This is a list of the TOP 10 4k Action Cameras
AEE S71 16MP 4K Wi-Fi Action Camera
This compact and robust action camera is a product of Shenzhen AEE Technology CO. Ltd., one of the leading drone manufacturers in China. The AEE S71 is capable of 4K video recording and has a 328 feet WiFi reach that makes it capable of being controlled remotely from an iOS or Android phone. Although this sports camera falls behind GoPro Hero4, its features are comparable to other popular action cameras in the market today.
Equipped with waterproof housing that can withstand a depth of 300 feet, this camera is similar to the appearance of GoPro cameras and is compatible with most mounting accessories. These come with adhesive pads numerous surfaces as well as for helmets. Moreover, the waterproof housing protects both models with and without LCDs. Good thing it can be connected via WiFi to any smart phone so the absence of an LCD is not an issue. Buttons and switches can also be found in front of the device and learning to control the camera is easy and simple. A small white and black screen located on top can also be found, along with the 2” LCD screen, making the latter useful as a viewing screen for footages and photos. Video quality is good since the AEE S71 is capable of shooting videos in 4K at 15 and 12 fps, 2.7K for 30 and 24 fps, 1080p at 60/48/30/24 fps as well as 960p and 720p HD.
At approximately 2” in height, other features include 16MP ½.3” CMOS sensor, still photos also at 16MP and action bursts for 10 frames and a time-delay mode. It also has a built-in auto start/stop G-sensor, 180° auto image turnover and 12 HD video recording modes, among others. The camera kit also includes a 1500mAh lithium-ion battery. For its price, this action camera is a great choice especially for people who fancy owning a GoPro HERO4 camera but is tight on the budget.
WG-M2
Camera manufacturer, Ricoh, unveiled its contender to the list of action cameras in the market today with the waterproof WG-M2, a compact and lighter action camera that shoots 4K videos. Sporting a 204° ultra-wide-angle lens, this action cam can also take photos in ultra HD 4K quality at 30 fps. The robust body is shock-resistant in drops as low as 6.5 feet and depth of 65 feet when submerged in water for two hours and will not budge to temperatures of -10° C (14° F). By covering camera with the lens protector that comes with the kit, underwater shots are possible. It is also compatible to most WG accessories.
Other features include a 1.5” LCD screen, 8MP great for taking stills in burst or single shots at about 8 fps for 10 frames. There are also two options in recording videos and capturing photos. One is the impressive 204° angle and the other is the narrower 150° angle. Moreover, there is a Video Capture Orientation Correction setting that makes it possible to adjust the mounting position of the camera since the user can rotate the capture image in increments of 90°. Additionally, remote controlling can be done via Ricoh ImageSync App and the built-in WiFi. Recordings can be stored using microSD/SDHC/SDXC memory card. The lithium-ion battery can last up to 80 minutes with 4K recording and is rechargeable.
Other features for the video are Extended Movie Recording, High Speed Movie, Vibration Assist function to confirm record start/stop and seven video effects mode such as Bright, Monochrome, High Contrast and Shading. Apart from the solid and sporty look, it looks similar to its predecessor, the WG-M1 but is lighter and smaller, giving it better handling. The large buttons also add to the ease-of-use. This adventure-focused camera will be selling at around £210 and will be available in April 2016.
Panasonic HX-A500E
Dubbed as Panasonic’s first 4K action camera, the HX-A500E has a unique design since it is divided into two parts, the main unit and the camera. These two are connected by a cable and what makes this advantageous is that it is film using one hand while viewing what is being shot from the built-in screen. This makes it easy to capture images even from low angles.
This action camera shoots 4K at 25 frames per second and has WiFi control using Android or iPhone. Another interesting feature of this camera is its being dustproof and waterproof up to 3 meters even without cover. Display is a 1.5-inch LCD with 115,200 pixels that turns itself off automatically after a period of not being used and includes a head-mounting kit. Video can be taken at 3,840 x 2,160 to 72Mbits/sec MP4. Shooting options can either be full HD (1,920 x 1,080) and 720p (1,280 x 720) at 50 or 25 progressive frames per second. It also shoots at 848 x 480 at 25 progressive frames per second. It can also capture stills of up to 5,376 x 3,024. Battery life can last up to two hours and then expect to get a warning on low battery level.
Other key features include ½.3-inch BSI CMOS with 12.76 megapixels, built-in WiFi and up to 200 fps slow mo at 800 x 480 pixels. When it comes to menu settings this Panasonic action camera does not fail. These include image stabilization, level shot functions, white balance configuration and angle of view, among others. The HX-A500E has impressive image quality and is also easy to use. The 4K mode has great levels of details and color is rich and accurate. Overall, this camera is worth its price. For personal use, this is a perfect choice. If there is one thing that is great about the HX-A500E, it is the 1080/50fps setting.
GoproHero4
The most advanced in the GoPro series yet. The HERO4 is a very powerful action camera with the capability to shoot 4K video at 30 fps and 1080p or up to 120 fps. When it comes to video quality, it can be considered as one of the best. Another attractive qualification of the HERO4 is its flexibility when it comes to mounting. However, since it has a new design, older GoPro batteries are not compatible with it and it does not have the in-camera digital image stabilization. Moreover, housing is not waterproof. Overall, this camera is a good choice.
This compact yet powerful sports action camera is twice as powerful as the model it succeeded. Video capture is so smooth that can shoot fast-moving subjects and at the same time show in slow motion. Bitrate is at 60 mbps. The new design did not come without changes which are very visible especially with the new battery compartment now found at the bottom instead on the side. This change made it easier to replace batteries but as mentioned earlier, old batteries will not fit in the new compartment.
A welcoming change, though, are the buttons of the HERO4. There is the now the “Hilight Tag” instead of the WiFi power button located at the right side. The new button makes it easier for the user to search for videos and images since these shots are tagged right after video or photo capture happens. For connectivity, it can be remotely controlled from a smartphone or device so long as there is WiFi connection. It also has a Bluetooth for faster connections and file transfers. Battery life might be as long and this action cam might lack electronic image stabilization but it still has great quality videos and stills.
Ultra Pro X Adventure Cam 10
Belonging to the line of Adventure Cameras, the 4K UHD Adventure Cam 10 from Ultra Pro X features Full HD 1080p H.264 video and uses convenient Micro SD cards. It also boasts of other features that can be found in other sports camera. Moreover, this action camera is FPV ready and is also equipped with a USB cable/adapter to connect to a drone or any remote-controlled device.
The Adventure Cam 10 sports a 12 Megapixel Sony CMOS sensor and a 6G+ IR F=2.0 and f=2.8 lens. It also has a built-in microphone and speaker for audio recording and playback. As for the design of the body, it is appealing and sleek that even if the removable battery is attached, the camera is still light weight. Apart from being a wide angle camera, the camera can be zoomed up to 4x digital magnification. At the back of the camera is the 1.5” LCD screen that allows the user to see the subject without having to attach an extra LCD or invest in a bigger one. Other features include slot for standard MicroSD up to 32GB, motion detector, image stabiliser, time-lapse recording option, face and smile detection, self-timer and upside down mode, among others. It can be used for drone attachments, fishing and other sports activities.
On the front is the WiFi mode button. On one side is for the zoom and navigation as well as the HDMI and charging ports. At the bottom is the mounting screw which makes it possible to attach the camera to a tripod without using any kind of adapter. This can be used if you are not using a waterproof housing. Video and photo quality are both impressive and handling the camera is easy as well. This modestly priced sports camera is comparable to other high-end action cams and has all the features to make it to the top list.
Sony FDR-X1000V
This camcorder shoots quality 4K videos and does so at a bitrate of 100 Mbps. This is Sony’s answer to GoPro action cameras and is loaded with features. The kit includes the camera, a waterproof case, battery, attachment buckle, micro USB cable, curved adhesive mount and a flat adhesive mount.
Design is similar to other Sony action cameras although it is larger and a bit heavier than cameras without 4K recording capability. It also is bulky when held but this makes it easier to grip. What makes it appealing is the red-dot button on top of the device that makes recording easier to start. Other controls are also available, two buttons which are used for on-screen navigation and a hold switch. There is also the near-field communication (NFC) tag as well as a speaker. At the bottom of the body is a tripod screw as well as an input for an external microphone. At the front, there is the 170- degree Zeiss Tessar lens equipped with an f/2:8 aperture and stereo microphone. Lens is the same with other action cameras of Sony but has a minimum focus distance of 20 inches as opposed to others at 12 inches. The display has options to change modes and settings.
Other specifications include a ½.3-inch back-illuminated Exmor R CMOS sensor, electronic image stabilization (SteadyShot) and a Bionz X image processor. Image quality is also great due to its full pixel readout feature without pixel binning. Additionally, loop recording is also possible although it overwrites a previous video at a time that has been set beforehand. Livestreaming can also be experienced as well as slow motion, continuous still shooting and Motion Shot LE. Editing is also not needed because user can use an app that can edit the recorded video by itself. Here, the highlights of the video will be used to fit the music the user wants to add. People can also be tagged with the use of GPS data.
GVB GVB-CM Ultra HD 4k Wide Angle Sports Action Camera
For adventurers looking for an extreme action camera, the GVB-CM is a perfect choice. It lets users record, share and capture videos and stills with ease. Sporting a 16 megapixel CMOS sensor and an ultra wide angle 170° lens, this sports camera also supports resolutions of up to 4K UHD at 15 fps. Shooting videos can be done at 1080p at 30 or 60 fps for standard frame-rate recording. Conversely, for slow motion payback, it is in 720p video up to 120 fps. For still pictures, it can take up to 16 megapixels.
The design is simple yet classic, with a built-in 2″ LCD screen located at the rear. This wonderful feature makes it possible to monitor shooting and on-camera playback. It also sports a built-in Wi-Fi which can connect to an iOS or Android phone to allow monitoring, controlling remotely and sharing files via a mobile app. The kit also includes a waterproof camera housing that can be used up to 98 feet of depth as well as mounting accessories. Also, it can be mounted on the dashboard to capture the action and record what happens on the road while driving. This camera is so versatile that it can be mounted on various surfaces, even on helmets, clothing and bike handlebars.
Battery life can last up to 70 minutes and the 900mAh battery is rechargeable. If battery is drained and shooting allows the camera to stay in one place for a time, this action cam can be connected to an external power source via its USB port. More importantly, the built-in motion-activated recording feature makes it possible for the camera to ensure home security. When it comes to video quality, this camera does not fail. The white balance and color correction modes are handy and accessories are also available. These include a floating hand grip, handlebar mount, tripod and wrist mount, among others. The price is relatively inexpensive at less than £100.
