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The New Sony 4K Action Cam is IMMENSE
if you’re looking for an action cam in 2016/17, look no further — the Sony 4K Action Cam is utterly superb!
Richard Goodwin
08:51, 5 Sep 2016
Launched at IFA 2016, the new Sony 4K Action Cam is one of the most impressive feats of miniaturisation we’ve seen in recent times. Sony has rammed it chock-full of innovative technology in order to create one of the most compelling action cams on market.
The MO here is simple: judder-free, 4K video that looks absolutely stunning. This was the goal of the Sony’s newest 4K action cam, but the technology that makes all this possible – BOSS — is what you’ll be really paying for and anyone familiar with Sony’s handy cams will already know where we’re going here.
BOSS stands for Balanced Optical Steady Shot and it has been a staple of Sony’s camcorders for quite some time now. This is its first outing inside an action camera, however, and the results it delivers in this medium are very impressive indeed. Even more so when you consider the size of this thing — it measures in at just 83 x 47 x 29.4mm.
The official name of this new 4K action cam is the Sony X300R and it features a raft of new technology that takes what Sony’s previous 4K action was capable of and straps a rocket to its ass and blasts it into space!
The X300R packs in a new 4K Exmor R CMOS sensor and Zeiss Tessar lens, which produces the same quality video as Sony’s AX53 handy cam. This is impressive in itself, but when you factor in the rugged, small-form design of the X300R and the fact that it is water-resistant up t0 60m you know you’re looking at something rather special.
All the ports are now located on the backside of the device for easily access. Charging is done via the X300R’s microUSB port and Sony has added red light recording lights to both the front and back of the device, so you’ll always know when you’re recording.
Sony 4K Action Cam X300R Accessories
There’s a new fingerprint included in the box as well as a redesigned Live View Remote, which is now smaller, lighter and more durable. It connects to the Action Cam via Bluetooth, meaning you can switch the camera off from your wrist and perform other tasks as well.
As the name suggests, this watch-like accessory lets you monitor exactly what you’re recording from the comfort of your own wrist.
The finger grip, however, is the best new accessory as it allows for far more fluid recording. It makes shooting video so much easier and adds a level of balance to shots that just wasn’t available on Sony’s predecessor. It features a 120º tilt and is simply operated by your thumb; just roll up or down to tilt for awesome shots. Simple stuff, yes, but highly effective.
Is this the best action cam available? Quite possibly. The quality of video you can shoot with this thing is extremely impressive, as are its built-in specs and features.
All of this awesomeness does come at a premium, however — the Sony 4K Action Cam X300R will cost you £500 when it gets its release date in November.
That’s WAY more than the latest GoPro, but I think once people see what this Action Cam is capable of the price of entry will simply fizzle away. I don’t usually get excited about action cameras, but this one is truly special in a number of ways.
Roll on, November!