6 Best action cameras 2017 Capture Everything Everywhere Anytime With The Best Action Camera
1. GoPro Hero 5 Black review Now free if you bought a Karma
GoPro's Hero 5 Black takes all that's great about its predecessors and crams it into the best package yet and its now free for Karma owners
Pros
Waterproof up to 10m
Image stablisation
Vastly improved audio
Cons
Finicky touchscreen
If you're one of the unlucky few who purchased a Karma drone only to have to send it right back, here's a bit of good news. Following the GoPro Karma recall what with some of the drones dropping out of the sky, owners can now get a Hero 5 Black for the trouble, at no extra cost. Not only will you get a refund, you'll also get the best action camera on the market for nothing.
It's a shame about GoPro's Karma drone. For £720 you could get an impressive beast, putting rivals such as DJI and the like to shame. Nevertheless, after all this recall business I expect the Karma to show up again soon and hopefully we'll actually get the opportunity to review one this time.
That interjection aside, you can find my original GoPro Hero 5 Black review below.
GoPro Hero 5 Black review
From the outset, GoPro’s Hero 5 Black is quite a radical departure from last year’s Hero 4. It’s still rectangular like its older brothers, but this time around it’s slightly less box-like thanks to its curved edges and semi-rubberised body. It’s a little easier to hold, especially with gloves on, and it should withstand a few more drops and bumps than its predecessors.
Thanks to the redesign, it renders any older GoPro cases or accessories all but useless. The Hero 5 Black is a couple millimetres thicker at all angles, and my efforts to cram it into a waterproof Hero 4 case proved unsuccessful.
Not that you’ll be needing a waterproof case anyway, as the Hero 5 is waterproof all on its own, without the need for a special housing. If you’re the adventurous type to take your GoPro for a dip, you can now take it to a maximum depth of 10m without damaging the camera inside. And because it doesn’t need a case, underwater sound quality is much better, and no longer sounds like you’re stuck in a vacuum.
To keep its internals nice and air-tight, the Hero 5 does have some reinforced covers over its ports, which are far more tightly sealed than its predecessors. Admittedly, it does mean the battery, microSD slot, USB Type-C and Micro HDMI ports are all a little trickier to access now, so you can’t really open them in a pinch, but at least they’re much safer from the perils of water damage and should survive multiple openings and closings.
GoPro Hero 5 Black review: Touchscreen
Gone are the days of having to remember each GoPro button’s action for navigating the menus. The physical shutter and mode buttons are still here, but the old triple button scheme is officially dead and buried thanks to the Hero 5’s shiny new 2in touchscreen.
Using the touchscreen feels very similar to using a camera on a smartphone. You can swipe to navigate menus and toggle features on and off, and swiping to the right will bring up your gallery. Here, you can take a quick look at all of your captured footage in a grid-based menu. Swipe left, and you can toggle additional settings, such as video stabilisation and the option to capture images in RAW format for easier editing. Dragging down exits these menus and brings you back to the live-view.
Being able to look through the lens without the need of a smartphone app makes the shooting experience far easier. Sure, its touch gestures are a little finicky to begin with, especially when you’re so used to the old GoPro way of doing things, but it isn’t too long before it feels perfectly natural. You can also still use your phone for some fine tuning after you’ve finished shooting.
The only real issue is that touchscreen navigation was just a little too sluggish for my liking, especially during fast-paced shooting. There’s a brief, yet noticeable delay when switching between modes and swiping to access special settings, and there’s an annoying delay between each image capture. It’s not terrible by any means, but it nevertheless feels like your swipes and touches aren’t always being registered correctly.
Luckily, you can still use the physical buttons to switch between modes and capture footage if you prefer, so its laggy touchscreen doesn’t render the Hero 5 totally unusable. If you’re feeling particularly confident, you can also take advantage of the Hero 5’s fancy new voice controls. Whether it’s “GoPro turn on” or “GoPro start video”, the Hero 5 picked up my orders with minimal fuss, even in noisy environments, allowing me to go hands-free whenever I pleased.
GoPro Hero 5 Black review: Image and video quality
On the inside, there isn’t all that much that distinguishes the Hero 5 from its predecessor. It still has a 1/2.3in CMOS sensor, and it can still only record 4K video at 30fps. Higher frame rates are available at lower resolutions, and here you get 2.7K, 1,440p, 1,080p, 960p, 720p and 480p options. Dropping the resolution down can increase the framerate up to a max of 240fps, too, allowing for some super slow-motion footage.
Its newest feature, and something that stands out from the rest of the GoPro range, is its electronic image stabilisation (EIS). This digitally stabilises your footage once it hits the Hero 5 Black’s image processing chip, helping to smooth out any unwanted camera shake. The EIS functions reasonably well for the most part, and you can see the benefits in my test footage below. Just bear in mind that it crops 10% of the image to help combat camera movement when EIS is turned on, though.
Video quality at 4K resolution is wonderful, with fantastic levels of detail keeping noise levels to a minimum. As was the case with last year’s Hero 4, colour saturation is a tad muted, but this was admittedly during some pretty cloudy weather conditions. It’s still a decent performer in low-light conditions, too, even if noise levels are a tad more commonplace.
In terms of stills, its 12-megapixel lens does a great job of producing clear and crisp images with wonderfully vibrant colours and very little noise. Again, some of the low-light shots of our still life arrangement are a little fuzzy, especially around the bear, for instance, but the overall shots aren’t glaringly bad and auto exposure levels are on point. Now that we can finally capture images in RAW, image editing is made so much easier, too.
On the audio front, we’ve got three in-built microphones this time around, compared to last year’s mono mic. Sound quality has never really been GoPro’s strong suit, especially with a waterproof case surrounding it, but the Hero 5 Black really raises the bar. A wider soundscape is picked up, which coupled with the in-built wind reduction makes for far clearer sound than the action camera it supersedes.
The only mildly disappointing thing about the Hero 5 Black is that its battery life is nigh on identical to its predecessor’s. Heavy stop/start use netted me around 1hr 45min on a single charge. More conservative use and whacking the screen brightness down to a minimum might see you squeeze a bit more juice out of it, of course, but I was hoping for more of an improvement. The battery is replaceable, though, so you can always carry around spares if you’re planning to embark on a long adventure.
GoPro Hero 5 Black review: Verdict
It’s not quite perfect, but when the GoPro Hero 5 Black takes all the fancy features from its other models and crams it into a single device, it’s by far the most well-rounded action camera money can buy right now. It’s also a Brexit-beater, too. We’ve seen a lot of 2016 pieces of tech fall foul of price hikes thanks to Brexit, but GoPro hasn’t followed suit, with the Hero 5 Black costing £339 - £20 less than what last year’s model went for at launch.
That said, when you can now pick up a new Hero 4 for around £300 these days, the biggest question is whether you think the added waterproofing, electronic image stabilisation, RAW capture and touchscreen features are really worth the added £50. If you’ve already got a Hero 4, I’d stick with it for the time being, but if you’re looking for your first action camera crammed with all the bells and whistles you’ll need for your travels, the GoPro Hero 5 Black is a must buy.
Click Here To Learn More About GoPro HERO5 Action Camera - Black
2. GoPro Hero 5 Session Review Size Doesn’t Matter
The super-portable GoPro Hero 5 Session isn’t quite the Hero 5 Black all-rounder, but is still a touch above the rest
Pros
Video recording at max 4K resolution
Wind noise reduction
Discreet
Cons
Lacklustre still image quality
Last year’s GoPro Hero 4 Session was a small, barebones action camera. It was so simple, in fact, that it didn’t even have the fancy 4K video recording of its bigger, more expensive counterparts. That’s all changed with this year’s Hero 5 Session, as GoPro’s latest action cam finally brings 4K video to its entry-level Session range.
It’s significantly smaller and lighter than the current reigning action-camera champion – its brother, the GoPro Hero 5 Black. Weighing just 74g and covering a 38 x 38mm footprint, it’s a little larger than last year’s Session but, bar the change in chassis colour, it’s essentially the same cube we’re familiar with.
It still has the monochrome display on top, next to the Record button, as well as a button for switching shooting modes at the back. Just like last year, the Hero 5 Session is also waterproof to a depth of 10m, doing away with the need for a waterproof case. Once, this was the feature that made it stand out from its Hero siblings, but now the Hero 5 Black has proper waterproofing, too, it no longer feels quite so special.
There’s also no microSD card in the box, so you’ll have to provide one yourself. It supports up to 128GB cards, so you’ll have to fork out another £20 or so if you haven’t got one already. One thing you do get is a helmet mount. This is easy enough to attach to helmets and the like, and should give the camera a little-added protection from bumps and drops.
Another trait the Hero 5 Session brings forward is its non-removable 1,000mAh battery. This means you won’t be able to carry around spares for quick swaps while you’re out and about, unlike the Black, but when you can get a full charge in just over an hour via the supplied USB Type-C cable, at least it won’t take long to top it up. You won't always find a plug socket so easily outdoors, but you could always keep it connected to a battery pack for charging on the go.
GoPro Hero 5 Session review: Image and video quality
As with all GoPro’s cameras, its one-touch controls make the Hero 5 Session very easy to use. Simply press the shutter button on the top and it will power on in just a couple of seconds and start recording. Press it again to save the footage and turn the camera off. You can cycle through video/photo modes on the fly with just a push of the Mode button at the back, and you can see which settings you’ve applied along with battery information and storage info on the LCD display.
However, unlike the Hero 5 Black, the Session doesn’t come with a helpful touchscreen, so you won’t be able to dig deep into the settings unless you open up GoPro’s Capture app on your phone. I didn’t realise how much I’d miss the Black’s touch display, even if it was a little finicky from time to time, with the convenience of never needlessly draining your smartphone battery. The app is easy enough to use, though, and is far more responsive than the sluggish touchscreen of the Black. Here, you can adjust the field of view, video quality, ISO and exposure levels. You can also make simple edits via Quik, splicing together footage with just a few taps.
The biggest addition to the Hero 5 Session, however, is that it can now capture 4K video. Footage is limited to 30fps, unlike the Black’s 60fps but video quality was top-notch. I was impressed with how sharp and detailed my test footage looked, and it offers a significant step up from last year’s Session. Video is recorded at a higher 60Mbits/sec bit rate, a bump up from 25Mbits/sec, making a huge difference to its overall quality.
Higher frame rates are available at lower resolutions, going up to a maximum of 120fps at 720p. Some of the frame rate and resolution pairings are a little limited compared to its pricier counterpart, with 1,440p only hitting a maximum of 60fps rather than 80fps for instance, but there’s still plenty to keep you satisfied on your adventures.
Like the Hero 5 Black, the Session’s colour saturation is a touch cold for my tastes, even if I was thwarted by the gloomy British weather and could only record while it was overcast. It’s not such a good performer in low light, either, with noise issues being far more commonplace than footage taken with plenty of natural light, and colours looking a little muted. The good news is that its dual microphone is now much louder and clearer than its predecessor, thanks to its improved wind-noise reduction, so at least it can pick up plenty of sound.
You can take stills with the 10-megapixel camera, but this isn’t the Hero 5 Session’s strong suit. Colours are vibrant enough, but are noticeably lacking in detail. Several shots were also quite underexposed, especially when I put them side by side with the shots I’d taken with the Hero 5 Black. There’s little chance of rescuing unusable shots taken with the Session, either, as it lacks the RAW export of its Black sibling.
One thing the Session has in its favour is its overall battery life. Taking it out and about on my commute, I reached roughly 1hr 40mins of stop/start footage, with the battery only just dipping below 40%. Put that side by side with the Hero 5 Black’s 1hr 45mins, and you’re looking at a noticeable improvement. Expect almost two hours of solid recording time, storage space permitting.
GoPro Hero 5 Session review: Verdict
GoPro’s Hero 5 Session might not have all the fancy features of its action camera rivals, but that doesn’t mean this isn’t a great piece of kit. Aside from a couple of niggles, most notably with its still image quality, the Session is a barebones action camera that does the job well.
It’s not quite as well-rounded as GoPro’s Hero 5 Black, but if you’re a little strapped for cash, this is a great buy. However, if you’re not too fussed about 4K video quality and a new microphone, you can now pick up a Hero 4 Session for just £149. This will give you everything you need to get started for £100 less, so long as you’re willing to sacrifice on a few nice little extras.
To Read More About GoPro HERO5 Session Action Camera - Black Find Here.
3. GoPro Hero4 Black Review No Longer Top Dog
The GoPro Hero4 Black has fantastic image quality, but has since been superseded by the Hero 5 Black
Before we begin, it's worth dropping a quick mention that the Hero 4 Black is no longer the action camera flagship. This year's Hero 5 Black is the new action camera to beat. It's a completely new look, with a fully waterproof chassis up to a depth of 10m, and a brand new touch display.
While video and image quality is roughly the same, for roughly £50 more than the Hero 4 Black you can pick up the Hero 5, with Electronic Image Stabilisation, wind noise reduction and a far greater microphone. The Hero 4 Black is still a fantastic action camera and one of the best, but the Hero 5 slightly edges ahead thanks to its wealth of fancy new features. All that being said, you can check out my original GoPro Hero 4 Black review below.
GoPro Hero 4 Black review
At first glance, there’s not a lot to separate the GoPro Hero4 from its predecessor, the GoPro Hero3 Black Edition. This is mostly a good thing, as it means compatibility with a wide array of accessories and mounts; the camera’s incredible popularity means it’s easy to find all manner of compatible kit from GoPro itself and aftermarket manufacturers.
The Hero4 is available in two versions: Silver (£279) and Black (£359). The Black model has a faster processor and can shoot in either higher resolution or higher frame rates. The Silver has a built-in touch display, which is handy for framing your video and photos, and for providing a more intuitive method for changing settings. An optional LCD Touch BacPAC accessory (around £60) brings similar features to the Black edition. The Hero4 isn’t waterproof without its separate casing, so you’ll lose any touchscreen functionality as soon as it’s enclosed.
If you're after a smaller action camera, then you might want to consider the GoPro Hero4 Session. The newer diminutive cube-shaped camera is considerably smaller and lighter than both the Silver and Black and also benefits from 10m of waterproof protection without the need for a separate case. The Session does lack some of the higher resolution and bit rate settings of the Silver and Black, however. It also has an integrated, non-replaceable battery, which could also prove a problem for those out on long shooting session who are used to swapping batteries in the field.
Still, now that it's officially available for a reduced £249 it's a valid option if you prefer a less bulky action camera. If you're only after an entry-level camera or have a tighter budget, you can buy a Hero+ LCD, which is limited to Full HD resolution and doesn't have the same spread of features. GoPro itself has stopped selling these on its website, but you can pick up one at Amazon for around £220, but the price savings aren't big enough to warrant choosing this over a GoPro Hero Session.
The casing for the Hero4 Black is the same as previous GoPro cameras, using the same spring-loaded buttons that still take a bit more effort than I'd like to press. You still have to remember each button’s action for navigating the menus, too.
You get two case back doors, with the standard door providing waterproofing to 40m. The skeleton backdoor doesn’t protect from the elements but the open back allows for better audio capture. There are mounts for flat, curved and vertical surfaces included in the box, but you’ll need to put the Hero4 in its case to use them.
A mini USB, a micro HDMI connection and a microSD slot are all hidden behind a cover. Annoyingly, the cover detaches completely and is small, making it easy to lose whenever you charge the camera. A hinged flap would be preferable as this was a problem I had with the Hero3 as well. GoPro has since acknowledged the issue with its newer cameras, with the Session and Hero range now all using hinged flaps that don't get lost so easily. The mini USB port can be used for charging, copying images and footage to a computer or used with an optional 3.5mm microphone adapter.
If you're mixing and matching GoPro cameras with newer models from the Session onwards, it's worth noting that newer GoPro cameras now use Micro USB for syncing and charging, which is preferable. It does now mean carrying two different cables if you have older cameras, however. It's safe to assume all future GoPros will now use Micro USB.
A very functional iOS, Android and Windows Phone companion app lets you control the camera’s settings as well as play back captured video via Wi-Fi direct. Once connected it was intuitive to use and was preferable to changing settings directly on the camera itself. The app also lets you copy footage from the Hero4 for sharing and uploading to social networks.
The app has a live view, which makes up for the lack of an LCD display on the Black edition. There’s around a half second delay between the camera and phone; it’s not quite as quick as Sony’s HDR-AZ1 but it’s not too jarring and certainly helps with framing shots. With Wi-Fi Direct turned on, Wi-Fi will remain active even if you turn the Hero4 off, with a blue light blinking on the front of the camera to let you know it's still on.
This means you’re able to remotely turn the Hero4 back on from your smartphone, but also means you’ll need to manually disable Wi-Fi to ensure the battery doesn’t drain while you’re not using the camera. I forgot a few times and came back to a dead battery, which was unfortunate. Holding the settings button on the side quickly toggles the Wi-Fi on and off, which is convenient provided you remember.
The GoPro Hero4 Black has fantastic image quality, but has since been superseded by the Hero 5 Black
Both the Black and Silver Hero4 cameras have an f/2.4 aperture that should make it a decent performer in low light, and this is paired with a 1/2.3in sensor. In terms of resolutions and frame rates, the Black edition is capable of up to 4K resolution at 30fps, while the Silver edition tops out at 2.7K and 30fps. The Black edition beats the Silver for 1080p performance as well, with 120fps for high frame rate shooting. The Silver edition requires you to drop down to 720p to achieve the same frame rate. Dropping to 720p resolution opens up 240fps for even slower footage on the Black edition.
Just like the Hero3, the Hero4 comes with a range of professional settings, dubbed Protune, which enable professional videographers to use GoPro cameras more easily in multi-camera workflows.
Protune allows you to control the level of sharpening, the colour-profile of footage, ISO sensitivity, white balance and exposure compensation, plus it adds a 24fps mode, too. All these features mean it’s far easier to match video footage and splice it seamlessly with other footage recorded on professional-level cameras. Protune also reduces the compression level applied to video footage, increasing the quality, although this also means that file sizes increase. And with the Hero4, Protune extends its reach to photos, allowing users to select the ISO sensitivity limit, choosing between ISO 800, 400, 200 and 100 settings.
Depending on the resolution, you have a choice of Ultra Wide, Medium or Narrow fields of view. Ultra Wide is available across all resolutions and provides the field of view synonymous with most action cameras. There’s a degree of barrel distortion as you would expect, but the effect also adds to the immersion and heightens exciting activities like extreme sports.
Image quality at both 4K and 1080p resolutions was very good. Details were excellent and sharp and in good lighting conditions there was minimal noise. The lens also did well to avoid chromatic aberrations. Colour saturation was rather muted for our tastes, however, and we were hoping for more vibrant colours from our test footage captured on a reasonably sunny day. Disappointingly, the Hero4 lacks the image stabilisation of other rivals so footage from our test, which places the camera on a moving platform, was not as steady as we would have liked.
A useful new feature with the Hero4 is highlight tagging. This lets you press the side button on the GoPro or select an option in the app to mark key moments in your footage. This will be particularly useful when you come to edit after shooting a lot of footage. You can also turn on QuikCapture mode that automatically turns the camera on and begins recording when you press the shutter button. Pressing it again stops recording and shuts down the camera. You can also use it for time-lapse photos by holding the shutter button down for 3 seconds.
The Hero4’s mono microphone is supposed to have twice the dynamic range of the Hero3. Even with the standard backdoor attached the microphones were very sensitive, but unsurprisingly the mono microphone lacked any directionality. You’ll want to use an external microphone if you value sound quality.
Battery life was 1hr 33m when shooting 1080p at 30fps, which is about average for an action camera. This drops down to an hour when shooting 4K at 30fps. Thankfully, the battery is user replaceable and you can pick up a spare for around £15. You won’t be able to use your old batteries if you’re upgrading from an older GoPro though.
GoPro Hero 4 Black review: Verdict
The Hero4 is an excellent action camera overall. It still lacks proper optical image stabilisation, but video footage looks fantastic when shooting at its higher bit rate settings. Being able to shoot 4K at an acceptable 30fps is also a real positive, plus it means you can grab high-resolution stills from your video footage. The GoPro app is easy to use, making up for the slightly fiddly camera controls, and the included mounts and accessories are excellent. GoPro's other strength lies in its strong accessories support for using their cameras in innovative ways, too.
Now that the Session is available, this provides another option if you don't need such high-quality footage as is available from the Silver or Black but rather value the small size and waterproofing on offer. However, it's not much cheaper than the Black so for many it will be worth upgrading. As a complete package, the Hero4 Black is an excellent action camera for those who need something top of the line, but it just falls just short of a Best Buy award due to its battery life and lack of image stabilisation.
Click Here To Read More About GoPro HERO4 BLACK.
4. GoPro Hero4 Session review Ousted by the Hero 5 Session?
The GoPro Hero 4 Session has been knocked off the top spot by the Hero 5, but is still a great action camera
Pros
New compact design
Waterproof
Now super cheap
Cons
Lacking in some features
No 4K video recording
GoPro's Hero 4 Session is no longer the compact action camera king. Launching last month, the GoPro Hero 5 Session improves on a bunch of different aspects of its predecessor with 4K video quality and wind noise reduction. It's a great little camera and is well worth the upgrade if you have the cash.
There is a £100 price gap between the two right now, but for £249 you're getting the most compact action camera to date, even if it isn't quite as impressive as its flagship brother, the GoPro Hero 5 Black. Of course, if you're a little strapped for cash, the Hero 4 Session is still a wonderful choice and will give you everything you need to get you started.
GoPro Hero 4 Session review
GoPro's action cameras have always been great for capturing high-octane activities and were never averse to getting a good soaking, as long as you used a watertight case. That's all changed with the Hero4 Session; it’s waterproof to 10m all by itself.
The Session is an adorable little cube, 50% smaller and 40% lighter than the rectangular Hero4 Black. The new shape makes the Session much more aerodynamic compared to its forbearers, whether you mount it face-on or sideways - so much so that we barely noticed it even when head-mounted. The new low-profile mount should help with streamlining when mounted to different surfaces, while the ball-joint mount makes it easy to adjust the angle and direction of the camera on the fly.
One-touch controls return from previous GoPro models, letting you wake up the camera and instantly begin recording by pressing the shutter button. A second press stops capturing and turns the camera back off. You can also long-press the shutter button to take 8-megapixel timelapse shots at set intervals. Both the recording resolution and timelapse intervals can be changed in the GoPro companion app, available for iOS and Android.
^Still image captured from GoPro Hero4 Session
It takes about three seconds to turn the camera on and start recording, which could potentially mean the moment is gone unless you plan ahead. We also struggled to hear the confirmation beep in loud environments; the haptic feedback seen on rival cameras such as the Ion Air Pro 3 would have made a nice inclusion here.
The only other button is the multi-function power button, rather than the three you’ll find on any other GoPro model. The rudimentary LCD menu system provides a way to see what video resolution the camera is set to, as well as a way to put it into pairing mode with the smartphone app or optional remote control. There's no way to change settings without the companion app, or even a way to put the camera in single-shot mode from the Session itself; if you want to take a photo, you have to capture photos in a burst and choose your favourite.
With a firmware update made available after release, you can now change video and timelapse settings in-camera, which is infinitely better than having to dig out the companion app. The new update will let you change video resolution, frame rate and field of view, as well as changing resolution and timelapse periods for still images.
Another, more recent, update now adds in a dedicated camera mode. This lets you put the Hero4 Session into camera mode directly from the camera, so you don't need to dig out the app. It means you're able to more easily use the Hero4 Session to capture individual still images, making it incredibly easy to capture impromptu images. Having tried out the update, it makes the Hero4 Session much closer to the HTC Re for convenience. While the HTC Re wasn't perfect, being able to quickly take photos was one of its strong points, so the Hero4 Session definitely benefits from the software update. As it's so small it's easy to just throw into a coat pocket to have with you through the day.
The Session captures 1080p video at up to 60fps, or 2,560x1,400 clips at 30fps. There’s also a 100fps, 1,280x720 slow motion mode. The maximum 25Mbit/s bitrate is less than either the Hero4 Black or Silver, but we were still impressed by the Session’s picture quality. All our footage looked sharp and vibrant, with colours that really popped off the screen. It can’t quite match either the Silver or Black models, but we came away from a white water rafting session pleased with our captures. Performance in low-light was more disappointing, however, where video was soft and noisy. While the Session lacks image stabilisation, like the rest of the GoPro range, footage was also still very steady.
^Rafting test footage - best viewed at 1440p
^Low-light test footage - best viewed at 1440p
Sound is often as important as the visuals when action footage is concerned. GoPro has done a great job with the Session’s audio quality, largely thanks to ditching the separate waterproof housing that muffled sound on previous GoPro models. With dual microphones – one on the front and another on the back – the Session dynamically switches between the two, cutting out distracting sounds like wind noise. During our white water rafting session, it did a great job of picking up the sound of our instructor who was sat at the back of the raft, even over the sound of the river.
Another drastic change is that the battery is now integrated. This means there's no option to swap batteries out when in the field, which could potentially be a problem for anyone spending the entire day off-piste. We managed one hour 28 minutes when shooting 1080p/30fps video, roughly on par with the Hero4 Black. The switch to MicroUSB for charging is welcome, however; it potentially means one less charging cable to carry around.
The Session is compatible with the entire range of GoPro mounts - and there are many of them for basically every occasion you can think of. The reduced size and weight means it is incredibly comfortable to wear the Session. We barely felt it when head-mounted, whereas other cameras have proven unwieldy.
The Session's low-profile cubed shape also means it's simpler to mount the camera sideways. There's a new low-profile mount included in the box, which should also help with streamlining the camera when mounted to different surfaces. A new ball-joint is included, which makes it easy to adjust the angle and direction of the camera just by tilting or spinning.
A few minor niggles aside, the Session is a great action camera. Serious athletes and videographers will be better opting for the Hero4 Silver or Black for their more professional features, higher specifications and replaceable batteries. For the less demanding user though, the Session is a great and simple way to capture footage. The new design is fantastic and fun, and the convenience of no longer needing a waterproof case makes the Session considerably smaller than other Hero4 cameras for water-based activities.
GoPro's Hero4 Session has recently seen an official price drop, from its original £330 launch price down to an incredibly low price of £160, making it a much more tempting prospect. It also now no longer encroaches on the better-equipped GoPro Hero4 Silver, so if you want something a little smaller it's a solid choice, especially if you're in the market for a secondary action camera to get shots from tricky POVs.
To Learn More About GoPro HERO Session Camera Find Here.
5. Drift Innovation Ghost-S review
The Ghost-S has excellent battery life, good video quality and a wide choice of recording options
We were big fans of the Drift Innovation HD Ghost, and there’s a lot to like about the new Ghost-S, too. The two cameras may look alike, but their specifications and performance are quite different. The HD Ghost had a maximum recording resolution of 1080p at 30fps, but the Ghost-S is significantly more versatile.
The Ghost-S is capable of shooting 1080p video at upwards of 60fps, which is especially helpful during hectic action scenes. The camera also has improved 960p and 720p modes. The camera is capable of shooting 120fps video at 720p, which is great news for those looking for slow-motion video. If you’re willing to drop the resolution to 848x480 it’s even possible to record at up to 240fps.
The camera has a generous-sized 2in LCD on the side, and this is made from Corning Gorilla Glass so should be able to survive a few bangs and scrapes. The Ghost S is designed to be used without a case, so we're glad to see tough glass has been used. The display proved useful for navigating the camera's menus, as a live video view and for playing back our recorded footage.
The Ghost-S is designed to be mounted horizontally, so that it sits flat against most surfaces. This helps reduce vibrations and wobble due to the camera's low centre of gravity. There's a standard 1/4in-20 tripod mount in the base of the camera, so you can also use third-party mounts. The camera comes with a few mounts to get you started including a universal clip, goggle mount and some adhesive mounts for curved or flat surfaces.
The camera's controls are simple, with all its buttons located on the side, for power, to start and stop recording and to navigate the menu.
On the back of the camera is a removable panel that protects the Mini USB charging port as well as the Mini HDMI output, to let you connect the camera directly to an external display for playback. There’s also a 3.5mm connection for an external microphone. With the rear cover securely attached, the camera is waterproof to 3m, and there’s also a waterproof case available should you wish to record at depths up to 60m.
You can rotate the lens through 300 degrees, so you can mount the camera in any orientation and still have the video come out correctly. Oddly, the lens’ default position, when all sides are flush to the camera's body, is oriented for when the camera is stood on its side instead of mounted with the screw on its base. This means you’ll need to remember to rotate the lens when the camera is mounted on top of something, such as when it was mounted to our HPI Racing Bullet MT off-road radio-controlled car, so that your video doesn’t come out sideways.
The Ghost-S felt secure when mounted and its low, squat body helped reduce any vertical camera wobble. This helped the Ghost-S record some of the smoothest footage we've seen during our high-speed test run. Video had nicely saturated colours with a good level of detail in the grass and foliage. Similarly, our static test footage was generally well exposed and we had no problems with noise and compression artefacts.
The Drift Innovation Ghost-S is simple to use and its large screen is useful for control and for previewing your footage. It’s more expensive than the Ghost HD, but has some useful extra features such as a greater choice of video recording modes. Battery life is also respectable, at 2hrs 18 minutes. The Ion Air Pro 3 Wi-Fi has the edge for image quality, but the Drift Innovation Ghost-S's versatility wins it a Best Buy award.
Click Here To Learn More About Drift Innovation Ghost S Waterproof Full HD 1080p Sports Action Camera – Black.
6. Veho Muvi K2NPNG Review
The Veho Muvi K2NPNG is a veritable bargain of an action camera with plenty of accessories bundled in
The K2NPNG doesn’t ship in a cardboard box; it arrived at our office in a hard carry case that you’re able to keep and use to transport the action camera and its wealth of accessories around with you. There’s a clasp that keeps it locked shut and the inside is generously padded. There’s just enough space to add in additional accessories should you buy other mounts, too.
The hard carry case is just one of many extras you get with the K2NPNG that you really wouldn’t expect given its low price. The other highlight is an LCD screen that attaches to the back of the camera to provide a live view as well as additional navigation controls. This is similar to the optional Touch BacPac available for GoPro cameras, although without touchscreen controls. This means you’re able to frame your shots more easily and change settings without having to use your smartphone.
You get a decent array of mounts in the box, including various sticky and Velcro mounts for flat and curved surfaces, a right-angle mount and a helmet front mount. GoPro mounts will also work, opening up your options. All of the mounts will work with or without the waterproof case, which will help cut down on weight if you’re doing activities that don’t involve water.
It is worth noting that a Muvi K2, which doesn’t come with the aforementioned accessories, is available for around £30 less, but the K2NPNG version is easily worth the extra. Other action camera manufacturers can charge more simply for a hard carry case alone, making it a more than worthwhile upgrade once you factor in the LCD screen.
You also get an 8GB microSD card, but you might want to reserve it as a backup and buy a larger card for general use. You’ll only get about 1hr 30m of 1080p, 30fps footage on an 8GB card.
The K2NPNG doesn’t deviate from typical action camera design, looking like a cross between the GoPro Hero4 and Rollei’s ActionCam range. Free from the confines of its waterproof case and without the LCD screen attached it’s a fraction larger than a GoPro, and its lens extends out a little further.
Things get considerably chunkier once you put the action camera inside its waterproof case, however. There are two waterproof backs you can attach to the case, dependent on whether or not you’re using the LCD screen. With the screen attached the whole package becomes large, heavy and cumbersome. The waterproof case does at least allow you to go to depths of 100m, which is considerably deeper than most rivals.
You’ll want to make sure you use the anti-mist inserts inside the case, otherwise the lens and housing will mist up under wet conditions and forgetting to do so will result in disappointing video. You might also want to buy a few spares, as you might find yourself going through them quite quickly once they get saturated with moisture. Generic inserts will work fine.
Controls are also slightly fiddly until you get used to them. The front of the camera has two toggle switches, one for power and the other for Wi-Fi. There are two separate shutter buttons, one for video on the front of the camera and the other for photos located on the top. A first press of each will toggle to that setting with a second beginning capture. So if you’re currently in video mode you’ll need to press the photo shutter button twice before it actually captures an image. Strangely, there’s even a separate stop button to conclude video recording.
The waterproof case makes it even more difficult to remember what button does what. There are faint markings but these are difficult to see, especially when you’re in the thick of whatever activity you’re trying to record. Until you get things memorised chances are you’ll press the photo shutter button instead of stop.
While fiddly, once you get used to the controls it’s convenient to have a way to easily capture photos without having to dive into menus. You’re more likely to head home with a good mix of photos and videos, whereas it’s easy to get stuck shooting in one mode on other cameras to avoid having to constantly swap between the two.
The K2NPNG can shoot video at up to 1080p resolution and 60fps, down to 720p at 120fps. You won’t get quite such a high framerate as with other rivals that can shoot at up to 240fps, albeit at low resolution. Still, merely having the option of 1080p 60fps is great given the price of the camera. Still images are captured at up to 16MP and there are photo burst modes and timelapse options as well. A built-in gravity sensor can automatically begin recording when the camera detects any big movements.
^Still image test capture - good but not spectacular
Outdoor video quality was respectable considering the K2NPNG’s budget price. Colours in particular were rich and vibrant. However, video was a little soft around the edges and noisy, even in ample sunlight. Still images, too, were good but not spectacular. High contrast scenes showed occasional chromatic aberration around the edges and sometimes appear washed out. Still, for the money the K2NPNG provide more than adequate results.
^Best viewed full screen at 1080p
Overall, there’s a lot to like about the Veho Muvi K2NPNG. It’s a more than capable action camera for those not wanting to spend a lot of money. The generous accessories make it fantastic value and the excellent battery life is the icing on the cake. The camera has a bit of a learning curve and it’s a bit heavy in its waterproof case, but aside from these niggles the K2NPNG comes heavily recommended as a budget choice.
Click Here For Read More About Veho VCC-006-K2NPNG Muvi K-Series K-2 NPNG 1080p Wi-Fi Handsfree Action Camera / Camcorder with 16MP Camera, Waterproof Case, Detachable Screen, 8GB Memory and Carry Case
