Sony is taking on GoPro with the Wednesday launch of its new Action Cam (HDR-AS30V), a portable camcorder designed to brave even the most treacherous situations.
A follow-up to its previous Action Cam model, the new camcorder is 35% lighter and 25% smaller than its predecessor. Weighing in at 3 ounces, the pint-sized device is designed to be strapped to the top of your helmet, front of your surfboard or handlebars of your motorcycle.
[seealso slug="8-fantastic-fitness-apps"]
The Action Cam can record Full HD (1920x1080 60p/50p) video, as well as take 11.9-megapixel still shots while you’re on the move. Built-in Wi-Fi gives you the ability to share those videos via smartphone, then upload them to social media.
The camera can also be controlled using your smartphone or a new Live-View remote, which looks more like a watch than a remote control. Strapped to your wrist, the waterproof controller can help frame your shot when you’ve mounted your camera in a hard-to-reach place, and can start and stop recording as well as take photos.
The camcorder captures a 170-degree field-of-view and has a new “two-screen multi view,” where you can easily pair shots from two different Action Cams into the same final video, for sharing with friends.
A “Movie Rotate” feature also makes it easy to rotate a video right-side-up, and with GPS functionality users can overlay a map of their journey over the final masterpiece.
Sony has a number of different mounts for the camcorder, including a chest mount harness, roll bar mount and, yes, even a mount for your dog.
The HDR-AS30V will be available late September for $299.99. With its release Sony’s current Action Cam, the HDR-AS15, will drop in price to $199.99. The Live-View remote will be available December for $149.