Five things to look out for

1

Some action cameras are waterproof to 30m; others have waterproof housings; others aren’t even splash-proof.

2

Pricier action cams offer a fleet of sensors, from acceleration and GPS to temperature and pressure.

3

For fast action, ensure your chosen cam packs a strong stabilisation system to keep your footage smooth.

4

4K is great for capturing max detail, but drop to 1080p or 720p to get frame rates up to 240fps.

5

Power-hungry 4K recording means most action cam batteries won’t last much more than two hours.