This is something daredevils can literally wear on their sleeves. Picture a camcorder that takes recording of your bone-breaking, heart-stopping stunts in intense details, and one that also makes you look like a cyborg.
Panasonic simply calls it the HX-A500, though its features are anything but simple. The new camcorder, in fact, takes the word portability to a whole new level.
HX-A500 is the first 4K 25p wearable camcorder in the world, says Panasonic, which shoots 30 frames per second (fps). You can capture slow motions at 50, 100 or 200 fps, too.
"We've seen the action camcorder market grow year on year as people look to share their activities and capture the action in the best picture quality possible. 4K is the next step in video capture and when combined with the ability to use a point of view camcorder we begin to push the boundaries of videography," said Matt Evans, camcorder product manager of Panasonic UK.
The product has two parts: a 119-gram operating body unit and a 31-gram lens unit connected to each other by a cable. It features an earpiece-mounted camera and the operating unit on an armband. Although this latest camcorder has a similar look to the HX-A100, the main body or operating unit now has a 1.5-inch display for tweaking settings or keeping tab on other things.
The whole device is lightweight and compact that easily attaches to your head or body. It is water- and dust-proof that can go underwater to a depth of three meters for 30 minutes.
Other features include an image stabilization, automatic leveling correction and a variety of mounts for keeping the device in the proper spot to get the finest capture. The Panasonic's Image App lets you record and edit your video, too.
For live broadcasts or social media sharing, there's an NFC and Wi-Fi connectivity that is compatible with Ustream, so sharing is easy as well.
The new camcorder won't let you lose your concentration but rather lets you enjoy the moment while capturing every detail of your out-of-the-ordinary experience. It primarily targets users who intend to record land- or water-based activity from a first-person perspective, keeping their hands off the device. This is all because the device has been made with ease-of-use and simplicity in mind according to the company.
Panasonic says the HX-A500 will be available in Europe in May 2014 with price pegged at £379.99, as well as in the United States in July with price estimated at $626.
