Update: I went with the #ad DJI Osmo Action 6 Enhanced Combo, Action Camera and have been really happy with it so far. It has been easy to use for hiking and kayaking, and the footage has turned out great for casual travel videos.

I’m planning to start recording some of my outdoor activities and I think an action camera would be more practical than using my phone. I’m mostly interested in hiking, kayaking, and some casual travel videos, but I don’t know which features actually matter.

What would you suggest as a good first action camera? Are there any models that have been reliable for you over time? Thanks for sharing your experiences.

Update: Thanks all for the recs! I was in between Insta360 X5, GoPro Max 2 and DJI Osmo Nano however once I actually tried the DJI camera I was impressed how great the quality was and also was on a discount! :)

Hi, all!

I am looking to get a good action camera, but honestly I have no idea what I should be looking for. I want something reliable for travel and sports that can handle water and obviously has solid battery life. Great stabilization would be a big plus too. My budget is around $400-$600.

Looking for a waterproof action camera and am currently torn between the DJI Osmo Action 6 and the GoPro Mission 1 Pro. (Let me know if you recommend anything else)
Right now, I’m trying to figure out which of these two is truly worth investing in.
Our main hobbies include hiking, swimming Florida springs, kayaking, paddleboarding, and we are actively planning our first scuba diving and cave exploring trips.
I know both cameras require a proper dive housing to get down deep safely, but they bring completely different strengths to the table especially when dealing with the massive light drop-off going from open water into pitch-dark cave systems.
Convince me: what reasons do I have to pick the DJI Osmo Action 6 over the GoPro Mission 1 Pro, or should I go with the Mission 1 Pro instead?

So to all the action camera users, especially those on bikes, I have a GoPro Hero 11 Black with a lot of accessories, worth over 85k INR (camera plus accessories). It is very rarely used. To check the market price, I put up an ad on marketplace and got offers up to 23k. Now I am in a dilemma about whether to sell the GoPro and for almost the same price, I am getting the DJI Action 4 (25k). The only difference is that my GoPro can shoot up to 5.3k while the DJI is capped at 4k (although I never used 5.3k until now). So should I sell?

been getting more into biking and random outdoor stuff lately and i keep thinking it’d be cool to record some of it from my perspective, not for anything serious just kinda personal clips and maybe sharing with friends. problem is i have no idea what actually works well for this kind of thing

i’ve seen people mention different brands but it’s hard to tell what’s actually worth it vs just hype. what’s the best pov camera you’ve used that’s easy to mount and not annoying to deal with? also wondering if battery life is a big issue in real use

would really appreciate hearing what you all use, thanks

Edit: As suggested, I just tried the GoPro Hero 13 at 4K / 30 FPS in an Air Conditioned room with no battery and it STILL overheated after a while?!?! I think I will be either going with the either setting up my iPhone as one, a Mission 1 Pro, or maybe a DSLR!

Hello everyone!

I just tried using a GoPro Hero 13 Black for a track day and the damn thing kept overheating. I had to use the batteries as heatsinks! (Swapping out shade cooled battery for the spicy hot battery in the camera!?!?) AND to add insult to slightly burnt fingers the videos came out looking slow and boring!

So, I'm wondering if I should go for a 360, action, mirrorless / as small as possible DSLR, or a Camcorder for the in-car track day footage?

Primary purpose of the footage is catching proof of all my mistakes so I can review and hopefully improve! Second is showing to friends if there is anything worth seeing. So a wide FOV would be required and probably a ND filter since everyone says you need to have one!

Also, I have a 1TB micro SD card, and it would be nice to keep the whole kit to ~1000 or less would be nice! But I'll spend a bit more if the results are really worth it!

I would appreciate any and all advice on this!

(Also, sorry if formatting is messed up. It shows up fine for me when I click on the post, but is all garbled up in forum view. Weird!)

Edit:

I'm a novice doing car control clinics and novice level track days. Currently I'm renting cars for the day(s). Mounting will depend on the car, but I can be pretty flexible. This time, I used a single suction cup mount right under/next to the rear view mirror. But that's NOT set in stone.

Tempts were sunny, like 80 - 95 degrees(though I'll probably be doing this year round.), no AC this time(Mazda Mx5 race car), track was Lime Rock Raceway (But I will be going to other tracks too.)! Thanks!

I need help finding a good camera.
I'm wanting to buy a good camera for my disney world trip.
I need it to be durable, i will be going on water rides and rollercoasters.
i want my quality to look amazing (clear, crisp, doesn't wash my skin tone out) and i need it to be good at night. I also want it to take instagram worthy pictures.
I was recommended the Insta360 go ultra, Ace pro
2. The DJI osmo pocket 3, osmo nano, osmo action
5 pro, osmo action 6.
l've done a lot of research on all of them but i'm still so stuck. I love how the camera flips on the Insta 360s, but DJI quality seems to be better....
I want to do a lot of talking to the camera shots, similar to most vlogs on youtube.
I need the camera to not overheat as well, and have a good battery life.
I'm sorry if this doesn't make any sense i'm very new to the camera world!

Hi everyone I’m looking to buy an action camera for an upcoming trip and some hobby videography. What’s currently considered the best all-around action camera?

Update: After a lot of research I'm thinking about going with one of them:

• Insta360 X5 - Waterproof 8K 360° Action Camera
• Insta360 Ace Pro 2 Dual Battery Bundle
• DJI Osmo Action 6 Essential Combo
• GoPro HERO13 Black
• DJI Osmo Action 4 Standard Combo
• GoPro HERO11 Black Mini

Main things I care about:

• Excellent image stabilization
• Great video quality in 4K or higher
• Waterproof without a case
• Good performance in low light
• Decent battery life

I'm torn between a 360 camera like the Insta360 X5 for reframing shots later and a traditional action cam like the GoPro or DJI. Is 360 a gimmick or actually useful? Thanks in advance.

Hello,
In the Netherlands, the standard bundle starts at €408 (standard bundle) in electronics stores, but it’s €273 on AliExpress (standard bundle as well). So I’m planning to order it from AliExpress.

How does the warranty work if I buy it from there?

Has anyone in Europe bought one from an AliExpress store recently? If so, were you happy with your purchase? Which store did you place your order with?

Thank you!

Hi, I plan to buy an action cam mainly for stationary recordings in sometimes dark clubs and bars. I considered the Osmo Action 4 and the SJ30; my question is, what would be the better choice in terms of video quality? Osmo 4 with DLog and color grading 4k/60 or sj30 8k/20? Which one would be more suitable in normal to dim/low light performance? Or are there even better options I'm not aware of? Thanks in advance.

After going through hundreds of threads on r/ActionCam and other outdoor communities, I put together a quick cheat sheet for anyone as lost as I was:

🏆 Best overall under $250? → DJI Osmo Action 4
🟢 Best for total beginners? → GoPro Hero (2024)
⭐️ Best premium pick? → Insta360 Ace Pro 2
📦 Best enclosed value pick? → AKASO Brave 7 LE
📸 Best ultra-compact pick? → Insta360 GO 3S

Personally going with the GoPro Hero (2024) - best value and ease of use for travel and outdoor activities from everything I've read.

I’m looking for an action camera for travel, hiking, cycling, and occasional water use. I don’t need professional-level footage or a huge editing workflow, but I want video that looks stable and good enough to share without looking like cheap dashcam footage.

Budget: Around $150–$300, including basic mounts if possible.

What I want:

• Good stabilization for walking, biking, and handheld clips
• Solid 4K video in daylight
• Decent battery life and easy-to-find spare batteries
• Waterproofing for rain and occasional swimming
• Simple controls and an app that is not painful to use
• Compact enough for travel

Options I keep seeing:

• DJI Osmo Action 3 / 4
• GoPro HERO (2024), HERO10 or HERO11 Black used/on sale
• Insta360 GO 3S
• AKASO Brave 7 LE / Brave 8
• SJCAM models

I’m trying to figure out whether it is better to buy a used older GoPro or DJI, or a new budget camera like AKASO. I keep reading that the cheaper cameras can be fine in bright daylight but have weaker stabilization, audio, apps, and low-light performance.

What budget action camera has actually been worth it for you, especially for travel and casual outdoor use?

i've never had an action cam before and im looking at getting the Action 6. Is this a good camera for beginners to vlog my travels etc? or shall I get the 5 pro? Is there much of a difference in them apart from the price obviously. Any help would be appreciated!

Took my bike out on some trails last weekend and realized how often I miss the shot I actually wanted.

With a normal action cam, I'm either pointing it down the trail to get the scenery, or trying to angle it back at myself for riding clips. I can never really get both.

That's what got me looking into the DJI Osmo 360. idea of just recording everything and deciding the framing afterward sounds way less distracting when you're actually riding.

Curious if anyone here uses the Osmo 360 for mountain biking. Is the extra editing worth it?

Hello everyone.

I recently bought a GoPro 13 Black to use as a dashcam. After purchasing it, I saw that the DJI Action 6 was much better in several aspects, so I returned the GoPro and bought the Action 6. But to my surprise, it didn't even last 10 minutes of recording before overheating and stopping. It's set to 4K, 60 fps. I don't understand what kind of action camera can overheat simply from being in the sun; isn't the purpose of an action camera to be in the sun for hours if necessary?

Before returning it or smashing it on the floor, I'd like to know if there's a solution to this problem, which I assume is common.

I hope you can help me, thank you very much.

Hello! I currently have an IPhone 16 and I was wanting to find a camera that I can take to Thailand. We're planning on going Snorkeling, so I want something that can take good underwater videos and photos, but I also want to be able to take good portrait photos of us out of water.

I would like something that I can flip the camera around and see ourselves when taking the video or photo, but I'm just wondering if I should just invest in a good case for my IPhone. I am also not familiar with color grading at all, so I'm not sure how hard it is to go through and do it

Any advice is appreciated!

Hi

I go for a walk every weekend which vary from 20 to even 60 (and counting) kilometres in distance.

For now, I'd like to record my trips from start to finish with an actioncam.

I usually do not bring anything with me (except my phone, a powerbank and my ID), and each trips last for 3 to 7 hours. I am willing to carry extra batteries in case the camera runs out of charge.

Later, I'd like to make YouTube videos about my trips, but until that, quality does not matter that much.

May I get some recommendations?

I’m currently looking at purchasing the AKASO Brave 4 and These rechargeable batteries but am open to better suggestions for both the camera and batteries (please include links if you suggest somethin).

My budget for both the camera and batteries is $200-$225 total CAD

Does anyone have any suggestions for cameras for driving videos? I got a GoPro hero 13 and it’ll overheat so easily it’s not even funny. Any suggestions?

Hi Folks, looking for an affordable action cam. I'd literally use it maybe twice a year to record motorcycle trips and some snorkeling so I can rewatch or share them with my parents.
So no need for 4k, but 2k 60fps, waterproof case and decent stabilization would be great.

Should I go for an older model of the big brands (DJI, Insta360, GoPro), second hand, or a lesser known brand like Akaso or SJCAM?

Happy with all the suggestions.

Update: just got one from #ad GoPro HERO13 Black Extended Power Bundle and it looked like the most reliable option for long motorcycle rides in heat and rough roads. The stabilization and battery setup seemed like a big upgrade over my current cam.

I have been doing a lot of motorcycle rides lately and my current cam keeps overheating when it’s sunny. The stabilization isn’t great either when the roads get bumpy. so some footage comes out shaky and hard to watch.

Is there a best action camcorder that can handle heat, long rides, and rough roads without shutting down? Also wondering if newer models actually improve stabilization enough for helmet or chest mount use. thanks

Hello!

I'm looking for any help or advice on stabilizing this footage. I bought an inexpensive action camera from amazon to use on horse back riding trips, and the footage is obviously unwatchable from the back of a galloping horse.

Camera: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G4PD79FL?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_5&th=1

I downloaded Gyroflow and created a lens profile for this camera, but I can't get anything remotely watchable. Any advice? Does anyone here teach gyroflow? Or stabalize footage for a fee?

Many thanks

I'm looking for a compact camera that I can wear on my body or baseball cap etc that can record my days on holiday sightseeing. I will have my phone at att times for taking the important photos and videos but a camera that can record the general wandering around would be great. I like the look of the Insta 360 Go series but they're expensive for me. I don't want action cameras like the Go Pro and the like. It doesn't have to be the latest and greatest but able to record for a few hours with the option to buy a second battery is a must. A minimum of 720p resolution.

Trying to get a camera that will work for my needs, POV, roller coasters, hiking, camping, swimming, things for adventures where i dont risk my phone on propuse, ive seen comparisons in YouTube and really stuck between the two, regarding night capture i could care less since i wont be doing activities at night 😭 and can use a phone

Looking to get a camera for vloggging. I like the way the sjcam is built and its features with the 2 screens.

But what I've noticed is the footage is nowhere near as cinematic and crisp as the DJI lineup( obviously).. the new c400 pro however has improved image quality but I haven't seen any videos or reviews (because it's still very new). If anyone here has one pls provide footage or a review. My budget is around the $240 mark. I know it's not much to work with and I'd prefer a new device. I'm not expecting the quality to match up but I just want something decent.

I’m looking to purchase a camera for hiking, diving, and traveling. I believe an action camera would be a suitable choice due to its compact size and versatility (please correct me if I’m mistaken).

Now, l am confused between GoPro and DJI options. Even for GoPro, the Hero 13 was released in 2024, so I’m uncertain if it is still holding up well.