VG20 will support the new AVCHD 2.0 standard?
 

The new A77, NEX-7, and VG20 will support the new AVCHD 2.0 standard. This means they will be able to record FullHD videos in 1080 60/50/25/24p at 28Mbit/s! One wonders if these will be native or PsF.

All cameras will support full manual controls while recording video.

And you can shoot video in P or A or S or M mode.

All three cameras were development having video recording in mind. That means that the new sensor and the new BIOZ processor have been optimized to avoid artifacts like the rolling shutter effect. And the new 3 million dot OLED viewfinder will have a high refresh rate!

If the NEX-7 is about $1000 and the VG20 is about $2000, unless you need the camcorder feel, the DSLR feel will be half the price.

The question, not answered, is will the updated NEX-5 get some of these features? I'd be happy with both shutter priority mode and native 1080p60.

Meanwhile, I'm using a Panasonic FZ100 that shoots 720p60 AVCHD which is much smoother playing than 1080p60! Frankly, 720p60 is the sweet-spot for today's computers.

And, when I compare to 1080i60/30PsF from the VG10 the Panasonic, the FZ100 is as good quality -- just no shallow DOF. I bought it used for $300. The question is given as Sony continues to lose money and must keep prices very high to limit their losses, while Panasonic and JVC make a profit -- how long can folks continue to buy Sony products?

Re: VG20 will support the new AVCHD 2.0 standard?
 

Hopefully, the market segmentation G2 is better on the VG20 and there'll be the features on at least (if not across the board) the prosumer form factor product (beyond flip out screen and handle) that are typically associated with that form factor e.g. built-in ND, external mic, focus and exposure assists

Re: VG20 will support the new AVCHD 2.0 standard?
 

As long as we are copy-and-pasting from sonyalpharumors.com, I figured I would throw this up here:

A77
24.3 MP Exmor HD CMOS sensor
19 points AF sensor with 11 cross sensors
ISO 100-16000, with expandeable ISO 50 option
1920 x 1080 60p/24p AVCHD 2.0
P/A/S/M manual controls while recording video
1200 zone metering
Completely new developed Bionz processor
12 fps
1/8000 shutter speed
TrueBlack 921k 3-way tilt LCD
3 million dot OLED viewfinder
Smart teleconverter function with 1.4x and 2.0x option
Built-in flash
Built-in GPS
Battery life with over over 500 shots
Magnesium alloy body
Dust and Moisture proof
Multi Frame NR
SD card (no CF!)

A65 (differences with the A77)
A77 has 19 point AF system with 11 cross sensors while the A65 has only 3 cross sensors.
A77 can do 12 fps while the A65 can do 10fps.
A77 has new 3 way tilting LCD, A65 has “classic” tilting LCD
A77 can do 50 ISO while A65 can not.
The A77 has a magnesium body while the A65 has not.
The A77 has 1/8000 shutter while A65 has a 1/4000 shutter
The A77 has a top LCD screen while the A65 has it not.
The A77 is Dust and Moisture proof while the A65 is not

NEX-7
24,3 Exmor HD sensor
100-16.000 ISO
1200 zone metering
1920×1080 60p/60i/24p AVCHD 2.0 (28Mbit/s) video recording
3 million dot XGA OLED viewfinder
3inch 921k TruBlack LCD display (touchscreen)
10 fps
20ms startup time
Built-in flash
New universal hot shoe
Battery life for over 400 shots
Magnesium alloy body

NEX-5N
16.1 MP Exmor sensor (Same us Sony NEX-C3)
ISO 100-25600
1920×1080 60p/60i/24p AVCHD 2.0 video recording
Shutter 1/4000
10 fps
Can take over 430 shots with one battery
Same AF speed as the GH2

VG-20
16 MPX Exmor sensor
1920×1080 60p/60i/24p AVCHD 2.0 video recording
Can record stills in RAW
3 inch touchscreen (swifel)
audio level control
IR AVR remote

Re: VG20 will support the new AVCHD 2.0 standard?
 

Steve, Do you think the NEX7 will have the FS100 sensor binning trick that you theorised/fanaticised earlier in the year?

I think manual control will be good so long as there is no floating ISO.

Re: VG20 will support the new AVCHD 2.0 standard?
 

Looks like very minor enhancements:


NEX-5N
16.1 MP Exmor sensor (Same us Sony NEX-C3)
ISO 100-25600
1920×1080 60p/60i/24p AVCHD 2.0 video recording
10 fps

If it can capture almost 16Mp 10 times per second and it shoots 60p video, then the capture of a 16:9 window must be done about 6 times faster which MIGHT imply the video window is 6 times smaller.

The VG10 has a 16:9 4592x2576 (11.8MP) from a 14.1MP chip. ASSUMING skipping every other photosite, the result is 2.9MP 16:9 window that happens to be the smallest 16:9 still image. Rez is 750TVL. (This explains why big chip cameras offer so little resolution and why Sony is moving to 24MP chips. To get back to 1000 TVL/ph requires a 24MP chip.)

Looking at my model, the VG20 window should be 4912x2763 which is 13.56MP on a 16.1MPchip. If every other pixel is skipped, that would cut the data stream by 4X. The capture would be of 3.4MP which is more than enough for 800 TVL. Slightly better than the VG10.

Skipping 2 of every 3 lines of photosensors > 2.26MP > provides 800TVL/ph and 535 TVL. This would measure fine since most reviewers only measure H. rez. and the data stream would be 6X less. On many monitors that show only one-field when there is motion one would see little loss of resolution.


VG-20
16.1 MP Exmor sensor
1920×1080 60p/60i/24p AVCHD 2.0 video recording << Native progressive?
audio level control << finally!
Can record stills in RAW << who cares
3 inch touchscreen << touchscreen might enable easier control

Re: VG20 will support the new AVCHD 2.0 standard?
 

It'll still need focus assist. The controllable audio is a big improvement, though.