Understanding Action Camera Specs: What Does It All Mean?

Action cameras pack a lot of tech into a tiny, rugged package. But reading their spec sheets can feel like deciphering alphabet soup – 4K, 60fps, 1/1.3" sensor, f/2.8, EIS, 10-bit, IP68, and so on. 

What do all these terms really mean for the videos you shoot? 

This article is a collection of in-depth informational pieces that will demystify the key camera specifications that matter when choosing or evaluating an action camera. We’ll break down each spec in an approachable way and explain why it matters in real-world use. 

Part #1: What is resolution and what is bitrate?

Part #2: What is Frame Rate (FPS)?

Part #3: What's FOV (Field of View) and Lens Quality?

Part #4: What's EIS and what is OIS?

Part #5: Do Color Profiles and Bit Depth Matter?

Part #6: What are Aperture, ISO, and Noise?

Part #7: About Audio Quality

Part #8: Build Quality, Battery, and Mounting

Think of this as a mini-course on action camera specs – we’ll build up your knowledge step by step, so you can make informed decisions when using our action camera rating system, and get the most out of your camera.

By the end, you’ll not only understand terms like resolution, bitrate, frame rate, etc., but also how they interplay to affect video quality. 

Ready to begin?