Action cameras - which one is better to choose?

During an active holiday with us, there are many pleasant moments that I would like to remember. Selfish on an ordinary smartphone during a jump from a parachute, fast mountain descents or exciting races is from a series of impossible. For this purpose special action cameras are designed.

To understand what you need to choose, you need to first understand the technical aspects of the device and its features. We will tell you about this. Buy an action camera in Kharkov, Odessa, Kiev with delivery across Ukraine it is possible on a site 130.com.ua.

Lens

From the lens depends on how much light goes to the matrix of the device. The higher its light-transmitting capacity, the better the video, especially in poor light conditions. But be careful here: not always "more" means "better."

For example, one of the best models of Go-Pro Hero 5 aperture optics - f / 2.8, but there are also devices and cheaper with aperture f / 2.0. As you can see, photosensitivity is not the main criterion of choice.

In the specifications you will see two important parameters:

— Angle of view - the area of the captured space in the frame;
— focal length: the distance between the matrix and the optical center of the lens.

Many models are equipped with wide-angle optics. Such lenses are special in their design, so sometimes the effect of perspective distortion appears on the video. If you need a camera for normal shooting, then choose models with the ability to change the viewing angle and adjust the image.

The feature of the action camera is that during fast shooting it keeps a constant focus on the hyperfocal distance. As a result, you get the maximum depth of field for capturing more space.

Matrix

The matrix acts as a universal photodetector. It is in this part of the camera that the rays of light that have passed through the lens form the final picture. The quality of the video is affected by the size of the matrix. In standard devices, this figure is 36x24 mm. But since the action cameras are compact in size, in this case it will be enough 6.17x4.55 mm. Due to the small size of the matrix, even top models give out a poor image in conditions of poor illumination.

It is important to consider the resolution of the matrix. Marketers speculate this parameter inexperienced buyers, positioning the number of megapixels as the main indicator of quality. But in practice the situation is different. To record video in 1080 r. we will be sufficient even for 2Mp, for 4K - 8 Mp.

To record a video with the effect of a slo-moushen, we need a camera with a high frame rate per second. In most models it is equal to 30, 60 or 120 fps.

From the width of the dynamic range depends on the number of small details on the contrast parts of the picture. For standard models, there is a parameter within 4-8 EV.

CPU

Videos are stored in the device memory. Before saving the file, the system compresses it. How strong compression and loss of quality will be depends on bitrate. This is the number of bits of memory that are needed to save 1 second of video. So, we get a regularity: the higher the bitrate, the better the quality of the files. But immediately consider that we will need more free memory to store all the files.

In the matter of material quality, the decisive parameter is the device software. Therefore, choose optimized models, in which all mechanisms are finalized.

Display

Not all models are equipped with a display. In this case, you can see the footage on a PC or a smartphone. Devices in the middle price range are equipped with a small black and white screen. It is necessary to change the default settings. Premium cameras offer us an already LCD-display or even a touchscreen.

Strength and autonomy of work

Even though the action cameras are designed for shooting under extreme conditions, not all of them are protected from impacts, moisture and dust. To provide the necessary protection devices, in the kit they often come with waterproof covers and impact-resistant frames.

With autonomy, things are a little worse. At best, you can shoot 40 minutes. But there are models that offer a longer shot, but the cost is corresponding to them. If the compactness for you is by no means the most important indicator, you can buy an external battery.

Additional functions

Some car owners use action cameras instead of a DVR. There are special models with a G-sensor. If an emergency occurs, the sensor captures this time interval on the video and saves it to a separate folder so you can find this record faster.

With Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, you can set up communication with external devices, for example, manage shooting from your smartphone.

And what is important?

So, let's select 3 priorities for selecting an appropriate action camera:

— Autonomy of work. Take a closer look at models that have a battery with a large volume. The leaders in this matter are Sony and Liquid EGO.
— Strength. Choose devices from an alloy of aluminum or shockproof plastic. For example, Sony or a series of GoPro Hero.
— Image quality. Stop at 4K resolution and increased frame rate. For example, GoPro Hero 5.