It just may be time to upgrade my camcorder...(Updated)

[GSkid]

When I went to Tehachapi, I brought that little 20mp/720p Nikon point & click camera. Although I did so as to travel light, I do have some regrets now with the video quality. It's the first time I had used it for video. I left my (2008-era) 1080i Sony HDR-SR11 handycam at home and kinda wish I had brought it.

But it got me to thinking.... maybe it's time to upgrade my HD-cam after 7 years.

At first I was deciding between the $999.99 Sony FDR-AX33 which does 4K video.... OR...... the $1,299.99 HDR-CX900 which only does 1080p.

So why is the 1080p cam $300 more than the 4K cam? Cuz although that 4K cam has a higher output resolution, it has a smaller 1/2.3" image sensor with which to gather that image information. The HDR-CX900 on the other hand has a full 1-inch image sensor to produce that 1080p with. That's a sensor about 2x larger diagonally and about 4x larger in surface area. Bigger sensors matter more than output resolution. They gather more information which produces sharper images, better colors and better low light images. Recording bit-rate is also a huge factor too.

But what if I could have the best of both worlds.... a full 1-inch sensor AND 4K output resolution too? I popped over to Sony's Prosumer-line of handycams and found my answer..... the $1,699.99 Sony FDR-AX100.

http://www.sony.com/electronics/handyca ... ls_default

And not only that..... but thanks to a firmware update, it now records that 4K res at a whopping 100 Mbps bit-rate. That means greatly reduced motion artifacts with fast moving objects or scenes with lots of movement/scene changes in general.

Here's it's sample 4K video (it looks really good even if played in 720p/1080p too).......




BUT..... I have a dilemma.....

The FDR-AX100 has the older Optical SteadyShot image stabilization method the moves just ONE lens element. That newer (and cheaper) FDR-AX33 may have a smaller 4K sensor, but it's one advantage is it has Sony's new Balanced Optical SteadyShot image stabilization that moves the entire lens and sensor assembly. Looks and acts like the cyborg eyeball of the T-1000 from the Terminator movies.

Here it is in action (jump to 1:20 if you just wanna see the lens move).....




So my choices are.... buy it now.... or wait until January's CES 2016 to see if they replace it with a better model that includes the new Balanced Optical SteadyShot. I'm leaning towards waiting but who knows.

Either way... my next videos of Tehachapi Pass are getting a significant increase in quality.

[OldProf]

Way above my price range!

[trev123]

$2999-95 NZ wow. http://www.sony.co.nz/product/fdr-ax100e

[GSkid]

Well I have now officially decided to wait for CES in 4 months to see if a new successor/replacement of the FDR‑AX100 (it's an almost 2-year old model) is announced. If not, then I'll get the current AX100 as originally planned. What made the decision to wait much easier is that my phone upgrade to the latest iphone 6s Plus with it's better 12MP sensor and new 4K video recording capability, should satisfy my 4K fix in the short term. Then the better 4K video (bigger & better sensor, higher recording bitrate) can come a little later from a dedicated 4K camcorder.

I just ordered a 40-inch Samsung 4K television (my first ever 4K TV) in preparation to play all the 4K vids shot by me. Although I could have gotten a Vizio or LG 4K television with a bigger 43-inch screen for the same price or cheaper.... I chose the Samsung cuz it has the lowest input lag (best for gaming) and the shortest display latency (fast screen response times and little to no motion blurring).

[GSkid]

UPDATE.....

I was browsing Best Buy's website this morning while checking on my 4K television order status and found an (open box) Sony FDR-AX100 listed as in Excellent condition for $1072..... so I jumped on it! That's a whopping $578 lopped off the current sale price! I was gonna wait to see if a successor model would be announced at CES, but I just couldn't pass up a deal this good. So it's on the way.

So the $578 saved will cover the 128GB memory card, a Sony external stereo mic, their largest 3700 mAh battery, lens filters, remote control fluid-head tripod and camera bag. All the stuff I was gonna buy anyways!

[DrewG]

Lucky you! Share some videos with us when you get it!

[GSkid]

Well I updating this thread cuz I got all my camera equipment and made a trip to Beaumont Hill to film trains to showcase my 4K camera.

My equipment is as follows:

Sony FDR-AX100 4K Ultra HD camcorder
Sony ECM-XYST1M Stereo Microphone
Sony VCT-VPR1 Compact Remote Control Tripod w/fluid head
Vello VB-1000 ActionPan Stabilizing Action Grip
Vello VELHV35 3.5" LCD Hood

Here are two full res pics of my setup....







The 4K video is in this thread....

viewtopic.php?f=24&t=15297

[CARex]

Really nice gear. A vast improvement over what was available a few decades ago.
Have fun wit it.