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Action Cameras
Grab an action camera to capture your adventures and all those unforgettable moments on video. Compared to regular digital cameras and camcorders, action cams are highly durable devices for shooting videos and capturing stills in extreme conditions. You can mount them on your person to record POV (point of view) footage that places viewers in the thick of the action. Staples® carries a wide selection of these unique cameras from multiple brands.
Consider Image Quality When Picking an Action Camera
Action cams are better suited to capturing videos than still photos. If you intend to shoot a lot of photos with yours, make sure to get a model with a high pixel count. The video resolution to look for depends on how you intend to use it and where you plan on viewing the videos it captures. While there are entry-level models that shoot videos in 480p resolution, most models are capable of 720p and 1080p resolutions. Full HD or 1080p is the resolution to aim for if you want to capture sports action shots with your camera.
Some premium models can shoot in 4K resolution. Choose one of these if you have a 4K TV or computer monitor. Frame rate is another important aspect of video quality. Generally, the higher the frame rate, the smoother the captured footage. Look for a model that can shoot HD videos at 24 or 30 fps (frames per second). High-end action cameras can capture 4K footage at these frame rates and record 1080p videos at 60 fps. If you enjoy well-made slow motion footage, get a model that can shoot at 120 fps.
Consider Shape, Size, and Weight When Shopping for Action Cameras
Action cams usually come in box and bullet shapes. Pick a box-shaped unit to mount on your chest or a shoulder strap. Bullet-shaped models have cylindrical bodies that make them ideal for mounting on helmets, handlebars, and surfboards. Since you typically have to wear an action cam, you should pick a compact and lightweight model. Choose the smallest and lightest unit with the capabilities you desire. Most models are water-resistant. While there are special housings to make them waterproof, these often add bulk. Look for a waterproof model if you plan on taking it swimming, diving, to the beach, or snowboarding.
What Wireless Connectivity Options Do Action Cameras Have?
Wireless connectivity options include Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. These make it easier to transfer captured stills and videos to your smartphone or computer. Pick a Wi-Fi-enabled unit for faster transfer speeds and to upload videos to the internet directly from the camera.
Where Do Action Cameras Save Videos and Stills?
Action cameras save videos and photos on removable memory cards. Most of them use SDHC, SDXC, and microSD cards. For best performance, get a fast memory card. Look for a Class 10 card or faster to save HD footage. If you have a 4K action cam, get a UHS-III card to guarantee smooth recordings.
What Is the Expected Battery Life of an Action Camera?
Most models can shoot continuously for 1 to 3 hours on a full charge. Note that actual battery life depends on whether you have the camera's Wi-Fi and/or Bluetooth radio on or off as well as the resolution at which you are capturing videos.
Consider Image Quality When Picking an Action Camera
Action cams are better suited to capturing videos than still photos. If you intend to shoot a lot of photos with yours, make sure to get a model with a high pixel count. The video resolution to look for depends on how you intend to use it and where you plan on viewing the videos it captures. While there are entry-level models that shoot videos in 480p resolution, most models are capable of 720p and 1080p resolutions. Full HD or 1080p is the resolution to aim for if you want to capture sports action shots with your camera.
Some premium models can shoot in 4K resolution. Choose one of these if you have a 4K TV or computer monitor. Frame rate is another important aspect of video quality. Generally, the higher the frame rate, the smoother the captured footage. Look for a model that can shoot HD videos at 24 or 30 fps (frames per second). High-end action cameras can capture 4K footage at these frame rates and record 1080p videos at 60 fps. If you enjoy well-made slow motion footage, get a model that can shoot at 120 fps.
Consider Shape, Size, and Weight When Shopping for Action Cameras
Action cams usually come in box and bullet shapes. Pick a box-shaped unit to mount on your chest or a shoulder strap. Bullet-shaped models have cylindrical bodies that make them ideal for mounting on helmets, handlebars, and surfboards. Since you typically have to wear an action cam, you should pick a compact and lightweight model. Choose the smallest and lightest unit with the capabilities you desire. Most models are water-resistant. While there are special housings to make them waterproof, these often add bulk. Look for a waterproof model if you plan on taking it swimming, diving, to the beach, or snowboarding.
What Wireless Connectivity Options Do Action Cameras Have?
Wireless connectivity options include Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. These make it easier to transfer captured stills and videos to your smartphone or computer. Pick a Wi-Fi-enabled unit for faster transfer speeds and to upload videos to the internet directly from the camera.
Where Do Action Cameras Save Videos and Stills?
Action cameras save videos and photos on removable memory cards. Most of them use SDHC, SDXC, and microSD cards. For best performance, get a fast memory card. Look for a Class 10 card or faster to save HD footage. If you have a 4K action cam, get a UHS-III card to guarantee smooth recordings.
What Is the Expected Battery Life of an Action Camera?
Most models can shoot continuously for 1 to 3 hours on a full charge. Note that actual battery life depends on whether you have the camera's Wi-Fi and/or Bluetooth radio on or off as well as the resolution at which you are capturing videos.
