Shoot blur-free action videos on the move

With their current capabilities to shoot high-definition videos, smartphones have made dedicated consumer video cameras pointless to most users. However, for all the megapixels, and frames-per-second, and other high-end specifications that these phones tout, they are still delicate devices that needed to be handled carefully.

Sony’s Action Cam HDR-AS30V lets users capture high-quality videos without having to worry about breaking or ruining the device. The camera is built for point-of-view video capture or any form of action videography.

It features Sony’s SteadyShot image stabilisation that helps combat some of the shake in the video. In addition, the camera features an ultra-wide Carl Zeiss Tessar lens that has a 170 degree field of view so you can capture a really wide picture of all the action. The built-in stereo microphone captures the sound as well from your outdoor experiences. There is a minor flaw in design though, in that the external microphone jack is placed at a position where when connected, you can’t keep the camera steady on a flat surface. This minor flaw means it becomes difficult to use the camera when an external mic is connected. The camera weighs only 90g and is light enough to be used in just about any situation.

The Action Cam lets users captures full HD Video, with options to shoot at lower resolutions of 720p and 480p too. However the more exciting feature is the ability to shoot 720p video at 60 frames per second (fps) and 120fps which means users can slow down the video to 2x and 4x, making for some great slow motion videos.

The result is a set of very dramatic action videos. Of course at these resolutions, you will run out of space very quickly, which is why the device features a memory stick micro and micro SD/SDHC slot to expand the space available.

It comes bundled with a rugged and waterproof housing that makes it suitable for extreme conditions. The housing makes the camera waterproof for up to 60 metres and it protects the device from dust and dirt.

The Sony Action Cam also features built in WiFi so you can share or copy over video without the need for a cable. Alternately you can connect it right to your TV via its micro HDMI port to show the videos on the big screen. It is retailed at Dh1,599 and bundled with a 16GB memory card, underwater housing, a waterproof headband, tilt adaptor and wrist mount.

The writer is a marketing professional based in Dubai.