There are a growing number of action cameras on the market, and most of them offer great features at an affordable price. The best ones will also be able to handle specific uses well, such as skiing or mountain biking. However, this level of performance can be hard to find in an action camera that is under $150.
Thankfully, there are several models available for less than $100, and several others that cost around $130. Some top-selling action cams under $100 include the Xiaomi Yi, Samsung’s Zoom 360 Cam, and the Kodak PlaySport. The key to finding a good action camera for your money is knowing what you need from it — and why. Let’s take a look at some specifications you should consider when shopping for an affordable camcorder:
What to look for when buying an action camera under $100
As we mentioned above, there are many affordable action cameras available. However, they are not all created equally. To help you find the best options, here are some specifications that can be useful when comparing prices between models.
Storage:
The capacity of an action camera’s internal storage can be important. More footage can be saved on an action camera with a smaller memory capacity because it can be taken at a higher frame rate.
However, the footage will take up less storage space because the highest-quality settings are not used. The storage capacity is important in the case of a stolen camera or if the owner wants to sell the footage. Therefore, a camera with a larger storage capacity is usually preferable.
Video Quality:
Another important specification to look at when shopping for an affordable action camera is video quality. This will usually be listed as “High,” “FHD,” or “4K.” High is the best option for most people, as it will show footage at a resolution of 1920 x 1080 at a frame rate of 30 or 24 frames per second.
FHD is the next option down, and it has a resolution of 1280 x 720 at 60 fps. 4K is the third and last resolution option, and it has a resolution of 3840 x 2160 at 24 or 30 fps. While 4K is the best option for high-quality video, it is also the most expensive.
Therefore, if you do not care about the highest quality, you can save money while also finding a camera that can meet your needs. It is also important to make sure that with video quality the camera also has good audio quality. However, you can always use an action camera microphone attachment with it to enhance the quality by far.
Field of View:
Another important specification to keep in mind when shopping for an affordable action camera is the field of view. This is usually listed as “wide angle” or “normal.” Wide angle is the widest field of view and is great for capturing landscapes and wide-angle portraits.
Normal is the standard field of view and is good for capturing landscapes, event footage, and people. If you need a camcorder that captures both wide-angle and normal footage, buy a camcorder with a normal field of view.
GoPro Hero Under $100
These GoPro action cameras are primarily designed for sports. One of the most popular models from this brand is the HERO Session. It can record up to 2 hours of video, and the camera can also be used as a virtual sweet spot to hit golf balls or toss a ball into a bucket. The Session is waterproof up to 10 meters,
Which means it can be used for surfing, scuba diving, and other underwater activities. The Session is relatively small, which makes it easy to take with you when you are going for a swim or surfing in the ocean. It is also one of the best action cameras for skiers and mountain bikers because it can handle tough conditions well. Another popular GoPro model is the HERO 5 Black.
It has the same features as the Session, such as being waterproof up to 10 meters, but it has a higher video resolution and a more rugged design. The Hero 5 Black is also one of the best action cameras for skiing and mountain biking, thanks to its rugged design and tough footage.
And The most popular GoPro model is the HERO 6. It has a similar design to the Hero 5 Black, but it has improved waterproofing, audio recording, and photo quality. The Hero 6 is also a great action camera under $100 because it can be used to capture 4K video and photos at a resolution of 3840 x 2160.
Sony POV-series Under $150
These action cameras primarily come from Sony, and they can be used for a wide range of purposes. The most popular model from this series is the Sony POV series, which has been around for more than 20 years. Other popular POV models include the Sony FDR-X3000 and the Sony FDR-X3000R.
The POV-series models are the best action cameras for skiers and surfers, as they can handle rough and snowy conditions well and can also be used for underwater activities. The POV series is also one of the best action cameras for mountain bikers, and it is a good choice for capturing videos of landscapes.
The FDR-X3000R is waterproof up to 165 feet, and it can also be used in temperatures as low as 14 degrees Fahrenheit. It also has a wide field of view of 110 degrees. Another cool feature of the FDR-X3000R is the ability to attach a wide-angle lens and record a fish-eye effect. This can be useful for vlogging. The FDR-X3000 has the same features as the FDR-X3000R, except it has a lower video resolution and can only be used in temperatures between 32 and 104 degrees Fahrenheit.
Kodak PlaySport Under $130
The Kodak PlaySport is one of the best action cameras for skiers and surfers. It can also handle tough terrain well, such as beaches and rocky outcroppings. The best thing about PlaySport is how affordable it is.
It costs less than $130, which makes it one of the best action cameras for under $150. The only downside to PlaySport is that it does not have the best video quality. However, it can still be useful for capturing skater footage at a skate park or the beach, and it can also be used in sports that do not require high video quality, such as surfing and skiing.
The Kodak PlaySport is also one of the best action cameras under $100. It records video at a resolution of 1080p at a frame rate of 60 fps, and it also has a photo mode that can capture up to 12 megapixels. The built-in microphone on the PlaySport is also decent, so it can be used to capture voice memos.
Conclusion
An action camera is a great tool for many different uses. It can be used to capture video while surfing, skiing, or mountain biking; while surfing and skating; while hiking; or while fishing. It can also be used to protect landowners from trespassing and vandalism, as well as to help police track down criminals.
However, not every camera that claims to be an action camera can really handle these uses well. Fortunately, there are several models available for less than $100 that can handle these uses well, even if they are not the best cameras in their category.
