CES 2015 Product Update: Sony Unveils 4K Handycam and Action Cam
LAS VEGAS - For the last few years the big tech buzz has been 4K, the future of resolution in your home television and something that would prove to become the true key to viewer immersion rather than 3D technology. As companies like Samsung, LG, and many others raced to develop the largest and most stunning 4K or UHD displays, content began to fall behind.
People were simply not shooting in 4K, especially consumers. The display technology was there but the content creation was not. Now, over 4 years since the first consumer 4K television companies like Sony are beginning to fill in the gaps. At CES 2015 Sony unveiled an affordable, compact, 4K Handycam for the consumer.
The FDR-AX33 4K Handycam is approximately 30 percent smaller and 20 percent lighter than Sony's previous model, the FDR-AX100. It also represents about a 50% reduction in the price of the camera. The FDR-AX33 will be made available in February for $999. While this is certainly pricey, it does represent a reachable and realistic price for a portable 4K, family friendly camera.
The camera will record at a maximum resolution of 4K at 30fps, and will record at 100mbps. Your family 4K videos will be absolutely enormous files so prepare for that. The camera will feature an continuous overwrite loop mode, so that it can be used for constant recording like a dashcam.
Sony also unveiled their 4K-action cam designed for outdoor use. It is weather resistant and waterproof up to 10 meters of depth. The action cam will be capable of shooting 4K at 30fps, 1080p at 120fps, and 720p at 240 fps for slow motion action shots. It will feature state of the art stabilization that will help give you super smooth footage should you attach it to a drone. Worried about crashing your drone into a tree? The action cam will feature GPS-enabled location tagging.
The FDR-X1000V will be available in March for $500 or $600 with a Live View Remote.