Sony NX30 and PJ790V at DVinfo.net

Andrew Clark · February 26th, 2013, 03:56 PM

Hello -

Just wondering, aren't these the same camera ... just the NX30 having an add on XLR unit?

It also looks like the XLR unit (on the NX30) is detachable.

Matt Sharp · February 26th, 2013, 04:22 PM

The NX30 is based on last year's PJ760V. The 790 has a new hotshoe, relocated mic, and a brighter projector.

Dave Blackhurst · February 27th, 2013, 01:42 PM

Matt is correct, the NX30 is the "pro" version of the PJ760 - adds a bigger battery stock (70 vs. 50), the audio block/mic, and I think also some firmware tweaks to add features.

Effectively the same guts and shell, goosed a bit to better meet the professional market.

Andrew Clark · February 28th, 2013, 02:18 AM

Thanks for the replies!!

Any chance that Sony sells the XLR unit separately (I searched their site and couldn't find it) .... so that I could attach it to the new 790?

Maybe Sony will come out with an updated version of the NX30 .... NX40?!

Matt Sharp · February 28th, 2013, 03:52 AM

As there's a new hotshoe starting with the current generation handycams the audio block from the NX30 (and NX70 and NX3D1) wouldn't work, but Sony did release the XLR-K1M. It's essentially the same XLR adapter with the updated MIS shoe. I'd assume since it's a stand alone accessory that plugs into the MIS shoe that it would work with everything that has the MIS shoe but at the moment it's only listed as compatible with the A99 and VG900/30.

That being said, the price difference between the PJ790 and NX30 is $400, the XLR-K1M is $800.

Ron Evans · February 28th, 2013, 07:34 AM

The NX30 differences are the XLR unit and the mic, LPCM audio choice as well as Dolby, bigger battery, full set of cables, full timecode control not just a counter fixed shot/photo button rather than just the photo button. Lot more than $400 !!! It also has 720P60 and not sure if the PJ760 had 720P60 .

Ron Evans

Andrew Clark · March 1st, 2013, 02:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt Sharp

.... That being said, the price difference between the PJ790 and NX30 is $400, the XLR-K1M is $800.

Regarding the XLR-K1M .... YIKES!! Nice adapter though.

Now here's what's confusing me ....

This link has the cam listed at $2300: Sony Product Detail Page HXRNX30U

This link has the cam listed at $1999: Sony NXCAM Camcorder | HXR-NX30U | Sony USA

To me, these look like the same cam ... model number and everything. Am I missing something here?

Andrew Clark · March 1st, 2013, 02:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Evans

The NX30 differences are the XLR unit and the mic, LPCM audio choice as well as Dolby, bigger battery, full set of cables, full timecode control not just a counter fixed shot/photo button rather than just the photo button. Lot more than $400 !!! It also has 720P60 and not sure if the PJ760 had 720P60 .

Ron Evans

Ron ... I don't see in the specs anything about either cam being able to shoot at 720/60p. I may be totally missing this, so if you would be so kind as to point this out to me where you saw this info., I'd greatly appreciate it.

Ron Evans · March 1st, 2013, 08:10 AM

I have the NX30U and it does shoot 720P60 at FX and FH rates as well as 24P and 30P at these rates. I checked the consumer version and it does not shoot at 30P or 720P60 as far as I can tell from the manual.

Ron Evans

Dave Blackhurst · March 2nd, 2013, 01:52 PM

Those additional resolution/frame rates don't seem to be well documented/advertised... definitely add a bit more "interest" to the "NX" vs. a PJ or CX, which as you state, don't have those additional modes. I'm perfectly happy to shoot 1080/60p, but it might well be handy to have the options!

The NX seems to sell (retail?) for around the $2K point, which actually doesn't seem too bad for the additional features/audio block/mic. I picked up the "little sister" PJ710, and it's turning out to be a nice "budget" option (no VF, but otherwise similar to the 760's). That magic eyeball spoils you really quick for handeld shooting!

Ron Evans · March 2nd, 2013, 03:42 PM

The NX30 will record at 1920x1080 60P at 28Mbps, 60i, 30P and 24P at 24Mbps and 17Mbps and 1280x720 60P at 24Mbps and 17Mbps. It will also record 1440x1080 60i at 9Mbps and 5Mbps. Definitely more flexible than the consumer versions. Considering the timecode control, XLR audio, LPCM audio , mic, bigger battery, comes with all the cables you need too, the cost difference is a deal I thought. It comes with AV cable, a host USB cable, USB extension cable, HDMI cable. Yes $2K is about street price.

Ron Evans

Andrew Clark · March 2nd, 2013, 05:07 PM

Thanks Ron for clarification about the 720/60p.

Bummer when you can't even get this information off the manufacturer's website!!

And what's more confusing, is the two different prices for (what appears to me) the same cam.

Ron Evans · March 2nd, 2013, 05:34 PM

Yes. I couldn't find the manual on the site either so sent request to support and asked for it. It is an improvement over my CX700. Will work well with my NX5U as the timecode can be synced with the same remote. Save a little time in multicam editing to sync up timelines.

Ron Evans

Andrew Clark · March 2nd, 2013, 06:02 PM

Just curious, how's the STILL image quality from this cam ... both on screen (computer, HDTV) and print?

Ron Evans · March 2nd, 2013, 08:30 PM

I haven't taken any stills with it yet but do not expect it to be much different from my CX700. I will take some tomorrow and report back.

Ron Evans

February 26th, 2013, 03:56 PM	#1
Andrew Clark Major Player Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 477	Sony NX30 and PJ790V Hello - Just wondering, aren't these the same camera ... just the NX30 having an add on XLR unit? It also looks like the XLR unit (on the NX30) is detachable.

February 26th, 2013, 04:22 PM	#2
Matt Sharp Major Player Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Northridge, CA Posts: 280	Re: Sony NX30 and PJ790V The NX30 is based on last year's PJ760V. The 790 has a new hotshoe, relocated mic, and a brighter projector.

February 27th, 2013, 01:42 PM	#3
Dave Blackhurst Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Apple Valley CA Posts: 4,874	Re: Sony NX30 and PJ790V Matt is correct, the NX30 is the "pro" version of the PJ760 - adds a bigger battery stock (70 vs. 50), the audio block/mic, and I think also some firmware tweaks to add features. Effectively the same guts and shell, goosed a bit to better meet the professional market.

February 28th, 2013, 02:18 AM	#4
Andrew Clark Major Player Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 477	Re: Sony NX30 and PJ790V Thanks for the replies!! Any chance that Sony sells the XLR unit separately (I searched their site and couldn't find it) .... so that I could attach it to the new 790? Maybe Sony will come out with an updated version of the NX30 .... NX40?!

February 28th, 2013, 03:52 AM	#5
Matt Sharp Major Player Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Northridge, CA Posts: 280	Re: Sony NX30 and PJ790V As there's a new hotshoe starting with the current generation handycams the audio block from the NX30 (and NX70 and NX3D1) wouldn't work, but Sony did release the XLR-K1M. It's essentially the same XLR adapter with the updated MIS shoe. I'd assume since it's a stand alone accessory that plugs into the MIS shoe that it would work with everything that has the MIS shoe but at the moment it's only listed as compatible with the A99 and VG900/30. That being said, the price difference between the PJ790 and NX30 is $400, the XLR-K1M is $800.

February 28th, 2013, 07:34 AM	#6
Ron Evans Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 4,220	Re: Sony NX30 and PJ790V The NX30 differences are the XLR unit and the mic, LPCM audio choice as well as Dolby, bigger battery, full set of cables, full timecode control not just a counter fixed shot/photo button rather than just the photo button. Lot more than $400 !!! It also has 720P60 and not sure if the PJ760 had 720P60 . Ron Evans

March 1st, 2013, 08:10 AM	#9
Ron Evans Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 4,220	Re: Sony NX30 and PJ790V I have the NX30U and it does shoot 720P60 at FX and FH rates as well as 24P and 30P at these rates. I checked the consumer version and it does not shoot at 30P or 720P60 as far as I can tell from the manual. Ron Evans

March 2nd, 2013, 01:52 PM	#10
Dave Blackhurst Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Apple Valley CA Posts: 4,874	Re: Sony NX30 and PJ790V Those additional resolution/frame rates don't seem to be well documented/advertised... definitely add a bit more "interest" to the "NX" vs. a PJ or CX, which as you state, don't have those additional modes. I'm perfectly happy to shoot 1080/60p, but it might well be handy to have the options! The NX seems to sell (retail?) for around the $2K point, which actually doesn't seem too bad for the additional features/audio block/mic. I picked up the "little sister" PJ710, and it's turning out to be a nice "budget" option (no VF, but otherwise similar to the 760's). That magic eyeball spoils you really quick for handeld shooting!

March 2nd, 2013, 03:42 PM	#11
Ron Evans Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 4,220	Re: Sony NX30 and PJ790V The NX30 will record at 1920x1080 60P at 28Mbps, 60i, 30P and 24P at 24Mbps and 17Mbps and 1280x720 60P at 24Mbps and 17Mbps. It will also record 1440x1080 60i at 9Mbps and 5Mbps. Definitely more flexible than the consumer versions. Considering the timecode control, XLR audio, LPCM audio , mic, bigger battery, comes with all the cables you need too, the cost difference is a deal I thought. It comes with AV cable, a host USB cable, USB extension cable, HDMI cable. Yes $2K is about street price. Ron Evans

March 2nd, 2013, 05:07 PM	#12
Andrew Clark Major Player Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 477	Re: Sony NX30 and PJ790V Thanks Ron for clarification about the 720/60p. Bummer when you can't even get this information off the manufacturer's website!! And what's more confusing, is the two different prices for (what appears to me) the same cam.

March 2nd, 2013, 05:34 PM	#13
Ron Evans Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 4,220	Re: Sony NX30 and PJ790V Yes. I couldn't find the manual on the site either so sent request to support and asked for it. It is an improvement over my CX700. Will work well with my NX5U as the timecode can be synced with the same remote. Save a little time in multicam editing to sync up timelines. Ron Evans

March 2nd, 2013, 06:02 PM	#14
Andrew Clark Major Player Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 477	Re: Sony NX30 and PJ790V Just curious, how's the STILL image quality from this cam ... both on screen (computer, HDTV) and print?

March 2nd, 2013, 08:30 PM	#15
Ron Evans Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 4,220	Re: Sony NX30 and PJ790V I haven't taken any stills with it yet but do not expect it to be much different from my CX700. I will take some tomorrow and report back. Ron Evans