The biggest sensors you can buy under $300

Low-light performance in an action camera is mostly decided by how much light the sensor can collect, and makers print that as an imperial fraction that obscures it. A 1/1.3-inch sensor has more than two and a half times the area of a 1/2.3-inch one, which the labels do not suggest at all. Under $300 the spread runs from about 18 mm² to about 72 mm² — a factor of 4 — so this is the single specification worth sorting on at this price.

How this list is ordered: ranked by derived sensor area in mm², filtered to cameras at or under $300. 22 of the catalogue’s cameras qualify. Cameras their makers no longer sell in the US keep their figures but are listed last.

  1. 1DJIDJI Osmo Action 472 mm² · 1/1.3-inchA big sensor on a small budget~$23972 mm²
  2. 2GoProGoPro MAX234 mm² per lens · 2 × 1/1.9-inch360 capture where the lenses will take a beating~$29934 mm²/lens
  3. 3AKASOAKASO 36031 mm² per lens · 2 × 1/2-inchFinding out whether 360 shooting suits you, cheaply~$19931 mm²/lens
  4. 4SJCAMSJCAM SJ3031 mm² · 1/2-inchAll-day recording where runtime beats resolution~$25931 mm²
  5. 5Insta360Insta360 X331 mm² per lens · 2 × 1/2-inchA first 360 camera without spending flagship money~$27931 mm²/lens
  6. 6AKASOAKASO Brave 831 mm² · 1/2-inchA GoPro-shaped camera with spares included, on a budget~$28931 mm²
  7. 7AKASOAKASO EK7000 Pro28 mm² · 1/2.3-inchA first or a spare camera at the lowest possible price~$8428 mm²
  8. 8CamparkCampark X3028 mm² · 1/2.3-inchA holiday camera where the budget is the constraint~$8928 mm²
  9. 9CamparkCampark V4028 mm² · 1/2.3-inchThe cheapest way to have a camera in the water~$8928 mm²
  10. 10AKASOAKASO V50X28 mm² · 1/2.3-inchSnorkelling and holidays where the camera is expendable~$9928 mm²
  11. 11AKASOAKASO Brave 7 LE28 mm² · 1/2.3-inchTalking to camera on a tight budget~$13928 mm²
  12. 12AKASOAKASO V50 Elite28 mm² · 1/2.3-inch4K60 for under $150~$13928 mm²
  13. 13SJCAMSJCAM C30028 mm² · 1/2.3-inchLong-form recording clipped to clothing~$15928 mm²
  14. 14GoProGoPro HERO (2024)28 mm² · 1/2.3-inchA first action camera, or a disposable extra angle~$19928 mm²
  15. 15AKASOAKASO Brave 8 Lite28 mm² · 1/2.3-inchA camera you can afford to lose~$19928 mm²
  16. 16GoProGoPro LIT HERO28 mm² · 1/2.3-inchNight vlogging and enclosed spaces where there is no other light~$26928 mm²
  17. 17SJCAMSJCAM SJ11 Active18 mm² · 1/2.8-inchA dual-screen budget camera from an established maker~$18918 mm²
  18. 18SJCAMSJCAM SJ20 Dual Lens18 mm² · 1/2.8-inchNight riding, where a fast lens beats a bigger sensor~$22918 mm²
  19. 19SJCAMSJCAM C40018 mm² · 1/2.8-inchHandheld vlogging that has to run all day~$22918 mm²
  20. 20DJIDJI Osmo NanoNot sold by DJI in the US72 mm² · 1/1.3-inchHands-free POV where a full-size camera is too much~$29972 mm²
  21. 21GoProGoPro HERO11 Black MiniNo longer sold by GoPro34 mm² · 1/1.9-inchA set-and-forget second angle on a helmet or chest mount~$19934 mm²
  22. 22GoProGoPro HERO11 BlackNo longer sold by GoPro34 mm² · 1/1.9-inchVertical and landscape delivery from one take~$24934 mm²
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