Sony HDR-CX900

[Dennis Freeman]

I noticed on the Sony Website that there is a firmware update for the CX900 that was dated Mid June. Has anyone updated their CX900, and is there an improvement in the auto focus as the update information suggests?
Any feedback would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Denny

[Paul Cronin]

HI Dennis,

I will check this out and if I am prior firmware I will update. We use this as a mounted cam on some shoots with decent success so far.

[Dennis Freeman]

Thanks Paul, I will anxiously await your results.
Denny
BTW, the update is located at http://esupport.sony.com/US/p/model-...d#/downloadTab

[Paul Cronin]

Dennis,

I did the update and reset the camera to my settings. Can I notice a difference just sitting at my desk? No

But it will get used again later this week and I will have a better idea once I upload those clips.

As I said we use this camera locked down on a suction cup spider, or in the hands of a producer for behind the scenes shots. I have also used it for personal use on my own adventures where is has worked well. Great little handycam

[Dennis Freeman]

Hi Paul,
Thanks for the update. It will be interesting to see if the slow focus and the zoom speed updates were effective at all.
Denny

[Paul Cronin]

Couple more test and it does seem slightly better on focus.

[Dennis Freeman]

Hi Paul,
Has the zoom speed been slowed down by the new firmware upgrade?
Thanks,
Denny

[Phil Goetz]

Paul - Are you saying that when "producers" shoot they typically use a wicked awesome camcorder set to AUTO? Not trying to pull any punches here. Just curious.

[Paul Cronin]

Dennis, don't want to keep you hanging but I am not near that camera till Thursday. At that point I will look at it further for you.

Phil,
Not really sure what your point is with this loaded question? The producers I work with are excellent and I mean excellent writers, and they see the big picture with skilled eyes and make the team better on every shoot I have been on. But they are not camera people. There are times when they want grab some shots and just want to hit record. That is when I set it to auto and let them use the camera.

[Dennis Freeman]

Hi Paul,
Any update on this topic?
Thanks,
Denny

[Paul Cronin]

HI Denny,

We did use the camera again locked down as we normally do. So I do not have any info on zoom. But the focus seems to be a little quicker. Sorry that is all I have at this time.

[Dennis Freeman]

Thanks Paul for the input.
Denny

[Phil Goetz]

1080 from the CX900 should be better low light than 1080 from the AX100 because the AX100 has more pixels and they are smaller, right? Kind of like the PMW200 or 300 has better 1080 than the Z100 because the Z100 has more pixels and they are smaller, right?

[Mark Rosenzweig]

"1080 from the CX900 should be better low light than 1080 from the AX100 because the AX100 has more pixels and they are smaller, right? Kind of like the PMW200 or 300 has better 1080 than the Z100 because the Z100 has more pixels and they are smaller, right? "

Wrong. The CX900 and the AX100 have exactly the same sensor and number of pixels. The CX900 is a crippled AX100 - it just doesn't have the capability of doing 4K. 1080 mode in the AX100 should be identical to 1080 from the CX900.

From the Sony site (Sony AX100):

"Pixel Gross : Approx.20.9M pixels
•Color Filter System : RGB primary color filters
•Imaging Sensor : 1" (13.2mm x 8.8mm) back-illuminated Exmor R® CMOS Sensor
•Processor : BIONZ® X image processor"

From the Sony site: (Sony CX900):

"•Pixel Gross : Approx.20.9M pixels
•Color Filter System : RGB primary color filters
•Imaging Sensor : 1" (13.2mm x 8.8mm) back-illuminated Exmor R® CMOS Sensor
•Processor : BIONZ® X image processor"

Are these mistaken?

[Phil Goetz]

Wow Mark. Thanks so much for this. I totally missed the mark.