4K video is all the craze right now in the world of action cameras, and GoPro were quick to respond to the trend with the Hero 4 Black, while DJI released the Inspire with similar capabilities. And now, Sony’s fans will also get the same benefits, coming in their brand new X100V model. The camera is reportedly going to have full support for shooting 4K video, recording it at 30p thanks to Sony’s own XAVC S codec.
Videos will be captured at a bitrate of 100 Mb/s, and the camera will additionally support high-speed recording at 120 frames per second in Full HD, and even a stunning 240 frames per second in 720p. This should be more than enough for even the most breathtaking shots, and the specifications actually match the GoPro Hero 4 Black. It seems that Sony are trying to tackle their competition very directly with the new release, and they’re obviously trying to lure some customers away from GoPro.
Features aren’t all that Sony have to offer with the X100V though, as the company is also planning to release the camera at a very attractive price point – interested buyers can get it for $500, which matches the price of the Hero 4 Black. If the features didn’t make it obvious that Sony are trying to compete with GoPro’s popular model directly, this should drive the point home.
With all this in mind, why should anyone choose the X100V over the GoPro Hero 4 Black though – other than brand loyalty? Sony actually have a little extra to offer to beat GoPro’s offer, with advanced image stabilization and reduction of wind noise, as well as a wider lens that offers a broader field of view. Sony are also working on a new editing suite for videos recorded with the camera. Titled “Highlight Movie Maker”, it will be an advanced piece of software that can offer some serious help in organizing footage captured with the device, assisting with choosing the best shots, properly stabilizing the images and more.
There are also various minor features that can make the X100V an attractive offer, such as the automatic looping feature which can detect when the memory card is full and automatically start recording over the oldest stored footage. The camera will also offer a bit more flexibility for users who like to control their image features a little more precisely, with various settings for white balance, exposure and other similar controls more traditionally found in standard camera models. Of course, users shouldn’t expect anything too broad in terms of customization, but even those features sound nice, and more than what other companies are offering right now.