What is it?
A feature-packed sports video camera.
How will it change my life? The internet is awash with amateur video blogs, some of which have become hugely successful and earned their creators upwards of £600,000. If you want a piece of the action and are looking for a suitable device, the Sony HDR-AS100V is an elegant alternative to the boxy GoPro sports camera. It also offers an alternative for cyclists keen to keep a log of their daily commute or simply capture those exhilarating weekend-warrior moments on the bike for posterity.
As with most people who grew up pre-games consoles and X Factor, I spent almost every waking hour outside, football being my pursuit of choice. How times have changed. The Kardashian clan and Big Brother generation have a lot to answer for.
Recently my 11-year-old nephew phoned to tell me he had won first prize in a street dance competition. When I told him how sorry I was to have missed his big moment, he chirpily replied never mind, he had recorded it and said clip was already on his personal YouTube channel. My jaw hit the floor. What happened to the trophy cabinet and photo album?
Good points? The 50Mbps bit-rate recording is very impressive and allows scope for post-editing, which is beyond most other cameras of this range. The video-capture quality is provided by a sensor which provides perfect resolution in conjunction with a top-of-the-range wide-angle Zeiss Tessar lens. The results are spectacular when viewed on an HD television.
Those with a less than steady hand can film without fear of jumpy footage thanks to the SteadyShot image stabilisation software.
WiFi and NFC (Near Field Communication) provide simple and fast ways of sharing your video, while the GPS functionality overlays location information seamlessly to all output.
Bad points? The accessories and mounts available are less developed than those for the GoPro but in terms of functionality the HDR-AS100V holds its own. Another niggle is that the front of the camera and lens have a knack of holding moisture long after the rain has stopped.
Best for … Those looking to add a professional feel to their footage and who have the time to explore all the features, of which there are many.
Avoid if … All you want to do is record your daily bike commute, since there are less convoluted devices which cater for this purpose, including the Sony Action Cam models. If you don't have an HD television then you'll probably want to opt for a non-HD camera instead.
Score: 7/10.
l Sony HDR-AS100V, £349 (sony.com)
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