Sony Action Cam HDR-AZ1VR vs GoPro HERO+

Hi,

Christmas present for outdoor person (mostly MTB). Any thoughts?

http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-CA/product/sony-sony-action-cam-hdr-az1vr-waterproof-hd-flash-memory-camcorder-with-live-view-remote-hdraz1vr/10326509.aspx

http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-CA/product/-/10392351.aspx

They seem to have very close specs. Sony comes with a remote LCD live-view, has higher still pixel res (for what its worth), better optics (?) and about $40 less on-sale price. Sony has shorter advertised battery life. Also seems like the Sony has a GPS.

Anyone have experience with both or similar Sony and Go Pro?

Also something for Mac users … does Apple iMovie support the Sony AVC/HD 60p and MP4 formats? Store guy was talking about Sony movie editing issues.

http://esupport.sony.com/p/support-info.pl?info_id=1192

Hi,

Also something for Mac users … does Apple iMovie support the Sony AVC/HD 60p and MP4 formats?

Yes.

MTBR did a shootout earlier this year: http://reviews.mtbr.com/2015-pov-camera-shootout-best-in-test-winners-revealed/2

I've been wanting to get a Sony or GoPro for a while. I have a 1st-gen GoPro, and it's kind of a piece of crap compared to anything currently on the market. I am leaning toward the Sony simply for the built-in image stabilization. The wrist remote is cool too.

Thanks … that's going to be really handy. I think the Sony is definitely best value for the money.

Check out Cnet for some reviews worth reading.

http://www.cnet.com/topics/camcorders/best-camcorders/

I have a contour cam, they've pretty much become irrelevant in the market against the gopro marketing machine but I do think it was a superior camera with a more versatile form factor. The Sony seems to have tech that's as good or better than the gopro4, with that nicer form factor. Add in the image stabilization that Sony's been doing for years on their DSLR cams and I'd pick it for sure at that price point.

You should also give some serious thought to the bigger brother sony - HDR-AS100V. More features, only a bit bigger (but still appropriately small, and some good sale prices to be found right now.

The photos on the review at mtbr are quite interesting, I think that Sony is slowly catching up.

I think I get one next year for various trips that are on the horizon. Until now, I could never justify spending that much money on a GoPro, but with the Sony…there is a serious contender.

I just remember that there is a video of Hunter and Vanderham ripping down some trail in the US of A, and the image was not of "GoPro-like" quality, unstable and blurry at times.

What do those of you have to say about this who own a Sony cam?
Input is much aappreciated, and might result in a beer in 2017 earliest.

Stevie Smith [HTML_REMOVED] Brendan Fairclough with Sony Action Cam - the Sony has a GPS.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSpypLttZp8

I have a Sony HDR-AS100V. Here is a link to a video of me riding a couple of weeks ago with the image stabilizer turned on. Hopefully the hyperlink works: https://youtu.be/8-JY3xMv6sA

The mounts that come with the camera are not adjustable like they are with the go pro. You either have to buy more sony mounts or buy go pro mounts and an adapter. I bought the go pro mounts and adapters. This is what I bought: http://www.amazon.ca/Drift-Innovation-Monopod/dp/B005V7LFZ6/ref=sr_1_87?ie=UTF8[HTML_REMOVED]qid=1448310334[HTML_REMOVED]sr=8-87[HTML_REMOVED]keywords=sony+action+cam+adapter and one very similar to this: http://www.amazon.ca/Pangshi%C2%AE-Adapter-HDR-AS100V-HDR-AS200V-FDR-X1000V/dp/B016OSBCLW/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8[HTML_REMOVED]qid=1448310391[HTML_REMOVED]sr=8-2[HTML_REMOVED]keywords=sony+action+cam+adapter and finally this: http://shop.gopro.com/mounts/replacement-parts/AGBAG-001.html With all of these I have everything I want to mount any way I want. My new Bell Super 2 came with an intergrated mount, it works very well.

The raw data on my laptop is horrible: it goes very sloooooow and then very fast, and then very sloooooooooow and then very fast and then very slooooooooooooooow etc. No idea why it does this on my laptop as its 6 months old with some serious power. One of the guys I work with has the same camera and no issues. Though once I edit the clips and render it in the action cam video editor its quite good.

The cameras can take either an SD card or some other type if you are shooting pro level videos. The SD card works fine for me.

Any other questions feel free to ask.

Link did not work … possibly your security or sharing settings.

I have a Hero 3 Black, performs well. I find the mounts and impact/waterproof case to be bulky. I really like the Contour Roam 3 but the video, still image and sound quality are poor in comparison to the latest Go Pro stuff.

I put the video from my original comment on youtube. Everyone should be able to see it now.

I put the video from my original comment on youtube. Everyone should be able to see it now.

Hmmm. That's really smooth for a helmet mount. Image stabilization for the win!