Sony Action Cam Gets 4K Video to Take on GoPro

Sony, a worldwide leader in digital imaging and cameras, made plenty of announcements this year at CES 2015.  As expected, the company has an array of new cameras and Action Cams. Along with an updated Handy Cam Camcorder, is a brand new 4k video Sony Action Cam aimed at taking on the GoPro Hero 4.

Last year 4K finally hit the mainstream with products from GoPro and DJI, and this year Sony has added a few options of their own to take on the competition.

Read: GoPro Hero 3 Revealed

The biggest changes and improvements this year are of course all about 4k video, even if a few of their new cameras still only support 1080p, but with multiple new options available in 2015 there’s a camera or camcorder for everyone. Read on for all the details.

To make things clear, there’s the Action Cam FDR-X1000V and FDR-AS1000V, with the first being the one that supports 4K at 30 fps. Sony’s new Action Cam X1000V is the more important of the two, and Sony’s new camera that is aiming squarely at the likes of the GoPro Hero 4 Black Edition. In both 4k options and the price.

The new X1000V has the same design, shape, and overall look and feel of previous action cameras, only has received an upgrade to support 4K video and will cost users $499. There’s also an optional version with a live-view remote for $599.

Some of the noteworthy specs are that the new camera can shoot 3840 x 2160 pixel video at 30 frames per second (4K), ultra wide-angle 170-degree lens, a back-illuminated Exmor R CMOS sensor, and Sony’s Bionz X image processor all on board. However, there’s no optical image stabilization and instead you’ll be getting steady video thanks to Sony’s SteadyShot electronic stabilization technology as well, so take that as you will.

4k video can be played back instantly on a 4k TV using HDMI output, which is a nice touch as well. Then, aside from 4k video recording, the X1000V can shoot 1080p at 120 frames per second or 720p video at 240 frames per second for slow motion video, which has been increasingly more popular.

Again the new X1000V will run users $499 or $599 with the live-view remote, and the company also debuted an updated AS200V with many of the same features (sans 4k recording) for $299 for those only needing 1080p video and are on a budget. Release dates are scheduled for sometime in March.