Sony HDR-AS100V action camera

You might expect Sony to lay waste to everyone in this genre–this ain’t its first rodeo, after all. While I prefer the ease of operation of the GoPro and Garmin, there’s no denying the quality of the footage the Sony bangs out. Anthill Films has been making videos for two years with the AS100V and while we aren’t claiming to be on par with their shooters, all the POV footage in our 2015 Bible of Bike Tests videos came out of this camera.

In this model, Sony doesn’t provide the option to shoot 4K footage (it released a 4K version, the FDR-X1000V, in early January), but it does offer a high bit-rate Pro mode that will satisfy shooters who crave the best high-definition quality. When it comes to stills, the Sony snaps crisp, 13.5-megapixel photos.

The AS100V comes loaded with cool features, including a variety of slow-motion options, built-in GPS (location, trail and speed data), a very sharp and ultra-wide 170-degree Carl Zeiss lens and SteadyShot, an image stabilization feature that reduces the annoying, Jell-O-cam effect that often plagues footage shot on rocky trails. Low-light performance, often lackluster in POV cameras, is brilliant on this one.

The Sony is wi-fi-enabled, so you can operate it with the Sony app through Androids and iPhones. Pony up another $100 and you can get Sony’s wrist-mounted Live View remote bundled with the camera. The remote allows you to set up shots and control up to five Sony cameras simultaneously. Sadly, you can’t play back videos on the thing. Sony doesn’t utilize the ubiquitous GoProstyle mount, but it does offer plenty of mounting options, including built-in tripod mounts (on both the camera and its waterproofdown-to-16-feet case) and an awesome canine camera harness.

PRICE 300$

Cannondale Trail SL 29 SS

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Merida Big Nine 100

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CANYON NERVE AL 8.0

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KONA SHRED

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SKS Airbuster CO2 inflator

The alloy Airbuster has a large knob so you can regulate the flow of gas, a mechanical stop to prevent the cartridge being pierced in transit and a dust cap to keep the valve free of debris. While it works with Presta and Schrader valves, switching between them requires a fiddly change of the valve head. The thin rubber sleeve doesn’t provide much protection from cold spent canisters. You can’t insert much of the valve into the inflator head, so you have to be careful to avoid leaks. Price $33 w/16g cartridge

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All Arround MTB

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