A helmet camera comes in handy when you want to capture your dirt bike adventures. The market has long been dominated by GoPro, whose story began in 2002 with a motorsport enthusiast named Nick Woodman. He strapped a 35 mm camera to his arm using plastic tape and pieces of wet suit.
Best Action Cameras for Dirt Biking
The camera was intended to capture himself and his friends surfing. Since then, GoPro has supplied millions of products to primarily sports enthusiasts. Sony is another market dominator in this field, with an impressive line of action cameras. Other brands are available as well. The best action cameras for dirt biking include:
1. GoPro HERO7
The GoPro HERO7 promises gimbal-like video, without a gimbal, thanks to the HyperSmooth Stabilization. It predicts a user’s movements and rectifies for camera shake to provide smooth footage.
Under Superphoto, the camera intelligently applies HDR, noise reduction, or local tone mapping to optimize shots. It shoots stunning 12MP photos and 4K60 videos. You can further slow footage down by up to 8k when you want to relive exciting moments. With the GoPro Hero7, you can capture ultra-stabilized time-lapse footage while you move about positions.
The camera is rugged and will let you capture film that you cannot achieve with your phone. It is waterproof without housing to 10m (33ft), which means that it will be up for any adventure.
You will be able to stay in the moment as you can control it with voice commands like “Go Pro, start recording.” You can also share your adventures as you live them with video streaming to Facebook Live. Videos and photos can be captured in portrait orientation to share in Instagram and Snapchat stories.
The camera relies on an intuitive touch screen with streamlined capture modes to make it easy for users to use. Go Pro has made it easy to take images and videos with the Hero7.
2. Olympus TG-Tracker
The Tough series from Olympus features rugged point-and-shoots. The design of the Olympus TG-Tracker is similar to a miniature camcorder, even sporting a flip-out screen. The camera’s features are quite hi-tech, thanks to a range of sensors like accelerometer, compass, and GPS.
The camera has been fitted with a super-bright F2.0 high-speed lens that captures fast action with insane clarity. The lens is also keen on noise reduction, even underwater or in low light.
An LED headlight will offer convenience in dark conditions and will even act as a flashlight. The camera sports an Electronic 5-Axis Image stabilization which compensates for movements to minimize jarring and vibration. Your videos will look sharp as a result.
The camera’s optics film Ultra HD 4K 30P footage with fantastic resolution. A 204 degrees Extreme Angle Lens is perfect for capturing surroundings with a super-wide perspective.
You can rely on high-speed HD modes to shoot slow motion or 4K Time Lapse. There is a powerful lithium-ion battery to give you extended recording times.
The Tracker TG-Tracker is not only small and lightweight, but it is also built tough to be taken anywhere. It is waterproof to depths of 30m (100ft) without protective housing. It is additionally crushproof to 220 lbf and shockproof from 2.1m (7ft).
There are five Action Track sensors to give context to your videos, including a barometric pressure sensor, GPS, e.Compass, temperature sensor, and an accelerometer. The camera also includes inbuilt Wi-Fi connectivity to make sharing easier.
3. Kodak PIXPRO SP1
The Kodak PIXPRO SP1 has a boxy yellow design. The rugged body is necessary to survive submersion in water for depths of 32ft/10m. It is shockproof to 6.5ft/2m, dustproof, and freezeproof to 14F/-10C.
The camera achieves all this without needing a protective cover to its 3.3×2×1.6-inch casing. It has relatively small mounts which serve to make everything compact.
When it comes to usability, it has a 1.5-inch color screen for displaying setting and previewing shots. It is non-touchscreen, but you will get through the menus just fine. A user can get the Pixpor SP1 app to connect to the camera via a Wi-Fi hotspot.
The SP1 features an upgraded CMOS sensor which has 14 million image pixels to provide more clarity and quality than a traditional CCD sensor. To capture your adventures, you can get full-revolution photos in 10fps or 1080p Full-HD video.
You can also film videos in 120 fps for those fresh time-lapse videos in slow motion. Electronic image stabilization is responsible for accommodating any camera movements to minimize blurry videos and images.
The camera has a retrievable 1,250mAH, which promises 2 hours and 10 minutes of 350 shots or 1080p/30fps which is sufficient for a regular outing. It also accommodates microSD cards of up to 32GB storage. The SP1 is an overall good selection for sports enthusiasts.
4. Sony HDR-AZ1VR
The package of the Sony HDR-AZ1VR features the camera, wireless remote at the bottom, and waterproof housing. The camera is quite small without including the protective housing.
The battery sits on the camera’s right side. The left side has a tiny LCD screen and two buttons. You will be able to shoot full HD film, and Sony has also included its own Electronic Image Stabilization. It outputs footage at 720 p 120fps videos for slow-mo.
While the HDR-AZ1VR can be used without the protective casing, it will not survive for depths of more than 5m underwater. The housing has small microphone holes which boost audio quality. The wireless remote is a vital accessory as you will be empowered to adjust the settings physically.
The screen on the camera is quite small, so you will rely more on the remote which you can strap on your wrists. You just need several button presses to link the remote and the camera.
The remote can activate live preview on the screen, and the delay between the preview and events is typically less than a second. The quality is also crisp and detailed.
The small design of the Sony HDR-AZ1VR is what really stands out when using it. You can easily equip your helmet with it and get to riding.
5. YI 4K Action Camera
The YI 4K prides in being the first 4K/60fps action camera without consuming a lot of power.
Its Electronic Image Stabilization enables users to film steady and smooth 4K/30fps video without the need for post-production editing or pricey stabilizers. You can be sure to record fast-moving adventures in crisp quality.
It is fitted with the Sony IMX3777 image sensor which gives stunning videos as well as superb still images.
In terms of ease of use, the YI 4K has a super-responsive 2.2 inches Gorilla Glass Retina screen which is touchscreen-enabled. It displays all the action clearly and in detail.
It is easy to adjust settings, playback footage, and switch between modes. Among the camera’s features are RAW image capture, Voice Control, and an accompanying app. The camera also shines in battery life. Its 1,400mAH battery is large enough to provide 2 hours and 35 minutes of 1080p at 30fps.
Yi released the 4k action camera in direct competition with the GoPro Hero5 Black. Besides being half the price of its rival, the YI 4K offers most of the specs of the GoPro Hero5 Black although the latter still emerges as the better in terms of video and image quality.
6. Garmin VIRB Ultra 30 Action Camera
The Garmin VIRB Ultra action camera is optimized for a spectacular performance. It captures 4K/30fps film. The dynamic range is good, while the colors are fairly accurate. There 1/2.3 sensor is sizeable while the resolution is 12-megapixel.
A G-Metrix technology lets users overlay graphs and gauges with action data with tools like the compass, accelerometer, altimeter, and gyroscope. It has various options for shooting modes, framerates, and resolutions.
There is an “Expansive Mode,” which squishes an image so that you can view more at the top and bottom of the frame. The camera also sports a 3-axis image stabilization which makes for steady, detailed, and crisp footage no matter the terrain. Slow motion is available at full HD and is ideal for high-action shots.
The camera is packed with a waterproof case which protects it for depths of up to 40m. The casing is removable, and the camera is quite small without the housing. There are micro-USB and micro HDMI ports. The microphone has a pass-through port that links to the external housing to provide better audio than competing cameras.
There is a 1.75-inch LCD-color touchscreen to see what you are recording, and it even functions inside the waterproof casing. Voice activation system is also available where you can use voice commands to activate or stop recording. A VIRB app is compatible with Apple devices, and you can activate YouTube HD live streaming.
7. GoPro Hero Session
The GoPro Hero Session is quite compact at just 2.6oz, and its lightweight makes it easy to mount on your helmet. It is waterproof to 10m without housing. Its cubical shape makes it more aerodynamic than its predecessors.
The shape will come in handy during streamlining when mounted on various surfaces. The ball-joint makes it easier to adjust the direction and angle of the camera on the go.
One-touch controls let you power the camera instantly and begin recording by checking the shutter button. There is a small LCD panel close to the shutter button which displays status information and settings.
The camera has an impressive resolution of 1440 pixels per inch offers sharp and professional videos. The frame rates can reach 100 frames per second to provide steady slow-motion playback.
It displays 1080p60 video and 8MP photo capture. The Hero Session is well-designed to deliver the remarkable footage that GoPro is famed for. There is a camera mode which enables you to put the camera to work instantly to capture impromptu moments.
Since the camera lacks a waterproof housing, audio is not muffled and is therefore excellent. The battery cannot be retrieved as it is integrated, which can be a shortcoming for people wanting a full-day off their cameras.
The battery’s capacity is 1,000mAH, but you can use a portable USB charger to power the camera. It is compatible with the whole range of
GoPro mounts.
How to Choose an Action Camera for Dirt Biking?
An action camera functions like the shadow of a sports enthusiast. It captures the stunning footage as you tackle trails and tracks. Here are the features to consider in an action camera model:
– Stabilization
Most cameras sport image stabilization to ensure that you do not end up with blurry pictures. It becomes trickier with video stabilization, however, as more procession power is needed. Most high-action of videos will be shaky, hence the necessity of a stabilizer.
Video stabilization can either be optical image or gyro image stabilization. Gyro works electronically or via software, whereas in image stabilization, the lens adjusts to make up for the camera’s movement.
– Voice Control
During dirt bike riding, your hands will be busy with grips and controls for steering and coordination. Most cameras are packaged with wireless remotes which can be mounted on the wrists or handlebars.
Models like GoPro’s HERO session introduced voice control to the market. You can rely on simple voice commands to activate the camera to begin capturing or to stop. The YI 4K is one model that offers good quality voice control.
– Connectivity
It is now more important than ever to share adventures on the go. The better action camera models feature in-built Wi-Fi, which also supports wireless connection with a competition smart device.
Opt for a camera with a do-it-all app to edit and share your pursuits. You can even adjust camera settings and mark locations when filming. Some camera will also let you live stream to platforms like YouTube and Instagram.
– Resolution
Be keen on the resolution specifications. One common selection is HD at 1920 × 1080 pixels. Ultra HD 4K is stunning, but it takes up a lot of space and is harder to edit. The resolution of 720 at 120fps is lower but enables you to playback in slow motion.
Conclusion
High-packed action requires specific specifications to capture the incredible footage. Action cameras are mostly rugged to fit the rough terrains for dirt biking and other extreme sports.
GoPro remains a primary contender in this market, although there are other competent and cheaper alternatives from brands like Olympus, YI, Sony, and Kodak.
