A good action camera can provide great footage when going on your hunting adventures. Action cameras such as GoPro are small and easy to take without occupying space and you can use accessories for better angles and better footage. In addition, your footage gets stored on an SD card and allows you to have a backup.
But, despite all the new action cameras, some brands offer us some bad quality products, especially the very low-budget, action cameras don’t do well in low light. Most action cameras such as GoPro have easy configuration and you don’t need to change any settings to get good footage and most of them have the ability to shoot in 4K some up to 60fps.
You can find action cameras of all prices and video quality. I suggest saving up for a higher-end sports cam such as GoPro or DJI, higher-end action cameras can give you much better results in video-quality and other aspects like stabilization and other useful features.
Best Action Cameras For Hunting
GoPro Hero 8
One of the main features on the Hero 8 is Hypersmooth 2.0, and improved EIS (Electronic Image Stabilization) from Hero 7. It also has changed a few things on its design and added a few more places to mount accessories and mod it. It has also improved the timewarp making the “timewarp 2.0”.
It is capable to record in 4K 60fps with amazing video quality and capable of recording in slow-motion up to 240 fps.
Like the photography on Hero 7, it hasn’t changed much, Hero 8 record a bit with more contrast and a bit more saturation than the Hero 7 and has a little bit better HDR but not much more.
The audio is one of the most improved things on Hero 8. They have put a new mic in front of the camera that captures really good audio and it’s also wind-optimized to keep the audio better. You’ll get natural good quality sounding audio even at breakneck speeds with the Hero 8.
Live Streaming is another feature it has improved since the Hero 7, you can now Livestream in 1080 Full HD. It works through the GoPro app and currently supports Facebook Live and RTMP, which means that a mobile device will need to be paired with the camera. In addition, mobile data will also be necessary as the camera and mobile device will be connected via Wi-Fi.
Check out the GoPro Hero 8 (Amazon)
GoPro Hero 7
There are three different variants White, Silver, and Black. The GoPro Hero Black version, which has the same custom processor of GoPro last camera (GoPro Hero 6), offers 4K video capture at up to 60 frames per second, super slow motion up to 240 frames per second, and a suite of new features like live-streaming, a Hyper lapse-style time-lapse mode, and the most significant of these, the HyperSmooth, a form of video stabilization that GoPro ranks as being the equivalent to using a gimbal.
Battery life isn’t that great it comes with 1 Lithium Polymer 1.220 mAh battery. Which can last about an hour when recording in 4K and 60fps. But it recharges pretty quickly.
The fact that the GoPro Hero 7 is completely waterproof without the need for a case is another advantage, as is the improved audio quality of its audio. It is not perfect, of course, it can get a little overheated when recording in 4K video, to the point where it automatically turns off.
In image issues it is very similar to previous versions and the Hero 8, there is an improvement from the Hero 6 but not very noticeable. And in low light situations, it is still not the best option. But when we talk about stabilization, it is a giant improvement, not as much as Hero 8. Now without the need of buying a gimbal, we will be able to capture video that we would not have been able to take before without shaky footage.
The sound, on the other hand, is also better but we still think that it would not be what we would use in productions of a certain level if we want it to be consistent with what we could obtain with other cameras and external microphones.
Check out the GoPro Hero 7 (Amazon)
DJI Osmo Pocket
The Osmo Pocket can record up to 4K recording, videos up to 60 frames per second and HD up to 120 frames per second in slow motion. This device also incorporates noise-canceling microphones and a battery that lasts up to 140 minutes, although DJI says you can record for two hours at 4K / 30 frames per second.
The Osmo Pocket costs less than the GoPro Hero 7 Black. The Osmo has image stabilization built-in, with stabilized footage better than what you’ll get from top-of-the-line smartphones.
The stabilization in this camera is really good, stabilization and image quality are at a high level. This small Osmo Pocket can come to surprise to some people when they see what it is capable to do with its size.
The camera is very lightweight, a consequence of the low weight is that when we want to make slower movements it’s easy to record some small vibrations. These vibrations, in spite of the compensation of the stabilizer, are noticeable in the final clip.
Built into the Osmo Pocket device are internal two microphones but with no audio input connector, this limits the ability to record high-quality audio recording with an external microphone.
Check out the DJI Osmo Pocket (Amazon)
SJCAM J8 PRO
The SJCAM SJv8 PRO is another successful sports cam by SJCAM after the SJCAM SJ8. SJCAM is one of the top producers in the action camera market and now they have released another high-end action. It offers 4k quality and 12MP pictures. The definition, focus, and detail is high quality. It comes with a multitude of accessories so you can use it to get better footage.
The SJCAM SJ8 PRO is a GoPro alternative from the brand of SJCAM with an affordable price and great video quality. The SJCAM SJ8 PRO lets you take photos up to 12MP with 4K and up to 60fps recording, and allows you to use other cool features as well as record underwater with the case.
The SJ8 is waterproof and comes with a battery. The protective case is waterproof and impact-resistant, which makes it possible to shoot videos underwater up to 30m. It also comes with a rechargeable 1200mAh battery to never let you miss a wonderful time and an external charger.
The SJCAM SJ8 can record videos at 4K/ 60fps, 2.7K/ 60fps, and 1080P/ 120fps / 60fps and some more video resolutions, it records with real native 4K. It has great image quality with good colors and sharpness, it uses a 170° wide-angle. The videos of the SJ8 4K are captured in .mp4 format and with the h.264 codec
The configuration by default is well balanced, the images are sharp enough, the sky does not have the tendency classic towards a little the too blue and has overall pretty nice colors.
Check out the SJCAM SJ8 PRO (Amazon)
Yi 4k+
The Yi 4K + is the first camera capable of recording video at 4K resolution and 60 frames per second and is one of the few that in 4K to 25p mode allows using the integrated electronic stabilizer.
According to the official website of Yi Technology, the YI 4K + Action Camera will have some very powerful technical characteristics that will draw enough attention when comparing it, YI 4k+ vs GoPro Hero 7 Black or vs Yi 4K, its predecessor version.
In addition to this camera, Yi also made a new drone, Xiaomi Yi Erida, it is designed to be used with the Xiaomi Yi 4K + coupled to its gimbal and record perfectly stabilized videos at this fantastic 4K resolution at 60fps from the air.
This small camera is capable of capturing video up to 4K at 60fps. The video quality of this camera is really good with impressively sharp and contrasty video footage.
Unfortunately, you can’t apply electronic image stabilization at 4K 60fps, it only applies to 4K/30fps and below. It is not a perfect solution or something that can replace a gimbal but the results are pretty good. Allowing freehand recordings. Something that will be highly valued by those who use this type of camera for vlogs or simply improve their videos when doing sports activities.
The Yi 4K+ can also shoot up to 120fps in 1080p, which is good for slow-motion footage and to 240fps if you shoot in 720p.
