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Sony FDR-X1000V Action Camera Complete Review

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Feb 19, 2024• Proven solutions

Whether we talk about camcorders or TVs, one of the most stunning feature is its 4K resolution level and Sony has satisfied its customers with impressive quality on both grounds. It has become a great competitor against yearlong king in action camera world: GoPro. The latest action camera from Sony, FDR-X1000 is not only able to shoot videos with 4K resolution level like GoPro Hero4 Black edition but at the same time it can be done at bit rate of 100 Mbps. All featured are added to this action camera in attractive way including outstanding audio quality and Zeiss branded camera lens. With an official price tag of $399.99, it has gained the power to stand in competition against GoPro Hero4 Black.

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Complete Review for Sony FDR-X1000V

Specs Table:

Item name
Sony FDR-X1000V
Date available
September 2016
Price
Official: $399.99only
Manufacturer
Sony (Japan)
Basic Specifications
Parameters
Details
Parameters
Details
Battery
1240 mAh that allows 60 minutes of continuous shooting.
Waterproof
10m with housing
Weight
114g only
Shape
Bullet type
Max Image resolution
8.8MP with Interval and Burst Mode
Max Video resolution
4k 30fps/ 1080p 120fps and 720p 240fps
Display
LCD Status Display
Feature
GPS enabled, WIFI & Bluetooth, Action Cam Movie Creator,Optically Stabilized Ultra-Wide Lens, Live View Remote

Pros and Cons:

Pros Cons
Sony's Steady Shot stabilization It’s designs makes it too tall
It can record at 4K with 100Mbps in Sony's efficient XAVC S codec Lens distortion is reported by many users
Stereo mic can be connected with impressive wind noise-reduction audio quality Menu display is not user friendly
f/2.8 bright ZEISS® lens that provide Ultra wide up to 170° pro quality You are not able to preview the footage only if you spend on Live View Remote RM-LVR2
The built in mount assists in easy attachment with Tripod
Movie Maker software

What is inside the Box?

You will find so many useful things inside your camera box:

  • The beautiful 4K Sony Action Camera
  • Adhesive Mount (VCT-AM1)
  • (SPK-X1) Waterproof Case that can go underwater up to 33 Feet or 10 meter
  • Startup guide for users
  • Micro USB Cable
  • Rechargeable type battery pack (NP-BX1)

Design and Accessories:

This device is perfect combination of style, form and features. The thin, long ballet shape looks really impressive and it is much easier to grip even with one hand. The flat base leads to easy stand without any accessory. On bottom side you will find port for external mic input and an advanced tripod mount. Device comes with a waterproof case that allows under water recording up to 33 feet. Its LCD screen is of square shape and two indicated LEDs are attached nearby. The back panel contains slot of battery, MicroSD card, USB and Micro HDMI.

Highlights:

This device comes with Zeiss Tessar Lens that has 170 degree wide focus and can serve with f/2.8 aperture range. If you turn on the steady shots then its focus goes up to 120 degrees. It captures videos with stunning quality even in low light modes and all the details use to be crisp and clear. One of the most advanced features of this camera unit is its steady shot image stabilization that makes it far better than GoPro Hero. The image stabilization here is digital kind of instead that optical technology and it is not compatible with 4K recording. But when users work with HD then this technique can add much finer results for shooting with rattles and bumps.

Image Quality and Resolution:

There is no exception to the outstanding still and video quality of Sony FDR-X1000. You can achieve impressive results with its 4K shooting mode where all details in videos results breathtaking view. For crisp and clear images you can work on 8.8MP still resolution level. Users can even switch to Full HD and 720 p settings with ease where Sony device also leads to top notch content quality. There are two colour modes that make shooting options much useful. You can either switch to Vivid or go for Natural in order to get something unique.

Wi-Fi and Apps:

You will be glad to know that Sony FDR-X1000 can be accessed from remote location with the help of its dedicated PlayMemories Mobile Application. It assists people to use their smartphone as viewfinder and as a remote unit. Further, it can easily transfer your photos and videos from camera to computer. Here is one more advanced feature, the Highlight Movie Maker; it can allow fast editing over video footage to avail customized results.

Battery Life and Storage:

The best part to hear about this latest Sony action cam unit is that it comes with a removable battery, so you can enjoy hour long recording by keeping some spare batteries in your bag. The battery life serves excellently for Full HD recording as it can stand up to 2 hours 5 minutes easily. In case of 4K recording that works at 100 Mbps you can use this camera up to 52 minutes without any trouble.

On the other side if we talk about storage of this device that we must say that it has worked pretty well on enhancement. The MicroSD port is available on backside behind the waterproof door along with a Micro HDMI port so that users can easily transfer their footage to big screen. Note that your Micro SD card must be of at least Class 4 rating if you wish to record MP4 footage. In case of XAVC S recording prefer to use MicroSDXC Class 10 cards or other product that can offer higher speed.

Recommend best video editing software for action camera users

If you want to take your video content to the next level with some video editing without being completely overwhelmed, you will definitely want to give Wondershare Filmora (originally Wondershare Video Editor) a try. The software offers a free trial period which allows you to try before buy. Well-designed intuitive interface enables anyone to master the program within minutes.

Download Win Version Download Mac Version

Conclusion:

We can say that Sony has worked well for launching its latest design against GoPro. The finer 4K details and added steadyshot image stabilization feature makes it really useful for athletes and other adventure sports lovers. The one thing where it still needs to improve is the chunky controls and atrocious menus. As GoPro hero is available with the same price tag so these little missing details can force buyers to follow the GoPro series again. There is no doubt to say that GoPro Hero4 Black offers wide range of accessories but after viewing all the updated features of Sony FDR-X1000 we can say that Sony is working in right direction. If you are in favour of flexibility and want to access the GPS tagging feature for your shoots then it is really good to go ahead with FDR-X1000.

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Max Wales
Max Wales is a writer and a lover of all things video.
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