Video Cameras

Sony Action Cam Dog Harness Gets Price, Release Date

by Sohrab Osati | Apr 19, 2013 | 0 comments

Remember the Action Cam Dog Harness that was shown at CES 2013? Well Sony is finally revealing details about the pet accessory that will surely add many more videos to your YouTube channel, all from the perspective of your dog. Come April 26th, those who reside in Japan will be able to get their hands on one for ￥5,250 (about $53). The Action Cam Dog Harness is designed to fit the Sony HDR-AS15 and weighs only 128g, making it a light commitment for your dog. Cat owners are out of luck though it’s doubtful your feline companion would have any of this anyways. No word yet on a US release date.

Sony Bloggie Sport Video Unboxing

by Sohrab Osati | Feb 2, 2013 | 0 comments

Thanks to our friends at Sony who provided us with the Bloggie Sport in the stylish red none the less which matches our site theme, we can now provide you with another video unboxing and review. The Bloggie Sport which was announced at CES 2012 follows in the footsteps of the Bloggie Live. Unlike its brethren whose equipped with WiFi and is designed for giving Bloggers the option to broadcast live, the Bloggie Sport opts to record locally to its internal 4GB memory in up to 1080p for export to your Mac or PC in the future. However, chances are, if you’re putting the Bloggie Sport to proper use, you won’t be near any WiFi. That’s because the Bloggie Live is designed to be taken on your next bike ride, rock climbing, or kaiaking.

You see, the Bloggie Sport offers a dust-proof casing that can withstand splashes and underwater plunges to depths of up to about 16 feet. If you’re at all like me, chances are that during your last vacation or trip to Disneyland, you we’re a bit paranoid with having your smartphone in your pocket for fear of getting it wet. The Bloggie Sport solves that. The MP4 camera also comes with a shock-proof design that resists drops from up to 5 feet, giving you ease of mine when fumbling around in your pocket for your device. Does the camera live up to its claims? We’ll find out in our review but bellow is our video unboxing of the Sony Bloggie Sport.

Sony Action Cam Accessories Preview

by Sohrab Osati | Jan 29, 2013 | 0 comments

In order for any product to succeed in todays market, be it a tablet or a camcorder, it needs a great ecosystem to complement it. While some devices benefit more from a software ecosystem, say your smartphone which relies on apps to give it further functionalities, others rely more on a solid accessory ecosystem. This example is extremely apparent in the case of the Sony Action Cam, the companies take on the Go Pro line of cameras. For those not familiar, Go Pro is the go to MP4 camera for those with a taste of the extreme. Be it a snowboarder or the crew at Top Gear; chances are that their equipped camera is a Go Pro. This domination has come from the companies early entry into the market and due to its success, the great ecosystem of accessories which allow you to attach your unit to all sorts of things like cars, snowboards, helmets etc. etc.

Sony Balanced Optical SteadyShot Puts an End to Shaky Footage

by Sohrab Osati | Jan 28, 2013 | 0 comments

‘Optical SteadyShot’ is a fairly self explaining term that Sony uses on their fleet of Handycam camcorders, starting with their entry level HDR-CX220/B which is priced at $249. The technology as one would expect is designed to reduce shaky video and offer a smoother and less headache prone end result. Once turned on, you simply need to continue recording your video as you normally would, knowing that the camera is taking into consideration your hand movement, an especially great feature with those with a bit of shake in their hand. Even better for parents attending long recitals and soccer games.

Like any technology, Optical SteadShot does have its limitations which can quickly be seen say if you’re walking around as you’re video recording. This can equally be seen at either a soccer game though it tends to pop up more in home videos during a party where the camera is walked from person to person to capture their time. For this very same reason, Sony at developed a more advanced system dubbed ‘Balanced Optical Steadyshot’ which can be found in their higher end series of Handycam camcorders, starting with the HDR-PJ710V for $1,299. Much like the previous system, Balanced Optical Steady Shot is designed to reduce the shaky video though this version goes above and beyond. Sony was able to achieve this by having the cameras lens and sensor nearly float inside of the camera housing, causing only the body to pivot during movement, thus keeping your footage clean.

After the jump, our vide demo of the Sony Balanced Optical SteadyShot from CES 2013 shows you the difference between having the feature on and off on a camcorder.

Sony Announces New 20mm Pancake, 18-200mm Power Zoom E-mount Lenses

by Sohrab Osati | Jan 23, 2013 | 0 comments

Though the E-mount camera segment is new for Sony, the company has been doing everything it can to grow the line of available lenses. This can prove difficult for any camera manufacture and can be that much more challenging when consumers look at your available line of lenses versus other manufactures and or Sony’s own line of A-mount lenses for their Alpha series. Enter the 20mm f/2.8 pancake and a 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 OSS powered-zoom optic E-mount lenses that we’re just announced by Sony, growing the total line to 13 E-mount lenses for the NEX series. Now lets talk dates and pricing.

2nd Generation Sony 3D Digital Recording Binoculars Preview

by Sohrab Osati | Jan 14, 2013 | 0 comments

Nearly two years ago, Sony announced a pair of 3D Digital Recording Binoculars, the DEV-3 and DEV-5. Packed with 10x optical zoom, both units are capable of recording 1080p HD video while capturing stills with a 7.1 megapixel camera. It also wouldn’t be Sony without them incorporating their Exmor R CMOS sensors which are designed to provide noise free images, even in low light situations. But once again, this digital recording binocular has a trick up its sleeve—or maybe two tricks. Sony opted to include not one, but two Exmor R CMOS sensors in both the DEV-3 and DEV-5, allowing for native 3D 1080p video recording with dual f/1.8-3.4, 0.5-10x optical zoom lenses, and a pair of 1,227-dot viewfinders. Other features include manual focus, SteadyShot, and Image Stabilization. With no word from Sony since then, we always wondered if these were a one time product but alas we were wrong.

At CES 2013, the 2nd Generation Sony 3D Digital Recording Binoculars was unveiled to the press. No price point or spec difference were given and in fact, the only unit present was inside a glass case. Still, the striking and slimmed down redesign should be a positive sign for techie nature lovers. As our video after the jump shows, despite the unit being a prototype, the final production model shouldn’t differer too much. Our inside sources have also told us to expect a Q1 2013 ship date though that can always change. After the jump, our video preview.

Sony 16-50mm Retractable Zoom Lens Priced at $349, Ships in February

by Sohrab Osati | Dec 21, 2012 | 0 comments

While NEX-6 owners have had the Sony 16-50mm retractable zoom lens for weeks now, the rest of us have to wait till February to get our hands on them. Sony has announced that, come February, the company will release the currently NEX-6 only bundled lens for $349. Like all E-mount lenses, expect full compatibility with NEX cameras like the NEX-5, NEX-C3, NEX-7 as well as Sony’s NEX camcorders. The Sony 16-50mm lens provides a focal range and matching aperture (f/3.5-5.6) found in the Sony 18-55mm lens. Those eager enough for the new compact lens can visit Sony’s online portal for pre-order details.

10 Minutes of Sony Bloggie Live 1080p Footage

by Sohrab Osati | May 22, 2012 | 0 comments

When it comes to doing a review, there are many ways to approach the product at hand. In either written or video form, do you focus on the technical specs? Do you create a video comparison and point out the differences between products, or do you simply use the device, shoot some footage, and let the viewers decide? This was the question I posed to myself when I wanted to cover the Sony Bloggie Live, the latest flagship MP4 camera. The basics of the Bloggie Live include full HD 1080p (30fps) and 720p (60/30fps) video, a 12.8-megapixel camera, 3-inch touchscreen with updated UI compared to the Sony Bloggie Touch with Wi-Fi capabilities, allowing you to stream your footage live. The Bloggie Live is also Mac/PC compatible, making it very easy to import video to your OS of choice.

Of course, as I said, there are many ways to review the Bloggie Live. We’ve already done a comparison video of the Sony Bloggie Live against last year’s champion, the Bloggie Touch. In our video shootout challenge, the two cameras recorded identical footage and we placed the videos side by side, giving you a proper comparison of the two MP4 cameras video quality. This of course led to a question: what if we shoot a lot 1080p footage (scalable of course to 720p and lower) and let you sit back and enjoy it with some lively piano music and really decide for yourself? We of course will provide a full written review in the near future to talk about the nitty gritty of the camera, in which case, we will update this post with a link. After the jump, our video montage of the Sony Bloggie Live.

Meet the Sony HXR-NX30 Camcorder with 96GB Internal Storage. We Have Specs

by Sohrab Osati | May 15, 2012 | 2 comments

Sony’s digital imaging arm has been quite busy the past few months releasing new cameras and camcorders. Though not all, the list of new devices for this year include the NEX-FS700, a 4K recording professional camera under $10,000, the PMW-100 camcorder, offering true 1080p (1920 x 1280) recording with 50Mbps which meets the National Broadcasting Association’s seal of approval for real HD, and the NEX-F3 which features a 180 degree tilt LCD screen. In amidst of all this, Sony announced the HXR-NX30 camcorder, which we clearly missed. Now after the jump, we’re here to tell you all about this handheld camcorder which comes with 96GB internal memory, built-in projector, and is priced less than $2,500.

Deals: Sony Bloggie Sport On Sale for $149

by Sohrab Osati | May 12, 2012 | 10 comments

Just a quick heads up: If you’re looking to get some ‘extreme’ footage this summer and/or are planning on hanging out near the beach, and want to record your memories, the Sony Bloggie Sport is currently on sale for $149, down from $179. For those not familiar, the Bloggie Sport features 1080p video recording with Sony’s Exmor CMOS sensor and 5-megapixel stills on its internal 4GB memory. Other specs include a 2.7-inch touchscreen, face detection, and HDMI out.

Of course, what truly sets the Bloggie Sport apart from the Bloggie Live, for instance, is its ability to go up to 16 feet under water, being dropped from up to 5 feet and enduring dirt and dust without breaking down like another MP4 camera or your smartphone would. Links after the jump.

Sony to Launch a GoPro Camera Competitor This Year?

by Sohrab Osati | May 11, 2012 | 20 comments

Sony is no stranger to small portable cameras, having a wide array of available units on store shelves like the Sony Bloggie Live and Bloggie Sport (pictured above). In fact, the Bloggie Sport is designed to be waterproof, dustproof, and shock resistant, placing it in GoPro territory though it’s not a direct competitor. Now, a recent rumor points that the electronic giant might be looking to take the small portable camera makers head on with their own version of the GoPro.

For those not familiar, GoPro cameras are extremely popular cameras with production companies and support extreme enthusiast alike. While delivering fantastic footage, GoPros at their core were meant to be attached to your device of choice and take a beating. In fact, many POV shots you see in snowboarding videos or site favorite show, Top Gear, are all achieved by using a GoPro camera. With the only real name in town and Sony having expertise in the field, it seems like a good fit for the company’s product line. This is especially true as there are fewer and fewer needs for traditional Bloggie cameras with the superb quality of footage that smartphones can achieve, including Sony’s own phones like the Xperia ion and Xperia S.

Sony Bloggie Live vs. Bloggie Touch Review (video)

by Sohrab Osati | May 9, 2012 | 9 comments

Last year, we put together a video that pitted the Sony Bloggie Touch against the now defunct Flip UltraHD that became quite popular. In our video overview of the two devices, we offered our viewers the traditional spec by spec comparison as you would expect. However, what proved truly valuable was our side by side comparison of video footage from the two devices where we shot simultaneously and played the video next to each other. With Sony introducing the Bloggie Live at this years CES, we thought that once again, it would be a good time to revisit our review and put together a similar video. With no other big name competitor in the market, we instead decided to pit the Bloggie Live against last years champion and our battled test Bloggie Touch. Has a years worth of technological enhancements helped the Bloggie Live or does the Bloggie Touch still reign supreme? Find out in our video below and expect a full product review at a later date.

Sony’s 4K NEX-FS700 Gets Priced Well Below $10,000

by Sohrab Osati | May 2, 2012 | 16 comments

Do you remember the Sony NEX-FS700 that got announced last month? Yea, the one capable of recording 4K footage with Super Slow Motion (120-240 fps Full HD or 480 up to 960 fps with reduced resolution) and was rumored to be priced under $10k? While many ran around in a frenzy, saying that Sony couldn’t offer a low price and that the RED Scarlet is already priced near $10k, they seem to forget that with that price, RED only offers you a camera body. In actuality, most RED cameras since they require propitiatory cables, batteries and accessories start near the $16k price range. Delighting us today, its been revealed that the NEX-FS700 price tag will be well below $10,000 for a body and still under $10k with body and lens. We talk price, after the jump.

Sony Announces New Waterproof HDR-GW77V Handycam

by Sohrab Osati | Apr 27, 2012 | 10 comments

If you’re the adventurous type with a knack of documenting your trips, then listen up. Sony has just announced the HDR-GW77V, their first waterproof and dustproof Handycam. Though some might be quick to point out the Bloggie Sport, introduced at their years CES as a camera with such capabilities, the GW77V goes above and beyond the pocket sized MP4 recorder. Capable of being submerged in 16 feet of water and handling a five-foot free fall, the GW77V does this all in style with a 20.4-megapixel Exmor R CMOS sensor capable of 1080p video at 60fps. With a 3-inch swivel LCD screen, 10x optical zoom and 16GB internal memory, its easy to see why videographer in you might reach for this, over the Bloggie Sport. Of course, such features come at a cost of 70,000 yen ($860) but if a picture is priceless, how do you price a video of you snowboarding down Diamond Peak in 1080p at 60fps?

Meet the Sony PMW-100 Camcorder. We Have Specs

by Sohrab Osati | Apr 11, 2012 | 1 comment

If you thought the only new professional grade camera from Sony was their 4k recording, sub $10,000 NEX-FS700, it’s time to think again. Not designed to cater to the same professional crowd, the Sony PMW-100 still packs a punch by offering true 1080p (1920 x 1280) recording with 50Mbps which meets the National Broadcasting Associations seal of approval for real HD. Despite a few other handheld camcorders being capable of offering the same specs, the Sony is the only one of the bunch which can do it all internally versus others needs for third party add-ons.