Active-I Sunglasses from Interactive Group

by Gary M. Kaye

One of the problems with most so called action-cams – the ones that go on a helmet, goggles, or handlebars is that you generally can’t see what you’re recording until you’re done.  The Active-I Sunglasses from Interactive group solves the problem.  They look like sunglasses but have a stealthy camera built right on the bridge of the nosepiece.  It comes with a removable viewer that will show you what you are recording, and you can view playback as well.  It has a roughly 2GB internal memory as well as a somewhat difficult to access micro-SD slot.  You can also connect it to a laptop or PC by means of a sub-micro USB connector, or to a TV with the included A/V cable.  The internal memory is advertised as holding 55 minutes worth of video.  Obviously you can get a lot more on a (not included) micro SD card. 

Control buttons are right on the earpieces of the glasses, including on/off, playback/record viewing, and still photo mode.  The glasses come with a set of lightly tinted lenses for use on a less than sunny day.  

At 157 USD (at QVC) this is a little expensive for a toy.  Video and audio quality are only fair. And there’s no diopter to adjust the view screen, so unless you have great vision or wear contacts, you may not be able to see a sharp image of what’s you’re recording.  The camera is particularly sensitive to changing light conditions, more so indoors than outdoors. In short the Active-I Sunglasses may be a fun gift for an active teenager,  but may not meet the needs of the video enthusiast.