Review: TomTom Bandit Action Camera

A product the Transmoto team has tried and tested, and would recommend to a mate…

WHAT IS IT?

A sleek, high-performance action camera that allows you to shoot, edit and share footage within minutes.

WHY WE RATE IT

In a market that’s overflowing with POV action cameras and smartphones capable of shooting HD footage, what makes the TomTom Bandit stand out from the crowd? Simple; it’s solved the one issue that average users have with shooting video – and that’s turning it into something worth viewing. The TomTom Bandit allows you to take your footage, slice it up, add a soundtrack, and even share the finished product via your social media channels within minutes. It really is as easy as it sounds.

After you’ve pressed record, you can “highlight” each moment that you want to remember by pressing an easy-to-access button. Then, connect your camera to the free TomTom Bandit App via WiFi, and follow the prompts to whip up your video. Basically, all of your “highlights” will be plucked out and thrown into a random order when you physically shake your device (a really cool, fun feature). And if you don’t like the way it was edited, you can shake your device and try again! GPS technology also allows you to overlay stats such as speed, location and altitude over your clips, too, which is super cool. When you’re done, save the raw footage to your computer using a built-in internal USB stick – no annoying cords are needed.

Weighing in at 190 grams, standing 38mm high and 94mm long, the TomTom Bandit is capable of capturing wide-angle and standard footage in 4K, 1080p and 720p, with a maximum of 120fps. It also has the ability to shoot 16 megapixel photos, and has timelapse and burst modes, which can be easily navigated through via a simple menu. The thing is even waterproof at up to 50 metres once you’ve attached a splashproof lens cover. A GoPro adaptor and standard mounts for helmets are included, while handlebar mounts can be purchased. Our only gripe is that the standard mounts don’t have pivot points, meaning once the camera is mounted, that’s where it’s staying.

PRICE

$579, available via www.tomtom.com

VIDEO

Transmoto test pilot, Darren Lamb, recently took a TomTom Bandit action camera to the 2015 Sunny Corner Trail Bike Rally, and was able to “highlight” his best moments out on the trail, edit up a one-minute video on his smartphone and send it to us, pretty much ready to upload to YouTube, before the event was even close to being finished. Check out the footage below.