2015 POV Camera Shootout, Cameras, POV Camera, Shimano, Sport Camera, Video Camera - January 18, 2015

2015 POV Camera Shootout: Shimano Sport Camera

Tiny, simple to operate, and features wireless ANT+ and Di2 connectivity.

The camera is small and lightweight with wireless ANT+ and Di2 connectivity.

Editor’s Note: This article is part of the 2015 Mtbr/RoadBikeReview POV Camera Shootout. We’ll also be publishing reviews of the Drift Ghost-S, Garmin Virb Elite, GoPro HERO4 Silver, iON Air Pro 3 Wi-Fi and the Sony Action Cam Mini. These reviews will be followed by our final rankings, plus video samples from all six cameras. Read all POV Camera Shootout articles here. To download full resolution video files from all the tests, go HERE.

The Lowdown: Shimano Sport Camera

Shimano’s first POV camera offering appears aimed at commuters, club riders and road racers who want to document their rides. It’s tiny, with a minimalist design, and features wireless ANT+ and Di2 connectivity for collecting training data and showing it in the captured video. Last year, the Shimano Sport Camera made debut appearances in the Tour de France and Tour of California, providing dramatic on-the-bike POV race footage. However, if top-notch, professional video is what you’re after, you’d best look elsewhere. With a smaller sensor (1/3.8-inch), slow 30 FPS full-HD video, and distracting lens distortion and sun flare, you’re not going to win any adventure video awards with this camera. Although pressing the record button is easy enough, the blinking lights and beeps that indicate various shooting modes and settings are nearly indecipherable. Using the mobile app makes things easier but the Shimano Sport Camera was still the most difficult of all the cameras in our test to set up. However, if all you’re looking for is a lightweight, simple POV camera to document your cycling adventures, and you don’t plan to change settings often, the Shimano is worth serious consideration.

Stat Box

Max Resolution: 1920 x 1080 full HD	Waterproof: 32.8 feet
Max Full HD Frame Rate: 30 FPS	Battery Life: approximately 2 hours
Max HD Frame Rate: 120 FPS at 720p	Built-in Wi-Fi: Yes
Time Lapse Controls: Yes	GPS: No
Still Photo Resolution: 6 megapixels	Weight: 86g
Max. Still Photo Burst: 1 FPS	MSRP: $300
Image Stabilization: No	Rating: 3 Chilies-out-of-5

Pluses	Minuses
Small and light	Poor video and photo quality
Good audio	No photo burst option (1 FPS is as fast as it goes)
ANT+ and Di2 connectivity	Difficult to set up and change settings
GoPro mount	Lens is too wide, causing distortion,
Waterproof to 30 feet with no extra housing	sun flare and vignetting