Somehow the competition between Garmin and TomTom has now
entered the action camera segment. Some time ago, Garmin has launched a new
generation of duo action cameras that are equipped with the G-Metrix
technology. And now TomTom shows off their first action cam.
This action cam is called Bandit. It has a compact form,
with qualified specifications. Perhaps the video quality produced by TomTomBandit is not as good as the GoPro Hero4 Black, but it can record 4K video at
15 fps. The other video recording options are 2,7K 30 fps, 1080p 60 fps and
720p 120 fps to create captivating slow-motion effect.
TomTom Bandit is powered by CCD-type image sensor with a
resolution of 16 megapixels. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity also complements
this action cam, while the body has been designed to be water resistant even
without casing- if you pair it with a casing, this camera can be brought up to
a depth of 50 meters.
But the most interesting feature offered by TomTom Bandit is
the ability to edit videos automatically. Besides that, there are a number of
sensors that have been pinned on the bandit's body so that it could record a
variety of data metrics such as speed, altitude, G-force, or user’s heart rate with
the help of a separate accessory.
So far we can see the similarity between TomTom Bandit with
Garmin Virb X or Virb XE. However, TomTom utilizes these data not only as a
sweetener of video, but also as a marker of exciting moments that occur during
video recording.
This automatic feature will highlight a number of moments
and then pour them into a sequence of video clips that will be merged
automatically, minimizing your task in editing the videos manually. If you want
to manually mark the moments, you can do it via remote control while recording
video.
Another interesting feature of TomTom Bandit is its ability
to be a media server. This means you can immediately see the recorded results
using smartphone that has been connected to the camera, without having to move
the files first.
Your smartphone can be converted into a viewfinder of TomTom
Bandit using its companion application. With the same application, you can also
perform editing with ease. The highlighted moments can be packed into a single
video just by shaking the smartphone, which then can you share directly to
social networking.
If you feel more comfortable with video editing software on
desktop devices such as Adobe Premiere or Final Cut Pro, you can move the
videos from TomTom Bandit via USB 3.0 connection which is integrated in the
module of Batt-Stick (battery, microSD slot and USB 3.0). Its 1,900mAh battery
is believed can last up to 3 hours when the camera is used to record 1080p
video at 30 fps.
Although there are many interesting action cams on the
market, but at least TomTom's debut in action cam segment brings its own charm.
We all know that editing the videos requires a lot of time, especially if there
are many exciting moments that should be selected one by one.
TomTom Bandit is scheduled to go on sale in Asia Pacific at
the summer of this year. The retail price ranges from € 429, and TomTom also
provides a number of accessories that are sold separately.