At CES 2015, Sony continued to show their commitment to 4K by making the ultra high resolution format more affordable and available on a larger variety of devices. Ironically, in this article, we’ll be introducing to you one of the smallest ways to record 4K content. Enter the Sony 4K Action Cam FDR-X100V. As the name suggests, this small POV camera is capable of recording native 4K while still fitting in the palm of your hand. Best of all, the camera is jam packed with features that will help you get the best footage possible, no matter if it’s shot in 4K or 1080p.

Details after the jump.

Obviously the biggest feature of the FDR-X100V is its ability to shoot in native 4K. Specifically, the 4K Action Cam can capture content at 3840×2160@30p 100Mbps1/60Mpbs. The 4K Action Cam also features a ZEISS Tessar lens with an ultra-wide angle 170-degree field of view with a a back-illuminated Exmor R CMOS sensor and  BIONZ X processor. As shown by promotional footage from the 4K ActionCam, the POV cameras new wide lens becomes key in capture a more thrilling video with a much larger scope. Patrick Huang, director of the camcorder business at Sony Electronics:

 I’m thrilled to bring the unmatched clarity and sharpness of the Sony 4K experience to our Action Cam line. The innovative design and impressive technology in the new X1000V reflect our strong 4K background and intense commitment to the POV camera market. 

What Haung is referring to is the Action Cam’s SteadyShot stabilization technology which is approximately 3 times more effective at suppressing high-frequency motor vibration. As you can see from the video above, the difference can be quite dramatic with SteadyShot turn on vs. off. It’s worth noting that SteadyShot stabilization is currently only offered while recording in HD – and not in 4K mode. The X1000V can also capture extremely high frame rates of 120p in Full HD (1080p) and 240p in standard HD (720p) for slow-motion footage. All video can also be played back on an HD or 4K TV using a Micro-HDMI to HDMI cable.

In fact, you can play back 4K footage on a regular HD television thanks to a zooming technology with allows you to control the parts of the footage you wish to see on the HD television. Speaking of playback, the new Action Cam adds wind noise reduction that minimizes wind interference with the stereo microphone for even more usable footage. Like its HD counterparts, the 4K Action Cam also includes a built-in GPS for geotagging of your footage. Don’t have editing software? Fear not, as Sony provides the Action Cam Movie Creator software free of charge which, as you’d probably guess, can take advantage of that GPS data.

Though slighter larger and heavier (114g vs. 92g of normal Action Cam), the POV cameras still fit firmly in the palm of your hand and can still be mounted just about anywhere you can think of without ever noticing that they’re there. The Sony 4K Action Cam FDR-X1000V is priced at $499 which includes the SPK-X1 waterproof case (pictured right) and will be available at retailers in March.

Discuss:

What do you think about the Sony 4k Action Cam FDR-X1000V?

[Via Sony]