Surprisingly, there aren’t many companies interested in the (admittedly niche) market of folks willing to put their lives on the line filming dangerous stunts. But catching near-death action on camera isn’t the only use for these gadgets.
Maybe you want to know what your dog is up to while you’re away or where your cat goes when it wanders off (spoiler: it goes to murder things). Strap one of these to them and wonder no more. Got shaky hands but still want to film things like family outings? This collection of action cams will take that duty out of… well, your hands.
Whatever your intended use, it can be a little confusing when most of the cameras look the same. Who wants to sit down and compare spec sheets? Well, we do. That’s what we’ve done here.
GoPro Hero 11 Black – R11,500
Of all the action cameras available, this is the one most will have heard of. Maybe not this specific one. It only launched in September last year so it’s still relatively new. The GoPro Hero 11 Black is the company’s flagship action cam and features all the bells and whistles an adrenaline junkie could ask for.
It shoots 5.3K footage at 60fps, 4K at 120fps, or 2.7K at 240fps for when you need crystal clear motion or just to slow things down. The unique, nearly-square sensor means creators can take vertical or horizontal frames from the video, and the upgraded sensor and a more responsive touchscreen over the Hero 10 Black make this the best all-round cam on the list.
Akaso Brave 7 LE – R2,800 (import)
If you’re looking for an action cam on a budget in SA, you’re out of luck. Most of what is readily available we wouldn’t call budget-friendly. You could shop around for second-hand versions of older models but that’ll be your call. Instead, we’ve gone with an import for our entry-level pick – the Akaso Brave 7 LE.
This little guy comes with many of the same features found in the industry leaders. They’re just dialed back a bit. It will still manage 4K video but only at 30fps. If you want higher framerates, you’ll need to step down the resolution. You also get dual displays and if you value features like that, weatherproofing, or decent audio over raw video quality, the Brave 7 LE is up to it. You’ll struggle to find anything that matches the value available here.
DJI Osmo Action 3 – R7,700
If neither of the previous two options tickles your fancy, the Osmo Action 3 will. It lies between the top-end and budget, leaning towards the (premium) GoPro side. With the Osmo Action 3, you get a spec list that’s almost identical to that of the Hero 11 Black while costing a good few thousand less.
But it can’t quite match the high-end 5.3K resolution or offer the same level of image quality. It will still shoot at 4K60, 2.7K120, or 1080p240 and its 155-degree field of view is wider than all of GoPro’s offerings. Add to that an intuitive interface, 60m waterproofing (in a case), and commendable battery life, and you’ve got a rather compelling action cam on your hands. Or on your car. Or tied to your cat.
Insta360 ONE R 1-inch Edition – R6,300
Something neither GoPro nor DJI seems to manage is decent low-light performance. The GoPro might seem impressive (because it is), but if you often find yourself shooting in caves – or at night, we guess – you’ll want the modular Insta360 ONE R 1-inch Edition. The ‘1-inch’ in the name refers to the size of the image sensor and is what sets the ONE R apart from the other candidates on this list.
The larger sensor results in brighter, more detailed low-light shots than what its rivals can manage. The ONE R also comes the closest to matching GoPro’s 5.3K resolution, with 5.23K but you’ll need to reduce the framerate to 25fps. Where the ONE R struggles is with image processing. The interface isn’t as slick as GoPro’s but it’s still a good option for those looking for something different.
DJI Osmo Pocket 2 – R8,300
The Osmo Pocket 2 from DJI isn’t really an action cam in the same way as the rest of the list. It definitely features a camera that you can use to shoot action. But only if that action is gentle or happening to someone else. What the Osmo Pocket 2 lacks in durability, it makes up for with fantastic stabilisation thanks to the built-in 3-axis gimbal.
It’s no slouch in the image quality department either, provided you give it enough light to work with. The 1/1.7in sensor will output 64MP stills and it handles 4K60fps video but it can get rather warm while doing so. Additionally, there are four microphones for capturing high-quality audio with the option of adding another external mic included in the Creator Combo. Still, it’s technically an action cam if toddlers count as action. Which, a lot of parents would argue, is definitely the case.
DJI Air 2S – R21,400
Rounding up our list is the Air 2S, also from DJI. Doubters will tell you that this isn’t an action cam but, in fact, a drone. To them, we say, “So what?” It is arguably a better action cam than the GoPro. Do action cam users enjoy the single angle that their single action cam provides? Do they enjoy spending thousands on multiple cameras to overcome that limitation? Some of them, sure. But they work for Red Bull. For everyone else, a drone is a flying action cam studio.
Sure, it’s double what the most expensive camera on this list costs, but can it fly? Does the Hero 11 Black track and follow a subject with little input from the pilot? Does it shoot 5.4K video at 30fps? Okay, it can (sort of) on that last point but the GoPro definitely doesn’t feature obstacle avoidance systems or return home on its own. The only thing the Air 2S can’t do is provide that signature action cam look of having half your head in the shot at all times. Well, not without bonking into its subject every now and again.
