Nikon KeyMission 170
GREAT IMAGES BUT CLUNKY.
FINALLY — AN action cam from a company with a rich history in lenses and cameras. The KeyMission 170 is one of three in the range — you can see the 360 on the left, and the 80 is a much more modest version of a handicam that didn’t suit our requirements. Nikon’s heritage shines through in its maiden range, as the KeyMission 170 produces beautiful images and video, rich in colour and detail, and at 1080p/60 it’s very smooth, with or without the motion stablisation activated.
Two large buttons — one dedicated for video, the other for photos — turn the camera on and have it ready to go in roughly three seconds, and the included remote is a nice bonus.
Sadly, it’s otherwise a hassle to use, and frequently left us frustrated. The menu system feels clunky and unintuitive, and cramped on the otherwise bright and clear LCD screen. While the 170 is water- and shock-proof without a case, we don’t have much faith in the rectangular lens cap staying attached, as the thread felt loose — it would be devastating to lose it 10m underwater. Nikon also uses a proprietary mounting system that’s incompatible with ubiquitous GoPro cradles, though does have a quarter-inch thread.
Most annoyingly, a Lexar Class 10 memory card we used would often be rejected by the camera the next time we turned it on (a Sandisk equivalent had no issues). Plus, getting the footage off the thing is a trial, as the app is flaky and the computer software lumpy. It’s far from a write off, but here’s hoping the next version flattens out those kinks.