Sony introduces HDR-CX700v 1080p60 camcorder

Ron Evans · March 4th, 2011, 04:47 PM

Little bit more information. There are two USB connections. One is the built in cable that you can see with the plug that fits in the strap. This is used for upload with the included USB cable extension. There is another USB connection that needs a special cable ( not included) that is used for uploading to portable USB drives or the Sony direct to DVD recorders. This plug is behind the same cover for the Memory Stick and SDHC connections . It's getting dark hear now so will wait until tomorrow for some daylight shots but the picture is noticeably better than the XR500 so will give my NX5U a real challenge.

Ron Evans

Dave Blackhurst · March 4th, 2011, 07:18 PM

Will be interested to hear how performance is - shouldn't be THAT much better than the XR500, or it really will be giving the NX a run for the money! Although the CX550 is pretty impressive, and they do seem to manage a few tweaks here and there each year...

I'd noticed "lens hood" in the description, that is a mighty substantial one! None shown on the CX560 list, so that really drops the price differential down since a hood like that is around $40 typically from Sony... hmm. and since adding a mic would pretty much drop this right smack dab on top of the MC50U (and that's before the additional features)... wonder if there will be some big price drops or what - this starts coming really close to a "mini-pro" package!

Oh yeah, dumb question, how and where is the tripod mount? After the screwey position on the CX550, wonder if they rehired the tripod screw positioning expert!

Ron Evans · March 4th, 2011, 08:17 PM

Some shots of the bottom, side with the second USB connector, HDMI and the card slot, shot of the back with the mode switch etc.

The LCD is smaller but is very sharp and bright. Will do some more shooting tomorrow its dark now. What is surprising is taking some shots in my dark bedroom the data code shows 21db of gain and the image is pretty clean. Will do some more testing tomorrow against the XR500 and the NX5U.

Ron Evans

Dave Campbell · March 4th, 2011, 09:32 PM

Ron, who did you order this from? Are others expecting to get soon? I also need the new cx160 ASAP so
am hoping they all ship

Ron Evans · March 4th, 2011, 09:44 PM

Got it from the local Sony store. I noticed it showed in stock on the Sony site so rang up and ordered it. Came in 3 days from Toronto I think. I was told there were only two in Canada.

Ron Evans

Dave Blackhurst · March 4th, 2011, 10:37 PM

Well, at least looks to be centered under the camera, side to side, although pretty far forward again...

Somehow I think I've got that USB cable - seems like it's been used on some of their small P&S cameras. Definitley a bit weird having that cable sticking out on the strap the way they do...

I thought the imaging block was pretty much similar to the earlier 500/550 series, but sounds like they've tweaked things even more to get good lo noise and low light performance, guess technology continues to get better!

That whole hood thing now has me thinking the old CX500V's might be time to upgrade to the CX700... I like the CX550's too much to upgrade them, and can't imagine performance imroved that much between generations.

Paulo Teixeira · March 5th, 2011, 12:52 AM

In the specs, I read that the chip has more pixels so it does look like an entirely different chip.

When you get the chance, can you please post 1080 60p clips on Vimeo?

Matt Sharp · March 5th, 2011, 01:19 AM

That's the same USB port that the CX/XR550 has. I'd assume you can still use any old 5-pin mini-USB cable with it just like I do with my 550.

Adam Gold · March 5th, 2011, 01:23 AM

That port is interesting. It does not, in fact, look like the standard mini USB -- it looks more like their old component out proprietary D jack.

The USB on my xr520v is in the middle below. Note the difference in jack shape. But the pins in the middle do look similar. I dunno.

Ron Evans · March 5th, 2011, 07:33 AM

The port is not a standard USB port you are correct Adam. Needs a special cable that is not included though it does mention that the Sony DVD recorders will connect. I don't have one of those so do not know if they have a different cable for this purpose. There may be additional or less connections ? Will look closer this morning now its light. An interesting side note is the camera has not been outside yet but it knows where it is exactly on the map !!!!

Ron Evans

edit: Also the manual that came with the camera is for the CX560/560V and the CX700/700V. The " V " models have GPS.

Ron Evans · March 5th, 2011, 08:28 AM

Reading the manual choices on the CD there is also the CX690E. I loaded this as well as the CX700V to see if there were differences noted. The CX690E looks to be the same model without GPS or internal memory but does have all the other features of the CX700V including viewfinder and lens hood. So the top of this consumer lineup will be the CX690E, CX700E and CX700VE these are all PAL camcorders. The 690 does not appear to be in NTSC as far as I can tell.

Ron Evans

Marc Hangl · March 5th, 2011, 10:12 AM

Hadn't realised this was out yet, at moment its priced £1500 preorder at amazon (!!!!). One quick question to those who have one - would the hood that comes with it fit a xr550?

Ron Evans · March 5th, 2011, 12:31 PM

The hood will not fit my XR500 not sure about the 550 series though. Price in Canada is $1299Can.

Paul I will try and record some 60P but today is not good weather outside for any shots of outdoor movement. It is dull, mix of rain and snow so not very pleasant. Could take a few days for the weather to clear up then I will try and get something interesting that makes 60P worthwhile. So far indoors I see little difference as expected.

Comparing to the XR500 and NX5U the colour seems to be a little lower easy to bring up to the same in Edius by adding about 5% to chroma then they match more closely. Wide angle is very wide compared to even the NX5U. The downside so far is that everything is in a menu. I would have like the low lux to be a switch like the XR500 but its buried in a menu.

Ron Evans

Dave Blackhurst · March 5th, 2011, 02:19 PM

Ron -

I think this should have the customizable menu (unlike the XR500), so you can put up to 6 favorite buttons on the first "page" that comes up - that feature came back with the CX500 (released after the XR500), and unless they changed the menus again, should be present.

I think you and that other lucky guy in Canada must have gotten a couple they let out early, congrats on that!

Interesting observations on the model #'s, sounds like Sony has a "EU only" version in the 690, I suppose they figure the 560 serves the same basic purpose for the rest of us... have yet to actually SEE a "non-V" version of the cameras with GPS feature in the spec list, I really wonder if they exist (the 690 would be a "first", as a slightly dumbed down 700).

Max Bettelle · March 5th, 2011, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack Zhang

Vegas already supports 1080p60 through the MainConcept decoder. FCP, Avid, Edius, and etc are the odd people out when it comes to editing 1080p60. (Unless they use CineForm)

is it possible to make a bluray in 1080 60P? No compatibility issues?

March 4th, 2011, 04:47 PM	#61
Ron Evans Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 4,220	Re: Sony introduces HDR-CX700v 1080p60 camcorder Little bit more information. There are two USB connections. One is the built in cable that you can see with the plug that fits in the strap. This is used for upload with the included USB cable extension. There is another USB connection that needs a special cable ( not included) that is used for uploading to portable USB drives or the Sony direct to DVD recorders. This plug is behind the same cover for the Memory Stick and SDHC connections . It's getting dark hear now so will wait until tomorrow for some daylight shots but the picture is noticeably better than the XR500 so will give my NX5U a real challenge. Ron Evans

March 4th, 2011, 07:18 PM	#62
Dave Blackhurst Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Apple Valley CA Posts: 4,874	Re: Sony introduces HDR-CX700v 1080p60 camcorder Will be interested to hear how performance is - shouldn't be THAT much better than the XR500, or it really will be giving the NX a run for the money! Although the CX550 is pretty impressive, and they do seem to manage a few tweaks here and there each year... I'd noticed "lens hood" in the description, that is a mighty substantial one! None shown on the CX560 list, so that really drops the price differential down since a hood like that is around $40 typically from Sony... hmm. and since adding a mic would pretty much drop this right smack dab on top of the MC50U (and that's before the additional features)... wonder if there will be some big price drops or what - this starts coming really close to a "mini-pro" package! Oh yeah, dumb question, how and where is the tripod mount? After the screwey position on the CX550, wonder if they rehired the tripod screw positioning expert!

March 4th, 2011, 08:17 PM	#63
Ron Evans Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 4,220	Re: Sony introduces HDR-CX700v 1080p60 camcorder Some shots of the bottom, side with the second USB connector, HDMI and the card slot, shot of the back with the mode switch etc. The LCD is smaller but is very sharp and bright. Will do some more shooting tomorrow its dark now. What is surprising is taking some shots in my dark bedroom the data code shows 21db of gain and the image is pretty clean. Will do some more testing tomorrow against the XR500 and the NX5U. Ron Evans Attached Thumbnails

March 4th, 2011, 09:32 PM	#64
Dave Campbell Major Player Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 568	Re: Sony introduces HDR-CX700v 1080p60 camcorder Ron, who did you order this from? Are others expecting to get soon? I also need the new cx160 ASAP so am hoping they all ship

March 4th, 2011, 09:44 PM	#65
Ron Evans Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 4,220	Re: Sony introduces HDR-CX700v 1080p60 camcorder Got it from the local Sony store. I noticed it showed in stock on the Sony site so rang up and ordered it. Came in 3 days from Toronto I think. I was told there were only two in Canada. Ron Evans

March 4th, 2011, 10:37 PM	#66
Dave Blackhurst Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Apple Valley CA Posts: 4,874	Re: Sony introduces HDR-CX700v 1080p60 camcorder Well, at least looks to be centered under the camera, side to side, although pretty far forward again... Somehow I think I've got that USB cable - seems like it's been used on some of their small P&S cameras. Definitley a bit weird having that cable sticking out on the strap the way they do... I thought the imaging block was pretty much similar to the earlier 500/550 series, but sounds like they've tweaked things even more to get good lo noise and low light performance, guess technology continues to get better! That whole hood thing now has me thinking the old CX500V's might be time to upgrade to the CX700... I like the CX550's too much to upgrade them, and can't imagine performance imroved that much between generations.

March 5th, 2011, 12:52 AM	#67
Paulo Teixeira Trustee Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 1,773	Re: Sony introduces HDR-CX700v 1080p60 camcorder In the specs, I read that the chip has more pixels so it does look like an entirely different chip. When you get the chance, can you please post 1080 60p clips on Vimeo? __________________ https://www.youtube.com/user/PhotoVi...esEtc/featured https://www.pond5.com/artist/paulot

March 5th, 2011, 01:19 AM	#68
Matt Sharp Major Player Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Northridge, CA Posts: 280	Re: Sony introduces HDR-CX700v 1080p60 camcorder That's the same USB port that the CX/XR550 has. I'd assume you can still use any old 5-pin mini-USB cable with it just like I do with my 550.

March 5th, 2011, 01:23 AM	#69
Adam Gold Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Woodinville, WA USA Posts: 3,467	Re: Sony introduces HDR-CX700v 1080p60 camcorder That port is interesting. It does not, in fact, look like the standard mini USB -- it looks more like their old component out proprietary D jack. The USB on my xr520v is in the middle below. Note the difference in jack shape. But the pins in the middle do look similar. I dunno. Attached Images __________________ "It can only be attributable to human error... This sort of thing has cropped up before, and it has always been due to human error."

March 5th, 2011, 07:33 AM	#70
Ron Evans Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 4,220	Re: Sony introduces HDR-CX700v 1080p60 camcorder The port is not a standard USB port you are correct Adam. Needs a special cable that is not included though it does mention that the Sony DVD recorders will connect. I don't have one of those so do not know if they have a different cable for this purpose. There may be additional or less connections ? Will look closer this morning now its light. An interesting side note is the camera has not been outside yet but it knows where it is exactly on the map !!!! Ron Evans edit: Also the manual that came with the camera is for the CX560/560V and the CX700/700V. The " V " models have GPS.

March 5th, 2011, 08:28 AM	#71
Ron Evans Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 4,220	Re: Sony introduces HDR-CX700v 1080p60 camcorder Reading the manual choices on the CD there is also the CX690E. I loaded this as well as the CX700V to see if there were differences noted. The CX690E looks to be the same model without GPS or internal memory but does have all the other features of the CX700V including viewfinder and lens hood. So the top of this consumer lineup will be the CX690E, CX700E and CX700VE these are all PAL camcorders. The 690 does not appear to be in NTSC as far as I can tell. Ron Evans

March 5th, 2011, 10:12 AM	#72
Marc Hangl New Boot Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Birmingham UK Posts: 18	Re: Sony introduces HDR-CX700v 1080p60 camcorder Hadn't realised this was out yet, at moment its priced £1500 preorder at amazon (!!!!). One quick question to those who have one - would the hood that comes with it fit a xr550?

March 5th, 2011, 12:31 PM	#73
Ron Evans Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 4,220	Re: Sony introduces HDR-CX700v 1080p60 camcorder The hood will not fit my XR500 not sure about the 550 series though. Price in Canada is $1299Can. Paul I will try and record some 60P but today is not good weather outside for any shots of outdoor movement. It is dull, mix of rain and snow so not very pleasant. Could take a few days for the weather to clear up then I will try and get something interesting that makes 60P worthwhile. So far indoors I see little difference as expected. Comparing to the XR500 and NX5U the colour seems to be a little lower easy to bring up to the same in Edius by adding about 5% to chroma then they match more closely. Wide angle is very wide compared to even the NX5U. The downside so far is that everything is in a menu. I would have like the low lux to be a switch like the XR500 but its buried in a menu. Ron Evans

March 5th, 2011, 02:19 PM	#74
Dave Blackhurst Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Apple Valley CA Posts: 4,874	Re: Sony introduces HDR-CX700v 1080p60 camcorder Ron - I think this should have the customizable menu (unlike the XR500), so you can put up to 6 favorite buttons on the first "page" that comes up - that feature came back with the CX500 (released after the XR500), and unless they changed the menus again, should be present. I think you and that other lucky guy in Canada must have gotten a couple they let out early, congrats on that! Interesting observations on the model #'s, sounds like Sony has a "EU only" version in the 690, I suppose they figure the 560 serves the same basic purpose for the rest of us... have yet to actually SEE a "non-V" version of the cameras with GPS feature in the spec list, I really wonder if they exist (the 690 would be a "first", as a slightly dumbed down 700).