GoPro gets some competition
But Sony’s version isn’t yet a serious threat, writes Blayne Slabbert.
GoPro has dominated the action camera market for nearly a decade so it’s a brave move by Sony to take it on.
But Sony has not been shy of its ambition for its cameras – it recently said it wanted to be the world’s top camera brand by 2021.
Part of this plan is releasing the RX0 action camera which is on sale in New Zealand for $1199.
But you can’t release an action camera without having it compared to a GoPro. Here’s how the RX0 does against the GoPro Hero 6 ($670).
Ease of use
The best part of the Sony interface is the buttons. They have an instant response, so when you press the shutter it takes a photo or video immediately.
There are five navigational buttons which make it easy to move around the menu.
However, the menus are hard to read and are complicated on the 1.5-inch screen. The text is tiny and some words are almost unreadable. It appears Sony has crammed a menu from one of its larger cameras into the RX0. It would be great to have larger text and fewer options.
It also takes a few movements to change from photo to video mode.
The GoPro has a bigger 2-inch display and it’s also a touchscreen. The menu is a lot more simple and there’s a dedicated button to switch between modes.
However, the buttons on the GoPro aren’t as responsive.
It always takes longer than expected to turn it on and off.
Image quality
The RX0 has a 1-inch sensor which is usually found in much larger compact cameras. That big sensor allows it to capture nice-looking 15MP images and high-definition video. However, if you want 4K video you need an external recorder, which isn’t that practical.
Also, it lacks any form of image stabilisation which is a nice-tohave feature in an action camera. You’ll need to adjust your shutter speed to freeze the action but that means digging into the menu.
It does, however, have a manual mode to control all your settings but this will only appeal to more experienced photographers.
The GoPro has both image and video stabilisation which work well. It can also take 4K video, along with a much wider range of frame rates.
Being able to control your frame rate is important with action cameras as you often want to capture fast-moving subjects and using a high-frame rate paired with a higher resolution lets you slow down your video when playing it back while still keeping it sharp.
Another big difference is the lens field of view. Most action cameras have a fish-eye style lens where as the RX0 is set at 28mm. The GoPro can be adjusted from wide (14mm) to narrow (28mm).
Design and features
The RX0 is slightly smaller and a more squarish shape, while the GoPro is more rounded and its lens sticks out a bit.
Both cameras are waterproof up to 10m without requiring a case. The GoPro’s battery is a lot bigger
1220mAh compared to Sony’s
700mAh.
The GoPro also has voice control, which is quite a handy feature when you’re operating a camera on the go.
Another difference is that the covers that protect the battery and ports are easier to open on the RX0. Opening them on the GoPro sometimes require a bit of force.
Accessories
The Sony is a new camera and this is shown in the range of accessories available.
At the moment you can’t really attach it to anything but I expect this will soon change.
There are dozens of GoPro accessories allowing you to attach it to bikes, boards and helmets.
However, the best ‘‘accessory’’ GoPro has is its dedicated fans who constantly post videos and talk about the cameras in forums.
Sony has this type of community with its popular mirrorless cameras but not with the RX0.
Verdict
The RX0 is Sony’s first action camera and it shows. It’s hard to use on the go and there aren’t enough attachments.
At the moment it’s just a really small camera that takes great images rather than one to take on the mountain or in the sea. However, Sony has a reputation for quickly improving and releasing new products so hopefully the next version will be better.
It best suits a photographer (especially a Sony fan) who wants a small camera for travel or something they can chuck in a bag if heading off for a day trip.
For now, if you want a true action camera, then the GoPro Hero 6 is the best option. If you’re on a budget, consider the recently released, budget GoPro Hero ($350).