It’s not too far away now - that time of year when we wash off the wetsuits, jet clean the mountain bikes, and head off into the wilds of nature. And of course, you’ll want to capture all your heroic adventures on video, to share with the wider world, and, of course, your future self as you remember these glory days.
For this you’ll need a proper action camera - you could use your £1k smartphone, of course - but you’ll regret that cracked screen and the moment you’ll inevitably drop it in a puddle. It’s good news, then, that two of the big players have just updated their offering, and that there are other options too.
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Of course, not everyone’s hanging from rocks, riding the peelers or careering down mountains - but even if you’re not, and just want to record the kids on the beach, these cameras are far and away the best tools for documenting your outdoor adventures.
GoPro Hero10 Creator Edition
They say: We're rolling out the red carpet for HERO10 Black with the new specialty Creator Edition, featuring Emmy Award-winning HyperSmooth 4.0 stabilisation; crisp, cinematic 5.3K video; and enough battery to power all-day productions thanks to Volta, the new battery and camera control grip at its base.
We say: Volta is new from GoPro this year, and complements the flagship Hero10 Black perfectly. It’s essentially a battery built-in to a grip that doubles as a tripod and remote control. So you can control the camera with one hand, or from a distance of up to 98 feet in tripod mode. The extra battery power means you can record more than four hours of 4k video on one charge. At the time of writing GoPro is offering a sensational deal on the GoPro and Volta, bundling it up with an external mic and light, which work together as a complete system, for a real bargain price. Of course, in the Hero10 you have a real quality camera that is ready for anything, almost anywhere.
Cost: £508.45 (usually £809.94) at GoPro
Insta360 One RS
They say: 360 ONE RS is a new interchangeable lens action camera that offers creators all-in-one versatility, without compromises. Using a three-part design - one battery, one processor and three quick-swapping lenses - ONE RS effortlessly transforms from a traditional action cam to a creative 360 cam. A new high-performance 4K Boost Lens with a 1/2″ 48MP image sensor now offers stunningly detailed wide-angle videos and photos, while a powerful Core offers better than ever in-camera stabilisation, crisper audio and more.
We say: 360 is perhaps the biggest threat to GoPro’s dominance in the action cam arena, and its new One RS modular system offers a versatile set up. Its improved main lens, which Insta360 calls the 4k boost lens, offers better picture quality with detailed wide-angle video. The camera processor also receives a speed boost, which improves stabilisation - a must for an action cam. You can buy the system with all three lenses - the 4k lens plus a 360-degree lens, and a high quality wide lens co-engineered with Leica, or you can buy the battery and processor unit with just one lens and add others later. Whichever combination you choose, the system is waterproof down to 15m. There are a wide range of accessories available, meaning you can attach the camera to almost anything to be sure that you get the shot you want.
Cost: £799.98 (Twin edition - £499.99, 4K edition - £279.99) at Insta360
DJI Action 2
They say: VDJI Action 2 isn't just ultra-versatile, it's also our most powerful action camera yet. The innovative magnetic design lets you effortlessly swap out accessories as you capture life on the go. From parkour to park walks, break the mould with DJI Action 2.
We say: Released late last year, the DJI Action 2 has a USP the competitors don’t - it uses magnets to latch onto accessories. It makes swapping things out easy, and means the accessories available automatically become more usable and useful. In the box you get a lanyard and a magnetic mount adapter to get you started, but you can add on screens, battery packs, a headband mount, a microphone and more for a versatile system that can quickly shape-shift on the fly.
Cost: £279 at DJI
