How to Find the Best Video Camera for Sports
How to Find the Best Video Camera for Sports
How to Find the Best Video Camera for Sports
Are you in the market for a new camera to film sports with? Check out this complete guide on how to find the best video camera for sports.
Keyword(s): Best video camera for sports, Multi camera live streaming
What if you could give your team's local fans a major league quality broadcast, like those you see on primetime cable networks?
Maybe you are thinking it’s time to upgrade your team’s game. You want to bring the action to viewers at home and around the world. You want to let them experience the excitement of being in the stands for your team’s thrilling match.
But don't you need a giant camera set with a full crew standing by for multi camera live streaming to broadcast your game like the pros?
No way! Here’s some great news. Streaming videos of your local team is much simpler than you might think. You just need to learn how to choose the best video camera for sports, decide on a budget, then choose a streaming or recording platform and get to work.
Maybe you are the parent of a star athlete and you are trying to buy a camera for filming sports for your local high school team. You want a camera that brings out every detail of the match. There are many options available, and selecting the right camera can be a challenging task.
We’ve got you covered. In this article, we’ll break down the best options for capturing modern sports from the stands. That way, you can project your team’s play to a larger audience online, whether live or replay.
Choosing the Best Video Camera For Sports
To match the pace of most sports, sports videographers need to purchase a camera that is light and nimble enough to keep up with the action. You’ll also need to make sure that the camera offers enough visual clarity to capture the details of the action without blurring, skipping, or constantly refocusing.
You'll need to keep these factors in mind when selecting a camera for live streaming sports. You’ll want to seek out cameras that have lightweight, ergonomically designed bodies with recent (<5 years old) technology allowing for high-resolution inside a compact device.
To accomplish this, you’ll generally have three categories of options: smartphones/mobile devices and common cameras, camcorders, and action cameras.
1. Mobile devices
Most people think you have to purchase REALLY expensive cameras to capture your sport in the best way. Surprisingly, mobile devices like the newer iPhones with multiple lenses are making these solutions obsolete. You may not realize this, but your iPhone can record video at 4K with 60 FPS. That's better than most camcorders! And with the Apollo Streams App, you can utilize each camera lens with a zooming feature that goes from wide angle, normal to ultra zoom.
Because the iPhone cameras are so small and lightweight, you can easily mount them in various places for the best shot. For example, try putting one on the floor under each basketball net (safely off the court) to capture all the moves happening down low during a basketball game. Or mount one high up on the side of the net of a volleyball game to capture slow motion replays of that amazing block or spike! And best of all, the Apollo Streams app allows you to connect all of your cameras and control them wirelessly! It's super easy to set up and take down too! (3 minutes each camera).
You’ll need a mobile live streaming app – our Apollo Streams app is the best option currently available because of its functionality and simplicity. You can plug in the streaming settings inside the app and can stream your games live in minutes. You can capture instant replays and play them back in slow motion. "Was he in or out?" Let your fans decide.
Other applications and platforms that allow you to stream often have their own proprietary apps or methods of recording to share with audiences that will cost you and your viewers a lot of money. Make sure you do your research so you know what you're spending and what it will cost in the long run.
No matter how you plan to stream, your first purchase toward equipment should be in a tripod.
Tripods greatly reduce shaking during the recording and streaming processes and your viewers will thank you. They are a very small upfront investment, but pays off greatly for those watching from home. They also add a nice degree of professionalism to your broadcast. The nice thing about the carbon fiber tripod from Apollo Streams is that you can boost your camera (9 feet) high above the players, refs or fans that might be in your way.
2. Camcorders
Camcorders are another option if you aren't looking to live stream your events and will cost significantly more for similar quality. They are built for recording videos.
They are usually quite easy to set up and initialize, and come with an ergonomic design for longer games. Many camcorders come in 4K resolution, which provides state-of-the-art technology for recording sports along with a hand held zoom feature.
With the right software, you can also use multiple camcorders to record your events. However you'll need really long cables to connect them all which can create a lot of set up and tripping hazards along the way.
3. Action Cameras
Action cameras often surprise viewers when they learn how a match or race was recorded. These smaller compact devices pack quite a punch in terms of technology, and produce superior footage in extreme sports, downhill events, and fast-moving games.
They can also be excellent for recording match-style sports that involve some movement of the camera. However you can't zoom these types of cameras and anything further away than 15 feet start to get really small and you can't tell who you are filming. Using a GoPro on a soccer field is like watching ants chase a breadcrumb. It's difficult to tell which team is which.
Most action cameras are set up with a wide-angle lens that projects a first-person view to the audience. However, the wide-angle lens can be a limitation for certain sports if they are being projected from a distance. In this case, a phone camera or camcorder may be a more appropriate option.
Top Features
No matter which direction you choose, you’ll certainly have choices. It’s important to be aware of the types of features offered on these devices so you are making the most of your money.
You'll want to make sure you're recording in 4K with 60 FPS (Frames Per Second) or higher for the best resolution. Add in the ability to zoom and this type of footage can be used to make some really good highlights.
Other Must-Have Accessories
Regardless of the camera you choose, make sure you have additional power banks or rechargeable batteries available, since for most sports you never know how long an event might last. Multi camera live streaming is also an option to ensure that the event broadcast is never fully dropped.
And you can save yourself (and your arms) the trouble of carrying the camera for the duration of the event by purchasing a fluid-head tripod that easily flows back and forth with the action, stabilizing the scene for the viewer at home. The best option available is the Apollo Streams Carbon Fiber Tripod that can lift your device 9 feet into the air while allowing you the ability to sit comfortably to watch what's being recorded high up from your camera.
Another overlooked aspect to filming sports is weather. When you spend enough money on your equipment, the last thing you want is for it to get ruined in inclimate weather. Even mobile devices will overheat on a warm sunny day. That's why Apollo Streams has created All Purpose Weather Shields to keep your equipment safe from the sun, rain, snow, wind and anything mother nature wants to throw at you!
Now you know how to choose the best video camera for sports, so get out there and bring your club's action out to viewers! We offer a variety of products for local sports streaming, so check out our other enhancements above.
