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Sony HDR-AS15 Action Video Camera (Black) (Discontinued by Manufacturer)
Purchase options and add-ons
Brand | Sony |
Connectivity Technology | Wi-Fi, HDMI |
Flash Memory Type | Memory Stick, SD, Micro SD, SDHC |
Color | Black |
Special Feature | camera |
Screen Size | 2.3 Inches |
Optical Zoom | 4 |
Camcorder type | Action Camera |
Model Name | HDRAS15/B |
Video Capture Resolution | 1080p |
About this item
- Compact, rugged Wi-Fi enabled HD video action camcorder
- High quality Full HD 1080p recording
- Ruggedized, waterproof housing 1with universal tripod mount included
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This Item Sony HDR-AS15 Action Video Camera (Black) (Discontinued by Manufacturer) | Recommendations | dummy | dummy | dummy | dummy | |
Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | |
Price | $298.99$298.99 | -13% $139.99$139.99 List: $159.99 | $47.99$47.99 | $89.99$89.99 | -11% $399.99$399.99 List: $449.99 | -27% $79.99$79.99 List: $109.99 |
Delivery | Get it Apr 2 - 4 | Get it as soon as Monday, Apr 1 | Get it as soon as Monday, Apr 1 | Get it as soon as Monday, Apr 1 | Get it as soon as Monday, Apr 1 | Get it as soon as Monday, Apr 1 |
Customer Ratings | ||||||
Picture quality | — | 4.2 | 4.0 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 3.2 |
Image stabilization | — | 4.2 | 3.8 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 3.4 |
Battery life | — | 4.1 | 4.1 | — | 4.5 | 3.0 |
Value for money | — | 4.3 | — | 4.4 | 4.4 | — |
Sold By | AAA-Shop | SJCAM Official Store US | SJCAM Official Store US | AmazingCam | Insta360 Direct | SJCAM Official Store US |
model name | HDRAS15/B | C300 | SJ4K | C200-BLK | — | SJ6Pro |
display size | 2.3 inches | 1.3 inches | 2 inches | 1.28 inches | 2.4 inches | 2 inches |
digital zoom | 4 multiplier x | 8 multiplier x | 5 multiplier x | — | — | 8 multiplier x |
optical zoom | — | 8 multiplier x | 5 multiplier x | — | — | 8 multiplier x |
video resolution | 1080p | 4K | 4K | 4K24fps | 4K | 4K |
connectivity tech | Wi-Fi, HDMI | Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi, USB | Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi |
shooting modes | Slow Motion | Underwater | Button | Underwater | — | Slow Motion |
Product information
Product Dimensions | 4 x 6.7 x 2.8 inches |
---|---|
Item Weight | 8 ounces |
ASIN | B0090EC5MS |
Item model number | HDRAS15/B |
Batteries | 1 Lithium Metal batteries required. (included) |
Customer Reviews |
3.7 out of 5 stars |
Best Sellers Rank | #496,124 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics) #1,655 in Sports & Action Video Cameras |
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
Date First Available | August 29, 2012 |
Department | womens |
Manufacturer | Sony |
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Product Description
Product Description
Relive the glory of every hardcore, gravity-defying moment in legendary Sony quality and share it wirelessly over Wi-Fi. No other mountable POV camera combines Carl Zeiss optics with a rugged exterior that welcomes mud, snow and water. So no matter what you do-snowboard, surf, skate, bike-record it all in HD and share your shredding with the world.
From the Manufacturer
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Relive the glory of every hardcore, gravity-defying moment in legendary
Sony quality and share it wirelessly over Wi-Fi®.1 No other mountable
POV camera combines Carl Zeiss® optics with a rugged exterior that
welcomes mud, snow and water. So no matter what you do—snowboard,
surf, skate, bike—record it all in HD and share your shredding with the world.
Share the action instantly. It's tough like you. High quality HD 1080p recording. Share that epic run, killer move or winning score with built-in Wi-Fi®.1 Use your smartphone to frame shots and share your footage on the fly. The Sony HDR-AS15 Action Cam easily connects to Wi-Fi enabled mobile phones and tablets running the free PlayMemories
Mobile™ application.3 Push it. Dunk it. The Sony HDR-AS15 Action Cam may be light and compact, but it's built to go hard. It's just over 3 ounces (with battery) and it's rugged case can handle the bumps and scrapes wherever you go. If that happens to include water, the HDR-AS15 Action Cam is also waterproof up to 197 feet. Capture every move, trick and action-packed second in full, 1920x1080 HD resolution. When done, simply connect your Sony HDR-AS15 Action Cam via HMDI® to any compatible HDTV for playback that's as close to reliving the real thing as it gets.4
Key features Ultra-wide angle Carl Zeiss lens with 170-degree view Go big with a lens that does, too. Increase your perspective, capture more of the terrain and give everything you shoot the look and feel of professional video with the Sony HDR-AS15 Action Cam's Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens. Up to 4x slow motion in full HD In the air. On the ground. Or somewhere in between. The Sony® HDR-AS15 Action Cam lets you study and refine your technique like a pro with HD Slow 4x (1280x720, 120p) or HD Slow 2x (1280x720, 60p). For more traditional shooting, it also shoots in Full HD (1920x1080, 30p), STD HD (1280x720, 30p) and SD VGA (640x480, 30p). Goodbye blur Get stable footage on the bumpiest moguls and roughest landings. The Sony® HDR-AS15 features SteadyShot® image stabilitzation with Active Mode to give you stunningly smooth video from wide angle to full telephoto shooting. Then turn the 3-way Shake Cancelling on or off for added electronic roll stability and even smoother capture. It shines in low light Sometimes the best moments happen after the sun goes down. That's why the Sony® HDR-AS15 features a back-illuminated Exmor® R CMOS sensor for incredible low-light sensitivity, improved clarity and drastically reduced grain. Just what you need for exploring a dark cave or tearing up the slopes at night. The red button of glory Capturing your must see moment on the Sony® HDR-AS15 happens with one large (and very glove friendly) red button. One push to start recording and one push to stop. Its that easy. Gear up Capture the action from a variety of perspectives and angles with the right mount for what you do. The universal tripod mount gives you a variety of mount options including headstrap mounts, bike mounts, Handycam® adaptor, suction cup mount, waterproof accessories and many more.
Product description and full feature list The Sony® HDR-AS15 Action Cam is equipped with the latest technology to bring you
incredible entertainment quality. Explore the full range of features and options below.
Compact, rugged HD video
action camcorder
The Sony® HDR-AS15 Action Cam is a rugged, wearable full HD video camcorder. Weighing in at just 90grams (w/ battery) this compact, lightweight unit allows you to capture your adventures on the mountain, in the water, and anywhere else life may take you as the action happens.
High quality Full HD
1080p recording
The Sony® HDR-AS15 Action Cam offers 1920 x 1080 high definition resolution letting you record your memories in exceptional Full High Definition quality. Capable of 60p recording and playback via HDMI® and compatible HDTV4 providing stunning clarity and incredibly detailed and smoother playback of your memories.
Ruggedized, waterproof housing
with universal tripod mount
The Sony® HDR-AS15 Action Cam ships with a ruggedized, waterproof housing with universal tripod mount that is built to handle extreme environments, allowing you to concentrate on safety and composition while capturing Full HD videos. Within the housing, the camera is waterproof down to 197 feet and has dirt and dust resistant seals that help make it nearly impervious to mud, snow, rain, and grime.2
Share via Connected Phone/Tablet
Wi-Fi®-enabled mobile phones and tablets running the free PlayMemories Mobile™ application3 can pull optimized movies and photos from the Sony HDR-AS15 camera without requiring a special cable. Once copied, you can use your available 3G and 4G cell networks to upload your memories and share them via email or social media networks.
SteadyShot® image stabilization reduces blur
SteadyShot® image stabilization with Active Mode compensates for greater degrees of camera shake to deliver stunningly smooth video from wide angle to full telephoto shooting. In addition, innovative 3-Way Shake-Canceling adds electronic roll stability for even smoother video capture.
Ultra wide angle Carl Zeiss® Lens
(170-degree FOV)
With an ultra-wide angle Carl Zeiss® Vario-Tessar® lens, you will increase your perspective (170-degree viewing angle) while you venture out on breathtaking views of dynamic terrain to include ski slopes and mountain trails.
4x Slow Motion video mode in HD
Extreme sports athletes and enthusiasts will enjoy HD SLOW 2x (1280 x 720, 60p) and HD SLOW 4x (1280 x 720, 120p) that shoot slow motion, which is ideal for studying and refining form and technique. For traditional shooting methods, the camcorder also offers several different resolutions to suit your needs: shoots in Full HD (1920x1080 30p), STD HD (1280x720, 30p), SD VGA (640x480, 30p).
Exmor® R CMOS Sensor
Experience stunning low-light sensitivity with improved image clarity and drastically reduced grain with Sony’s back-illuminated Exmor® R CMOS sensor. Designed for compact cameras and camcorders, the Exmor® R CMOS sensor relocates the photo diodes above the support circuitry, maximizing the light gathering area per pixel so you can shoot with better results in lower lighting conditions.
Simply "Press-n-Go"
Operation of the Sony® HDR-AS15 is as simple as pressing a large, easy-to-press start/stop button. Just press the button and you’re shooting the adventure of a lifetime.
Memory Stick Micro™ and
Micro SD/SDHC compatible
The Sony® HDR-AS15 Action Cam features a memory card slot that accepts Memory Stick Micro™ (M2) and Micro SD/SDHC Memory Card (class 4 or higher) type memory cards. Enjoy the flexibility and convenience of expandable memory via the memory card (sold separately) that is most convenient and offers maximum compatibility with the computers he or she uses the most.
Built-In stereo mic
A built-in stereo microphone allows you to capture all the exciting sounds of your adventure.
HDMI output for easy file transfer
With HDMI® output, you’ll be able to share your Sony® HDR-AS15 Action Cam video with friends and family on your HDTV (HDMI cable required/not included).
Secure on flat and curved surfaces w/ 2 adhesive mounts
Hands-free shooting is at your disposal. Mount your Sony® HDR-AS15 Action Cam easily and securely to flat and curved surfaces with included adhesive mounts.
Sony Suggested Accessories
> Waterproof Head Mount Kit
VCT-GM1 > Headband Mount
VCT-HB1 > Handlebar Mount
VCT-HM1 > Adhesive Mount
VCT-AM1 > Replacement Housing
SPK-AS1
> Anti-Fog Sheet
AKA-AF1
> Tilt Adaptor
VCT-TA1 > Replacement Door Pack
AKA-RD1
> LCD Unit
AKA-LU1
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers like the quality, value, and ease of use of the camcorder. For example, they mention it's a pretty good little camera, the case is high quality, and it packs a big punch for your dollar. That said, opinions are mixed on the video quality, battery life, case, size, and mounting.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers like the quality of the camcorder. They say it's a pretty good little camera, with impressive hardware. The case is high quality and creates an amazing shooting system. The camcorders is well built and reliable. Customers also mention that it has great technical specifications and is a very good and worthy purchase.
"...BuildThe Sony Action Cam is a well-built device used to capture point-of-view video recordings and rugged just as we would expect Sony would..." Read more
"...The AS10 is great for recording onboard racing footage to display on YouTube in 720P/1080P HD format, but if you are looking for professional..." Read more
"...It has great technical specifications, and once SONY resolves the design and usability problems it'll be a great little action camera...." Read more
"...Only used it so far to 8 foot but worked great, color was right on and very little distortion if any from the clear WP case...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the video quality of the camcorder. Some mention that it's awesome, clear, and surprisingly good. They also say that it takes nice video in varying light. However, some say that the quality is not perfect, underwater footage is much worse than GoPro Hero2, and that the Hero3 Silver isn't exactly crystal clear.
"...The upgrade worked flawlessly. The picture quality was unbelievable in 1080P 60p. Really loved the slow motion, very clear...." Read more
"...Quality: Video quality is great. I tried my first test mounting it on my motorcycle helmet at 120 degree with steadyshot...." Read more
"...Pros:Good video qualitySuper slow motion is pretty coolWifi and app for remote viewfinder/control..." Read more
"...Image and Video Quality: Still pictures as tested were fuzzy. Video is good at the best HD 1080p setting, although has a bit less sharpness than I..." Read more
Customers like the value of the camcorder. They say it gives the best value for money, packs a big punch for your dollar, and is the best camera money can buy. Some customers also mention that the steady shot feature and image quality are great.
"...It's inexpensive and a good buy for 1080P HD action footage, but there is a lot of room for improvement...." Read more
"...I have used the Kodak Playsport before and it's a good camera for the price but the Sony's picture and color blows the Kodak Playsport away and..." Read more
"...Perhaps one of the best selling points of this camera, it is aggressively priced and comes with a waterproof housing and a few adhesive attachments..." Read more
"...It is a full featured product that is offered at a very reasonable price...." Read more
Customers find the camcorder easy to use. They say it's light weight and not cumbersome. They also say the setup is not difficult, and the curve is flat, making it much easier to post process. The controls are simple, and all of the buttons are easy to press. Customers also mention that the cam has many manual settings, making framing shots easy.
"...Using the iOS application is easy to use...." Read more
"...The AS10 is extremely easy to use, simply push the record button and it will start recording unlike the GoPro Hero3 which requires turning it on and..." Read more
"...Controls: All of the buttons are easy to press. The menu are pretty self explanatory. My biggest problem is charging...." Read more
"...pleased with the WiFi feature of the AS15 as it made framing shots not only easy, but possible!..." Read more
Customers are mixed about the battery life of the camcorder. Some mention that it has a replaceable battery and is reliable, while others say that it can't charge the battery and use the camera. The only negative is charging the battery, as it won't automatically charge when transferring to a PC or Mac. The video is pretty good, but the WiFi saps power whenever it is on and only provides mediocre laggy performance.
"...The WiFi sapped power whenever it was on, and only provided mediocre laggy footage on my Samsung Galaxy S3 via the app, so I didn't want to spend an..." Read more
"...Sony's battery life is a lot longer, low light performance, and audio is far superior..." Read more
"...turn it on, it will start recording, and 5 sec later, when battery dies it shuts down...." Read more
"...Battery life is fantastic and I could have took video of all dives on a single 32 GB micro SD card...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the case. Some mention that it's great with the universal tripod mount, while others say that it fogs up, is not waterproof on its own, and is inaccessible when in the waterproof case. That said, some say that the case reduces the quality of image, and it'll be tricky to get the camera in/out.
"...the menu settings via the side buttons and is inaccessible when in the waterproof case...." Read more
"...points of this camera, it is aggressively priced and comes with a waterproof housing and a few adhesive attachments to stick it to both rounded and..." Read more
"...has no tripod mount or any way to be mounted and thus relies on the waterproof case...." Read more
"...The waterproof case has a standard tripod mount on it, making it very versatile, especially if you already own tripods and mounts that utilize it...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the mounting of the camcorder. Some mention that it has plenty of mounting options, with a wide range of mounts available to suit every need. However, others say that the mounting options are limited and the case is necessary for mounting.
"...Luckily there was no visible damage! The camera itself has no tripod mount or any way to be mounted and thus relies on the waterproof case...." Read more
"...SimpleI like that the there are not a lot of options built into the camera...." Read more
"...2. Mounts are ridiculously limitingThe available mounts are seriously limiting how you can adjust and frame your shot...." Read more
"...Consider this: bottom of the cam is round, so you can not even put it on a table. This demonstrates lack of any feedback in design process...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the size of the camcorder. Some mention that it's very small, takes great video, and is compact. They also love the small form factor, light weight, and waterproof case. However, others say that the battery life is too short for their applications, and the case is poor.
"...Tiny is a great way to describe this camera. It easily fits into the palm of your hand...." Read more
"[[VIDEOID:mo1MIJEMEKSC4FG]]Pros: Camera size (small), built-in Wireless WiFi for live video monitoring during recording, transfer to smart phone and..." Read more
"...It honestly looks less than 11.9MP...." Read more
"...Steady shot feature is highly effective*small, light and discreet*shoots a nice wide angle*..." Read more
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Build
The Sony Action Cam is a well-built device used to capture point-of-view video recordings and rugged just as we would expect Sony would build.
There is a slight/minor design flaw with on camera menu controls. Controls cannot be accessed when in the waterproof case. The camera needs to be turned on and off, in addition to accessing the menu settings via the side buttons and is inaccessible when in the waterproof case.
(***Note: Lens protrudes out of its main body and may be prone to scratches. Users should be cautious when taking camera out of waterproof/rugged case.)
Wi-Fi Capabilities & App Control
Built in Wi-Fi makes the action camera capable to connect the to a smartphone to control the camera. Just download the app and you will be able to control the camera.
Using the iOS application is easy to use. Setting up the unit to pair with the phone took a little while and although at times it may take time to connect, once connected it works. In the app you can control the settings, press record and most importantly has a monitor so the user can check framing of the image so the unit can be positioned appropriately.
(***Note: When pairing unit to phone have unit next to phone for a reliable quick connection and should not go more than 10 feet away otherwise WiFi connection may be lost.)
Action Camera Controls
The menu system is unfortunately not the best menu system to access and maneuver. When the camera is in the underwater housing, there is only one useable button, which is the record button. In order to access the menu, you would have to remove the camera from the housing. This is not really a large issue but it is just a small annoyance.
When in the waterproof body, the Sony only has one usable button. This would be ok if they had mad a menu system that could be navigated with that one button. To change the setting on the camera, including turning the camera off, you need to use the two buttons on the side of the camera. The side button settings are useless when the camera is in the underwater housing. By pushing the record button on the back when the unit is in the housing, not only turns on the camera but starts recording right away with previously set settings.
(***Note: Set user preferences before putting in underwater housing so when you press record it will start recording with last set settings.)
Image Quality
One thing that impressed me was the image stabilization on this camera. Although it does not take the large bumps out, the minor camera vibration/bumps, when compared to a GoPro silver is very impressive.
The image color is nice when compared to the GoPro silver. Where the silver has a really warm image, the Action Cam, although has a slightly cold image, actually captures a more natural image temperature then the GoPro.
Low light image quality is actually good on this camera. Of course, the image has a little noise in the image but actually captures a better/brighter image compared to the GoPro silver. Again, the image stabilization on this camera is a wonderful addition to have.
The action camera has ability to go from the standard 120 lens view to the 170 wide-angle lens view.
Still images for stop motion is unfortunately taken at a 2MP .jpeg image capture but still workable.
(***Note: When recording for slow motion footage, the camera does not record audio.)
Audio Quality
The audio quality on the Action Camera is good and again comparable to the GoPro Silver edition. Will capture a good amount of ambient noise as well as wind noise. The unit also has a microphone input.
Recording Format
High Definition
MPEG4-AVC/H.264
1920 x 1080p / 30 fps
High Definition
MPEG4-AVC/H.264
1280 x 720p / 120 fps / 60 fps / 30 fps
Standard Definition
MPEG4-AVC/H.264
640 x 480p / 30 fps
Memory Cards
The camera will utilize memory stick PRO, memory stick micro or a Micro SD/SDHC Memory card (class 4 or higher).
Battery Life
Supposedly, the battery life on the action cam is about 13 hours but I could only get a max of 2.5 hours of usage time before battery dies.
Accessories (Recommended)
Waterproof Case – Limits access to on-camera menu controls.
Head Mount – Great accessory to use for hands-free recording. Great point-of-view accessory.
Sony Grip-Style LCD Unit - Although this was not part of the test package accessories this would be a great addition to have for individuals who do not have a smartphone to view faming of image and will be able to use the unit as a regular compact camera.
Recommended For Purchase
UPDATE: 5 AUG 2013
I just found out they have an updated firmware for the HDR-AS10 (2.00) and HDR-AS15 (3.00) that adds 1080P 60fps recording which actually plays back at 60fps. The quality is also noticeably better than the older 1080P 30fps mode. There's also an underwater scene mode that adjusts the white balance to suit underwater shots.
The video quality is still not as good as the GoPro Hero 3, there are plenty of compression artifacts and I am experiencing stuttering after using Adobe Premiere Elements with the 59.94 fps source video. The Firmware 2.00 / 59.94 fps recording mode is slightly different with a higher data rate. In my honest observation, the FujiFilm XP200 and Samsung Galaxy S3 take the best quality videos, followed by the GoPro Hero 3. The only major drawbacks to the entire line of GoPro Hero 3 cameras is the lack of image stabilization and the horrible GoPro mounts. If they took the Hero3 Silver and added 1080P 60 fps with image stabilization and re-designed the mount or used a standard tripod mount, I'd easily pick the Hero3 Silver.
Here's a breakdown of the HDR-AS10 video formats in comparison to the other devices.
1920x1080P at 30 fps unless otherwise specified
FujiFilm XP200
59.94 fps, AVCHD, Main Profile, Level 4.1, 2 reference frames, 18.7 Mbps data rate
Samsung Galaxy S3 (4.1.2)
AVCHD, High Profile, Level 4.0, 1 reference frame, 17 Mbps data rate
GoPro Hero 3 Silver
AVCHD, Main Profile, Level 4.1, 4 reference frames, 30.2 Mbps data rate
Sony HDR-AS10 Firmware 1.03
MPEG-4 Sony PSP, AVCHD, Main Profile, Level 4.0, 2 reference frames, 16.0 Mbps data rate
Sony HDR-AS10 Firmware 2.00
59.94 fps, MPEG-4 Sony PSP, AVCHD, Main Profile, Level 4.2, 2 reference frames, 25 Mbps data rate
UPDATE: 25 MAY 2013
The charger you use will have a significant impact on battery life/operation. Read my review below for my discussion about the 2 hour 10 minute battery life. That was with a Belkin USB/AC adapter that is *rated* at 1A, but I found that none of my high-demand devices would fully charge with any of the Belkin 1A chargers! That includes the Kindle Fire HD. Instead, I accidentally found out that my Motorola Droid and Samsung Galaxy chargers (rated at 0.8A) would fully charge up the Kindle Fire HD. As an experiment, I used that charger for my Sony HDR-AS10 and once fully charged, I can get 2 hours 40 minutes battery life/operation continuously! I also found some solutions to rattling noises, and it is mainly the LCD screen. Some weatherstrip foam on the back of it will resolve that rattling sound. In addition, you may want to cut four pieces of small weatherstrip foam to line the inside of the waterproof case (2 on each flat side near the opening) for extra cushioning. The only rattling sounds I hear now are transmitted through the dashboard of the car, or are generated by low frequency notes from the exhaust. It still beats the GoPro Hero 3 Silver Edition.
Right up front: The Steady Shot / Image Stabilization is simply AWESOME. The GoPro Hero3 is horribly shaky while the AS10 is glass-smooth even over the bumpiest of roads. The image quality just isn't quite as good as the Hero3 Silver because of how the Sony compresses the video footage. It's inexpensive and a good buy for 1080P HD action footage, but there is a lot of room for improvement. The AS10 is extremely easy to use, simply push the record button and it will start recording unlike the GoPro Hero3 which requires turning it on and then using the shutter button. That said, the Hero3 Silver isn't exactly crystal clear with its video quality. I did more comparisons and included my Samsung Galaxy S3 smartphone. The S3 zooms in too much by default, almost like 100 degree or narrower FOV, but the video quality in 1920x1080 HD mode is significantly better than the Hero3 Silver and the Sony AS10. I can see far more details with the S3 than the Hero3 Silver or AS10, but the S3's anti shake pans around too much.
I opted not to buy the AS15 for the WiFi because I was not too impressed with the WiFi capability on the Go Pro Hero3. The WiFi sapped power whenever it was on, and only provided mediocre laggy footage on my Samsung Galaxy S3 via the app, so I didn't want to spend an extra Benjamin for that on the AS15.
There was no documentation on whether the AS10 could accept a micro SDXC 64GB card, but one reviewer on Amazon said he was able to use one. As a result, I just used a micro SDHC 32GB card on the AS10. With 1080P / 30 FPS video mode, there is room for 4 hours and 20 minutes of footage on a 32GB card. The average battery life is only 2 hours 10 minutes per charge. I conducted 6 test trials and they were all within 2h:10m and 2h:9m, so it is fairly consistent. As a result, there isn't a whole lot of benefit in buying a larger SD card because a 32GB will offer enough space for 2 battery charges, and no matter what - the user will be opening the case to do something every 2 hours of operation. The AS10 stores large video footage in 4GB chunks.
The waterproof case has a lid with a tether that can easily pop off the case. I was removing the camera in the garage when the tether just came off the case allowing the lid (with the glass lens) to fall onto the ground. Luckily there was no visible damage! The camera itself has no tripod mount or any way to be mounted and thus relies on the waterproof case. For those complaining about the camera not standing on its own, the back of the camera is flat and I have been using that to stand the camera upright for charging. There is a single LED to indicate it is recording, and it isn't very bright unfortunately. The AS10 uses micro SD cards and uses a micro-USB port which is comparable to most modern electronics these days. The GoPro Hero3 uses a mini-USB port but at least takes microSD cards as well.
The waterproof case has a standard tripod mount threaded insert. I've been using it with RAM mounts and haven't had a complaint other than the fact I need to unthread the AS10 from the mount in order to remove the camera from the case. The O-Ring for the case lid isn't as thick as the GoPro Hero3 housing seal. I'd recommend inspecting the O-ring frequently for damage or potential water intrusion prior to diving.
The AS10 recording bitrate is about 16 Mbps in 1080P/30fps mode. The Hero3 is rated at 20 Mbps for 1080P/30fps mode. According to some forum discussions, the Sony AS10/AS15 uses the H.264 codec but it is missing all of the B frames hence the compression artifacts. In any type of busy/fast video sequences, such as driving or flying, the motion causes complex objects to produce compression artifacts. The Hero3 Silver does this to a certain extent, but it is very noticeable on the AS10. The Hero3 Silver in 1080P/30 fps isn't perfect or beautiful either. I was not too impressed with the video quality on the Hero3. Compound the fact that when compressed for YouTube 1080P/720P HD, it will all tend to look the same. If you watch a lot of comparisons on YouTube between the Sony AS10 and the Hero2 and Hero3, the AS10 almost always looks better.
The video footage of the AS10 has received complaints about over saturation, but honestly the GoPro Hero3 Silver (which looked the best out of the White and Black editions) needed color temperature corrections and some minor tweaks. That is what post processing is intended to fix. With the AS10, one might want to reduce Exposure, Gamma, and Saturation just a tad.
The audio recording is better than average. I'd recommend boosting audio gain just a tad (by maybe 1-3 dB). It records the low frequencies well, but the high frequencies are muddied by the waterproof case. Sony sells a kit that includes a flat lens housing for underwater use, and a replacement lens housing with holes drilled for the stereo microphone to improve recording quality.
The Steady Shot is fantastic! It records only with an angle of 120 degrees but I kind of know why. It takes a 170 degree shot and zooms "in" to cut out the edges that result from stabilizing the images. This is not unlike what one would do using Sony Vegas or Adobe Premiere. However, the Steady Shot takes care of everything automatically and the results are fantastic. Going over some really rough roads, the AS10 is rock steady with its footage. With the AS10 mounted using a RAM suction mount on the windshield, I could see the hood of my car rocking all over the place while the footage remained stable.
The size and shape of the AS10 makes it cumbersome to mount and aim. With the above setup, I had to invert the AS10. There's no option to invert the footage on the camera, so I had to rotate the image by 180 degrees in post processing (not a big deal). Even with the Hero3, I had to invert it, but I also had to deal with the horrible GoPro mount.
720P vs 1080P:
I heard many people recommend shooting in 720P to reduce rolling shutter or to improve recording quality for faster sequences. I did numerous comparisons using the AS10 and Hero3, and I honestly felt the reduction in image quality and increase in noise is not worth it. With the AS10, I detected more noise in 720P than in 1080P, and the reduction in image clarity was subtle but noticeable (Think watching TV in SD vs HD). I recorded numerous POV footage in my car and the AS10 never demonstrated rolling shutter in 1080P, so again your application may vary.
Also, I found that the bitrate for 1080P is about 16 Mbps, while Adobe Premiere Elements 11 would encode H.264 MP4 in 1920x1080/30 fps at roughly 34 Mbps. This slows down rendering and increases file size for no reason. MPEG2 is encoded at about 18 Mbps and is more appropriate IMHO, but the consensus is to encode in H.264.
The GoPro Hero3 Silver and Black are expensive, and I would like to say you "get what you pay for" but I just don't feel that way about the GoPro cameras. They are expensive and don't deliver the same value and benefit over the AS10 for the price delta. In other words, the Hero3 Silver is about 1.5 times as expensive as the AS10. But is the Hero3 1.5 times better? I just didn't feel it was that much better. There are pros and cons with both cameras. The Hero3 Black is twice as expensive and assuming it doesn't overheat or lock up, the 4K and other recording features are nice if you have the proper medium for displaying your work. The Hero3 does have less noise in low light conditions but the AS10 footage in low light just seems to look better. The noise in the AS10 is probably related to the compression technique as well.
What you can expect from the AS10 is great built-in image stabilization with decent 1080P footage in a rather small package with a universal tripod mount. What you can expect from the Hero3 Silver is slightly better video quality, a smaller package with better mounting options but using (what I feel IMHO) a mediocre GoPro mount design, and just as much time spent post processing to fix the video. Both the AS10 and Hero3 Silver will have comparable bitrates in 1080P / 30 fps (ProTune excluded) and battery life. Don't expect more than 2 hours 10 minutes from either camera.
The Sony Imager is advertised as 1 / 2.3" with 11.9MP, but I don't see this resolution. It honestly looks less than 11.9MP. The fact the GoPro Hero3 Black uses a Sony Exmor R 1 /2.3" 12.4MP imager with an Ambarella A7 engine tells me that the Sony HDR-AS10 BIONZ engine and imager are probably not as high end.
Overall: 4/5 stars, a very good buy at approximately the same price as the Contour ROAM2 but with video quality competitive with the Hero3 Silver Edition. Sony needs to address the video compression method because quite simply the AS10 is a fantastic package except the compression artifacts ruin the entire product. Had Sony used a better compression scheme (to include the B frames and to use a higher bitrate), the Steady Shot would make the AS10 a serious alternative to the Hero3 Silver. The AS10 is great for recording onboard racing footage to display on YouTube in 720P/1080P HD format, but if you are looking for professional equipment for a production (like a movie or TV show), I recommend looking elsewhere. Your application may vary of course.
Top reviews from other countries
軽い
安い
画像本当にきれい
バタリー長い!
よって、WiFi機能は使えません。
それ以外は全く同じです。
元々AS15国内品も液晶表示は英単語ですので、日本語の取扱説明書をDLして使えます。