Sony PXW-X70 announced: Pro XDCAM version of AX100

[Terence Morris]

Originally Posted by David Johns

Hi

The ME66 wasn't in the on-camera mic clamp, it was in a separate pistol grip. However, the ECM-XM1 (which is a basic top-mic I originally got with a Sony Z5) was clamped in the X70 though it has a rubber sheath around it which brought it up to the right width.

By holding up a ruler to the X70's mic clamp - see my bad photo - it appears as though the minimum width from the tip of each rubber mounting point to its opposite number is around 22-23mm so you're going to have to wrap loads of gaffer tape around that 8060 ;-)

Regards
David

Thanks, David for taking the time to do that. Yup - gaffer tape should do the trick. Or better, I'll see if I can make some sort of "O" ring from a piece of rubber tubing. Very professional indeed!

[Christopher Young]

Yes I also find the 19mm mics need padding out. I have three of those great Ramsa mics that were labled AJ-700P that were the standard onboard camera mic for the AJ-D900-910 DVC Pro 50 cameras. Grabbed one of those and stuck it on X70 with one of genuine Sony mic spacer rubbers and it works a treat.

Another thing that I like on the X70 is that the XLR inputs actually have a mechanical three way attenuation selector switch when using mics. Selectable levels of 0dB:-60dBu, 10dB:-50dBu and 20dB:-40dBu.. Something you don't see to often on cameras these days.

Re the mic padding if your mic is too thin and needs padding. In years gone by I have cut out padding sections out of those black foamed neoprene mouse mats. The type of mousemats made from the same material as wetsuits. Works beautifully and does not look out of place.

Chris Young
CYV Productions
Sydney

[Paul Anderegg]

I've got an old worn Panasonic MC700 shotgun on my X70, very clean and quite audio for sure.

Christopher, I put my X70 back on the scope, and got the best PP color correction settings I could. I added your gamma, black level, and knee settings, and did some "by eye" adjustments of the color depth settings. I have had a horrendous time getting blue/red LED lights on police cars to look good, but with my new settings, they look very accurate. Not only flashing lights, but skin tone is perfect as well. Here is a test clip I sjot this morning, let me know your opinion on it. :-)

It was shot at 720 p60 on AVCHD, YT 30p conversion is awful!

PXW-X70 Night news test - YouTube

[Randy Singer]

Your right...those skin tones and colors look great! Would you mind sharing your settings?

[Andrew Smith]

Hi Paul,

I had a good listen to the raw footage you shot.

Are you getting hassled because you've got this tiny little camera and don't look like a proper TV news dude any more? :-P

Andrew

[Robert Young]

Originally Posted by Paul Anderegg

...but with my new settings, they look very accurate...

Paul,
This is a very good low light PP.
It would be great if you could post the complete settings.
Thanks

[Paul Anderegg]

Yeah, let me just nail down some variables first and I will post a new post in the XAVC forum with my finalized settings. I had to play around with the white balance correction fields and either move everything to magenta in LL or mess with R and B in the RB menu. I shot that footage with an LED, and if you look on the scope, you will see the whites are all shifted to magenta slightly. Not terribly noticeable, but I need to spray some video with the same IDlight I used for the DSC chart to verify first.

Also, for a short time, my YouTube clip was showing a 720p60 option on YT! It's gone now, and back to regular 720p. It looked soooo smooth for a brief moment. :(

Paul

[Paul Anderegg]

OK, apparently 720p60 is only an option if you are using an HTML5 browser, such as Chrome..

Paul

[Rick Miller]

Been looking for a couple years to upgrade, and just have not been able to pull the trigger. But I am really interested in this cam due to the 4K upgrade, large sensor, good price, etc.

So I am coming from a Sony FX1, and had a couple questions I did not see answered in this thread:

1. Since I do not have any recording cards, would like to purchase cards that will work with the current recording options, and when I get the 4K upgrade - can anyone recommend which one's will work?

2. Will the 4K upgrade be something done with a software plugin, or will I have to send the camera to Sony or wherever?

3. I have a VariZoom VZ-Rock controller that works with my FX1. Would like to use with the X70. I read where you need an adapter, will the adapter work with this Zoom controller? If so, where can it be purchased, and what is name/model? I don't see under B&H accessories.

4. I read where eventually PP6 will be supported, and that is what I use. Will I be able to edit the 4K footage in PP6? My PC is about 2 years old and was wondering if my rig can handle the 4K. Is there minimum specs required for editing the XAVC and the 4K? (motherboard speed, min. RAM, how much hard drive space per hour video, etc.).

Thanks.

[Todd Mizomi]

1. I use two Sandisk Extreme 64GB SDXC cards in the X70. Works fine for me.
2. From what I understand, we will need to send in the X70 to Sony for the 4K upgrade
3. You will need two adapter cables. The Varizoom plugs into one adapter, which plugs into another adapter, which then plugs into the X70. Kind of a pain in the arse, but it works fine..

I purchased them from Amazon:

Sony VMCAVM1 A/V R Adapter Cable
VariZoom VZ-AV/LANC Mini Audio/Video to LANC Converter

4. It seems to only be supported in Premiere CC 2014 right now. Don't know about PP6.

Shooting AVCHD for now while waiting for FCPX support.

[David Dixon]

About the memory cards:

http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/sony-pxw...n-ax100-9.html

Scroll down to posts 347-351 or so.

The general consensus seems to be that 64GB SDXC Class 10 U-1 cards are fine currently. Some have suggested that U-3 cards are a safer bet for 4K compatibility later, but users are reporting great results even with less expensive brands.

I've not read anywhere that the 4K upgrade might require sending it in to Sony, but in a way I hope that's true. I've also heard that the 4K will be the exact same as what's found on the AX100. If it has to be done by Sony, then there's a good chance it will be an enhancement beyond what the AX100 offers.

[Mike Griffiths]

Transcend SD XC UHS 3 cards work fine, about £25 for a 64 GB card on Ebay.
sony make a controller- Sony Remote Control RM-VPR1 with Multi-Terminal Cable for Sony Digital Camera I bought on on Ebay from a japanese guy called yosh-set, for $60. Only controls on/0ff zoom, /record

[Terence Morris]

Originally Posted by Todd Mizomi

3. You will need two adapter cables. The Varizoom plugs into one adapter, which plugs into another adapter, which then plugs into the X70. Kind of a pain in the arse, but it works fine..

Presumably this in order to read the cards while they are in the camera? But isn't it simpler just to remove the cards from the camera and import the footage to the computer via a card reader. Please correct me if I'm misunderstanding what these cables are meant for...

[Ron Evans]

The X70 has a multi /USB connector that has many functions. To access the remote one needs an adapter that goes from the multi /USB to an A/V connector, then another to go to a 2.5mm LANC connector. The other alternative is to get a Sony remote that works into the multi/ USB connector directly. Several of the Sony tripods already come with multiple cables for connecting the tripod remote to any of the Sony cameras.

Ron Evans

[Terence Morris]

Okay - thanks for enlightening me, Ron. I'm totally out of my depth on this facility. Guessing that this is a very comprehensive form of remote control functions...i.e., far in excess of the wireless remote that it can do to an iPad. Never really looked into LANC control, but it's probably something that I will never need for mostly gun & run.