Contour ROAM3
The ROAM3 wins in the simplicity stakes. Simply push the slider forward to record, then backwards to stop.
The lens rotates so you can make sure your footage is upright no matter how you mount the camera, and the audio quality is good too, though it does pick up a fair bit of wind noise. There are seven photo settings and a single video setting (1,080p Full HD at 30 frames per second). Using Contour’s PC/Mac software, you can pick two of these modes to toggle between using a simple switch behind the camera’s back door. Battery life is really good, averaging around three hours, due to the lack of screen and simple operation.
No Good…
The footage is noticeably more grainy than that captured by the GoPro and Garmin, and the lack of a screen means it can take time to get the ROAM3 aimed correctly. It does have laser pointers but these only work well over a very short range and can be hard to see in sunlight.
PRICE 285$
Garmin VIRB
The budget model in the Garmin line-up is easy to operate, with a 4.1in colour screen and an intuitive menu system navigated using simple buttons on the side of the camera. Recording is started and stopped with a similar slider to the Contour, with six resolution and frame rate options to choose from, including 1,080p/30fps, 720p/60fps and 480p/120fps. Garmin have wisely included a GoPro mount adaptor – a big improvement over their clunky proprietary system. The battery lasts almost twice as long as the GoPro’s, at just under three hours, but the Garmin weighs nearly twice as much.
No Good…
The VIRB’s screen is great for getting the camera aimed but its low resolution means that playback, although possible, is somewhat pointless. The settings are limited, though they do give you the options you’re likely to want to use. It’s annoying that you have to take the camera apart and remove the battery to get to the memory card.
PRICE 225$
GoPro HERO4 Silver
The big plus point with the HERO4 Silver is the screen on the back of the camera, which makes positioning an absolute breeze, as well as replacing the lessthan- intuitive menu system used on previous GoPros with simple touchscreen controls. Settings for almost every eventuality mean you can capture professional looking footage with vivid colours and sharp images even in low light. GoPro’s mounts offer more possibilities than any other system and are well built too. Even the battery life is respectable – 1.5 hours with the screen on, and longer without.
No Good…
The HERO4 Silver is the only HERO model with a screen built in, and it’s big bucks compared to the other two cams here (though the GoPro range does start with the 165$ HERO). The audio quality when it’s in the waterproof case isn’t great, but who films on soaking wet days anyway?!
PRICE 495$
WHAT SETTINGS?
You can make your footage look a lot better by adjusting the settings on the camera to suit the conditions or type of shot you’re after. Sometimes this can be done on the camera itself butmore basic models often have to be plugged into a computer. Here’s what themost common settings do...
Resolution and aspect ratio
The resolution is the width and height of the video footage you’re filming, in pixels. All three cameras here are capable of shooting in Full HD resolution – 1,920x1,080p. The higher the resolution, the higher the image quality and the larger the file size of the video. The aspect ratio is the ratio of the width to the height – in this case 16:9, which is the normal widescreen format, as opposed to 4:3, which is the old-style, squarer format.
Frame rate
Frame rate, measured in frames per second (fps), refers to how many still images make up a second of video footage.A higher number of frames is better for faster moving subjects, although the more frames per second, the less light the camera will be able to pick up.We usually film at 60fps, even though that often means a compromise when it comes to resolution. If it’s a really dull day we sometimes switch to 30fps mode.
Field of view
Some cameras have a field of view (FOV) option, which alters the lens angle and the amount of fisheye effect. The wider the field of view, the more the image has to be distorted to fit everything in.
Orientation
Action cams sometimes have to be mounted upside down to get the best footage – for example, if you use a chest mount. Some have rotating lenses while others have an option on the camera itself to flip the footage. This saves you having to make the change using editing software, which can slow your computer down.
Apps
Many action cams now come with wi-fi or Bluetooth based smartphone apps that help you with targeting and let you watch your footage too. We’ve found ourselves using the GoPro app regularly, using our phones to transfer and play back videos – and as remote controls to shoot photos for Instagram!