For several years, GoPro company has held superiority in the action-camera market. However, it seems that in the near future it will have to make room. After all, competitors have come very close, releasing higher quality and cheaper products. We will tell you about the 5 best cameras in the world, alternative to GoPro.
SJ5000 action camera
SJ devices have recently enjoyed great popularity in the action cameras market. The manufacturer does not hesitate to call their product a clone of GoPro. These devices even look similar. However, SJ4000 and SJ5000 cameras have more features and better performance characteristics.
SJ5000 Camera is designed for high-quality photos and shooting video in extreme conditions. It has a photosensor with a resolution of 12 megapixels (16 MP in the SJ5000 Plus version), as well as a waterproof case and a number of different mounts included.
The essential difference between SJ5000 and GoPro 3 is a built-in color screen with a diagonal of 1.5 inches, which can display a photo or video immediately. However, not all users of action cameras need this function. Moreover, GoPro fans believe the display to be superfluous, because it takes energy from a not very capacious battery.
The SJ5000 action camera costs $105.
Xiaomi Yi Action Camera
At the end of February 2015, the Xiaomi company posted an announcement of a mysterious device size of a matchbox on its website. Experts suggested that it was an action-camera, soon to be released. The forecast was correct, and on March 2, they presented the device called Xiaomi Yi Action Camera, which has the potential to become a major competitor of GoPro cameras.
Xiaomi Yi Action Camera will work on the basis of the matrix with a resolution of 16 megapixels and a wide angle lens. This camera allows shooting high-definition video (1080p) at 60 frames per second. GoPro produces the same picture quality but it only has half the frame rate.
At the same time, Xiaomi Yi Action Camera does not need any protective case. The body of the camera is waterproof, so the device can be safely lowered into the water to a depth of 40 meters.
Xiaomi Yi Action Camera also has a Wi-Fi module and can be controlled using a special smartphone application.
At the moment, the only accessory of Xiaomi Yi Action Camera is a selfie stick. However, in the near future, Xiaomi will release many other details, including a wide variety of mounts for all occasions.
Xiaomi Yi Action Camera costs $ 64.
Ricoh WG-M1
The characteristics and functions of Ricoh WG-M1 Action Camera allow it to compete with the above-described Xiaomi Yi Action Camera. This device has a waterproof covering, which does not need any protective case, a Wi-Fi module, and a photosensor with a resolution of 14 megapixels.
However, Ricoh is a company that owns the Pentax brand producing some of the best SLR cameras in the world. Consequently, photomatrix in Ricoh WG-M1 allows making the highest-quality images, which cannot be achieved by other action cameras.
By the way, the word “action” in Ricoh WG-M1 is also applicable to the body of the device. After all, the camera is protected by a shock-resistant covering, which allows the device to be safely dropped onto hard surfaces from a height of several meters.
The WiFi module, as in the case of the Xiaomi Yi Action Camera, allows you to control the camera remotely, save and even edit the images and video from this device using a tablet or smartphone.
Ricoh WG-M1 action camera costs $ 250.
HTC RE action camera
HTC RE is the simplest device, whose creators have decided to get rid of most functions they believe to be extra. While SJ5000 and GoPro fans are arguing with each other about whether the extreme camera needs a built-in display, HTC RE has given up this function, as well as many other features of a classic action camera.
Let’s start with the fact that HTC RE does not even look like most action cameras on the market, resembling GoPro in every detail. This device is a small folded tube with a 1460 f2.8 lens on top.
Inside HTC RE, there is a photo sensor with a resolution of 16 megapixels, a battery and a wireless module. The main body of the device has only one button, you can use it to switch on the device and release the shutter when shooting photos or video.
HTC RE significantly enhances its capabilities when connected via a wireless Wi-Fi interface using a smartphone or tablet computer. In particular, the mobile device can quickly process and upload pictures or videos made by HTC RE on the Internet.
The HTC RE Action Camera costs $ 199.
Polaroid Cube action camera
The Polaroid company has been actively experimenting with different formats, trying to find a place on the market. One of the new devices released under the once-famous brand is the Polaroid Cube action camera.
Even against a background of fairly compact modern action cameras, Polaroid Cube device looks incredibly tiny and unusual. It is shaped as a cube with sides of 3.5 centimeters. Thanks to the maximum possible compactness and low weight, Polaroid Cube camera can be attached to any hard surface with the help of double-sided tape or the built-in magnet – you can attach it to a car hood, a wall or even a road sign.
Polaroid Cube has a matrix with a resolution of 6 megapixels and a lens with a 124-degree angle. The camera is protected from bumps, shock and water. However, it still needs a special protective case when shooting at great depths.
The Polaroid Cube action camera costs $ 100.
At the same time, the prices for the GoPro Hero 3 cameras, similar to most devices discussed in this review, start from $ 345.
