Outdoor cameras - are they still useful today?

Outdoor cameras - are they still useful today?

Outdoor cameras are not so well known to the general public, unlike the traditional ones. They are not usually used during boring passive holidays at the seaside, nor are they used to film birthdays, weddings or other significant family events.

 

As their name suggests, they find their use mainly during more action-packed, mostly outdoor activities.

Author: Tomáš Bajgar

You can actually film with anything you want nowadays. But nowadays, smart mobile phones dominate the industry. Due to them, few people buy traditional handheld cameras anymore. Mobile phones, even the cheapest versions, can do the same, often even better quality.

Of course, those who want high-resolution and perfect quality images have to count on higher costs. However, for the money you get a multifunctional device, which can record more or less anything as a bonus. However, this is not always recommended.

A mobile phone is a relatively expensive and usually quite delicate device, which is often at risk of destruction even if dropped from a small height. Therefore, it is not recommended to use it to record, for example, your experiences of cycling, skydiving or diving. Special outdoor cameras are used for this purpose.

Durability is essential

As mentioned above, mobile phones are quite fragile, so it's not wise to do doggy stuff with them. After all, they could easily break.

Ultimately, even outdoor cameras aren't indestructible, but they are still far tougher.

Even basic models are usually protected against dust particles entering more sensitive areas and can withstand any impact. Most versions can even work underwater, albeit at low depths.

Those who want to shoot in the murky depths will have to get a special camera designed for this purpose.

Interesting features

Even the cheapest outdoor cameras have a certain level of protection. However, there are a number of other features and functions that not all types have.
 

  1. Image stabilization - since the camera is usually in motion during the action, the image stabilization feature is quite essential. Without it, the result would look awkward to say the least. Fortunately, most of the better outdoor cameras today have some form of image stabilisation.
  2. Wide angle - action cameras lack optical zoom (digital cameras often do), as well as a focusing function. They make up for this to some extent with a wide angle of view, but this can distort the image. Better cameras, however, have a Linear function that can eliminate any possible ailments.
  3. Voice control - voice control is a specialty of some outdoor cameras. In some moments, this is the most convenient way to turn on or stop recording. Sometimes one simply does not have the possibility to control the device using the display or a connected mobile phone.

A useful addition

Of course, outdoor cameras can be used more or less everywhere that you can film with your mobile phone. Unlike a phone, however, they can easily be attached to a helmet, bike or directly to the body. They are much more compact and also more durable. Therefore, they can withstand a heavier stress.

Those who want to record, for example, skiing from their own point of view, will definitely achieve much better results with an outdoor camera than with a classic camera or even a phone.