An excellent camera is essential for any fitness instructor or fitness influencer who wants to create high-quality content for public consumption. For this purpose, we have came up with the 6 best cameras for Gym videos in 2023.
It is so important to consider so many different factors! Prices, image quality, and accessories should all be considered.
Depending on your budget and goals, we have compiled a list of the best cameras.
The importance of choosing the right camera
You need a good camera if you’re hosting live or pre-recorded workouts as an online fitness instructor because you have to:
- Exercise sessions can be recorded and viewed in high quality.
- An improved and more professional production will be delivered.
- Develop a rapport with your students by showing your personality.
Your audience will appreciate all of this if you offer it to them!
It is crucial for you to choose the right camera if you want your workout videos to stand out among the sea of online workout videos!
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Choosing the right camera requires careful consideration
Let’s spend some time considering your strategy before hitting that “buy now” button on Amazon.
It’s possible to buy cheap cameras nowadays, but if you want to build a fitness brand, you’ll need a quality camera that will grow with you and meet your needs.
Depending on your goals, you’ll prioritize different features. As a fitness instructor, it also depends on your stage of development.
Consider these questions:
- Is your workout recorded or live-streamed? Would you like to do both?
- How will you record your workouts?
- What is the revenue stream from your video workouts?
- What features will you need for your vlogs, such as cinematic effects and slow motion?
Live streaming experts recommend choosing a camera with a wi-fi connection, an easy connection to the laptop, and software compatibility if you plan to live stream primarily.
Workout Filming: Choosing the Right Camera
There is no one-size-fits-all camera. You will need to know some specifications and features.
To capture your video workouts, you need a camera with the following qualities:
1. Quality of video
To begin with, you should look for a camera that is capable of recording high-quality video.
- Full HD or at least 1080p
- An action camera with a wide-angle lens
- Stabilized by design
As you move around, this will prevent your footage from being shaky and jerky.
In terms of video quality, here are some more specifications to consider:
- Your video will be sharper and clearer if it has a higher resolution. Today’s highest resolution is 4K.
- In megapixels, the amount of detail that can be captured by the camera is measured. High-end smartphones nowadays have 8 to 12-megapixel cameras.
- An indication of how many frames are displayed per second (fps). The more frames per second, the smoother the video, but for most workout videos, 30 frames per second is sufficient.
- A camera’s autofocus automatically adjusts the focus as you move. When you use manual focus, the camera adjusts the focus manually. When moving around a lot, manual focus can be tricky to use as it gives you more control over what’s in focus.
2. Duration of battery life
Choosing a fitness camera with long battery life is another important consideration.
A camera’s battery life can be determined by the following factors:
- Most cameras list how long their batteries last after a full charge on their battery life rating.
- In addition to recording time, you might need additional batteries if you record for an hour on a full charge, and the camera only lasts 30 minutes.
- You can usually find the capacity of a battery listed in milliamp hours (mAh). Battery life increases with mAh.
3. Durability and portability
Choosing the right video camera for recording workouts outdoors is important…
- As you’ll likely be wearing it for a long time, it should be comfortable to wear or carry
- Drops or gets wet while working out, but it’s durable and weather-resistant
- Battery life is long
Then you won’t have to buy a new camera every few years, so you get your money’s worth.
A gimbal is another accessory that you may want to consider. To capture smooth and stable videos, you will need to mount your phone on a gimbal if your camera doesn’t have a stabilization system.
Gimbals are useful for recording workouts that contain a lot of movement and are captured from multiple angles.
4. User-friendly
Choosing an easy-to-use camera is also important. Instead of messing with the camera controls, focus on providing your students with amazing workouts.
Cameras with the following features are recommended:
- Work out with an easy-to-see touchscreen display.
- Data transfer and sharing shortcuts.
- Easily record and share your workouts with automatic features.
As well as being able to control the camera itself, it’s also important to know whether it’s compatible with other tools and software.
You might want to ask these questions:
- What is the ease of connection between the camera and your laptop or desktop?
- Is it compatible with the most popular live-streaming platforms?
- How does the editing software or app work with the camera?
In addition to being able to determine the camera’s price range, knowing which features you need will let you stay within your budget.
5. Price
Choosing a camera always involves considering the price.
You can find a camera that suits your budget at all price points.
There are three categories of price points:
- A budget-friendly system is a “point and shoots” camera or an action camera that costs between $200 and $500.
- Budget: DLSR (digital single-lens reflex) cameras can cost between $600 and 900 if you’re looking for more features.
- In the high end, experts might need an interchangeable lens DSLR camera, which may cost up to $5000, depending on the lens type.
This is why understanding your long-term goals and strategy is crucial. When you realize that you’ll mostly be streaming the classes from your home, you’ll realize you should have purchased a webcam rather than a fancy camcorder.
Here are the top 6 best cameras for gym/fitness videos
1. Sony Alpha 7 IV
Pros
- High-quality images
- High-quality video
- Resolution: 33MP
- Video in 4K60
Cons
- Costly
One of the best mirrorless cameras on the market, the Alpha 7 IV promises to do everything. The Sony Alpha 7 III was the market’s leader for 3 years straight, and it is definitely a powerhouse on its own. This performance, however, comes at a steep price.
This camera is basically a mini Sony A1, but for half the price.
As the replacement for its brother, it comes with a bigger, thicker, and heavier magnesium alloy body. Despite its slim dimensions and small size, it weighs only 1.4 pounds and measures 9.6 x 6.5 x 6.7 inches. The bigger size is to allow for a more comfortable handgrip. That being said, the A7 IV is more comfortable in the grip apartment than the A7 III.
A7 IV is powered by a newly developed 33-megapixel EXMOR R BSI CMOS sensor, giving it a major advantage over its predecessor, the Alpha 7 III.
With the A7 IV, Sony inherits the uncanny and well-known Auto Focus it uses on its flagship A1. 94% of the frame is covered by phase-detection points, and 425 by contrast-detection points.
In addition to 4K UHD video recording, the A7 IV supports up to 60 frames per second at 4:2:2. Additionally, it can record Full HD 1080p at 120 frames per second. To prevent any unwanted camera shake, it has a 5-axis image stabilization system.
Using the Alpha 7 IV to record your fitness sessions will be a great investment.
This mirrorless camera offers a battery life of 580 shots per charge, which is a decent life for a mirrorless camera.
2. AKASO Brave 4 Pro
Pros
- Cheap
- Feature Packed
- Great Battery Life
- Good Choice For Most People
Cons
- In higher resolutions, it’s not as good
- Our last option is the most affordable.
The Brave 4 Pro is a budget-friendly action camera that can be enjoyed by almost anyone thanks to its high-quality features.
There’s no doubt that GoPros still holds the throne when it comes to action cameras, but they come with a costly price tag.
From the first moment you see AKASO, you’ll understand that they like things simple and stylish. The rectangular shape of the black plastic object with ribbed sides screams minimalism. In terms of size and weight, it measures 2.28 x 1.26 x 0.94 inches.
It is quite durable considering its plastic construction, which is quite surprising.
Despite the fact that it is not waterproof, it can survive immersion in water up to 30 meters without any problems if wrapped in the waterproof case included in the package.
Known as an affordable and high-quality alternative to GoPro, Akaso has gained its reputation largely from the action sports community.
An adjustable lens on the 20 MP camera makes it promises solid-quality images that will fit on any social media platform. Despite heavy movements, the built-in EIS does not distort image quality. It is fast and does not distort image quality when it works well.
In light of its slightly less than 120$ price, its ability to record 4K content at 30fps is amazing.
The camera comes with two batteries, each of which has a capacity of 1050 mAh and is capable of recording up to 90 minutes at a time.
In conclusion, Akaso Brave 4 Pro offers excellent value for the price. Fitness athletes on a budget should consider this as a viable alternative to Osmo Action/GoPro.
3. Nikon D780
Pros
- A DSLR with very fast autofocus
- The real thing in 4K
- High-quality images
- Beginners will find it easy to use
Cons
- It’s not as bright as it should be
There is a widespread belief that Nikon’s DSLRs will end when the D750 and the D850 are released. As part of Nikon’s plan to continue to refresh the DSLR market, the D780 will be unveiled later in 2020.
A great camera with a solid design, the D780 has an ergonomic grip that fits perfectly in hand and is comfortable to hold. In addition to being dust and weather-sealed, its magnesium alloy body is fully sealed. Its dimensions are 5.65 x 2.99 x 4.55 inches, and its weight is 1.57 pounds.
It comes with a 24-megapixel backside-illuminated sensor, the same one found in Nikon’s Z6 which is categorized as one of the best in the lineup. As well as the autofocus, there is a significant improvement. D780 has 51 Af points for single-point autofocus. In addition, it has a phase-detection autofocus system with 273 points, making it the first Nikon DSLR with live-view autofocus.
In terms of video recording, it is capable of capturing content in 4K quality with minimal noise and high levels of detail. With the Nikon Z6, the video quality is better than any other Nikon camera. In 4K UHD, the frame rate is 30 fps, while in FHD, it is 120 fps.
It’s all about battery life here. The camera takes up to 2,260 photos on a single charge using the same battery as its predecessor. You shouldn’t even dream of expecting mirrorless cameras to match this, since they cannot even come close to it. You can use it for jobs related to people, like hairstylists and dentists.
4. GoPro HERO10 – Best High-End
Pros
- High-quality video
- High-quality images
- A 4K/120p mode is available
- Stabilization is amazing
- Speedy data transfer
Cons
- Costly
Action cameras have become synonymous with GoPro, whether you love them or hate them. As impressive as its brother, the GoPro Hero 9, the new flagship is set to surpass it.
As with its predecessor, the GoPro Hero10 looks identical, but with a blue logo and insignia. 3.2 x 4.8 x 9.4 inches in size and 1.01 pounds in weight, it is solid and durable like always, and 10 meters underwater.
It shares the same 23.6MP sensor as its brother. 5.3K content can be recorded at 60 frames-per-second, while 4K content can be recorded at the perfect 120 frames-per-second. 2.7k in 240 fps is also possible, going well beyond 270 fps in 1080P. Hero 10 stands out from the 9 and its competitors due to its high frame rates.
One of the most impressive features here is the HyperSmooth 4.0 stabilization. Stabilizes the footage and holds it together. The Hero 10 won’t move even if you tilt it up to 45 degrees in linear mode.
A 1720mAh battery powers it, but the 5.3K content at 60 frames per second consumes a lot of power.
You can throw anything at a GoPro, and it will handle it. Ghost hunting cameras, waterproof cameras, and slow motion cameras can all be made with this camera!
5. Canon EOS Rebel T8i
Pros
- The sensor of high quality & resolution
- Autofocus is very fast
- LCD with touchscreen
- User-friendly
Cons
- A bulky figure
- The build quality isn’t great
It was designed for beginners, hobbyists, and content creators, which makes the EOS Rebel an ideal choice for fitness enthusiasts. A Canon camera is surprisingly comparable to a professional/high-end model.
Despite being a DSLR camera, it is quite small and compact, measuring 3 x 5.16 x 4.04 inches and weighing 2.9 pounds. You can toss it in a bag, yes.
This camera uses a 24.1-megapixel sensor and a 45-point all-cross AF system to capture accurate content, so capturing true-to-life images won’t be an issue with this bad boy.
Cross-type AF system with 45 points ensures quick and accurate focus, regardless of subject location.
With its recording capabilities, it promises us cinematic results, capturing 4K content at 24 frames per second.
With the viewfinder alone, the battery lasts 1240 shots, but with live view, it drops to 360 shots.
6. DJI Osmo Action
Pros
- A great display on both the front and rear
- Shockproof and waterproof
- User-friendly
Cons
GPS is not available
Video quality is better than picture quality
From DJI, a leading brand in the drone industry comes the DJI Osmo action camera.
Since GoPro entered the drone industry a couple of years ago, DJI probably made the action camera with GoPro in mind. However, GoPro didn’t fare well with that.
The design cues DJI took from GoPro might look familiar to some, but that doesn’t mean it’s a copycat. Those are just the usual looks of action cameras. 4.4 ounces, 2.56 x 1.65 x 1.38 inches, and measures 2.56 x 1.65 x 1.38 inches.
In addition to a watertight seal, the touchscreen is also hydrophobic, making it waterproof up to 11 meters.
The video quality is similar to what we see with DJI, but not with action cameras, since most are mounted on drones. It is so crisp and clear that it can hold its own against GoPro Hero7 and even Hero8 without a sweat.
With it, you can capture 4K from 24 frames per second to 60 frames per second, as well as 2.7K at the same frame rate. For 1080p content, you can even go as low as 240 frames per second.
There is no doubt, though, that the image stabilization feature is the star of the show here, as it does not struggle with heavy impacts.
Depending on what you’re recording, the battery life varies from around 1 hour for 4k at 60fps to around 2.5 hours for 1080p.
FAQs of Best Cameras for Gym Videos
Fitness videos are usually recorded with DSLRs and action cameras, as I mentioned in this article. You will receive amazing videos from them based on the features they own.
As far as video cameras go, the main feature that these cameras need to have is the ability to record videos and the stabilization feature. A video can be enhanced with these features.
Choosing the right camera is the first step to recording these videos, but there are a few things you should keep in mind. The people following you will have this as their main goal, so it is important to start with a plan. There are many ways in which you can prepare, but the most important thing is to accept criticism.
Final Words
The right camera makes it easy to document or film workout sessions.
Because they’re not something you buy every day and come at a price that’s hard to swallow, I suggest you do proper research before buying them.