Christmas is approaching, and lots of people will be getting a new action camera to video their kayaking and sports adventures, but which one should you get?
2022 was a great year for new action camera models, including new upgrades from Insta360, GoPro and DJI. I’m going to focus on these three makes because although there are many cheap cameras on the market, they usually fall short when it comes to image quality, stabilisation, image compression, and angle of view. I’ve come in for some flak before for saying that in the past, but in the course of doing camera reviews professionally for publications for 17 years or so now, I’ve tried out a great many devices, including action cameras from all different price sectors. I’ve yet to be sent one from a budget manufacturer that I could realistically recommend to anyone for getting footage that they might want to keep.
That might change, of course. As technology progresses in the premium brands, higher performance sensors become available to the budget ones. However, a key component to getting all that 4K and above fully stabilised loveliness lies in having good processing, and also expertise in colour science. Something the market leaders will always hold an advantage in.
For the purposes of the comparisons I’m going to make, I’m going to ignore the 360 cameras. Personally, I love them, but for everyday use on a helmet, they need processing afterwards with reframing, something that a large percentage of casual users won’t have the patience for. Not only that, but 360 cameras have very vulnerable lenses, which doesn’t make them the ideal companion for bashing your head on rocks with.
Currently there are six main choices of premium action camera. The GoPro HERO11 Black, HERO11 Black Mini, HERO10 Black, DJI Osmo Action 3, DJI Action 2, and the Insta360 ONE RS. Each of them have advantages and disadvantages, so I’m going to list pros and cons below side by side.
| HERO11 Black | HERO11 Black Mini | HERO10 Black | Osmo Action 3 | Action 2 | ONE RS (4K Boost module) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.3K max resolution | 5.3K max resolution | 5.3K max resolution | 4K max resolution | 4K max resolution | 4K max resolution |
| Extremely good image quality | Same image quality as HERO11 | Very good image quality | Very good image quality | Very good image quality | Extremely good image quality |
| Great at dealing with exposure changes | Great at dealing with exposure changes | Great at dealing with exposure changes | Can be heavy handed and overly responsive to exposure changes | Can be heavy handed and overly responsive to exposure changes | Great at dealing with exposure changes |
| 5.3K 60fps, 4K 120fps slow motion, 240fps in 2.7K | 5.3K 60fps, 4K 120fps slow motion, 240fps in 2.7K | 4K 120fps slow motion, 240fps in 2.7K | 4K 120fps slow motion, 240fps in 1080p | 4K 120fps slow motion, 240fps in 1080p | 120fps slow motion in 2.7K |
| Excellent HyperSmooth stabilisation with AutoBoost function | Excellent HyperSmooth stabilisation with AutoBoost function | Excellent HyperSmooth stabilisation | RockSteady stabilisation, as good as HyperSmooth | RockSteady stabilisation, as good as HyperSmooth | Stabilisation, as good as HyperSmooth |
| Use manual white balance for best results (set to 5500K for daytime) | Use manual white balance for best results (set to 5500K for daytime) | Use manual white balance for best results (set to 5500K for daytime) | Has a dedicated white balance sensor, so gets great results in auto | Has a dedicated white balance sensor, so gets great results in auto | Use manual white balance for best results (set to 5500K for daytime) |
| Great dynamic range with detail in shadows and highlights | Great dynamic range with detail in shadows and highlights | Great dynamic range with detail in shadows and highlights. Not quite as good as the HERO11, but very close | Generally good dynamic range. Improved with a recent firmware update | Okay dynamic range. | Very good dynamic range |
| Great colours out of the box with the Natural colour setting | Great colours out of the box with the Natural colour setting | Great colours out of the box with the Natural colour setting | Very pleasing colours out of the box | Very pleasing colours out of the box | Very pleasing colours out of the box |
| Nice, natural look with sharpness set to low or medium | Nice, natural look with sharpness set to low or medium | Nice, natural look with sharpness set to low or medium | Good sharpness, maybe erring on every so slightly too much (can’t be adjusted) | Good sharpness, maybe erring on every so slightly too much (can’t be adjusted) | Nice, natural look with sharpness set to low |
| Hindsight function can record up to 30-seconds of footage from before you press the record button | No cache record | Hindsight function can record up to 30-seconds of footage from before you press the record button | No cache record | No cache record | No cache record |
| Simple mode and Pro mode | Simple mode and Pro mode | – | Simple mode and Pro mode | – | – |
| Lots of image settings available | Lots of image settings available | Lots of image settings available | Some basic image settings available | Some basic image settings available | Lots of image settings available |
| Good battery life in some settings | Good battery life in some settings | Okay battery life in some settings | Exceptional battery life | Low battery life with the camera module. Better with the battery module attached. | Very good battery life |
| Slower to charge | Slower to charge | Slower to charge | Very fast to charge (80% in 18 minutes) | Slow to charge | Fairly fast to charge |
| Nice, wide angle of view for POV in Hyperview mode | Nice, wide angle of view for POV in Hyperview mode | Fairly wide angle of view in Superview mode for POV | Ultra-wide view is one of the best on the market for POV | Ultra-wide view is one of the best on the market for POV | Narrowest angle of view vs the competition |
| Swappable battery | Fixed battery (not swappable) | Swappable battery | Swappable battery | Fixed battery in the camera module. Need to purchase new battery modules | Swappable battery modules |
| No waterproof case needed | No waterproof case needed | No waterproof case needed | No waterproof case needed | Bulky waterproof case needed for watersports | No waterproof case needed |
| Hydrophobic coated lens protector | Hydrophobic coated lens protector | Hydrophobic coated lens protector | Hydrophobic coated lens protector | Need to lick | Need to lick |
| Replaceable lens protector | Replaceable lens protector | Replaceable lens protector | Replaceable lens protector | Requires factory repair | Requires factory repair |
| Responsive touch screen | No touch screen | Responsive touch screen | Very Responsive touch screen | Very Responsive touch screen | Touch screen can be frustrating |
| Front facing screen | No front facing screen | Front facing screen | Front facing touch screen | Front facing screen | Have to dismantle to turn screen around |
| Reliable tried and tested mounting system | Reliable tried and tested mounting system with two mounting points | Reliable tried and tested mounting system | Reliable QR magnetic clip mounting system | QR magnetic clip mounting system. Not as robust as Action 3 | GoPro style mounting system |
| Camera body can be tethered directly with silicon camera protector | No tether point on the camera body. Needs to be tethered to mount screw | Camera body can be tethered directly with silicon camera protector | No tether point on the body. Needs to be tethered to mount screw | No tether point available with the waterproof case. Needs to be tethered to mount screw | No tether point available. Needs to be tethered to mount screw |
| HEVC recording codec. Needs a powerful computer or phone to edit | HEVC recording codec. Needs a powerful computer or phone to edit | HEVC or H.264 recording available. Latter needs less powerful computer | HEVC recording codec. Needs a powerful computer or phone to edit | HEVC recording codec. Needs a powerful computer or phone to edit | H.264 recording only. Needs less powerful computer |
| Clear user interface. Maybe options overload for casual users in Pro mode | Tiny LCD screen with button operation to change settings. Can be fiddly and hard to see | Clear user interface. Maybe options overload for casual users in Pro mode | Best user interface. Very clear and easy to use, even in Pro mode | Good, clear user interface | Tiny screen means the user interface is a bit fiddly |
| £499 (£399 with GoPro subscription) | £399 (£299 with GoPro subscription) | £349 (£449 with GoPro subscription) | £309 (£399 for Adventure Combo, which I recommend) | £209 for the Power Combo (Extra £45 required for waterproof case) | £249.99 |
Final thoughts
I’ve listed what I consider to be some of the main selling points of these cameras based upon a casual user who wants to video their kayaking trips. These cameras do, of course, feature other unique abilities and settings, such as various stills and Timelapse modes.
For me, the three main choices are the HERO11 Black, the HERO10 Black, and the DJI Osmo Action 3. Any one of these three cameras will get you great results on the river. Just make sure you buy Enduro batteries if you go with the HERO10, and get the Adventure Combo for the Action 3. The Adventure Combo gets you three batteries, mounts, and a really nifty battery case/charger that stores the batteries.
The HERO11 is the most pricey of the bunch. I’d recommend getting the version with the GoPro subscription thrown in. You get a cheaper camera, and if you don’t use the subscription service to get cheaper mounts or to back up your footage with, you can always cancel it when it’s due for renewal. The HERO11 is the camera I’d recommend to power users. Those who demand the absolute best image and controllability.
The HERO10 is the next best thing, although when you consider the price difference, I would say to just go for the HERO11. The image quality is slightly better, as is the battery life.
The HERO11 Black Mini, I feel, is suited for very specific use cases. It’s a camera to have if you already have a normal action camera, and just need something extra for dedicated shots. It’s great on a helmet due to its size, but it only has a built in battery, so once you run out of juice, that’s it. So it isn’t that well suited to long trips on the river unless you are very selective about where you press record. It also lacks a stills mode and an LCD screen for framing, so you have to use the mobile app to see what you’re shooting.
The Action 2 I have never felt was very suitable for kayaking. It isn’t waterproof without the waterproof case if you have the battery module attached, and if you use the camera module on its own, it’s similar to the HERO11 Black Mini, but with more restrictions. For one thing, the camera module relies on internal storage, and with its built in battery you will be lucky to get 15 to 20 minutes of footage.
This leaves the Action 3 and the ONE RS. The DJO Osmo Action 3, I think, is a superb alternative to the HERO11. It’s everything that the Action 2 wasn’t. It’s easy to use, produces a great image, particularly with the latest firmware update, has the best wide angle lens around in ultra-wide mode for POV/helmet mounted shots, and it’s battery life is superb. The speed at which a battery can be charged to 80% of its capacity in only 18 minutes is another major plus point. Another bonus is that it can be used in sub-zero temperatures with negligible effect on battery life. Image quality isn’t quite as good as the GoPro, but the differences are the sorts of things a finicky video professional would pick up upon rather than a casual kayaking enthusiast.
The ONE RS is a great little camera, with a really nice image quality. It can be finicky to use the tiny touch screen interface, but the results you get from it are pretty nice. My only real misgiving about it with regards to helmet use is that the field of view isn’t wide enough for my liking. It still works, but it just doesn’t give the same immersive feel as the ultra-wide mode on the Action 3 or Hyperview on the HERO11 and Superview on the HERO10. With that said, the ONE RS is the least expensive capable camera on the list at £249, making it a good choice for those with a more limited budget.
For kayaking use, it really comes down to a choice between the HERO11 and Osmo Action 3, and I have to be honest, I really like both of them. In my own use the HERO11 just about squeezes ahead in terms of outright image. quality. But having said that, there are times when the battery life and that incredible ultra-wide lens on the Action 3 comes into its own. Furthermore, if you want to swap the Action 3 between a mount on your helmet and a mount on your boat hull, the magnetic mount system makes it possible in seconds. Just be aware of the tethering situation. In fact, it’s such a close run between them, I’ll have to leave you to decide based upon the table above!
The Kayaking Journal 
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