Action cameras are among the high-flyers in the electronics market. Under water, in the air, on snow or in the mountains – outdoor fans can hardly do without the pocket-sized cams. We present ten cheap GoPro alternatives and their features.
Action cameras are a bit like Bluetooth headphones. A top dog has the segment under control, mostly delivering high-quality, but also correspondingly high-priced products. The US company GoPro has been setting standards for the popular action cams for years – in terms of design, but also technically. With their Hero series, the Americans are omnipresent on the global market for robust cams for outdoor action. The HERO10 Black resolves video at 60 fps with a stunning 5.3K. But like the AirPods from Apple, the premium cams from California also have their price. With the HERO10, that’s almost 500 euros. And the SD card isn’t even there yet. Its predecessor, the HERO9 Black, still costs around 370 euros. The competition believes that this has to be cheaper and is constantly working on alternatives to snatch market share from GoPro. But what can the cheap outdoor cameras do for mountain bikers, skiers, divers and co? In the following article we present ten GoPro alternatives under 100 euros.
1. Rollei 7s Plus
The traditional North German camera manufacturer Rollei discovered the market for action cameras a few years ago and offers different models in the lower to middle price segment. The 7s Plus is particularly noticeable due to the extensive accessories that are included in the scope of delivery. In addition to a small remote control, the overall package includes a bicycle and helmet holder, several adapters, an underwater protective housing, a removable battery (850 mAh) and a Velcro strap. The action camera itself is equipped with a 2-inch display that can be operated via touchscreen. The device has a micro USB and a micro HDMI interface. Time-lapse and slow-motion modes are available for video experiments. Otherwise, the 7s Plus films in four resolutions up to 4K. The maximum battery life is given as 75 minutes. Here’s the Rollei 7s Plus Action Cam.
You can see a comparison of action cams here.
2. HEAD Brave 4 Pro
GoPro also has competition in its own country. Akaso is based in Washington and with the EK7000 Pro provides a cheap and quite competitive alternative to the top dog. Of course, the EK7000 delivers 4K images and displays them on a decent 2-inch touch display. Image stabilization is intended to ensure shake-free shots, especially with fast-moving objects. According to the manufacturer, the housing withstands water pressure at a depth of up to 40 meters. The camera should therefore also be a good option for divers. It weighs almost 600 grams, comes with two 1050 mAh batteries and all sorts of accessories. Bike stands, seven different mounts, two clips, a helmet mount, tethers and a 2.4G remote control are part of the basic package. The AKASO Brave 4 Pro is available here.
3. Renkforce RF AC4K 300
The accessory package for this action camera with the Renkforce label, a private label from Conrad Electronic, is even more comprehensive. In addition to the standard range, buyers will also find a special holder for the frame, an extra suction cup holder, some cable ties and five Velcro straps in the box. The 1050 mAh battery is good for a maximum of 90 minutes in action mode, and a maximum of 128 gigabytes of video and image data is stored on microSD, microSDHC or microSDXC. The touch display has a diagonal of just over five centimeters (2 inches). This device also delivers videos in 4K. According to the manufacturer, the moving images can be transmitted via an app via WiFi in real time, i.e. as a live stream, to mobile end devices. The underwater housing of the camera, which weighs just 64 grams, is designed to withstand a diving depth of up to 30 meters. It is marked with protection class IP68. The Renkforce RF AC4K 300 is available here.
With a Conrad voucher you can get the action cams even cheaper.
4. GoXtreme Rebel
Compared to the other cameras presented here, the GoXtreme model “only” films at 30 fps (frames per second) and not even in 4K, but in HD quality (1280 x 720 pixels). Interpolated, i.e. through mathematically calculated intermediate images during post-processing, the resolution increases to full HD according to the manufacturer. The display is 2 inches (approx. 5 cm) and the camera can be controlled remotely with a smartphone via WiFi using a free app. The housing is designed to reliably protect the technology up to a water depth of 30 meters. In addition to the camera body, two housings (underwater and outdoor), various adapters for helmet and bike as well as the battery (900 mAh) and a practical tripod adapter are supplied. The only compatible microSD memory card is not included here either. USB 2.0 is available as an interface. Here’s the GoXtreme Rebel Action Cam.
5. Lamax X9.1
This inexpensive GoPro alternative comes from Czech production. The Lamax X9.1 films in 4K (at 30 fps) and Full HD resolution (at 60 frames per second). The manufacturer has installed a 2-inch LCD display. The functions of the camera can be controlled via a remote control on the wrist. The image and video data encoded with H.265 can be transmitted to various end devices via the in-house app via WiFi. The accessories are also impressive. The Lamax X9.1 comes with numerous adapters, an outdoor and underwater housing, a battery (according to the manufacturer, a battery life of around 90 minutes) and a small bag. The Lamax offers the standard slow-motion and time-lapse programs as video modes. The Lamax X9.1 is available here.
Note: The article was first published in April 2021.
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