Sony FDR-AX100

[Ron Evans]

Just remember you are only in manual if you set a value for iris ,gain and shutter other wise the camera is in auto using the parameters for which you have not set a value !!! If on the lcd any of the parameters has an A in front of it then you are in auto exposure. You may well have set one or two of the parameters to a value but if just one has an A in front the camera has control !!! Has worked this way on Sony`s since Hi8 days. What ever they call the button ( program AE in this case ) gets you back to full auto ( as set in the menu to auto or Intelligent auto ).

Ron Evans

[Slobodan Pazin]

Hi
I have Canon HV20 and want to buy FDR-AX100.
What is your opinion, to upgrade or not?
Regards

[Dave Blackhurst]

@ Ron - I suppose I could clarify that you can go 100% manual easily if needed, or the equivalent of shutter or aperture priority (or I guess "gain" priority?). It takes a little bit to get a handle on the settings, but once you get the hang of it, it's an easy camera to operate.

@ Slobodon - without question, that's a significant upgrade, should be good if it's on your radar. Keep in mind that the jump from HDV to XAVCS will require computer upgrades. The AX100 is a much more substantial camera size and weight wise, and build quality difference is huge.

[Slobodan Pazin]

Hi Dave,
thank you for the answer, very useful.
I know on HV20 name of the recorded file is for_example.m2t, what is the name of the file which
AX100 record on SD card?
Can I remove SD card from AX100, connect it to PC(powerful enough for 4K) copy it and play?
What player you are using?
Sorry if this written somewhere.
Tnx in advance

[Dave Blackhurst]

You can record AVCHD (.m2ts) or XAVCS (.mp4). I've never tried playing right off a card, but I'd guess you could - I usually ingest for edit in Vegas. Windows media player seems to have been able to handle the ingested files well enough.

There's a huge thread here with most anything you could ever want to know about the AX100, but understandably you could get lost in it for days, so even though it answers most anything anyone could ever ask (although oddly not the Program AE button...), it's probably easier to ask. 4K can be a little tricky because of the 30p (keep shutter speed down enough to allow some natural motion blur, otherwise the sharpness and motion don't mix well), but you can always fall back on the 1080/60p if needed.

[Slobodan Pazin]

Hi Dave,
thank you again for the information
You have wright about "lost in it for days", it's obvious that I have to continue reading and I will.
According your information I am closer to AX100.
Regards

[Noa Put]

It depends for what you will be using the camera for but if your previous main camera was a hv20 the ax100 will be a big improvement, just make sure your pc and editing software is up to the task as well.

[Slobodan Pazin]

Hi Noa
Tnx for the answer
I am commonly use for make video of family travel and my son and my hobby

FSR World Championship Dessau 2012 - 3.5 final (start and finish) + prize giving ceremony - YouTube

During the race my friend was filming, I was on the pontoon like mechanic with my son.
I was filming prize giving ceremony.
I could tell, usual family filming.
Usually I am not editing, my son PC is powerful enough.
Regards

[Noa Put]

Then I"m sure you will be very pleased with the ax100, I use the ax100 for weddings and am very satisfied with it.

[Slobodan Pazin]

Hi Noa,
Thank you
Regards

[Slobodan Pazin]

Hi
What kind of camera bags you are using for AX-100?

[Dennis Freeman]

I have only had this camcorder a few days. I have no interest in producing any 4K video's at this time. My question is, would I get sharper video shooting in 4K and downconverting to 1080 in either interlaced or progressive, or just using one of the 1080 formats that is recorded natively by the camcorder?
Thanks,
Denny

[Noa Put]

a 4K downconvert contains more detail then a native 1080p file, since you have the camera you can try it out.

[Dennis Freeman]

Hello Noa,
You are correct. The downconvert from 4K to 1080p is sharper than Natively shot 1080p from that camcorder. One more question, if my final output will be dvd or blue ray, would I be better off downconverting to 10801, or 1080p? Or would it not make any difference?
My sense is to convert to 1080p, but that limits me to 30fps, which might not be good for more rapid action shots.
What are your thoughts.
Denny

[Ron Evans]

Your source at 4K is 30P so you are stuck with the frame rate cadence. Converting to interlace will not change this cadence. If you want smooth motion then you need to shoot the source at 60. That means AVCHD on the AX100. 60P or 60i. You can downconvert 30p to 60i but both fields will be the same so motion will be just like 30P not 60i or 60P which have the same temporal motion.

Ron Evans