Action photography dirt cheap.

[Idiot Savant]

Prior to my last paddling trip, an ad for an inexpensive action camera showed up on my internet feed.
It claimed it was highly rated. Curious, but skeptical, I checked it out on Amazon.
It was the AKASO EK7000. The reviews were very favorable, so I ordered one and rigged a mount on my kayak (sorry) that I planned to use on the upcoming club trip.
What I planned to do, what I hoped to do, is have it take multiple still photos, while going through the minor rapids, which I normally can't do, since my hands are occupied with paddling. I wasn't expecting a lot but thought it was worth a shot.
Unfortunately, I didn't read the instructions carefully enough and ended up with video.
This short segment is while we were going through the Black Rocks section of the Loma to Westwater run on the Colorado River.

As you can see, the quality isn't bad and I'd say pretty amazing for what the camera cost. I can't wait to actually use it the way I intended.
There are several other similarly, or even cheaper, action cameras that are probably about as good.
I ordered a few others and just ordered one for under $34.
I plan on mounting a few on my canoe for my next trip.

 

[Dana]

After getting frustrated with GoPro's awful software I got a couple of Akaso cameras for flying videos, I'm pretty happy with them.

 

[Gamma1214]

For what you're trying to do (capture images where hands-free is the only option), I'd probably just leave it in video mode and lift the still images from it frame-by-frame. While you'd fill a memory card faster that way, there should never be a time when you miss something by just seconds.

That's how I got this shot of the log truck after my Steel River trip (GoPro on the dash).