Hitting the slopes is cool, but sharing a first-person view of you catching some sick air is even cooler. While everyone fancies themselves a potential X-Games contestant when they strap a camera to their face, not everyone requires the durability that the sport-friendly action cam provides. For most of us, the answer to catching clips of cool tricks or excursions through nature's grandeur might be inside your smartphone. So, which one works best for you?
Competition SmartphonesSmartphones are often lauded for their photographic capability. Apple uses images shot on iPhones in its own advertisements, professional photographers have turned to smartphones to capture stills and video where larger cameras are a hindrance, and some larger smartphones have features like optical image stabilization, or dual cameras. There's also a veritable shit-ton of accessories to choose from, though most are universal, designed to fit a variety of smartphones, and might be of questionable quality when it comes to cheaper options.
GoProThe GoPro action cam has become synonymous with first-person video showcasing amazing tricks from the world of extreme sports. At the same time, GoPro cameras mounted on bicycle helmets, skateboard decks, or dog harnesses let people record the more mundane parts of their lives. GoPro cameras are compact, compatible with tons of accessories, and record video at a variety of resolutions and framerates—great for capturing fast-paced action.
Build a DIY Floating GoPro Mount from a Plastic Soda Bottle One of the best things about owning a GoPro is you can take it anywhere—even in the water swimming, …
Read more GoPro: A Hammer For Your Action-Packed NailsGoPro cameras are dedicated video recorders, and built to handle the stresses of an active lifestyle. Additionally, their tiny size and versatility make them perfect for capturing extreme sports: you can mount it on your bike helmet, your DJI drone, the side of your car, even on top of your dog. They're more compact than a smartphone, which has a very large, very breakable screen by comparison.
Be prepared to drop at least $150 on the cheapest GoPro camera, the Hero Session, which records up to 1440p resolution at 30 frames per second, or 1080p at 60 frames per second. You can step up to a Hero5 Session, which records 4K video, for $299. The top-tier action cam, the Hero5 Black, records 4K video as well, and features a small touchscreen (it's also $399).
As for accessories, it depends on what you're looking to do with your camera. You can find helmet mounts ranging in price from $20 to $50, dog harness mounts for around $40, and bicycle handlebar mounts for $60, should you choose to purchase GoPro-made accessories. You could shop around, though I wouldn't try to save a buck or two when it comes to securing a camera worth a few hundred bucks. Sites like Amazon have cheaper options, but they're often from brands you've probably never heard of, and while they may have a ton of positive reviews, most of them are probably fake.
Smartphones: Versatile, But FragileWhat's great about a smartphone is, well, you probably have one. Whether it's a brand new iPhone 8, capable of recording in 4K, or a Nexus 5 from 2013, which has optical image stabilization, you can get some pretty high quality video from the device in your pocket, or even your junk drawer.
You shouldn't purchase a smartphone exclusively for action camera action, though it's a pretty functional substitute. That HD camera, combined with a selection of video-editing apps, means you can record, edit, and upload your stunts all from the same device, rather than depending on two devices to handle the job. Larger smartphones, like the iPhone 7 Plus, feature optical image stabilization as well, so your videos won't look too choppy.
Mount a GoPro to Your DSLR Camera With A Couple of Cheap Attachments If you have a GoPro and a DSLR camera, you may want to use both of them at the same time to capture …
Read moreIf you already have a smartphone, turning it into an action camera is pretty easy: just buy a case, a mount, and open your camera app. If you're looking for a particular GoPro mount (like one for your dog) you'll find a corresponding version for your mobile device. You'll need a case that can fit inside the mounts, but companies like Otterbox make cases with mounting capabilities that are designed to take a tumble. Of course, if you hit the pavement along with your Pixel in the wrong way, there's the tiny chance your screen will turn into a kaleidoscope of color and broken glass. Seems a little risky.
Verdict: Got the Cash? Get a GoProIn the end, the compact size, durability, and single-purpose use case of the GoPro action camera make it the ideal action camera, even when you've got a phone in your pocket. Its one-touch recording capabilities make it simple to grab and go, and you're bound to fret less about it falling on the asphalt when compared to your thin, action-averse smartphone in a bulky case. If money is a concern, buy a helmet mount for your device and test it out, at least to see if you like it. But if you're doing anything more than riding your bike to work, and want to capture the spectacle, get yourself a GoPro and go big (or go home).
Source: Action Camera Showdown: GoPro vs Smartphones
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