Customers will have the option of buying them as kits with the new Live-View Remote, or as the camera body alone.
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Additionally, Sony has a new pair of lenses for its mirrorless camera system. Oddly, though, it hasn’t been available until now on the new 4K-resolution Sony Action Cam X3000R and full HD AS300. Both cams sport a 1/2.5 (7.20 mm) type back-illuminated Exmor R CMOS sensor and are able to snap 12-megapixel still image photos. It will be available at the end of November for $3,500 in the U.S. and $4,500 in Canada.
And Sony’s including the new menu system that it launched on the smaller Action Cam earlier this year, which is good, because the menu on the old 4K Action Cam (and all the models before it) was bad.
The LVR has a new compact design that is easily mountable for simple camera operation from a variety of positions and mounting locations.
Alternatively, when in Angle mode, the picture orientation angle can also be changed with less image degradation using three settings for Wide (1x), Normal (1.4x) and Narrow (2x). This, along with Sony’s XAVC S codec at a bitrate of 100Mbps for 4K video or 50 Mbps for Full HD footage should yield excellent image quality. The FDR-X3000R sets itself apart from its sibling by supporting slow-motion 120fps capture at 1080p; the HDR-AS300R is limited to 720p if you want to crank the frame rate that high. This also allows GPS Data Overlay on video to read your speed data and generate another video file that includes your route, speed information, etc.
There’s also a brand new live view remote control, which comes supplied with the camera and lets you not only control it remotely (including turning it off and on) but see exactly what it’s pointed at. Previous action cameras came equipped with an integrated electronic IS. Sony built a new lens for these Action Cams, which is supposed to produce an image that isn’t quite so distorted as it was in past versions.
As if that’s not enough, you can also have the cameras assemble highlights of your footage into movies automatically in-camera, with face detection used to identify subjects and determine which clips to use. The remote has the ability to control various functions including shooting settings, starting and stopping recording, and turning the power off.
If you prefer, you can also control the new Action Cam models remotely using Sony’s PlayMemories Mobile application for Android or iOS smart devices. Sony says the camera body is splash-proof, but for true underwater shooting up to 60 meters the included waterproof housing will be necessary.
The 4K Sony FDR-X3000 arrives in late September for $400 or $550 bundled with the Live-View Remote (as the X3000R).
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Sony has officially launched its 4K capable FDR-X3000 with its Full HD partnering brother, the HDR-AS300.
