Sony announced this one a while back, and from inspection:
- Smaller than a Contour... but requires the exo-suit, which bulks it up again
- Only mounting method apparently through the bottom, unless you do something really custom with the exo-suit.
- Uh... accessory door blocks the mount? So no external accessories can be used with the mount, or the exo-suit for that matter.
- Apparently there's an accessory that will plug in through the bottom that will turn the thing into more of a traditional camcorder, which is kind of neat, but not worth the cost of inflicting the above problem.
- Removable battery
- 120fps mode
- Wifi transfers enabled (possibly alleviates lack-of-display issue)
- Appears to have Steadyshot; probably digital
- One review shows the thing has focus issues; looks like someone farted on the right side. Not sure if it was a bum unit, but it's always a fucking pain in the ass getting this stuff resolved with manufacturers.
But here's the killer... the lens is not rotatable.
I know this sounds like a minor thing, but considering that the mounting is so limited, then sometimes you might need to orient the camera in an unusual fashion, which is OK as long as you can... rotate the lens to compensate.
I think I'm going to have to set the Drift HD as the gold standard for this category, because it has a standard 1/4"-20 thread, and while mounted, can be adjusted along the vertical (or whatever axis is perpendicular to your mount surface) AND has a rotating lens.
If you're going to go after the GoPro, you can't replicate its flaws.
Otherwise, it seems like a decent action cam. But again, the market is heating up...
For the weight (90g) and the Steadyshot capability, this might be an interesting cam for RC use...
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