New Sony AX-53 Testing

[Ron Evans]

Still looks under exposed and out of focus.

[Steve Bleasdale]

Well this is from 4k iPhone 7 footage million times better ron.

[Ron Evans]

You are the judge. Not my experience with mine that is very sharp but as I said those shots still look under exposed and out of focus. You can see the exposure difference to the iphone. Did you try just running in full auto as an experiment. Have you put on a protection lens or something

[Steve Bleasdale]

nope the auto setting on AI the same the light is slighty dim but still daylight, the iPhone just touched the screen and easy footage better than ax53.

[Nick Fotis]

Hello everybody,

I am considering an AX53 myself as an entrance to 4K, and a possible addition of an Atomos Ninja or similar later.
Is it possible to get clean 4K video over HDMI? If I understand correctly, operating the LCD screen together with the HDMI isn't possible.

Cheers,
N.F.

[Mark Hartopp]

HI,
I have a AX53 and interested in doing this too. Will be interesting to see what people think. Nick, not sure if you are aware that the AX53 restricts the number of menu items that can be in manual mode at the same time. At present I have manual exposure and focus. I can't have manual shutter or iris at the same time. Depends on what you want to film, if this camera is right for you.

That said its a great camera and this year I'm about to make a full on VFX film; to test my skills and knowledge, using a very basic kit to prove it can be done.

See what other people think -

[Nick Fotis]

Yes, I know that Sony doesn't leave much room for manual control, but I haven't found anything similar at this price range (and the 20x zoom is very nice for air shows)

I am also a bit confused by the code FDR-AX53B, it seems to sell for about 1000 EUR when the plain AX53 sells at around 750 EUR (including 24% VAT). Or are the one and same (I read in another post about the AX60, and I cannot discern any difference from the AX53)

Cheers,
N.F.

[Mark Watson]

Originally Posted by Nick Fotis

...I am also a bit confused by the code FDR-AX53B, it seems to sell for about 1000 EUR when the plain AX53 sells at around 750 EUR (including 24% VAT). Or are the one and same (I read in another post about the AX60, and I cannot discern any difference from the AX53)

Cheers,
N.F.

According to Sony USA, the B is for the camera color: black.

I wouldn't try to buy camera model numbers that are only available in Japan. They have some domestic model numbers that are identical to an export model number but will typically have a different set of menu languages (no English for example) and the plug will be for Japan's electrical system and the manual will be only in Japanese, not multilingual. I've bought some domestic versions that came with software applications on CD and of course the programs were in Japanese language only. The AX53 is nice for when you can't use a tripod. If you don't need the image stabilization, then the AX100 or Z90 would be a step up in image quality.

[Doug Jensen]

Originally Posted by Mark Watson

If you don't need the image stabilization, then the AX100 or Z90 would be a step up in image quality.

What's wrong with image stabilization on the Z90?

[Roland Achini]

Mark Watson probably refers to the Balanced Optical Stradyshot (BOSS), which the AX-53 has but the Z90 not. However, I use both the Z90 and the NX30, only the latter has BOSS, but I do not see any difference in steadyshot behavior of the two.

[Mark Watson]

The BOSS on the AX53 is incredible. The Z90 is no better than the AX100 for image stabilization, exactly the same mediocre level of IS.

[Doug Jensen]

Thanks for the info. I've never touched an AX53 so I had no idea it had better IS.

[Robert Young]

It's amazing, actually.
It's got the lens block mounted on a gimbal that tracks the shot.
It not only covers the handheld shaking, it will smooth out walking shots, etc.