Best Action Cameras Under 200 Dollars

Best Action Cameras Under 200 Dollars

Let’s take a look at the best action cameras under 200 dollars to help you capture all your epic adventures. You want a camera that can go wherever you go and show off what you can see. It needs to be durable, adaptable and has lots of great features.

There are many options under $200 from well-known brands and brands that are making a name for themselves. We review some of the cameras by these brands and help you decipher their specifications. You will also see common features and ones that make a camera stand out.

At this price range, you start to see cameras from well-known brands like Sony or GoPro, a few of which are brand new. There are also a few from these brands that are used or refurbished, allowing you to buy a newer model for less.

You may prefer to buy a camera from a trusted, well-known company even though it may not be brand new. The less known brands offer a great range of features. But some people prefer to stick with the brands they know and trust.

Our best selection

The following recommendations will cover all that range of options and preferences.

Comparison table:

Product NameVideo QualityPhoto QualityBattery LifeExtra Features
NeuTab Xtrem 4K Action Camera4K/24fps,1080p/60fps16MP90 minutes, 2 batteries includedNone
SJCAM SJ7 Star4K/30fps, 2k/60fps, 1080p/120/30fps, 720p/200/60/30fps12MP120 minutes, 1 battery includedGyroscope image stabilization
Sony AZ1 Action Camera (Used)1080p/60/50/30/24fps, 720p/120/100/30/25fps11MP100 minutes, 1 battery includedSteadyShot image stabilization and Wind Noise Reduction
GoPro HERO Session1440p/30fps, 1080p/60fps and 720p/100fps8MP120 minutes, depending on settingsWind Noise Reduction
Sony HDR-AS200V/W Action Cam (Used)1080p/60fps/50/30/25fps, 720p/120/100/30/25fps, 480p/240/200fps8.8MP60 minutes, 1 battery includedSteadyShot electronic image stabilization and Wind Noise Reduction

Best Action Cameras Under 200 Dollars - NeuTab Xtrem 4K Action Camera
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1. NeuTab Xtrem 4K Action Camera

Main features:

  • 4K shooting
  • Waterproof up to 164ft (50m)

The NeuTab Xtrem camera is a very decent option for those on a budget. It’s also fantastic for aquatic adventures. Features the ability to let you record up while 164ft (50m) underwater and a specific dive mode. It’s perfect for the avid diver.

The external housing comes with the camera and it also protects the camera from other wear and tears. This is one of the features that stands out about the camera and it is one of the best options for taking on diving trips.

The NeuTab Xtrem also has standard shooting modes. Those include 4K shooting at 24fps and 60fps at 1080p. The latter allows for great slow-motion capture. It takes 16MP photos which is better than some smartphones or point-and-shoot cameras.

It’s great for when you don’t want to risk more expensive gear like a DSLR. But you still want to get a lovely photo of your surroundings. A lot of customers reported enjoying using it in different scenarios. Such as letting their child play with it in the pool or attaching it to a motorcycle helmet. A big advantage is being able to use it remotely with either a smartphone or remote control.

Pros:

  • High-quality photos
  • Waterproof up to 164ft (50m)

Cons:

  • None

Best Action Cameras Under 200 Dollars - SJCAM SJ7 Star
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2. SJCAM SJ7 Star

Main features:

  • Great range of video settings
  • Gyroscope image stabilization
  • Supports external mic

SJCAM’s SJ7 Star has a lot to offer for an action camera. And it has several features that are not available on some cheaper models.

One of the biggest advantages of this camera stands out. It’s the ability to support an external microphone. This feature is not common among cheaper cameras. So it’s a big advantage if the sound is an important part of your footage.

Another highlight of this camera is the gyroscope which allows electronic image stabilization. This allows you to capture smooth footage in most situations.

Action cameras are so small and trying to hold them steady to film can be difficult. But when the camera has image stabilization it makes a huge difference to the final product.

It offers 4K shooting at 30fps which will produce clear, crisp footage that has a more realistic look. It can also capture footage at 2K and 60fps.

That means you can slow down the footage for great slow motion while keeping a high resolution. Often other action cameras will offer high frame rates at a much lower resolution. Like 120fps at 720p. This means you can slow the footage can down well but it will not look very good when viewed on a larger screen.

The SJ7 Star does offer these settings and even higher frame rates with 200fps at 720p. But the footage is only good on smaller screens.

When your footage is 60fps at 2K you can still slow it down. But you will be able to watch it on much larger screens and it won’t lose quality.

Pros:

  • Many options for slow-motion footage

Cons:

  • None

Best Action Cameras Under 200 Dollars - Sony AZ1 Action Cam
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3. Sony AZ1 Action Cam (Used)

Main features:

  • SteadyShot image stabilization

Sony is one of the few big camera companies that have entered the action camera market. Although you cannot buy this camera brand new, you can still get a great quality second-hand one. If you are looking to buy from a well-known brand, Sony is known for its top-quality cameras.

This tiny action camera packs a fair bit of kit into its small frame. These include a range of video resolutions and Sony’s SteadyShot image stabilization. Sony uses SteadyShot across a range of their cameras which gives you smooth, clean footage.

It can be disappointing to look back through footage of your adventures, only to find it barely watchable. That’s because it is too shaky. Image stabilization combats this. That helps to prevent spoiling your videos don’t need as much fixing in post-production.

The Sony AZ1 doesn’t have 4K shooting but it has a good range of frames per second at 1080p shooting. 1080p is a standard video resolution and with this resolution the camera can shoot at 60, 50, 30, and 24 frames per second. At 60fps you can slow down the footage to get nice slow motion.

It comes with a waterproof remote control that can go up to 33ft(10m). The camera can also reach these depths with external housing. That way you can use the two together underwater.

Pros:

  • Stereo speaker
  • Live streaming
  • Well-known and trusted brand

Cons:

  • None

Best Action Cameras Under 200 Dollars - GoPro Hero Session
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4. GoPro Hero Session

Main features:

  • Two microphones for better sound quality

GoPro has been making action cameras for over a decade and has several models on the market. The Hero Session is one of the cheapest models from the company and is available for under $200.

A lot of customers buy GoPros because of the brand’s reputation. Even despite the existence of more affordable options available with more specs. To many people, “GoPro” is the first word that comes to mind when they think of action cameras.

The Hero Session has two microphones which will give you much better sound quality. It will also help reduce the background wind noise so the more important sounds are better heard.

Its small size is very practical but that does give it some restrictions. There is not enough room for a camera on the back, which a lot of action cameras have today.

It also does not fit the same external housing as other GoPros, although it does still use most of the same accessories.

The Hero Session still has a good range of video resolutions. But it doesn’t offer 4K like a lot of cameras at this price range and below. It does have a range of frames per second at 1080p though. This allows for slow motion at a good resolution. That way you can watch it on a range of screen sizes without appearing pixelated.

It lacks good still quality though, only offering 8MP photos.

Pros:

  • The best-known brand in action cameras
  • Two microphones for better sound quality

Cons:

  • Uses different external housing from other GoPro models
  • Low photo resolution

Best Action Cameras Under 200 Dollars - Sony HDR-AS200V/W Action Cam
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5. Sony HDR-AS200V/W Action Cam (Used)

Main features:

  • High frame rates

The Sony HDR-AS200V/W is a small, bullet-shaped action camera with a great range of high frame rates. This allows you to create beautiful slow-motion videos.

The highest frame rate possible with this camera is 240fps. That allows you to slow down the footage immensely and it will still be smooth.

Unfortunately, this frame rate is only available at a lower resolution, 480p. This means you won’t be able to view the footage on a higher resolution.

If you want higher resolution footage you can still get high frame rates. With 720p you can get up to 120fps and at 1080p you can get up to 60fps. This means that there is a wide range of options for slow-motion filming with this camera.

The camera also has a good range of video features. These include burst shooting, motion shot LE, interval recording, live streaming, and loop recording.

It also has an upside-down shooting mode. It’s very handy when you can’t have your camera upright, like when you attach it to a drone.

The HDR-AS200V/W features SteadyShot image stabilization. Most of Sony’s action cameras share this technology. It provides you with clean, smooth videos.

Pros:

  • Well known brand
  • Good range of features

Cons:

  • Low battery life
  • No 4K
  • Low photo resolution
  • You get a high frame rate by sacrificing resolution

Conclusion

There you have it, a pack of 5 best action cams under 200 dollars. This will provide not only great resolution but also a range of desirable features.

Do you feel unsure about what to look for when getting one of these products? Please check out the Action Cameras Buying Guide.

You liked these cameras. But something tells you there’s a better option for you out there. In that case, check out our other articles: