Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

To set up any shot you can use your existing Android or Apple phone (with wifi) as a real-time viewfinder. That feature is ready right now. You can even start and stop the video from the phone while viewing. If the camera is mounted so you do not have to hold it, then you can just use the phone as the real-time viewfinder as you shoot. The wifi connection does NOT need internet access, it is direct.

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

I had the front off the housing for the audio while it was on my dashboard. Still I did do some running around with the housing closed and it still picked up more audio than I thought it would.

Mark, I am using a Casio Commando Android phone. There is about a 1.5 second delay, so its not real time and what you see on the phone is only at 15 fps, so it doesn't look quite as smooth. The color is pretty awesome for what it sends to the phone though.

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

Thanks for the info. Clearly wifi-phone is useful for framing the shot, and also better than an attached lcd for self-portraits, like in two of your videos.

I just got mine today.

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

I just got back from a kids birthday party with my two little ones. Very handy to have in your pocket!

Mark, I think you are going to like it, its a fun camera and very impressive for being the size of a pack of gum.

The WiFi works great but you can run into interference. Using it by a running boat motor will shorten the distance you can use and a bluetooth ear piece will to. I'm going to test and see how far away I can use the phone to control it without interference this weekend.

Edit: I haven't gotten my suction cup mount yet but I picked up a cheap Targus Grypton Pro XL from Target that works awesome with this litte camera. I also took the flat QD mount that comes with the camera and backed it with velcro instead of sticking it to something permanent. I can stick it to a ton of things with velcro.

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

I am impressed with the steady shot.

Steady Shot on HDR AS15 - YouTube

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

Here are three things I have learned so far:

1. The camera puts out a clean HDMI signal as 108060i (really 30p). You could attach a Nanoflash or Ninja and record high-bitrate video from the camera bypassing its high compression.

2. Stabilization (all digital) seems to really lower resolution and increase video noise. Relatedly, the 170 viewing anlgle seems to have less video noise and higher resolution. The 120 angle just crops the sensor, as does the digital stabilization, magnifying the noise.

3. The included camera battery (BX1) can be charged in the old Sony BT-TRN charger.

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

Thanks for the video's Woody. A couple of comments.

First....you're my kind of people. I thought I was the only one that videoed my crossbow shots.

Second...All the shots look better than any of my HD2's. It's cleaner video and the lowlight and especially, WB look better.

Now I'm really looking forward to Wednesday.

A little OT, I heard a completely unsubstantiated rumor that GoPro was going to announce the GP3 on 11/2.

That doesn't look good for their Protune firmware release if true.

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

The only thing better than making arrows fly is filming them. :-)

I know a lot of people are comparing this camera to the GoPro HD2 and that may seem logical to a consumer perspective but that initial customer feed back can be a huge event in the evolution of a product. I wouldn't look to compare them just yet. I'm sure there will be a firmware evolution here and if it adds some gain control and possibly exposure or WB that would be a game changer for sure.

The way a lot of people judge the GoPro isn't really realistic. Its a POV camera not the "A" camera. If you can do some "Post production" you can already get a lot out of these. I really wouldn't want to see a competition between the two towards an "A" camera outcome as that would be toward the look of a finished product rather than what data/information it collects. I really think the HDR-AS10/15 is fine the way it is. If we had some means of control with a manual gain and exposure to lock it, even if we can't adjust while filming, that would be an asset. I'm also sure there will be someone making a new front for the housing, complete with filters and such.

I'm very happy with it. The more I work with it the happier I get with it. It will help me add some creative "B" roll that can add some production value once I learn what it needs from me to get that quality of picture but I'm not looking to turn it into a "A" cam. But I'm sure you know what its going to turn into shortly on the net, good thing we'll have hunting season to occupy us an avoid it. :-)

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

I just got mine from Sony Store today. Quick look and I'm thinking this is a keeper.No thorough enough test to judge video quality, but here's some non-video observations:

+ Charge via micro USB or buy optional wall charger. Uses G and X batts.
++ WiFi works with it sealed up in waterproof housing, so you can see using your phone ~@15 frame/sec. i I feel its sufficient to determine if I'll get the shot. GoPro I think requires housing to be opened up to get this capability. So Sony is better in wet environment, assuming you can keep your phone dry (ziplock bag helps here).
+++ WiFi allows start/stop record remote control, change from 120 to 170 degree angle, some frame rate adjustments and still vs video modes. If you are sticking this on an airplane wing or similar inaccessible place this is killer feature.
+Cheaper than similar Gopro kit, Wifi enabled Sony is only $269.
+Micro SD, Class 4 needed.

-Camera gets warm in it's waterproof (to 60m/200ft) housing. Nothing to get too worked up about.
-GoPro chest mount is pretty handy, not sure how to duplicate here. I can see times where chest mount would be preferable to head mount.
-I had to disconnect Android from home WiFi to get reliable connection tpo phone. Guessing only one is allowed. No issues outside home, away from home AP. Not Sony's fault.

Nice attention to detail on Sony. example, waterproof housing has flat bottom, so it sits on flat surface.

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

Wow! This is looking good. Thanks Woody for the clips. The low light is much cleaner then I would've expected. And being able to frame shots on a phone is going to be a HUGE advantage.

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

My pleasure Mark, I don't usually get to be the guy providing info. Usually I'm one of the guys just surfing around absorbing it. I'm happy to repay all you guys anytime I can.

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

One more video of the camera under vibration distress.

While I was on the Tar Res. I did run a creek channel back to the boat launch. I've run other cameras that were toast due to "Skew" and "Wobble" rolling shutter effects on the same mount. My boat has a four stroke Yamaha F60 and is real quiet, so you can pick up a lot from inside the closed housing. The loudest noise you hear is from the camera vibrating inside the housing, so if you are looking to use it in a situation such as this, I would pad it with something thin like moleskin. I'm surprised the vibration didn't mess up the picture, it sure sounded horrible.

Sony HDR AS15 Vibration - YouTube

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

Impressive SteadyShot on Woody's youtube post...but I notice the lawn grass detail has been lost in a blur of major compression artifacts. And this is using the 170 degree, cleanest video.

Steady Shot on HDR AS15 - YouTube

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

You can only use 120 degree while the steady shot is activated.

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

I assumed 170 because the fish-eye distortion was so pronounced...the roof of the house in the background was bending.
So I guess the video's being hit with a "double whammy"...digital noise introduced by the SS along with noise from enlarging the frame? Thus explaining the grass falling apart?

But as Woody said, maybe I just have to accept the fact that this is the "POV look." It ain't gonna get any better.

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

The Youtube videos are doubly compressed - by the maker of the videos in an editor and by Youtube. Here are originals from the camera:


1. An original jpeg taken from the interval recording mode.


2. A frame grab taken from the original 170-video on a relatively dark afternoon. This is the worst case, as the scene is highly detailed - even 108060p camcorders do not do that well, but they do better.


This is the best you get from cloudy end of day.

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

I'm sure adding another "0" to the price would change that but then my wife wouldn't let me be so lucky to be out running around with this thing. :-)

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

Didn't go on the drive today that I was planning on, but did a little video on the way to lunch.


Some slow motion of hummingbirds.

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

I am enjoying the time-lapse feature. Here are two time-lapse scenes: one at an airport terminal and the other at Trafalgar Square, London in pouring rain (that waterproof case came in handy). In the square I did did not quite set the camera straight, but you can see what the camera can do. The video I made is the full 1080p, so select that:

Sony HDR AS15 Action Cam Time Lapse Test Video: Airport Terminal and Trafalgar Square - YouTube

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

Very nice Mark!
How long between shots?

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

I chose one shot every five seconds About a half hour for each scene of shooting, Then rendered as a 30p 1080 video.

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

Is there anyone that could share a few seconds of raw footage through dropbox or any other sharing site? Think it would be very interesting if we could see how the footage looks like before it undergoes any type of compression.

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

Noa, Try this link. I uploaded a clip to my yousendit account and this should be the link to it. https://www.yousendit.com/download/T...SWhrUm1jZDhUQw

I also made a open air mount today to try and avoid over heating in the housing during long recordings. Pretty cheap and if it buy's me some time, its worth it.


DIY Open Mount for AS15 - YouTube

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

Thx Woody!

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

Another time-lapse video from the AS15:

Sony HDR AS15 Action Cam Time Lapse Test Video 2: Charing Cross Terminal - YouTube

Select 1080p.

This has better lighting than the other two.

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

Cool time lapse Mark!

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

Having read through the manual I am disappointed it will not record 60P with audio or even 60i. I am not a fan of slow frame rates and the purpose for me is skiing where I would like the smooth fast motion capture with Steadyshot that GoPro and ContourHD do not have. I may just go for the latest Contour + which has WIFI, GPS so has some similarities but does do 60P. At least have a lot of mounts/batteries for my present Contour. It is a little more expensive.

Ron Evans

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

Mine is due today and I just looked at the order.

They're shipping it with Lasership. That's bad!

I have a No Trespassing at my gates and for a number of orders, they would mark it "Left on the front porch" but nothing was there. When I'd call and complain they would always say it was because he was afraid to go past the sign. I told Amazon to never use them again for my deliveries.

They couldn't promise they but did send my complaint to Lasership who delivered fine for a while.

I have a Great Dane who is more baby than dog and wouldn't hurt a fly. He stays in the house most of the time but can go out when he wants.

One day I heard a blood curdling scream from the front yard. There lay the Deivery man on the ground curled up in a ball and Zeus sitting about ten feet away looking puzzled. The fellow had seen him, tried to run and fell down.

I may never get my camera.

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

Another time-lapse video: The Strand, London at rush hour and dusk:


Sony HDR AS15 Action Cam Time Lapse Test Video 3: The Strand - YouTube



Select 1080p.

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

Some accessories that are not on Sony's store yet:

Sony Handheld Grip with LCD for Action Cam $99.99
A Handheld Grip with LCD Screen adding a camcorder-style 2.7” wide rotatable LCD for instant playback, monitoring during filming, and self-recording.

Sony Anti-Fog Insert for Action Cam $16.99
Anti-fog sheets to help stop condensation build-up in the waterproof case during marine or winter sports, reusable for approx. 2,000 times by natural drying.

Sony Tilt Adapter for Action Cam $24.99
Tilt Adaptor to adjust the device’s angle up or down on mounts for more viewpoint options.

Sony Replacement Door Pack for the Action Cam $49.99
A Replacement Door Pack that offers three different housing door options to deliver improved picture or sound quality for suitable environments: HD Dive Housing - door with flat lens for diving/underwater focus, HD Skeleton Housing - door with opening over the microphone for improved audio, Replacement HD Housing - door with curved lens for scratch replacement

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

It doesn't appear the adhesive mounts are available either.

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

Where are you finding those accessories listed? I would like to see a picture of the "Handheld grip" camcorder adapter especially, along with its weight.
I'm not a big fan of a wi-fi transmitter parked near my brain while wearing the headband unit!

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

No pictures. Saw the listing on a site called Unique Photo (don't think I can link as not a sponsor).

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

Has anyone operated the camera by WiFi yet?

I'm old and worse than that, I'm an old hillbilly and am iggernant in WiFiology.

The instructions say select a suitable application. Well duh, what is a suitable application to run the camera?????....not view or transfer the images....to operate the camera.

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

Don, I've used the WiFi more often than not. You have to download the Sony "Play Memories Mobile" app for your phone.

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

Don, I only just bought my first "trak phone," not cell phone mind you, a month ago (and didn't bother to renew it after the first month ran out). So I understand your confusion. I was thinking maybe the software came on a cd but I'm assuming it must come from a Sony web site. Here's a useful video on wi-fi's usage with the Action Cam:
Sony Action Camera WiFi Demo (HDR-AS15) - YouTube

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

Adhesive mounts are included with the camera. you get two - one curved and one flat. also comes with waterproof housing.

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

I know Mark but I buy them by the dozen for the GoPros. Lots of things to stick them on.

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

Well, others may not know what you are saying or what comes with the camera. In any case, what you are saying about *extra* adhesive mounts not being available is untrue:

Sony Action Cam Adhesive Mount Pack | Action Cam Mounts | VCT-AM1 | Sony USA

They are available from Sony, in stock, and ship nextday. So, I don't get what you are using as information.

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

Thanks!
I looked in the Sony Store and on Amazon and couldn't find them.

Pricy aren't they! Hopefully the aftermarket folks will get on them pretty fast. Until then, I'm making an adapter to use GOPro mounts.