8 Best Video and Action Cameras for Sale in South Africa

Sensors

The sensor is a crucial portion of a camera since it records light information and preserves it as an image file. Photographic sensors are digitised versions of film rolls. Camera sensors vary in size. Note that this refers to sensor size, not megapixels. Smartphones and compact cameras have smaller sensors than mirrorless and DSLR cameras.

The sensor size affects camera performance, especially in low light. A small sensor won’t function well in low light, so your smartphone may capture poor nighttime images. Action camera sensors are crucial. Action photography demands fast shutter speeds to freeze action. Faster shutter speeds let less light in, so the sensor must be able to capture a good image with less light. Larger one-inch sensors in some action cameras allow for greater low-light performance and spectacular photographs and videos at higher shutter speeds.

Size of Aperture

Light enters the camera lens through the aperture. For maximum light transmission, most action cameras have fixed apertures. Everything else being equal, a bigger aperture lets in more light and improves camera performance. Aperture is denoted by a “f/”, such as f/4 or f/1.8. Smaller “f/” numbers indicate wider apertures. Most action cameras have f/1.8–f/4 apertures. For more light, choose wider apertures.

Video Modes

Get to know your action camera’s shooting options. Start with an action camera’s megapixel rating. This shows image resolution. Minimum 12MP is recommended. Higher doesn’t mean better, but it lets you crop more. The camera may have several photo modes. This could include time lapses and high-speed bursts. These modes are important depending on whether you want to capture time lapse or high-speed burst shots.

Most action cameras now shoot 4K. Lower resolutions like 1080 and 720 may be supported. A camera that supports 4K/60 can record high-resolution video at 60 fps. This will produce smooth results and allow you greater freedom for slow motion sequences. Many cameras offer slow motion video at high frame rates.  Since this demands a lot of computing power, most cameras shoot high-frame-rate video at lesser resolutions. If you need slow motion action footage, ensure the camera can shoot high frame rate video at a resolution you can use.

Focal Length

All camera lenses have focal lengths. This applies to action cameras, small cameras, and smartphones. The focal length determines how much of the scene the camera can catch. In mm, smaller numbers catch a broader field of view while larger numbers capture less. A zooming camera lets you vary the focal length to make objects appear closer or farther away.

Most action cameras lack zoom due to their fixed focal length. Usually wide, this captures a lot of the scene. Since you usually mount the camera near to what you’re capturing, a larger field of vision allows you to capture more. Action cameras may have digital zoom. It usually only crops the focal length by digitally zooming in on a section of the sensor to imitate zoom. The results are lower-quality and less useful.

Overly wide-angle lenses can cause “fish-eye” distortions, when the horizon curves inward. This style isn’t for everyone, but lens correction software can repair it in post-processing. Action cameras commonly list the field of vision in degrees instead of mm. 180 degrees captures everything in front of the camera, whereas smaller numbers catch less of the image. To capture all the action, an action camera should have a broad field of view. Preferably 140 degrees or wider.

Connectivity

Most action cameras today have wireless communication, either Bluetooth or wireless. This connectivity allows remote camera operation, setting changes, image evaluation, and wireless image transfer to your phone. If this capability is crucial to you, verify if a companion app is available.

When looking for the top video and action cameras for sale, Shop Scanner will provide all your needs.