Contents of delivery:
- Smartphone
- Network adapter
- USB cable
- stereo headset
- Documentation
Before the Sony Xperia TX goes on sale, it is ion that is the flagship of the company's mobile division. Let's see what kind of device it is, how it will please or upset.
Design, construction
If Sony Xperia acro S arrived straight from Japan, then ion is a product originally created for the US market. You need to understand that for any company that produces smartphones, to do a joint project with American operators means a kind of victory - circulation is great, glory is also great. Orders are rather big, as a rule, these are hundreds of thousands of pieces. The device in question was sold (sold) by the AT&T operator, the decision on deliveries to Russia is rather strange - since the appearance of ion on sale confuses cards in the Xperia line. I don't think there are many people who are ready to understand what is happening with the Xperia, many still believe that the very best from Sony right now is the Xperia S. In fact, until the TX goes on sale, it is the ion that will remain the most- the very device from Sony. Because of the display size, features, camera. I don't know if this is good or bad, just stating a fact.
The device itself is, to put it mildly, great. Such a heavy blade. It comes in a regular package, there are two body colors, black and red, I got red. It is curious that even if I would never walk with a smartphone of this color, but it is not at all feminine - mind you, here it is not delicate red and not raspberry, but dark red. The entire front is black, with red battery cover and areas of velvety plastic top and bottom. At the back you can see the traditional logo, under it is the inscription Xperia. The design of the photographic area is interesting, a large camera lens, under it is a flash circle, below is a perforated area, here is a microphone. On the left side there is a massive plug, under it the HDMI and microUSB connectors are hidden, on the upper side there is a 3.5 mm jack. Accessories for Apple, it seems, should fit, in fact the EarPod does not work. Above the display is the front camera lens, earpiece, light and proximity sensors. There is also a small indicator light, it flashes if something happens to the device, for example, during charging.
Dimensions are 133 x 68 x 10.8 mm, weight 144 grams. In black, this smartphone looks much better, there is one good addition - almost the entire back is made of metal. As for the size, it's easy to explain everything - the ion has an impressive display size and quality. In general, this device can be safely classified as a mini-tablet just because of the screen. Naturally, now in terms of resolution there has been a step forward in a number of devices, and ion is not on the wave here, but the screen is still good.
Comparison with Apple iPhone
To insert microSIM and microSD cards into your phone, you need to remove the top cover, just pull it off. The assembly of the smartphone is good, nothing creaks or cracks, there are no extra gaps either. I used the device as a second phone for quite a long time, during which time nothing terrible happened to the case, except for the paint peeling off the frame around the camera lens.
Display
As I said, the diagonal of the TFT display is 4.55 inches, the resolution is 1280 x 720 pixels. The glass protects the screen, the glass is not subject to scratches, there is a film invisible to the user, as in many other Sony devices. Capacitive screen, multitouch supported, four fingers maximum. In my opinion, the screen is good by today's standards, everything is in order here with viewing angles, colors, contrast. If you are used to watching videos on the road, then a smartphone with such a display will help in a bold undertaking, the same can be said about browsing sites, and about games, and about working with programs. Size matters, and a device with a 4.5-inch display is really a little out of the box - it's not clear what to call such a device. After all, this is really a thing at the junction of the world of smartphones and the world of tablets.
But the payoff for screen size is body size. And before buying, I would recommend twisting the ion in your hands. There has not yet been a single person who would not say: "What a healthy shovel."
Control
On the right side is the power button, a little lower - the volume rocker. Considering the fact that the ends here are beveled, it is not very convenient to press these buttons, plus, they do not have such a deep stroke. Need to get used to it. Below on the right side there is a camera button, which is very cool, many of us are used to using a hardware control to take pictures. If the display is locked, you can press and hold the button, the camera will launch and immediately take a picture. The camera can be launched by sliding the unlock slider not to the right, but to the left.
Below the display are four traditional Android buttons, this is a call to an additional menu, Home, return and search. The buttons are touch-sensitive, illuminated, under them there are strips. Sony had a trademark - the usual buttons in Android devices, it's a pity that in modern devices they refused it. You can adapt to the sensors, they are sensitive, but it would be better to see the traditional solution.
The screen, as you understand, is also one of the controls, there are no problems with sensitivity and processing speed.
OS, performance, features
While using ion, an update was released, called 6.1.E.1.20. The version of Android 4.0.4 is used, you can read about the OS in the review on our website.
About performance: Uses Qualcomm APQ8060, dual-core processor, 1.5 Hz, Adreno 220 GPU, 1 GB random access memory. The device is quite nimble, it concerns both launching applications and working with them. But there is also an oddity, for example, the backlight goes out with some twitches.
Peculiarities:
- In the call settings there is an item "Noise suppression", reducing background noise during a call, by default this feature is enabled. I tried to use it when music was playing in the speakers nearby, the people I called didn’t notice much difference (I tried it with both noise suppression turned off and on). But on the street, if there is wind, the work of the function is noticeable
- There is an xLOUD mode, increasing the volume of the speakers, I recommend turning it on immediately, it becomes noticeably louder
- There is no automatic adjustment in the brightness settings, but there is a light sensor
- Among the display lock modes, there is an unlock using the owner’s face, the function works quite well - they say the battery runs out much faster if you use this method
- To take a screenshot, press and hold the power and volume down buttons
- A number of applications are customized, for example, this is a player. It is called Walkman, it is possible to adjust the equalizer yourself or use presets, there is also surround sound. But there are no such settings as ClearStereo, this is the prerogative of other devices. The sound quality is not bad, but the same iPhone 5 is a cut above in this regard, I listened using the same headphones, the same tracks - the volume of the ion is not so great, the sound is bland
- Preinstalled programs are Evernote, McAfee Security, Astro (file manager), NeoReader (QR code scanner), Moxier Pro, Opera Mini and Wisepilot for navigation. There is an Electronic Arts game downloader, you can try before you buy. I would highly recommend that you immediately install the Chrome browser, I like it both in the version for iOS and for Android
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- Own widgets - clock, control of wireless interfaces and basic functions, help, Timescape, Walkman and others
- It is curious that for audio, in addition to standard files, Ogg support is declared
- When connected to a TV, appears special menu(TV Launcher), but I'll tell you about it in a separate review
- As in the case of the Sony acro S, AVI playback is not mentioned anywhere, but the device copes with such films with a bang, as you can see in the screenshots. It's good that the user does not have to install additional software
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According to official sources, the device works in UMTS HSPA+ 850 (Band V), 900 (Band VIII), 1700 (Band IV), 1900 (Band II), 2100 (Band I) networks; GSM EDGE 850, 900, 1800, 1900. Don't count on LTE, it's in the ion version for AT&T.
Wireless interfaces
Like other top Sony smartphones, this device can do a lot, it supports Bluetooth, version 2.1 with EDR, the ANT + profile for sports wireless gadgets works, GLONASS, NFC, DLNA are supported. Naturally, there is Wi-Fi. It’s a pity that a specific HDMI cable was not added to the kit for a specific “short” connector, where the user can find it, I’ll never know.
Memory
The device has 1.3 GB of memory, 11.24 GB is available to the user, you can always expand your capabilities by adding a microSD card (up to 32 GB). It seems to me that Sony may well put more memory inside, after all, most smartphones are positioned as multimedia, and if you often take photos and videos, then the built-in memory will run out very quickly. Why not put 32 or 64 GB? This hasn't been seen for a long time.
Nutrition
The device uses a battery with a capacity of 1900 mAh, it seems that you can count on a long service life. It seems to me that among other "androids" ion is really a long-liver, I talked for half an hour a day, took more pictures, listened to music. If you remove the backlight, you can achieve work within a day and a half. But with active use, get ready to look for an outlet in the late afternoon. Everything, in general, is typical.
Camera
The camera resolution is 12.1 MP, it can shoot video in FullHD, as always with Sony, when taking photos there are many necessary and not so effects - panoramic 3D view, multi-angle 3D view, normal panoramic view. You can choose the shooting method, touching the button on the display, only the key, or the combined method, it was quite possible to do without this setting. For a quick launch, there are own scripts, by clicking on the button, you can start the camera and take a picture, or just start the program. You can disable the feature altogether if you wish. I took all the pictures for the material using automatic mode.
Naturally, for most consumers, the key parameter was and remains the resolution of the sensor. The numbers seem to speak for themselves. Marketers are used to hitting innocent heads with incomprehensible but sonorous terms, here you have 4 cores (!), 12 MP (!), 64 GB (!), FullHD and full stuffing. In fact, the main question is why do I need it, and whether I need it. The camera in the Sony Xperia ion can help you capture (and capture well) a slice of reality. But is such permission necessary if many smartphone owners now post photos on Instagram or Facebook? Don't think. It seemed to me that the post-processing of images suffers slightly, they are quickly saved, but the colors are painfully bright, sometimes unnatural. But otherwise, ion pleasantly surprised me, especially with detail. Yes, in some pictures you can see that the camera misses, there is chromatic aberration, the colors are knocked out, but if you shoot on a sunny day, you will be surprised when viewing the frames on a computer. Let's say I really liked how the ion copes with shooting a portrait, you can even make out the pores, there are no problems with colors and detail. In poor lighting conditions, it makes no sense to hammer on the area with a flash, this can just give the opposite effect, it is more curious to try to shoot something as it is.
More and more often we hear from someone or read in the network or magazines the phrase "action camera". And in most cases, the associative series immediately takes us to GoPro cameras. Meanwhile, there are a number of companies in the world that have been working seriously in this direction for a long time and are developing very interesting devices that can compete with and often surpass the popular GoPro cameras. And today we will burn about one of them.
This is an iOn Air Pro WiFi action camera manufactured by American company World Wide Licenses Ltd (WWL), which has been involved in the design, development and manufacture of electronics for leading electronics brands around the world for the past 12 years. For example, the company developed computer peripherals for Disney (under their brand), and in 2002 WWL received exclusive rights to create and distribute digital cameras Polaroid around the world. In 2002, the Ion brand was also founded as a sub-brand of Polaroid cameras. Incidentally, Ion Worldwide is the only extreme camera brand approved by the FIA for use in Formula 3 racing. Moreover, Ion Worldwide is a sponsor of the Ion Campos Racing Team. Interesting? Then let's go.
02
. We start, as usual, from afar - by opening the package.
I love this moment very much - already at this stage it is often possible to draw the first timid conclusions about the quality of the gadget itself. 
03
. Having pulled off the paper packaging, we get two separate boxes.
One made of transparent plastic with a camera inside, and another metal (!!!) for everything else. 
04
. And the rest is invested there - mother do not worry! No matter how I tried to push everything back until the lid closed normally, it didn’t work. My categorical respect and respect to the valiant packers. 
05
. Let's figure out what is so interesting they have imposed on us. From the "waste paper": a b/w guide for a quick start in English, a b/w guide in English for mounts (this is a very important aspect for this type of camera) and (!!!) a color manual in Russian. Optional software on the CD: a photo manager and a simple video editor from Magix. In addition, outdated versions. Well, who needs them, in general, when we all prefer to immediately install video editors from Adobe?)) 
06
. Let's remove the superfluous and paper from the frame and see what is left in the bottom line.
- Camera
- PODZ plug with built-in Wi-Fi adapter
- Bicycle mount (suitable for any tubular bases)
- Helmet mount
- The belt is short
- The belt is long
- Wrist strap
- Case
- Spherical bearing
- L-shape ball joint
- Universal power adapter
- 4 power adapter attachments for all occasions
- USB cable
- AV cable
- Mini tripod
- Spare 3M adhesive tape one-sided
- Spare double-sided 3M adhesive tape.
If we start to draw parallels with GoPro (we will focus on the model GoPro Hero 3 White Edition in view of the almost identical price of 9990 rubles with iOn Air Pro WiFi), then the comparison in terms of configuration will not be in favor of the gouprohi at all. In the kit, which will have a waterproof case, a battery, a pair of platforms with 3M tape, a J-Hook latch, a quick release latch, a USB cable and that's it. 
07
. Here it would be possible to focus on a waterproof box, but iOn Air Pro WiFi simply does not need it. It can be immersed in water and, of course, removed like this. As it is. At 10 meters. GoPro in boxing can dive up to 60 meters, but the question is - can you do it? 
08
. Let's go over some elements of the "stuffing" in a little more detail. Pay attention to a kind of "clothespin" at the bottom of the camera in the previous photo. This is a basic latch that, with a slight movement of the hand, fixes the device on other, specialized mounts. For example, here is such a thing, designed for fixing the camera on the steering wheel of a bike, and similar grounds. Due to the harsh winter conditions for the test, I attached the iOn Air Pro WiFi to the handle of the children's sled. However, you will see this later in the test video. By the way, a bicycle mount for a goprokhi will cost you an additional 1200-1500 rubles. Although, probably, there are "alternative" options on eBay. 
09
. Tripod. Nice, maybe something good. However, the hole at the bottom of the camera is standard, so it is always possible to screw the camera onto a more stable tripod. Why might this be needed? We recall that the name of the camera has a WiFi marking, which means that it can be controlled from a distance using a smartphone. Very useful, for example, when shooting competitions. Or even while watching someone) 
10
. L-shaped ball joint already fixed to the helmet mount. Gopro will also have to buy this thing.
And also much, much more. 
Power adapter for recharging the device with four (!!!) nozzles for all occasions. You never know where you will be taken in search of extreme experiences? Here, in between, I will complain that iOn Air Pro WiFi cannot shoot in charging mode. Offline, the manufacturer promises 2.5 hours of work (shooting). Less Wi-Fi enabled, of course. 
12
. I would like to note the form factor of the front lens. It is convex, which, I think, will have a good effect on aerodynamics (like the entire body of the device), and flying dirt and moisture will self-clean under the pressure of oncoming air flows. There is an opinion that such a solution can play a cruel joke if the camera gets stuck with this protruding lens. I personally did not set up such experiments, but below, so to speak, in the video block, I will post a video where pneumatics are fired at this very lens. So, I think the manufacturer still meaningfully left the front lens "unprotected". 
13
. Let's move on to management. We can say, the family of "one-button", because. the second "manager" is a slider or, if you like, a toggle switch. The button turns the camera on / off, and also in the already on state, with a short press, it works in camera mode. All manipulations are confirmed tactilely - the device has a vibration motor, which is very convenient when the camera is installed, for example, on the head and you do not see the LEDs. Even a photograph taken by the camera is confirmed by a slight short "bzhzhzh". Tubler, as the captions make clear, starts and stops recording. By the way, the box with toothpicks was not accidentally included in the picture, but gives an idea of the dimensions of the gadget: 110 x 37 x 37 mm. 
14
. Another button will appear on the back of the camera if you replace the standard plug with a WiFi module plug. This is the so-called PODZ. By pressing the button, you, respectively, turn it on and can connect and control the gadget wirelessly. But more on that later. 
15
. If the plug is removed, we will find more traditional ways Connections: via micro-USB, AV or mini-HDMI interfaces. To the latter, you will need to purchase a cable. There is also a lever for hardware switching of video quality (HD or FullHD), a slot for a micro-SD card, as well as a hidden button to reset the camera. 
16
. When you first connect to a computer on windows, you will not have time to blink an eye, as a tiny iON.exe program will appear out of nowhere at the root of the card. Did I tell you that that CD is completely useless? 
17
. By launching the program, we can view the files (it will transfer to the Explorer window), or adjust the video and photo settings, as well as update the firmware. There is no Russian language, but in general, everything is intuitive. Auto power off, date-time... Please note that the camera has a sensor that determines whether the camera is upside down or not. It is very convenient if the camera does not have a screen. However, any video editor will flip the picture with one click of the mouse. 
18
. Video settings. It would seem that the priority is always the maximum quality, but there are nuances: the camera shoots 60 frames per second at HD resolution and 30 at Full HD. Also, depending on the selected parameters, the viewing angle also changes: 127 ° in 1080p mode, 150 ° in 720p mode, 170 ° in 960p mode. 
19
. Photo mode settings. Adjust the quality and shooting mode.
As you can see, there is even an opportunity to shoot time-lapses. 
20
. However, personally, I have an unshakable confidence that photographs should be taken all the same with cameras, and not video. Last resort, always have a smartphone. Conservative, what is there. I'm attaching one photo, just in case. Of the pluses, in my opinion, only a wide angle, inaccessible to a smartphone. However, time-lapses are probably still worth a try. I might get in. This topic draws me in from time to time. 
21
. Actually, let's move on to the smartphone. Download from you know where (there are versions for both iOS and Android) and install the iON Camera application. We connect to the camera and see what we have here. In the Dashboard tab, we see the connection status and charge level. 
22
. The iON tab will show the footage manager. Moreover, the video files will be in two resolutions at once. An additional file is written automatically in low resolution (432×240 29,976p) for quick download directly from the application to YouTube and social networks. In the Album tab, files can be immediately sorted into folders-albums. It is also worth mentioning a pleasant circumstance that each iON camera is provided with 8 GB of free space in the iONCloud cloud storage. It allows you to view data through a smartphone or tablet from anywhere in the world. GoPro has no such branded services. 
23
. Settings tab. Settings for anything and everything. 
24
. You can quickly change the photo and video settings already mentioned above. In the Remote tab, respectively, you can control the camera in real time. The image is transmitted directly to the smartphone screen. There is a slight delay, but not critical at all. Here you will have a screen, in which case. 
25
. Gradually got to the video examples. First, my impromptu video. Do not judge strictly, I myself am still an extreme sportsman, so instead of a snowboard I have children's sleds, and instead of Pacific beaches I have my own bath. It would be summer, it would be possible to shoot something more provocatively, but we have bitter frosts.
26
. The video promised above about the shooting of the lens.
27
. An excellent video where iOn Air Pro WiFi is compared in the same conditions with the more expensive GoPro Hero3 model Black Edition, the conclusions from which I propose to draw on an individual basis, but for myself I see some advantage in GoPro in night shooting and under water, but at the same time on the face of a complete failure in the juiciness of the image during the day, in the evening, indoors, and so on. You can call it taste, but ... In general, we look and decide for ourselves.
28
. I'm probably wrapping up on this one. I just want to add that at the moment there is also an older model iOn Air Pro WiFi II on sale in Russia, and the third version of the camera has recently appeared in the USA. And I want to try it for sure. Judging by the promo on YouTube and the official website, this is just a bomb. 120 fps! Many have probably seen the dynamic GoPro promo video, but here's an alternative from iON for dessert. Enjoy!
I remind copy-pasteurs that when reprinting photos and text, an active link to the source is required. Without noindex And no-follow.
Paper and electronic media must first
Votes 3
ION game review
ION is a construction simulator in which you have to design and build space stations. Given that the cost of this game project is as much as $ 2.5 million, I want to believe that the result will be simply amazing.
The story begins at a time when the colonization of outer space is in its active phase. Mankind is beginning to use the technology of growing its descendants in test tubes with might and main, and it is one of these test tube representatives of the human race that the player will become.
There are no specific goals in ION. It depends on the players what the history of the world will be like. Someone likes the construction of space stations, someone prefers to skip the construction process and purchase a ready-made structure, and someone likes to become an officer and engage in law and order. Unusual game chips include the possibility of destroying absolutely everything around, and this applies not only to stations, but also to clothing. Subsequently, it is quite possible to restore all the destruction, which will help chemistry, biology and genetics.
To develop the character, you will have to fulfill social and automatic contracts. Moreover, if the essence of automatic contracts is to perform a certain type of work, then social contracts are created by the players themselves, which means that they will certainly have an effect of surprise.
What the developers have worked hard on is the number of skills. Even if you are constantly in the game world for a year, you are unlikely to be able to master more than half of all the skills provided, including engineering, chemistry, medicine and other interesting areas.
But not everything is so easy and simple, because at any moment your character can be overtaken by permanent death, of which there are plenty of ways in ION. Considering that the action takes place during the period of active cloning, death is not the worst event, but this does not make it any less unpleasant.
So far, everything described above is just plans, making the ION project one of the expected simulators. By the way, it will not be designed for singles at all, since you will have to survive in the open game world among thousands of test-tube people like you, unless of course they want to purchase this game after it goes on sale.
ION, 5.7 out of 10 based on 3 ratingsAdvantages: iOn Air Pro 3 - new action camera, which is not only easy to operate, but also: waterproof; durable; has very good video quality; shoots in 1080p; has a wide range of functions and accessories (for example, built-in Wi-Fi and the ability to use a wireless remote control remote control). In addition to the ability to shoot video in 60 fps mode, you can use slow motion at a frame rate of 120 fps!
Flaws: The built-in battery of the camera is not able to work for a long time if you constantly use Wi-Fi and shoot video at a high frame rate. Also, using more high frequency frames, you deprive yourself of the opportunity to use some more functions of this model.
Outcome: The fun and flexible iOn Air Pro 3 action camera is very easy to operate and will suit anyone who loves to shoot, regardless of location (for example, in water or under water).
The iOn Air Pro 3 model stands out among its competitors with its design. The aluminum cylindrical body makes the camera less bulky to mount, for example, on a helmet, unlike the square GoPro models. The camera does not need additional protection when submerged under water. Thanks to the large “slider” located on top of the camera, you can not only record video quickly, but also work with gloves and even in water.
In principle, if you want to purchase not pretentious and light camera, which can be used in all weather conditions, then this model is just for you! By the way, I want to note the excellent quality of the video.
Equipment
The camera kit for $349.99 includes: Wi-Fi module; mini tripod; helmet with camera mount; universal power adapter (which can be connected to any existing sockets today); Micro-USB cable. Separately, you should buy a 64 GB microSDHC memory card and feel free to start shooting.
Also, you can use 8 GB cloud storage from the MiMedia service, which can be used to back up or share photos and videos online (although this is only 1 GB more than with a free MiMedia registration).
Design and specifications
The design of the new flagship Air Pro 3 differs little from its predecessors - the model also has a cylindrical shape, but is more durable, compact and lighter (about 140 g). The improved waterproofing of the camera allows you to dive with it to a depth of 15 m, while the Pro 2 camera is limited to a depth of 9 m. The nice thing is that you do not need a special protective case and you can safely dive underwater with the camera without additional equipment.
On the front of the camera is the latest anti-fog 16mm f2.8 lens with a wide 160-degree field of view. The viewing angle, based on your needs, can be adjusted to 140 and 150 degrees. There should be a distance of at least 1 meter or more between the subject and you directly, since at a shorter distance the quality of the footage deteriorates sharply.
Behind the lens sits a 12MP BSI CMOS sensor from Sony, and judging by the recording capabilities of the Air Pro 3, the sensor is powered by a powerful processor.
The functionality of this model does not differ from the previous ones. Above is a “slider” for starting and stopping recording, which has a vibration signal for your notification. There's also a shutter button on the front of the switch for taking photos.
There is a tripod mount on the bottom of the camera, however the iOn Air Pro 3 uses CamLock quick connectors.
The key difference between the camera is the Podz wireless speaker system. Under the cover are Micro-USB and Mini-HDMI ports, a microSD card slot and an external microphone jack. The camera is equipped with a Wi-Fi module for wireless connection to a computer, smartphone or tablet. Along with Wi-Fi PODZ, there is a wireless remote control, thanks to which you can control 8 cameras at once from a distance of up to 18 m.
WiFi and Apps
Connecting to Wi-Fi PODZ is quite simple: turn on the device and Wi-Fi PODZ, go to wifi settings on your smartphone or tablet, select PODZ as your network, create a password, and you're done.
There are apps available for iOS and Android gadgets that allow you to view the battery level (which is important because the camera will not alert you until the battery level reaches 29%), change camera settings, view and download video or photo, remotely start and stop shooting recording, and more. I tested some applications on the iPhone 5S and Galaxy S4 gadgets and I liked the result.
Shooting options
The camera, at a resolution of 1080p, can shoot video at a frequency of 30 fps, and at a resolution of 720p - at 60 fps; The back of the camera has a switch to select the shooting mode.
The Pro 3 shoots full HD video at 30 and 60 fps, 720p video at 120, 60 and 30 fps, that is, at an approximate speed of 22 Mbps. If you shoot video using the app, you will only be able to use two shooting modes: 1080p at 30 fps and 720p at 30 fps.
In addition to video, you have the opportunity to take 5 and 12 MP photos in 4:3 format. There are 3 modes: single-frame shooting with an interval of 2, 5, 10, 30 and 60 seconds; high-speed continuous shooting for 10 shots at a time; normal shooting.
The mobile app is used to change camera settings. To do this, connect via USB to a Mac or Windows computer and launch the software directly from the camera's storage. The interface of the mobile application is not very attractive, but it works flawlessly.
Video quality
The Air Pro 3's camera has certainly made some progress in shooting full-HD video, but not much compared to the Air Pro 2. The main positives are better low-light shooting and the ability to shoot slow-motion video.
Colors remain bright and pleasing, and exposure changes are handled smoothly and fairly quickly. But there is also a minus - the quality of the video being played depends on the size of the screen. On a smartphone and tablet, the picture is wonderful, but if you use a larger monitor, the mood worsens.
The camera does have a built-in microphone, but the quality of the audio recording depends on the distance of the camera to the person, and the greater it is, the worse the quality is. Therefore, you will definitely want to connect an external microphone.
Conclusion
I really liked the Air Pro 2 for its ease of use and video quality, and the Pro 3 didn't go too far in that regard. But the new model pleased with improved waterproofing and a wider choice of frame rates when shooting. Unfortunately, shooting at 1080p at 60fps and 720p at 120fps limits many of the settings, including auto rotation and dual stream capture. Moreover, in these modes, the battery is discharged very quickly. However, if you are looking for a camera for extreme shooting whatever the weather, the iOn Air Pro 3 is the perfect choice.
Today we will get acquainted with the next representatives of one-button devices for sports video filming. Their main difference from their colleagues in the action shooting shop is the cylindrical body. This design implies the appropriate use of the camera: with attachment to a helmet, steering wheel, etc. - for those cases where the presence of a strong frontal resistance of the environment is expected. The cameras under consideration do not care about the nature of this environment - they work equally confidently both in air and under water.
Design, technical characteristics
We got the opportunity to study not just one camera model with the trade name iON, but to compare two different models like this, body to body. The first - let's call it the older one - is called iON Air Pro, while the second model, newer and younger, has the number 2 at the end of the same name: iON Air Pro2. At first glance, these cameras are no different, if you do not take into account the color scheme of the packaging.
Even the design of the packaging of these cameras is the same: a metal box in which any useful swag is hidden, and a pedestal platform with a camera screwed to it, covered with a transparent cover.
| iON Air Pro | iON Air Pro2 |
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As you can see, the new camera is completed much more modestly than its older counterpart. Perhaps this is due to the increase in the cost of the hardware stuffing of the new version. Let's see if it was worth it...
The external design of the chambers is completely identical. I am glad that in the new version, the developer has not abandoned the convex lens protruding beyond the body. The fact is that this form not only reduces the load from the oncoming flow of air or water, but also (most importantly!) Reduces the risk of contamination of the glass surface. All that rubbish that usually flies at speed into the lens - all of it is on its own from this glass and is removed without any wipers. In particular, under the pressure of the same oncoming flow.
The bodies of the devices are made of painted aluminium; the old version of the camera is black, the new version is dark grey. Blue contours are durable plastic with metal-like painting. In the upper part of the cylindrical body, closer to the lens, there is a power on / off button for the camera, which is triggered by a long press. A short press on the same button will take a photo. Following this multi-functional button is a slider switch, the shift of which starts / stops recording. That's all management!
Between the button and the slide switch there is a multicolor LED signaling the current state of the video camera or errors. It should be added that each of the cameras under consideration has a vibration motor, which, like the LED, signals the completion of any operation: long vibration means turning the power on / off or starting / stopping video recording, while short vibration notifies you that a photograph has been taken.
At the bottom of the camera bodies there is an eyelet for attaching a strap, as well as a threaded hole with a tripod thread and a fixing recess, which prevents spontaneous rotation of the camera on a tripod platform.
The end caps of the devices are separate devices, inside of which there is a built-in wireless communication adapter powered by the camera battery through a special internal connector. These modules are equipped with a locking latch, a wireless on/off button, and an LED signaling the current Wi-Fi mode. In order to disconnect this block from the camera body, you need to move the safety latch to the Unlock position, slightly turn the block counterclockwise, and pull it out of the body.
Inside, on the camera body, you can see the platform where the memory card slot is located, the composite output jack (in the Pro version) or the microphone input jack (in the Pro2 version), the Mini-HDMI output, the video recording mode switch, the Micro-USB port, and the recessed Reset button which reboots the device.
During long shooting, both cameras become slightly warm. The case of iON Air Pro2 has a slightly higher temperature, reaching 40 ° C (apparently, the operation of a more powerful processor with increased heat dissipation affects).
Main specifications video cameras are shown in the following table:
| iON Air Pro | iON Air Pro2 | |
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| Image sensor | CMOS 5MP | CMOS 14MP |
| Dimensions, weight | 40×40×108 mm, 140 g | 40×40×107 mm, 128 g |
| Battery life included in the kit | up to 177 minutes of continuous video recording in 1280×720 50p mode | up to 132 minutes of continuous 1280×720 50p video recording |
| Carrier | microSDXC/SDHC/SD memory card up to 32 GB | |
| Video formats | Main file: H.264 (MP4) [email protected]+ 128Kbps stereo AAC audio
Sub file: H.264 (MP4) [email protected]+ 128Kbps stereo AAC audio
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| Photo Format | JPEG, 16 MP (4608×3456), 5 MP (2592×1944), VGA (640×480) | JPEG, 16 MP (4608×3456), 14 MP (4384×3288), 5 MP (2592×1944), VGA (640×480) |
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| Other characteristics |
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Video/photography
Let's start studying the video capabilities of the devices. We will do this in the visual comparison mode - the most convenient way choose the best. First of all, let's study the degree of rolling shutter (for more details, see the material "Rolling shutter in video filming - description of the defect, examples, explanations"), present in the cameras under consideration. It is undoubtedly available, since the CMOS matrix does not imply otherwise. To study this issue, let's drive both devices on a toy car along a bumpy road - such an action camera can be called everyday.
From the above videos, it can be seen that the new model of the camera "shutter" is much smaller than its older sister, despite the presence of a multi-megapixel MOS sensor. Apparently, this matrix is not from stale warehouse stocks, for which we are undoubtedly grateful to the developer.
Almost the main requirement for an action camera is the ability to shoot dynamic scenes with a lot of movement in the frame. Shoot in such a way that later you don’t see soap squares instead of a picture. In order to evaluate the ability of cameras to capture dynamic scenes, this time we will attach each camera to the handlebars of a bicycle.
No one will mind if we give the palm this time to the model that has the number 2 in the name? The speed of the bike and the shaking in both cases were the same, but the quality of compression of the cameras is not even worth comparing. Of course, the winner in this competition is also not perfect, and allows pixelation in a dynamic frame (and what amateur camera does not do this?). However, the degree of artifacts in the shooting of iON Air Pro2 is much lower than in the shooting made by the older model.
To determine the resolution of the cameras, the old framing trick had to be repeated, because the camera angle of view is too wide to shoot a standard size test chart. Indeed, in order to completely fill the frame with a table, it is required to move our cameras to the subject at a distance of several centimeters. Which, of course, will give a defocused and highly distorted picture - a muddy fisheye.
In cases with ultra wide-angle cameras, only one small part of it is used instead of the full table, the key one:
This fragment needs to be printed on several sheets, glued together to make a strip a meter high, and placed vertically, attached to a wall or hung. The shooting of this fragment should be done in duplicates from different distances, approaching or moving away from the subject. And, as a result, among the resulting video files, there will surely be a video where the fragment occupies exactly the screen area that the entire table should occupy. It remains only to process the resulting frames in a graphic or video editor: cut off the extra background and combine the fragment with the original table. Finally, here is the result:
| iON Air Pro | iON Air Pro2 |
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Do I need to comment? Everything shows that the new multi-megapixel matrix, which iON Air Pro2 is equipped with, did not add any resolution to the device. Apparently, the reason is in the optics, the abilities of which do not give the matrix the ability to shoot with a higher resolution than a camera with a small pixel matrix shoots.
So, there is no significant difference in the detail provided by the cameras in question. However, there is a possibility - albeit a small one - that the new model can provide an increase in detail in motion due to best quality coding. This assumption is easy to verify:
Yes, the encoding quality of iON Air Pro2 is indeed higher, we were convinced of this once again. However, in the case of determining a car number, this quality does not give any gain at all. Why? Take a closer look: all the benefit from this quality was eaten up by the wider viewing angle of the iON Air Pro2, which caused the car to move away from the camera, and as a result, its numbers became impossible to make out.
I would like to note an important point regarding this recording, made from the windshield of a car. The cameras were attached to the glass with standard suction cups having a tripod thread, while the devices turned upside down. Despite this flip, both cameras recorded video with the correct orientation. And all thanks to the built-in position sensor. Let's mention two more important nuances: during long-term continuous video recording, both cameras, like any video gadget (with the exception of cameras), split the recorded video into 4 gigabyte files on the fly, while there are no pauses in the video stream, the cameras do not lose a single frame. The second nuance is a fly in the ointment to the above: cameras only record when powered by battery. If you connect a stationary power source to the devices - USB PC, network adapter or cigarette lighter adapter - the cameras immediately stop recording and switch to the computer connection mode.
So far, we have seen only two advantages in new camera, which favorably distinguishes it from its predecessor: a wider angle and decent coding quality. True, it is not known where to attribute this wider viewing angle ... In pluses? Or maybe the cons? Probably, the opinion will depend on the features of the application of the camera. One thing is certain: all other components of the concept of quality, excluding geometric distortions and resolution, in the new version of the camera are head and shoulders above than in the previous one. Whether it's the usual panorama, or diving into muddy cold water (sorry, we don't have another) - the video received by the Air Pro2 looks much nicer than in the Air Pro version.
To view in a larger size, click the button Original size
About shooting in low light, you can say ... No, it's better not to say anything. You just don’t need to shoot with action cameras in such conditions.
You can visualize the difference in detail in some of the recording modes using the following still frames and original videos (the following scenes were shot alternately in different weather):
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| iON Air Pro | iON Air Pro2 | ||
| 1920×1080 25p | 1920×1080 25p | ||
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| Download video | Download video | Download video | Download video |
| 1280×720 50p | 1280×720 50p | ||
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| Download video | Download video | Download video | Download video |
It is extremely difficult to choose a winner in this case. What is going on? There is a static scene with moving objects in the frame. iON Air Pro managed to blur even a static frame, however, despite this, the detailing in comparison with iON Air Pro2 did not suffer at all. This is because, as we have already seen, the last camera has a wider field of view, and this “pulls” objects away from the camera, reducing detail. It is also clearly seen from the above materials that iON Air Pro2 suffers from the well-known DSLR line skipping disease, when information is taken not from the entire multi-megapixel matrix with subsequent smart downscaling to form a video frame, but by interleaving, skipping part of the lines. The closest analogy to this method of obtaining a picture would be to look at the world through a colander. As a result, the formed frame contains numerous “ladders”, which are especially noticeable on contrasting inclined objects.
Cameras create photos with several frame sizes, these sizes are set in the camera settings. Both devices are capable of both creating single photos and working in burst or time-lapse photography (5-10-30-60 seconds).
| iON Air Pro | iON Air Pro2 |
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Software
Quite an interesting way to spread software chosen by the developers of these cameras. So, in order to install a Windows application designed to work with the camera, you need to insert an empty memory card into the device, turn on the camera, and connect it to a PC via USB. Voila - the iON.exe file will appear on the memory card, which you need to run. In our case, the running program immediately found new version camera firmware (we are talking about the iON Air Pro2 model), which cannot be ignored.
The process of automatic flashing of the camera took less than a minute, after which the device turned itself off. Turning on the camera and running this application again, we saw that with the help of this utility it is possible to change settings such as the system language (Russian, alas, is missing), video recording mode and photo size. There is no remote control function in this application.
Due to the fact that any change in the parameters in this application is immediately written to the configuration file located on the memory card, to save the settings made before closing the program, disconnect the USB connection between the camera and the PC.
When connecting the camera to a TV via HDMI, we encountered an inexplicable fact: a suspicious menu hangs over a live video image. And what is it proposed to do with them, with these buttons? Completely unclear situation.
Another thing is the mobile application. Its interface is standard for all similar mobile applications, and special knowledge is not required to understand it.
| Application start menu | View mode of the material located on the memory card | Album mode (combining photo and video materials into separate albums is allowed) |
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| Video broadcast mode, where it is possible to remotely start / stop recording or take a photo. Broadcasting stops during video recording, and resumes when video recording is stopped | Camera settings | |
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To connect to the camera via Wi-Fi, you need to go through a standard path consisting of several steps:
- turning on the power of the camera
- Wi-Fi activation by pressing a button located on the end
- waiting for wifi to turn on
- start Wi-Fi on a mobile device, select the desired network and connect to it
- running the application on a mobile device
The whole sequence of actions can take a minute, or even longer. For this reason, the use of Wi-Fi in action shooting seems a little strange; most likely this function will be useful for remote monitoring of something or, if necessary, start / stop recording remotely. The distance at which cameras keep a reliable connection with a mobile device is 30-70 meters, depending on the presence of obstacles, as well as network congestion in the area.
conclusions
This article is a visual comparison of two similar gadgets, therefore it makes sense to draw conclusions in the same vein, comparative:
- the new sensor in the iON Air Pro2 significantly reduces the level of rolling shutter, but does not provide any significant increase in detail
- iON Air Pro2's viewing angle is wider than its predecessor
- iON Air Pro2 gives a clearer in motion and richer in static picture, however, in static shooting there is a drawback in the form of "ladders" along the edges of objects
- the sensitivity of both cameras is almost the same
- iON Air Pro has significantly longer battery life than the new iON Air Pro2
- iON Air Pro package bundle is noticeably richer than iON Air Pro2 package package
It is difficult to say which of these models the average potential user will choose. Moreover, in this case it is impossible to use this term - "average". Someone is only interested high quality video or photos, and the other does not think about anything other than searching for the next mount. Perhaps a comparative table of the cost of cameras will help you make a choice?
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