Action cameras are one of the most rapidly growing and interesting sectors of the camera market.

You’ll find them popping up in all manner of places, even if you ordinarily might think that a cell phone camera does the job.

These are cameras that can handle all sorts of scenarios that your cell phone can’t. They’re (usually) waterproof, can stand to be chucked around, and give you the opportunity to record all of your various adventures.

You don’t need a huge budget to pick up an action camera, with some starting from as little as $50. Choose the best action camera from techspunk guide in your budget.

As you might expect, cameras at this end of the pricing spectrum aren’t always super reliable, but by the time you reach the $100-$150 mark, you start to get real quality.

Think about video quality before you pick up an action camera. 4K is starting to become the standard across all types of cameras, but some action models - especially the cheaper ones - stick to Full HD.

Also, think about frame rates - the higher the frame rate, the smoother your video will be.

Optical image stabilization is particularly important for action cameras, which tend to be used in bumpy situations, so that’s another specification to look out for.

1. GoPro Hero 6

GoPro is pretty much the dominant force in the action camera market, but with a camera that offers decent value for money, as well as some of the best specs available, it’s not hard to see why.

The GoPro Hero 6 isn’t the cheapest camera in our group - heck, it’s not even the cheapest GoPro camera in our group - but if you’re looking for something which ticks all the boxes, then the Hero 6 is the one to go for.

For your money, you get 4K video recording which is available up to 6ofps. Image stabilization is present - but note that you can only use it on frame rates up to 30fps.

It’s very well-performing and one of the main reasons for choosing the Hero 6 over the Hero 5, if your budget can stretch to it.

Voice control means you can get the Hero 6 to do a few things without needing to touch it. Waterproofing down to 32 feet is included without the need for any additional housing - but you can buy some separately if you want to go deeper.

Use the Hero 6’s inbuilt WiFi to connect to your phone, especially with the free QuikStories app, which collates clips together for something you can share on social media.

2. Olympus TG Tracker

Giving you the capability to dive as deep as 98 feet, the Olympus TG Tracker offers the joint best standalone waterproofing of the group - without any need for any additional housing.

It’s also freeze-proof and crushproof, giving you a little bit of added reassurance that it’ll be able to handle several different scenarios. Video recording is available in 4K, plus there’s super-slow-motion video recording - but only at 720p.

The slightly strange look of the Tracker is partly down to the fact that it has a super-wide-angle lens, giving you fantastic scope to record a wide scene area.

A tilting screen is also very useful for composing from slightly awkward angles, although it’s a shame it doesn’t tilt all the way forward for video selfies - still, any kind of screen movement at all is reasonably rare in the action cam market.

Battery life should see you right for around an hour of constant video recording, but you can switch off WiFi in order to help the battery last a little longer.

A basic accompanying app is available which you can use to grab files from the camera.

Final Words

With a decent amount of choice currently on the market, the action camera you choose will probably come down to how serious you are about action videography.

Go for one of the cheaper models if you’re just looking for something simple and light to chuck in a bag for the odd biking or hiking trip, but if you’re the kind of person who embarks on an adventure every weekend, you might want to think about investing in a little more.

The best action camera currently on the market is the GoPro Hero 6, but also consider the YI 4K+ if you want something similar for a cheaper price (but remember only the GoPro offers water-proofing without housing).

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Best Action Camera for Moving Videos in 2021