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Editor’s Choice: The Akaso V50X on Amazon is my favorite on the list with its compact, sleek, black finish. It’s an ideal size for a small, inconspicuous action camera.
The bite-size camera shoots native 4K video and amazing slow-motion footage. It comes with electronic image stabilization, allowing for video capture in any adventurous outdoor experience.
You get built-in WiFi and seamless compatibility with phones and tablets, and connectivity to TV and monitors with the HDMI output.
You also get a waterproof case that makes the camera waterproof down to 131 feet and a lot of other accessories.
It’s a great plug-and-play camera that’s affordable, small, and easy to use.
Why Should I Buy an Affordable Action Camera?
Action cameras are perfect for outdoor and underwater sports like cycling, skiing, diving, surfing, etc.
Any level of the adventurous filmmaker can shoot great action footage with the right camera. Fortunately, you don’t have to break the bank on action cameras.
A little due diligence and internet searching can give you the best bang for your buck.
Why spend hundreds of dollars on an action camera when you don’t have to?
It can take a toll on your bank account, trying to keep up with the curve. Think about which aspects and functions in a camera that are must-haves.
What is an Action Camera Must-Have?
Saving a buck is a cautionary tale since there are so many options on the market. Make sure you pick the right camera and don’t miss out on the essential features you need most.
Here are a couple of things you need to look out for when selecting an affordable action camera.
- Does the camera have good image quality?
- There’s a real difference between native 4K, Ultra HD, and so on.
- What is the camera’s waterproof rating?
- If you’re filming in or around water, these features are essential.
- What type of lens does the camera have?
- You may or may not want to film using a wide-angle lens.
- What are the unique video features?
- Some cameras come with ample additional features like slow motion, time-lapse, and driving mode.
- What are the camera’s connectivity options?
- You want to know if the camera has HDMI output, great WiFi, or the ability to sync with smart devices.
- How good is the battery life?
- Whether you’re playing watersports or climbing mountains, you want to make sure the camera doesn’t die on you too soon.
- What are the accessories?
- The cameras are small, so hands-free options with mounts for bikes, helmets, and other adventure gear is necessary.
5 Best Cheap Action Cameras That Gives You The Most Value For Your Money
If you’re willing to make do with a cheaper camera, it’s possible to find an affordable, action camera with high quality.
Online marketplaces are a treasure trove of budget-friendly cinematic gear. You have to look in the right place.
I put together a list of the best cheap action cameras in 2020 for the adventurous filmmaker looking for the best deal online.
Coleman Xtreme CX5HD 720p Waterproof Sports & Action Camera Kit
The Coleman brand is the masters of outdoor camping gear and equipment. It only makes sense they created the Coleman Xtreme CX5HD, an affordable action camera great for your outdoor filmmaking adventures.
You get 720p high-definition video and 5.0-megapixels image resolution.
The camera can go up to 10 feet underwater.
You get instant video viewing on the 2-inch touchscreen display.
There’s excellent storage for video and pictures with a micro SD slot for a 32GB memory card.
The Coleman Xtreme’s bundle includes additional mounts and accessories such as the flat helmet mount, handlebar mount, helmet harness, and an underwater housing case.
Check out this great camera kit on Amazon that comes complete with a 720p waterproof camera and sports & action mounts, harness, and case.
AKASO Brave 6 20MP 4K Ultra HD Dual Screen Action Camera with Sony Sensor
Capture all your grand adventures with the Akaso Brave 6 Ultra HD 4K at 24 fps & 2K at 30fps video recording.
Get built-in electronic stabilization when using the gyroscope function or the anti-shaking function for clear pictures.
The Akaso Brave 6 easily connects with smartphones or tablets with the AKASO DV app. And you can even control it with your voice or the included 2.4G remote control.
You can monitor real-time video, instantly share on social media, or connect the camera directly to your TV via HDMI.
The durable, waterproof case allows the camcorder to dive up to 100 feet/30 meters underwater—filter red light underwater with the diving mode setting.
You get two rechargeable 1050mAh batteries able to record up to 90 minutes, and a highly compatible accessories kit.
Look at this great deal on Amazon for this affordable action camera with a 4K dual HD screen.
Dragon Touch 4K Action Camera 16MP Vision 3 Underwater Waterproof Camera PC 170°
The Dragon Touch 4K is a great, affordable action camera with 16MP photo resolution and a 1.0x to 4.0x zoom range.
The unique wireless wrist remote and WIFI range lets you control the camera up to 33ft for mounts and setups in hard to reach places.
Shoot 4K video at 30FPS, 2.7K at 30fps, 1080P at 60FPS video.
Save and share all your action camera footage on either a phone or tablet with the XDV app.
There’s a handful of great features on this action camera, including driving mode, image rotation, time-lapse, loop recording, slow motion, exposure, and white balance.
The only downside is this particular camera is not compatible with Mac products.
Check out this great deal on Amazon for an opportunity to purchase a nice 4K action camera.
IPM 4K Waterproof 12MP Ultra HD Action Camera, Black
The IPM 4K Waterproof Ultra HD action camera is a webcam that packs a lot of power utility in a small package.
You get a 12-megapixel HD wide-angle lens with HD output and 32 GB Micro SD card support.
The IPM shoots in 4K, 1080P, 720P, and WVGA video formats. The video records in .MOV format (Mac OS compatible).
The water-resistant case that allows you to film up to 98 feet underwater.
You can even record video while charging with an included rechargeable battery.
Check out this awesome deal on Adorama for this wide angle-lens, waterproof action camera.
AKASO V50X WiFi Action Camera
The AKASO V50X is probably the best cheap GoPro alternative on the market today. It’s great for everything from skiing to snorkeling.
It lets you record 4K/30fps, 2.7K at 30fps, and 2K at 60fps. So it’s great for capturing slow-motion footage. And the camera is waterproof down to 131 feet/40 meters (with the included waterproof case).
You can adjust the viewing angle from 170° (super-wide), 140° (wide), 110° (medium) to 70° (narrow). And you can correct the image distortion in-camera you get from using wide-angle lenses, so you don’t need to spend time on this in post-production.
This budget-friendly action camera gives you 4K video and great 20-megapixel image quality able to capture every detail of your action-packed footage.
The built-in electronic image stabilization with a 6-axis gyroscope recognizes motion changes and position, so video remains stable despite tilts, shakes, moves, and slight impact.
You control it via the 2 inch IPS touch screen on the back. Or you can use the included wireless remote control to control your camera. Keep in mind though, that the remote control isn’t waterproof, so don’t go diving with this.
Another option is to download the iSmart Pro+ app on your phone or tablet to take full advantage of the built-in WiFi, and connect to your TV or external monitor with the HDMI output.
Check out this great deal on Amazon for the AKASO V50X that includes 2 rechargeable 1350mAh batteries, and lots of accessories.
Conclusion
Always know what you’re looking for in a camera, whether image quality, connectivity, or unique video features.
It’s great to save a little money on action cameras to enjoy filming your outdoor and underwater sports.
Remember, the most or least experienced videographer can shoot excellent action footage; you need the right, affordable camera.
Myke Thompson is a freelance writer, screenwriter, and humorist based out of Los Angeles. When he’s not working on his own projects, he supports other artists as a creative manager in music, art, film, and television.