a wide range of capture settings from narrow to wide angles.
Best of all, it can withstand submersion up to 10 meters underwater and offers a back screen on the front of the case.
The pros and cons of the GoPro Hero9 Black sports camera:
Most :
Very good image quality;
Proven image stabilization;
Robust and can be submerged up to 10 meters;
Complete settings and efficient shortcuts.
The lessers :
Autonomy limited by the front screen;
A photo mode not very responsive.
Find here the GoPro Hero9 Black
GoPro Max: the 360 ° sports camera
GoPro Max Sport Camera - DR
Coming to replace the GoPro Fusion, the GoPro Max seeks to improve the 360 ° capture experience of its predecessor.
It offers very good image capture in 4K at 60 fps and effective stabilization.
The ergonomics are cleverly thought out and allow intuitive navigation in the menus and simple and quick settings.
Best of all, it's waterproof without the need for a special case, and the integrated mount adapts to most situations.
The pros and cons of the GoPro Max sports camera:
Most :
Very good image quality;
Excellent stabilization;
A waterproof and rather robust case;
A responsive touchscreen.
The lessers :
Very limited autonomy.
Find the GoPro Max here
Ricoh WG-M2: the toughest sports camera
Ricoh WG-M2 Sport Camera - DR
If GoPro gives the impression of leaving no room for maneuver to competitors, Ricoh proves the opposite by offering the Ricoh WG-M2.
Improved version of the WG-M1, it shows exemplary robustness, being able to be submerged up to 20 meters under water and not afraid of mud, dust or sand.
Its solid design is fully at the service of a very correct video quality in UHD and Full HD and for an excellent quality-price ratio.
The pros and cons of the Ricoh WG-M2 sports camera:
Most :
Waterproof up to 20 meters underwater without a housing;
Good UHD and Full HD image quality;
Universal 1/4 "thread;
Excellent value for money.
The lessers :
Optional accessories.
Find here the Ricoh WG-M2
Insta360 ONE R: the sport camera that dares to rub against GoPro
Insta360 ONE R Sports Camera - DR
With the Insta360 ONE R, the Chinese manufacturer takes up the challenge of confronting the giant GoPro and its recent models such as the Hero8: a challenge met with flying colors thanks to an action-cam offering excellent image quality with 4K capture. at 60 fps.
Modular, it allows the use of different capture modules to obtain an image conforming to the user's wishes, such as a wide-angle or a 360 ° sensor.
Waterproof up to 5 meters in fresh water, it is however preferable to use it with a waterproof case to protect it from salt water or the most violent shocks.
The pros and cons of the Insta360 ONE R sports camera:
Most :
Waterproof up to 5 meters under fresh water;
Very good UHD and Full HD image quality;
Innovative modularity.
The lessers :
A touch screen not very usable;
No mounting integrated into the camera.
Find here the Insta360 ONE R
DJI Osmo Action: the first sports camera from DJI
DJI Osmo Action sports camera - DR
This manufacturer has already stood out for the quality of its drones and the images they offer: a skill that the Chinese drone leader uses to design its first action-cam, the DJI Osmo Action.
It offers good image quality with a capture that can go up to 4K at 60 fps and is quite efficient in dark environments.
The stabilization is exemplary and its handling remains simple and intuitive.
It is finally waterproof up to 11 meters underwater and the return screen on the front is very useful.
The pros and cons of the DJI Osmo Action sports camera:
Most :
Good image quality;
A responsive and efficient touch screen;
Waterproof up to 11 meters underwater.
The lessers :
No HDMI socket.
Find here the DJI Osmo Action
For a long time, the manufacturer GoPro remained dominant in the world of sports cameras, leaving virtually no room for maneuver to the competition. But with a now mature market, new players have arrived and offer quality alternatives, notably at Insta360, DJI or even Ricoh: and this, at affordable prices.
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The prices mentioned in this article are indicative and are subject to change.
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