About the Sony FDR-X3000
Super-smooth 4K video when you're on the move
Free Imaging Edge software lets you edit and share footage whenever you have a little downtime.
Super-smooth 4K video when you're on the move
I once watched part of a baseball game while riding a roller coaster — I have the jittery, lurching, nearly unwatchable smartphone video to prove it. Had the FDR-X3000 action cam existed at the time, I could have counted on Balanced Optical SteadyShot image stabilization and 4K Ultra HD resolution to preserve that memory for me. This tiny, mountable action cam is a great way to record anything from a day in the ballpark to a reef dive in the Keys.
Share the action from anywhere
You can share your best clips with friends and family right away, thanks to built-in Wi-Fi with GPS. Transferring files to your phone for uploading to social media is simple. The camera even comes with Imaging Edge software that lets you gather and display helpful information such as speed, route and geotagging telemetry data.
Compact and tough enough to go just about anywhere
The camera is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, and it's compatible with a number of Sony accessory mounts that let you get video even when your hands are busy. And you don't need to worry when you go somewhere off the beaten path — the camera's compact chassis is splashproof on its own, but the included underwater housing seals against dust, grime, and mud, and is waterproof to 197 feet. That means you can take it biking, skydiving, surfing, skiing — anywhere your adventures take you.
Product highlights:
- shoots 4K Ultra HD video at up to 30 frames per second
- shares movies via Wi-Fi® with compatible Android and Apple® smartphones and tablets through the free downloadable Imaging Edge app
- user-controlled field of view and zooming
- back-illuminated Exmor R® CMOS sensor records sharp images in low light situations
- BIONZ X™ image processor lets you record smooth HD footage at up to 50 Mbps
- ultra-wide angle ZEISS® Tessar™ f/2.8 lens
- included underwater housing seals against dust, grime, and mud, and is waterproof to 197 feet
- Balanced Optical SteadyShot® image stabilization helps to cancel the effects of camera shake
- low light imaging effective down to 6 lux
- threaded tripod mount is integrated into the waterproof housing
- snaps high-quality 12-megapixel still JPEG images
- stereo microphone built into chassis
- automatically creates shareable MP4 highlight video out of clips from your movie
- add speed and location information to your video with built-in GPS and Action Cam Movie Creator
- 4K Time-lapse Capture turns a series of still photos into a time-lapse movie
- share adventures as they happen by live streaming via Ustream™
- records to Memory Stick Micro and micro SD/SDHC/SDXC cards (not included)
- micro HDMI port for easy playback on an HDTV (cable not included)
Included Accessories:
- NP-BX1 lithium ion battery
- micro USB cable
- underwater housing (MPK-UWH1)
- attachment buckle
- startup guide
Dimensions and Warranty:
- 1-3/16"W x 1-7/8"H x 3-3/8"D
- weight: 4.1 oz. with battery and memory
- warranty: 1 year parts, 90 days labor
- MFR # FDRX3000/W
What's in the box:
- FDR-X3000 4K action camera
- MPK-UWH1 Underwater housing (installed)
- NP-BX1 Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery (3.6V 1240mAh 4.5Wh)
- 23" Micro USB cable (Type A USB on one end and Micro-B USB on other end)
- Attachment buckle
- Reference Guide
- Camera Startup Guide (Eng)
- Camera Startup Guide (Fren/Span)
- Limited Warranty (US)
- Consumer Warranty (Canada)
- Online registration sheet
- Action Cam decal
Customer reviews for Sony FDR-X3000
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More details on the Sony FDR-X3000
Features & specs
General | ||
---|---|---|
LCD Screen Size (inches) | N/A | |
Viewfinder | None | |
Total Pixel Count | 8.57 MP | |
Effective Pixel Count for Video | 8.2 MP | |
4K Video | Yes | |
High-Definition | Yes | |
Aspect Ratio | 16:9 | |
Manual Focusing | No | |
Filter Diameter | N/A | |
Optical Zoom | N/A | |
Night Imaging | No | |
Image Stabilization | Optical | |
Built-in Video Light | No | |
Built-in Memory | None | |
Max Recording Time w/ Included Battery | 60m (135m HD) | |
Digital Still Camera Features | ||
Effective Pixel Count for Stills | 8.2 MP | |
Built-in Photo Flash | No | |
Still Image Aspect Ratios | 16:9 | |
Inputs and Outputs | ||
USB Port | Micro-B USB | |
HDMI Output | Micro | |
Mic Input | 3.5mm | |
Dimensions | ||
Weight With Battery (ounces) | 4.1 | |
Width (inches) | 1-3/16 | |
Height (inches) | 1-7/8 | |
Depth (inches) | 3-5/16 | |
Warranty | ||
Parts Warranty | 1 Year | |
Labor Warranty | 90 Days | |
Image Sensor Warranty | 1 Year |
Product Research
Features
Overview: The Sony FDR-X3000 is a lightweight, durable digital 4K video camera that captures your point of view while performing action sports. The camera body itself is splashproof (IPX4), and comes with a waterproof clear plastic case. The Action Cam can record pro-quality XAVC-S 4K video, as well as Full HD 1080p MP4 video and 12 MP still images. The X3000 also has built-in Wi-Fi so you can share your videos wirelessly to your smartphone or tablet or control it remotely.
Image Sensor: The X3000 is equipped with a 1/2.5" (7.2mm) Exmor R CMOS image sensor with 8.57 gross megapixels, and 8.18 effective megapixels for movies and still images.
Lens: The ultra wide angle 2.6mm Carl Zeiss Tessar lens gives you a wide perspective for video and still images. It has a bright F2.8 aperture, and a variable (35mm equivalent) focal length that changes with the Angle Setting: Wide: 17mm, Medium: 23mm, Narrow: 32mm. The minimum shooting distance is 19-3/4".
Digital Zoom: When the digital zoom is set to On, you can enlarge the image up to 3x. The higher the zoom rate, the more deterioration of the image quality will take place. You can operate the zoom control from a connected smartphone. The zoom is not available during movie shooting, loop recording, live streaming, or time-lapse shooting.
Underwater Housing: The X3000 comes with the MPK-UWH1 Underwater Housing that allows you to shoot images underwater up to a depth of 60 meters (197 feet) for up to 30 minutes continuously.
Balanced Optical SteadyShot (B.O.SS): The Sony FDR-X3000 features Balanced Optical SteadyShot, an advanced form of image stabilization. B.O.SS effectively compensates for camera shake due to excessive motion by controlling the lens and image sensor together. Balanced Optical SteadyShot allows you to record clear and stable images, even in 4K or high frame rates.
Recording Media: You can record HD video and Still Images onto Memory Stick Micro (Mark2), microSD, microSDHC, or microSDXC memory cards. For recording XAVC S or 4K video, micro SDHC or microSDXC memory cards with SD speed class 10 or UHS speed class 1 (U1) or faster are recommended. For high speed recording (100 Mbps), you must use UHS speed class 3 (U3) memory cards.
Built-in Wi-Fi: The X3000 has built-in Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11b/g/n - 2.4 GHz). You can operate the camera via Wi-Fi using the remote control function of your smartphone. You can also transfer and display images to a smartphone or tablet wirelessly via the downloadable "PlayMemories Mobile" app (compatible with iOS 8.0-10.0 and Android 4.0-7.0). Some Android devices can be connected via NFC (Near-Field Communication) One-touch Functions. The Multi-Camera Control function lets you connect and control up to 5 cameras to the PlayMemories Mobile app on your smartphone.
Bluetooth: When the camera is connected via Wi-Fi, it can also communicate with those devices via Bluetooth. The Bluetooth connection allows you to turn the camera on or off to save battery power.
GPS: The X3000 is equipped with a GPS receiver that will record the location information and movement speed while recording movies. The PlayMemories Home software (downloadable to your PC) allows you to import movies with the GPS log to a computer and view them with a map showing the location information.
Video Recording: The FDR-X3000 can record professional quality 4K and HD video in the XAVC-S Format with LPCM audio, as well as easily shareable MP4 video with AAC audio. Audio from the built-in stereo microphone is captured along with your videos. A 3.5mm microphone input is provided for connecting an optional external microphone, if desired. You can choose from the following recording resolution options:
Recorded Image | Resolution | Frame Rate NTSC/PAL |
---|---|---|
XAVC S 4K Format | ||
XAVC S 100 Mbps | 3840 x 2160 | 30p/25p |
XAVC-S 60 Mbps | 3840 x 2160 | 30p/25p |
XAVC-S 100 Mbps | 3840 x 2160 | 24p NTSC only |
XAVC-S 60 Mbps | 3840 x 2160 | 24p NTSC only |
XAVC S HD Format | ||
XAVC-S 50 Mbps | 1920 x 1080 | 60p/50p 30p/25p |
XAVC-S 50 Mbps | 1920 x 1080 | 24p NTSC only |
XAVC-S 100 Mbps High Speed Recording | 1280 x 720 1920 x 1080 | 240p/200p 120p/100p |
XAVC-S 60 Mbps High Speed Recording | 1280 x 720 1920 x 1080 | 240p/200p 120p/100p |
MP4 Format | ||
MP4 1080 PS 28 Mbps | 1920 x 1080 | 60p/50p |
MP4 1080 HQ 16 Mbps | 1920 x 1080 | 30p/25p |
MP4 720 STD 6 Mbps | 1280 x 720 | 30p/25p |
MP4 720 HS 28 Mbps | 1280 x 720 | 120p/100p |
MP4 480 HS 28 Mbps | 800 x 480 | 240p/200p |
Still Image Recording: The X3000 can record still images at different resolutions, depending upon the Angle setting:
Angle Setting | Still Photo Resolution |
---|---|
Wide | 12.0M - 4624 x 2600 |
Medium | 6.1M - 3280 x 1848 |
Narrow | 3.0M - 2304 x 1296 |
Time-Lapse Capture Mode: The camera can record still images at regular intervals of 1, 2, 5, 10, 30, or 60 seconds. The number of images you can take are 300, 600, 900, or until you stop shooting (up to 40,000). You can choose 8M (3840 x 2160) or 2.1M (1920 x 1080) image sizes. Software is available to transform these images into impressive time-lapse movies. Action Cam Movie Creator (v.5.1 for Windows, v.3.1 for Mac) and Action Cam App for iOS and Android (v.2.0 - HD only) allow you to import movies for editing and creating time-lapse movies.
Burst Shooting Mode: The FDR-X3000 can record multiple still images in a short burst to catch fast-moving action. The Burst Shooting Mode image size is the same as standard still image shooting, and depends upon the Angle setting (see Still Image Recording above). You can choose from the following:
- 10f 1s: Records a total of 10 still images in 1 second (10 fps)
- 5f 2s: Records a total of 10 still images in 2 seconds (5 fps)
- 2f 5s: Records a total of 10 still images in 5 seconds (2 fps)
Motion Shot LE: With Motion Shot LE, you can capture an entire action sequence in a single frame. A 2.1M (1920 x 1080) composite image of the subject in motion is created from a burst of single frames, shot at up to 10 frames per second.
Loop Recording: You can set the camera to record in a loop to avoid missing an upcoming event or moment. The loop duration can be set to 5, 20, 60, or 120 minutes. When the recording reaches the end of the loop, it starts overwriting the recorded video from the beginning of the loop.
Viewing Images: The FDR-X3000 has a Micro HDMI connection on the back of the camera for playing back videos and still images to a TV that has an HDMI input. A Micro HDMI-to-HDMI cable (not included) is required.
Battery: The X3000 comes with the NP-BX1 Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery (3.6V, 1240mAh, 4.5Wh). The battery can be charged in the camera from your computer's USB port in approximately 4 hours 25 minutes. You can also charge the battery using the optional AC-UD20 USB charger (sold separately). The estimated battery life of the NP-BX1 is as follows:
Image Quality | Activity | Wi-Fi On | Wi-Fi Off |
---|---|---|---|
4K 30p | Continuous Recording | 50 min | 60 min |
Typical Recording | 40 min | 45 min | |
Playback Time | 90 min | 100 min | |
HQ | Continuous Recording | 125 min | 135 min |
Typical Recording | 80 min | 85 min | |
Playback Time | 170 min | 195 min |
Computer Compatibility: The FDR-X3000 comes with no software, but you can to download "PlayMemories Home" software free from the Sony website. Once you have downloaded the software, you can connect the camera and register it with the software so its functions can be used. "PlayMemories Home" is compatible with Windows Vista (SP2), Windows 7 (SP1), Windows 8.1, and Windows 10, as well as Mac OS X v10.9 - v10.11.
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Good quality action/vlogging camera. It was a hard decision for me Sony vs GoPro. Optical stabilization beats GoPro cameras.
Yuriy from Brooklyn, NY