PCMag UK Reviews Consumer Electronics Digital Camcorders
Sony POV Action Cam (HDR-AS100V)
Sony POV Action Camera (HDR-AS100V) Review
Sony's Action Cam records decent video in bright situations, has useful image stabilization, and works with a pair of well-specified apps, but the camera suffers in low-light environments.
byAntonio Villas-Boas Jun 17, 2014
Lightweight, streamlined design.
Well-designed mobile app.
Decent video in bright environments.
Image stabilization.
Video quality suffers in low-light situations, even on overcast days.
Shallow water depth limit.
Sony POV Action Cam (HDR-AS100V) Specs
Dimensions 1.8 by 0.95 by 3.2 inches
Optical Stabilization Digital
Sony's Action Cam series used to be the affordable choice for extreme videographers, but at $299.99, the newer HDR-AS100V model's price tag is creeping closer to its more expensive rivals like the Editors' Choice GoPro Hero3 Black Edition($179.99 at Amazon). The new GPS feature may be the price hike's culprit, and it leans towards the gimmicky side. As with the previous model, the HDR-AS15, the HDR-AS100V's video quality is only serviceable in darker environments and pretty decent in bright situations. But the new PlayMemories app shines brighter than the rest, thanks to the ultra-smooth and almost lag-free live streaming of what the Action Cam is recording.
The Action Cam (HDR-AS100V)($130.95 at Amazon) retains the same slim, oblong barrel design as its predecessor, the HDR-AS15, and is more streamlined than GoPro's signature cuboid design. Measuring 1.8 by 0.95 by 3.2 inches (HWD), the HDR-AS100V is not much bigger than the GoPro Hero3 series and is a bit smaller than the iON Air Pro 3($299.00 at Amazon). Weighing in at 3.2 ounces, it's lighter than the 5-ounce Air Pro 3, and a feather lighter than the GoPro.
On the right side, you'll find a monochrome LCD display along with rubber Prev/Next buttons. The removable (but still attached) back cover contains a large Recording button and a Hold switch. When you open the cover, you reveal the removable battery and a microSD/Memory Stick Micro slot that accepts cards up to 64GB. There's a micro USB port housed underneath the Action Cam's body for charging and connecting to a computer, along with a micro HDMI port and a 3.5mm microphone jack.
With the Prev/Next buttons, it's much easier to navigate through the menus than using GoPro's two buttons, but it's still not as intuitive as I would like. For example, if you want to switch to the "Pro" video mode (more on this later), don't bother looking in the Video Mode menu; you'll actually find it in Confgr (Configurations).
Whereas the previous models weren't resistant to water at all, the HDR-AS100V is at least splashproof, meaning you won't need the (included) waterproof case for rainy or snowy shooting conditions. Thankfully, Sony's amended the Action Cam's waterproof housing with extended buttons for pressing the Prev/Next buttons on the camera itself, which allows for on-the-fly adjustments. That was lacking in the original design. Even with the housing, though, the Action Cam isn't designed with professional divers in mind, as it can only go to a paltry depth of 16.5 feet underwater, which is as deep as a puddle compared to the GoPro's 197-foot limit.
Features, Apps, and Battery
Sony has added GPS connectivity to the Action Cam that records metrics such as speed, distance, and timing features. Using the PlayMemories computer software, the GPS data is designed to layer over your footage for performance analysis. Surprisingly, the GPS feature doesn't register where in the world you were shooting, which seems like an oversight; instead of showing you a map, for example, the GPS data overlay simply draws out a trail of your movement. Unless you're using the Action Cam with a high-speed activity where speed matters, it's a gimmick.
One key feature that may appeal to a wider audience (and prevent motion sickness while viewing) is Sony's SteadyShot image stabilization, which reduces shakiness for smoother footage. The difference was clear on a hand-held test between the Sony Action Cam, iON Air Pro 3, and GoPro Hero 3 Black Edition; footage from the Sony looked smoother, with less jolts. SteadyShot did help when the Action Cam was attached to a bike's handlebar using the bicycle mount, too, but footage was still quite shaky. The only caveat to SteadyShot is a reduced field of view from 170 degrees to 120.
With Sony's PlayMemories Android and iOS apps, connecting the Action Cam to my Nexus 5 and iPad Mini Retina via Wi-Fi was utterly painless. In fact, it was by far the easiest process compared with the GoPro, and especially the Air Pro 3—just don't throw away the Sony's instructions, as that's where you'll find your specific default password. The Android version was so seamless that it would automatically switch my Nexus' Wi-Fi network to the Action Cam's when I opened the app, eliminating the need to manually enter settings and switch to the camera's network myself.
Both apps have identical options and functionality. Acting as an extension to the Action Cam, and considering how easy it is to connect the camera to your mobile device, the app's remote feature is a shining beacon of great design. From your mobile device, you'll see a smooth preview of what the Action Cam is pointing at, and with minimal lag; you can start/stop recording remotely, as well as take pictures. To compare, the GoPro app's remote feature works, but the streaming video quality isn't as good, and lag is more noticeable.
If, say, you're preparing for a skydive, and your focus somehow strays to camera configuration rather than the fact that you're about to jump out of a perfectly good airplane, the PlayMemories apps let you adjust the most important options. You can change capture modes (including Movie, Time Lapse, and Photo), as well as video quality/frame rates, photo quality, and SteadyShot activation. While PlayMemories does offer substantially more control than iON's apps, the GoPro mobile app provides the most options by far, including just about every setting you find on the camera itself.
Video Quality and Audio, Accessories
The Action Cam gives you choices between 1080p60, 1080p30, 720p120, 720p30, and 480p240 for recording video, all with a 170-degree field-of-view. There are actually two 720p120 modes: one for normal playback and one for slow motion. Sony's previous Action Cam model suffered from only average quality in our tests, and unfortunately the current model's video quality isn't much improved. Despite the Carl Zeiss optics and Sony's reputation in video and photo products, details are much softer than the crisp footage the GoPro Hero3 Black Edition and iON Air Pro 3 captures. A "Pro" mode saves video on the microSD card at a whopping 50 Mbps using Sony's XAVC S codec. You'd expect the Pro mode to make a significant difference in quality, but it still records at 1080p60, and in my tests, I couldn't see any difference in the results.
Two microphones at the front of the Action Cam record in stereo, which make for much better audio quality than what you get with the Air Pro 3's mono microphone. Yet, the GoPro records better, fuller sound with its mono microphone and makes the Action Cam sound a little thin in comparison.
With its 13.5-megapixel sensor, the Action Cam captures sharper still shots than the Air Pro 3's 12-megapixel sensor, but the Hero3 Black Edition is still the champion when it comes to snapping photos. The Action Cam also takes Time Lapse in 1, 2, 5, 10, 30, and 60 shots-per-minute intervals, but oddly lacks a Burst mode, which seems like an important feature to have on an action camera.
In the box, you'll find a rechargeable battery pack, a micro USB cable, a waterproof case, and adhesive mount, and a tripod adapter along with the usual manuals. With the Action Cam review unit, Sony sent over the wrist-worn Live View Remote that works as a hardware extension for the camera. For $149.99 (or $400 when bundled with the Action Cam), it's an expensive accessory that has the same functionality as the PlayMemories app, including changing recording modes, starting and stopping recording, taking pictures, and remotely viewing what the Action Cam is pointing at using Wi-Fi. It's a nifty little device, but you can spend much less on a wrist/armband case for your phone to remotely view and use the Action Cam with the free PlayMemories app. Apart from the Live View Remote, Sony has its fair share of mounts that are similar in function and price to GoPro's selection.
Battery and Conclusion
Sony touts the 1,240mAh battery can last up to 80 minutes of video recording time, and thankfully you can swap it with a fresh one when it runs out. If you're thinking of using Wi-Fi and/or GPS, which each use more power, you'll definitely need an additional battery for an action-packed day of shooting.
Sony's Action Cam has more pros than cons, but with video quality during low-light environments (including overcast days) being a con on a device designed to capture video, it's harder to confidently recommend it when there are other action cameras that offer more versatile video quality for the same price, like the GoPro Hero3+ Silver Edition. Rather than improving the average video quality from previous Action Cam models, Sony added features such as GPS, which is largely useless for stationary filming; it's best used to record speed and distance metrics. The seamless remote functionality from the PlayMemories app is certainly a redeeming feature, but how much it matters over video quality is up to you. If you can spend an additional $50 (at least as far as the list price is concerned), you may want to check out iON's Air Pro 3, which has superior video quality.
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About Antonio Villas-Boas
Before becoming PCMag's Junior Consumer Electronics Analyst, Antonio graduated from Colgate University with a BA in History where he, upon writing his nine millionth essay, never thought he would ever write ever again, especially for a living. After working in PR and sales, Antonio realized his knowledge and passion for technology far exceeded normal levels, and, ironically, writing about it was one of his few outlets. He decided to take a risk and go on his own. He started his blog, TonyVsTech.com, and was freelancing tech related articles for major tech outlets, namely producing how-to tutorial videos for TheUnlockr.com. After making his own way to CES in 2014, he heard …
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