5 Best Action Cams For Dirt Bikes

GoPro created an entirely new industry with the introduction of the action cam back in 2004 and they are the market leader, but these days face serious competition now from the likes of Sony and Garmin in what is now a booming market. Here’s a look at 5 of the best Action Cams for Dirt Bikes that are available today.

Action cameras are so versatile now, and when used with the right mounting system they can be attached to anything from helmets to handlebars, surfboards to skateboards, I’ve even seen footage from the back of an eagle.

Because they are so small and durable and can give the viewer the first person POV (point of view), they’ve become the gadget to have for extreme sports enthusiasts who are wanting to share their adventures.

What is the best action camera for you? It can be a daunting task deciding on what is best for you with such a huge range to choose from with a very technical set of features.

For this reason, I have selected what I consider to be 5 of the Best Action Cams for Dirt Bikes that can handle the rigors of off-road motorcycle riding.

For Dirt Bike riders the action cam has to be able to deal with vibration, dust, water, and even impacts with the terrain. It’s a lot to ask of a camera.

Quick Summary

Here’s a quick summary of the best action cams for dirt bikes reviewed here:

GoPro HERO7 Black Action Cam
Sony FDR-X3000/W Action Cam – Top Pick
Garmin VIRB Ultra 30 Action Cam
Olympus TG-Tracker Action Cam – Best Budget Cam
GoPro Hero6 Black Action Cam

It’s interesting to note that while the cameras in this review have literally hundreds of 5-star reviews and are top sellers, they also have a few less than favorable reviews, which I have reflected in the ‘Cons’ columns.

This is the case with almost any product you buy online, but I have included the best of them based on their qualities most sort after in the dirt bike world.

Given the huge degree of brand loyalty both for and against the name brands like GoPro, and the high level of technical understanding needed to get the best out of them, I suppose it is to be expected.

Top 4 things to consider:

The most important things to consider are what you want feature-wise and how much money you want to spend. For shooting super-smooth footage in 4K, and being able to control the camera hands-free using voice control, you’re looking at spending upwards of $300.

Picture Quality:

Any Camera worth its salt has to be able to deliver a good quality picture. It’s easy to become dazzled by the manufacturer’s claims of resolution numbers and frame rates, but the picture quality is also affected by the lens and the processor in the camera.

While a lot of cameras shoot in 4K, some cheaper models use a frame rate of 15fps, which makes the video look more like security camera video. 4K resolution is only good if the frame rate is at least 30fps.

Ease of operation:

No matter how good the picture quality or other features, if you have difficulty in operation, you won’t want to film much.

You want to be able to quickly set it up on the go, and with gloves on. How does it feel to handle, press the buttons, and swap batteries? Is it easy to navigate the on-device menus, and how well does it attach to your choice of mount?

Battery Life:

This is a big consideration but first, ask yourself how long you actually need to film for? Do you record segments of your ride, or record the entire ride? If you record in short bursts you probably don’t need three-hour battery life.

Generally, a battery will last about an hour when shooting in 4K. The more features you enable, the shorter the life.

Value For Money:

Probably the most important question of all. Do you really need all of the latest features, highest frame rate, or longest battery life?

It’s important to consider how you are going to use the camera and what features are most important to you. Maybe a lower spec camera is better suited to your needs.

How To Choose An Action Cam

Everyone has different requirements from their action cam, so it is important to be familiar with the features available in order to make an informed decision. Here are some features to look for when selecting an action camera:

Motion Stabilisation:

This is pretty standard in action cams, it’s the rating that varies. Motion stabilization is rated in stops. For example, a camera with 5 stops of image stabilization means that it will still capture a smooth video with a shutter speed 5 times slower.

High Resolution:

A 4K video camera is as good as it gets, but it takes up more space on the SD card and is more difficult to edit. It will also drain the battery life quicker.

Voice control:

A great feature to have especially for dirt bike riding where it’s difficult to get a hand free at times. Cams like the GoPro Hero 7 allow you to operate it hands-free with commands like “GoPro, start recording” or “GoPro, take a photo”

Wi-Fi Connectivity:

Some cameras feature built-in Wi-Fi which allows wireless connection to a smart device. Some will let you live stream to social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube.

Durable and Waterproof:

For Dirt Bike riding this is an important feature. Especially if you want to mount the camera to the bike. Resistance to vibration is an important factor to consider.

Waterproofing is another important feature, especially if you are likely to encounter stream crossings or wet weather in your riding. Some have built-in waterproofing and some come with a case that allows them to be waterproof up to varying depths.

Quick Adjusting Lens Sensors:

This adjusts to compensate for sudden changes in light conditions from bright sunshine one minute to darker conditions when entering bushy areas.

Multiple Mounting Options:

You’ll want to keep your specific needs in mind. Certain form factors lend themselves better to certain activities. Different shape cameras allow for different mounting accessories and possibilities.

Having the option of mounting to your helmet top, side, or chin bar, as well as mounting to the motorcycle frame or handlebars is something to consider.

Quality Microphone system:

With noise reduction to avoid that dreaded wind problem, and a mic jack or option to use an external microphone.

Here is my selection of 5 of the best Action Cams for Dirt Bikes available today:

1. GoPro HERO7 Black Action Cam

Specifications:

*Weight: 118g *Waterproof: 10m *4K video: 60fps *1080: 240fps *720: up to 240fps *Stills resolution: 12MP *Battery life: 1-3 hrs

GoPro released three new action cameras in September 2018, the Hero 7 Black, White, and Silver. The Black is their premium model, with the White and Silver being the stripped-down models.

The Silver has most of the features of the Hero 7 Black, minus the Hypersmooth, live streaming, and TimeWarp Video. It’s also capped at 10-megapixel photos compared to 12-megapixels of the Black.

The White is GoPro’s entry-level camera with a 10-megapixel sensor like the Silver, with most of the same features as the Silver except for the ability to shoot in 4K video.

The HERO7 retains almost the same camera design as the HERO6 and 5. The advantage of this is that you can keep using the same GoPro accessories, including many third-party accessories like mounts, cages, and adaptors.

The Hypersmooth feature adds gimbal-like stabilization to video footage, without the gimbal. You can shoot in Hypersmooth even when shooting at 4K 60fps full resolution, but Hypersmooth can’t be enabled when shooting in 4:3 aspect ratio and also in Full HD at 240fps and 120fps.

The new TimeWarp feature is basically a timelapse video with Hypersmooth applied. This allows you to capture timelapse videos that are ultra-stable. You can record in 2X, 5X, 10X, 15X and 30X speeds.

The touchscreen has also been revamped for the HERO 7 Black. Portrait mode has been added which allows you to shoot photos and videos vertically for Instagram Stories and IGTV.

The HERO7 Black now allows you to conduct a 720p live stream on Facebook using WiFi or a smartphone. You can easily use your smartphone to control the GoPro and review photos and videos immediately after you’ve captured it.

GoPro has been known in the past for having notoriously bad in-built microphones. Thankfully that has been improved for the HERO7 Black, however, there is no mic jack, only USB-C, and micro HDMI ports. If you want to use an external mic GoPro does offer a mic jack adaptor.

The battery life of the HERO 7 remains unchanged. The estimated battery life depends on how you use the camera but generally, one battery will last about an hour when shooting in 4K. It is still advisable to carry spare batteries with you.

Despite a few areas for improvement, GoPro has made significant and useful improvements with the HERO 7 Black, and it is easily one of the best action cameras on the market today.

Features:

Hypersmooth Video Stabilization for gimbal-like stabilization to deliver smooth footage
Time Warp Video to capture stabilized time-lapse videos
Super Photo to automatically optimize your shots using HDR
Rugged and Waterproof even WITHOUT a housing up to 33 ft (10m)
Voice Control to control your cam hands-free with voice commands like “GoPro, take a photo”, and “GoPro, take a photo”
Live Streaming to share your videos to social media live as they happen
Shoot in stunning 4K60 Video and 12MP photos
Removable lithium-ion battery
Touch-sensitive 2-inch LCD screen
Vertical Portrait Mode for Social Media
Auto Backup to the cloud
8x Slo-Mo Video
Micro SD Card is required, sold separately

In The Box:

GoPro HERO7 Black Action Video Camera
Rechargeable Battery
The Frame (HERO7 Black)
Curved Adhesive Mount
Mounting Buckle
USB-C Cable
e-Manual

Pros:

Hypersmooth gives ultra-smooth footage
Uses the same cages and batteries as used on GoPro 5 & 6
New TimeWarp feature
Seamless smartphone integration

Cons:

Voice commands can be unreliable at times
No Microphone jack
Hypersmooth is automatically disabled in low light conditions
Battery life could be improved