The 6 Best Action Cameras

GoPro Hero3+ Black Edition

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past 5 years, you’re probably familiar with the term GoPro. Excluding smartphones, GoPros are responsible for the majority of awesome footage you have probably watched on YouTube during your half hour lunch break at work. While GoPro cameras have seemingly been one step ahead of the competition, its their latest gem, the GoPro Hero3+ Black Edition that takes the cake. A must for any budding filmmaker, it boasts a 12 megapixel CMOS sensor with an f/2.8 wide-angle lens, built-in WiFi for instant video sharing, the new SuperView footage mode, and the ability to capture footage in ultra HD 4k at 12 frames per second. The best part about the GoPro line is the never ending selection of third-party mounts available for attaching the camera to your helmet, board, or drone during filming. BUY IT

Sony Action Camera

Sony’s new Action Camera has its own selection of mounting options along with a rugged, waterproof housing for capturing epic footage from your helmet, surfboard, skateboard, mountain bike, or from your own body. The Sony Action Cam’s features an ultra-wide angle lens, Steady-Shot image stabilization to combat shaking and movement during filming, HD 4x slow motion playback, built-in WiFi for instantly sharing your videos with the world, and Sony’s mobile ecosystem that allows you to control the camera’s actions such as triggering shots and uploading content to social media directly from your iPhone or android device. The Action Cam’s advantage over the GoPro Hero3+ is its longer, more efficient 4-hour battery as well as its price—which happens to be a bill less than the Hero3+ Black Edition. BUY IT

Drift HD Ghost-S

Competition is a healthy thing, and the previous two action cameras have plenty of it. Like most others, the Drift Ghost-S can shoot in 1080p high definition and has a shooting range of 160 degrees thanks to a 300-degree rotating lens. Additional features include a 12-megapixel CMOS sensor, a lightweight, 6.4-ounce housing that is waterproof at up to 9 feet of submersion, additional microSD storage, built-in WiFi capabilities for sharing and transferring files to your smart device, a 1700mAh battery good for up to 3 hours of recording, and a wearable remote from which you can control footage and recording, shooting modes, and playback. BUY IT

JVC Adixxion 2

Although it works perfectly well for everyday filming, the JVC Adixxion 2 Action Camera was designed for the extreme sports athlete looking to capture their stunts in the worst possible terrains for a camera. Its durable housing is waterproof up to depths of 16 feet, shockproof, dust-proof, and freeze-proof, which covers just about any extreme sport you can participate in, while full 1080p HD recording, an f/2.4 capable, 137-degree wide-angle lens, an endless recording mode, built-in WiFi, and built-in 1.5-inch LCD display screen ensure optimum performance during filming and editing. In addition to WiFi sharing, the JVC Adixxion 2 also allows you to upload content straight to YouTube, stream your videos live via Ustream, and remotely control up to four different Adixxion cameras straight from your smartphone by downloading the Adixxion Sync App. BUY IT

Contour+2

Whether its a full-length film you’re directing or the next YouTube video to receive a billion views, the Contour+2 Action Camera is your best choice if you plan to film scenes underwater. Its external case is waterproof up to depths of 196 feet, all the while capturing footage in 1080p high definition at 30 frames per second or Slow Motion footage at 480p at 120 frames per second. Additional features include an instant On-Record switch, a built-in laser beam projector for leveling your critical shots, and an IOS app that allows you to adjust the camera’s settings and edit your videos straight from your iPhone. BUY IT

Garmin Virb Elite

While its true that Garmin was once limited to just GPS devices, they’ve expanded their product line to the action camera market with the Virb Elite Action Camera. Along with built-in WiFi and GPS to stay true to their roots, the Virb Elite boasts a 6-megapixel CMOS sensor and image processor that films in four different HD video modes, and can also capture 16-megapixel high resolution still images. Its rechargeable 2000mAh lithium-ion battery has one of the longest lasting battery lives on the list at approximately 3.5 hours, while a wide angle lens offers three different HDR shooting modes along with lens distortion correction and advanced noise reduction. Looking to take it on the trails? No worries. Its built to IPX7 standards, meaning you can use it to film in the rain, snow, dirt, or sun. BUY IT