When it comes to action camera market at present, GoPro Hero 5 sits right on top, not just in terms of popularity and sales, but also in terms of what the company brings to the table. That’s right, the Hero 5 Black is a significant step up from its predecessor, featuring a touchscreen display, dual mic system and built-in video stabilization to minimize shaky footage. It’s also the first GoPro to boast waterproof capabilities without the need of a housing. So, it certainly makes sense why the company is having the majority of the market share.
However, the competition is catching up to the standards and are now offering similar or sometimes more than what GoPro Hero 5 has to offer, for an affordable price. Today, there are plenty of options to choose from, other than a Hero 5, especially if you’re looking for something that provides value for money. So, if you’re in the market to purchase a new action camera this year, you might want to take a look at the 10 best GoPro Hero 5 Alternatives you can buy:
1. Nikon KeyMission 170
An action camera from the acclaimed DSLR camera manufacturer themselves is enough to get our adrenaline pumping. KeyMission 170 by Nikon is directly targeted towards consumers who are looking forward to buy a GoPro. What makes the KeyMission 170 stand out is its ultra wide field of view which is standard at 170 degrees. The camera is waterproof up to 10 metres without any housing. It’s also shock-proof from a height of 2 metres and freeze-proof down to a temperature of -10 degree Celsius, unlike the Hero 5.
The KeyMission 170 boasts an 8.3 MP CMOS sensor which can record 4K video up to 30fps and 1080p video up to 60fps. One of the downsides of this camera is the battery life. It lasts about an hour even when WiFi and Bluetooth are turned off, which is quite disappointing. The pricing is quite similar to the GoPro Hero 5 Black at just under $400 mark, which is what makes this camera, a compelling alternative.
Buy from Amazon: ($397)
2. Yi 4K+ Action Camera
The Yi 4K+ action camera from Xiaomi was originally announced back at CES 2017 in January. Aimed at going toe-to-toe with the Hero 5 Black, Yi definitely doesn’t disappoint in any aspect. Yi 4K+ is the only camera in this list which can handle 4K video at 60fps. Well, not even the Hero 5 Black can do that. Unlike its predecessor, Yi 4K+ comes with a waterproof housing, so that you can take it along with you on an underwater dive. The 12.3 MP CMOS sensor with Exmor R is also capable of taking stunning pictures.
The Yi 4K+ Action Camera also features Image Stabilization up to 4K resolution, unlike the Hero 5 which provides stabilization only up to 2.7K. It packs a 1400mAh battery which lasts just under 2 hours on average. which is quite similar to the GoPro Hero 5. The Yi 4K+ sits between the Hero 5 Session and Hero 5 Black in terms of pricing and can be currently purchased on Amazon for just under $340.
Buy from Amazon: ($339)
3. Sony FDR-X3000
An action camera from Sony that looks like the company’s own Handycam, the FDR-X3000 packs as many professional features an action camera can probably have. The unique feature of this camera is the Balanced Optical SteadyShot (BOSS), which actually makes this camera operable without the need of a gimbal with excellent optical image stabilization. This is something which the GoPro Hero 5 completely lacks. Apart from this, the camera can take 12 MP stills from its Exmor R censor and even record 4K footage at 30fps.
The FDR-X3000 is waterproof up to 60m if it’s used along with the included underwater housing. Sony rates the FDR-X3000’s battery life at 2hrs 15mins at 1080p or 60 minutes if you use 4K resolution, which is just average if you take a look at the competition. Pricing starts at $399 and goes upward depending on the additional accessories that you might or might not necessarily need.
Buy from Amazon: ($398)
4. SJCAM SJ7 Star
This action camera from SJCAM is aimed at competing against the Yi 4K+, as well as the GoPro Hero 5, offering most of what the Hero 5 can at half the price. The SJ7 Star packs a 12.4 MP CMOS sensor from Sony capable to taking high resolution pictures. It’s also capable of recording 4K footage at 30fps and if you want to shoot at 60fps, you might need to go down to 2.5K. It’s capable of providing you with a 166-degree field of view which is almost as much as what the Hero 5 can show you.
The SJCAM SJ7 Star is waterproof up to 30 metres if you use the included underwater housing. It packs a 1000mAh battery, which is quite low for an action camera in 2017, but it should last for about 100 minutes if you’re shooting at 1080p. For an asking price of under $200, the options come down to just two – Yi 4K or the SJ7 Star. Pick your poison, as it all comes down to personal preference.
Buy from Amazon: ($199)
5. Garmin VIRB Ultra 30
This VIRB Ultra 30 action camera from Garmin basically looks like a beefed up GoPro camera in a nutshell. But the camera is more than impressive to say the least. It packs a 12MP sensor which can take splendid still images, as well as capture 4K footage at 30fps. If you want to shoot at 60fps, you can do that as well at 2.7K resolution. For slow motion shots, you’ll have to go down to 1080p.
The VIRB Ultra 30 comes with a waterproof case that makes the action camera waterproof up to 40 metres. Garmin also promises good battery life, being able to record continuous 1080p footage for over 2 hours on a single charge. It’s not only the looks, but also the specifications and pricing that makes this camera quite similar to the GoPro Hero 5. It can be purchased at just under $400 on Amazon.
Buy from Amazon: ($399)
6. Ricoh WG-M2
If the 170-degree wide angle lens on the GoPro Hero 5 just doesn’t cut it for you, then Ricoh’s WG-M2 is without doubt the way to go. It features a 204-degree super ultra-wide angle lens to fit everything that you can possibly can into a frame. It can take good stills with the 8 MP image sensor and also record 4K footage at 30fps.
The Ricoh WG-M2 features a rugged body that makes it fully waterproof up to 65 feet and shock-resistant, making it a viable alternative to the GoPro Hero 5, just in case you don’t handle your gadgets with enough care. Battery life isn’t as bad as some of the competition, as it’s capable of recording 4K footage for approximately 80 minutes. Plus, pricing isn’t expensive as well when compared to the Hero 5, as it’s currently available for as less as $240.
Buy from Amazon: ($240)
7. Olympus Tough TG-Tracker
When you see the word “Tough”, you expect it to be resistant to any kind of damage. Fortunately, Olympus doesn’t disappoint you on that regard. The rugged body that this camera has makes it shockproof, freezeproof, crushproof and dustproof. It’s also waterproof up to 30 metres without needing a housing. It features a 204-degree ultra-wide angle lens which is quite similar to the Ricoh WG-M2 that we discussed above.
The TG-Tracker is also capable of shooting 4K videos at 30fps and take 8 MP pictures with the image sensor it has. All in all, this should be a much better option than the GoPro Hero 5 if you prefer living your life on the edge. The battery life is good as well, as the camera is capable of recording continuous 4K footage for approximately 95 minutes. Well, not just that. It’s also more affordable than the Hero 5 as well, costing just under $320. So, if you’re short on cash, you know which one you should be going for.
Buy from Amazon: ($319)
8. GoPro Hero 4 Black
Another alternative to the Hero 5, is GoPro’s Hero 4 Black itself. No surprises here, because it can do most of what the current Hero 5 Black can, at a lesser price. The first major difference between the Hero 4 and Hero 5 is that the older one lacks an integrated touchscreen. If you’re worried about missing out on the integrated touchscreen, you can utilize the GoPro app that’s available on both iOS and Android to control your shots. In spite of lacking a touchscreen, the battery life on the Hero 4 is still quite disappointing, lasting just over an hour of continuous recording.
Unlike the Hero 5, in order to record some underwater footage, you will have to use the waterproof housing for the GoPro Hero 4. On the other hand, the GoPro Hero 5 doesn’t really need a housing to boast its waterproof capabilities. Apart from this, the Hero 4 Black packs the same 12 MP camera which is capable of recording 4K footage at 30fps. That’s probably everything that you’ll want from an action camera in 2017. It’s currently available for just under $330 on Amazon.
Buy from Amazon: ($329)
9. Veho Muvi K2 Pro
At first glance, this action camera looks like a sexier version of the GoPro cameras we’ve always seen. The Muvi K2 Pro features a 12 MP image sensor capable of taking high resolution stills as well record 4K footage at 15 fps. Well, the frame rate is not as high as the competition, but for the price, it’s still a good deal. It can shoot 2.7K footage at 30fps, which I’d be happy with. The built-in LCD touchscreen is an added bonus as well.
The Muvi K2 Pro boasts a 1500mAh battery which is bigger than the one on the Hero 5, and provides a recording time of up to 4 hours at 1080p. This action camera comes with a rugged carry case, but if you want the other accessories like a waterproof housing, you might need to spend an additional amount on top of the asking price of around $210 on Amazon. That being said, it’s just half the price of a GoPro Hero 5. So, you might want to check this out.
Buy from Amazon: ($210)
10. TomTom Bandit Action Camera
The unique cylindrical design makes this one stand out from the rest, but not everyone might like this design approach. The camera is well-built and features built-in motion sensors. It packs a 16 MP sensor, capable of taking high resolution stills and also record high quality 4K footage at 15fps, which is quite similar to the Hero 5 Session. There’s no built-in touchscreen, but you can utilize the Bandit App that’s available on both iOS and Android to instantly playback and share all your footage.
There’s one particular department where the Bandit outshines the Hero 5 and that’s battery life. As it features a much bigger battery at 1900mAh, it’s able to provide you with a recording time of up to 3 hours, compared to 2 hours on the GoPro Hero 5. It’s currently available on Amazon for a price as much as the Hero 5 Session at $299, which is a decent deal for what this camera brings to the table.
Buy from Amazon: ($299)
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Don’t Want To Go Pro? The Best GoPro Hero 5 Alternatives To Buy
Don’t worry, we’ve covered the best GoPro Hero 5 alternatives that you can possibly buy this year. There are plenty of options to choose from. Some are similarly priced, some are way less expensive. There’s something for everyone’s budget in this list. So, are you looking forward to purchase a new action camera? If so, let us know which one you’re going for and how this article has helped you in making your decision easier by dropping a few words in the comments section below.
