Polaroid Cube
HTC RE
Sony HDR-AZ1VR
KUCHING: Over recent years, action cameras have taken the market by storm. Unlike your average cameras, action cameras are built to withstand the elements and physical crashes all while capturing high speed action in high definition.
While GoPro is the market leader and has undoubtedly helped make action cameras a big trend especially among young adults and professional film-makers, other camera and technology brands have taken the opportunity to leverage on this trend by offering their own versions of action cameras.
The following are some alternative action cameras that are currently available in Malaysian market.
Not one to miss out on the race in the camera market, Sony also has its own line of action camera. The Sony HDR-AZ1VR is one of the latest in its arsenal of action camera, featuring a smaller and lighter design than its predecessors.
The camera’s slim size is about two-thirds of its predecessor, and is designed with an IPX4-class splashproof body. It also features low-light performance thanks to the 11.9 megapixel back-illuminated Exmor R CMOS sensor and its Action Cam Mini’s Exmor R delivers clearer, sharper images and drastically reduces noise when shooting in dimly lit environments.
It is also equipped with a built-in Advanced SteadyShot to compensate for vibrations in motion. This enables smooth blur-free shooting, even when the Full HD Action Cam is worn during fast-action sports such as biking, skiing and surfboarding.
Aside from Sony HDR-AZ1VR’s camera, its sound recording features stereo Mic with 120p High Speed REC. Other features of this action camera include full control by smartphone & tablet (wi-fi/nfc), 170 degrees ultra-wide angle Zeiss Tessar lens, pro functions, upside-down flip capture, and tally light for convenient checking of recording status from various angles.
Polaroid, largely known for its instant cameras, is also producing its own line of action cameras. It recently launched Polaroid Cube and has recently announced the Polaroid Cube+, an upgraded version of Polaroid Cube.
This fun-designed, colourful Polaroid Cube lifestyle action camera is water resistant, shockproof, and mountable. It also features 1080p HD video recording, 3MP CMOS sensor and 124 degrees wide angle lens.
It is also equipped with a mounting magnet which makes it easy to stick to any metal surfaces such as helmets, skateboards, bicycle handlebars, and more.
Another action camera to note is HTC’s recently launched RE action camera.
Launched in Southeast Asia late last year, the HTC’s unique RE action camera is unlike most action cameras in the market as it features a minimalist cylindrical design, made to be comfortably held in the palm of your hand.
RE’s built-in grip sensor instantly activates the camera as it is picked up, eliminating the need for a power button.
This latest action camera by HTC is also equipped with high-resolution 16MP CMOS sensor, full HD (1,080p) video recording and a 146-degree wide-angle lens.
RE is waterproof out of the box, without needing any additional casing or protection and it’s features include simple slow-motion and time-lapse recording options.
Technical Specifications
Polaroid Cube
Video: HD 1080p video
Camera: 6MP
Lens: 124 degrees
Features: Splash-resistant up to two metres, records up to 90 minutes
Dimension: 35mm x 35mm
Memory storage: MicroSD up to 32GB
Sony HDR-AZ1VR
HD Video Codec: MPEG-4 AVC/H.264
Media storage type: Memory Stick Micro (Mark 2),Micro SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Card(Class 4 or Higher), Micro SDXC Memory Card (Class 10)
Image sensor: 1/2.3 type(7.77mm), back-illuminated ‘Exmor R’ CMOS Sensor
Image processor: BIONZ X
Features: Water proof, underwater shooting, shock proof, dust proof
Maximum still image resolution (Photo Mode): Approximetely 11.9, megapixels 16:9 (4,608×2,592)
Image Stabilisation: Electronic SteadyShot image stabilisation with Active mode
Backlight Compensation: Yes (Auto)
Dimensions (W x H x D): Approximetely 24.2 x 36 x 74mm
Mass (main unit only): Approximetely 48g, Approximetely 63g (NP-BY1(supplied battery))
HTC RE
Features: Grip sensor instantly turns on the device when it is picked up, one-hand operation design
Camera: 1080p, 30fps FHD video, 720p, four-times slow motion video, 146 degree super wide angle lens with f2.8 aperture for low light usability
Battery: 820mAh rechargeable battery, supports 1hr 50mins of continuous FHD video recording
Dimension: 26.5mm diametre, 97.7mm height
Sensors: 16MP, 1/2.3 inch Sony CMOS sensor
Connectivity: BLE (Bluetooth v4.0), Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n), Wi-Fi Direct, five-pin micro-USB, MicroSD Card Slot
Weight: 66.5 grams
Memory: Expandable microSD storage