Action cameras are becoming a craze for sports enthusiasts

If you are an action sports enthusiast who loves to participate in power-packed adventure tourism or are planning to go pro, then action cameras - or the GoPro, as most people would refer to it as - are for you. Make no mistake, these cameras are for the doers and not the watchers. Capturing the moments while skittering down a muddy track on a mountain bike, negotiating strong currents while rafting down a river, riding a big wave in the rough seas or exploring the placid but wild underwater world with the help of these light-weight and waterproof compact cameras can not only help you relive the thrills, but can also be a source of immense satisfaction.

"Action cameras are used to capture extreme action sports or activities. These cameras can capture high speed and high quality images. Regular cameras are incapable of capturing high speed actions and are not designed for rugged conditions. By contrast, action cameras are compact, light-weight, and can be worn by the person or mounted on vehicles," says Manoj Kumar, Managing Director and CEO, Ricoh India.

GoPro, however, is not a type of camera, but a brand. Its success and strong association with action cams since 2010 has made it a household name. It started with Nick Wood-man's desire to film while surfing. His desire soon turned into action and the founder CEO of GoPro introduced the mountable camera to action sports enthusiasts, the world over. Since then, the company's annual launches have been setting the industry standards.

The latest, GoPro Hero 4 Black, is the best camera in the category. It captures 4k videos and has the capability to record high-quality, slow motion videos - working flawlessly at all times and weather conditions - overcast outdoors, dimly-lit indoors, bright sunlight or at night. Usually, action cameras are not good while capturing still images, but the stills captured by the 12 MP camera onboard are praise-worthy. It, however, comes at a premium of Rs 42,000. GoPro Hero 4 Silver is a cheaper alternative to the Hero 4 Black, but it does not allow 4k recording.

The primary focus of action cams is to capture professional-quality videos and not high-quality still images. These cameras capture images at 60 to 120 frames per second in full high definition (HD) footage, with the recent launches offering 4k video recording. Unlike traditional cameras that require careful handling, most action cameras are waterproof and can withstand a fall. Some have a special casing - an accessory that make it work well in extreme conditions without causing any damage.

"The current market size of the action camera is around 3,500 units per month, based on figures from major players, with an average selling price of Rs 14,000-15,000. Since brands like GoPro, Garmin and Sony have introduced their products, this category is believed to be growing around 20 per cent quarter-on-quarter," says Rahul Taneja, Vice President, Category Management, Snapdeal.

Sony isn't actively talking about its 4k action cam, the X1000V, but it is listed for Rs 39,990. Counted among the best action cams available, it competes with the GoPro series. It captures professional quality 4k videos at 30p high bit rate and has an ultra wide 170 degree angle ZEISS Tessar F2.8 Lens. The splashproof (IPX4), shockproof and dustproof body makes it a robust camera.

Garmin, known for its navigators, also manufactures some of the best action cameras. The company has a few models but the VIRB XE is the best, close on the heels of the GoPro and Sony cams, but not quite in the same league. While GoPRo accessories do not fit in other action cameras, the VIRB XE can be fixed to the GoPro mount with an adapter. It captures wide angle footage in mp4 format in full HD resolution at 60 frames per second, and has a built-in Garmin GPS, G-force, and orientation sensors that capture high-speed rotations and big air jumps.

Not all action cameras are expensive. You can buy the old generation GoPros for much less. The Xiaomi Yi Action Camera, which is expected to hit the market, is also great value for money. Available on ebay.in, the Yi action camera can capture full HD videos and can mount on any tripod or stick. It is compact and does not have a screen; therefore, one has to control it using a smartphone app. Add a waterproof casing to it and it is all set for underwater action too. The SJCAM SJ4000WiFi action camera, with features, such as manual image and video control, also offers 1080p videos at 30fps. It can be controlled using a remote control, or an Android or iOS device using WiFi connectivity.

The use of action cameras is not just restricted to capturing action videos or sports activities, but they can also be used for capturing videos at weddings and large-event gatherings, using action cameras mounted on drones or hand-held accessories. Easy to carry, action cameras are being put to use by professionals for their video assignments.

Says Anant Dwivedi, CEO, Smoove, a Mumbai-based production house: "Almost 95 per cent of times I would use a video camera as it gives more control to the creator, including lens options, exposure settings and better quality. But, to get those different and unique camera angles, when a video camera cannot be mounted or when you don't have hands-on control, an action camera is a better choice. However, action cameras are meant to be small, mountable and free of user interface, but they lack lens mounting options, exposure control and video monitor, among many things." Above all, one does not need any expertise to handle action cams.

Although this is a niche product, there is an increasing demand for action cameras in the Indian market. "We are witnessing a growing interest from photography enthusiasts for this product category. Selection for action cameras and related accessories has increased by over 500 per cent between March and October, 2015, on Amazon.in. Sale of action cameras, though still a small fraction of the total camera sales, have grown by over 300 per cent. Between April and October, the number of glance views for action cameras has increased by over 500 per cent," says Noor Patel, Director, Category Management, Amazon India.