This story was written in collaboration with Forbes Finds. Forbes Finds covers products and experiences we think you’ll love. Featured products are independently selected and linked to for your convenience. If you buy something using a link on this page, Forbes may receive a small share of that sale.
For a rugged adventure you need a rugged camera. Something small and light, perhaps with a waterproof housing that’s ready to record all your epic moments. GoPro is the most famous name in this category, not inventing the idea but certainly making it more popular. But there are other options on the market, too, including one you might not expect. Depending on your sport or adventure of choice, one of these cameras may be the best tool for capturing all the action:
GoPro Hero 7 Black
This top of the line GoPro is the place to start. Built-in image stabilization is a key feature here, and in my opinion it’s a must if you’re shooting video. In this case that video is up to 4K at 60 frames per second, which should result in some sharply detailed and smooth motion. There’s also an option for a super-slow 8x slo-mo mode. Photographs are 12 megapixels, which isn’t as high as many traditional cameras, but more than enough for social media. There’s also a removable battery and waterproofing to 33 feet deep. For anything deeper, there are dive cases available.
At $400, and often less online, the GoPro Hero 7 Black covers all the bases. There are less expensive options, to be sure, but for the depth of support and accessories, features and overall image quality, this is the first one to consider.
GoPro Hero 7 Silver
GoPro’s next level down maxes out at 10 megapixels for photos and 4K/30 for video (which is still fine, just not as potentially detailed and smooth with fast motion as the Black’s 4K/60). The image stabilization isn’t quite as smooth either, and the slo-mo is only 2x. None of those are huge issues, especially if you’re on a budget. What’s a bigger deal is that the battery isn’t removable. I’m not sure that’s worth saving $100 on this over the Hero 7 Black, but it’s still a savings.
GoPro Hero 7 White
The budget GoPro is only $200 and often less, but only shoots 1080p video. If you mainly post to Instagram or Facebook, this camera will be fine. However, it also lacks a removable battery. Since it’s only half the price of the Black that makes these missing features a bit more palatable. If you can afford the other models, they’ll offer more for you in the long run and be able to create a wider variety of cool content.
Insta360 One X
You might be surprised to see a 360-camera on this list that isn’t GoPro’s Fusion. Despite that camera’s improvements and excellent image quality, it is still significantly more annoying to use than the Insta360 One X. More important, there are a variety of accessories available for the One X that make it more useful as an action camera than the Fusion. Not least being surf and dive cases (shown above), with which you can capture some pretty amazing footage:
The image stabilization and myriad editing options make the One X extremely useful in a wide range of situations. It’s worth noting that the camera itself isn’t as rugged as the GoPros, and with bulging lenses on both sides, so it’s a lot more likely to get scratched if you’re careless. It’s great fun though for around the same price as the Hero 7 Black. Personally, I have a GoPro and a One X and I use the One X way more than the GoPro.
DJI Osmo Action
DJI is best known for its drones, so it was pretty logical for the brand to release its own action cam. And it looks very, very similar to the GoPros. Visually, the biggest difference is a color screen on the front, next to the lens. The stabilization is reportedly quite good, though in most performance areas it at best matches the GoPro Hero 7 Black, and in some ways lags a bit behind. List price, however, is in the Osmo’s favor. The Hero 7 Black occasionally drops in price to match the Osmo, which for most people should make them lean back towards the 7 Black. Both are great cameras, however. Again, it all depends on what kind of action you’re aiming to capture.
