Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

Looks like Sony is getting into the POV market. Their not currently disclosing much in the way of details at this point but it looks as though it will use Sony’s SteadyShot image stabilization, Exmor R CMOS image sensor, and have an ultra-wide angle Carl Zeiss Tessar lens. The following links provide a little bit more information as well as pictures. Looks pretty interesting.

FIRST LOOK: Sony’s new action camera SONY make.believe

Sony's Action Cam prototype is incredibly small, we go fingers-on at CE Week in NYC -- Engadget

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

Of the two (the JVC and this).. I'd probably trust Sony first. But I have more than a sneaky feeling that many of their hoped-for markets are already well saturated.

Jim

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

1080p60 for $300 or less and I'm buying one (although I notice it doesn't say AVCHD on it, probably records MP4 files at 1440x1080 in 30P). I already have a bunch of GoPros but maybe the Sony will be able to get usable audio.

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

Having Steadyshot will be an improvement over my ContourHD would be nice if it had remote control though. Will wait and see when the real specs appear.

Ron Evans

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

Beats the GoPro in price at $200. Sony HD Action Camcorder | Action Cam | HDR-AS10/B | Sony USA

Bummer they removed the tripod mount from the camera body that the concept version had. Waiting to see actual footage though.

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

My opinion matters not in the least...but I like the ergonomics of the GoPro (flatter, boxier) than elongated shapes such as this.
Good for them for adding an external mic input!

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

Looks like the record frame rate is only 30P too so no smooth action shots. Maybe Sony will have an upgraded model with 60P etc !!!

Ron Evans

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

Reading the full set of info now it looks like it does have 1280x720 at 60P. That's OK even if 1920x1080 60P would have been nice. The more I look at it seems like it may be a lot better than my ContourHD.

Ron Evans

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

Too bad it's 30p/60p only even in Europe, where 25p/50p is needed. Hard to believe that Sony made such a mistake. Without European formats, the HDR-AS15 is no option for me.

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

The 720/120p feature is what I'm excited about, that with the wifi ability means I can do some interesting things with this as a bird cam at feeders/perches etc.

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

Where did you see any WiFi interface? It would be very good if it did have WiFi.
Ron Evans

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

my understanding was that WiFi is for the file transfer only, but i bought one anyways, 120fps @ 24Mbps - sweeeet!
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/887139-REG/Sony_hdras15_b_HDR_AS15_HD_Action_Camcorder.html

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

Let us know what you think of it when you have had time to play.

Ron Evans

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

At about 1:30 into Engadget's hands on you can see them using a phone as a viewfinder. They mention being able to change settings also.

Sony's tiny ruggedized Action Cam gets official with 16MP Exmor R, WiFi, $199+ price tag (hands-on) -- Engadget

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

wow even better!
but i still have to wait till the end of September :(

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

Story says it has a "fixed zoom.". Well, which is it?

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

It's fixed at 2.5mm. 35mm equiv. is 15.3 and 21.3 with steadyshot on.


Interesting that it takes both G and X series batteries. It's not mentioned anywhere on the Sony store spec page or in the press release but the side of the camera is labeled with both X and G in addition to some photos showing both.

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

Here are the bit rates from Sony HD Action Camcorder | Action Cam with Wi-Fi | HDR-AS15/B | Sony USA

"Movie Recording Rate(Average Bit Rate/VBR) : HQ:Approx.16Mbps/SSLOW:Approx.24Mbps/SLOW:Approx.12Mbps/STD:Approx.6Mbps/VGA:Approx.3Mbps"

If I am reading things correctly then 24 MBps for SSLOW looks ok but the other bit rates don't impress.

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

Sharp eye mark. That's disappointing.

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

Sony often get the specs wrong on the site. The 1280x720 is quoted as 30P but in brackets three speeds ? From other sources it is 60 and 120 too. 1920x1080 at 30P is about right for 17Mbps and 1280x720 would be fine at 24Mbps for the higher frame rates too. They are just not fully relating frame rates and recording bit rates. Maybe we will get the real information soon.

Ron Evans

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

I pre-ordered one so looking forward to trying it out.

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

I've tested it side by side with the GoPro Hero 2 and it doesn't hold up. It's softer, with slightly better in-camera color. I would stick with GoPro for sure.

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

How were you able to test it since it's not officially released?
Are you judging by eye or using other criteria?

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

I had the privilege of using a beta version. Judged by my eye. Just finished DP'ing a Nat Geo show.

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

Were the condition light or dark, image stabilizer on or off ( can it be turned on and off ?), 1920x1080 30P, 1280x720 60P or 120P.

Ron Evans

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

Full sun, 1080/30p.

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

Well, I'll take comfort in knowing that was a beta version. Hard to imagine how GP's image could be better.

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

I too will wait and see. The interest for me is the image stabilizer. With my ContourHD I always need to stabilizer video after I have shot skiing. This always makes the video soft as it has to rescale. Not having to stabilize as much in post may make the image good for my use. The image stabilizer and WiFi control at the cost makes the Sony very attractive as the same solution for either the Hero 2 or ContourHD + is a lot more expensive.

Ron Evans

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

Annen...did you by any chance use the Sony with its steadyshot circuitry on? That would cause a softer picture.

What I'm really looking forward to is the camcorder adapter that is due in November. I wonder what other controls will be gained. Exposure? Audio? I can't find any information on this adapter nor any pictures. Hopefully it will be just as light as the camera itself.

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

What have you heard about this camcorder adapter? What I am wonder is how one uses the external mic input and then mount the camera? It seems like the only way to mount it to a tripod is with the plastic case and I don't see a way to use an external mic with it.

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

I've heard absolutely nothing. It seems like such a radical new concept....like a modular camera. (I've never liked the idea of a camera without a viewfinder, however. That makes no sense whatsoever.)

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

My guess is that the adapter which will convert the Action Cam into a handheld camera will snap on the bottom, making a pistol-like grip that will also have a small (2"?) fold-out screen. Should be very light, perhaps only doubling the total weight.

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Well....I was fully expecting GoPro to release something at Photokina tomorrow and it doesn't appear they will be there at all.

I preordered the Sony today. I'm tired of this game.

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Mine shipped from Sony and is on it's way. Hope to test it out this weekend.

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Amazon is telling me mine should be here next Wednesday.

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

Anxiously awaiting your assessment!
Please try to compare to a Hero 2. Up till now they've been the "gold standard," so any review without referencing them will make it hard to know exactly where Sony ranks or what we're even talking about.

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

I got mine yesterday. I'm learning the ropes with it. Seems like if your back lit it engages the auto gain and add's noise. I was actually worried the auto white balance would be the obstacle but it seems to be the auto gain. Still, it is capturing detail well and I can work with that. I've only had it for a day and a half but it seems to be more "Noise" than a focus issue to me.

The mic is super sensitive. You would be surprised at what it will pic up while in the water proof housing. I'm controlling mine with a Casio Commando Android and I really like the WiFi. I have about a 1.5 second delay between real time and what I see on the phone. Today I just ran around looking for things to test it on and its been fun so far. No real problems to speak of.

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

Thanks Woody!
Can you turn the auto gain off ?

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

I don't think so Don. That would be nice though. Here is some test footage.

http://youtu.be/uOYTL4GqNzk

http://youtu.be/cJMREI4KJfU

http://youtu.be/rfugaDw7fIw

http://youtu.be/dZjE2Eu8CJs

Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV
 

Thanks for posting. Very interesting!
I'm amazed how good the audio is in the housing...almost as if the plastic acts as a sort of transducer for the sound waves.
Encouraged by the low light test too.
I can't wait for the camcorder adapter to become available as the final piece of the puzzle (as shooting without any viewfinder is totally non-sensical, wide angle lens or not).