How to Find the Best Sports Cameras for Your Next Outdoor Adventure

Stabilization: Keeping Your Footage Smooth

A key feature of any great sports camera is its ability to stabilize video footage, especially during high-motion activities. Whether you're biking down a mountain trail or skiing down slopes, it’s crucial that the camera can minimize shakiness and keep the footage smooth. Most sports cameras feature electronic image stabilization (EIS), which helps smooth out shaky footage. However, it’s important to know that EIS can sometimes crop the image slightly.

For those looking for the best stabilization, some cameras come equipped with gimbals—devices that physically stabilize the camera. Gimbals provide the smoothest footage, especially in high-intensity activities, but they tend to be more expensive and may require additional setup. Cameras with a combination of optical image stabilization (OIS) and EIS are a solid option for most users, offering a balance between performance and cost.