Whether you’re taking your kids tubing for the first time, battling an epic blue marlin offshore or having an incredible time at the local sandbar, in today’s world you’re likely going to document it. One of the best ways to capture the action is through a POV camera, whether it’s your phone or a rig dedicated to such shots. Here’s a look at three different action cameras to choose from on the water.
Apple iPhone 17 Pro
The Shot: This could be any smartphone with a good camera, making for an excellent choice because it’s there. Who doesn’t always have their smartphone handy for a spontaneous shot? The iPhone 17 Pro has three lenses—main, ultrawide and telephoto—to play with depending on your shot. It shoots 4K quality at 100 fps. For camera nerds, it features 48 MP sensors across all lenses, 4K/100 fps video, and pro-level Apple Log/ProRes Raw recording. Apple touts that it is has a water-resistant IP68 rating, meaning it can be submerged to 19 feet for 30 minutes.
The Not: Shooting high-resolution video drains the battery. Even though it’s water-resistant, use it on the boat at your own risk, as it’s by far the most expensive option to replace, and it doesn’t float.
Price: $1,099; apple.com
GoPro LIT Hero
The Shot: GoPro has become synonymous with POV action cameras. The new LIT Hero is super compact and easy to mount on gear or even clothing with the right accessory. It’s made for rough conditions, with a rugged casing and it’s waterproof to 16 feet. It shoots 4K-quality video at 60 fps and can run for just under two hours before recharging. With a built-in battery, you no longer have to carry spares to keep shooting. You can instantly view and edit footage in the Quik app, and it offers a subscription service for updates and cloud storage.
The Not: No in-camera stabilization means footage could be shaky, but is correctable in the Quik app. The built-in battery means you need to bring the charging cable with you.
Price: $229.99; gopro.com
Read Next: Camera and Phone Mounts for Boaters and Anglers
DJI Osmo Nano
The Shot: Tiny wearable action cams are all the rage right now, at least if you believe your Instagram feed or type “wearable camera” into Amazon. DJI’s Osmo Nano is a great package for this. It’s actually has a separate “vision dock,” which has the viewing screen and controls, and a tiny camera that you can clip or affix it to your boat or even your hat and it transmits to the dock from up to 33 feet away from the dock. It can shoot up to 30 minutes of 4K footage at 60-fps resolution before recharging. The casing is waterproof up to 32 feet, with an IPX4 rating, so it’s an excellent choice to bring on the water.
The Not: The small screen on the vision dock can be hard to view while shooting, especially in bright sunlight. It only shoots widescreen POV footage.
Price: $389; djiusa.com
