Wearable tech is everywhere. You can't escape it. From Google Glass to GoPro cameras, it's not unusual to spot at least one person at an event adorned with some form of wearable device to record things for posterity.
One of the most popular markets for this is in sports. Skiers, mountain bikers, divers, runners: all have embraced the GoPro and similar cameras to record their activities. It's this market that Panasonic are training the A500 at.
The latest active camera to make its mark, the Panasonic device shoots in 4K resolution at 25 frames per second, but you can pull that resolution back to 1080, 720 or lower as the need arises.
There are few consumers right now, though, who will have the equipment to really appreciate the 4K footage but, as more advanced TVs and monitors hit the market, that could change.
The device itself has two parts: the camera, which you can mount conveniently to your viewpoint; and the recording unit, which houses the controls and the memory card slot.
Waterproof to three metres for up to 30 minutes, the camera and the recording unit will take a bit of rough handling and the cable connecting the two units seems sturdy.
Obviously, only more handling over time would be conclusive but it appears reasonably tough.
The good . . .
The quality of the footage shot on the A500 is impressive. At 4K, you could argue, it should be.
But it also has extras like tilt compensation and image stabilisation – a necessity for many – to make sure your carefully shot footage doesn’t come out unusable because the camera tilted off angle five minutes into a run. That will save many shoots from hours of tedious editing.
Panasonic has also included a 1.5inch display on the recording unit that allows you to preview video and see what you’re shooting. No need to buy extras as you do with other cameras.
It also means you to change settings without having to squint at a tiny screen a fraction of the size – altering the resolution and frame rate becomes less of a nuisance.
Wifi is included with the unit, as is near field communication (NFC), so you can get straight to streaming your video online once an accessible internet connection is within range.
The bad . . .
Not everyone is going to love the design. The GoPro and its ilk could be criticised for being a little less than subtle and the A500 doesn’t break with that convention.
It’s two-part design will be a bugbear for some athletic videographers since you have to find somewhere to strap the recording unit while you shoot.
And although the recording unit isn’t weighty at first, you become more conscious of it than you would with, for example, the GoPro Hero on a chest- or head-strap.
While the screen makes it easy to change the settings, the buttons themselves are a little on the small side. That’s fine if you’re using the device without gloves, or if you have small fingers, but any extra layers will make getting to grips with the controls that bit more difficult.
It’s a minor quibble though, and one that is easily solved by doing the majority of the fiddling with the settings before you set off.
. . . and the rest
In the box, there was a range of accessories to mount the camera on your head or body, plus a holder for the recording unit itself. None of them could be counted as subtle, but then what wearable camera is?
Note that t hese accessories are optional extras, so you’ll have to do your research to see what ones are right for you.
The A500 records to MicroSD cards, which a lot of people will have lying around, but if you’re going to record in 4K or high definition, make sure you have enough space and a fast enough write speed on the card.
The price, $399.99, will also be a key factor.
The Verdict
HHHH Good footage but that two-part design may be a bit of a problem when it comes to some applications. It may put up some competition to the GoPro in the future but a lot will hinge on that price.
