The is the Sony RX0 action cam which competes directly with GoPro. It was recently unveiled at iFA 2017 and it wants a slice of the action cam market which is flooded with cheaper products from China and the current market leader GoPro. Building on the leading image quality and unsurpassed video and stills functionality in the RX series, the RX0 is a redefines compact imaging while maintaining premium compact camera functions and features, along with the now-standard 4K recording.
At 110g and measuring 59mm x 40.5mm x 29.8mm, the RX0 is now lighter, smaller and slimmer than the GoPro Hero 5. The waterproof, dustproof and shockproof chassis can withstand depths of 10m for up to 60mins, a fall from 2m, and a load of 200kgf according to Sony’s internal tests.
The RX0 promises to deliver crisp, sharp images and videos as it comes with a comparatively large 1.0-inch Exmor RS CMOS sensor with a 15.3MP resolution married to EX ZEISS optics Tessar T 24mm (35mm equiv.) F4 fixed lens and Sony’s BIONZ X processor, and can record in S-Log2 format with available Picture Profile options or through a 4K Clean HDMI output for external recorders. With an anti-distortion shutter that allows shutter speeds of up to 1/32000 the RX0 is capable of capturing stills at up to 16fps in continuous mode. The camera is also able to record 40x super-slow motion at up to 1000fps in a reduced video resolution.
The RX0 promises modularity designed into the camera: multi-camera control is available for multi-camera setups, allowing for the seamless creation of 360 degree VR content, time-slice shooting or bullet-time set-ups. The FA-WRC1M can trigger up to fifteen RX0’s, and the PlayMemories app allows up to five RX0 units to be controlled wirelessly via mobile.
Firmware designed to allow more units to be operated from an access point is under works, along with a camera control box. Both are slated for January 2018. The VCT-CGR1 cage allows for flexibility with other accessories, and the MPK-HSR1 allows the RX0 to be taken down to depths of 100m.
The Sony RX0 is slated to be available in selected Asia Pacific countries from October 2017.
