The perfect motion cameras seize clear photos and crisp sound, are sturdy whether or not you are utilizing them whereas driving a motorbike or swimming, and are straightforward to make use of.
We examined the UK’s bestselling motion cameras from GoPro, Crosstour, Akaso and extra, to seek out out which motion cameras present the sharpest footage, the clearest audio, the smoothest picture stabilisation and the hardest design and we have discovered two motion cameras worthy of being named Which? Finest Buys.
Need to discover out in regards to the newest DSLRs, mirrorless cameras and extra? Learn our digital camera reviews.
The perfect motion cameras from our exams
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Date examined: November 2021, pricing and availability final checked: 5 October 2022
The motion cameras we examined
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Akaso EK7000
Solely obtainable at Amazon: £57.99.
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Max decision/body fee: 4K/25fps, 2.7K/30fps, 1080p/60fps
Sensor measurement: 2-inch
Measurement and weight: 4.2 x 6 x 3.1cm (HxWxD); 41g
Acknowledged waterproofing: 30 metres carrying 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
Crosstour Motion CT9000
Solely obtainable at Crosstour: £49.99.
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Max decision/body fee: 4K/30fps, 2.7k/30fps, 1080p/60fps
Sensor measurement: 2-inch
Measurement and weight: 4.1 x 5.9 x 2.5cm (HxWxD); 64g
Acknowledged waterproofing: 30 metres carrying 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
GoPro Hero 8
Least expensive worth: £279.99 obtainable at Argos, Very, additionally obtainable at Amazon, GoPro
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Max decision/body fee: 4K/60fps, 2.7k/120fps, 1080p/240fps
Sensor measurement: 2.3-inch
Measurement and weight: 4.9 x 6.6 x 2.8cm (HxWxD); 126g
Acknowledged 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 screen, voice management, scheduled seize, 1080p reside streaming, GoPro app required
GoPro Hero 9
Least expensive worth: £299.99 at Argos, Very, additionally obtainable at Amazon, GoPro
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Max decision/body fee: 5K/30fps, 4K/60fps, 2.7k/120fps
Sensor measurement: 2.3-inch
Measurement and weight: 5.5 x 7.1 x 3.36cm (HxWxD); 158g
Acknowledged 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 screen, voice management, scheduled seize, 1080p reside streaming, GoPro app required
GoPro Hero 10
Least expensive worth: £399.99 obtainable at Argos, additionally obtainable at Amazon, GoPro
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Max decision/body fee: 5.3K/60fps, 4K/120fps, 2.7k/240fps
Sensor measurement: 2.3-inch
Measurement and weight: 5.5 x 7.1 x 3.36cm (HxWxD); 153g
Acknowledged 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 screen, voice management, scheduled seize, 1080p reside streaming, GoPro app required
Kitvision 4K Motion Digital camera KVACTLAP4K
Least expensive worth: £55.46 obtainable at Amazon, additionally obtainable at Kitvision (out of inventory).
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Max decision/body fee: 4K/30fps, 1080p/60fps, 720p/120fps
Sensor measurement: 2-inch
Measurement and weight: 4.6 x 6.1 x 2.8cm (HxWxD); 70g
Acknowledged waterproofing: 30 metres carrying 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 collection of movies so certainly one of our video producers might evaluate 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 might be assured that our reviews are unbiased and impartial.
Video, audio and stills high quality
We recorded a set collection of movies with every camera in utilizing the identical video settings and below the identical circumstances, together with:
- Being mounted on a runner’s head whereas they jogged through the day and at night time
- Being mounted on a crash helmet whereas driving an electrical scooter
- Transferring between indoor and out of doors settings
- Self-shooting and speaking to the camera utilizing a selfie stick
- Recording underwater.
We had been on the look out for:
- Easy picture stabilisation
- Sharp photos
- Pure colors
- Footage that was freed from distortion
- Footage that dealt rapidly with adjustments in focus and light-weight.
- Richness and depth of the audio was additionally scrutinised
We additionally took {a photograph} of the identical vast shot on the identical time of day with every camera so the stills may very well be judged and in contrast alongside one another by our professional.
Ease of use and sturdiness
Whereas recording our collection of photographs and stills, we:
- Famous how straightforward we discovered it to make use of and perceive every camera and praised people who had been best to select up and use.
- Froze the cameras in a freezer for 4 hours.
- Left them underwater for half-hour
- Dropped every camera on laborious concrete 5 occasions to see what they may stand as much as.
Fancy taking your motion camera out for a spin? See our reviews of e-bikes and browse: Electrical scooters, every thing you should know.
What makes a great motion camera?
Motion cameras can fluctuate in worth and options, so it is essential to determine which camera will swimsuit you. Whether or not you’re after an affordable motion camera or a extra superior mannequin, our professional recommendation can assist you select from the obtainable 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 customary HD decision. 4K decision (3,840 x 2,160 pixels) is 4 occasions as many pixels as Full HD. Even in case you haven’t received a 4K TV or monitor, in case 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. Increased-end motion cameras can shoot 60fps, which makes movement seem smoother and fewer blurry. Some cameras can assist even larger frames per second, comparable to 120fps, which can be utilized to create crisp slow-motion footage.
- Picture stabilisation Even one of the best motion cameras undergo from shaky video footage, so the footage resembles the Blair Witch Undertaking. If you wish to guarantee regular movies which might be straightforward to look at, search for an motion camera with built-in picture stabilisation. You may as well purchase a gimbal, an adjunct which stabilises the camera.
- Discipline of view A large area of view is essential for motion cameras because it lets you document video or stills in a extra immersive perspective than a standard camera or camcorder. In easy phrases, the sphere of view is a measurement of the whole viewable space at any given second. Measured as an angle (eg 170 levels), the bigger the worth, the broader angle of view.
- Nonetheless images Motion cameras specialize in recording video, however they will additionally seize nonetheless images. They don’t produce high-resolution photos as you’ll count on from a mirrorless or DSLR camera, however usually, cameras with a bigger megapixel score will produce sharper and clearer images.
- Water-proof and waterproof It’s essential to pick a camera that’s waterproof in case you plan to make use of the camera underwater. Some fashions are water-resistant, 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 totally waterproof. Examine the camera specs for particulars on acceptable water depths.
- Climate proofing Recording high-quality video in robust climate circumstances is not restricted to excessive sports activities fans or adventurers. With an motion camera by your aspect, you’ll be able to 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 taking into account that, when you select a camera, you’ll even have to consider different options and will need to purchase some further equipment to get every thing that you really want out of your new camera. Listed here are some essential 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 conveyable charger, to make sure your camera doesn’t run out of juice once 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 taking pictures movies of your adventures from a first-person perspective.
Most cameras include one or two mounts within the field, however further mounts value further. For those who’re seeking to connect your camera to a selected space, comparable to bike handlebars, you’ll must supply a selected bike mount.
A great motion camera can have a common mounting system, which implies you’ll be able to clip your camera on to something with out the necessity to purchase further equipment.
Reminiscence
Shopping for the proper sort of reminiscence card is crucial for ensuring that you just get essentially the most out of your camera. When filming HD motion pictures, video recordsdata occupy lots 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 selecting up a Class-10 card to make sure one of the best video high quality. The upper the category of card, the sooner it could actually save the video.
For those who use a slower class of card than beneficial, recorded video will probably be jerky and there will probably be noticeable camera slowdown.
Wi-fi connectivity
A number of the high-end motion cameras embody wi-fi, Bluetooth, near-field communication (NFC) or all three, so you should use your smartphone or pill as a display screen.
This implies you’ll be able to simply management the camera through an app or modify camera settings on the fly.
GPS
With a built-in GPS (world positioning system), your motion camera will mechanically geo-tag all of your movies and stills.
Because of this once you get house you’ll be able to hyperlink your images and movies to a web-based map, pinpointing the precise areas of your travels.
