Table of Contents
amazon Sony Action Cam FDR-X1000V and GoPro Hero 4 Black reviews
Design and features
If you’ve ever heard of Sony’s Action Cam line, you’re probably familiar with the FDR-X1000V. It still has a round body in fashionable white, with a flat beveled bottom to stand on its own. The tripod mount is located at the bottom of the machine along with an external microphone mount port. Meanwhile, the lens is mounted in the front, below the 2 mic stereo that can filter the noise of the wind. Manufactured by the well-known Carl Zeiss, the FDR-X1000V lens has a 170-degree wide angle and f / 2.8 focal length. When image stabilization (or defocusing) is enabled, the angle of the lens will be reduced to 120 degrees. In addition, Sony has built-in settings to select defibrillation levels to suit various usage scenarios. On the back of the machine, underneath a cover are the connectors Micro HDMI, USB, battery tray and micro SD card slot.
Another advantage of the FDR-X1000V is the IPX4 waterproof, which allows for use in a number of wet environments without the need for a waterproof case. Of course, Sony also offers a case with water resistance at a depth of 10 meters. With optional accessories, the FDR-X1000V can operate at a maximum depth of 60 m.
The use of the FDR-X1000V is quite simple, with buttons that have nothing to do with previous generations. There are two buttons Prev and Next to navigate the menu on the square LCD screen located next to the machine. At the top is the button to start / stop rotation, and also the selection button when browsing in the menu. In particular, the FDR-X1000V also has a built-in NFC near-field connection that allows quick pairing with compatible phones.
Similar to the Sony Action Cam FDR-X1000V, the GoPro Hero Black 4 also has a box-like design that does not change much with its predecessors. However, those who used GoPro Hero 3/3 + Black will notice some minor but significant changes on the Hero 4, such as the battery tray that has been moved from the beside to the bottom of the machine. The new layout makes replacing the battery easier, but also means that the battery of the previous generation Hero will not be compatible with Hero 4.
The layout of the buttons of the Hero 4 Black is still the same as the previous generation – except one point: the Wifi switch has been replaced by a new button called the Hilight Tag. Basically, when shooting an impressive moment, you immediately press this button and then you can find the video and record it quickly on the GoPro application on your phone or computer. When not recording, this button also acts as a button to access the settings menu. The interface on previous generations of Heroes is a mess, but GoPro makes navigating the menus easier by just integrating the necessary options in each mode. This means that if you press the Settings button, you will only see the settings for the video.
On the left is the Mini USB connector, Micro HDMI and Micro SD card slot, all covered by a detachable lid and very easy to lose. Hero 4 Black supports memory cards up to 64GB. The Mini USB port is used to transfer data, and to charge the battery, but it is possible to attach a removable mic via this port with a removable cable. Unlike the Sony FDR-X1000V, the Hero 4 Black does not have a removable mic. Although the machine itself does not have a touch screen, you can add an optional touchpanel or BacPac removable battery through the Hero’s own dedicated port on the back. Due to the same size as previous generations, all accessories for the Hero series are sold in the market are compatible with Hero 4 Black.
Although not as waterproof as the FDR-X1000V but in return, the Hero 4 Black is offered more accessories including a waterproof case up to 40 m, two attachments using tape (a curve, a flat And 3-way adjusting arms. No charger included, only a Mini USB cable so you can charge the Hero by charging the phone or computer.
where can you get a Sony Action Cam FDR-X1000V online
Sony FDR-X1000V/W 4K Action Cam: Buy it now
Sony FDR-X1000VR/W 4K Action Cam and LiveView Remote Kit: Buy it now
Video formats
Although both can record video at 4k / Ultra HD resolution, both Sony and GoPro offer customers a choice of resolutions. At the present time, there are not many people who own a 4k computer or TV, so this resolution is only the most useful when editing or “capturing” a picture from a recorded video again.
The Sony FDR-X1000V is capable of recording video in either MP4 or XAVC S format. However, only the XAVC S supports 4K dialing at 3840 x 2160 pixels, with a 30 / 24p frame rate at 100 Mbps or 24p at 60 Mbps. More specifically, the X1000V is capable of recording video in XAVC S format with the following resolutions and bitrates:
50Mbps (1080/60/30 / 24p)
100Mbps (1080 / 120p or 720 / 240p)
60Mbps (1080 / 120p or 720 / 240p)
Meanwhile, the options in MP4 format less, include:
1080/60 / 30p
720/30 / 120p
480 / 240p
To be able to record at a 100 Mbps bitrate, you will need a micro SDXC card that complies with UHS-I U3 speed, otherwise the X1000V screen will click Media when you select this mode. It also offers the ability to adjust the brightness and various white balance modes, but can not adjust the ISO.
In 4K mode, the X1000V records at a 1: 1 ratio with the sensor – ie 1 pixel on the sensor will be 1 pixel on the video. On some other cameras with larger pixels on the sensor, they often group more pixels on the sensor to form a pixel on the video. That’s why the X1000V delivers more true color and less jagged video. The loop option allows you to record video continuously.
Meanwhile, although it can only record in MP4 format, GoPro Hero 4 Black offers a wide range of options for frame rate, bitrate, aspect ratio and resolution, not to mention the width of the angle. This opens up a myriad of possible combinations of settings that we can not list in this article. To summarize, Hero 4 Black is capable of video recording in the following resolutions: 4K, 2.7K, 1440p, 1080p, 960p, 720p and WVGA. Supported frame rates per second are 120, 90, 60, 50, 48, 30, 25 and 24p. Finally, the machine has three settings for viewing widths: Super Wide, Medium and Narrow.
With Hero 4, GoPro “boasted” the ability to manually adjust the parameters while filming and taking photos called Protune, but this ability is still limited. When in Protune mode, the video only has a bitrate of 60 Mbps. Compared with the X1000V, the machine has full settings such as white balance, brightness and even ISO.
Connect to smartphone and battery life
Equipped with a variety of connectivity options such as Wifi, NFC and even GPS, the X1000V works with Sony’s PlayMemories application. Besides using the phone screen as the viewfinder, this application also has the function of automatic video editing through the Highlight Movie Maker feature. Using the images obtained from Action Cam, combining data from the gyroscope, acting in movie footage, color and smile detection, Highlight Movie Maker automatically filters out Highlight clips, merge them and insert music. It should be noted that this feature does not work with clips shot in VGA, 24p, high speed or 4K. In addition, Play Memories also has the ability to control five cameras simultaneously and stream live video over the internet via Wifi if you have an account at the Ustream service.
According to Sony, the X1000V can continuously record video at 1080p resolution for 115 minutes and 4K for 50 minutes. Using Wifi and setting a 4K resolution, we can dial within 50 minutes before the battery light goes off.
Using the GoPro Mobile application, you can connect Hero 4 Black to your phone via Wifi. The machine is also equipped with Bluetooth so that connections later become faster, though still not as fast as the NFC of the X1000V. Although there are not many unique features like PlayMemories but in return, GoPro Mobile allows for software updates on the Hero 4 Black, making updating easier than inserting a microSD card into the computer.
Hero 4 Black’s battery life is not high, but it’s hard to expect from a small and powerful sports camcorder like this. If you do not use Wifi, you should turn it off to save battery power. Turn 4K 30 fps in Protune mode when off Wifi, we can use the machine for about 50 minutes and this number will drop to 40 minutes if Wifi on.
where can you get a GoPro Hero 4 Black online
GoPro HERO4 BLACK: Buy it now
GoPro HERO4 Black Edition Camera HD Camcorder With Deluxe Carrying Case + Head Strap + Chest Strap + 2 Battery And Dual Charger + 32GB SDHC MicroSD Memory Card Complete Deluxe Accessory Bundle: Buy it now
Goro HERO4 Silver: Buy it now
GoPro HERO4 Black 4K Camera/ Music Edition: Buy it now
Picture quality and performance
Thanks to the Zeiss lens and high bitrate, the 4K videos obtained from the X1000V are extremely smooth and crisp. Compared to the GoPro, Sony’s camcorders have high contrasts in their default settings, though you can adjust them to provide more neutral colors through Neutral. Video recorded at 4K and 100 Mbps bitrate only have a slight color distortion, expressed through the purple fringes on the sides of the frame. But this is not a major drawback, due to the high resolution that allows you to cut off the error. At the same time, you also want to trim the video frame to reduce the camera’s shake, because image stabilization is not available in 4K mode. The X1000V defibrillator works very well in other modes, although sometimes the video is slightly distorted. Anyway, the video quality is much better than the non-defibrillated camcorders.
Similarly, the picture quality from the camera is also very good with brilliant colors in the default mode. However, at 8 megapixel resolution, images appear disturbed and thanks to details. However, they are still usable if you just upload to the web.
Sony has not changed the design of the waterproof case since the AS100V camcorder, which has the disadvantage that it is easy to put water on the curved front of the lens. So if you shoot in a watery environment, occasionally the video will be partially covered by droplets. In addition, the lens is also susceptible to dirt and steam, requiring regular cleaning. Finally, when used on the beach, sand can get stuck in the case making it harder to open than normal.
As the highest level version of the Hero line, the video quality obtained from the Hero 4 Black is also worthy of praise. The video clips in low light and night conditions are excellent, especially considering the machine has a small sensor. However, the biggest downside of Hero 4 Black is that it has no defibrillation. This disadvantage can only be remedied if you shoot in 4K resolution, then cropped again in the editing process.
The quality of photos is good, but if you zoom in, the picture will be lost. Again, let’s reiterate, the Hero 4 Black’s sensor is even smaller than your compact camera, so you can not expect quality DSLR-like images from it. The new Auto Low Light mode available on Black actually slows shutter speeds, causing more light to enter the sensor. It will work perfectly if both the camera and the object are stationary, but any move from one of the two elements will result in the image being smudged.
Conclude
Drawing on the experience of previous Action Cams, the X1000V is a big step forward for Sony. It has brought to the customer a selection of new potential sports cams next to GoPro Hero. If you require high-quality, vibration-free video, the X1000V is a smart choice.
Meanwhile, despite the lack of anti-vibration, and battery life and features less than the X1000V but in return, Hero 4 Black benefited from the number of accessories from the larger third- From previous Heroes. In addition, the video quality of the Hero 4 Black is “equal” compare to X1000V and its varied imaging options remain almost unrivaled in the sports camera segment.