Comparison Sony HDR-AS50 vs Xiaomi Yi Sport Basic Edition

— Oblong. Oblong action cameras — they look like an elongated rectangle (parallelepiped) or a cylinder, while the lens is placed on one of the narrow ends. This is the difference between the oblong cameras and the conventional ones described below. This layout is convenient primarily because it allows you to hold the camera in your hand securely. On the other hand, the control panel and display during shooting are often turned away from the user, which can create some inconvenience. However, this can be offset by the use of folding displays and other similar features; and in some situations, the side display and controls even prove to be an advantage.

— Vertical. Oblong action cameras that are stretched up and have a lens at the top. Such models are very similar to chest cameras and can be used for such purposes. However, their main use is shooting yourself and holding it in your hand. It is for this purpose that the case is made elongated, which makes it convenient to cover it with your hand.

— Conventional. The camera body has the shape of a rectangle, but the lens is placed on its wide, frontal edge. Outwardly, such models are most similar to classic digital cameras. Some may have a fairly large display, placed on the opposite side of the lens, as in the same photo cameras, which allows the user to see the shooting scene in real time. However, the l...ocation of the lens, usually, does not affect the technical specs of the camera itself, and therefore both conventional and oblong models can provide the same video quality.

— Cube. A fairly specific type of action camera, the body of which has the shape of a compact cube. Usually, such models are relatively small in size, but the size reduction, in turn, affects the video capabilities and overall functionality. For example, such models are extremely rarely equipped with displays (although many of them can be connected via Wi-Fi to a smartphone or tablet, which compensates for this disadvantage).

— Glasses with a camera. Devices in the form of sports glasses with a built-in camera. The lens of such a camera is usually located between the glasses lenses, less often on the side, based on one of the temples; during normal use, it constantly “looks” approximately in the same direction as the user himself. Also, the advantages of cameras of this type include accuracy and stealth. On the other hand, in glasses, the additional electronic filling must be very tiny, which makes it difficult to use advanced optics and severely limits the battery capacity. And even with this in mind, such devices are heavier and bulkier than ordinary sports glasses. Another disadvantage is that the camera and frame with lenses cannot be matched separately — as a result, a model with a suitable camera may not be suitable due to the size or style of the glasses, and vice versa.

— Camera mask. A protective mask with a built-in camera. Note that such masks can have different specializations — for scuba diving, motocross, skiing, etc.; these details must be clarified before purchase. However, the lens in such devices is usually located in the middle of the forehead, so the camera takes POV photos and video. The main disadvantage of such devices is that when choosing, you need to take into account both the technical specs of the camera and the purpose and convenience of wearing the mask. In other words, a good camera can be built into an inappropriate mask, and vice versa.

— Camera with a clip. Action cameras fall into this category, for which a clip-on mount is standard. Many of them can be additionally equipped with other mounts, but primarily designed for this type of use and may not be the best purchase for extreme video shooting. On the other hand, such a mount is quite versatile, since it allows you to attach the camera to almost any piece of equipment (backpack strap, unloading belt, belt, etc.).

— Sphere. The shape of the body is found mainly in panoramic and 360° cameras (see "Product type") — it is in such devices that the spherical body is often the most convenient. In the case of conventional action cameras, "sphere" usually means a cylindrical body with a lens on a flat end; such cameras are similar to conventional cameras (see above) and do not have fundamental differences from them.

The degree of dust and water protection of the protective case supplied with the camera.

Protected case will save your camera from dust, water, temperature changes, shocks, etc. The specific degree of protection is indicated according to the international IP (Ingress Protection Rating) system, according to which each device is assigned a code of the form IPXX, where X is replaced by specific numbers. The first of them characterizes the protection against the penetration of foreign objects (from 0 to 6, where 0 is no protection). Usually, in boxes for action cameras, this indicator does not go below 5, because otherwise the container would have too large gaps, and its use simply would not make sense. Level 5 provides dust resistance — dust can get inside the case, but in small quantities that do not affect the device inside. Level 6 corresponds to complete imperviousness to dust.

The second digit is protection against liquid ingress (from 0 to 8, where 0 is no protection). Usually, the minimum level of protection against water is 6.

6 — protection against short-term immersion (for example, falling into a sea wave);
7 — protection against temporary immersion under water (up to 30 minutes) to a shallow depth (up to 1 metre), without continuous operation in immersed mode;
8 — protection against immersion to a depth of more than 1 metre for a time of more than 30 m, with the possibility of continuous...operation underwater. The specific level of protection of level 8 can be quite impressive — up to the possibility of diving to several tens of metres.

Note that protective cases for action cameras can be sold separately. Therefore, if the capabilities of the complete container do not suit you, there may be a more secure case on the market. On the other hand, in general, it is still more convenient to buy such an accessory immediately with a camera — so as not to waste time and effort on choosing the right protective case.

Camera ability for recording WVGA (480p) video.

The most popular resolution options provided by this standard are 640x480 and 848x480; there may be other options, for example, 736x480 or 720x576, but the resolution of such a video is very low by modern standards.

Another important parameter indicated in the specs of the video is the frame rate. The higher it is, the smoother the picture looks, and the less moving objects are blurred in the frame. Accordingly, the higher the frame rate, the better the dynamic scenes will look on the video. A value of 120 fps or more usually indicates that the camera can shoot video in slow-motion format (although it should be specified separately). At the same time, many models with high fps allow you to set a lower frame rate than stated in the specifications — for example, a camera for 120 fps can also support 30 and 60 fps. This feature is useful in cases where you need to save memory — the higher the frame rate, the more space the video takes (at the same resolution), and by reducing the number of frames per second, you can fit more material in the same amount of memory.

For models with several lenses, as a rule, this parameter is indicated for each lens.

Most often (unless otherwise indicated), the specifications indicate the field of view by the diagonal of the frame; in some ultra-wide-angle lenses it can exceed 180°. A special case is made up of lenses for which a 360° view is declared: this means that the optics cover the entire hemisphere in front of it. Such lenses are found in panoramic and 360-degree cameras (see “Product type”).

In general, the field of view primarily determines what area of the scene is being captured into the frame. Accordingly, the wider it is, the more space the camera captures, and the lower the likelihood that something that is happening will be off-screen. On the other hand, it is worth considering that a strong increase in the field of view leads to distortions of the “picture”, especially at the edges, as well as, to a decrease in the size of visible objects and a decrease in detail. Detailed recommendations regarding choosing a camera based on this parameter can be found in special sources.

The presence of a digital (electronic) stabilization system in the camera design.

Any stabilization is intended to compensate for small juddering of the image that occurs due to the instability of the hold in the hands, vibrations from the motor or road roughness (when used in transport), etc. Digital stabilization is carried out as follows: a reserve area is allocated along the edges of the sensor, which under normal conditions does not participate in the formation of the final image. If the device is being shaken, the camera electronics select certain parts of the image from the reserve and build the image in such a way that in the end, it remains stable.

Compared to other methods of stabilization, digital systems are extremely simple and reliable. Moreover, they are inexpensive and have almost no effect on the weight, dimensions, and price of the camera. At the same time, with this method of stabilization, the effective area of the image sensor is reduced, which can adversely affect the image quality and the amount of noise on it.

The number of megapixels in the action camera sensor, in other words, the resolution of this sensor(1 megapixel is 1 million photosensitive points).

There is an opinion that the higher the resolution, the better the image quality. It is true from the point of view that manufacturers are trying to install high-resolution sensors in advanced cameras. At the same time, there are no strict dependencies here, and from the technical point of view, the number of megapixels determines only the maximum image resolution that can be captured using this sensor. The quality of this picture will depend both on several features of the sensor itself (size, type, special design solutions), and the specs of the camera. So when choosing, you should focus not so much on the resolution of the image sensor, but on the general class of the camera and reviews with examples of footage.

The maximum resolution at which the action camera can take photos. Specified in pixels horizontally and vertically.

This parameter is directly related to the resolution of the image sensor(see above): the total number of pixels in the photo, usually, corresponds to the number of pixels in the sensor. For example, a photo resolution of 4608x3456 corresponds to a sensor of 15925248 pixels, or approximately 16 megapixels. If the number of pixels in the photo is greater than the claimed resolution of the sensor, then the manufacturer uses software tricks that allow you to improve the photo resolution to a higher one than originally. This reduces the cost of devices but also affects the quality of images.

Theoretically, high-resolution images can provide good detail, but in fact, much depends on the specs of the sensor (primarily physical size) and image processing features.

— Photo during video. The ability to take photos directly while recording a video — usually using a separate button. Thus, it is convenient to fix the most significant moments of what is happening. Such photos are much better in quality than "freeze frames" from the captured video.

— Serial photo shoot. This feature allows you to take several pictures at once in a short period (usually it is a fraction of a second). A series of shots increases the chance of capturing a good moment, which can be very important given the specifics of using action cameras.

— One click recording. The ability to quickly turn on the camera for recording — literally at the touch of a button, by the name. Moreover, such a button works even if the device is turned off. However, the recording inevitably starts with some delay; but often this delay is a fraction of a second.

— Online streaming. Ability to stream video to popular services like YouTube and social networks (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, etc.). Usually, the online streaming function is implemented when the action camera is connected to the Internet via a Wi-Fi network, less often via a wired connection. Communication with the World Wide Web can be held directly or through a smartphone or computer. It will require the use of appropriate software.

— Time lapse. A special mode of operation of the action camera, in which video recording is carried out at a slower frequency is mainly used for filming slow processes. Thus, for example, a long journey or a long sunset can fit into a 3-minute video.

— Auto-rotate. The function of automatic rotation of the captured photos and videos to the position corresponding to the position of the camera. Without this feature, all footage during playback would be displayed strictly in landscape orientation, and footage shot with the camera upside down or upside down would have to be rotated in a photo or video editor. Usually, at the beginning of video recording, auto-rotation is blocked — so that the position of the frame at any time corresponds to the rotation of the camera itself relative to its original position.

— Photo panoramas shooting. The ability to use the camera to take panoramic photos. In traditional action cameras (see "Product type"), such shooting is carried out as follows: the camera takes several separate photos, which are then glued into one image. Regarding panoramic and 360-degree models (see ibid.), it is worth noting that not all such models support shooting in panoramic format, so it is advisable to check the availability of this function separately.

— Key points labels. The ability to add special marks to the footage that indicate key moments. While viewing such videos, you can go directly to the labels — this is easier than manually searching for the right moment. This feature is especially useful when shooting long videos, as well as when numerous individual files. The label, usually, is placed right during the shooting by pressing a special button or by voice command.

— Night shooting. Special mode for recording in low light conditions. The specific implementation of this function may be different: in some models, the sensitivity of the sensor is increased, in others, shooting in the IR range is used. Accordingly, specific features may vary: not every camera with this function can shoot in complete darkness, and these nuances should be clarified separately.

— GPS module. Built-in satellite navigation module that allows you to determine the current coordinates of the device. Options for using data from GPS can be different: geotagging footage, recording travelled routes, determining the speed of movement, or even full-fledged navigation on the map.

— Wi-Fi module. The Wi-Fi wireless module in action cameras can be used in different formats: in some models, it is responsible for connecting to the Internet, in others it is for communicating with a smartphone or other gadget, in others both options are available at once. Anyway, the main use of this connection is to transfer footage to an external device or to the Internet (including broadcasting in the online streaming format, see “Filming capabilities”). In addition, more specific functions can be provided, for example, using a smartphone as an external viewfinder and remote control. Specific features of the use of Wi-Fi in each case should be clarified separately.

— Bluetooth. Direct wireless communication technology for exchanging information between two electronic devices. In action cameras, it is most often used to connect remote controls, selfie sticks and smartphones, which can also act as a remote control. Unlike the Wi-Fi module, it consumes battery power more economically, but at the same time, the range of wireless communication is reduced to 10 m...etres.

— NFC chip. NFC is a wireless communication technology over short distances (up to 10 cm). In action cameras, this technology is mainly used as an auxiliary one, to facilitate connection with a smartphone or other gadget via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. If such a gadget is also equipped with NFC, just bring the camera to it and confirm the connection — it's easier than fiddling with the settings.

— USB-C. A relatively new type of USB interface that uses a miniature double-sided connector, slightly larger than microUSB. Most often used for similar purposes — as a universal connector through which you can charge the battery and connect the camera to a computer (for copying photos and videos, updating software, etc.). P.). At the same time, USB-C provides a higher data transfer rate than microUSB, supports more power supply, and also has a more convenient plug. Occasionally, there are more specific ways to use this interface — for example, direct connection to a smartphone or tablet that has a USB-C port.

— HDMI output. HDMI is a digital interface specially designed for high-definition video and multi-channel audio. With this output, you can connect the camera to a TV, monitor or other device as an external player and play the footage directly. The convenience of HDMI is that almost all modern video equipment with support for HD standards is equipped with such inputs.

Note that the cameras can be equipped with a smaller version of the connector — miniHDMI or microHDMI; however, finding an adapter cable is usually not a problem, it can even be supplied in the kit.

— AV output. Output for transmitting video and audio signals in analogue format. In action cameras, it most often has the form of a 3.5 mm mini-jack connector. The AV output capabilities are noticeably more modest than those of HDMI, which has a similar purpose: the analogue signal only allows standard definition video (not HD) plus mono or stereo sound (not multi-channel). On the other hand, often even such features are enough; and AV inputs are widespread and are found not only in modern but also in outdated technology like CRT TVs. In addition, many cameras have two video outputs at once — both HDMI and AV.

— Microphone connection. Almost any modern action camera has a built-in microphone that allows you to record sound. However, the quality of its sound is often quite low. Thus, many models can connect an external microphone — you can fix it, for example, on the helmet strap and record the comments of the athlete in the process of movement. Note that different types of connectors can be used for such a connection. As a result, the specific connector type and supported accessories depend on the action camera model, and some devices are only compatible with branded microphones.