This entry was posted on September 14, 2022
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If you want to capture epic footage of your 2022 adventures, you’ll want to look at some of the best action cameras on the market. If you’re aiming to shoot the best quality images possible or want to capture your on-the-go videos on a budget, we’ve included something to suit all budgets below.
Insta360 ONE X2 360 Action Camera
The Insta360 ONE X2 is a great pocket 360 action camera that shoots, stabilises and edits 5.7K 360 video. With no extra gear needed, it’s a superb all-in-one action cam. It boasts the best image stabilisation on the market, giving a smooth video, no matter the action without the need for an additional gimbal. As an added bonus you can lock the horizon, which means you can rotate the 360 in any direction whilst the horizon stays perfectly level.
If you opt to shoot using the invisible selfie stick, you can watch it disappear as you edit. This clever piece of kit allows you to capture aerial angles and third-person perspectives purely with your 360 action cam without depending on a drone.
Steady cam mode allows you to turn your 360 camera into a traditional action cam. Shoot with one lens and get ultra-stable, wide-angle footage that’s ready to share in a single snap.
The Insta360 is waterproof up to 10 metres straight out of the box; if you’re shooting deeper down, just grab the dive case for seamless stitching of your underwater 360 footage down to an impressive depth of 45 metres.
Once your footage is captured on camera, the Insta360 makes creative edits super easy. Just pick a template and allow the AI to do the rest. Shot Lab is being constantly updated with new templates based on the latest and greatest 360 camera techniques. For desktop editing, the 360 is just as easy with Insta Studio, which is totally free, or you can opt to use Adobe plugins.
Overall, the Insta360 is a fantastic little action camera with a nice price tag too.
Ricoh WG-80 Rugged Digital Compact Camera
The Ricoh WG-80 Rugged Digital compact camera caters for underwater photography down to 14 metres and is good to go for two hours of continuous use. It also features a totally renewed exterior design and enhanced operability so it looks better and is easier to use.
This compact camera boasts all-weatherproof benefits, from freeze proofing that means you can still use it even in temperatures of −10 °C to shock proofing properties capable of withstanding drops of 1.6 metres as well as crush proofing capable of withstanding forces of 100 kgf. This rugged camera can withstand almost anything you can throw at it, anywhere in the world.
Capture high-definition images offered by a camera with approximately 16 megapixels, a lens with 5× optical zoom starting from a wide angle of 28 mm and image processing incorporating “ultra-high resolution” technology.
With the WG-80’s built-in ring light, which has six LED lamps arranged around the lens, you can now change the brightness during macro shooting.
Overall, the Ricoh WG-80 Rugged definitely lives up to its name.
GoPro Hero 10
GoPro's latest flagship, the Hero 10’s key upgrade, is its new GP2 processor, which unlocks a range of useful features. One new feature, the ability to shoot 4K/120p video, is genuinely impressive, while others, such as its far more responsive touchscreen, could be seen more as felt like fixes for the Hero 9’s flaws.
The GoPro Hero 10 is an action camera that's more versatile and fun to use than its predecessor. It’s a good waterproof action cam that's ideal for capturing your outdoor adventures or vlogging videos in 4K. GoPro's highest-quality HyperSmooth stabilisation is now available in more shooting modes.
The GoPro Hero 10 is one of the more pricey action cams on the market but is a great all-rounder.
Akaso Brave 7 LE
The Akaso Brave 7 LE is a great budget action camera. It offers an impressive range of features for the price. If a front-facing screen and weatherproofing are higher on your priority list than outright video quality, then it should definitely be on your shortlist. It has a remarkably intuitive touchscreen interface, and the audio quality is great.
The video quality is a decent 4K but doesn't quite match competitors. The Akaso Brave 7 LE seems to prioritise reducing noise in lower light which gives footage a soft quality. It does have good electronic image stabilisation and is packed with great features. For the price it is one of the best action cameras on the market.
DJI Action 2
The DJI Action 2 is a nifty little modular action cam. It isn’t without its limitations but could be a great option. The Action 2 is a small metallic cube, which you can buy with one of two additional units - either a standard battery or a battery with a second screen for vlogging. These units are magnetic mounting, which is really easy and not as fiddly as some action cam mounts can be. It is quite gadgety, so it's a fun option if you’re partial to playing around with your kit.
The Action 2 is known to overheat quite a lot when shooting in 4K, with recording time limited to around 5 minutes, meaning it's very much an action camera for anyone looking to shoot shorter clips. While the main unit is waterproof to 10m, neither the Power Module nor the Front Touchscreen Modules are water-resistant without a case. The Action 2 is fantastic for shooting in daylight, and the Horizon Steady lets you tilt the camera 180 without your image being affected.
Insta360 GO 2 Action Camera
Praised as “the world’s smallest action camera”, the Insta360 Go 2 is a truly tiny action cam that’s designed for speedy and effortless recording. Despite its miniature build, the Go 2 can capture excellent 1440p video at 50fps, with great detail and decent dynamic range. The Go 2’s FlowState Stabilisation will keep your shot steady for buttery smooth motion shots. Move the camera all you'd like. GO 2's horizon levelling algorithms will keep the video upright no matter what.
The Insta360 Go 2 is packed with features such as hyper-lapse, time-lapse and slow motion and with HDR mode, you can capture shots in a tap that look like they were edited by a pro. GO 2’s Charge Case is much more than a charging device; it’s a case, charger, controller and tripod all in one, perfect for selfies. Plus, you can charge up in just half an hour and shoot for up to 2.5 hours.
The Go 2 is waterproof up to 13 metres, making it great for underwater shots, especially when you make use of the AquaVision in the app. Upgraded from the bottom up, the algorithm now produces even more realistic and vivid colours than before. Editing couldn’t be easier with FlashCut 2.0. AI takes your favourite clips, puts them into a story and edits them together on the beat to the music. Choose from themed templates or let AI freestyle.
Overall this tiny gem offers fantastic value for money and is super versatile with great features.