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Action cameras are specifically designed to clearly capture fast-moving shots and subjects, and pair perfectly with sports, travel or even vlogging or streaming at home.
Of course, the best mini action cameras may be small, but don’t let the size mislead you into thinking they’re lacking in features or quality. These can rival full-size cameras, and even use their size as an advantage when it comes to shooting subjects at high speeds and at odd angles.
If you’re fired up and ready to start filming, take a minute and consider the attributes that’ll help you choose the best mini action camera for all your needs.
Mini Action Cameras Buying Guide
Resolution: As a general rule, higher resolution is always better. But that doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll need the latest and greatest. While the current standard on YouTube is 1080p, creators have already started producing video content at 4K, and the number keeps creeping up exponentially, with the newest generation of high-end cameras currently capable of shooting at 8K. We recommend choosing something that can film, at the very least, in 4K 1080p.
Sensor: A larger sensor, along with high-res, adds a noticeable burst of deep color, especially when capturing anything outdoors. It’s especially important if you’ll be producing super high-quality content and going above 4K.
FPS: Frames per second (or FPS, for short), also can come in handy, particularly if you’re filming slow-motion shots. Depending on what you’re doing, aim for something in the range of 30-120fps (or above).
Stabilization: Automatic image stabilization has gotten better with each generation, and it’s at the point now where you won’t always even need a gimbal to keep things steady. If you’ll be recording with a mostly stationary cam on a tripod, this won’t matter much, but for action shots in motion, good stabilization can really make or break your footage.
Battery: When your battery dies during an outdoor shoot, all the cool features in the world don’t matter. Battery life is crucial, and these aren’t like your smartphone — they don’t last all day. At the minimum, it should give you a few hours, but it also heavily depends on how often and how intensely you’re using effects and other mods, which drain batteries and cause the cam to heat up. When you don’t always need to be keeping one worrisome eye on a battery, you can focus more on capturing what’s in front of you.
Editing: Even on an action cam with endless options, you still might want to change it up and experiment with your filming and effects in an editing program afterwards like Adobe Premiere. Most cams allow for different degrees of this, and some even have their own designated editing programs and apps. But to really get the most out of it, go for one that’s designed for experimentation in post-production — it’s one of the best ways to learn.
Budget: Action cams aren’t cheap, but fortunately, a well-built one should give you many years of creating the content you’re envisioning, and bring it to life for others to see.
