Whether you are a content creator who wants to document every minute of your daily life or a security professional looking to document your shifts, a body camera easily attaches to your clothing to record videos with optimal clarity. Capture footage in full HD resolution in bright and low-light conditions with built-in night vision and motion detection sensors. Clip a body camera to your hiking backpack and capture stunning footage of the mountains and valleys. Secure one to your boarding shorts as you surf large waves. The applications are endless. To help you choose, our experts reviewed several body cameras and compiled their list of favorites based on recording quality, battery life, ease of use, storage capacity, and durability. Document your own version of events with one of the below body cameras.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I use a body camera for?
Body cameras have a wide array of applications. Law enforcement agencies use them to record the activities of officers and their interactions with the public. Healthcare personnel use them to document injuries and emergency situations. Journalists use them to obtain and record evidence when a large camera is too obvious and pauses a danger. Anyone who enjoys recreational activities like hiking, camping, and watersports can use a body camera to capture memories and gorgeous vistas. They can also be used for surveillance, as a dash cam, as a nanny cam, and much more.
How long do body cameras last?
Body cameras can last for years if cared for and maintained properly. The main failing point on a body camera is the battery. Batteries have a lifetime of around 2000 cycles, which means you can charge them and discharge them for about 2000 times before they start losing their efficiency. This translates to around 5 years of usage if charged every day. However, other factors like humidity play an important role in a camera’s lifespan. If the camera is not water-resistant, humidity can damage the internal electronics and cause them to rust. Always dry the camera with a soft cloth before storing or charging it.
Buying Guide
Body cameras serve many purposes and are exploding in popularity because of their compact designs and impressive recording quality. But how do you choose one that works best for you? The following guide highlights the top things to look for when shopping for body cameras.
- Resolution: Most body cameras can record videos in full HD resolution, but some allow you to record videos in lower resolutions if you are running low on memory space. Wide angle lenses capture the details and surroundings of a scene or situation. 140-degree and 170-degree wide angle lenses are the most popular choices for security and emergency personnel.
- Night Vision: Body Cameras are equipped with a night vision mode and infrared LEDs to record videos in low light conditions or at night. They can capture videos with optimal clarity from up to 50 feet away. Some even have motion detection features to start automatically recording and double as home security cameras.
- Memory Capacity: The memory capacity dictates how many hours of footage the camera can save. Some body cameras come with built-in memory storage, while others only offer external storage and require that you purchase a TF or SD card. Body cameras that record in full HD require large storage space. We recommend 64 or 128GB of built-in memory or a 128GB TF card if the camera doesn’t have internal memory storage. Body cameras with loop recording overwrite older videos when the memory is full to keep recording.
- Battery Life: The battery life on body cameras can last anywhere between 4 and 10 hours. Cameras with built-in GPS sensors consume more battery life and may not last as long. Recording in full HD drains the battery much faster than recording in HD resolutions, for example. If you are using this body camera for work, we recommend a minimum of 8 hours of battery life so you can fully cover your shift without having to recharge the camera. A body camera with a 2500 or 3000 mah battery is ideal.
- Water Resistance: Body cameras intended for outdoor use should offer water resistance, or at least splash resistance. Splash resistance means the camera can withstand splashes of fluids or the occasional rain. Waterproof cameras can be submerged in water. Rugged bodies with shock and impact resistance protect the body camera from drops.
- Size and Weight: Because these cameras are secured to the body for extended periods of time, a compact and lightweight body camera is more convenient and comfortable. A 360-degree rotatable clip allows users to mount the camera to the straps of a backpack, a belt, a security vest, or even a bike.
CammPro Body Camera
Best Overall
Large Memory Capacity
Our top choice has a large built-in memory and a 140-degree field of view to record videos in vivid detail. It is also equipped with infrared LEDs to capture clear footage in pitch darkness from 50 feet away.
Why We Love It:
- Records videos for 11 continuous hours on a single charge
- Withstands extreme weather conditions like low and high temperatures
- Waterproof and shock-proof body for superior durability
- Ability to embed time, camera ID, and GPS coordinates in recorded videos
Something to Consider:
- May be a little bit heavier than other options on our list
BOBLOV Body Camera
Runner Up
Doubles as a Dash Camera
This option offers up to 10 hours of continuous recording on a single charge thanks to its large rechargeable battery. Secure it to a backpack, shirt, or belt using the two included 360-degree rotation clips.
Why We Love It:
- Has a 140-degree wide angle lens that captures HD videos in the day and night
- Bright LED lights allow it to capture night vision videos with optimal clarity from 32 feet away
- Special dash cam mode continuously records whenever the camera is connected to a USB power supply
- Intuitive and easy-to-use menu with a 2-inch clear LCD display
Something to Consider:
- Does not have a built-in memory and does not come with a TF card
PatrolMaster Body Camera
Contender
Easy to Use
This option’s claim to fame is its one-button operation that allows users to record video and audio, take pictures, change the settings, and even turn the camera off and on. It has a 170-degree ultra wide angle lens to capture details.
Why We Love It:
- Waterproof and shock-proof body makes it ideal for indoor and outdoor use
- Compact and lightweight design with a bright LCD display and an easy-to-navigate menu
- High-intensity infrared LEDs for recording clear footage from 33 feet away in low-light conditions
- On a single charge, it can take 10,000 photos or record 18 hours of video
Something to Consider:
- Some laptops do not recognize this body camera and will not retrieve and download recorded videos
MIUFLY Body Camera
Honorable Mention
With Geo Tagging
This one has an internal GPS receiver to provide geo-location tagging to any video you record to document where and when it was recorded. The rugged and compact design makes it ideal for security and emergency personnel.
Why We Love It:
- Long battery life offers up to 10 hours of continuous recording on a single charge
- Very bright Infrared LEDs to capture night vision videos with superior clarity
- Built-in 32GB of memory storage and a 2-inch display for instantly reviewing videos
- Allows users to set a password to prevent others from deleting or copying recorded videos
Something to Consider:
- The instruction manual is not clear or detailed
lseason Body camera
Recommended
Compact and Lightweight
This is the most compact option on our list. Despite its size, it can record up to four hours of video in full HD resolution at 30 frames per second. The USB-C interface makes charging and connecting it to any laptop a breeze.
Why We Love It:
- Comes with a 360-degree rotatable clip for added convenience and ease of use
- Built-in motion detection and night vision mode for clear videos in low light conditions
- Built-in 32 GB of memory, so you never run out of recording space
- Automatically deletes and overwrites old videos when the memory is full and keeps recording
Something to Consider:
- Downloading videos from this camera to a laptop takes a long time
