Long Time No See...

So its been a few months since  I last made a post on this blog, but yes I still use my As100v quite a lot and still am finding new ways to make the most of it.  I am a bit busy now that my year abroad in Japan is over and I am packing my schedule full of classes for graduation, but I am also riding quite a bit in Santa Barbara.

Ill try to post some of my rides every now and then here for you guys to see.  

Also I got a SDXC microsd so I can finally film in the PRO mode which actually is really nice.  

Here is a video of my descent down Old San Marcos Road in Goleta California.  

Also here is a video of when I went on a scuba trip on Catalina Island back in the summer.  Note that some of the clips are missing due to an error I had with my video editing program.

A Collection of Test Videos Courtesy of AEG

Before I bought my own As100v, I watched a few test videos from a youtube user named AEG.  I really loved his videos and decided to buy the camera because of them.  Recently I rediscovered his videos and asked him if it would be ok if I shared them on this blog and he said it was cool.  So here are some of his excellent videos that really show off what the As100v is capable of!  

watch in 1080p full screen to fully appreciate them :)

A video compilation of a his trip to Okinawa.

A video showcasing the incredible still image quality of the AS100V.

He also has done a lot of work looking into stabilizing the camera for interesting shots. 

Sakura Video.

AEG has many more great test videos on his youtube page that you should definitely check out!  

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVuaogctCNpnGPj064pkc1Q

A Mini As100v?

It seems like Sony is in the works of releasing an even smaller version of the As100v.  The AZ1.

This picture is from Sony's webpage on this new exciting product.

http://store.sony.com/pov-hd-camcorder-zid27-HDRAZ1/W/cat-27-catid-collections-ifa

It seems like a worthy alternative to the As100v and likely a competitor to the Shimano Sports Camera. This newer camera will be ultra small and light weight and looks like something I wouldnt mind sticking on my racing bike during a race.  Its also 50$ cheaper than the As100v, starting at 250$.

I was actually thinking about getting a second As100v, perhaps I will pick one of these up instead.  I like where Sony is going with their POV camera lineup!

Oh and if you haven't picked up an As100v yet, here is a sale I found.  Kinda weird that Dell is selling it, but hey 268$, a pretty nice price for the best action camera on the market.

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&sku=A7743498&dgc=SS&cid=281096&lid=5328379&acd=12309204843274935

Something Interesting

Recently I heard about Instagram's new "Hyperlapse" application that creates crazy smooth timelapse video from long videos on your smartphone or tablet.  

http://www.wired.com/2014/08/hyperlapse-instagrams-new-app-is-like-a-15000-video-setup-in-your-hand/

Then wondering if the same could be done with other types of video cameras, I looked up similar search entires for action cameras and found this interesting video.  If this application by Microsoft really performs how it is shown in the following video, it will be HUGE news to action camera owners!  

I have always found the AS100v's 1 second intervals to be very interesting for timelapse videos, such as when I ride on my bike.  However, they are often jerky and not quite smooth enough to be to my liking.  With this application, we should be able to create incredible fast-forward video with incredible ease. It will greatly expand the usefulness and fields in which cameras like the as100v can be used in.  

Pair this with the as100v's pro-res AVCHD 60fps video mode, and I believe we will be able to take some jaw-dropping video.  The great image quality of the as100v plus the premium video encoding of AVCHD should pair quite nicely with this upcoming program.  I am excited. 

Diving in Catalina

I just returned from my trip to Catalina Island and have lots of video of my dives on the island.  I will be editing them into a video soon, but for now here is a clip I took at 30 feet underwater using the Sony as100v with the flat door underwater case and a common camera extender monopod.

I love diving and was super excited to be able to film my dives with a fish eye lens.  This camera performed wonderfully and I am extremely impressed with its clarity and low light performance in the murky water even 30 feet below the surface.  The video was crisp and very accurate to how it actually looked during my dive.  This camera just keeps getting better and better.

I just shot in 1080p 30fps in neutral color mode and left the rest up to the computer chips in the camera. I cant say I am a skilled diver, but I can definitely recommend this camera to any divers out there.  The flat door underwater case can go down to 190feet!



Oh and here is another promotional video I made for my cycling club, shot entirely with the As100v.

Diving with the Sony HD1A Flat Lens Underwater Case

Before I post videos and pictures from my 24 cycling trip to Hokkaido, I will be scuba diving with my brothers on Catalina Island off the coast of California.

I will post pictures and video after I return from my trip, but for now here is the case I bought for the occasion.

For that purpose, I picked up the diving case for the As100v, the AKA-RD1A underwater case with a flat lens on the front.  

Normally the much smaller case suffers from slightly blurry underwater video due to its rounded lens.  This flat lens will make the video just as sharp as it is above water, and I predict it will yield phenomenal results.


This case can also go down to 190 feet, as opposed to 16ft on the smaller case.    

The lens feels extremely solid, like a tank.  The plastic is very thick and it will take extreme water pressure to bust through any of the seals on the case.  

I wouldnt use this case for anything but underwater footage, its pretty heavy.

Also note that you cannot access the side buttons on this case. A diving case like this simply cannot have those weak points on it or it will endanger the structural safety of the case.

Ill just throw my camera in 1080p 30fps and record my entire dive.  I can take screenshots for pictures too.  

Cycling Trip in Hokkaido

Currently I am on a 22-day cycling trip in Hokkaido.  So far my group and I have rode well over a thousand kilometers in rain and shine through valleys, fields, mountains, forests, and along the beautiful coastline.  Our bikes weigh over 70 pounds with our tents and cooking pots and camping and lack of sleep have made this trip a challenge in addition to its pleasures.  

The Sony As100v has thus far proven to be a lifesaver for me on this trip.  It's light, convenient, rainproof, and has excellent video and picture quality.  Despite the fact that I brought my Cannon 50D and Nikon 1 V1, I find myself using the As100v almost exclusively simply because it is more than good enough for most of the shots and video I need and is just so incredibly convenient.  I am also just too tired to pull my other cameras out of my bag and keep my 100V in my pocket where I can pull it out in a flash.

I'll be making a video for this trip that I'll share later, but for now here are some pictures.  

Screenshots from a video I took when a fox suddenly crossed the road while we were resting.

The fox came up to us and then ran away about 10 seconds from when it appeared.  The as100v was mounted on my helmet and was shooting HD video the second I saw the fox come out of the bushes and got me a very nice video clip to put in my movie.

Time lapse shot of the sunset.

A beautiful road shot of Hokkaido's northern coast.  I was too tired to pull out my other cameras and settled with the As100v for this shot which actually turned out fantastic.

As100v with a monopod and controlled via iPhone.  This combination gives me the ability to document my trip in ways that are impossible with conventional cameras.

I'll post more updates later, but so far I can say I absolutely love the As100v and highly recommend it for any travel trip you may have.