The best camcorders for action feature intelligent autofocus, brilliant image stabilization, and high definition video quality. From the 4k capabilities of the Sony FDRAX53 to the expansive features of the Canon VIXIA HF R82, this is our list of the best camcorder for sports.

Part1. Best Camcorder for Sports

1. Canon VIXIA HF R80

This nifty camcorder is ideal for the online sharing enthusiast! Complete with live streaming capability, you can show the world the incredible game your child is rocking in! Impress your friends further by having the ability to record in slow motion, sped-up motion, and time lapses.

Likely one of the best batteries on this list, the VIXIA R80 has an impressively long battery life. You can record for hours on end with the BP-727 battery. As well, this camcorder has an intelligent battery meter that can very accurately tell you the amount of battery power remaining (so you’re no longer guessing).

You can zoom easily and flawlessly. The zooming mechanism in this camera is very advanced, allowing you to get closer to your subject without compromising sharpness or quality. As well, the artificial intelligence (AI) in the camcorder can scan shadows and highlights and determine what to prioritize exposure for. You see, a camera cannot expose for its shadows and its highlights correctly at the same time, so you have to prioritize one. This AI can make a prediction for you!

Pros:

• Lightweight and very portable.
• Built-in image stabilization system.
• Incredible battery life.
• High definition video recording.
• WiFi and Live Streaming capability.
• Various shooting modes, such as slow motion, high speed, and time lapses.
• Zoom capabilities during filming without compromising quality.
• An artificial intelligence system that can determine exposure priority based on shadows and highlights.

Cons:

• With a long battery comes a long charging time, this camera takes a very long time to fully charge.
• Limit on video length that it can wirelessly upload to YouTube. Can only upload a maximum of 15 minutes.

2. Canon VIXIA HF R82

Similar to the VIXIA HF R80, the R82 features improvements across the board to the previous model. If your budget can stretch a bit more, this would be a great investment over the previous version. Alongside maintaining the coveted features of the R80, a few new tricks are hidden up this camcorder’s sleeve. The same lightweight and portable build ensures you won’t have much trouble taking this camera to all of your favorite sports games.

The 57x zoom will ensure you won’t miss any action, even if it happens across the field. But what if your hand shakes as you’re adjusting the zoom? The internal image stabilization system has been significantly optimized over the previous model ensuring that your hand will not be much of an issue.

The brand new CMOS FHD sensor captures ultra high definition footage adding an incredible cinematic touch to all of your volleyball videos! With the inclusion of digic dv 4 image processor, low light and indoor recording situations won’t be an issue. The light light quality is very impressive, especially at this price point.

Pros:

• Includes all of the same features as the R80, but improved. For example, this model features better image stabilization than the R80.
• Excellent low light performance.
• Higher definition footage than many camcorders.
• Features a dual-recording mode and works with various external memory cards, such as SD, SDHC, and many more.
• Is compatible with fast charging.

Cons:

• Battery drains quite fast in comparison to other camcorders.

3. Sony FDRAX53

Appearing very frequently as a high ranking contender in the camcorder world, the Sony FDRAX53 comes highly recommended for those that shoot volleyball, basketball, and baseball. This is because it is able to record in whopping 4k resolution, ensuring every shot is crystal clear! There is no mistaking where the ball went with this one. The imaging sensor that ensures 4k clarity is a brand new design and exclusive to Sony.

Sony is always a big innovator, and as such, they have equally developed their own type of image stabilization (IS). A big ol’ secret to prevent other companies from stealing the technology, the FDRAX53’s IS is called Steady Shot and it tends to outperform the competitors by a landslide. It doesn’t just correct physical shake, it corrects optical shake too.

Although the optical zoom is not as long as the Canon camcorders, 26.8mm ZEISS lens and 20x zoom isn’t too shabby! This is decent enough for most sports.

Pros:

• Fairly lightweight and fairly easy to carry.
• Incredible 26.8mm ZEISS brand lens which features excellent glass.
• This big game changer is the 4k video recording resolution with a larger imaging sensor than most.
• Steady Shot image stabilization included.

Cons:

• Expensive. All of these great features come at a steep price.

4. PANASONIC HC-V770

Likely the best bang-for-your-buck on our list, the Panasonic HC-V770 is a very affordable camcorder option. Able to record in high-definition with a 20x optical zoom, this is considered a semi-professional / serious hobbyist model. The zoom is supported by the 5-axis hybrid image stabilization that accounts for the different kinds of camera shake you might encounter.

A nifty feature is the ability to connect this camcorder to your cell phone to unlock a slew of new features. By connecting to your phone, you can activate the Twin Video Assisting mode. This allows your smartphone to be used as a secondary camera and secondary screen.

This camera also has a windshield for the microphone to reduce wind noise, intelligent autofocus that makes predictive decisions on what action you are capturing, and motion sensors.

Pros:

• Great price. Affordable.
• High-definition (1080p) recording.
• 5-axis hybrid image stabilization built-in.
• WiFi and Bluetooth to connect your camcorder to your cell phone. This allows the phone to unlock additional capabilities, such as Twin Video Assisting mode.
• Good microphone noise reduction due to the microphone windshield.
• Intelligent autofocus with predictive technology.

Cons:

• Weak battery.
• Not very good low light performance.

5. PANASONIC HC-WXF991K

Unlike the other Panasonic on our list which is consumer grade, this camcorder is cinema grade. The difference is that this is, essentially, a higher-end level camera than the other one. With this does come a bit of a learning curve on use because you can have so much manual control versus the consumer grade model which is more automatic. Because this is a semi-professional to professional level model, this camcorder has more megapixels than the others, coming in at an impressive 18.9 megapixels.

This model also has direct compatibility with editing software such as Corel VideoStudio and Cyberlink PowerDirector. However, this camera also has various cinema modes built-in in case you don’t have the time to edit specific looks. There is even a high-dynamic-range (HDR) mode to ensure your highlights and shadows are both exposed well.

The body of this camcorder is very durable, made of a premium casing. The lens inside of the camera is Leica brand, one of the best known optical powerhouses in the photography world. The audio microphone is quite brilliant and powerful.

Pros:

• Cinema quality recording in 4k with a slew of cinema modes and HDR mode.
• 18.9 megapixels with a Leica built-in lens.
• Easy compatibility with editing softwares such as Corel VideoStudio and Cyberlink PowerDirector.
• Very solid and professional build.
• Excellent internal microphone.
• Twin cameras built in.

Cons:

• Despite the 4k capability, this camcorder surprisingly does not have a regular HD mode.
• Expensive.
• Not as user friendly and features a learning curve.

6. Sony HDR-AZ1VR

A unique model on our list, the Sony HDR-AZ1VR is a tiny waterproof camcorder that you can toss in your pocket and take to your next surfing competition! This little guy can be controlled with your smartphone or the included wrist remote. The wrist remote has a little screen for live view preview of what your camcorder is looking at. Along with the phone acting as a remote, you can also live stream your captures via the WiFi capability.

This model features an ultra wide view at 170-degree angle. The HDR-AZ1VR comes with a photo editing software to make editing the footage easy and simple. The battery life is very good for this camera’s size, and the Sony HDR-AZ1VR comes complete with ports for external microphones and tripods.

Pros:

• Very small size.
• Waterproof.
• Comes with a wrist remote control.
• Can be connected to a smartphone and have the smartphone act as a remote. The smartphone connection also allows for live streaming.
• Good 170-degree angle lens.
• Excellent battery life.

Cons:

• The Steady Shot in this particular model slows footage down.
• Footage is not as high quality as other models.

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Part2. Best Camcorder for Sports Buying Guide

1. How Does a Camcorder Compare to Other Cameras?

With there being such a large assortment of camera types on the market, you’re likely wondering why a camcorder is a good idea as opposed to a DSLR camera that can do video or your own cell phone.

The answer there is pretty simple: video is a secondary feature in most cameras! In a camcorder, filming is its number one feature (if it is able to take photographs, that is more of an afterthought). As such, camcorders are calibrated and designed specifically to take brilliant videos, akin to a large cinema camera in a small and easy-to-carry package.

In regard to recording audio, camcorders tend to have much better built-in microphones than other types of cameras. The sound tells just as much of the story as the picture, so ensuring that all the excitement is well recorded makes a difference. Many camcorders also have volume controls and various inputs for external microphones too.

A big benefit to a camcorder is the ability to save videos to the actual machine itself as well as a memory card. Many camcorders have a built-in memory to allow you record for longer periods of time (or record when you don’t have a memory card with you). Most other cameras do not have this nifty feature. Knowing that users tend to record for a long time, camcorders don’t have overheating issues like other products may.

Keeping in mind that the real sole objective of a camcorder is recording video, the quality tends to be significantly better than other cameras. This is because camcorders are constructed with video recording in mind every step of the way. As such, the autofocus tends to be far better as the mechanism is intended for moving subjects and is smoother than autofocus meant for still images. A slew of nifty features come standard in camcorders, such as image stabilization, large sensors, and zoom lenses.

2. Making Sense of Video Resolution

Camcorders are comfortable and wonderful video cameras. If you’re investing in a device that is going to capture your favorite sports moments, you need to make sure that the video quality is top notch (otherwise, what is the point of the investment?). But deciphering video quality can be a bit confusing if you’re new to the video world. Here is the simple breakdown:

Video quality is made up of two components, the frames rate (also called FPS) and the resolution.

The FPS is how many frames can be shot per second. Every second that you hold down the record or shooting button, a burst of images are being taken. The more frames you can capture, the smoother the footage will be. The standard good quality recorded will have between 30 and 60 frames per second. However, frames per second can go all the way up to 240 and up! In order to catch action, you’re going to want a camera that can shoot a minimum of 60 frames per second. The FPS is also important if you want to capture slow motion footage, anything below 60 will not be able to be slowed down.

The resolution is the second component to video quality. Resolution represents the number of horizontal lines a video has from top to bottom. The more lines, the better the video looks when broadcast somewhere, like a television screen. The smaller the resolution number, the lower the quality. If the quality is low, you won’t be able to show it on a very big screen. The larger the number, the higher the quality, and the larger screen you can use to showcase your awesome snowboarding capture.

The most common video resolutions are 360p, 480p, 720p, or 1080p. 360p is lower quality than 1080p, to show the range. 360p videos tend to be used for cell phone viewing, 480p are generally the resolution of DVDs, 720p is where high-definition begins, and 1080p is actual true high definition.
However, in recent years new resolutions have come out, such as 4k. 4k is unique in being calculated based on the number of pixels versus the number of line.s 4k is considered significantly higher resolution than 1080p. The image tends to look more hyper realistic and less cinematic.

As a buyer note, I always tend to go for the highest quality because you can always decrease the quality if you need to (but you can’t increase quality).

3. What Is The Best Memory Card for My Camcorder?

Camcorders store videos in two different ways: internally and via memory cards. Internal storage is the built-in non-removable memory inside of the camera. The standard for external storage is to save on flash memory or SD cards that are inserted into the camera. Some can store on micro-SD cards or memory sticks.

These memory cards range in size broadly, anywhere from 5GB to 120GB and more. Internal storage has a bit of a smaller range, from 8GB to 96GB. But if you pair these two together, you’ll be able to record for a very long time. In order to determine how much memory space you should account for, these are the general sizes of video resolution files:
For camcorders, the general file sizes are as such:

• One minute of recording at 720p is about 300MB in file size.
• One minute of recording at 1080p is about 675MB in file size.
• One minute of recording at 4k is about 3GB in file size.

There are many different companies that make memory cards. I personally use Sandisk, and have had no qualms with their SD cards. I know plenty of photographers and videographers that use Toshiba and Lexar without issue.

4. LCD Screens Are Not All the Same

The preview screens to view what you’re recording may all look the same… but they aren’t. Indoors in low light situations all of these screens look the same, vivid, and bright. However, expose them to direct sunlight and you might be telling a different story. Some LCD displays suffer from glares, others do not. Some can have their lighting adjusted and some cannot. Check the display screen before settling on the best camcorder for you.

It is possible to get a glare removing filter for your LCD screen, it’s a little plastic screen you tape on (much like computers at banks have a privacy filter). However, this may or may not remedy the glaring issue.

5. Not All Sports are Outdoors: Low Light Performance is Valuable

Filming in bright sunlight is a generally ideal condition for sports. However, games such as basketball and hockey don’t tend to take always place outdoors. A sport that I photograph called dog agility often holds championships inside an equestrian arena with no artificial light at all! Considering this, it is in your interest to look for a camcorder that has good low light performance.  

Low light performance is based on the camera sensor’s sensitivity to light. This sensor is often referred to as the ISO. Pair that with the built-in lens’s aperture (how wide the lens opens, therefore exposing the sensor to light) and you either have a great low light camera or an absolutely terrible one.

What you want is a camcorder that can go to a high ISO or has a very sensitive ISO and a built-in lens with a wide aperture. For apertures, the smaller the number, the wider the aperture. For ISO, the larger the number, the more sensitive the sensor.

The higher the video resolution you shoot in, the better the low light quality as well. This is because there is more detailed information in the footage.

6. Additional Features to Look For

As well as the aforementioned information to keep in mind, here are some extra features to look for when deciding on a good camcorder for sports. Although you can get away without some of these additional features, having them is a great perk.

• Image Stabilization: As ergonomic and comfortable to hold as camcorders are, you will still find yourself with shaky hands at some point. This is because humans just can’t hold very still naturally. As such, having image stabilization in your camcorder is pretty convenient if I do say so myself. Rocky footage is never fun to watch!
  Image stabilization is a mechanical system inside of a camcorder that aims to remedy camera shake. This technology is meant to remedy any bump, shake, or other physical movements that may occur. These systems can range from an internal gyroscope to a computer stabilizing the recording as it is being recorded.
• Zoom: Nothing is worse than being stuck with a fixed lens that disallows you from zooming right in to something exciting. Lucky for you, most camcorders have a zooming option. When comparing the zooms in different models, look for those in which the zooming mechanism is smooth, steady, and sensitive! The big three S’s of the system. Some advanced camcorders even have a silent zoom, superb for the audio portion of the video.
• WiFi: Being able to share the footage right on the fly is a great benefit (to both you and your social media presence!). Some models have built-in WiFi features that can synchronize with your cell phone, tablet, laptop, and more. Some brands even have exclusive apps that allow you to use your cell phone as a remote control for the camcorder.
• Durable Weatherproof Body: Some sports happen in cozy, controlled indoor settings. But we all know that most happen in the most unpredictable place in the world: the great outdoors! As such, you don’t want a little rain shower or gusty wind preventing you from filming your son’s big soccer game. A durable and weatherproof body will ensure you can film no matter what the conditions are.
  Look for silicone weather sealing around important attachments and components, and be very attentive to what material the camcorder body is made of. You want to look for materials that are shock absorbing and weather resistant.

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Editor’s Choice

Camcorder selections really do depend on the kind of sports you want to film, the size you are comfortable holding, and what features appeal the most to you. However, our favorite from the list is the Sony FDRAX53. This is because the technological advances features in this camcorder are leagues ahead of the rest of the market.

Sony’s very reliable and effective new image stabilization system called Steady Shot helps alleviate any form of shake that the camcorder may encounter. Pair that with the 4k resolution and you’ll be able to spoil your friends and family with drool-worthy footage. The Zeiss lens ensures that the shots are crystal clear and sharp, a company whose lens models are quite sought after.

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