Action cams: Shooting surf videos - Nico Prien gives tips on camera, mount and perspectives
Stephan Gölnitz
· 21.11.2025
Nico Prien's action cameras probably surf more kilometres a year than the average surfer. His videos are super popular. Nico tells surf readers how he works and what you should look out for in your own windsurfing home video.
Which cameras are you currently using?
We currently have the Insta360 X5, the latest version of the 360-degree camera. Then we use the Insta360 Ace Pro 2, the latest version of the normal action camera. We also use the Insta360 Go 3S, a mini camera that we have integrated into the helmet in such a way that you hardly notice it. It's about the size of a matchbox and weighs just 25 grams. It works on the same principle as the brand new model: you can click it into a base for charging, which also has a small screen. To film, you just take out the small camera module.
What is the relationship between 360-degree cameras and normal action cams in your recordings?
I actually only use the 360-degree camera on the board. The only time I wouldn't use the 360-degree camera is in competitions. One criticism of 360-degree cameras is that they are actually too heavy for windsurfing. We have such strong strokes that almost every mount gives way after a while. As far as I know, however, Insta360 is working on a smaller 360-degree camera.
We have a camera built into the helmet for races."
Which brackets are you using?
I use a heavy duty clamp, i.e. a clamp with a screw cap on the boom. This is the standard mount when things need to be done quickly. There is a flymount for the mast. About two years ago, we also developed our own design in which we combine two mounts: We attach one to the boom with the clamp and the other side to the mast with a flymount. This creates a stabilising triangle. The shot is much better when the camera is further away from the material because it doesn't look so distorted and more of the material and the horizon can be seen. With this over-corner system, we can move the camera about one metre away from the material, but this is already the limit - the further away the camera is, the more leverage is created and the sooner the mounts give way.
Where are your favourite mounting positions?
The safest option is at the back end of the boom. It is not in the way and you can tighten it properly. That also looks OK in the video, but of course you don't have the face in the picture. If I want to have the face on it, I mount the camera at the front of the boom or directly above the boom on the mast. Of course, you can also use a helmet mount or this harness mount, where the pole goes to the back. When surfing, however, this construction is annoying because it always wobbles. However, it's only okay for a shot because the camera stabilises perfectly with the software. You simply have to differentiate between mounts that you attach briefly for a cool shot and those that you leave on for a whole session. For example, I would only use the harness mount for a few runs. The same applies to the helmet mount - the 360-degree camera is actually a bit too heavy for this. The mounts at the front and rear of the boom are the quickest to attach, are the least disruptive and can be left on for an entire session.
What is the most attractive way to present freeriding, i.e. normal touring?
The best variant is actually this forward boom, because then you move towards the camera as if it were a small drone. You can see a lot of the footage, the face, the posture - it looks very dynamic. Insta360 has a motion blur function in the app, which looks really cool and isn't distracting. It looks more like what it feels like at that moment, because the distorted wide-angle effect often means it doesn't look as fast as it actually was.
Do you have default settings for the camera?
We always film at maximum resolution and 25 frames per second because I don't like slow motion from this perspective. We simply want to have the best resolution. We use H.265 as the codec and set the bit rate to at least 90 Mbit per second, which is quite high, for maximum quality. Of course, you have to bear in mind that higher quality also requires more storage space. If you don't have a lot of hard drives, you should perhaps choose something in the middle range that offers good quality but doesn't immediately fill up the memory card. We only take videos with the camera, not photos. For internet content, it's perfectly fine to film in 8K and then take a still image screenshot afterwards with a little post-processing.
You sometimes surf with the stick in your hand - is that the easiest solution?
This is actually just for fun. Of course, you can use it to vary the perspective and move the camera back and forth a little, sometimes closer to the water. The closer the camera is to the water, the faster it looks. Incidentally, it is important to always secure the camera with a rope. I've often heard of people sinking their camera because it wasn't properly secured or the wrong mount was used.
Are there any tips on how to speed up post-processing?
Most of the time is spent trying to find the best moment in the video, such as the best jibe. There are remote controllers that you can attach to your wrist and use to press record. This saves a huge amount of time in post-production because you only have the shots you need. When editing, the tracking AI is now so good that you can simply track the face. The latest Insta360 even has a feature that automatically creates a fully framed video that is tracked to your face from the outset. The camera records a 360-degree video and also an MP4 file that you no longer need to edit. Editing can be done in the smartphone app or with the Insta360 Studio desktop software.
If someone wants to buy an action cam for windsurfing, would you recommend a 360-degree camera?
Yes, with a 360-degree camera you simply have more options. With a normal camera, you only ever have one angle and can't change anything afterwards. With a 360-degree camera, you can change the perspective while editing, which is particularly cool when you're surfing with friends. I would definitely recommend a heavy-duty clamp for boom mounting as an accessory. The mast mount, on the other hand, not so much, because you then have a 2D perspective and can hardly separate the surfer from the water.
- Nico's Youtube channel: youtube.com/@Nico_GER7
