FX1 real-world test: Rain at rush hour
 

(Reposted due to inital thread corrupted)

I had a chance to give the FX1 a real-world test during a weather shoot Tuesday in the rain. I brought the new camera along, PortaBraced it and set it up to get simultaneous shots of everything that I was getting with the VX2100.

Here are a few full-resolution captures, testing some complex scenes, fast-moving subjects, and less-than-ideal weather:

http://wvlightning.com/hdstuff/hd-wvw-110105afs7.jpg
http://wvlightning.com/hdstuff/hd-wvw-110105afs9.jpg
http://wvlightning.com/hdstuff/hd-wvw-110105afs5.jpg
http://wvlightning.com/hdstuff/hd-wvw-110105afs2.jpg
http://wvlightning.com/hdstuff/hd-wvw-110105afs4.jpg
http://wvlightning.com/hdstuff/hd-wvw-110105afs3.jpg
http://wvlightning.com/hdstuff/hd-wvw-110105afs15.jpg

Other than deinterlacing, resizing to correct proportions (1920x1080) and adding a faint copyright watermark, these images are straight from the camera with no edits or adjustments.

The only image where there is extensive artifacting is the closeup shot of raindrops falling in a puddle (last image). You only really notice this though on the still frame, it is hard to discern on playback of the video. After reading other threads I wasn't surprised by the rippling water causing artifacts. Overall I was pleased with how the camera handled the high-action traffic shots.

On another note, here is a comparison shot of the same scene from both cameras at exactly the same location.

HDR-FX1, full wide
http://wvlightning.com/hdstuff/hd-wvw-110105afs5.jpg

VX2100, full wide
http://wvlightning.com/hdstuff/sd.jpg

I will need to take these images down after a few days due to bandwidth constraints.

Dan

The Z1U panning artifacts are not what I was expecting them to look like. I thought the picture would break up into pixelated macro-blocks but it rarely does. Instead what I notice when panning across faces in a room, is sort of a ghost-like outline.

Thanks for posting jpg.s Dan, I'm on dial-up so video files are out for me. It's nice to see the comparison with the VX2100, which I've got to say looks best to me.

I've only been able to see the HC1, and I too, haven't noticed the usual block-up artifacts mentioned by many. But every pan seemed to make the image go soft - like it was out of focus - almost like a blurring slow shutter effect. In fact, the salesman quickly upped the shutter speed from 60 to 100 before he handed it over to me to help minimize the effect.