Filming and skateboarding have gone hand in hand pretty much since skateboarding was invented.

Even if you go back to when skateboarding first started to take off in the ’60s, filming and shooting photos of the tricks being landed was a common practice, and it’s really only become more popular as time has passed.

Whether it be for a full-length video, a short edit to post online, or even just a cool clip for your Instagram, getting videos of the tricks you land is a big part of skateboarding.

When it comes to cameras, there’s a ton of options to choose from, but some of them are definitely better than others, especially when it comes to filming skating.

I’ve been filming skateboarding for over 10 years, and I’ve tried a lot of different cameras, so I decided to make a list of my favorites.

These are 7 of the best cameras for skateboarding.

GoPro

To start off with we have GoPro cameras.

Since GoPros were the first-ever action cameras, they’ve been used in skateboarding ever since they were first released, and they’ve continued to get better pretty much every single year.

GoPros are known for filming really high resolution footage, and as of now most of their cameras can film either in 4k or sometimes all the way up to 6k. They also have some of the best built-in image stabilization out there so the footage is really smooth, and you can even adjust the look of the fisheye. To top it all off, GoPros are some of the most durable cameras you can buy, which naturally makes them a good option for filming skateboarding.

For a while people only filmed with GoPros for specific shots, but the cameras have definitely become much more rounded, so nowadays you could probably get by with using it as your main camera.

GoPro has done a great job at keeping their cameras at a low price, so regardless if you’re on a budget you can most likely afford one. Even the absolute newest GoPro out only costs around $400, which is a really fair price given the quality of the camera.

Pros:

• Small
• Lightweight
• Easy to use
• Durable
• High Quality Photo / Video Capabilities
• Affordable
• Can be used wirelessly with GoPro App

Cons:

• No removable lens
• Not as customizable as other cameras

DSLR / Mirrorless Cameras

Next we have DSLRs and mirrorless cameras.

Now for the sake of time, I’m not going to go into too much detail on the nuances of these, but to give you a quick summary, these are cameras that are meant for both taking photos and filming HD video. These types of cameras have definitely been on the rise more recently, especially as people have started transitioning to only filming HD footage.

DSLRs and Mirrorless cameras are good for anyone who wants to film in HD, or people who want to get into taking photos as well. Most professional skate videos these days are filmed on these types of cameras, so if you’re looking to get some crisp HD footage, they’re definitely worth considering.

As far as recommendations go, there’s a ton of options to choose from so it really just depends on your budget.

Some of the more affordable options include cameras like the canon t31, the Canon 60D, the Sony A6100, and the Panasonic GH4. If you have a little more room in your budget, some more expensive options worth looking into are the canon 6D mark 2, the Sony A7R 2, or the Panasonic GH5. There’s a ton of other great options though, those are just a few of my favorites, so feel free to do your own research too.

Keep in mind that no matter what camera you go with, you’re going to be able to film in HD, so even if you can’t afford the most expensive camera you should still be able to get good quality footage.

Now the major downside to these camera styles is that even the cheapest options can be somewhat expensive, and they also require a lot more attachments than some of the other cameras out there.

Even a budget option is going to run you close to $1,000 assuming you get a fisheye and a mic, and the more expensive options can easily hit $1,500 or more. All of the extra attachments they require can really start to add up, and they can also be a bit of a headache to assemble every time you want to film.

With that said, this is the direction a lot of skateboard filmers are going, so if you want a good skateboarding camera that can film in HD, then it might be your best option.

Pros:

• Film in HD ( 1080p, 4k, 6k)
• Take high quality photos
• Very customizable (lenses, mics, handles, etc)
• Lightweight

Cons:

• Can be expensive
• Requires several attachments
• Harder to learn how to use
• Not durable (depending on the model)

Sony VX1000

Another good camera for filming skateboarding is the Sony VX1000, which is arguably the greatest skateboarding camera of all time.

This camera defined a solid 10 to 20 years of skateboarding, and it still has a cult following today despite there being hundreds of cameras out there that are way better from a technology standpoint. Part of this has to do with the fact that the VX1000 was the first simple to use camera that was widely adopted in skateboarding, but it’s also because the VX1000 has proven to withstand the test of time.

The Sony VX1000 is a camera that almost anyone can pick up and start using right away, and it’s also a lot more durable than most modern cameras. Unlike other cameras that have a lot of bells and whistles, the VX has an easy to use interface, and since there’s a built-in mic, handle and LCD screen, you don’t need a ton of attachments like some of the more fancy cameras out there. The idea is you can just grab it and go, which is part of the reason it’s one of the best cameras for skateboarding.

The first VX1000 originally came out in 1995, but since then there’s also been the release of the VX2000 and the VX2100, which are almost equally loved by skateboarders. They all share a lot of the same features and are all great skateboarding cameras, but the original VX1000 is still widely considered the best despite being older.

You can find a classic VX100 on eBay for $500-$1000 depending on the attachments it comes with, which might sound a little steep for a 25 year old camera, but they hold their value and they should last you forever.

If you like the look of older style skate videos and want something that’s easy to use for a decent price, you can’t go wrong with a VX.

Pros:

• Easy to use
• Attachments built in
• Affordable
• Durable

Cons:

• Doesn’t film HD
• Hard to find replacement parts
• Over 25 years old

Panasonic HVX / DVX

Next on the list we have the Panasonic HVX and DVX.

The Panasonic DVX was essentially a competitor to the VX1000, and was really popular around the same time. Eventually the DVX got replaced by the HVX, but both cameras are still really common in skateboarding.

The Panasonic HVX and DVX are both really durable, easy to learn how to use, and they have most of the attachments you need built-in. This makes it one of the best skateboarding cameras for people who want something easy to use like a VX1000, but also want something with higher quality footage. The HVX and DVX are a really good in between, and they’re even the cameras that Beagle switched to when he stopped filming with a VX1000.

Since they’re a little newer they do cost a little more, but you should be able to pick up the camera for around $1,000 depending on which one you go with. A lot of people might think that’s too much to pay for a camera, but they really are solid cameras, and aside from being used for skate videos they’ve even been used to film actual tv shows and movies.

Even though you’re paying a lot, these types of cameras pretty much last forever, and there’s a reason why they’re so popular in the skateboarding community.

Pros:

• Films in HD
• Durable
• Attachments built in
• Affordable

Cons:

• Heavy
• 10+ years old
• Harder to learn how to use
• Hard to find replacement parts

Akaso V50

Another good camera for filming skateboarding is the Akaso V50, which is a pretty good budget option that I just found out about recently. This isn’t the most well known camera, but it gives you good value for your money and it’s a really good entry level option.

Most skateboarders use the same 4-5 types of cameras, but a lot of them can be somewhat expensive and they aren’t always the easiest to use. This can make it harder to start filming because first, you have to find a way to afford the camera, then you still have to learn how to use it.

The Akaso V50 is a good starter option that’s both affordable and simple to figure out, so they can be great for a lot of skaters who are new to filming.

The camera films up to 4k/30 fps and can take 20-megapixel photos, it has electronic image stabilization to help get smoother shots, there’s built-in wifi so you can control it wirelessly through their app, and it also supports an external microphone.

Since it’s an action camera, it also has a lot of accessories you can use with it, so there’s definitely a lot of room to get creative. The V50 in particular is already pretty affordable, but for the rest of the year, you can actually get 15% off if you use the promo code “CAMVIP” on their website.

Pros:

• Small
• Lightweight
• Easy to use
• Durable
• High Quality Photo / Video Capabilities
• More affordable than GoPro

Cons:

• No removable lens
• Not as customizable as other cameras
• Not as good as GoPro

iPhone

Next up on the list, we have an iPhone.

In the past couple of years, the cameras on iPhone has gotten way better, and it’s gotten to the point where people are willing to film actual street clip just using their phone. Even though they’re not the best camera for filming skateboarding, they can definitely hold their own, especially when it comes to some of the newer models.

For years the biggest dilemma with filming using a phone was the fact that they were low quality and only filmed long lens, but the most recent iPhones can not only film in 4k, but they have several lenses built-in, which means you can now film fisheye or long lens, and it takes almost 0 effort to switch between the two. iPhones are also a lot smaller than almost every other camera on the market, and pretty much everyone carries a phone on them anyway, so it’s for sure one of the most convenient options out there.

Assuming you have friends, a great thing about filming with an iPhone is that it’s so simple to use that you can easily hand it to someone else when you want them to film, and most people are able to figure it out.

Now of course iPhones still aren’t going to be as high quality as an actual camera, and they aren’t exactly known for being the most durable, but, considering you need a phone anyway, paying a little extra for a camera you can film some good clips with isn’t the worst idea.

Keep in mind new iPhones tend to cost around $700 or more, so it’s not worth it to buy for the camera alone, but if you happen to need a new phone, and you also want a good camera to film skateboarding with, then it can be worth looking into.

Pros:

• Small
• Lightweight
• Easy To Use
• High Quality Photo / Video Capabilities
• Most people use a smartphone anyway

Cons:

• No removable lens
• Expensive
• Not durable
• Not as customizable as other cameras

What is the best camera for skateboarding?

People tend to think that they need to spend thousands of dollars to get a good camera for skateboarding, but realistically, there’s a lot of really good low-budget options out there.

Also, it’s important to keep in mind that you don’t have to have the absolute best camera. Most of the time the skateboarding tricks being filmed are way more important than the camera that’s filming them, so it’s better to focus on the skating than on the camera.