GoPro HERO12 Black

I picked this as the value sweet spot in GoPro's lineup: you still get sharp 5.3K video, excellent stabilization, and a waterproof body, usually for less than the newest model. It also doubles as a webcam and can live-stream, which makes it handy beyond action shots. Before you buy, check that you have a fast microSD card, and decide whether the newer model's swappable lenses matter to you — if not, this is the one I would point most people toward.