Never miss a moment: Action cams amplify the awesome

Doing something epic? Get an action cam for a high-def memento.

New Zealand is world famous for its beauty and the stunning array of adventure sports right here on our doorstep. The next time you take to the great outdoors, wouldn’t it be awesome to take a lasting memento of that mountain bike ride, snowboard run, or gnarly big wave session? With the availability of a range of action cams and specialist accessories, you never need miss a moment again.

It’s probably thanks to GoPro that action cams have become the latest must-have accessory, says Dan Albertsen, retail services manager at Noel Leeming. “GoPro effectively created this category and it has proven amazingly popular as we’d all like to capture every exciting action in stunning high-definition video, whether family activities or white-knuckled adventure, to share on the big screen or Facebook,” he enthuses.

Even though today’s smartphones have outstanding cameras built into them, action cams step things up a notch by being weather resistant and shock proof, capable of going almost anywhere you can. That includes diving and other watersports, and activities where dust, mud and other muck are encountered. They also feature image-stabilisation technology, so when things get a little bumpy (as they should), you still get great footage.

Having been in the market longest, Albertsen notes that apart from a good selection of cameras, GoPro also offers an exhaustive set of accessories including mounts, batteries, ‘selfie sticks’ and more.

What that means in practice is that a GoPro can be kitted out for fast sports like motorcycling or mountain biking, for watersports like wakeboarding and surfing, and for any one of the number of cool, crazy activities (bungee jumping or jetboating, anyone?) for which New Zealand is famous.

But, Albertsen is quick to add, GoPro isn’t the only option. “We’ve got a great range of action cams to suit the needs – and the pockets - of anyone who wants one.”

Action cameras are available from Kaiser Baas, Sony, Panasonic and TomTom. “There’s a lot of interest from consumers in action cams which is reflected by the growing number of top brands which are bringing products to market, meaning a wider range of options and competitive prices,” Albertsen says.

While he notes that most people still ask for a GoPro by name, he advises taking a peek at the other cameras before making a decision.

Albertsen also points out that Noel Leeming offers its customers service and support to help get the most out of any new technology purchase; with action cams, he says support includes assistance on how to download and edit footage. “Improving the value you get from your device can be as simple as spending a half hour discovering its features and how to use it best with your computer,” he notes.

As for what to do with one, that’s entirely up to you. “The things action cams are used for are only limited by the imagination; they can be used in all sorts of scenarios. Thanks to their ease of use, they are also popular with people of all ages – it’s not just the action junkies!”

The things action cams are used for are only limited by the imagination. Dan Albertsen, Noel Leeming.