The Techmoan website is probably the best place to check out different camera's.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9AE23A7F0C9FDC91

The Gitup2 is his most highly rated at the moment. I already have the Xiaomi Yi camera but started to look at this and the more and more I looked, the more I told myself that I should buy it. However I have just spent the last hour looking at video's on Youtube to compare them to my own Xiaomi Yi video's. Now I know that Youtube is hardly ideal because of the transcoding that it does but it's still an indicator. My conclusion is that the AZ1 video quality just isn't that great. It's still difficulty to judge as most people have fixed it to a bike handlebar etc.... it really needs to go on a helmet to soften some of the vibration.

Here is one of my Xiaomi Yi vids... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVq66tKxGcE

God awful video image quality though.

Ordered. Great find. It is 250-280 everywhere else. I have been looking for a decent video recorder, I did by the Sony 4K recorder a while ago off amazon before the order was cancelled.

I'm not sure this will cut it as as video recorder that I want to use to capture my little daughter and our experiences as a new family. Or maybe the small size may make it ideal....

Still struggling to get anywhere, so may have to go to the store and sort it out that way.... calling Customer Services and giving them the order number they can't even find it.... they have to look under my post code..... useless company.

Yeah absolutely useless... have you bought something else instead?

I'll let you know how I get on tomorrow when I try to speak to someone again.

Jesus Vodafone are a useless company... I ordered one of the AZ1's last week (and heard nothing further except the initial email confirmation) but on Saturday I decided to cancel the order have read some reviews and finding the AS200VB kit. When I called they said "No problem, it's not been dispatched yet, you haven't been charged". Today I get a text message, "Your order is ready for collection from your local Vodafone store". So I called customer services again, eventually getting through... "It's OK, the order has been cancelled, you have not been charged, we will sort it out". I check my bank this evening and of course I've been charged, now chasing around trying to get through to their non existent customer service to get my money back.... not happy!

Not intended to be a shameless plug for my post, but in all seriousness the AV200 is the better camera and all things considered (without ripping off John Lewis) this is the better deal albeit it does cost more...

SONY AS200VB (with live remote) at AMAZON

I presume all stocks from JL has been ransacked then?:neutral_face: Oh man, should have put in a bid when I saw this for me holidays.:disappointed:

I'll just add that the tomtom bandit is also described as "splashproof" without its dive lens and this is why I bought the premium pack. Its an ambiguous term - I think, especially in the UK, users want a definitive "waterproof" to a given depth.

Can you buy just the live view remote at a later point in time?

John Lewis:

Thank you for your enquiry.

In order to apply a price reduction on a purchase, the criteria in our pricing policy must be met. I regret that after review the request you have submitted does not match all or parts of this policy.

We match prices publicly available to all customers, based on those displayed in a shop, on the high street competitor's own website, or the first price quoted to us over the phone. The price has to apply to an identical individual product in terms of make, model, size or colour. This approach ensures consistency for all our customers and ensures the policy is transparent.

Sony HDR-AZ1 Action Cam Mini does not include the Live View Remote accessory that comes with the model when bought from John Lewis.

Therefore, on this occasion I am sorry I cannot match the price offered by Vodafone. If you would like to view more information about Never Knowingly Undersold and our pricing you can do so on our website.

I am sorry I have not been able to reduce the price on this occasion. If you require any further information or assistance please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely,

Haris Babar
JohnLewis.com

Thanks very much that was useful. It has just arrived and I can't believe how small it is. Looks impressive. Just need to buy a decent large capacity memory card now - has anyone seen any particularly good deals out there considering the standard you need to get the best out of it?

Due to a wonderful boo boo by Voda customer services I paid £9 for this when I upgraded my contract and phone in store :smiley:
Haven't used it as it's now stored away for my Son's birthday in May.

Same here

Ditto jl declined. :-(

oos at john lewis

It's a more flexible design, It has far less depth than a stick-shape camera so it is more suitable for chest mounting, poles/sticks, reverse-view mounts etc. For a helmet a front mounting would be better, although it would obviously suffer from more movement.

I think the main thoughts behind keeping the shape is that it has an LCD always visible on the front, and space on the rear for the screen add-on.

Thank you for your enquiry.

In order to apply a price reduction on a purchase, the criteria in our pricing policy must be met. I regret that after review the request you have submitted does not match all or parts of this policy.

John Lewis will validate a price match if the competitor's product is identical to the product we sell in terms of make, model number, colour and size. This approach ensures consistency for all our customers and ensures the policy is transparent.

The Sony HDR-AZ1 Action Cam Mini Camcorder (product code 82967006) is not the same product as the Sony HDR-AZ1 Action Cam Mini sold by Vodafone. The item sold by Vodafone does not contain a Live View Remote accessory. These items are not identical.

Therefore, on this occasion I am sorry I cannot match the price offered by Vodaphone. If you would like to view more information about Never Knowingly Undersold and our pricing you can do so on our website.

I am sorry I have not been able to reduce the price on this occasion. If you require any further information or assistance please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely,

Farheen

Yeah, 10l/m at 50 to 150kPa isn't ambiguous because rain is always measured like that. And for a while 5 minutes - I guess that might give you time to switch it off and either put it in its waterproof case or in your bag.

"Splashproof" is ambiguous because "splash" is subjective. It's something to argue over if you try to make a warranty claim or similar.

Not that it matters - it obviously a decent camera just not as robust as some of its competitors.

It actually makes the claim 7 times on the product page on the Sony website (that's why I was asking where you were looking!).

Splashproof isn't that ambiguous - if water is splashed on it then it will be fine but it can't be submerged. The IPX4 rating gives you the specific information if you need it (it can withstand 10L of water per minute poured on it at a pressure of 50-150kPa for 5 minutes). Personally I think "splashproof" is much easier to understand for the average person!

You're right that it's sensible to use the case if you have it though - it's just not strictly necessary.

I doubt anyone is going to get this JL price match

I was looking in the specs. Having scrolled all the way down the page I see the "splashproof" claim now. Can't think of a more ambiguous word: if it can't be trusted to keep out dust it won't keep out water - I wouldn't use it in any wet weather without its waterproof case.

And I'm not suggesting its not a good deal - I'm sure it is - but it's not an all weather all action item without its little Mac.

Where did you look? It clearly states it has IPX-4 (i.e. a waterproof rating of "4" and no dust rating) and in numerous places it's described as splashproof.

which JL - Online or local to you?

Edit submitted an online one

Cheerss :0

Quite or quiet :wink:

shush! Delete that post man while the rest of us do the same.

Looks to me like John Lewis have price matched the wrong product. Vodafone it's the AZ1 where'as what JL are describing is the AZ1VR. If you manage to pull this off you've made a massive saving!!!

good price but gopro much better in terms of shape and accessories

I think you mean IP rating first digit solid ingress second digit moisture ingress: IP64 etc.

I didn't see any claims to a 4 rating without the waterproof case on the Sony site - I did see statements that the item is not able to focus underwater. So waterproof case is for use when not submerged.

Won't be using for action as such... no need for strapping onto a helmet etc

I submitted a request. Lets hope it works. Just wondering if you knew the cheapest price for this version from any UK seller

I'm wanting a camera to record my child on holiday / birthdays etc is this the best at this price range or is there anything slightly cheaper?
something small, light, waterproof, decent recording to play back.
Thanks in advance

Missed that deal, would have had one at that price. Without boring everyone the Sony AZ1 without case states it's rated to IPX4 - which is defined as http://justelation.com/ipx-ratings-described/ so think I'll be using the case with it most of the time.

I bought it from Currys just before christmas. Half price at 180 with 60 cashback. That's why there are lots for sale on ebay. Its very well made and the in camera editing is excellent - not that I do much, i wear it as an insurance against poor driving when on my mbike.

I suspect that this Sony is not even shower proof without the case - if it's not dust proof I wouldn't trust it in the rain.

Aye, the case will definitely weigh something in our atmosphere. The AZ1 is suitable to use without the waterproof case in the rain for example - read / saw this in a review just can't recall which. Obviously if your were to submerge it in water then the case would be needed.

Think as I mentioned in a previous reply these are always so subjective. Out of interest where did you get the Bandit from? And this was one very useful action camera review I found - http://www.gizmag.com/action-cam-comparison-2015/39771/

And from the sony supplied spec that weight is for the camera alone:

http://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/actioncam/hdr-az1-kit/specifications

Unless the waterproof case weighs nothing at all as it's specified as 63g with and without. The Bandit is rainproof out of the box and with the additon on the dive lens is waterproof to c.30m

After cash back I paid £120 for the premium pack. Absolute bargain. The weight doesn't bother me - it's very well made. And stuck on the top of my motorbike helmet I don't notice it.

I picked up a tomtom camera while The half price plus cash back was available. Can't fault it so far.

God awful video image quality though.

Have a Google or better still have a look on YT for reviews of the Sony Action cams and they get very good reviews. This model shares most of it's internals with the range topping X1000V so can't be that bad. There will be many cheaper options, but doubt any will compare to this or the likes of GoPro.

Heat added, bought one. Good price really. Its the base model but not a problem for me. Looking for a replacement for my Contour ROAM2 and even in a few short years the specs of action cameras seem to have changed massively for the better. Obviously it all depends on what you need an action camera for - cyclists, surfers, bikers etc. So everyone's got an opinion on what's the best. But I've read and seen numerous reviews on the Sony cams and they are very good - the Sony range is a handful of cameras but some if not all of the internals are shared across the range. I assume Vodafone have a returns policy so in the unlikely event of not liking it can always take it back. Or it turns in to a birthday / Christmas present for someone. Specs of this camera can be seen here http://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/actioncam/hdr-az1-kit

You can monitor the output on your mobile (dunno about iphones) via the free app.

Nope tried moisture absorbing pads, didn't work for me. And loads of others too. Only problem is, there are no radiators 'in the field' when you've got to break the seal and open the case, to change the battery (equivalent spares are about £7 if I remember) or card, etc.

TONS of adaptors, extensions, suction pad mounts, brackets, elbows, adhesive pads, etc available very cheaply to use with/convert it to the gopro mount system on eBay bangood, etc. You dont specificallyneed the expensive Sony system. Including a chest mount shoulder strap system - I've got one. ~£8 delivered. And the Sony case has a standard tripod mount fitting too, so is quite handy.

these Sony cams are better than gopro in terms of video quality and the stability achieved with steadyshot on is incredible these are great i have the as200v theres some youtubers who did side by side reviews of these and the sonys are better in most aspects over the gopro 4.
checkout the video review and don't forget to turn up the quality in utube to 1080.
https://youtu.be/gBBBWuR-uPY

I have the av30, brilliant camera and love the GPS for skiing, but shape is a little awkward and accessories are a lot more due to it not being the go-pro. I side mount on my helmet and when very bumpy it jumps around a little, doesn't really work chest mounted like the goPro

Fair price at £100 as this is smaller and lighter though.

£219.99 with the live view option http://www.wiggle.co.uk/sony-az1-mini-action-camera-with-live-view-remote/?lang=en&curr=GBP&dest=1&sku=5360682907&ci_src=18615224&ci_sku=5360682907uk&utm_source=google&utm_term&utm_campaign=UK_PLA_Accessories&utm_medium=base&utm_content=mkwid%7CsllepUNdf_dc%7Cpcrid%7C67090793462%7Cpkw%7C%7Cpmt%7C%7Cprd%7C5360682907uk

This model posted here is great for this price of £100

looks nice piece of kit

I paid 120 for the premium pack after cash back. Another bargain on hukd.

Hope they've resigned the waterproof case! And the camera can't sit level outside a case. Pathetic design. Had to drill vent holes in my Actioncam AS30 w/p case as it always gassed up after 10-12 mins. Yes - tried every other solution. Check the Youtube videos ... I'd go for the tiny Mobius, bought one for a pressie at Christmas

Ordered. Great find. It is 250-280 everywhere else. I have been looking for a decent video recorder, I did by the Sony 4K recorder a while ago off amazon before the order was cancelled.

I'm not sure this will cut it as as video recorder that I want to use to capture my little daughter and our experiences as a new family. Or maybe the small size may make it ideal....

The Techmoan website is probably the best place to check out different camera's.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9AE23A7F0C9FDC91

The Gitup2 is his most highly rated at the moment. I already have the Xiaomi Yi camera but started to look at this and the more and more I looked, the more I told myself that I should buy it. However I have just spent the last hour looking at video's on Youtube to compare them to my own Xiaomi Yi video's. Now I know that Youtube is hardly ideal because of the transcoding that it does but it's still an indicator. My conclusion is that the AZ1 video quality just isn't that great. It's still difficulty to judge as most people have fixed it to a bike handlebar etc.... it really needs to go on a helmet to soften some of the vibration.

Here is one of my Xiaomi Yi vids... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVq66tKxGcE

And if you want 1080HD + waterproof case, the good ol' splash is £40
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kitvision-Splash-Waterproof-Mounting-Accessories/dp/B00O23W6LC/
Not great on a bicycle, but great for watersports

This is £65 right now:
http://www.robertdyas.co.uk/kitsound-kitvision-escap-hd5w-wifi-action-camera
1080HD, 12MP camera, waterproof case etc

Meh, kitvision are much cheaper and also shoot HD

Not bad but there are alternatives that are as good and cheaper....

Correction it does do 60fps

RRP a bit off as normally about £130 (admittedly from ebay/amazon marketplace) - decent for the money though. Tempted!