So you want to become a theme park Vlogger or just record on-ride footage for fun but don’t know what equipment to buy? Fear not because we’ve got the best roller coaster POV cameras on the market for you right here so you don’t have to worry!
Best Roller Coaster POV Cameras
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So here we go we’re diving in with some of our personal favourites of the best cameras for roller coaster POVS!
GoPro Hero 9
If you want one of the best then look no further.
If you own a Hero 8 then it may not be worth the step-up but if you have a 7 and want to take the next step up then the GoPro Hero 9 is a thing of beauty.
With brand new even smoother stabilisation with Hypersmooth 3.0 and horizon balance, this thing is a game-changer.
If horizon-levelling is your thing I’d highly recommend the Max lens mod.
Horizon levelling of a full 360-degree rotation as opposed to the 45-degree horizon levelling without the mod and a wider field of view.
It’s just something not seen before on action cameras.
Horizon Balance will keep your horizon level no matter how many times you rotate the camera, it’s insane.
With numerous mods including a media mod (mic attachment) and a lighting mod (a small LED for vlogging) and not to mention interchangeable lenses it really is something special.
With 5k capabilities and a brand new 23.6mp sensor that can certainly improve your action camera photos game it really is the full package.
I certainly wouldn’t rely on your action camera as your go-to photography camera as that’s not what it was made for but the option is there if you need it.
The GoPro Hero 9 now has a front-facing screen which is perfect for lining up your shots and with this screen you can feel more comfortable setting up your shot before you record.
The Hero 9 can easily be used as a vlogging camera and with a bigger longer lasting battery you can be sure to capture both on-ride and off-ride footage with this absolute beauty.
Your coaster POV’s are going to look as smooth as butter, even on the roughest of coasters.
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GoPro Hero 8 Black
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If you want to splash the cash for that perfect roller coaster POV footage then here is the king of them all.
The Hero8 (Make sure you get the black one as the features differ depending on the colour of the device) is by far one of the most superior action cameras on the market today. The resolution of the Hero 8 Black films 4K at 60fps, 2.7k at 120fps and 1080p at 240fps.
The video bitrate of this camera is 100Mbps for 4K maximum video and is the fastest to ever be feature in a GoPro model.
HyperSmooth stabilization is a feature that also is included in the cheaper Hero 7 (check prices here) but GoPro has enhanced it even more so for the Hero 8 Black.
The stabilization will turn even the bumpiest roller coaster POV into beautiful cinematic footage.
Go Pro Hero 6
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With a 12-megapixel sensor, the GoPro Hero 6 is actually very similar to the 7 and 8 but they’re dropping in price massively as a result of becoming an ‘older’ model.
Never judge a book by its cover as this little device can shoot 4K video at 60FPS and the image stabilization is much better than that of the Victure (see below) by a long shot.
The GoPro Hero 6 sadly doesn’t have the HyperSmooth that was introduced to the 7 and 8 models so rollercoaster footage will still be a little shakier but it’s in a world of its own compared to the Victure and is becoming more and more affordable as each day passes.
Victure AC920
Costing less than £100 the Victure AC920 is comparable to that of the Go Pro Hero 7.
Excellent 4k/60fps and touch screen the Victure Ac920 is a camera with native resolution 4k/60fps for sport/underwater recording 4k/60fps.
The navigations menus are much easier and responsive to that of the Go Pro Hero 9 (which is crazy) but the camera shows its lower quality when it comes to the image itself.
It’s not on part with the Hero7 with much toned down saturations and plenty of noise in images that aren’t well lit but even the most expensive cameras in this line-up struggle with low light.
The mic shades in comparison to that of the Hero 7 but does come with a LAV mic which is handy to have but unfortunately, the LAV is very poor in quality.
With a better LAV mic that you can easily get a good quality one for under £25 off the internet this camera is the perfect starter vlogger camera on a budget.
Victure AC900
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Affordable yet still wonderful for the price the Victure AC900 is a 20MP camera that can shoot 4K at 30fps
Sporting a high-sensitivity touch screen the menu is far easier to navigate and the new design is sleek and stylish.
Victure certainly knows how to spoil their customers and we have a whole range of accessories included with the addition of filters so you can change up how your footage looks.
Many people compare this model to the GoPro Hero 6 and 7 and whilst there is a large price gap between the cameras the Victure manages to go the full 10 rounds without losing out too badly.
It’s the perfect camera to purchase before jumping into the GoPro pool and your roller coaster footage will be slightly smoother for it.
The Victure stabilization is still an ongoing issue for me with their cameras but don’t get me wrong you’ll still get decent footage but you’re always longing for that HyperSmooth Go-Pro essence every time you shoot with it.
Victure AC600
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If you want an entry-level cheap camera to start off your roller coaster POV journey then the Victure AC600 is certainly one for you.
A 16MP 4K camera (yes you heard me) for under £40 and it can shoot 4K at 25fps. Not bad for a little starter camera.
This thing is packed full of the most amount of accessories I’ve ever seen come with a camera as is the case with all Victure cameras.
The Victure was my first ever POV camera and whilst it’ll never compete with the guys above it’s the perfect entry-level camera if you’re on a budget.
The camera claims to shoot in 4K but sadly without image stabilization, those thrill rides do look a bit messy and the footage lacks much quality and detail. Dynamic range is almost non-existent as you can see for yourself when I used the Victure onboard Kumali at Flamingo Land.
The menu navigation Is a little clunky at the best of times but with everything from mounting brackets to spare rechargeable batteries, gimbal and tripod mounts and more the accessories are worth the price-tag alone nevermind the camera!
I’ve even used the Victure accessories on the GoPro because GoPro accessories are very expensive and you have to buy everything individually.
The Victure even comes with a waterproof housing and my camera has survived every water ride test I’ve put it through. If it survived Drenched at Oakwood theme park it can survive anything!
Much Needed Accessories
So now you know the best roller coaster POV cameras to purchase but what now?
You won’t get very far just holding a tiny camera in your hand and if you can hold onto that little thing whilst flying upside down numerous times then you’ve certainly got a better grip than I have!
For those mere mortals out there without a Spider-Man grip here are some accessories you’re going to need!
Chest and Head Mount
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Two key pieces to your arsenal are the chest and head mount. Head mounts are perfect for the slower rides and even water slides and the chest mount is perfect for those thrill ride POV’s.
All of the mounts you need that come with the Victure cameras slot into the harness’s superbly, but if you’re splashing the cash for a GoPro you’ll have to shop for your accessories individually.
As long as you have a mounting clip and a case housing to attach to a hand-grip I’d say you’re good to go!
My recommendation for a chest and head mount is this Wealpe combo pack.
Cheap, cheerful and it can even accommodate GoPro’s. The Weaple chest mount has a very sturdy chest strap that is comfy to wear all day and the head mount has non-slip rubber inside the band that is comfy to wear and allows you to secure it onto your head more.
I’ve used the chest mount for every ride POV I’ve ever done and I’ve never been disappointed.
The head strap also survived a trap-door water slide drop and a drop tower so it’s safe to say it does its job!
Hand Grip
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Some coasters are a bit annoying to record on such as Olympia Looping at Winter Wonderland for instance.
You sit down, wearing your chest harness and realize you’re so far down that your camera is only going to pick up the sky and the bar or seat in front of you and nothing else.
This is where a handgrip comes in handy.
I fully recommend the Suptig floating grip for this footage. With its non-slip handle and wrist strap and mounts to suit all cameras, it’s the perfect little grip at an affordable price.
The bottom of the grip itself is also hollow so you can store some loose change, money or whatever you need in the grip itself so it doesn’t fall out of your pockets on the way around.
If you’re not a big fan of this particular grip but want something a bit more robust then the Harwerell Extendable Aluminium hand grip is certainly up your street. It even comes with an extendable telescopic pole so you can get the ultimate VLOG footage as well as your standard ride POV shots.
Note
For Hand Grip stabilization you really need to invest in a Go-Pro for the footage to come out ok.
With hand movements on a ride in addition to the Victure range not being very stable in their image processing, I certainly wouldn’t recommend this combo.
Always Check With Parks Beforehand Regarding On-Ride Filming
Last but not least I just wanted to point out that some parks in the UK don’t actually allow you to film on rides but thankfully a few do.
The parks that I know that let you film on rides in the UK are the following:
- Flamingo Land
- Oakwood Theme Park
- Paultons Park
- Lightwater Valley
- Southport Pleasureland
These parks are off the top of my head so if you know of any more please do get in touch and I’ll add them to the list!
If you’re attending influencer days then certain parks do let you shoot on the rides but always make sure to email the park beforehand should you require any special filming permissions.
Better to be safe than sorry!
So there is our list of some of the best roller coaster POV cameras.
Whilst the theme parks are currently closed here in the UK there’s no better time to shop online and get all the equipment you need. There’s nothing like being prepared so you’re ready to go when the parks eventually re-open.
