An action camera, also known as a sports camera, is a device designed for lovers of active sports and recreation, as well as for nature lovers. Do you have a hobby that requires you to be outdoors a lot like fishing, hunting, tennis, cycling, even skydiving? If the answer to this question is yes, then an action camera is what you need.
For example, I love fishing and snowboarding, and I also like to revisit especially good moments in the long evenings, indulge in memories and make plans for the future. Therefore, sooner or later, the understanding of the need to purchase a special camera came.
An action camera is a convenience: you attach it to your head or chest and you're done. And the remote control is a wonderful addition so that during a bite you do not need to search for the button on your head. As a result, I thought about buying a sports camera and decided to test the X-Ride Ultra HD. I'll tell you about my impressions.
Main technical characteristics
| Characteristic | Value |
| Shooting angle | 170 degrees |
| Format | NTSC |
| Optical zoom | absent |
| Built-in microphone and speaker | there is |
| Focal length | 2.8 mm |
| Camera matrix | 4 megapixels |
| Matrix type | CMOS |
| Maximum video resolution | 2560?1080 |
| Maximum video recording rate | 60 frames per second |
| Memory card | up to 64 GB |
| Wi-Fi module | there is |
| Display | TFT, color 2-inch |
| Battery capacity | 1050 mAh |
| Battery Continuous Recording Time | 147 minutes / 99 minutes Wi-Fi |
| USB version | 2.0 |
Well, the average price is more than acceptable - from 12 thousand rubles. For it you get not only an alternative to expensive GoPro, but also many additional accessories that may never be useful, but let them be.
Appearance and equipment
- Remote control.
- A waterproof case, several types of mounts (for a bike, universal - a wide band that can be attached to a helmet, and a bunch of buckles) and two USB cables.
The camera itself is quite small - 6 by 4.5 cm, 2.5 cm thick, and weighs 81 grams.
The button for shooting is large, it is convenient to press.
At the bottom of the camera there is a tripod hole, but in my opinion it is not too deep, apparently, you will have to use a spacer. But for adapters in the kit is ideal.
By the way, all mounts and accessories, according to the manufacturer, are compatible with mounts for GoPro cameras, but in practice, one of the latches inserted into the GoPro platform is very loose.
A remote control with a rubber fastening strap, with a display, which is very convenient - you can track what exactly and with what angle the camera is shooting. The remote has its own buttons for adjusting settings.
For fun, I tested at what distance the camera catches commands, it turned out to be about 20 meters. And the video broadcast goes to the remote control at a distance of up to 100 meters, if there are no obstacles and Wi-Fi networks between these two "points". The remote control, by the way, is not completely waterproof - it can still endure rain, but immersion in rough waters is unlikely, and it is pointless to test it in an aquatic environment, the radio does not work there. But the camera itself can plunge into these very waters in its waterproof box. Fun shooting effect: the box acts like a membrane, increasing the volume of all sounds.Especially well and clearly you could hear how I took the boxing in my hand.
Filming
The camera shoots in the NTSC system, videos in .mp4 format, photos in JPEG format. There are several modes with different frame sizes and bit rates (there is also HDR), but most of all I like the 1920 by 1080 mode, but instead of the logical frame rate of 60, for some reason there is a maximum of 45. Movement catches, but when there are many moving objects around, a subtle rolling shutter effect appears.
You don't have to bother with setting the white balance, the automatic one is fine. Shoots well lit objects at night. The battery capacity is just over two hours of continuous shooting (exactly 147 minutes, according to the manufacturer).
X-Ride Ultra HD can also be used as a camera. Frame size - up to 5312 by 2988. The camera can also be used as a USB-powered DVR.
Software
The camera has an HDMI port and can stream video directly to your computer. There is also a wireless adapter, but it only works in conjunction with the included remote control. That is, no control from your mobile and other newfangled things. In fact, there are several questions about the camera firmware, for example, why is the video quality slightly worse than that of the GoPro, if the same chip is used? Or, where does the noise on the audio track come from when in reality the shooting took place in silence.
Conclusion
The main question to ask yourself before buying an action camera is what are you planning to shoot? If you don't want to overpay for a GoPro, then take the X-Ride Ultra HD and you can't go wrong. This small camera is not enough stars from the sky, but it has a good viewing angle, is easy to navigate and the video is of acceptable quality, and more is not really needed for household shooting. In addition, it is lightweight and can be easily attached to a vehicle or to your own headgear. For race car drivers or those who are going to ride on very shaky surfaces, the X-Ride Ultra HD is not suitable because the picture will be unstable.
The main advantage of this camera is the price. Compared to more famous brands, you get more than one device, but also a bunch of additional accessories, including a very convenient remote control with a screen, the presence of which on the hand saves both nerves and time. You can find out exactly how the subject is positioned in the frame.
X-Ride Ultra HD action camera for review and testing provided by XRide Electronics.