80
REVIEW SONY RX0 V GOPRO HERO6
One other unique benefit of the RX0 is its impressive high-speed shooting which goes up to a mind- blowing 1000fps, although the resolution does drop significantly as you crank up the frame rate. While 1000fps might be useful for a one-off shot if ultimate quality isn’t an issue such as using it as a crash cam, at more realistic speeds like 240fps the RX0 is genuinely useful as a super slow-motion camera. It’s not quite at HD quality, but makes the RX0 a fine tool for capturing action up close. GOPRO HERO6 BLACK GoPro’s latest HERO6 Black is their new top-of-the-range model that boasts an impressive technical spec to keep filmmakers happy, but also the ease of use that general consumers demand. Like its predecessor the Hero5 Black, it has a case-less design, voice control and a large and responsive rear touchscreen. It fits inside a cage-style housing, good enough for 10m/33ft underwater. What is really new is the faster GP1 processor, which means there has been an increase in frame rates. Maximum resolution stays at 4K but the frame rate goes up from 30fps to 60fps and at 1080p you can record at up 240fps for super slow motion. There’s image stabilisation which can be used at a maximum of 30fps in 4K, and using stabilisation means you only lose 5% to cropping compared to 10% on the Hero5. The Hero6 also lets you set the shutter speed, which varies according to resolution. At 60fps in 1080p, you can choose 1/60sec, 1/120sec, 1/240sec and 1/960sec. Exposure is controlled automatically.
cameras which is probably due to downscaling the 4K sensor and its 8-bit 4:2:0 recording. There is some aliasing and the noise is not as good as you might expect out of a camera with such a large sensor. It’s not hideous, certainly at lower ISO settings, but crank up the gain and the noise gets increasingly noticeable. The colours are also typically Sony, which is relatively muted. And there is very little rolling shutter, certainly compared to action camera rivals. One of the biggest selling points is that it can be set to shoot in S-Log2 to maximise dynamic range. Of course, the image you see on the screen is very flat and lacking in contrast, making judging exposure a bit tricky but not impossible. In post, the footage is easily converted to boost contrast and saturation, allowing you to avoid blowing out highlights or have shadows blocking up. This is the real benefit of the RX0, although it is negated slightly by S-Log2 settings fixing the ISO at 1600 minimum which does increase noise. Some de-noise software is pretty much essential. But spend time tweaking it in post, and the RX0 does produce bright and punchy results with lots of dynamic range.
The HERO6 Black is the easiest action camera to control and use for consumer users, with the best app in the business and benefits like cloud back-up, which automatically uploads your footage to the GoPro server so you can access and edit it online. The HERO6 Black might not offer all the controllability of the Sony RX0, but lets you take some control. You can also select Flat colour profile settings, a Log-style flat profile with desaturated colours, to maximise dynamic range in post-processing. The Hero6 stands out in terms of footage, improving on GoPro’s already fine footage in terms of detail, contrast and colour. The lens might not be of the same quality of the Sony, and it shows some signs of aberration in areas of high contrast, but it’s acceptable, thanks to the quality of the sensor. At 4K resolution at both 60 and 30fps, the HERO6 Black has a wide dynamic range, retaining detail in bright and dark areas. Even in HD, at fast frame likes like 240fps or 120fps, the footage is sharp and full of colour and contrast, right out of camera. Audio is a problem on any action camera, and the HERO6 Black does nothing special to improve on this.
ABOVE The Grand Tour Season 2 are now using the new SONY RX0 as one of their car mounted cameras.
THE HERO6 BLACK IS THE EASIEST ACTION CAMERA TO CONTROL AND USE
LEFT The GoPro HERO6 Black.
DEFINITION MARCH 2018
DEFINITIONMAGAZINE.COM
Powered by FlippingBook