Action cam update from JVC

JVC has announced a groovy-sounding new version of its “Adixxion” action camera – a tiny video camera designed for uses such as outdoor sports or in-car recording.

The GC-XA2 features a built-in 1.5 inch LCD screen plus WiFi for remote viewing, live Internet streaming via Ustream.tv, and upload to YouTube. It offers full HD 1920×1080 recording at 60p/50p as well as 120/100fps in 1280×720 resolution, giving you a slow-mo factor of 4 when played back at the usual 25fps.

JVC’s marketing department have excelled themselves by branding it as having “quad-proof design”, of all things. In real terms, this means it’s waterproof to 5 metres, shockproof for a 2 metre drop, dustproof, and “freeze proof” – which could make for an interesting test.

The body, including battery, weighs 135g (0.3lbs), and has mounting holes on the bottom and side.

Enhancements over the prior model are claimed to include a brighter (f2.4) and wider-angle optical lens, improved image stabilisation, a higher-resolution LCD screen with Auto off and Auto brightness functions, a higher-resolution image sensor (8 megapixel back illuminated CMOS), a higher audio bit rate and better noise reduction.

An interesting ‘quad view’ option on a smartphone means you can watch the output of four cameras at once. The camera also takes stills (up to 15fps in burst mode) and time-lapse recording in video and photo modes. It records to a single SDHC / SDXC card.

The official press release is at http://www.jvc.co.uk/article.php?id=100577&catid=21