Call it a new fad, call it adrenaline junkies getting their fix — there’s no denying that these new action cameras are everywhere. GoPro, Contour, Sony, Polaroid, Drift…these are just the top hits I found when I googled “action camera.”
So what makes one better than the other? Is is picture quality, mount-ability, frames per second, price? It’s hard to decide with the vast amount of choices to the consumer.
I think it’s fair to say that GoPro has taken a commanding lead. Like most markets, one name tends to stand out among the rest. But does that mean they’re actually the best? Not necessarily. For me, it just means that my friends and I yell “GO PRO!” when we see tourists from the lift with one sticking off their helmets going down a green trail.
I would describe myself as an avid skier and adrenaline junkie, so of course, I had to get one. GoPro didn’t seem my style so I tried Contour. (If you have followed this market at all, you’re now laughing since they filed for bankruptcy in 2013.)
Alas, I needed a new one. Enter iON Air Pro 3, the newest in the iON series. I look for features and style, like most people, and I wanted something beyond what GoPro had to offer. I took a look at the reviews, watched their video release and sample footage, and I was stunned. Then I got my hands on one. It was as if they knew I liked my Contour, but added all the things it was missing: Wi-Fi for iPhone viewing, a one-touch photo button (with 12 megapixel sensor), and waterproofing — up to 49ft “without a raincoat.”
Its sleek cylindrical design and light weight — only 5oz — keeps the look I like of the Contour but lighter and more feature-rich. One of the things I never liked about the GoPro unit was that when I tried it, I couldn’t tell if it was actually on — there is a red light, but it’s atop my head! With the iON, it uses a nice slide button; you just slide on to record and slide off to stop. Easy enough, especially with gloves on.
All that said, if it doesn’t take good video, it doesn’t matter. The numbers for the iON are right on: It takes 1080p at 60fps and offers a 160 degree viewing angle. I’ve personally been using the 720p setting at 120fps — extra frames are crucial for those epic slow-mo’s.
So there it is: one action junkie’s opinion! If you’re not “GOING PRO” check out the iON below — either way, get out there and enjoy the sport!