An action camera can capture life’s most exhilarating moments. Whether you need one to strap to your head before leaping into the void on your next bungee jump, or you want something waterproof so you can video the kids in the pool, there’s a good option for you. And Prime Day is the perfect opportunity to score a deal on some new camera gear. Below, I’ve rounded up the best action camera deals you can get right now.

If you're hunting for more deals this week, be sure to check out our Best Amazon Prime Day Deals roundup and dip into our Prime Day liveblog.

Updated 9 am Thursday, June 25: I've added new deals on the Insta360 Go Ultra and some accessories.

The Best 360 Camera Deal

By far the best camera deal this Prime Day is GoPro's Max 2 360 camera, which is currently 40 percent off. The GoPro Max 2 (7/10 WIRED Recommends) is my favorite 360 camera. The dual 14-mm (35-mm equivalent) lenses of the Max 2 each record up to a 1/2.3-inch chip, yielding what GoPro calls “True 8K” (10-bit) video. The larger sensors of the Max 2 provide sharper, clearer footage than other 360 cameras, and you can record 10-bit color in log for greater flexibility in post-production color grading—a capability you’d be hard-pressed to find in other 360 cameras. Even if editing log footage is too much work (I hear you), GoPro's natural-looking color rendition in the default color profile is still the best I've tested.

As with most GoPros, the Max 2 has three mounting options: folding fingers, a tripod hole, and a magnetic system. This means you can mount the Max 2 just about anywhere. It also has the simplest lens-cover replacement process. To do it, just twist off the lenses with your fingers and pop on the new ones. You’ll get all the usual GoPro video modes, including HyperSmooth video stabilization, horizon leveling, TimeWarp, and more.

The one flaw in the Max 2 is its lackluster audio quality. The best way to avoid that issue is to pair the camera with a Bluetooth mic. Also note that if low-light video is on your list of must-haves in an action camera, the Insta360 X5 (below) is probably a better bet. For everyone else, though, this is the 360 camera to get—especially at this discounted price.

The Best Action Camera for Vlogging

The Insta360 Ace Pro 2 (8/10 WIRED Recommends) combines a great Leica lens with an 8K-capable sensor and a handy flip-up rear screen, which is why it's my favorite action camera for vlogging. The 8K video is not that great for action footage, but the camera is nice for slower shots, which you can crop and still export to 4K. The standout feature, though, is the rear screen. Other action cameras offer a small front screen to compose selfies, but the Ace Pro 2's entire huge rear screen is there to help you frame yourself. The rear screen also simplifies shooting from the hip and nailing other unusual angles, especially when paired with the Xplorer Grip Pro ($10 off).

The video quality of the Ace Pro 2 is excellent, especially the low-light performance. It also has great battery life. The big downside to the Ace Pro 2 is that it doesn't support 10-bit color, which means you have fewer options to colorize footage in post-production.

The Best Budget Action Camera for Even Less

The wee little Lit Hero is GoPro's smallest, lightest, cheapest action camera. It's my favorite GoPro for selfies thanks to the included light. The cluster of four LEDs next to the lens ensures this camera keeps you well-lit in every scene. The Lit Hero isn't quite as capable video-wise as the Hero 13 Black (also on sale, see below), but it can shoot 4K at 60 fps, and the battery held up for a respectable 101 minutes during my test (shooting a 4K 60 fps video).

A Tiny, Detachable Camera

The Insta360 Go Ultra remains the most fun I've had with an action camera. It's a portable, go-anywhere wearable camera that's capable of shots and angles you won't get with others thanks to the detachable design. In action camera mode, it's much like everything else, but when you remove the camera from the base and shoot with just the tiny little pod, it turns into something more versatile. The extremely strong magnetic mounting system on the camera pod means it'll stick to just about anything metal, enabling all kinds of shots others can't match. Most important, though, this camera is just plain fun. Do know that the pod isn't waterproof without a different lens cover, and the battery isn't removable, which means you need to lug around a portable battery charger to recharge on the go, but otherwise this is a fantastic little camera.

Get a Wireless Microphone to Go With Them

While both action and 360 cameras offer pretty decent mics these days, nothing will improve your video quality more than adding an external mic for high-quality sound. DJI's Mic 3 wireless system is our favorite way to do that. The sound quality is great, the noise canceling handles wind and other issues when shooting outdoors, and there's even support for professional timecodes. The best reason to upgrade from earlier models is that everything now fits in the charging case—yes, the mics fit even with the windscreens on.

Other Great Action and 360 Camera Deals

Deals on Action Camera Accessories

If you're picking up a new action or 360 camera, there are a few things you'll want to go along with it. These are the best Prime Day accessory deals I've been able to find.

A good microSD card is essential, and when it comes to action cameras, they work better with some SD cards than others. GoPro maintains a list of recommended cards, as does Insta360 (which also makes its own cards). This card is on both lists, and it's what I use when testing action and 360 cameras. It's fast enough for 8K video (it's on the list for the new GoPro Mission 1 cameras) and is available in sizes up to 1-TB. Despite that, the only issues I've ever had with SD cards in action cameras have been with 1-TB cards, so I stick with these 256-GB cards most of the time. They're big enough to hold hours of 5.2K footage.

Anyone who knows me knows I cringe at the very word “selfie,” but there are times when it's handy to stick your camera on a ridiculously, comically long pole (10 feet long in this case) and film things. Yes, even yourself if you must. After years of testing dozens of options, this pole has earned a place in my bag thanks to its ability to turn your action camera into a low-flying drone.

You know what sucks? Having to dive to find your action camera. Avoid that with a floaty case. There's an official one from GoPro, but we're talking about molded foam here; the knockoff versions are fine. I like this one because, like the GoPro floaty, you can still (kinda, most of the time) use the finger mounts. If you've got an Ace Pro 2, there are floaty mounts here, and Osmo Action camera owners can grab this one.

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