You can then use the menu screen to record a video or take a photo. You simply add the Virb as a “sensor”, just as you would with regular ANT+ devices. I tested this functionality with the Edge 1000. ANT+ also allows you to control the Virb remotely using compatible Garmin devices, including the Edge 1000 or a standalone remote. In addition to a standard mini USB port - for charging the Virb and transferring files to your computer - the unit also features a micro HDMI port and ANT+ connectivity for pulling data in from your compatible sensors (see below for more). The same issue didn’t occur when mounting the Virb underneath the handlebars. When mounted on top I found that the tightening screw (as opposed to the twist mount) frequently came loose and I had to tighten it on the fly to stop the camera rattling around. A right-angle adaptor is also provided, which increases the number of mounting options available to you.ĭuring the review period I mounted the Virb on top of and underneath my handlebars. Garmin generously provides an adaptor that makes the mounting system compatible with any GoPro mount on the market. This then screws into your mount of choice. First the Virb has to be put in its cradle which then attaches to the top of the interlocking mount system. Sadly the already bulky Virb feels even bulkier once you mount it to your handlebars or wherever else you decide to place it. “Instead of relying solely on tension” this system reportedly “provides a more rugged and durable, anti-vibration locking performance.” The mounting system is based around a cool “teeth-locking” design whereby the mount screws into a housing that attaches to the camera cradle. Our local Garmin rep provided us with a handful of mounts, including the “Handlebar and Rollbar Mount” package. The Garmin Virb comes packaged with a flat and curved adhesive mount but if you’re looking to attach the camera to your handlebars, your helmet or somewhere else, you’ll need to fork out for a separate mount or mount bundle. You can also set the Virb to take a burst of three shots, or to put on a self-timer of two, five, 10, 30 or 60 seconds.įor more information about the technical specifications of the Garmin Virb, head to the Garmin website. – 8 Megapixels (4:3) An unedited (apart from the watermark) photo taken with the Garmin Virb. The Virb can also be used to take still images in a few formats: There’s also a setting to tell the Virb when it’s mounted upside down, to save you a step in the editing process. – Time lapse: 1080p with frames captured every 1/2, one, two, five, 10, 30 or 60 secondsįrom the options menu you can also turn on lens correction and/or image stabilisation, and choose your shooting angle from “Wide” or “Ultra-Zoom”. – Super Slow Mo: 480p, 16:9 at 120fps (which plays at quarter speed) – Slow Mo HD: 720p, 16:9 at 60fps (which plays at half speed but can be sped up in editing) – 1080p: 1080p resolution, 16:9 aspect ratio at 30 frames per second There are seven video recording modes available on the Virb: The Virb has four buttons: an on/off button, an up and down button for sorting through the on-screen menu, an “OK” button for selecting options and for taking still images, and a big sliding switch on the left-hand side of the unit to begin recording. You can use this screen as a viewfinder (good for setting up your shot or seeing what’s recording), a dashboard (for showing a range of data from connected sensors - see more below), for changing the unit’s settings and for playing back your videos and images. There is an optional dive case available if you’re looking to use the Virb outside of cycling as well.Īpart from the form factor, the other thing you notice right away about the Virb is that unlike its competitors, the Virb has a screen on the top of the unit. The Virb feels rugged and sturdy and with an IPX7 waterproof rating it should be able to “withstand incidental exposure to water of up to 1 meter for up to 30 minutes.” This is more than enough for just about any conditions you’re likely to face on the bike. Of course weight isn’t everything, but if you’re looking for a camera to mount to your helmet, lighter is certainly better. The Virb looks unwieldy and it feels it too - at a touch over 200g for the camera and its “cradle” (which you need to attach to mount the camera in any way), the Virb is more than twice as heavy as the Shimano Sports Camera (93g with mounting clip) and half as heavy again as the GoPro HD Hero 3+ (136g). The first thing you notice about the Garmin Virb is how different the form factor is compared with GoPro cameras or the Shimano Sports Camera. CyclingTips editor Matt de Neef got his hands on the Garmin Virb Elite Action Camera and put together this review. The Garmin Virb launched in late 2013 into a market dominated by the GoPro HD Hero and replete with a number of other competitors trying to attract consumer attention.
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