10 Best GoPro Alternatives (Review) in 2021

In case you are still undecided, below we answer some of the most common questions people regularly ask about action style cameras.

Q: How do I use an action camera?

A: Now that you have got your new action camera the key it to experiment with all its features and settings and really get to grips with how it operates so that you can get the best results from using it. You can only do that with regular practice and lots of trial and error. We’ve a few handy tips and tricks up our sleeves to help you get the most from yours.

In no particular order, don’t be afraid to try using different angles and to be playful and adventurous when capturing those action shots. Film from different angles and try out new things. Wear your camera, mount your camera, but also place your camera in different static positions too and bring the action to the camera, not the camera to the action! You might be surprised by some of the amazing footage shooting this way can deliver. You might even try filming the same bit of action but from various different mounting points so that you get a real montage of shots that you can edit nicely together for variety.

Keep your sessions short and sharp. You’ve seen and no doubt shared for yourself plenty of clips from social media and none of them require you to sit down for half an hour with a cup of tea. They are generally fast paced and energetic and real.

Do your research, check out what other people are doing with their action cameras, how they use them to get the results and any insider tricks of the trade. Whilst it might be fun experimenting, you certainly don’t want to miss capturing any of those killer moments because you’d forgotten some of the essential basics.

Have a go practicing around the house, testing out framing, speeds and resolutions first so that when you do get out and about, you are in control of all your settings.

Always capture more, rather than less footage too, that way if you have had a couple of technical malfunctions along the way, you should have plenty of back-up footage.

The most important this is to just get creative. Use it any opportunity that you can. Experiment, be playful and don’t worry about getting it wrong at first. Same as with riding a bike in the first place, practice makes perfect. You weren’t hurtling down the side on a mountain with a sports camera on your helmet day one now were you!

Q: Are action cams waterproof & how deep underwater can action cameras be used?

A: Of course it completely depends up on the individual model of camera that you have purchased but most have certainly been designed with under-water photography and videography needs in mind and should generally be good to about 30 meters which is almost 100 feet as long as they are fully waterproof or in a waterproof casing. The whole point of an action style sports camera is that you want to shoot your exploits over land and sea. If you know that you are going to want to record surfing, snorkelling or sailing adventures for example, then make sure you get a camera that is fully waterproof and not just one that is only weatherproof.

Q: What accessories can you use with an action cameras?

A: Again, as with a regular camera there are plenty of accessories that can make your shooting experience more enjoyable. You’re going to need a connector of course, and plenty of mounting accessories and attachments too so you can use the camera on a helmet or your bike handlebars for example to really capture those exhilarating moments. You might also want to invest in a tripod to give you extra stability if your camera doesn’t have built in stability sensors. If you are also interested in tracking information about the terrain you’ve covered then you might decide to invest in an additional motion sensor.

Q: Do action cameras come with editing software?

A: Lots of cameras today some with their own integrated on the go editing software generally but if yours doesn’t, you’re going to have to pick one that you can quickly get to grips with. Again, depending upon what you indeed to do with the footage go for something that is user friendly and allows you to make quick and compelling bits of video for yourself or your social media channels. You could try something like the Antix app which is free and available for both Android and iOS users.

Q: What file format are the videos/images saved as?

A: Your action camera should be able to save files in a host of different user friendly editable formats and again it will depend upon the model and make of action camera that you have bought. The more expensive cameras will allow you to save raw data files. The rest will save as camera rendered formats that are usually ready to be edited in your choice of editing software and could be QuickTime (MOV), MPEG-4 (MP4/M4V), Material Exchange Format (MXF) or Audio Video Interleave (AVI).

Below are some of the things to consider when purchasing a gopro alternative:

 Size

Remember that you’ve bought a sports style action camera to capture those special moments so don’t buy anything that is too big and bulky either size or weight wise. Anything too big or bulky could end up throwing you off balance especially if you have it mounted to your helmet or your handlebars so go for the most compact but durable camera you can afford on your budget.

Picture quality - HD/4K

With Sports cameras, like regular cameras you essentially get what you pay for and there is always something bigger and better being released. You can get everything from a high resolution 4K Ultra HD picture, to 1080P and 720 so decide how important the clarity and crispness of your completed footage needs to be.

FPS (frames per second)

This refers to the speed at which your camera can capture video and photos. The higher the FPS, the more options and photos you’ll be able to record and capture. Sometimes though, you might want to go for a slow speed, it’s not always about how quickly you can take the shot, rather about the quality of the shot. When you need to capture something quickly though and time really is of the essence, then the greater the FPS the more the chances are that you will get the perfect shot in the bag!

Storage

Important if you want to keep your camera safe, secure and un-damaged when not in use. Never just leave it laying around otherwise you are asking for trouble. You’ve invested in in new bit of high tech kit so do yourself a favour, respect it and make sure you look after and store it well to keep in in tip top condition.

Zoom

If you really want to get up close and personal with your experiences, don’t forget to look-out for the Zoom capacity on your camera. There’s nothing worse than spotting something incredible in the distance whilst you are out hiking or biking and not being able to hone in to record it for your friends and family to also experience.

Connectivity

Go for something that is WIFI enabled so that you can quickly and easily upload and share you videos and photos. You’ll have to download a user App but there are plenty of action style cameras that feature WIFI with a range generally of around 30 meters.

Battery life

You’re not always going to have access to a charging port especially if you are out for the day climbing a mountain or diving an ocean so look out for a good extended battery life. Consider also investing in a portable power pack. There’s nothing worse than filming yourself falling over all day only to finally nail your technique and discover your action camera has, quite frankly, bitten the bullet and is itself, flat out of action!