Not any helmet camera will do well when trying to capture snowmobile footage. You will need a so-called action camera or sports camera in order to take the most out of your snowmobile adventure. If you are here, you are probably just like me, not a photography or video expert. The things I will present are from my experience and from looking at the videos taken with each camera. I will tell you which features to look for when buying an action camera that has a fair price and put some videos with them.
Hopefully, you can make a decision after following this blog post. In the end, you will still need to decide how much are you willing to spend to capture those awesome snowmobile stunts.
I must say that there are hundreds and hundreds of helmet action cameras online. You could surf the Amazon website for one week and you will have problems deciding what helmet camera is the best. You may experience decision paralysis. There are so many!
Do you really need a helmet camera?
Before buying a helmet camera, think about it twice. Some friends bought one because they thought they will shoot everything and anytime. Three weeks later, the helmet camera stood there on the shelf untouched. Buy one only if you want to use it more than twice a year, otherwise, there are better ways to spend money.
Getting a camera is great if you enjoy other sports as well. The snowmobiling season is pretty short, so make sure you have a summer hobby as well. If you have interesting videos you can post them on Youtube so everyone can see. Youtube has a partner program, so you can even make some money out of your adventures.
Go Pro vs Sony vs Others
I know, you want a Go Pro, right? That’s the first camera I looked for when deciding that I want a helmet action camera. I guess this is because it was very popular when it rolled out and they had aggressive but creative marketing. Everyone was talking about Go Pro 2 and Go Pro 3 when they appeared.
Action cameras weren’t that popular back then. I think that’s the moment when they began to be popular and every sports-man began to use them. They are certainly a pioneer in the sports video industry, but…in recent years, they fell below the expectations (and so did their stock price). Many people blame the management for this. I don’t know what’s the reason, but Sony has taken the lead in my opinion. Don’t understand me wrong, some people still put GoPro over Sony. It’s a matter of preference.
There are other (very) good manufacturers too, but their name is not so present as Go Pro or Sony. They offer cheaper alternatives and sometimes, they can meet the needs of an average sportsman, looking to capture the snowmobile adventures.
I will present them objectively, and I hope I won’t influence your decision, but my go was with the Sony. I need to say that you can’t really be disappointed with a Go Pro camera as well.
Features to look for in a helmet camera
Image stabilization
Probably one of the most important features of an action camera is how good it can stabilize the image. When going snowmobiling, you will probably wear it on your helmet or on your chest. There are a lot of shocks and bumps when riding so a good image stabilization is a must. Without image stabilization, your video will shacky and unpleasant to watch. Sony has an incredible image stabilizer, better than GoPro in my opinion, but still…GoPro it’s also very-very good.
High resolution
4K is the way to go. It is 2021 after all. If you invest your money in a helmet action camera (which is not the cheapest thing on the planet) get something that will last you many years. HD and FULL HD days are now over. Don’t get something obsolete and you will give yourself a pat on the back after one year. As mobile phones, there are new and better cameras each year. You don’t want to fall behind the technology.
Durable
The action camera must have a durable case. A cheap plastic camera will crack at first drop on the floor. The camera case must be shock-proof, dustproof and waterproof (if the camera is not already). Camera casing and mounts must be solid in order to resist the shocks of riding a snowmobile. The camera will move up and down many times a second when riding, so get something that’s suitable. Even if you use helmet mount, there are a lot of shocks. Not as many as if you place the camera on your chest though.
Mounting
I would get something that has multiple types of mounts available. For example, Sony FDR-X3000 has a nice pack that comes with a chest and a helmet mount. You can also find them separately.
Waterproof, Dustproof etc.
Most good cameras are dust-proof and waterproof. If you get an older camera or a cheaper one, you may need to buy a waterproof and dustproof case separately. Something to be aware of is the fact that the case will probably affect the sound quality.
Be careful about “how” waterproof is the camera. I will give the Sony for example once again: Sony says it is resistant to up to 197 ft. (60m). Be aware when buying a waterproof camera as the manufacturer must specify how many ft. or meters can the camera be submerged. And for how long! Also, make sure it applies to salt water too.
If you get a cheap camera that has only 4 meters resistance, you will be very disappointed when going for a scuba dive.
Anti-fog Lenses
Especially for a snowmobile ride. Riding in the mountains is pretty foggy. Getting a camera with an anti-fog feature is a great choice. For the Sony camera, you can buy a “fog sheet” extra. Mount it and you are good to go.
Go Pro promotes these as anti-fog inserts. They are pretty cheap and they recommend using them in an environment where the lens is fogging up. If you are riding in cold temperatures or an environment with high humidity, mount these and they will solve your fog problem. Go Pro says that each set can be used for about 4-5 times and can be dried in the oven after use. (300°F for 5 minutes)
Battery Life
Imagine you want to take a movie at the end of the day. Oops, your camera ran out of battery. Get a camera with a battery life that suits your needs. If you want to take professional videos, you must be ready all the time. Buy a spare battery (or more) if the original one is not enough for you.
Shooting on a snowmobile is different from shooting the fishes in Greece. The cold will kill your battery fast, so be prepared. You can expect your battery to last a bit (or much) shorter than the manufacturer suggests on the website. Carry a second battery for back up. They are not that expensive.
Microphone
Last but not least, is the microphone. Being able to capture great images is great, but sounds make an important part of a great video. When talking about sound quality, usually premium cameras will have a better microphone. While some cheap cameras that shoot good videos, suck on the microphone part. That’s not nice.
If you have an action camera, maybe you will feel the need to take a movie underwater sometimes. Or, record your voice while riding. In these situations, the microphone is pushed to the limit.
My recommended cameras
Sony (click to check current price on Amazon)
Sony FDR-X3000 helmet camera
Sony is my favorite action camera. Also, this is one of the most popular action cameras these days. Great video and sound quality, great resolution, great price, durable and easy to use. These are only some of the features.
One of the best features this camera has is the Balanced Optical SteadyShoot technology. It has an incredibly stable shooting even when shooting in 4K. Using this camera you will be able to shoot real vibration-free movies. It’s also very small and handy.
Some of the features:
- 4K Video Resolution
- Balanced Optical SteadyShoot technology (really incredible)
- ExmorR CMOS Sensor
- ZEISS Lens
- Easy to use
- Small and Light
- Live View Remote
- GPS, Wi-Fi
- A lot more
No matter the scenario, this camera will take awesome footage. Light, dark, vibrations, snow, fog, you name it.
Here is a video with the Sony in action:
Go PRO (click to check current price on Amazon)
GoPro Hero 7 Black
The second one I recommend is the good old GoPro. It’s still one of the best cameras out there, closely competing with Sony for number one. It’s probably the riders favorite as it’s one of the first cameras of his kind.
I would go for a GoPro HERO7 Black, but even older ones like GoPro HERO6 Black, GoPro HERO5 Black or GoPro HERO5 Session do a very good job. I wouldn’t go lower than the GoPro 5 though, as the video technology advances fast.
Some of the features are:
- 4K video resolution, of course
- Hyper smooth video stabilization – get gimbal‑like stabilization-without the gimbal. Hero7 Black predicts your movements and corrects for camera shake to deliver insanely smooth footage.
- Rugged + waterproof
- Intelligent HDR – SuperPhoto
- Live Streaming
Here is a video with the GoPro HERO 7 in action:
Another great version is the GoPro Session camera. This is cheaper, but still offers extraordinary video quality. This video is taken with GoPro Hero 4, but the 5th version of GoPro Hero is a little bit better.
Sony action cam FDR-X3000 vs GoPro HERO 7
So, why did I chose the Sony camera? There are many small details, but here are the 2 most important:
- Video Stabilization – The Sony offers a slightly better video stabilization than the Go Pro. When riding a snowmobile the shocks are hard and abundant. So the better stabilization takes its toll
- Low-light performance – Going snowmobiling is all about the woods. Did the sunset catch you in the woods? The Sony offers a better performance in low light conditions like morning rides, evening, dense woods, etc
Yi 4k+ Action Cam (click to check current price on Amazon)
Yi 4k helmet camera
Here comes the Chinese: Yi 4k+ Action Cam. As the name also suggests, it’s made by a Chinese company, so the price is a bit cheaper than the premium Sony and GoPro alternatives. This camera actually uses a Sony sensor.
The features are pretty impressive:
- 4K video resolution, 60fps video
- Sony IMX377 image sensor
- Good Image Stabilization
- Good Battery life
- Nice User Interface (Settings and Navigation)
- Voice Control
- Wi-Fi
The bad things:
- Audio quality is not the best, I think it’s mono, not stereo
- Colors are not that great
Don’t let the name or the fact that it’s Chinese scare you. It’s a decent camera with great video quality. It’s also cheaper than the Sony and GoPro, so take that as an advantage too. It’s a fair option for casual riders, but if you need the best quality you should look for Sony and GoPro really.
If you don’t mind the downsides, here is a video test. If you think the quality is ok and you don’t need more than this – go for it
AKASO EK7000 (click here to check current price on Amazon)
Under 50$ (at this moment) and with over 23k positive reviews, it’s worth mentioning. Akaso EK7000 is a cheap camera with great performance. Of course, it can’t beat GOPro or Sony, but the price will fit any travel budget.
This camera is suitable for both indoors and outdoors as it has a waterproof camera resistant up to 100 feet. It’s also has a durable and waterproof case which makes it suitable for any weather condition.
It can capture 4K at 25 frames per second (FPS) and 2.7K at 30 FPS. And the battery is also quite good, considering the low price. This camera comes with 2 rechargeable 1050mAh batteries and each battery can record up to 90 minutes.
The bad things:
- The quality is not comparable to more expensive cameras like GoPro or Sony, but it is quite good for hobby and vacations.
- Again, the audio is probably not the best. Incomparable with top cameras, but the price explains it.
Why have one?
I always wanted one in order to capture the best moments on the sleds. There were a lot of cool situations worth shooting, but I didn’t have the camera. I decided to buy one in order to capture the best moments and to remember that awesome places I’ve been.
Wrap up
Having a helmet camera is one of the best things when going snowmobiling. You can make awesome movies and share them with your friends. Any of these three options are great for snowmobiling. Whatever your budget is, I hope this information helped you in making a good decision.