Why people are buying an action camera from Amazon over a GoPro by two to one
You might not need to spend a fortune to score a high-quality action camera.
Overview
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Summer is full of fun outdoor activities that warrant documentation. Despite some recent travel uncertainty, there are always places to go and things to do. While you can very well pull your phone out of your pocket every few seconds to snap a video, that's not always the most convenient option. For starters, most smartphones have limited water resistance. It's not exactly optimal to use your phone to record your white-water rafting trip, or your surf lesson, or stand-up paddleboard excursion on a family vacation to Hawaii. What's more, some situations don't lend themselves to having your phone on your person where it may be accessible. That's why we recommend shopping for an alternative recording device, namely a waterproof action camera.
What is an action camera?
Waterproof action cameras are incredibly popular, and with good reason. Whether you're an adrenaline sports junky, or just a parent who wants to capture every moment of theme park fun with your kids, an action camera is the way to go. These diminutive recording devices first entered the zeitgeist via the GoPro brand, and the product category has expanded to include hundreds of manufacturers at all different price points.
Action cameras are small self-contained video cameras that have a few primary characteristics in common. The first of these is that they're waterproof. This allows you to take them just about anywhere to record your adventures. The aforementioned white-water rafting excursion comes to mind when one thinks of the perfect waterborne activity for making use of your action camera.
Second, they're designed in a way that allows you to mount them in a variety of ways on your body or elsewhere. The cameras typically come with additional housings and mounts that can be slipped onto a head strap, into a vest, or even onto a hat. This allows you to use them completely hands-free to record whatever you're doing at a given moment. In the above surfing example, for instance, the camera can be mounted at the front of a surfboard or stand-up paddleboard to document the experience for posterity. They can generally even record underwater, adding an extra dimension to their capabilities.
Not only are these cameras waterproof, but they're incredibly rugged. The housings are thick, and the cameras are small and lightweight. That means they can take more regular abuse than a typical smartphone or traditional digital camera. That makes them ideal for other sports like mountain biking and hiking, as they won't succumb to a drop or bump here or there. These cameras are meant to be used and to be used with a fair amount of reckless abandon (within reason).
Details
The most popular action camera at Amazon is from a lesser-known company called DJI, and runner-up is the traditional favorite GoPro. As of late, the DJI model is the no.1 bestseller at Amazon and is outselling the GoPro by nearly two to one. For example, the DJI model has sold more than 2,000 units in the past month and has over 4,000 ratings, whereas the GoPro has only sold 1,000 units and has just 1,000 ratings. As such, we thought it might be worth taking a look at the two to see how they're alike and how they differ, so you can make a determination if one or the other is the right pick for your needs.
DJI Osmo Action Camera
GoPro Hero 13
DJI Osmo Action Camera Vs. GoPro Hero 13
Both of these cameras are popular options for buyers of waterproof action cameras, while both have their own pros and cons. There are three primary criteria that we've used for comparing the two in order to help you make a decision. These three characteristics involve resolution, mounting, and image sensors. Which camera is best for you will likely be determined by which of these factors is most important for your usage needs, as well as the respective prices for each camera.
When it comes to resolution and frame rate, the cameras are similar but not identical. While the DJI model comes in at a respectable industry standard 4K resolution at 120 frames per second, the GoPro maxes out at 5.3K video at 60 frames per second. That said, it can also shoot at the DJI's 4K resolution at 120 fps if you wish to save memory. While the GoPro's 5.3K resolution will obviously be sharper than the DJI's 4K, both cameras offer the same video quality in slow-motion mode.
Mount-wise, both cameras are adept at adjusting to whatever scenario you put them in. The DJI Osmo uses a magnetic quick-release latch. Users in the reviews highly praised the design, saying that it was a great option for quick and easy changes. The GoPro, on the other hand, offers a few different mounting options. It also has a magnetic latch mount, while making use of a folding finger design and tripod threads as well. The GoPro offers more options, while the DJI appears to be quicker and less complicated.
Finally, comparing the image sensors and low-light capabilities of the two cameras yields a win for the DJI Osmo Action Camera. It has a 1/1.3-inch sensor that pulls in an impressive amount of light. The GoPro Hero 13, on the other hand, uses a sensor that measures a smaller 1/1.9 inches. That means it will have less detail in low light conditions than the DJI model. The GoPro tends to offer a muddier look than the DJI when less light is present, though daytime filming is virtually identical.
Perhaps the most important difference between the two is the price. At Amazon, the DJI Osmo Action Camera is currently available for $239. That's 20% off the original price of $299. By contrast, the GoPro Hero 13 is $429 at Amazon and not on sale. Both cameras are also available at Walmart, but the price difference is relatively close to what it is at Amazon. Ultimately, people seem to be choosing the DJI option over the GoPro because it's much more affordable and offers a similar experience as the higher-end option. The features and quality of both cameras are comparable, but the price difference can't be ignored.
More waterproof action cameras
Akaso Brave 7 Action Camera
GoPro Max Action Camera
Sjcam Ultra HD Action Camera
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Source
Originally published at www.thestreet.com.
