First, I have to say that both are substantially similar features and provide an overall decent image quality. But the elite brings for outdoor sports enthusiasts with some extras that are not to be despised.
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Delivery Garmin Wirb Action Camera
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- Lithium-ion battery
- Mount
- Connectors
- Rectangular Connector
- Adaptors for similar mounts
- Flat bracket for surface mounting
- Curved bracket for surface mounting
- Removable flange base
- Threaded ring
- USB cable
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Necessary and optional accessories
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Unfortunately, the included accessories precipitates narrow. You definitely need a memory card and a USB charger. To accommodate a decent HD quality and really take advantage of the two to three hours of recording capacity can also, should provide 64 GB. Even a bag is useful, because although the small cam is encased resilient per se, but is missing a protection for the lens. The enclosed mounting options are possible in principle areas of application this camera does not do justice. I could not do much with, and have been looking for alternatives.
Can be found on Amazon, but some holders for just about every application. I ordered three different: a headband (useful when running), an attitude for the arm and a suction cup for the car. Also, I have invested in an adapter that allows the Garmin can be screwed onto each camera tripod, which increases its applicability.
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Similarities
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Both cameras, both the normal version and the elite, seem stable, robust and are IPX7-certified, which means that they defy mud, rain, dust and snow.
Take wide-angle video in 1080p at 30 frames the second. Better quality, however, if you go to 720p and 60 frames per second. Otherwise fast movements are less easy to determine rather indistinct and details. But then you'd expect in an action camera also a corresponding wobbling. When mounting on the helmet, it seems less bumpy than when mounted on the bicycle handlebars. However, the camera is also fast hard on the head.
Both cameras are (16 megapixel) equipped with a CMOS sensor, making time-lapse and continuous shooting possible. If you go to the Super Slow Motion mode succeed up to 120 frames per second at a significantly reduced quality.
Taking sequences without much action or extremely fast movements, the image quality is better and more convincing. However, an Action Cam should of course be exactly suited. So there is still room for improvement. The colors I feel in good light conditions outdoors as strong, maybe something rotlastig. Very pleased I am with the recordings in the light. However, the Pixelize increases as you drive through light and dark areas in change (while increasing in speed).
Both the Garmin and the Garmin Wirb Virb Elite are equipped with not particularly powerful microphones, but also offer the possibility to connect an external microphone. Sometimes an audio recording, however, is not interesting anyway, so that does not necessarily carry weight. I will replace the soundtrack often by appropriate music.
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Differences
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The Garmin Vibe Elite comes with a number of extras that make it the first choice: Among other things, it has a GPS receiver and a barometric altimeter. It is handy that you can afterwards upload all data easily on the computer or the Internet. For the smartphone there is Virb Mobile App (iOS and Android devices). Whoever wants to can capture (chest sensor and crank) with ANT + sensor, the temperature or the heart rate and cadence.
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Purpose
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These are - both devices - indescribably varied, provided one takes care of the respective holder. Probably here will use the opportunity especially athletes to record their trips, perhaps to compare workouts, optimize, and the like. But a helmet camera is also ideally suited to accommodate at events, in parks or on the road when traveling and at the same time free its hands. On a car you can record travel. It is suitable for parachute jumps, short for underwater adventure and you can shoot unobtrusively in everyday life, where a camcorder would interfere with tripod perhaps.
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Strengths and weaknesses
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A major strength of the device is the simple, intuitive operation: On the left side there is a large slide switch which activates the camera. Films is so even with gloves and without having to look at the camera possible. This is very helpful!
On the right side sit four buttons with which you turn on the camera, as well as an OK button and two arrow keys. So you get easily playing the menu. (The operation with gloves fail.)
The camera angle can be adjusted. Selectable are four zoom levels (90-150 degrees), but only in the Ultra Zoom can use an image stabilizer. That's too bad.
On the head, the camera will be hard after a while, and I personally find the unpleasant. That's why I prefer the mounting on the handlebar. Urgent need for improvement in my opinion on the display: It is unlighted and therefore poorly in low light or no longer be read.
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Negatives
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- Little accessories
Not adjustable image stabilizer everywhere -
- Sorry, no display illumination
- For head and helmet quite heavy
- Microphone unconvinced
- No GPS and WiFi
- Lens cover is missing
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Plus points
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+ Robust, compact and very well made
+ Decent image quality in bright light
+ Versatile installation
+ Very easy to use
+ Battery life is enough perfectly
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In direct comparison, definitely has the Garmin Virb Elite ahead because it has interesting extra features that has not the simple model. Much still pleases me well on this Action Cam, particularly the hardware and the ease of use. But there is especially the accessories and in the availability of image stabilization potential for improvement. If you decide to buy, you have to make additional purchases that in my case, to well over 100 euros totaled (holders, memory card, storage bag).
With the picture quality I'm quite happy on the whole. Only the sound quality I find disappointing.
Given all these points my vote is not easy. I give after much back and forth three star.
