Though action cameras let us capture amazing videos of our adventures, the footage is all-too-often wobbly and annoyingly labor intensive when it comes to editing. The Revl Arc 4K-shooting action camera has been designed to address those issues by combining full-stabilization and smart auto-editing technology.
Launching on Indiegogo, the Revl Arc has been created by a team of engineers and kitesurfing fans who were fed up with wobbly and wonky action footage. As such, its headline feature is a proprietary Hybrid Stabilization Technology which combines electronic and physical stabilization to keep the video steady, even when the action isn't ... which it tends not to be if you're hurtling down a mountain or flying through the air.
The Revl Arc has a built-in single-axis gimbal which physically rotates the camera, while electronic image stabilization is used to cover the other 2 axis. This is said to help remove the vibrations and shakiness which can all too often plague action camera footage. A built-in gyroscope can also keep the camera's view level with the horizon at all times.
The cylindrical camera measures 2.8 in (70 mm) long and 1.8 in (45 mm) in diameter. It's waterproof and shockproof to 10 ft (3 m), though a dive housing will be available if you are going deeper. Inside there's a 12.4-megapixel 1/2.3-inch image sensor (which is the same size as that used in the GoPro Hero4 Black and Silver) and this is paired with a wide angle 149 degree FOV (Field of View) F2.8 lens.
The Revl Arc also boasts recording resolutions up to 4K at 30 fps (frames per second). Dropping the resolution to Full HD 1080p increases the maximum frame-rate to 120 fps for smooth slow-motion footage, and at HD 720p you can get up to 240 fps. 12-megapixel stills can be shot at bursts of up to 30 fps for one second.
Because no-one likes spending longer editing their footage as they did shooting it, the Revl Arc camera and app also offer an auto-editing feature. This Sensory AI works in a similar way to the TomTom Bandit by using proprietary algorithms and data from built-in gyroscope, barometer, magnetometer and accelerometer sensors.
These are used to measure things such as altitude, speed, rotation and identify your most exciting moments. For example, the camera can know when you hit a top speed, jumped highest, or caught the most air-time, and edit together clips of your most extreme moments. The Revl Arc can also use data from external Bluetooth sensors such as heart rate monitors, GPS and ODB-II car sensors.
Wireless connectivity comes in the form of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0, and the camera can be used with a smartphone companion app (iOS only for now, but Android support is in the works) for things including tweaking the edit and sharing to social media. A live preview of what you're shooting is also available on the iOS app and an Apple Watch app, and your sessions can be streamed live online.
Also of note is the user-replaceable battery, which is said to have a 1.5 hour life, and support for SD cards up to 128 GB. There are also a range of simple snap-on snap-off mounts available, along with a standard GoPro-style mount for using the Revl Arc with your current action camera accessories.
The action cam is currently the subject of a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo, where pledges start at US$349 as of writing, rising to $379 once those extreme early bird levels have gone. There are also sport-specific bundles for bikers and kiters pitched at $449 and $479, respectively. If everything goes to plan, the cameras are estimated to start shipping in December.
You can check out a promo video for the Revl Arc action camera below.
