One of the best motion cameras seize clear photos and crisp sound, are sturdy whether or not you are utilizing them whereas using a motorbike or swimming, and are straightforward to make use of.
In November 2021 we examined the UK’s bestselling motion cameras from GoPro, Crosstour, Akaso and extra, to search out out which motion cameras present the sharpest footage, the clearest audio, the smoothest picture stabilisation and the hardest design.
To ensure we suggest the perfect motion cameras, we enlisted the assistance of our in-house video skilled, Matthew Harms, to guage the standard of the footage, audio and stills we captured.
Alongside our full check outcomes, we reveal what you should know before you purchase a brand new motion camera and the important thing options to look out for. Learn on to search out out every little thing you should know.
Costs and availability final checked: 29 July 2022.
Wish to discover out concerning the newest DSLRs, mirrorless cameras and extra? Learn our digital camera reviews.
One of the best motion cameras
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Akaso EK7000
Solely accessible at Amazon: £49.29.
Max decision/body fee: 4K/25fps, 2.7K/30fps, 1080p/60fps
Sensor measurement: 2-inch
Dimension and weight: 4.2 x 6 x 3.1cm (HxWxD); 41g
Said waterproofing: 30 metres sporting waterproof housing, n/a with out
Different key options: Loop recording and time-lapse modes, burst stills mode, 12Mp stills, wi-fi-enabled, scheduled seize
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Crosstour Motion CT9000
Solely accessible at Crosstour: £49.99.
Max decision/body fee: 4K/30fps, 2.7k/30fps, 1080p/60fps
Sensor measurement: 2-inch
Dimension and weight: 4.1 x 5.9 x 2.5cm (HxWxD); 64g
Said waterproofing: 30 metres sporting waterproof housing, n/a with out
Different key options: Sluggish-motion, loop recording and time-lapse modes, burst stills mode, 20Mp stills, wi-fi-enabled, scheduled seize
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GoPro Hero 8
Most cost-effective worth: £279.99 accessible at Argos, Very, additionally accessible at Amazon, GoPro
Max decision/body fee: 4K/60fps, 2.7k/120fps, 1080p/240fps
Sensor measurement: 2.3-inch
Dimension and weight: 4.9 x 6.6 x 2.8cm (HxWxD); 126g
Said waterproofing: 10 metres
Different key options: Sluggish-motion, loop recording and time-lapse modes, built-in picture stabilisation and HDR, burst, night time, RAW and HDR stills modes, 12Mp stills, Bluetooth, wi-fi and GPS-enabled, front-facing preview display, voice management, scheduled seize, 1080p stay streaming, GoPro app required
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GoPro Hero 9
Most cost-effective worth: £379.99 at Amazon, Argos, Very, additionally accessible at GoPro
Max decision/body fee: 5K/30fps, 4K/60fps, 2.7k/120fps
Sensor measurement: 2.3-inch
Dimension and weight: 5.5 x 7.1 x 3.36cm (HxWxD); 158g
Said waterproofing: 10 metres
Different key options: Sluggish-motion, loop recording, Hindsight and time-lapse modes, built-in picture stabilisation and HDR, burst, night time, RAW and HDR stills modes, 20Mp stills, Bluetooth, wi-fi and GPS-enabled, front-facing preview display, voice management, scheduled seize, 1080p stay streaming, GoPro app required
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GoPro Hero 10
Most cost-effective worth: £379.99 accessible at Argos, additionally accessible at Amazon, GoPro
Max decision/body fee: 5.3K/60fps, 4K/120fps, 2.7k/240fps
Sensor measurement: 2.3-inch
Dimension and weight: 5.5 x 7.1 x 3.36cm (HxWxD); 153g
Said waterproofing: 10 metres
Different key options: Sluggish-motion, loop recording, Hindsight and time-lapse modes, built-in picture stabilisation and HDR, burst, night time, RAW and HDR stills modes, 23Mp stills, Bluetooth, wi-fi and GPS-enabled, front-facing preview display, voice management, scheduled seize, 1080p stay streaming, GoPro app required
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Kitvision 4K Motion Digital camera KVACTLAP4K
Most cost-effective worth: £62.74 accessible at Amazon, additionally accessible at Kitvision (out of inventory).
Max decision/body fee: 4K/30fps, 1080p/60fps, 720p/120fps
Sensor measurement: 2-inch
Dimension and weight: 4.6 x 6.1 x 2.8cm (HxWxD); 70g
Said waterproofing: 30 metres sporting waterproof housing, n/a with out
Different key options: Sluggish-motion, loop recording and time-lapse modes, burst stills mode, 16MP stills, wi-fi enabled, scheduled seize
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How we examined motion cameras
We chosen the UK’s hottest motion cameras and used them to shoot a broad number of movies so our in-house skilled might examine the standard of their video, audio, stills, and picture stabilisation.
We purchased each motion camera we examined and do not take freebies, so that you could be assured that our reviews are impartial and impartial.
Video, audio and stills high quality
To make sure a good comparability on video and audio high quality, we recorded a set number of movies with every camera in utilizing the identical video settings and beneath the identical situations.
These included being mounted on a runner’s head whereas they jogged in the course of the day and at night time, being mounted on a crash helmet whereas using an electrical scooter, shifting between indoor and out of doors settings, self-shooting and speaking to the camera utilizing a selfie stick, and recording underwater.
Our skilled seemed for clean picture stabilisation, sharp photos, pure colors, and photographs that was freed from distortion and that dealt rapidly with adjustments in focus and lightweight. Throughout video evaluation, the richness and depth of the audio was additionally thought of.
We additionally took {a photograph} of the identical vast shot on the identical time of day with every camera so the stills could possibly be judged and in contrast alongside one another by our skilled.
Ease of use and sturdiness
A very good motion camera can nonetheless show irritating if it is overly sophisticated to make use of and difficult to navigate the buttons and menus. Whereas recording our number of photographs and stills, we famous how straightforward we discovered it to make use of and perceive every camera and praised people who have been best to select up and use.
Motion cameras are additionally constructed for recording in demanding environments, like subzero temperatures whereas snowboarding or throughout demanding sports activities corresponding to mountain biking, so we put every camera via a string of powerful sturdiness assessments to see which of them survived. We froze the cameras in a freezer for 4 hours, left them underwater for half-hour, and dropped every camera on laborious concrete 5 instances to see what they might stand as much as.
Fancy taking your motion camera out for a spin? See our reviews of electrical scooters and e-bikes.
What makes a superb motion camera?
Motion cameras can differ in worth and options, so it is vital to determine which camera will swimsuit you. Whether or not you’re after an affordable motion camera or a extra superior mannequin, our skilled recommendation will help you select from the accessible cameras.
- Decision That is the variety of pixels in every body captured by the camera, and the quantity of element. 1,080p video format is Full HD (1,920 pixels vast by 1,080 pixels tall), and 720p (1,280 x 720 pixels) is taken into account as commonplace HD decision. 4K decision (3,840 x 2,160 pixels) is 4 instances as many pixels as Full HD. Even in the event you haven’t received a 4K TV or monitor, in the event you’re shopping for a brand new motion cam, it’s price 4K and 5K fashions first for top-quality video and stills.
- Frames per second The body fee is measured in frames per second (fps). It’s a measurement for what number of consecutive photos a camera can deal with every second. A typical camcorder shoots in 30fps and most TVs are at 30 or 60fps. Greater-end motion cameras can shoot 60fps, which makes movement seem smoother and fewer blurry. Some cameras can assist even larger frames per second, corresponding to 120fps, which can be utilized to create crisp slow-motion footage.
- Picture stabilisation Even one of the best motion cameras endure from shaky video footage, so the footage resembles the Blair Witch Venture. If you wish to guarantee regular movies which might be straightforward to observe, search for an motion camera with built-in picture stabilisation. You can even purchase a gimbal, an adjunct which stabilises the camera.
- Discipline of view A large subject of view is vital for motion cameras because it permits you to document video or stills in a extra immersive perspective than a conventional camera or camcorder. In easy phrases, the sphere of view is a measurement of the entire viewable space at any given second. Measured as an angle (eg 170 levels), the bigger the worth, the broader angle of view.
- Nonetheless photographs Motion cameras concentrate on recording video, however they will additionally seize nonetheless photographs. They don’t produce high-resolution photos as you’ll anticipate from a mirrorless or DSLR camera, however typically, cameras with a bigger megapixel ranking will produce sharper and clearer photographs.
- Water-resistant and waterproof It’s vital to pick out a camera that’s waterproof in the event you plan to make use of the camera underwater. Some fashions are water-proof, that means they will solely be submerged in water to a restricted depth. Different cameras require a particular waterproof case, known as a housing, to be absolutely waterproof. Verify the camera specs for particulars on acceptable water depths.
- Climate proofing Recording high-quality video in powerful climate situations is now not restricted to excessive sports activities fanatics or adventurers. With an motion camera by your facet, you may immediately document video and nonetheless photos with out concern of breaking it. Sometimes providing waterproofing, shockproofing and dustproofing, these cameras are perfect for excessive actions.
What different motion camera options ought to I contemplate?
It’s price making an allowance for that, when you select a camera, you’ll even have to consider different options and will need to purchase some extra equipment to get every little thing that you really want out of your new camera. Listed below are some vital ones to look out for and bear in mind.
Battery life
Even one of the best motion camera with a sizeable battery will solely final just a few hours, so it’s price investing in a number of batteries, or a transportable charger, to make sure your camera doesn’t run out of juice if you want it most.
Mounting system
Virtually all the motion cameras are designed to be mounted or hooked up to completely different surfaces or objects, which is crucial for capturing movies of your adventures from a first-person perspective.
Most cameras include one or two mounts within the field, however extra mounts value additional. In case you’re seeking to connect your camera to a particular space, corresponding to bike handlebars, you’ll must supply a particular bike mount.
A very good motion camera may have a common mounting system, which suggests you may clip your camera on to something with out the necessity to purchase extra equipment.
Reminiscence
Shopping for the best kind of reminiscence card is crucial for ensuring that you just get essentially the most out of your camera. When filming HD films, video information occupy a number of space for storing, so it’s price selecting a large-capacity reminiscence card to make sure it can save you as a lot footage as attainable.
Most motion cameras use micro-SD playing cards, and we suggest choosing up a Class-10 card to make sure one of the best video high quality. The upper the category of card, the quicker it could actually save the video.
In case you use a slower class of card than really helpful, recorded video shall be jerky and there shall be noticeable camera slowdown.
Wi-fi connectivity
Among the high-end motion cameras embody wi-fi, Bluetooth, near-field communication (NFC) or all three, so you need to use your smartphone or pill as a display.
This implies you may simply management the camera through an app or regulate camera settings on the fly.
GPS
With a built-in GPS (international positioning system), your motion camera will routinely geo-tag all of your movies and stills.
Because of this if you get house you may hyperlink your photographs and movies to a web based map, pinpointing the precise places of your travels.
