Is the 'NX5' the PMW-160??

[James Kuhn]

The PMW-160 is almost identical to the 'NX5' with the exception of capturing video in XDCAM format in 4:2:2. Is this the 'replacement'?

J.

[Ron Evans]

It has new full sensors and is a competitor to the new JVC etc but for the price the PMW200 is much better deal I think. I would like a different set of improvements for my new NX5U AVCHD 2.0 and some more touch controls but I really do not see this happening. A new version of the EA50 with ND filter and SDI output would be a more likely version I think.

Ron Evans

[James Kuhn]

Ron...the more I looked at the PMW-160, the more I kept thinking that this is "essentially" an upgraded 'NX5', with three 1/2 sensors and 4:2:2/50 Mbps color capture. Same 'G-Lens' and basically the same physical layout. It was just a thought.

Thanks for playing along.

Best regards,

J.

[Ron Evans]

They are 1/3" sensors not 1/2. Which was my point that the 1/2" sensor PMW 200 is a much better deal. Yes it does look like an upgrade NX5U to go against the other 1/3" sensor cameras with higher data rate codecs than AVCHD 2.0.

Ron Evans

[Tom Hardwick]

The PMW-150 in PAL land was shown at BVE in London last month and as Sony weren't showing the NX5 anywhere on their stand I took that to mean the 150 replaces the NX5. It must do; the specs are too similar for them to run parallel.

I too would agree that the 200 is a far nicer beast. Proper big ½'' chips (30.7 sq mm) and an effectively non-ramping f/1.9 14x zoom. Up against tiny 1/3'' chips (17.3 sq mm) with a ramping 20x zoom going from f/1.6 to f/3.4.

tom.

[Ron Evans]

Yes Tom. For the NXCAM lineup, which is AVCHD , I think the NX5U may be the last of the 3 chip cameras. Currently, other than the NX5 all the NXCAM range are single chip. We will have to wait and see what NAB offers next month. The current trend is to single large sensor cameras in this lineup so new versions of EA50 or FSxxx series are more likely than a new NX5xxx. I think the PMW150/160 was an answer to the competitors and I am sure Sony does not expect to sell lots when the PMW200 is clearly a better choice at about the same price or less and for which their competitors have little competition. We may of course see a NX5 replacement in this prosumer line when 4K starts to appear !!!

Ron Evans

[Jack Zhang]

Remember that the NX5 uses the ClearVid pixel pattern on the sensors, so it's not truly full raster. Only the 160 is full raster 1920x1080.

[Ron Evans]

Yes the sensors from the PMW160 in an AVCHD 2.0 version of the NX5U would be an improvement/upgrade from the current NX5U. My wish list was indeed that for a new version but I guess Sony saw the competition from JVC 600/650 and went for the PMW range codec not AVCHD 2.0. Hence the model is a PMW160 not a new NXCAM model.

A model like that with AVCHD 2.0 60P, touch focus etc from the rest of the lineup and I would have changed my NX5U. I think a more likely new AVCHD NXCAM model will be a EA50 with ND filters. Same progression as the FS100 and FS700 !!!

Ron Evans

The JVC 600/650 really can't compare to the image quality of an NX5U. When it was originally released, I thought I'd get an HM600 to use with my NX5U, but I've since been following some threads about the HM600:

http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/jvc-gy-h...ml#post1790182

and not that I'd use auto-focus much, but:

http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/jvc-gy-h...uto-focus.html

Still, it would be nice to have an updated NX5U with the features you mentioned.

[Ron Evans]

It will be interesting to see reviews of the new Canon XA20/25 when they come out as they look like nice cameras. Even the G30 if XLR is not needed.

Ron Evans

[Sherman Bahr]

The 160 has the same lens and sensors as the NX5. I too think that if you are in the market for a 160 to give the 200 a serious look.

[Ron Evans]

The 160 may have the same lens as the NX5U but it definitely has new sensors. I too think for the money the 200 would be a better choice.

Ron Evans

[Ryan Panda]

Hi Guys,
I am new to this forum.but I am a professional casual wedding videographer in Melbourne. Currently I am using Sony hvr-z5p, this camera gives a good quality video but i realized some professionals using canon 5d mark3 for wedding video purpose. while making online 5-7 mintutes samples of the wedding for websites, 5dmark3 looks excellent.

Can anyone advise, what is the right video camera(not dslr) to buy in next 3 to 4 months to upgrade my sony z5? I was thinking nx5 again its over 3 years old, should i wait for its replacement?

Thanks in advance.

Regards,

Ryan

[James Kuhn]

Ryan...I just did a quick search on you current camera and I see that it is a 'mini-tape based camera'. From your inquiry, am I correct in assuming you're interested in a tapeless solution? If that's the case, and your budget can withstand it, I'd recommend one of the new Sony HD422 XDCAMs as a viable alternative, i.e., PMW-150, -160 or -200. The PMW-150 is PAL only and the PMW- 200 and -160 are both NTSC and PAL. I've never held a Sony HVR-Z5P, but, based upon the images I've reviewed, the camera shares many of the features and basic layout of the Sony Handheld Cameras family. Recently, I upgraded from a HXR-NX5U AVCHD camera to the new Sony XDCAM PMW-200 and found the 'family familiarity' and transition quite easy. Since Sony did not announce a replacement for the 'NX5U' during NAB '2013, it's probably a safe bet you won't see a replacement before June or August of '2014.

Best regards,

J.

[Ron Evans]

I expect the replacement may be like the 4K demo they showed at CES. At least that is what I am hoping !!!
It looked to be a similar body to the NX5/AX2000/PMW160. With the new 4K TV's appearing I would not be surprised to have this sort of camera next year. My NX5U will do till then.

Ron Evans