14 DAY TRIAL // Thrill seekers in the US have a new device to choose, as Sony has just updated its lineup of action cams with a small and affordable camera.
The new arrival goes by the name AS20 and comes equipped with Sony’s latest POV imaging technologies, which include SteadyShot, a technology that helps in the image stabilization department.
Sony says that the camera is perfect for active individuals who like to go on surfing trips or hang out at skate parks.
Sony has the AS100V and AS30V on the market already and the new AS20 brings the same Sony quality to the table with a super attractive price tag.
What Sony is trying to do so is tap into the same market as the GoPro family of devices, by providing advanced stabilization features that should come in handy in scenarios where individuals can’t grip the filming equipment all that well and there’s a lot of bouncing and shaking involved.
In terms of specifications, the AS20 comes packed with a ZEISS Tessar lens and 170-degree FOV plus an integrated microphone that will let you record audio, in case you need a phonic background to sustain your adrenaline-induced footage.
Furthermore, the camera arrives with a back-illuminated Exmor R CMOS sensor. Adopters of the camera will be able to shoot both video and still images in full HD, and Sony makes a point of emphasizing the fact that AS20 should be able to deliver “exceptional” quality in low-light settings, compared to other cameras that don’t fare too well in this department.
The AS20 also comes equipped with Wi-Fi, which is used to connect to the wearable RM-LVR1 Live-View remote. This optional accessory comes with an LCD screen that can display a live preview image of whatever it is that you are shooting.
The remote can be used to control five cameras at the same time, and if you have friends who own an AS20 you can all share in the accessory.
Those familiar with action photography might know that the outcome is often chaotic, as shots can be delivered upside down and whatnot. But the AS20 has a handy flip function that can automatically invert an image that has been shot upside down.
The battery inside the new AS20 is said to be good enough to allow users to shoot up to 130 minutes of video. The little cam will be made available in the US in August, but we don’t have a particular date to offer you. Last but not least, the AS20 should start selling for $200 / €149.
