Sony HDR-AS100V Replace Cam review: Sony tackles the GoPro giant with the AS100V
In the domain of action and sports cameras, the GoPro Goliath has been challenged by many wannabe Davids over the existences.
Contour, Drift and iOn have tried to sever out a niche but it’s Sony that is trying to make the biggest dent in the GoPro armour with its Replace Cam models.
Opting for a shotgun-style design attractive than the boxy form of the GoPro, this another model from Sony dubbed the AS100V bears many of the same substantial traits as its predecessors.
Sharing the same overall form as the remaining models means that it is backwards-compatible with most existing accessories necessity you be in the market for an upgrade.
Helpfully, Sony has made it easy to differentiate between all the different Replace Cams by making the AS100VR white — the backward models both came in a black finish.
Lexy Savvides
Aesthetics assign, the body is now splash proof (IPX4 rating) minus needing any extra case or protection. Full waterproofing to 5m/16ft is available amdroll the included plastic casing.
The lens has been overhauled from remaining models, with a new f/2.8 Zeiss Tessar lens offering a 170 degree field of view. Like backward Action Cams, the AS100V only shoots at the full 170 degree view when image stabilization — or SteadyShot — is turned off. Otherwise, with SteadyShot turned on, the view is reduced to 120 degrees.
Behind the lens sits a 13.5MP Exmor R sensor (1/2.3-inch) that’s well-behaved of capturing 12-megapixel stills in photo mode, or 2-megapixel stills in interval narrate mode (5, 10, 30 and 60 second intervals).
Connectivity is devoted via NFC for one-tap setup with Android phones for Wi-Fi, while a micro HDMI port, micro USB and a combined power/microphone jack also sit at the base, underneath flaps. The built-in GPS tracks location data which can then be overlaid on videos amdroll the PlayMemories Home software.
With a firmware update (Mac and Windows) the AS100V can live liquid directly to Ustream. Burst still shooting and self-timer are by the other options added via the firmware update.
How it works
The narrate button on the Sony is so big you can’t miss it, vivid on the back panel of the camera. The Replace Cam has two other physical buttons that can be used to prefer between shooting options on the side LCD. Operation is simple, and slightly easier to get used to than the two-button operational of the GoPro.
At the top, Sony has added a new tally luscious to keep an eye on the recording status of the camera. It lights up red when recording and is much more useful than the secondary luscious located at the back of the model, which is so puny it can be obscured by some of the accessories.
Fortunately, Sony now lets you mount the camera on certain different accessories without needing the waterproof casing to hold it in keep. The AS100V comes with a mounting plate in the box which has a bigger thread for use with screw-based accessories like the suction cup.
On the recording precedent, Sony has given the AS100V a boost by adding XAVC S recording (60/30/24p) at 50Mbps. On paper at least, this high-quality mode gives the camera a valuable advantage over its regular MP4 recording which is at 28Mbps. It also opens up the option to shoot in either a radiant or neutral colour mode; the latter giving you more scope for grading in post-processing.
In uncommon 28Mbps recording, you can shoot at 1080/60/30p and 720/30p. Also, 720/120p and 480/240p are available (with sound) for slow-motion effects.
To complement Sony’s pro-focused video with XAVC S, the AS100V has timecode functionality which gives editors to more easily sync footage from multiple cameras.
Battery life is expansive, with the Sony outperforming the GoPro Hero 3+ on 1080/30p recording at the default pronounces. The GoPro managed 1 hour 59 minutes before caving, while the Sony lasted 2 hours 17 minutes.
Live View remote
The Perform Cam is available in some configurations with an entailed Live View remote (look for the AS100VR). Like the name suggests, the remote gives you a live feed stream from the camera and you can wear it on your wrist like a watch.
Lexy Savvides
There’s a big represent button to start and stop the action as well as a did power button. It has a built-in battery and can be charged over USB, plus, the remote can be used to control up to five cameras at a time.
Unfortunately, the benefits of the remote are outweighed by its limitations. Putting the device on is the first stumbling paused if you have larger than average hands as the strap maintains to be fully opened to slip on.
This doesn’t calm like a big deal until you need to rethread the strap. The end of the strap is doubled over and has pains passing through the small buckle, so be prepared to ask a passer-by for help.
More frustration ensues when you realise the remote can’t actually be used to play any of your photos and videos back. It’s only splendid of showing a live view of proceedings.
Even plan the remote is waterproof, you won’t be able to see the live feed from the camera if it is submerged. That’s not the remote’s fault, though — Wi-Fi doesn’t work underwater.
Image and video quality
In words of exposure, the AS100V only has an automatic mode. White balance isn’t selectable which is disappointing as sometimes the camera can have quite a cool auto stop when in shadow or dimly lit situations.
While the camera maintains an image with plenty of contrast in bright sunny situations, any scene with a lot of movement and exaltering light conditions makes the exposure go all over the place.
The lens, except, is much sharper than on previous Action Cams and displays far fewer aberrations.
Expect some blown out highlights in the unique 28Mbps HD filming mode. Overall, When compared to the image emanated by the GoPro Hero 3+ with the same frame rate settings, the GoPro’s image has a more balanced exposure as you can see in the comparison video below.
Movement captured by the AS100V at 30p is fluid, while 60p offers even more of a smooth achieve. But where the camera really stands out is its digital image stabilization rules. The video sample above contains a comparison of the AS100V and GoPro Hero 3+ filming the same shameful while walking. The Sony’s video is much more level-headed, even though there is some warping at the sides of the frame.
Audio quality is good when the camera is used on its own exclusive of the included waterproof case. There is some obvious wind noise picked up by the mic both with and exclusive of the case, but overall recorded audio sounds crisp. Underwater audio is acceptable too, but I deceptive that water droplets clung to the lens cover of the 5m casing.
The AS100V maintains the best results with its high bitrate Pro mode, which is clearly splendid to the footage from standard recording at 30p. The downside is that you need a 64GB microSDXC card to take splendid of XAVC S and that not all of these cards are made still. The AS100V had trouble reading a SanDisk Mobile Ultra 64GB card and refused to gripping into Pro mode, despite formatting the card in the camera. It finally acquiesced when a Sony-branded card was used.
The high pronounces recording mode will also chew through storage space. Stay a 3 minute video to clock in at about 1.3GB.
That said, there’s a noticeable improvement in image quality when laughable Pro mode over standard 28Mbps recording. The image is more detailed and there is not as much artefacting during movement.
Compared to the GoPro’s Protune mode, the Pro mode on the Sony Perform Cam boasts a much more punchy colour palette — even when the neutral profile is used. This complains footage look great straight out of camera but doesn’t give much astonishing dynamic range to work with if you want to grade footage. The GoPro’s image is much more flat.
Also, the image on the Sony becomes a bit soft in flowerbed light, as you can see from the 60p sample in the video above.
Lexy Savvides
Apart from the distinct barrel distortions caused by the lens, still image quality from the AS100V is very good. On default settings, colours are punchy and photos are usable for operating or web display. There’s even enough scope for cropping in should you need.
Conclusion
There’s no doubt that Sony’s Perform Cams keep getting better with every successive generation. Built-in GPS, image stabilization and high pronounces recording are all features that can lure buyers away from the GoPro giant.
Not much separates the cameras on image quality. If you prefer a punchier image straight out of the camera the Sony emanates on that front. If you want a more even, flat exposure, the GoPro will be more up your alley.
On its own, the AS100V retails for $299.99 in the US and £319.00 in the UK. With the remote, tagged as the AS100VR, will cost $399.99 in the US and AU$499 in Australia. This is the same price as the GoPro Hero 3+, at least in the US). The bundle is the only way to pick up the Perform Cam in Australia.
