Sony FDR-X3000R Review

All movement cameras are now promising 4k at 30fps, from the gopro hero5 black to the yi 4k movement camera, but sony’s attempt is ready plenty extra than just decision and body rate. the diminutive fdr-x3000r's largest declare is balanced optical steadyshot (b.o.ss) image stabilization, which works across all resolutions and recording modes.

Additionally claiming eight.2-megapixel stills that may be used to create 4k time-lapse videos, the fdr-x3000r makes use of a brand new zeiss tessar wide-attitude lens and the equal bionz x processor discovered in sony's a7 cameras, however it is truely two layout features that simply help the fdr-x3000r stand out.

First is an protected underwater housing – a rarity inside the motion digicam marketplace – and 2d is its wearable, mountable stay view remote, a smartwatch-sized contraption that lets in the fdr-x3000r to be operated from afar, and its photos previewed in actual time.

However, all this comes at a fee, with the fdr-x3000r coming in at $520 / £500 / aus$650; the identical digicam with out the live view faraway, the fdr-x3000, is available for around $four hundred / £410 / au$550. can it simply justify that high price?

Features

4K video capture at 30fps
Wearable live view remote
Balanced Optical SteadyShot (B.O.SS) image stabilization

The handiest actual distinction among the fdr-x3000r and fdr-x3000 packages is that the former includes a stay view remote – the rm-lvr3 – which permits far off manipulate of the cam, and elements a stay preview. it connects to its mothership via bluetooth.

The fdr-x3000r also creates a wireless direct community for a telephone to enroll in, which brings into play sony’s similarly far flung operation/preview-capable app, playmemories cell. the app also indulges in live streaming, and hyperlinks to a few modifying software.

The fdr-x3000r shoots in video formats, xavc s and mp4. the former can attain 4k at 30fps at 60mbps and 100mbps, whilst the latter maxes out at full hd at 30fps in hq mode.

Design and accessories

Splash-proof design
No lens cap in box
Huge range of accessories

A notably small, smooth product that measures simply 29 x forty seven x 83mm, the splash-proof fdr-x3000r weighs a mere 114g with the battery inserted. at the top is the energy button and the file button, on the side are the 22 x 12mm display screen and controls, and on the back are an hdmi output, micro usb slot and a microphone jack.

Beneath the lens at the front are two microphones, at the same time as at the undercarriage is a widespread tripod thread and a microsd slot. sony recommends a sdxc/sdhc elegance 10 card for xavc s recording, and a sdxc/sdhc u3-class for 4k 100mbps recording. indeed, you could’t even make 4k recordings or take images without one internal.

The live view faraway (rm-lvr3) inside the box (and not available separately – so the fundamental selling point) automatically senses, and connects to, the fdr-x3000r while it’s switched on, even though throughout our checks it regularly misplaced connection even if nearby, taking an awesome 30 seconds to re-link and re-awaken a stay view. we couldn’t find any clarification or repair for its continual unreliability; the phone app is a lot higher.

That’s a disgrace because the digicam itself promises true usability, and is derived with a group of add-ons, from a wristband, a mount adapter and a cradle for recharging (all inside the container), and accessories which include a novel finger grip (aka-fgp1) and handlebar mount (vct-hm2). that finger grip impresses, allowing solid one-fingered monitoring and operation of the fdr-x3000r.

Installed at the top, the stay view far flung tilts, even though there may be a downside to this mini-rig setup; each button press on the remote introduces a substantial judder inside the video. so attaching the far flung to the cam thus misses the factor of getting them separate in the first area, even though the finger grip itself does permit smoother pans. sadly, the finger grip’s obvious plastic housing carelessly covers the tripod mount, which is stressful if you need to fast change to a desk bound shot.

However, additionally within the box with the finger grip is a small rubber lens cap, which is massively favored (we constantly marvel why action cams in no way consist of one as trendy). you may move accent-mad here – sony even makes a motor vibration absorber (aka-mva) for the usage of the fdr-x3000r while on a motorcycle (or something with a vibrating engine).

Build quality and handling

Waterproof housing included
Standard tripod thread
Short battery life in practice

Unusually, Sony has chosen to supply its action camera with an Underwater Housing (MPK-UWH1), which makes it waterproof up to 60m, by default. Indeed, it's wearing it in the box (though it's easy enough to pop the camera out of it).

Also in the box are a micro USB cable and a rechargeable 3.6V lithium-ion 1,240mAh battery – the Sony NP-BX1, which claims to record in maximum XAVC S quality for 60 minutes, or 50 minutes if live streaming over Wi-Fi, or in Full HD for 135/125 minutes. In our tests – largely with 4K – battery life was more like 40 minutes.

Recording is started simply by pressing the red button on top of the FDR-X3000R's, although by default it makes obnoxiously loud polyphonic beeps. This red button also doubles as the menu selection tool when using the tiny screen on the FDR-X3000R's side. That takes a little getting used to, and the myriad icons and readouts on that screen are initially baffling for anything other than basic settings. It's certainly not as intuitive as the YI 4K, and the confusion is merely replicated on the live view remote. It’s much better to rely on the app.

The lens is has a focal length of 17mm when filming in 4K, with 23mm and 32mm settings also available, while there are just two main shooting modes – ‘normal’ and ‘underwater’. However, you can make tweaks to the white balance, auto exposure shift, and color temperature via the app.

Performance

Powerful image stabilization
Live Streaming on Ustream
Loop recording

Action camas not often let you get near-up pictures, but that modifications on the fdr-x3000r. it's ready with a 3x zoom, which makes it possible to get towards subjects and lends this movement cam a much more versatile, expert and innovative experience. however, getting it to recognition on some thing near is hard, rendering this option somewhat moot.

The norm for fish-eye lenses is optical distortion, but that’s suppressed on the fdr-x3000r, which produces pictures which might be greater real-looking than most. even though it can do huge, medium and slim photographs, you’re constrained to simply huge (sixteen:9 widescreen) for 4k video, for timelapses, and for slo-mo.

Where the Sony FDR-X3000R stands out is its juiced-up image stabilization tech. It’s really good. Called Balanced Optical SteadyShot (B.O.SS) you can toggle it on in the SteadyShot settings (active or standard power) to help create noticeably smoother handheld shots, and it worked even when we exaggerated camera shake.

Other shooting functions include loop recording, burst shooting for stills, 4K timelapse capture, high-speed recording in Full HD for slow motion action (though that does requires post-editing work), and livestreaming via Ustream.

Image quality

Ultra-sharp and colorful 4K in bright conditions
Full HD at 60mbps impresses
Shoots in XAVC S format

The fdr-x3000r is a 4k monster, even though as normal on action cams, 4k does come with constraints, namely the body rate. 4k at 30fps (or 24fps and 25fps) is masses for wellknown use, but the capability to shoot at the smoother-to-watch 120fps and past best at decrease resolutions reminds us all how early we're within the 4k tale.

Used outside on a shiny sunny day, 4k at 30fps footage looks very sharp and realistically colored, with exposure changes made subtly and nicely. although handheld, it was additionally lusciously solid, and distortion became kept to a minimal (although a mild fish-eye impact remains substantial). horizontal pans had been harder to observe back. the jumps and jerks during those pans – though absolutely expected and the norm on maximum action cams – have been just an excessive amount of.

Having a zoom turned into fine in the beginning, even though it proved hard to consciousness on something unique, which become irritating. low-light capturing produced mediocre consequences, with numerous noise. complete hd at 60fps became tons smoother in terms of pans, and moderately well precise, but 720p at 240fps become soft, blocky and vague, and sincerely unwatchable.

The fdr-x3000r's photo stabilization tech is surprisingly powerful, even though it does create a barely woozy sense that arguably gets rid of some of the high-octane fact of motion footage. whether or not or no longer you're a fan will come all the way down to private taste, but there's no denying its effectiveness.

But, the fdr-x3000r can’t argue its manner out of its always shoddy still images. they're blocky and very glaringly low-decision, and the fdr-x3000r's lack of ability to shoot inside the uncooked layout is the least of its concerns – you would be higher off the usage of any phone. the timelapse feature is good although – it's clean to installation, offers lots of flexibility, and worked notably well in low mild.

Editing and apps

Control and share via PlayMemories Mobile app
Poor results from auto-highlights editor
Built-in GPS for auto-mapping

Although the fdr-x3000r is often about the live view faraway, the playmemories cellular app is a great deal extra succesful. that applies to both real-time live view and streaming, however additionally for fidgeting with the fdr-x3000r’s settings, and fetching photos.

After you’ve pointed your phone at the fdr-x3000r’s very own wi-fi direct community (and scanned the qr code to make the link), you’ve were given a quick, smooth-to-understand and full-featured manage hub – that's extra than may be said approximately the unreliable stay view faraway. however, do do not forget to turn off wireless at the fdr-x3000r while you’re not the usage of it, because it chronically saps battery. ditto the collection of gps information; its presence on an action cam appears overkill.

The usage of the app, it is feasible to switch pix in full decision as well as in sharing-pleasant two-megapixel or maybe basic vga 640x480 sizes, area gridlines on real-time previews from the camera, and delve into the entirety from a chum/ntsc toggle, and even prompt or quit all lamp operation (which stresses the fdr-x3000r’s seasoned possibilities). that app is likewise with the aid of a long way the quickest way to switch among codecs and characteristics.

Verdict

The fdr-x3000r is a first-rate movement cam; small, extremely capable and absolutely featured. however, it is also highly expensive, and overkill for most users. the chief problem is the live view faraway, which adds to the fee of the fdr-x3000r package considerably, but does now not provoke. the concept behind it – to behave as a preview display screen on the handlebars of a motorcycle, or maybe on a wrist – is right, however the execution poor; it simply would not stay connected reliably sufficient.

The playmemories app on a cellphone is a good deal greater magnificent. there are different functions right here that the majority won't use, which includes gps and the protected water-proof housing, whilst voice manipulate and first rate-great nonetheless image capabilities are lacking. but, at its middle the fdr-x3000r does impress, with the element in 4k and the effective photo stabilization tech in particular some very high highlights that placed it ahead of the gopro hero5 black on middle video nice.

So whilst the fdr-x3000r remains a brilliant, even a uniquely-skilled action cam, forget about the live view far flung; if whatever it turns this action cam into an inactiveness cam. as a substitute, go for the extra low priced sony fdr-x3000, which comes without the faraway (however with the water resistant casing), and use the playmemories app on a smartphone (a handlebar mount for a smartphone will do the identical job).

Pass for the basic bundle, spend the extra money on a few badly needed greater batteries, and awesomely easy, stabilized, un-distorted and versatile incredible 4k may be yours.