Sony FDR-X1000V review – 4K action camera

Video Quality and Image Stabilisation

On the front of the FDR-X1000 is a Zeiss Tessar lens with an aperture of F/2.8. It has a variable field of view of either 120 degrees or 170 degrees, but the latter introduces a significant amount of barrel distortion. This can be used to stylistic effect if you’re looking for that distinct ‘shot on an action camera’ look, but it’s not best suited to standard footage.

There’s also Sony’s SteadyShot image stabilisation, although it’s worth noting that this isn’t available when you shoot in 4K, and it’s electronic stabilisation rather than optical. This means it’s achieved by cropping the image down to remove unwanted camera shake, but it’s still better than nothing, as electronic image stabilisation is something that’s been missing from GoPro’s cameras over the years.

^ 4K test footage – no image stabilisation

With the camera mounted on the Expert Reviews image stabilisation test platform, the SteadyShot image stabilisation did an excellent job of reducing low-level vibrations, so it’s a shame it’s not available when you shoot in 4K. The SteadyShot is designed to work particularly well with the vibrations from drones, too.

In both 1080p and 4K resolutions, the FDR-X1000V delivers crisp and sharp images around the centre of the frame. It becomes a little soft in the corners but nothing too detrimental. In terms of detail, even though it records with a higher bit rate than the GoPro Hero4 Black, it doesn’t quite record as much detail, especially in the shadows.

You have the option of two colour modes, ‘Natural’ and ‘Vivid’. In Natural, colours are too subdued and sombre, meaning that outdoors footage can often look a little drab even in the winter sunshine. Vivid, on the other hand, makes things a little oversaturated. Something in the middle would have been better, but at least you can colour correct when you’re editing the footage back on your PC. Getting it right in-camera is always preferable, however.

^1080p – image stabilisation turned on

There’s also GPS built into the camera itself, which is an improvement over the HDR-AZ1 as this could only get GPS data from the optional remote control. This means videos have GPS geolocation data embedded and you can use Sony’s editing software to overlay speed information and maps, which could be an interesting additional layer depending on how you intend to use the camera.

The front of the camera has a pair of microphones that record in stereo and these were reasonably sensitive. There’s built-in wind noise reduction, too, and this did an excellent job of cutting down distracting noise when the camera was taken out on a bike ride. As an aside, the Sony handlebar mount wasn’t the greatest when it came to reducing the amount of vibrations it picked up, but it’s also a testament to the microphones’ sensitivity that it could pick up so much sound.

Capturing 8.8 megapixel stills were also respectable. There’s not as much detail as I would have liked in the brickwork from my test photos, but colours were nice and vibrant and there was plenty of contrast. You’ll want to make sure you set the angle to 120 degrees unless you want lots of barrel distortion.

Battery Performance and Connections

The FDR-X1000V has a removable battery, meaning you can carry spares with you on the road. Its battery life was excellent, too. Shooting 1080p, 30fps and 50Mbit/s, I managed to eke out an excellent 2 hours 5 minutes, which is around a half hour longer than the GoPro Hero4 Black at a comparable resolution. Shooting in 4K at 100Mbit/s bit rate and 30fps saw a still very respectable 52 minutes, putting on an equal playing field with the Hero4 Black.

Charging the FDR-X1000V is handled through a Micro USB port on the back, and there’s also a Micro HDMI port that can output in 4K so you can watch your high-resolution footage on a compatible display. The M2 and microSD memory card slots are also tucked away behind a waterproof door.

Conclusion

There’s a lot to like about the Sony FDR-X1000V. For the money, it’s great value for what it delivers and has lots of functions you don’t get from a GoPro Hero4 Black, such as image stabilisation and GPS data. In a straight image quality comparison, however, it doesn’t match up.

There are other little annoyances, too, such as its fiddly menu system, and in my book this is enough for the Hero4 Black to pull ahead, remaining my 4K action cam of choice. However, if you favour flexibility and really want the GPS data, then the FDR-X1000V is still an excellent choice.