Sony USA has asked me to pass along to y'all that senior product manager Juan Martinez will be presenting an eight-minute overview of the new NXCAM tomorrow (Thursday 19 Nov.) during their online virtual trade show event. There's still time to register, attendance is free, and you don't have to leave your house or office. I did this last year and thought it was great; definitely well worth the time.

Sony's "The New Economics of HD" Online Expo

Featuring: Virtual Convention Center with Staffed Product Booths, Technology Demos, Networking Lounge and Group Chats, Product Tutorials, Resources - Downloadable Articles, White Papers, Presentations and More

Thursday, November 19, 2009
10:00 AM EST - 7:00 PM EST

Info / Registration link: Sony's "The New Economics of HD" Online Expo | Home (http://pro.sony.com/bbsccms/ext/vtsnewecohd/index.shtml)

Join our NXCAM discussion already in progress:

http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/digital-video-industry-news/467699-sony-nxcam-announcement-coming-november-18th.html

Show's open... 670 folks. Not bad!

The "NeXt Camcorder" presentation is available anytime on demand in the Auditorium..

It's just over nine minutes long and is hosted by Andy Munitz and Juan Martinez.

For anybody who doesn't make it into the virtual trade show today,
it'll be available for the next couple of months until 31 Match 2010.

Sony lens is not glass, maybe acrylic.

Sorry, but that's complete nonsense. Besides, Sony doesn't even manufacture their own glass; they outsource it, sometimes buying it from the world's largest manufacturer of optical glass, which also happens to have a camera division of its own. So there really is no such thing as "Sony glass," not since they closed their glass-making plant back in 2006 (which produced parts for CRT televisions, not cameras or camcorders). And the glass used in the lens of this first NXCAM model is their "G" line, which uses top quality glass for several elements within the lens design, is most likely produced by Minolta, which was acquired by Sony not too long ago.

The notion that these lenses don't contain "real glass" elements is a complete myth.

The NXCAM video with Andy Munitz and Juan Martinez was pretty interesting. Andy talked about the ability to edit NXCAM on a Vaio laptop using Vegas 9c, burning to Blu-Ray using the Vaio, and playback on a PS3, making it a completely mobile end-to-end HD solution (also completely Sony end to end, as expected).

Other gleanings: it's possible to record simultaneously to MS flash card and the side-mounted 128GB drive, for those who need dual recording capability (alternatively you can record to both MS flash cards simultaneously -- so there's more than one way to do dual recording).

Well! Without battery, I was able to lift the NXCAM using a finger. So if it’s glass, then I have no theory!

And I'm able to lift an XH A1 *with* battery using a finger... see attached pic. I don't think that proves anything, sorry.

Here is a link to the official Sony NXCAM presentation on youtube, shot with the NXCAM.

YouTube - Sony Broadcast & Professional's Introduction of the new NXCAM AVCHD Camcorder (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORoMz9WkfnQ)

John

If you zoom into his finger, you can see some slight motion blur from it shaking :)

And I'm able to lift an XH A1 *with* battery using a finger... see attached pic. I don't think that proves anything, sorry.

Chris has very man-ly fingers....

Jim Martin

PS- Sony has been famous over the years for not having great glass. They pay for the name use but there wouldn't be a lick of that maker's glass in there.

I was sincerely expecting overcranking at 1080P.

If you zoom into his finger, you can see some slight motion blur from it shaking :)

I don't know... it could be the new Sony image stabilization.. I heard they were going to
call it.. " Hurdilization " a new hybrid stabilizer that works in both horizontal and vertical
modes... ;-)

The amazing strength. How does he do it?

I was sincerely expecting overcranking at 1080P.From an AVCHD camcorder? I wasn't expecting it.

Sorry, but that's complete nonsense.
Agreed.

Besides, Sony doesn't even manufacture their own glass; they outsource it,
Historically, yes -- but is that still true, since they bought Konica/Minolta? I would imagine it is still true, but just sayin' that perhaps they roll their own now?

In any case, this reminds me of all the hulabaloo when the Sony VX1000 was the top dog, and some folks who were enamored of the Canon XL1 would go around claiming that the VX1000 had a "plastic" lens.

Eventually someone in a repair facility got ahold of a trashed VX1000 so he put it to the "scratch" test and verified that yes, it was indeed, glass.

But the comedy part comes in when you find out that the VX1000's glass lens was outsourced... and it was made... by Canon... heh.

Any ideas on pricing? and will it come with the 128GB solid state drive or is that separate? kind of like they did with the Z5 making the mrc1 not part of the packaged price.

I have no inside knowledge at all but judging by the price of the Z5 being $4,100, I'd expect the street price of this NXCAM to be $4,500 unless Panasonic decides to release an update to the HMC150 with 1920x1080 MOS chips for $3,500.

seems they take the easy way.
Basically an EX1 with another codec and cheaper media.
I do not see the point. Are they trying to demonstrate AVCHD is better/cheaper or worse than XDCAM-EX ?

Its a Z5 front end exactly as stated by Sony with an AVCHD codec and the viewfinder from the consumer XR500/520 series. They have moved the data rate to 24mbps to come in line with Panasonic HMC150 and HMC40. Which is clearly the competition. The UK site is also inferring that the price will be similar to the Z5, I am assuming without the flash drive, which is stated as an extra accessory. By having a HD-SDI interface they provide for an even higher quality recording at 4 2 2 10 bit. This camera will produce higher quality video than the HDV models and is a step toward the EX range at a lower price point. Excellent, just what I was waiting for and will be a better match for the SR11 and XR500 that are starting to make my FX1 look the cheaper camera!!!! I didn't want to get another tape camera after seeing the quality from the single chip SR11 and XR500. As I said in another post I am just sorry they didn't include the "R" sensor technology that is noticeably better. The XR500 is clearly better than the SR11.

Ron Evans

I do not see the point. Are they trying to demonstrate AVCHD is better/cheaper or worse than XDCAM-EX ?
Ron has stated it above much better than I will here, but they demonstrating AVCHD as a replacement
(or as an alternative choice, at least) for HDV. And they've done a very good job of it, in my opinion.

The amazing strength. How does he do it?I know how he does it. Heh.

but is that still true, since they bought Konica/Minolta? I would imagine it is still true, but just sayin' that perhaps they roll their own now?Sure they own K/M now, but I'd still want to call it a Konica / Minolta lens, since its their factory, their materials and their people that make it, despite the fact that Sony holds the company.

In any case, this reminds me of all the hulabaloo when the Sony VX1000 was the top dog, and some folks who were enamored of the Canon XL1 would go around claiming that the VX1000 had a "plastic" lens.I remember that era very well, Barry, as if it were only yesterday. That hullabaloo came from one guy on Usenet, a stringer from Oakland, who actually perpetuated that myth *before* the XL1 came out (it's true that he eventually bought an XL1, but he started the "Sony plastic lens" conspiracy theory long before that). So it wasn't really some folks; it was one folk -- a guy with whom I used to spar online regularly, who sadly passed away several years ago, which is probably why that myth died away. I couldn't believe it when I read that yesterday. I thought holy cow, somebody still perpetuates that nonsense? I felt like I was being haunted by Bill Conduit's ghost.

Any ideas on pricing? and will it come with the 128GB solid state drive or is that separate? kind of like they did with the Z5 making the mrc1 not part of the packaged price.

It was mentioned yesterday by Sony online that the price would be similar to the Z5U.
However they didn't say if that is the price with the MRC1K or without the MRC1K. The Z5 with the MRC1K comes in around the same price as the Z7.

I am guessing more in line with this, since Sony is also throwing in the new solid state recorder.

Since Sony has gone to an all CMOS approach for its sub $30,000 cameras, it will be interesting to see if Canon or Panasonic offer CCD for something different or go to CMOS as well with their new offerings.

I like a lot about CMOS, but there are still instances where it falls down and a CCD gets the job done.

The arms race never ends, wonder what it'll be next year? 3D? Hope not.

I'm just glad to see the old NP series batteries haven't been scrapped yet.

From an AVCHD camcorder? I wasn't expecting it.

I mean, from the Market.

Someone's gotta step up besides RED, right? Or wrong?

But yeah, this is old strategies written all over, small sensor, overcompressed (not that I care of, gets you shooting with cheap media) and no overcranking.

Anyway, maybe I'm expecting this from the wrong company.

Just look at the trend and frenzy (starving customers) the VDSLRs caused, just by allowing halfway decent video with a large sensor.

Perhaps Canon should be more like it.

Cmon Canon...balls in your court for an updated 1/3 chip. :)

Just stumbled across this on Sony's site: Sony | NXCAM (http://pro.sony.com/bbsccms/ext/nxcam/NXCAMVideoList.shtml?PID=I:nxcam_prohomepagelg:nxcamlanding)

It was mentioned yesterday by Sony online that the price would be similar to the Z5U.
However they didn't say if that is the price with the MRC1K or without the MRC1K. The Z5 with the MRC1K comes in around the same price as the Z7.

I am guessing more in line with this, since Sony is also throwing in the new solid state recorder.

I think the Flash Recorder is an extra. So the standard recording will be to the MemoryStick slots. My guess is the price will be close to the Z5.

Ron Evans

Grass Valley must have known something cuz they just came out with a AVCHD booster pack for Neo that can play 3 streams with 3D effects and output realtime full resolution full frame with a fast computer.

Since Sony has gone to an all CMOS approach for its sub $30,000 cameras,
They haven't. They've gone to all-CMOS on their XDCAM-EX lineup, but their XDCAM-HD lineup (and XDCAM-SD) is all still CCD. The 335, 355, 510, 530, they're all CCD.

True, but I see a trend with the newly released models.

The XDCAM line has been out for a few years and I would doubt they would release a new 1/2" CCD camera at this point. So the PMW-700/800 seem like the bearers of the CCD torch going forward.

After the 2/3" chip CMOS camera for $20,000 comes out, I don't think many would buy the 1/2" XDCAM for the same cost or more.

It would be nice if over time, the skew and jello could be fixed if the industry is going to embrace CMOS due to its image quality and cost to produce.

Any ideas on pricing? and will it come with the 128GB solid state drive or is that separate?

The 128GB drive is an optional accessory.

-gb-

When will pricing be announced- did I miss this info somewhere?
Too bad they didn't include Motion JPEG for ready to edit footage- would have been perfect for those willing to bypass AVCHD!!!

Most of the material I've seen says pricing will be announced in January, with product availability in the Spring.

If it is the spring maybe they will put in the "R" sensor in the production units!!!

Ron Evans

This is the 3 CMOS 1/8" imager block and noise handling setup from the V1U and V7U, rigged with the lens and top LCD from the EX-1 and Z1U. The imager is NOT the same as the EX (which has much larger sensors and creates a lot more heat), and this is not intended to be Pro-series like the EX Cams. This is a high-end prosumer camera - I'd put it in the same class as the DVX-200.
Without having seen the full specs on the AVCHD codec that this uses, I can't really comment on the quality of the image. Certainly it will be better than HDV, but probably not as good as XDCAM.
I'm digging the TC and HDSDI options.

I had a go at the pre production unit 2 days ago. It IS pretty sexy. AVCHD files edits easily on Vegas 9. Have not attempted on FCP yet. Does not work on Vegas 8 thou.

The model is very refined with some nice enhancements. The 128Gb Flash unit is really small and handy and can be edited directly via USB. XDCAM EX definately trumps the AVCHD2 or whatever they call it.

Sean thanks for the info.
The native files probably won't work in FCP anyway (FCP won' edit native AVCHD), as the files would have to be transcoded.

But why wouldn't Vegas 8 edit the native files. Doesn't Vegas 8 edit AVCHD?

IThe 128Gb Flash unit is really small and handy and can be edited directly via USB.

What filing system does the 128GB unit use? (Does it break clips up?)

This is the 3 CMOS 1/8" imager block and noise handling setup from the V1U and V7U, rigged with the lens and top LCD from the EX-1 and Z1U. The imager is NOT the same as the EX (which has much larger sensors and creates a lot more heat), and this is not intended to be Pro-series like the EX Cams. This is a high-end prosumer camera - I'd put it in the same class as the DVX-200.
Without having seen the full specs on the AVCHD codec that this uses, I can't really comment on the quality of the image. Certainly it will be better than HDV, but probably not as good as XDCAM.
I'm digging the TC and HDSDI options.

The NXCAM is basically a Sony Z5, three 1/3" Exmor CMOS chips, lens has extra OIS function over the Z5 but is otherwise the same. The EX uses 1/2" sensors so will have more sensitivity etc. AVCHD is essentially a decode spec, each manufacturer has their own encode algorithms which will vary by model allowing for different block sizes, data rates etc.

Ron Evans

What filing system does the 128GB unit use? (Does it break clips up?)

I think its FAT32 so would still be advisable to use the Sony Browser management software to transfer to PC and create clips rather than files from the flash memory. I do this now with my SR11 and XR500 and its fast too. That way all the metadata is correctly saved too allowing the Browser software to search and display etc. If you have not seen this work the face search is a little freaky!!!!

Ron Evans

What filing system does the 128GB unit use? (Does it break clips up?)

According to the manual:

If a movie file exceeds 2GB during recording, the camcorder divides the file and creates a new file automatically.

Where did you get the manual?

Ron Evans

Am I the only one who finds it quite humorous to hear Sony's Juan Martinez talk about the importance of high quality audio in a camcorder when Sony historically has always had the most horrendous sounding cameras ever produced? Ever shoot with or dialogue edit footage shot with the TRV900/PD150/170/VX2000/VX2100?

Even the EX1, which I shoot with regularly, does not sound as good as my DVX100A or my HPX170. The EX preamps are noisier and have less dynamic range to my ear although it sounds leagues better than their DV cameras did.

Glad to hear Sony at least pay some lip service to the importance of audio in video production. They are really trying to segment differentiate by playing up LPCM, which is a good thing. Now if they haven't saddled the NX5 with crappy sounding mic pre-amps and a poorly executed audio signal path, we might actually have a good sounding Sony camera.

Here's hoping!

Dan

Where did you get the manual?

It's on the NXCAM site under manuals: Sony | Micro Site - NXCAM (http://pro.sony.com/bbsc/ssr/micro-nxcamsite/resource.manuals)

No sign of the HDR-AX2000 manual over on Sony's regular site.

Here's a link for the NX5U manual (PDF):

http://pro.sony.com/bbsccms/assets/files/micro/nxcam/manuals/FINAL_HXR-NX5U_Ops_Manual.pdf

I saw this:

HDR-AX2000 | High-Definition Handycam® Camcorder | Sony | Sony Style USA (http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=8198552921666078180)

I have to say, the NX5U is probably going to be the next camera I buy. I want to test it out first, of course.

Btw, Chris and Barry, I bought my first camera, the XL1, back in early 1999, and I was ridiculed for even thinking I could make a film digitally, which I did that summer. Ahhh, memories. I also bought the first "mini-HD" camera, the JVC HD10, but let's not go there.

Heath

You can get a $500 rebate on the flash unit (the FMU), bringing the final cost when the check comes, to $300 or less. I gotta say, this is all very tempting!

The prices I've seen on the pre-orders for the NX5U are around $4000, the AX2000 are around $3500. I think if I were to buy one, instead of going the "FX1 over the Z1" route, I'd go with the NX5U.

Heath

The prices I've seen on the pre-orders for the NX5U are around $4000, the AX2000 are around $3500. I think if I were to buy one, instead of going the "FX1 over the Z1" route, I'd go with the NX5U.

Heath

There was a bigger price difference with the FX1 and Z1. To my mind the AX2000 is pretty severely stripped down version of the NX5U also (more so than the FX1 vs Z1). I've got to think the price on the AX2000 will probably drop a few hundred bucks before it is actually even shipping (or Sony probably won't sell that many).

I too was thinking the NX5 to be my next camera to replace the FX1 and yes there was a big price difference between the Z1 and FX1. However I don't really need SDI output, don't really need the FMU ( and at the present there is no promotion on that in Canada) and did like the smooth gain change as I often get into this position of needing to shift gain while shooting in the theatre. The AX2000 has exposure assignable to the iris ring that isn't on the NX5 and if I can set gain and iris limits in the menus while keeping shutter in manual this is of more use . I don't really need PCM audio as I will record audio separately in PCM anyway. Not going to use 720P or for that matter 24p or 30p either.

Ron Evans