![]() ![]() I believe that it was more a problem with the mount than the Virb’s design, I would recommend trying a helmet or chest mount. Considering the conditions, I feel the Garmin Virb Elite held up reasonably well.Īs you can see in the videos above, the stability of the footage from the handlebars was poor. The weekend of the test was plagued with clouds and rain, which was made even worse when entering the forests of the Garden Route Trail Park. The majority of the test filming occurred in poor light conditions. If I have to be hypercritical, the colours appeared somewhat dull in low light conditions and there can be a lag in the adjustment to changing light intensities. The Virb’s picture quality won’t restrict an amateur videographer from making reasonable on-bike videos. The quality of video recorded by the Garmin Virb Elite is good. Exporting videos for those all-important YouTube uploads is easy and fast. This software is similar to most basic video editing packages and basic video editing is a breeze and a welcoming experience. To edit your footage, you can download Garmin VIRB Edit for free. The Virb makes use of Garmin Express to upload your GPS data and to keep the Virb firmware up to date. If you want to scrutinize footage on the trail, viewing the replays through your phone will display much better quality than the built-in screen. ![]() The app connects via the Virb’s wifi connection. Garmin have made a mobile app for iOS and Android that can be used to change the device’s settings, as a viewfinder and some video/ camera operation. Although suitable for camera positioning and making sure you got a shot with a replay. The built-in screen’s quality was excellent when dealing with programmed features but video playback on the screen was not good. After my initial setup, I didn’t find the need to play with the settings again. If you wished, you could even change these wirelessly from your phone. The settings were simple to change with the use of the LCD screen. It couldn’t get any easier and you’ll never doubt whether it’s filming or not. At the end of the run you slide the bottom back and the device turns off. You simply slide the button away from yourself, wait 10 or so seconds and head down the trail. The ideal kind of riding for the Virb’s on / off button. As mentioned, the Virb Elite was tested at the Garden Route Trail Park, a trail system that encourages hard riding on the single track and slow meanders back to the next trailhead. It’s a large switch that takes up most of the left side of the device. The most impressive, yet simple, function of the Virb’s design is the on / off switch. ![]() All the buttons were perfectly accessible, responsive and the screen clear to view. Garmin have done well to make the Virb Elite an initiative device to use. On the bike adjustment was easier than a number of other mounting setups I’ve used. The cradle and mounts fit perfectly and felt robust. The shape allowed me to get a firm grip in the palm which was reassuring compared to smaller more delicate devices that are held and operated with finger tips. But after my initial hesitations, I came to appreciate the Virb. I’ve become so conditioned to the rectangular shape of the GoPro, and its clones, that the larger tubular shape of the Virb looked odd. The first thing that grabbed my attention was the form factor. Inspired by the overseas trail park experience, it served as the perfect place to test the feature of the Virb Elite. I took the Virb Elite, with the cycling bundle, on a long-weekend mission to the superb Garden Route Trail Park. In the Virb Elite, Garmin has combined its GPS and data sensor know-how to offer something different to the rest of the action camera market. ![]() A tough market to crack with its stalwart, GoPro, and countless other manufacturers seeking their piece of the pie. Released in 2013, the Virb Elite is Garmin’s entry into the action camera market. ![]()
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