There’s also an inclusion of free editing software from Garmin with the VIRB, an app that makes it easy to compile your clips and create your videos, complete with the VIRB Elite GPS overlays that we’ll talk about next. It’s very basic in function, but provides everything you need to edit the clips together, add music and export to your chosen format, or send it straight to YouTube to share with your friends.
If you want to splurge a little extra on the VIRB Elite model ($499), you can also gain access to the WiFi functions of the camera and the connectivity with other Garmin ANT+ compatible devices. While not needed for everyone, this feature gives you the ability to record GPS and fitness data while filming, and later on choose to overlay it in post-production as you’re editing. There are several options for graphic styles, including speedometers, altimeters, GPS map tracking and heart rate data, captured through a connected ANT+ enabled setup.
You can also use some of your current Garmin devices to control the VIRB through WiFi, including the Fēnix, Oregon and Edge.
This is easily the biggest advantage with the VIRB, giving you the ability to truly capture the heights (pun intended) of your adventure and fitness exploits in tandem with your current devices.
If you’re already someone who uses the Garmin fitness watches, being able to see your speed and route tracking as you capture your triathlon trial run, or how fast your heart beats when you’re swimming with those great whites, is a great addition.
These features are not necessary for everyone of course, but it’s great to have the options and the WiFi smart phone connectivity is probably worth the upgrade alone, allowing you to view and control the camera remotely through the Garmin VIRB app.
Garmin has also built a great list of mounting options for the VIRB, very reminiscent of the GoPro range.
Really there are only so many places you want to strap a camera to your body, but Garmin has catered for the head, shoulder, wrist, helmet, suction cup and bar mounting options, as well as a GoPro mount adapter that ships in every box. This last inclusion is a smart move on Garmin’s part, allowing all those GoPro people looking to switch keep all their expensive mounts and still purchase a different camera.
The mounts are very well built and the cradle system that has been employed to hold the camera itself is quite ingenious, allowing you to attach or remove your camera from the mount with a simple squeeze of a release catch. While the camera is in the cradle, it is rock steady, which is very important for capturing stable footage.
There is also a dive case available that will allow you to film underwater, but the VIRB itself is already waterproof to IPX7 standard in one metre of water for up to 30 minutes. That means you can take it to the beach right out of the box and mess around in the shallow water, without fear of destroying the camera. The dive case will increase this to a 50 metre rating, making it ideal for snorkelling or scuba diving enthusiasts.
If there were any downsides to the VIRB, though, it would have to be the weight.
Picking it up, you’ll find it does feel particularly heavy at just under 180g without the mounting and housing options. This weight only seemed to be a noticeable problem when it wasn’t properly mounted or when using it for long periods attached to a head strap, and we suspect a large part of this is the battery, so the weight is the trade-off for longer shooting times, at least until a breakthrough in battery capacities is achieved.
The VIRB has been said to have the longest battery life of the current crop of cameras, and filming almost non stop it will last around the three hour range, with much longer times if filming intermittently. We had it out for an entire day’s worth of adventuring, filming when we had something of interest come up and we barely took it down to half power so that is certainly a plus.
That’s a solid effort, even if the battery does weigh the camera down a bit.
One other downside could be the price, coming in a relatively high $349 for the standard, and $499 for the Elite edition. For the record, this is in line with the GoPro price tags, but you do get a few more mounts with the GoPro packs, and including a couple more would be nice here in the VIRB. Since you’re getting a built-in LCD screen — which would be an expensive optional extra in other action camera boxes, as well as almost double the battery life of some of the GoPro models, it probably comes out about even in value. And if you’ve already got a selection of GoPro mounts from your previous kit, you save even more by not having to re-purchase them.
Conclusion
Overall, the VIRB is a very strong entry into the action camera market and Garmin has done well to create a camera with strong features and some personality to boot. It’s a little bit on the pricey side, but boasts enough features to be worth the store tag.
It’s easily the most rugged of the current selection of action cameras, and with the Elite model’s GPS and ANT+ functionality, it brings something to the table that nobody else is doing right now.
If you’re going on an adventure, you’d do well to have a Garmin VIRB close at hand. Recommended.
