Action cameras rental

What makes an action camera special

An action camera is a compact, rugged camera with a wide-angle lens, originally designed to capture sport and adventure from the athlete’s perspective. Precisely those properties make it valuable at an event. Because the device is small and light, you mount it in places an ordinary camera would never fit: just above the audience, on an instrument, in a set piece, on a moving object or at an unusual angle. The result is footage with a dynamic, immersive character that brings a recording or aftermovie to life.

The wide-angle lens is both its strength and its hallmark. The wide image captures much of the surroundings and gives the viewer the feeling of being right in the middle of it. That perspective works very differently from the framed image of a regular camera and precisely for that reason adds variety. Where your main cameras deliver the overview and the close-ups, the action camera gives the unexpected viewpoint that makes a production lively.

Why an action camera adds something

The main reason to deploy an action camera is perspective. An event captured entirely from regular camera viewpoints can become visually predictable. A single different viewpoint breaks that up and gives the viewer something new to see. A shot taken just above the dance floor, a detail angle on a musician’s hands or a view from within the set adds tension and variety that is hard to achieve with ordinary cameras.

On top of that, the action camera is practically invisible. Because of its small size you mount it discreetly, so it does not block the audience’s view and does not disturb the atmosphere in the hall. For an aftermovie or an atmospheric recording where you want to capture the experience without disturbing it, that is a great advantage. You capture the energy of the moment without the technology getting in the way.

Suitable events

At corporate events and parties an action camera delivers the dynamic atmospheric footage that makes an aftermovie immersive. At a product launch you capture the reveal moment from an unusual viewpoint in a way that increases the impact. And at hybrid events and livestreams you add a surprising perspective to the broadcast, so the online viewer gets more variety to see.

The technology: mounting, viewpoints and settings

The value of an action camera lies in where you mount it. We think along with you beforehand about which viewpoints add something to your recording or broadcast, and choose the mounting to suit. That could be a clamp on a truss, a frame on a stand, a fixing to a set piece or a grip for moving footage. The mounting must be firm so the image stays steady, and safe so nothing can come loose above guests’ heads.

We match the settings to the conditions and the intended result. The frame rate determines whether you get smooth moving footage or slow motion, the resolution determines the level of detail, and the exposure settings make sure the image stays usable even in changing light. Modern action cameras have powerful image stabilisation that absorbs vibrations, so even moving footage looks steady. We choose the settings that give the best result per viewpoint.

Using live or editing afterwards

You can use an action camera in two ways. For a recording or aftermovie the camera records locally and we process the footage afterwards into an edited whole. If you want to use the camera live, we link it via a suitable output signal or a wireless connection to the image mixer, so the viewpoint appears directly in your livestream or on the screen in the hall. We match the setup to your control room and test on site whether the image comes in stable and in sync.

Considerations with action cameras

The most important consideration is light sensitivity. Action cameras are compact and therefore perform less well in low light than large cameras. In a dark hall or under atmospheric lighting the image can become grainy more quickly. We take this into account when choosing the viewpoints and, where possible, adjust the lighting so the action camera delivers a usable image. For the trickiest light situations we discuss beforehand what is realistic.

The wide-angle lens calls for deliberate placement. The wide image captures a lot, which is a strength, but it also means things you do not want in shot appear quickly, such as cables, technology or crew. We choose the viewpoint and the angle so the frame is right and no distracting elements appear in shot. A well-placed action camera therefore calls for as much attention as a regular camera.

Finally, recording time and power supply are a practical point. Action cameras are small, which means the battery capacity and storage are limited. For long events we provide enough reserve or an external power supply, so the camera keeps running throughout the programme without you missing an important moment.

Combining and renting at HuurAV

An action camera comes into its own best alongside your regular cameras. The unusual viewpoint complements the main cameras and gives your recording or livestream extra dynamics. Combined with a well-thought-out lighting setup that also lights the unusual angles, and with clear sound that supports the image, a polished whole is created. Within our range in the field of video we integrate the action camera into your overall image setup.

HuurAV takes care of the advice on mounting and viewpoints, the build, a test of each camera shot and operation on site, so the special footage looks clean and usable. If you want the equipment only, without support, standalone rental is available through Speaker Verhuur Amsterdam at SpeakerVerhuur.nl. Request a no-obligation quote and we will think along about the viewpoints that give your event extra dynamics.