New Sony HXR-NX30E Palmcorder with advanced Stabilization

[Mike Beckett]

As an aside, I've found the NX70's waterproofing to be of really limited value. It's only good if you want to have picture with no usable sound.

You have to take off the XLR unit, it's not waterproof. You can't use any of the jacks (lanc, mic, headphone). So you can't use a decent mic, monitor sound, or get reliable zoom in the rain. The built-in mic pics up too much rain noise.

Yes it has its uses in the rain... But I bought a Petrol raincover for mine!

I should stress that I do physically like the NX70, apart from one or two shortcomings. I'll probably buy a bigger camcorder with more manual controls later this year, but keep the '70 for times when Small is Good.

[Les Wilson]

It's nice to not worry about my 5DM2 and it's lens shooting at the beach, high humidity etc. I think the weather sealing on the MX70 is similar... it's convenient when you are out and caught in some rain or get splashed for various reasons. It makes one less thing to haul around or worry about.

[Ron Evans]

Originally Posted by Les Wilson

The complaint about the CX760 and NX30 was the lack of manual controls. While the cameras may share some internal chipsets, the NX70 package has a different lens with a ring that is absent from the others. Add the larger screen and weather sealing and you have a different camera with better manual functions. And maybe the menu wheel isn't as cheesy. Oh wait, is that a real eye cup on the NX70? And a LANC port too? You obviously never used an underwater case. Pity the zoom is awful.

I think that the lens is likely the same lens but controlled by the lens ring which has to be a servo to have the multiple controls. Lanc is on all the Sony's in the A/V connector and is something I use all the time. Have controls for the A/V connector and the normal jack connector. Things I like about the NX70 that I hope are on the NX30. Full manual control, data on the LCD showing whether parameter is in manual or auto just like the NX5U. Though Alister seems to say manual control is not there. Will wait and see what the production units are like as most of those features are firmware so could be put on the unit. Lets hope.

Ron Evans

[Les Wilson]

The NX30 has a Carl Zeiss lens. The NX70 is Sony G. LANC is not listed for the NX30 on B&H or Sony UK sites.

[Ron Evans]

LANC is called A/V remote on all the new Sony's that use the A/V connector for the remote connection but it is LANC as I use both the remote with the A/V connector and Manfrotto LANC control using an adapter cable on all my consumer Sony's. The NX30 is the same and is listed on the spec sheet if you download the brochure http://www.sony.co.uk/res/attachment...7485120781.pdf Top right hand corner of page 4.

Ron Evans

[Les Wilson]

That's good to know and I'm glad Sony is still putting it on cameras ... thanks

[Dan Asseff]

I have the 760 and use the A/V connector with a LANC adapter but my varizooms don't work. Manfrotto LANC controlers work fine for some reason. One thing nobody is really talking about is the Balanced Optical Steadyshot, it is amazing how steady it is. You can get a glidecam shot by hand! Also the 760 does com with a hood.

Dan

[Jay West]

[QUOTE=Dan Asseff;1738403]One thing nobody is really talking about is the Balanced Optical Steadyshot, . . . . Also the 760 does com with a hood. [QUOTE]

1. Actually, a lot of us have mentioned the the Balanced OIS as a feature that makes both the CX/PJ 760 and NX30 tempting,

2. Mind telling us where did you bought a 760 with a Sony hood? Just asking because I've seen no references to a hood for either the CX or PJ 760 at Sony or B&H.

[Adam Palomer]

On the Sony webpage under "Specifications", if you scroll down to "Weights and Measurements" it lists the dimensions and adds "(Including lens hood)."

96GB Full HD Camcorder with Projector | HDR-PJ760V | Sony USA

[Jay West]

Thanks. The page also lists a "lenshood" as "in the box" for the HDR-PJ760v.

[Cliff Totten]

[quote=Jay West;1738435][QUOTE=Dan Asseff;1738403]One thing nobody is really talking about is the Balanced Optical Steadyshot, . . . . Also the 760 does com with a hood.

1. Actually, a lot of us have mentioned the the Balanced OIS as a feature that makes both the CX/PJ 760 and NX30 tempting,

2. Mind telling us where did you bought a 760 with a Sony hood? Just asking because I've seen no references to a hood for either the CX or PJ 760 at Sony or B&H.

I own a CX760. I does in fact have the same lens hood as the NX30 and it does also have AGC limiting like the NX30.

Ironically, the CX760 allows for auto gain limit yet it never displays any "gain" values while shooting. You can only see what your gain "was" after you watch it in playback mode...lol. (otherwise its called "exposure" during shooting)

This I'm sure will confuse all soccer moms, grandparents and any other "consumer Handycam" market Cx760 shooter everywhere. (oh wait,...and NX30 pro market shooters too!)

All NXCAM branded cameras should allow for the 3 most basic functions camera control: shutter, iris and gain. (extremely basic stuff)

And don't tell me "Handycams" just don't ever do that.....VG20 and AX200 do today!

This NXCAM crippling tactic is a bad marketing mistake on Sony's part. It screams: "NXCAM is not a serious "pro" brand if it has cams with locked BASIC functions"

CT

[Dale McClelland]

I don't think I have seen mentioned yet another possible difference between the NX30 and the CX/PJ760V and that is the "Fixed" mode of the balanced optical steady shot.

This is from a European Sony website I found in a Google search for the NX30:
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"To optimize the effect of Balanced Optical SteadyShot™, the HXR-NX30E features a FIXED SHOT mode. Press a button and this expands the movable range of the optical block to keep you locked on your subject. This is particularly convenient when you want to maintain the same shooting angle for an extended period."
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I haven't seen any mention of this mode for the 760 on websites or in the 760 manual I downloaded. I'm not exactly sure what Fixed Mode means, but it sounds like if you want to shoot something with no panning or other intentional camera movement, pressing the "Fixed" button will result in even better stabilization. I'm thinking that normally the stabilization feature must have to try to determine which camera movement is unwanted, and therefore should try to correct it, and which is intentional and it should not try to correct it. In the fixed mode it wouldn't have to make that determination and could perhaps know that it should try to hold the fixed scene as steady as possible.

[Jay West]

"Fixed mode" appears to mean that the lens-sensor unit is locked down so it will not float or "eyeball" as somebody called it. Does Sony maybe call it something different in the PJ/CX manuals? Maybe you just switch the OIS to off in the menus for the PJ/CX cams?

[Jay West]

Originally Posted by Cliff Totten

I own a CX760. I does in fact have the same lens hood as the NX30 and it does also have AGC limiting like the NX30.

So, for the extra $400 to $600 over the PJ/CX cam, the NX30 brings you:
(a) the XLR audio pack with phantom power;
(b) an external mic that mounts to the XLR unit;
(c) probably an NPFV70 battery (versus NPFV50);
(d) the ability to shoot 720p: and
(e), maybe the ability to lock timecode with an NX5.

[Dale McClelland]

Originally Posted by Jay West

"Fixed mode" appears to mean that the lens-sensor unit is locked down so it will not float or "eyeball" as somebody called it. Does Sony maybe call it something different in the PJ/CX manuals? Maybe you just switch the OIS to off in the menus for the PJ/CX cams?

The word "Fixed" does indeed imply what you described. My thinking that it improves the stabilization when not intentionally moving the camcorder was based on the phrase "this expands the movable range of the optical block to keep you locked on your subject". That could just be fuzzy wording on Sony's part.

If it meant what I originally thought, there would be no need to "expand the moveable range of the optical block". I think your explanation makes more sense.