Oh boy! The big boys are coming into the Action/Helmet Camera market which GoPro, Drift Innovations, and Contour are lording. We previously mentioned Sony's HD Action Camera with its much vaunted SteadyShot stabilisation feature and Carl Zeis Lens, and Exmor R CMOS Sensor yesterday. And now JVC Kenwood entered the fray with their own action camera.

Called "Adixxion" (remember that it has to "Xs"), it can record at 1080p 30fps with its DIS (Digital Image Stabilizer) which is their answer to Sony's SteadyShot. But it goes beyond that as it has 5x zoom, waterproof up to 5 metres, 2 metres shock proof, dustproof, and freezeproof (which they call it "Quad Proof"). Now those are features that we're looking for in a helmet camera.

It also has Wifi and you can link it to your Smartphone to frame the camera properly, which is like what ContourHD does. You can stream high definition videos in realtime via U-Stream as long as it can connect to a wifi hotspot. This option should be good for CQB sites, where they can put up hotspots in their areas to stream airsoft games in real time.

Looking at the photos, there's no accessory for a helmet/head strap but there seems to be a mount to which you can put a strap into. It would be great that other camera accessory makers will create a gun mount for this, just like what they did for the other helmet cameras.

More options for extreme sports enthusiasts, airsofters included, to capture their action in video, and with this, they can also show the game in real time with the WIFI and livestreaming features. Good for tournaments and broadcast agencies who want to capture action in real time.

No mention yet on pricing and availability. Press release below after the images:

JVC KENWOOD CORPORATION “GOES BEYOND” WITH JVC “ADIXXION” ACTION CAMERA

June 28, 2012 - JVC KENWOOD Corporation is introducing the JVC GC-XA1, a new style of action camera nicknamed “ADIXXION”. The recent popularity of this category of camera has exposed some shortcomings of currently available products, and JVC’s new offering addresses these issues with the savvy of an audiovisual expert.

The agile GC-XA1 weighs only 126g (0.28lbs), with a heavy-duty design that does not require a protective housing that would add bulk and muffle the sound. The quad-proof design is waterproof to a depth of 5m (16.4 ft), shockproof to withstand a fall from 2m (6.5ft) high, as well as dustproof and freezeproof. Its scratch-resistant rubber texture also plays a part in this camera’s ruggedness and smart looks. A 1.5-inch LCD monitor is built right into the side of the camera so you can check results on the spot, with no add-on to add weight and bulk. The body also has two standard tripod holes for easy mounting in a variety of locations. Last but far from least is the built-in Wi-Fi feature which opens up a whole new world of applications and functionality. Wireless connection to a smartphone allows framing to be easily checked before recording, even if the camera is already mounted in an inaccessible spot.

It’s also possible to send images “live” to a PC via Wi-Fi or mobile hotspot, or transfer data to a PC for distribution on social networks. But perhaps most incredible is the ability to stream “live” high-definition videos in real-time to USTREAM without a PC. With minimal hardware to carry or wear, people can achieve maximum exposure to a worldwide audience right then and there. iOS and Android apps will be available for download free of charge, while Wi-Video PC software is supplied with the camera.

As one might expect from the visual experts at JVC, GC-XA1 does not compromise on image quality to achieve its compact toughness. Video recording is possible in resolutions ranging from Full HD to WVGA, as QuickTime-compatible MP4 files that can be easily viewed on computers and smartphones. The user can count on image stabilization for less blurry scenes while on the go, as well as technology to counteract the image skewing that can occur with CMOS image sensors. The built-in HDMI terminal enables easy connection to HDTVs. Other features include ultra-wide lens, Time-Lapse REC to record a frame at a time at intervals of 1 or 5 seconds, Digital 5x zoom, 5 Megapixel stills, White balance (auto/manual), Exposure (auto), and Self-timer functions. The GC-XA1 comes supplied with a Goggle mount, Flexible mount, two Lens protection covers, a USB cable and Battery, which is enough to get you going right out of the box. Plus a wider variety of optional accessories will be offered so people can customize the way they make memories with the GC-XA1 ADIXXION.

ADIXXION GC-XA1 Primary Features

• Quad-Proof Design: 5m Waterproof / 2m Shockproof / Dustproof / Freezeproof
• Built-in Wi-Fi (smartphone linking, streaming and remote control functions)v • 5M CMOS Sensor
• Super Wide Lens
• 1.5-inch LCD Monitor
• 5x Digital Zoom
• Digital Image Stabilizer (DIS)
• Full HD 1920x1080 30p Recording
• 5 Megapixel Stills
• SD/SDHC/SDXC Card Slot
• Time-Lapse REC
• White Balance (Auto & Manual) / Exposure (Auto)
• Self-timer
• HDMI® Terminal (mini)
• USB Cable provided
• Wi-Video PC Software provided