GoPro is the company that made action cameras a reality. In the early 2000s, action cameras did not really exist. All the regular devices were simply too heavy or too big to handle while doing any kind of extreme sports such as skateboarding, surfing, biking, or even hiking. Carrying such a huge piece of equipment while trying to perform amazing physical feats was not really possible. GoPro came with the idea of a small, durable, light, and very compact action camera. Fortunately for us, other companies around the world have started producing expensive alternatives that provide the same level of quality.
However, these days, there are so many different alternatives, it can be quite difficult to find the right one. Of course, there are companies that provide quality products, but there are also other businesses that tried to make as much money as possible by mimicking GoPros as much as they can.
Usually, those types of alternatives are usually made out of cheap quality, have a bad sensor, and can break easily which is the complete opposite of what an action camera is.
But, there is no need to worry. In this article, I am going to share several affordable action cameras that are equal or at least near the performance of a GoPro.
Is it possible to find one?
If you asked this question five or maybe 10 years ago, the answer would always be no. Every alternative to the GoPro was simply not good enough. Sometimes, the sensor would be good, but the stabilization feature would be missing. Other times, the stabilization is going to be good, but the sensor would be bad.
Companies also forgot to add important features such as durability, water resistance, or at least a waterproof case. To be more accurate, they probably did not forget those kind features, they just did not have a way to implement them in such a small device.
However, thanks to all the improvements of today’s technology, making small and quality devices is easier than ever. You do not need a multibillion-dollar company just to produce a product that is similar to a GoPro.
Can it be good enough?
Another thing you are probably wondering is whether these alternatives to the GoPro are truly good enough? Sure, it is easier to find an equal in features, but can they replicate the performance of the best action camera?
Well, the answer to this question depends on how much money you are willing to spend. It also depends on the brand and model.
Personally, I believe that there are action camera alternatives that might provide the same performance as a GoPro for a much cheaper price tag.
Today, there are probably devices with a better optical sensor than the real thing. Although, no one can replicate the level of image stabilization that the GoPro. That is probably because the company has spent hundreds of millions of dollars to ensure they have the best image stabilization ever.
Affordable action camera alternatives
Now that you know that there is a possibility to find an inexpensive action camera, I think it is time to mention if your brands and models.
1. Akaso V50 Elite 4K60FPS
This device is quite impressive considering that it costs around $140. With a nice discount, you might even grab it for less. It has also been very positively reviewed on Vlogtribe, making this their best action camera alternative under around $100.
The three main features of this product are simple and quite impressive. It can record 4K resolution at 60 FPS and 1080 P resolution at 120 FPS. If you want even more frames, you can record at 720 P at 240 FPS. That is quite good for a $130 camera, right?
The built-in advanced electronic image stabilization is also quite impressive. I think this might be the main feature of this product.
Naturally, it comes with a completely waterproof case. With this case, you can take the device up to 131 feet underwater. That is quite deep.
Another feature that I like about the V50 is the fact that you can control it with your voice. Yes, that is right, it has built-in voice control. That can be very useful while you are busy doing other stuff such as hiking, biking, or even surfing.
2. Vivitar DVR922HD
If you are looking for something even cheaper, Vivitar DVR922HD might be the option for you. You can get it for only $69. It does not exactly have the best ratings online, but you do have to consider the fact that it comes with a very cheap price tag.
It comes with a 16-megapixel optical sensor that can capture 4K footage at 30 FPS. It also comes with a waterproof case, a bicycle, and a helmet mount. The most impressive feature of this $69 device is the fact that it comes with two screens. One is at the back, which you can regularly find on any modern camera and the other one is at the front. The front screen allows you to see what you are recording. Think of it as a selfie screen.
3. Campark 4K 20MP
If you are working with an even tighter budget, the Campark 4K 20MP action camera is the device that you are looking for. The craziest thing about this product is that it is probably the most reviewed and the most positively reviewed GoPro alternative on Amazon. At the time of writing, this product has around 8400 reviews. Out of all those reviews, the rating averages around 4.3 stars out of five.
It becomes even crazier once you consider the fact that it only costs $39. It has more than 5000 reviews that are five stars.
Of course, it might not be as powerful or impressive as a GoPro, but you are still getting a lot of features for such an inexpensive price tag. You get 4K30FPS footage, remote WiFi control, and electronic image stabilization.
After talking about these three very inexpensive products, I think I can safely say that it is very possible to find an affordable action camera that is equal to the GoPro.
