RAY-BAN META BLAYZER // THE WORLD THROUGH MY EYES
I've flown drones, carried cameras and recorded miles of adventures. Now I've got a camera sitting on my face. And it could change the way I tell my stories.
NIX / STORIES / TECHNOLOGY / LIFE ON THE ROAD
RAY-BAN META BLAYZER // THE WORLD THROUGH MY EYES
I've flown drones, carried cameras and recorded miles of adventures. Now I've got a camera sitting on my face. And it could change the way I tell my stories.
I've got a bit of a weakness for technology that actually makes sense. Not just something with a shiny app and a battery that goes flat before lunchtime. I like kit that earns its place in my life.
My DJI drones have given me a view from above. My Canon has done the traditional photography job. The DJI Action 4 is there when things get lively. And my iPhone is never very far away.
But my Ray-Ban Meta Blayzer Optics Gen 2 glasses bring something different to the party: the view from exactly where I'm standing.
From drone's-eye view to NIX's-eye view
With a drone, you plan a shot. You find a safe place to fly, check the conditions, get everything ready and send the aircraft up. It's brilliant — and I'll never get bored of it — but it's a deliberate act of photography.
These glasses are the opposite. The interesting moment happens, and the camera is already with me. A quick voice command or a press of the capture button and I can record what I'm seeing without rummaging around for another gadget.
Imagine arriving somewhere spectacular in Vanilla, spotting an unexpected view on a walk, or finding a little roadside cafe worth remembering. That's precisely the sort of everyday detail that can get lost between the big photographs.
My drone tells the story of where I've been. These glasses could tell the story of what it felt like to be there.
Blayzer — not just another Wayfarer
There's an important distinction here. Mine are Blayzer Optics Gen 2, part of the newer Ray-Ban Meta optical range, rather than the familiar chunky Wayfarer style.
The Blayzer is designed with normal everyday eyewear in mind. A slimmer shape, adjustable temple tips, interchangeable nose pads and hinges that offer a little extra flexibility make this a very different proposition from wearing an obvious camera on your head.
That's what appeals to me. I don't particularly want to look like I've escaped from the electronics department. A proper pair of glasses first, clever technology second: that is how this should work.
What's hiding inside the frames?
There's an ultra-wide camera, discreet open-ear speakers, microphones and voice-controlled Meta AI. Music, phone calls and spoken responses can come through the glasses while leaving my ears open to what's happening around me.
There's no magic floating television screen in front of my eyes — these are not the Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses. And the AI needs the right connection, supported features and settings. That's fine by me. I want something useful, not science fiction for the sake of it.
Vanilla, the road and those little moments
Vanilla, my Indium Grey VW T6.1 campervan, has gradually become a very well-equipped little travelling companion. Solar, lithium power, off-grid adventures, films in the pop-top and the freedom to stop somewhere interesting — that's what I love about it.
My Ray-Bans fit that world rather nicely. When I'm exploring a village, walking towards a spectacular landscape or making a coffee with a view, there is an opportunity to capture a moment without interrupting it.
And I can see them adding another layer to NIXDRONES.COM. Not just a beautiful aerial photograph of a place, but the arrival, the walk, the surprise, the atmosphere and the little things that make a journey memorable.
They could be particularly good for point-of-view clips alongside my drone footage. The drone establishes the landscape. The glasses bring it down to earth. The Action 4 handles the action. Different cameras, different jobs — and, hopefully, one much better story.
The soundtrack matters too
Those tiny speakers are another intriguing part of it. I like music as much as I like a road trip, and the thought of having a little Depeche Mode, Underworld or Simple Minds along for the walk without shutting out the world is rather appealing.
Open-ear listening means I can remain aware of my surroundings. That's useful when walking or taking photographs, although it isn't a substitute for paying attention — and certainly not an excuse to fiddle with gadgets while driving an HGV.
A little AI in my ear
Then there's Meta AI. I can ask a question, get help identifying something I'm looking at or use supported translation features. It won't replace knowing where I'm going, and I wouldn't stake a complicated journey on an AI answer alone. But as a travelling companion? There's potential there.
Just as importantly, this is a wearable camera, so courtesy counts. I want to capture good memories, not make strangers unwitting stars of my website. The recording indicator, local rules and people's privacy deserve respect.
The bits I'm keeping an eye on
I'm not pretending a camera in a pair of glasses is suddenly going to replace the Canon, the drone or even the iPhone. Low-light recording, battery life under heavy use, framing and how the footage transfers into my publishing workflow are the things worth judging in proper day-to-day use.
And I suspect that's where the fun begins: finding out which moments genuinely look better from eye level, and which still need a proper camera.
The NIX verdict — for now
There's something rather satisfying about this. When I started taking photographs, getting a good shot meant a dedicated camera and a fair amount of faffing about. Now a pair of what look like ordinary glasses can capture video, take photographs, play music and answer questions.
Technology has travelled a long way. So have I.
But this isn't really about having another gadget. It's about making more of the journeys I'm already taking — in Vanilla, on foot, out with the camera, and wherever the next adventure happens to lead.
The best stories aren't always the ones you planned to photograph. Sometimes they're the ones that happen right in front of your eyes.
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See the technology in action
Video: Ray-Ban | Meta's official Gen 2 camera demonstration; it demonstrates the wider Gen 2 family, not specifically my Blayzer frame.
Product specifications checked against Ray-Ban's Blayzer Optics product page and official Ray-Ban Meta specifications. Battery figures are manufacturer claims. The article describes potential uses, not unverified tests.