If a picture is worth a thousand words, what about 4k video at 60 frames per second? If you want every pulse-pounding detail of your next adventure captured on tape, you need an action camera. We understand that your first instinct might be to shy away, maybe thinking that a high-performance action camera is out of your price range. However, you may be shocked to learn that there are a lot of really solid options for cheap action cameras that won’t break the bank.

What to Know Before Buying an Action Camera

The options for action cameras can be overwhelming. But we got you covered with these factors to consider before buying an action camera on a budget.

What Is an Action Camera?

Action cameras are designed to provide immersive shooting of videos and photos in both extreme and casual sports. They are built to be rugged, to take impact, and face the outdoor elements.

Action cameras shoot videos in different resolutions, the highest being 4K. They record files on SD cards and can be mounted on different types of equipment, from selfie sticks to helmets, handlebars, and many others.

Things to Consider in an Action Camera

Durability

The ability to take a beating is a must for any action camera. After all, they are mostly used in extreme sports where daredevil stunts are a norm. You don’t want to deal with a broken camera during the first few uses. As such, you should look for a durable body, preferably a waterproof housing or a camera that comes with a case.

Ease of Operation

Some models have buttons and knobs that help to navigate the menu in a stand-alone camera. Others come with companion apps that make it easy to use the camera when it is mounted to something. The easier it is to use, the more satisfaction you will get at the end of the day.

Mounting

You will want to consider the type of mount that your camera takes. Is it compatible with helmets, handlebars, drones, surfboards, etc.? You should get the right kind of mount that goes with the equipment you want to use it with. You may also want to check out the manufacturer’s website, as they usually have a list of the accessories and mounting options for any particular action camera.

Here’s how to mount a GoPro HERO3+ Action Camera on a helmet.

Some cameras come with so many accessories that you will probably never need. But if you want to get the most out of your camera, check out this video as it explains using the accessories that come with the APEMAN. It’s going to give you a pretty good idea about how to use the ones that come with any other action camera.

Battery Life

The running time of your action camera mostly depends on usage. But you can expect the best ones to give you up to 3 hours of juice. Some models use removable batteries such that you can use one and recharge another for extended use.

Extra Features

After the essential features, you will also want to improve your experience with more convenience in your camera. Here you are looking at more shooting modes, video stabilization, high-speed Wi-Fi, automatic wireless transfer of files, voice commands, etc. All these features give you more joy as they go beyond the basics, even if it’s a cheap action camera.

Final Words

Filming with an action camera is loads of fun. Be sure not to miss your best moments with our best cheap action cameras. We have made sure to include cameras that are reputable and high ranking owing to their build and video quality.

Go ahead and produce amazing videos without any videography knowledge required.