Taking surf videos can be thrilling. However, not all cameras would give you the best video experience. It goes beyond mounting a camera on your surfboard. Waterproof action cameras must meet certain criteria. They must have the ability to withstand water battles and the hassles that come with surfing. From the lot of features that they are meant to have, they must be wearable, portable, digital compatibility, ability to produce high-quality videos and images, and light-weighted.
Below, we've put together five cameras that are good for surf filming.
Surf Cameras for Videos
1. AKASO Brave 7 LE
The AKASO Brave 7 LE comes with a built-in Wi-Fi that allows you to instantly share your videos. Has a maximum video capture of 4k movies at 30 Frame Per Second, 20 megapixels, powerful batteries, and a touch screen and goes deep as 131 feet underwater.
Pros
- ◆ It is weatherproof and can withstand water splash without a case;
- ◆ Comes with free accessories;
- ◆ It has great image stabilization;
- ◆ Has a convenient dual-display.
Cons
- ◆ It has poor low-light performance;
- ◆ SD card is not included in this camera.
2. GoPro Hero 9
GoPro Hero 9 is the newest GoPro action camera currently in the market today. It comes with in-built Wi-Fi and GPS. Has a front display and live stream options. Allows 5K video at 30 Frame Per Second.
Pros
- ◆ It is waterproof;
- ◆ Has a longer battery life;
- ◆ Has a useful front display;
- ◆ Excellent 5k video capture.
Cons
- ◆ No Auto-Brightness setting;
- ◆ This action camera is expensive.
3. Nikon CoolPix W300
The Nikon CoolPix W300 comes with shockproof to withstand water waves and basically any challenges that come with filming while surfing. Has an in-built GPS. Its glass lens allows for 4k Ultra-HD 30p movies.
Pros
- ◆ It is easy to use;
- ◆ It has 4k video recording;
- ◆ Comes in varieties of colors.
Cons
- ◆ Has a shorter battery life;
- ◆ No advanced settings;
- ◆ It has a limited remote shooting app.
4. SeaLife DC2000
This is a powerful waterproof camera. It produces 20-megapixel epic videos, has awesome flash options. This digital camera is excellent for those looking to start a career in surf photography.
Pros
- ◆ Has large censor;
- ◆ Comes with free accessories.
Cons
- ◆ It is expensive;
- ◆ Has a small user community.
5. Drift Ghost 4k
The Drift Ghost 4k camera has great features like dual microphones, a gyroscope, and good image stabilization. This HD camera stands out for creating incredibly clear videos via its 1080p at 120 Frame Per Second.
Pros
- ◆ Fantastic sound production;
- ◆ Allows for video tagging;
- ◆ Produces stunning slow-motion videos;
- ◆ Has a 3-way field of view lens;
- ◆ Has variable mounting possibilities.
Cons
- ◆ It does not have the best features to make it stand out from other lower-end action cameras;
- ◆ This camera does not seem rugged enough.
Cameras for Surf Photography
1. Canon EOS Rebel T6i
Canon EOS Rebel T6i is the greatest Rebel yet. Its features include a new 242 megapixels CMOS (APS-C) sensor, 1080/30p video, a 19-point autofocus system, touchscreen LCD, 7560 pixels RGB + IR metering sensor, skin tone detection, and built-in Wi-Fi with NFC. It has a high-speed continuous shooting of up to 50 Frame Per Second, which allows you to capture fast actions.
Pros
- ◆ It AutoFocuses well in low-light;
- ◆ Fast single-shot cycles times;
- ◆ This camera supports both wired and wireless remotes;
- ◆ It has a good video quality with full-time AutoFocus.
- ◆ It is the highest resolution Canon APS-C camera yet.
Cons
- ◆ Has a shorter battery life;
- ◆ It lacks clean HDMI output;
- ◆ HDMI does not focus until Wi-Fi and NFC are disabled;
- ◆ Lacks servo AutoFocus for stills in Live View;
- ◆ It has a shallow buffer when shooting RAW.
2. Canon EOS-1DS Mark II
This is a Single-lens reflex camera. Its lens is interchangeable. It has a maximum resolution of 4,992 x 3,328 (16.6 million) and a sensor of 36 mm x 24 mm CMOS. This camera has multiple AutoFocus modes and has an option for manual focusing.
Pros
- ◆ Has time-lapse recording;
- ◆ Comes with environmental sealing.
Cons
- ◆ This camera lacks dustproof;
- ◆ There is no wireless connectivity;
- ◆ Has a Dxo Low-Light Iso of 1480.
3. Sony Alpha a6500
The Sony Alpha a6500 has in-built Wi-Fi with NFC and Bluetooth. It is only available in a matte black finish. It measures 2.6 by 4.7 by 2.1 inches in Height, Width, and Depth. It has both a pop-up flash and EVF. The EVF is great - it is large with a magnification rating of 0.7x. This camera has in-body image stabilization.
Pros
- ◆ Image quality is superb;
- ◆ This camera has a compact body;
- ◆ In-built Wi-Fi with NFC.
Cons
- ◆ No available grip;
- ◆ Its battery life isn't great;
- ◆ Single memory card slot;
- ◆ It does not come with an external charger;
- ◆ At a price of $1,399, it is expensive.
4. Sony Alpha a6000
This camera comes with in-built Wi-Fi with NFC. Has a great APS-C sized 24.3 megapixels CMOS sensor. It is considered for those that desire to get the most for their money. It produces high-quality images. Has a Hybrid AutoFocus system that uses 25 contrast-detect and 179 phase-detect points to allow for high speed and accuracy. This camera has the ability to shoot 11 Frames Per Second in continuous shooting mode. Overall, it delivers brilliant performances.
Pros
- ◆ Has a tilting rare display;
- ◆ Its camera apps are downloadable;
- ◆ Its AutoFocus is incredibly fast;
- ◆ At the price of $548 on Amazon, it is quite affordable compared to the Sony Alpha a6500.
Cons
- ◆ Its startup is super slow;
- ◆ It lacks analog mic input;
- ◆ This camera's eye sensor is overly sensitive;
- ◆ Some of its apps are available only on purchase.
5. Sony a9 II
This camera delivers high-quality images, the condition notwithstanding. It is suitable for professionals. It comes with a 24.2 megapixels full-frame Exmor RS back-illuminated CMOS sensor, which happens to be one of the best in the market right now. The Sony a9 II has an AutoFocus system that uses both contracts to detect and phase-detect points, which results in a total of 693 focus points, causing images to be captured in real-time.
Pros
- ◆ Speedy performance;
- ◆ Excellent focus tracking;
- ◆ Produces full-frame image quality;
- ◆ Its sensor is one of the most powerful.
Cons
- ◆ It is very pricey;
- ◆ This camera's usage is complicated;
- ◆ Battery strength isn't exactly great;
- ◆ There are no S-Log video profiles included in it;
- ◆ It lacks the ability to switch to video when clearing image buffer.
Gears You Need for Surfing Photography
1. Lens
The lens is one of the basic pieces of equipment required for surfing photography. It is the most expensive part of the setup. The lens helps to bring light to a fixed focal point.
2. Tripod
Tripod is a must while shooting surf photography. This is because it helps position the focus even when shooting in windy conditions because the slightest wobble can affect picture quality.
3. Sun Hat, Windproof Shell, and Sunscreen
It is important to protect yourself from the harsh weather condition by having a cover over your head like a sun hat.
You would start to feel cold after standing outside for a while, especially when it's becoming windy; the windproof helps with this. It can also protect the camera lens if it rains.
Despite the weather condition might look cloudy, it is still possible to get burnt; this is where the importance of sunscreen comes in.
Conclusion
You don't have to break so much sweat in trying to choose the best camera to opt for if you're considering surf filming and photography. We have talked about some of the best brands in this article. Some of the best cameras to take epic videos are AKASO Brave 7 LE, GoPro Hero 9, Nikon CoolPix W300, SeaLife DC2000, and Drift Ghost 4k. While some of the best cameras for surf photography are Canon EOS Rebel T6i, Canon EOS-1DS Mark II, Sony Alpha a6500, Sony Alpha a6000, and Sony a9 II. We hope that the tips in this article help you to choose the right camera for surf videos and photography.
