We take this unique action cam for a spin
While we love our GoPros, Sony Action Cams and Veho Muvis, we can’t deny that they’re big and bulky. Mounting these bad boys on bikes, motorcycle and even helmets are a challenge if you don’t have the right mounts and equipment, even then there’s always the chance of the cameras breaking free from their mounts or not getting the right angle. Today, we’ll be taking a look at Liquid Image’s new Torque HD+ action camera which promises to remove the pain of mounting those cameras into your sports equipment by simply putting the camera in a pair of high-quality googles.
Initial Impressions: Really good design and implementation, and has WiFi to boot!
Since most action sports require wearing goggles as part of their safety equipment, Liquid Image has simply integrated the camera inside the goggles, right above the bridge of the nose. This, in theory places the camera at the most natural POV of the wearer, allowing viewers to see exactly what the wearer is doing at all times.
As far as goggles go, the Torque HD+ is a bit thick, with plenty of foam that can be detached if they get worn or damaged. The battery and controls for the camera is located on the right and left side of the straps of the googles, hidden under elastic cloth. There’s only two controls – power and shutter, and navigating the menu is a daunting task because most of it uses a combination of key holds and presses.
When you wear the goggles, you’ll notice the LED indicator lights that are located right on top that flash depending on the recording condition of the camera. Speaking of recording, the camera can record either in HD at 60 FPS or in full HD, at 30 FPS. You can also take 12-megapixel photos with the device.
Power is provided by a 1150mAh battery, and the entire thing is water-resistant up to a certain point – it’ll withstand accidental submersion but the company doesn’t recommend taking it diving or swimming with you (they have a seperate model for that). It’s also dust and rain resistant, so dirt bike riders won’t have to worry about water getting in between taking videos of their awesome rides.
We tried it out last weekend when we played airsoft, and while it does a great job of recording video, the thickness and overall profile of the goggles robs you of peripheral vision. It’s not a big thing when you’re out riding in a bike or motorcycle, but it’s a definite downside when you play airsoft like we do, especially when you’re engaging threats from all sides.
That’s it for this hands-on, we’ll be testing the Torque HD+ in the next few weekends to see how it fares.
