.jpg)
.jpg)
Sony
Action Cam AS30V Review
I got my hands on the latest Action
Cam by Sony last week and I can’t help myself but write a review about it since
it’s just super awesome. For those who didn’t know what an Action Cam is, it’s
actually a camcorder targeted for those who indulge themselves with extreme
sports (superbike racing, mountain climbing, surfing etc). Since nobody can see
what the person is going through, a Point-of-View (POV) camera is suitable for
such situation. It’s going to enable recording during such activities plus providing
GPS data to keep track of your route. We’ll see what the Sony Action Cam has to
offer.
.jpg)
.jpg)
Hardware
and Design
Inside the small package lies the
1/2.3” type back-illuminated Exmor RTM CMOS sensor with 12 effective
megapixel for photos and videos. The lens is the ZEISS® Tessar® Lens if the
highest quality and I have to admit, it gave such a nice and sharp shots of mostly
everything that’s in focus. With the max aperture of f/2.8, it does provide a
clear, sharp images and recordings. However, be aware that the minimum focusing
distance for the Action Cam is 30cm and nearer than that would give you an OOF
(Out-of-Focus) shots. Recording button on the back is quite flimsy but it does
have a lock to prevent from accidental recording that would end up drying up
your juice. Underneath the record button is the battery and memory card slot.
The battery would last around 2 to 3 hours. Standy would last for a week I
guess. The action cam can either too a microSD or Memorystick micro. I get a
64gb microSD since it gave much more recording time for me (around 5 hours of
full HD recording or 10k plus shots). The two button on the side are for
navigating the menus and a super-small LCD to show the menus. It was built with
great aerodynamic since the wind resistance will be much less than the GoPro.
The slot for microUSB, microHDMI and mic were placed on the bottom and covered
with a flimsy hard plastic cover. Charging is definitely with the microUSB
since it remove the hassle of taking the battery out and using the external
charger.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
Video
The Action Cam maxed out it’s
recording at 1080p 60fps with 18mbps. Beside, it also has 1080p 30fps, 720p
120fps (SuperSlowMotion), 720p 60fps (SlowMotion), 720p 30fps and 480p. After
using it on a few occasion (especially on my superbike), the Action Cam proved
to be smoother though there’s few artefact which I believe came from the
waterproof casing. Videos without stabilization will be at 170º and turning it
on and you will get a little bit tight which is around 120º. That might be a
lot but for me, it works best on some events. Most of the time I would turn off
the stabilization just to get the extra view.
Photo
I would say it’s a mixed bag. This
little cam is definitely not suited for photos but it does it’s job. Though it
gave you 12mp of photos each time you’re on your own selfie, high noise is the
drawback. I managed to get a great outdoor shot with great lighting but indoor
is very much acceptable. Not very good but you can still see your own smile.
Sometimes I would take clips from the video itself cos it looks much cleaner
than taking a photo.
Accessories
Sony has thrown mostly everything you
can think of. From the headmount to the chest harness, you name it. Mostly are
upgrades from its little brother, the AS15V. What you will basically get right
from the box are waterproof case, a curvy and a flat sticking mount. Others
like the chest harness require you to blow some cash. The most significant of
all the accessories is the LiveView Remote. It has a small LCD that act as a
viewfinder and it would also act like a watch to show time. You can record from
the watch which means you don’t have to go for the cam itself to push the
record button. Changing the setting and view was made easy by the watch. It’s
also waterproof. That’s why I get one.
.jpg)
Usage
It works great. Sometime, you can just
hold it during your walk and you will still get great videos. The cam alone is
not waterproof. It requires the waterproof case to make it waterproof and maybe
a little shockproof. It will still break if you smash it on the floor though. I
had great time using it in the pool with my friends and the SuperSlowMotion
mode is very, very smooth. It’s just like peanut butter cream. The cam is built
specifically for extreme sport users. However, if you’re a person who prefer
travelling alone, this is also the one for you. You can take you own selfie or
record whatever you’re going through your holiday. Since I travel alone with my
bike, having this is a much better option.
Price
It’s a Sony. You can’t expect a low
price. You think this is a junk? It was priced nearly the same with the
GoPro3+. I got mine with the LiveView Remote watch and it costs RM1,499. The
GoPro3+ was priced the same with a recording remote watch. I guess Sony’s watch
is much better since it gave me a look at what I’m recording though it was like
a bulk on my wrist. All the accessories were plastic and it’s gonna cost you
premium price. Don’t tell people that I didn’t warn you for this.
Final
Verdict
This is not a normal camcorder. If you
think you’re getting this for your home video, you would better off using your
smartphones for that. My Samsung S4 did better home video or even stupid video
compared to the Action Cam. Get this cam if you are going jumping off the
cliff, bungee jumping or even skydiving or even any other sports that is going
to make recording impossible. Videos are smooth, shots are considerably
acceptable and it is quite tough. Get this one if you’re going to do so extreme
and crazy stuff.
