action camera
{{short description|Digital camera designed for recording action while being immersed in it}}
{{Confusing|date=February 2018}}
{{merge to|Body camera|discuss=Talk:Body camera#Merge proposal|date=April 2025}}
File:Sony HDR AS5 Action Cam 2 — Sven Volkens.jpg
An action camera or action cam is a digital camera designed for recording action while being immersed in it. Action cameras are therefore typically compact, rugged, and waterproof at the surface level. They typically use CMOS image sensors,{{cite web |title=CMOS Sensors Enable Phone Cameras, HD Video |url=https://spinoff.nasa.gov/Spinoff2017/cg_1.html |website=NASA Spinoff |publisher=NASA |accessdate=6 November 2019}} and can take photos in burst mode and time-lapse mode as well as record high-definition video (as of 2019, mid-range to high-end action cameras can record 4K video at 60 fps). Slow-motion video recording at 120 or 240 fps is also a common feature.
Overview
The camera is typically worn or mounted in such a way that it can shoot from the point of view of the shooter. Some examples of common places to mount an action camera are on a hat or helmet, on the chest, or on the handlebars of a bike or similar vehicle. They may also be mounted on a tripod or on a monopod for handheld use. An action camera is usually designed to require minimal interaction once recording has begun, as this allows continuous capture of the action without having to interact with the camera. A typical action camera records onto a microSD card, and has either a Micro-USB or a USB-C connector.
File:The Leap Frogs train over San Diego. (9971308184).jpg
Action cameras are associated with outdoor sports, and, often attached to helmets, surfboards or handlebars, are an integral part of many extreme sports such as base jumping and wingsuit flying. Sometimes several cameras are used to capture specific perspectives, such as a helmet camera that sees the perspective of the actor in combination with a second camera attached to the environment of the rider, such as a board, wing, handlebar or wrist, that looks back onto the rider and records their reactions.
File:Cyclisme & GoPro - GoPro Hero 4 (02).JPG Hero 4 Silver Edition, one of the most recognizable action cameras]]
The category is commonly associated with the GoPro range of cameras, and many action cameras come with a GoPro mount adapter to take advantage of the accessories available for these cameras. However, there are many GoPro alternatives which are entering the market of action cameras in recent times.
In 2014, worldwide action camera sales increased by 44 percent from the previous year and half of them have the capability to shoot Ultra High Definition at 4K resolution. Action camera sales have surpassed traditional camcorder and compact camera sales, and it is predicted that in 2019, action camera sales will surpass all types of cameras due to the sales of other camera types declining or stabilizing.{{cite web |url=http://www.investors.com/news/technology/gopro-to-benefit-from-action-camera-market-growth-futuresource/ |title=Action Camera Market To See Growth Through 2019 |accessdate=April 2, 2017}}
By 2021, the Ultra HD category of the action camera market is expected to reach $3.3 billion. The Full HD category, meanwhile, is expected to reach $2.2 billion, with the surveillance/security industry driving growth.{{cite web |url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170522005660/en/Global-Action-Camera-Market-Grow-CAGR-15 |title=Global Action Camera Market to Grow at a CAGR of Almost 15% Through 2021- Forecasts by Technavio |accessdate=June 11, 2017|date = May 22, 2017 }}
File:Arya.8ten.action.camera.jpg action camera, low budget HD camera]]
In 2018 Sony launched a shock and waterproof camera with a 1" sensor in a body size similar to an action camera. However, Sony is not marketing it as an action camera; rather, as a video professional camera with the capability to shoot with up to 15 cameras at the same time.{{cite web |url=https://www.dpreview.com/news/4343428297/sony-rx0-puts-a-1-inch-sensor-into-a-rugged-and-ultra-compact-body |title=Sony RX0 puts a 1-inch sensor into a rugged and ultra-compact body |author=Lars Rehm |date=August 31, 2017}}
Product lines
Besides the GoPro line, other models of action cams include the:
- Sony HDR-AS10, HDR-AS15 and HDR-AS30V{{cite web |url=http://www.imaging-resource.com/news/2012/08/30/sony-treads-on-gopros-turf-with-wifi-capable-action-cam-series |title=Sony treads on GoPro's turf with WiFi-capable Action Cam series |date=August 30, 2012}}{{cite web |url=http://blog.sony.com/press/sony-takes-thrills-to-the-next-level-and-expands-action-cam-lineup-of-premium-point-of-view-video-capture-devices/ |title=Sony takes thrills to the next level and expands cam lineup of premium point-of-view video capture devices |date=September 4, 2013}}
- Garmin VIRB{{cite web|last=Pachal|first=Peter|title=Garmin Takes On GoPro With the VIRB Waterproof Action Camera|website=Mashable |date=20 Aug 2013|accessdate=16 Mar 2015|url=http://mashable.com/2013/08/20/garmin-virb/}}
- Panasonic HX-A500E{{cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/products/panasonic/hx-a500/|title=Panasonic HX-A500|publisher=AOL|work=Engadget|accessdate=16 August 2015}}
- Toshiba Camileo X-Sports{{cite web|url=http://www.pocket-lint.com/review/129227-toshiba-camileo-x-sports-action-camera-review|title=Toshiba Camileo X-Sports action camera review|author=Chris Hall|publisher=|accessdate=16 August 2015}}
- Polaroid Cube{{cite web|url=https://www.polaroidcube.com/|title=Polaroid Cube – The New HD Action Camera from Polaroid|work=Polaroid Cube|accessdate=16 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150812072029/http://www.polaroidcube.com/|archive-date=12 August 2015|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}
- TomTom Bandit{{cite web|url=http://www.trustedreviews.com/news/tomtom-bandit-action-cam-is-the-latest-gopro-rival|title=TomTom Bandit action cam is the latest GoPro rival|author=Sean Keach|publisher=|accessdate=16 August 2015}}
- Xiaomi YiCamera{{cite web|url=https://www.techinasia.com/xiaomi-gopro-yicamera/|title=Xiaomi launches GoPro video camera rival at a fraction of the cost|date=2 Mar 2015|accessdate=16 Mar 2015}}
- Ricoh WG-M1
- Insta360
- DJI Osmo Action