Back to that Panny in the glass case at CES.

Looks like Panasonic are not letting Sony have the '4K for 2K' (US $) market opportunity all to themselves...

Panasonic's next GH mirrorless camera will record 4K video, arrive late February for under $2,000 (http://www.engadget.com/2014/01/07/panasonics-4k-mirrorless-gh-camera/)

I doubt Panasonic will be the only 4K DSLR under $2k this year. Sony will cover all the bases as it looks like they're doing. I want a 4K VG-Series camcorder.

Yes, you may well be right that this might produce a better image. The sensor should be about 1.5 stops faster, but the lens is 1 to 2 stops slower, so we will have to wait and see.

You can send 60p 4K over 4x 3G HDSDI, that standard exists already. I'm more interested in Sony's NXL technology that will allow you to use gigabit ethernet for 4K.

With its internal recording to a 64G card at 200Mbps for about 30 mins or so it will not be a long format option without the expense of an external recorder. Yes a VG 4K would be nice too. I am sure by the end of the year we may see all the range options appear.

Ron Evans

Well I got to tell you, after watching the sample video on my 1920X1080 23" monitor and then watching it on my ISF'd Samsung F8500 64" plasma and having my wife actually elicit a "WOW!" when showing it to her, I hit the 'preorder' button on Amazon.

So here I am with a brand new RX10, but after seeing that video, down-sampled to 1080p, what can I say, stunning!

I do think the 30p restraint was due to internal heating in a body this small. I don't see it as a "Sony conspiracy".

I would be the one to wait for 60p and XQD though, or better, a FDR-EA100. (EA50 successor)

I'm also willing to bet a FS700 reboot will not be coming. They fear adding XAVC-S or XAVC to the FS series will cannibalize the F5 and F55 sales.

Absolutely stunning this - has the real wow factor for me. In fact my dusty DOF adaptor, the Sgblade has just come out of retirement.

Unfortunately all camera companies still name their sensors with wrong dimensions. Neither the 1/3, 1/2, 2/3 inch sensors are what their name claims, but much smaller. Its a leftover of the tube cameras epoch, where their image area dimensions included the edge of the tube as well.

Sony UK says the sensor is 13.2 x 8.8mm. That makes it 15.86mm or just a bit over 0.6 inch. That's practically false advertising.

Sony UK says the sensor is 13.2 x 8.8mm. That makes it 15.86mm or just a bit over 0.6 inch. That's practically false advertising.
They are just following the normal convention. Yes, it's ridiculous, yes, it's a convention that dates back decades (to tube cameras, exactly as Emmanuel says) and yes, it all needs updating.

But they are only following the same convention as everybody else - if you had a camera that really had taken 1" tubes, then the scanned patch on the target would have had a diagonal of about 16mm.

See Image sensor format - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image_sensor_format) - table at the bottom of the page.

@ Matt -

Sensor size is one of those things where there is a "standard" way to measure, and it doesn't make much sense! It's not "false advertising", it's a technical spec that doesn't mean what you'd think it means... it's even worse when you get the sizes expressed as what appears to be a fraction... but it's not!

Since all the manufacturers are using the same approach to measuring, it's actually all "relative".- what is important is that this sensor has about 4X+ the area of a typical consumer level camera/camcorder, and that it is proving to work quite well - not as big as 4/3rds or APS-C, but a nice improvement over the small sensor cams, while maintaining a manageable size that's close to that of prior cameras with smaller sensors. Net result is "compact" cameras with better performance...

Since all the manufacturers are using the same approach to measuring, it's actually all "relative".- what is important is that this sensor has about 4X+ the area of a typical consumer level camera/camcorder, and that it is proving to work quite well - not as big as 4/3rds or APS-C, but a nice improvement over the small sensor cams, while maintaining a manageable size that's close to that of prior cameras with smaller sensors.
Fully agree with all that. Diffraction effects etc mean that once you seriously start to think about 4K, chips sizes such as 1/3", let alone smaller, start to have serious problems. I agree that for consumer cameras 1" is probably a good compromise in terms of price/size/performance, with s35 becoming increasing the norm for full pro work.

A lot more info here. The cam also has 50mbps HD recording in the new codec.

Sony Global - Digital Imaging - FDR-AX100 (http://www.sony.net/Products/di/en-us/products/j4it/index.html?contentsTop=1)

Most Sony watchers and fans will know that Sony has a long track record of "sharing" Handycam models with the pro market. They tend to share most of the shell/body, optics and codec together. Here are past examples off the top of my head.

Handycam VX2100 = DVCAM PD170
Handycam FX1 = "Pro" Z1
Handycam FX1000 = "Pro" Z5
Handycam AX2000 = NXCAM NX5
Handycam PJ760 = NXCAM NX30
Handycam AX100 = NXCAM 4K ????

So, I would guess that most of us expect the same thing: NAB will reveal a "pro" version of this 4K Handycam. So what will this new NXCAM look like? Here are my guesses:

Same shell and generally the same body.
Wider hand strap
XQD socket. (The current SD socket well is big enough to modify/expand to XQD)
8 bit 4:2:0 XAVC-s 60 and 100 Mbp/s
XLR Handle (similar to NX30/NX70)
Raised internal mic (like NX30)
Same optics but I think the RX10 lens with constant f2.8 would be an upgrade. (even though zoom is less)
Real calibrated linear audio meters. (not the Handycam triangle things)
Nicer lens hood

What do you think? I'll bet my EX1r and FS100 that a "pro" sister will be out in the spring.

Anybody agree? I'm guessing a $3500 price tag.

Alister, have you signed a non disclose agreement yet? ;-)

CT

Cliff, that's a good summary. I see what you mean about the card slot area. It does look like it can fit a bigger card.

Most Sony watchers and fans will know that Sony has a long track record of "sharing" Handycam models with the pro market. They tend to share most of the shell/body, optics and codec together. Here are past examples off the top of my head.

Handycam VX2100 = DVCAM PD170
Handycam FX1 = "Pro" Z1
Handycam FX1000 = "Pro" Z5
Handycam AX2000 = NXCAM NX5
Handycam PJ760 = NXCAM NX30
Handycam AX100 = NXCAM 4K ????

So, I would guess that most of us expect the same thing: NAB will reveal a "pro" version of this 4K Handycam. So what will this new NXCAM look like? Here are my guesses:

Same shell and generally the same body.
Wider hand strap
XQD socket. (The current SD socket well is big enough to modify/expand to XQD)
8 bit 4:2:0 XAVC-s 60 and 100 Mbp/s
XLR Handle (similar to NX30/NX70)
Raised internal mic (like NX30)
Same optics but I think the RX10 lens with constant f2.8 would be an upgrade. (even though zoom is less)
Real calibrated linear audio meters. (not the Handycam triangle things)
Nicer lens hood

What do you think? I'll bet my EX1r and FS100 that a "pro" sister will be out in the spring.

Anybody agree? I'm guessing a $3500 price tag.

Alister, have you signed a non disclose agreement yet? ;-)

CT



I agree with you. And I'm guessing the "pro" sister to the AX100 will be announced & revealed at NAB. I think the $3500 seems a little steep to me. I'm guessing closer to $3,000. That way Sony Pro can say that it is Pro 4K for 3K. Of course, I could be wrong.

Don't forget the built in LED lights. :)

Even though this doesn't have two XLR inputs, I could see using two of these for sit down interviews and either use external audio recorder or run one lav receiver to each camera and sync in post. Two cameras for $4000. Wow.

Cliff, do you think the pro version will do 60p @4K? I'm guessing no.

Differential is usually about $500 to $700 dollars depending on available deals. I know that when I got my NX5U it was only $200 more than the AX2000 and came with Vegas , the NX30U was $450 more than the PJ760 and also came with Vegas !!! Both of course came with mics. The PXW-Z100 is working out at just over a $1000 more than the FDR-AX1. So my guess would be $2800 with the XLR unit and mic. The extended internal mic on the NX30 provided the cold shoe of course. Differentiator to the FDR-AX1 and PXW-Z100 would be to keep the FDR-AX100 pro unit 30P and 60Mbps but give it time code and user bits.

Ron Evans

Dont think 60p will be on this imaginary future 4K NXCAM sister. They have another model above it to protect.

Actually, this camera seems to threaten the Z100 a bit too closely. That "1 inch" sensor could very well produce a significantly better image than the Z100's. (adding that RX10's constant f2.8 lens would make it even faster in the mid zoom range and challenge the Z100 even more so) Yes, I know the Z100 has profile options and a real iris ring. Yes, it's body "looks" more "Pro" too. But just looking at pure image quality alone?...I think this little 4k camera might beat it.

So yeah,..no 60p. I could be wrong but that might not be smart for Sony to add that to an already strong performing $3,000-$3500 fictitious 4k NXCAM.

I'd love to see Alister comment on this before he signs those Sony "do not talk" agreements. He can speculate with us all he wants before that. Afterwards?...he's locked up until April ;-)

I bet this HandyCam AX100 and it's future 4K NXCAM sister will make a few marketing gurus inside Sony very nervous. They will probably we watching the sales numbers EXTREMELY carefully. If they see high sales numbers on "cheap" 4K models and falling sales numbers on more expensive HD-only cameras....wow. That could be a scary thing for them. Yikes!

The HD to 4K transition and future camera model marketing could be tricky to navigate for Sony, Canon and Panny.

CT

I doubt there will be a more professional version.
First this is the prosumer version of CX900, just as NX30 was the prosumer version of PJ760. I cannot remember a case when Sony had launched 3 similar cameras.
Second there is an optional XLR unit for the AX100 the Model: XLR-K1M

In my opinion this camera is the love child of BMC. They had to rush out a competing product, because of the impact BM had on the market. A product that on the other hand totally disrupts their pro lineup. Panasonic is doing the same.
I'm pretty certain that the AX100 will produce a better picture in HD than pmw 200 which uses the ancient sensor of the EX1, a less efficient codec, can't do 1080 50/60 and costs $6.3K. Not to mention the 4K cherry of the AX100. The lens is 12X with 24X clear zoom (HD) compared to 14X for the PMW200. Its slower, but the difference in sensor size will probably make up for that. The only real advantage of PMW200 is better ergonomics, but for 3X+ the price.

I believe, like Red, who forced high end cameras to retail half price, BMC will also halve the price of the $6-10K cameras.

Wait and see...

Nothing too tricky about it... they failed to sell 3D TV's... so they MUST drive the UHD/4K market.

3D was a gimmick, and not something that the average shooter could deal with - limited display options, most of which cause headaches etc for at least some viewers... arguably a technology that was nearly DOA...

BUT, most people CAN see sharper images on really HUGE screens, and appreciate the difference. The displays are dropping in price, so the next challenge is content... there are already bloody "4K" camera phones and tablets and super high resolution screens in smaller devices... if 3D was something that most people didn't really want or care about that much, ultra high resolution screens are something that literally "connects" with the end user...

Into this market, Sony probably remembered (just as we all did) the HC1 - $2K price point, semi "pro" features, relatively affordable - arguably it broke open the "HD" market to the "average" shooter that couldn't afford or didn't want to lug around a larger "pro" camera like the FX1 and Z1. The comparison is inescapable - this is the way to get "content" and sell more 4K TV's! Panasonic is banking on that GH with "hot rodded" memory that as far as I can tell isn't even available, to do the same thing for their 4K TV's...


I knew from the specs that the "R" version of the 1" sensor in the RX10 was probably designed from the get go to be a "4K" output sensor... the specs on the Bionz X similarly indicated this was likely a "4K" processor... I'm still scratching my head why the RX10 wasn't given the "point position" in the breakout (it still does quite impressive 1080 60p)! The answer to that may lie with the sensors in the A7/A7r not being as capable as the one in the RX10, and it would have been a tad embarrassing! Rumor is that it will be the next gen Alpha coming "soon" that will get that honor on that side of the Sony line. The AX100 gets the honor on the Handycam side.


The one "compromise" seems to be the 30p in 4K mode. I noticed that the 4K Panasonic GH had to use specially "tuned" memory for higher bit/frame rates... That's where the bottleneck is at the moment - any memory cards have to be very fast and very large (AKA initially expensive) to "do" 4K. They will also need to run cool while all those bits are being shoveled in! It would appear there isn't even such "overclocked" memory commonly available! Quick solution is to bring the bitrate down with half the frame rate so existing high spec cards can handle the "storage/recording media" question.

As Ron has noted, 30p may or may not prove to be an issue with high motion scenes... so it's hard to say if the compromise is a good one or not, and I'm sure we'd all prefer 60p...

While there "could" be heat issues, I'd suspect Sony made very sure to avoid thermal problems in the sensor and processor, due to all the criticism of the NEX (and some early Alphas) with video. The "new" 1" sensor and Bionz X are the hardware foundation, but memory has to catch up... both in specs AND in production quantities that don't have to be hand picked and "tuned" to be usable - we've all run into "memory card issues", this one is a BIG one!

As it is, I'm sure that Sony will STILL run into a lot of "customer service" calls and bad reviews because a lower spec or substandard card is used.


So I guess we wait for new high spec affordable memory... and then there's another "missing element" - how exactly are we going to DELIVER 4K - I'm presuming BR disks aren't an option? Or can we burn 4K to BR like it was possible to burn HD to SD disks? Do we shuffle huge files around on fast HDD's or high spec USB sticks? I'll admit to being a bit behind the curve on this, and pretty happy with "HD", but that's where the AX100 gives a "toe in the water" to get a handle on 4K!

As Ron has suggested, pan/scan of 4K files should be useful for HD output for the foreseeable future, and the camera is a good entry into 4K at a reasonable price (and should shoot very nice 1080 60P!). I don't know how well the CX900 will sell, but the AX100 will get a lot of people in the door to 4K, and they will all want to display on a 4K TV, edit on faster computers with 4K displays, etc, etc...

Sony obviously "gets" that "enthusiast" market, and is charging into it with innovative approaches to imaging devices. They'll also leverage the new tech into the pro market as they typically do. Next year, maybe memory will be more up to speed... and the "wish list" will be fulfilled...

Yes, I do think there will be a pro version of the FDR-AX100, as has been pointed out, that's what has happened historically. It will most likely add an XLR adapter, maybe the ability to switch between Pal and NTSC regions and possibly a couple of paint settings. I suspect on the AX100 the manual setting won't allow you to do everything manually while the pro version would.

I doubt it will ever do 4K at 50 or 60p, it only has a slot for an SDXC card, no high speed media here.

I do think that in good light this camera might do very well, maybe better than the Z100 due to the larger sensor, but in low light the difference will be smaller due to the slower lens on the AX100.

Will it impact the Z100 if there is a pro model. Probably, but that's always been the case, for example HC1/Z1. The AX100 is limited to the lower bit rates by the SD card and there is only one slot so no slot switching. Manual control will be more trickier as there are not enough controls - press a button change iris, press button again to change shutter etc. It's smaller so will be fiddly. By the time Sony add the "Pro" premium the price gap won't be as big.

This has happened several times before in the line ups. The VX3 Hi8 challenged the then pro cameras, then the VX1000 etc. At that time though there was a definite preference for shoulder mount cameras and detachable lenses that protected the pure pro models. I used to rent Panasonic pro cameras until I got my FX1 that was far superior even at SD and surpassed the image when shooting HD and downconverting. Not rented cameras since. I have bought cameras from Sony at this $4500 sort of price point since the VX3 and they usually have some feature lacking on the pro models and missing some features !!! That's how it works. If you want a particular feature there are usually a few models in the line up with it . But not all. Frame rates, lens, codec memory, user features etc. You have to choose what is important for your uses. There will definitely NOT be a model that has them all. That would definitely be silly marketing especially if its only $2000 !!!

For interest look at the new action cam AS100, 5 can be controlled by a wrist controller, XAVC-S similar sensor as the FDR-AX1/PXW-Z100, 50Mbps but HD so 60P. When do you think we will see 4K version !!!

Ron Evans

Being an EX1r and FS100 owner, a week ago I would have emphaticaly stated that I will NOT even "think" about investing into 4K untill 2015-2016. Now, in one big swoop, Sony has just suddenly reversed my thinking. I'm amazed at how easily and quickly they did that to me!!

That much image quality for just $2000-$3500??? (assuming the NXCAM 4k sister is almost here)

At worst case scenerio, I will dive into 4K with this Ax1000. With a little black tape over the "4K" label, I believe I can seven sucessfully hide it from my wife and she will be non the wiser! (just kidding..gulp)

Even the biggest 4K cynics can justify spending $2000 on this thing. I even think you will see this little Hendycam floating around the offices of allot of TV stations too just a a toy and for editor testing off air.

I think even the WORST "4K hater" will find it easy enough to grab one...if not just for the only purpose of sticking his toe in this new 4K swimming pool.

The more you think about this, the more attractive it begins to sound.

The "wow!" to "dollar" ratio is amazing.

CT

Cliff,

I know the feeling. I tend to be an impulse buyer myself. But, we need to let cooler heads prevail. Right now, we are just speculating. We need to see this pro version(if it does come out or does exist) in action. What advancements it will have over the AX100, what the price will be and if the price justifies what it offers as a camcorder to us. It's easy to be caught in the moment. But, logic and our wallets will eventually make us decide whether we want(or NEED) this camera or not. Or at least, it will for me. But, first Sony Pro has to show the camera first which I still speculate will be at NAB.

My thinking precisely, Cliff. That's why I hit 'pre-order' on Amazon!

I agree. I dont see myself "leaving" HD for a while. I have four HD cameras and they arent going anywhere. I also dont see myself losing a paying customers because I'm not shooting in 4K for a while either.

This new 4K camera is really more for "me" as a personal toy!. ;-)

However, the ability to shoot a wide stage of actors in 4K and then zoom/crop a tighter shot in post from the same camera? (for HD delivery) That is a very interesting plus as well.

I'm getting really excited about 4K but I'm not selling my HD gear yet.(Not until customers start demanding 4K from me)

CT

Cliff,

I fully understand here. I recall that when HDV made its first introduction, there were many who didn't want to give up their VX2000s/VX2100s or PD150s/PD170s for a FX1 or Z1. I eventually made the first leap with a HVR-A1 and that little cam has been my trusty companion on every thing I do handheld wise and my cam of choice on vacations. I was planning to finally move on from my A1 and get either a NX70 or NX30 this year, now, I may have to wait to see if the pro version of the AX100 comes. If it doesn't or if it does and what if offers doesn't tantalize me or make me think it is worth whatever its price is, then, I'll go back to deciding between the NX30 or NX70. For now, I'll play the wait and see game.

I doubt it will ever do 4K at 50 or 60p, it only has a slot for an SDXC card, no high speed media here.
You don't need a much faster card for 50/60p - at least not in a long-GOP system, as XAVC-S is. (Just keep the I-frame interval the same - 1/2 sec say - and double the no of difference frames.) That's exactly why AVC-HD manages to record 50/60p of HD with only 28Mbs, not much more than the 24Mbs for lower frame rates.

What *would* need a much faster card is any I-frame only mode, and here doubling the frame rate does indeed mean doubling the data rate

If my math is wrong please correct me:

8 bits in a byte. 100 mega bits per second = 12.5 megaBYTES per second.

That is high but not out of the question for the fastet SDXC cards.

60 megabit is still 7.5 megabytes right?

I still think the imaginary NXCAM 4k version will have the card socket switched to XQD anyway.

I'm at CES today so spent quite a while with the AX100
It's a little bigger than I thought [ in a good way] think mini NX70.
To confirm, gain, aperture and shutter all work independent and all show in viewfinder at the same time.
You can also custom assign 3 'my buttons' which adds to the already good manual control.
The viewfinder also pulls out and tilts up.
Nd on or off symbol shows on screen.
Pre order will be going in!

As far as being a better deal, if you don't want the 4K ability, then the CX900 is a good choice. But if you do want 4K, then the AX100 is clearly the better choice. The only choice at that price point, for now.

"Zebra Pattern Display" isn't listed in the CX900 specifications, but IS listed in the AX100.

Everything else is identical (except the 4K stuff, of course.) Could that just be a typo or omission on the spec sheet?

Or did they really cripple zebra stripes on the CX900?

Here's a scenario where I can see the AX100 being a great tool:

1. You're payed to record a school or community function, like a play or orchestra. You set the AX100 far enough to get a wide shot of the entire stage. Lock it down, and let it roll in 4K mode.

2. Afterward, you can edit the footage and electronically zoom in to different areas of the stage. The zoomed in areas will still be in full HD detail. The camera now acts like a multi-cam shoot. You can get everybody's performance, even their close-ups, without touching your camera. This would work for weddings, as well.

3. Profit!

I'm at CES today so spent quite a while with the AX100
It's a little bigger than I thought [ in a good way] think mini NX70.
To confirm, gain, aperture and shutter all work independent and all show in viewfinder at the same time.
You can also custom assign 3 'my buttons' which adds to the already good manual control.
The viewfinder also pulls out and tilts up.
Nd on or off symbol shows on screen.
Pre order will be going in!

Thanks for the great news Paul!!

Wow,...I can only imagine the debate that went on at Sony around the AX100 design table. I can see engineers and marketing people arguing back and forth about what features need crippling and what does not.

It appears from the outside that Sony wanted this "Handycam" to actually be a "respectable" video camera! (in my mind any respectable camera MUST have full manual iris, gain and shutter)

Bravo Sony! You fought the traditionally strong instinct and urge to "dumb down" this new camera.

It seems the only "cripple" is the low bandwidth XAVC-s 60Mbp/s codec.

Does anybody have experience in XAVC-s 60 Mbp/s? How does it handle motion? That's only 15 Mbp/s per HD quadrent of the 4K frame. That's the last issue that concerns me.

CT

I'm at CES today so spent quite a while with the AX100
It's a little bigger than I thought [ in a good way] think mini NX70.
To confirm, gain, aperture and shutter all work independent and all show in viewfinder at the same time.
You can also custom assign 3 'my buttons' which adds to the already good manual control.
The viewfinder also pulls out and tilts up.
Nd on or off symbol shows on screen.
Pre order will be going in!

It seems you are very impressed with the camera, Paul. How did the image look on the monitors? (I'm assuming there were monitors).

Here's a scenario where I can see the AX100 being a great tool:

1. You're payed to record a school or community function, like a play or orchestra. You set the AX100 far enough to get a wide shot of the entire stage. Lock it down, and let it roll in 4K mode.

2. Afterward, you can edit the footage and electronically zoom in to different areas of the stage. The zoomed in areas will still be in full HD detail. The camera now acts like a multi-cam shoot. You can get everybody's performance, even their close-ups, without touching your camera. This would work for weddings, as well.

3. Profit!

That is why I got my FDR-AX1 and it works great even with relatively poor low light performance. I have shot 3 shows with the FDR-AX1 in addition to the CX700 as a full stage camera with me using my NX5 as usual and my wife with NX30. Did not know how it would perform so used my normal setup as well. Shot wider than the CX700 and was able to crop as needed. So far the FDR-AX1 is not good enough in low light to compete with the NX5U as the closeup camera but the combination would be fine instead of the 4 I normally use. I did this approach back with my FX1 for several years before actually moving to a HD edit. My only concern with the AX100 is that it is limited to 30P. My intent was to move to all 60P so I think I will wait and see what comes. In this locked down mode the 30P may not be such a problem though.

Ron Evans

It seems you are very impressed with the camera, Paul. How did the image look on the monitors? (I'm assuming there were monitors).

It looked very clean and sharp I'm not sure if the monitors were 4k or not, had a lot to take in today, the official video they were playing looked perfect to me.

Few other notes-
The Steady Shot is very good even without the magic eyeball, much better than the RX10.
The battery compartment is very shallow, all batteries will stick out and the largest V type will be level with the viewfinder.
It is very slow to power up when you open the LCD.

For those of you who already have the Sony XLR-K1M (an XLR adapter+handle+shotgun mic+wind muffler) unit lying around I don't think the wait for the imaginary pro cousin of the AX100 is going to be worthwhile. It will really depend on the actual features but having XLR inputs sure won't add anything. Plus I have a feeling the premium will be huge.

It's not the XLRs alone which make this theoretical pro version a much desired camcorder, it's that the pro versions of these Handycams have several added features which make them more desirable to their consumer cousins. Now, if this pro version does come to fruition, the question will become whether the camcorder is worth those added features compared to its much likely larger price tag compared to those of its consumer counterpart.

For those of you who already have the Sony XLR-K1M (an XLR adapter+handle+shotgun mic+wind muffler) unit lying around I don't think the wait for the imaginary pro cousin of the AX100 is going to be worthwhile. It will really depend on the actual features but having XLR inputs sure won't add anything. Plus I have a feeling the premium will be huge.

Yes, the KM 1 will plug into the multi shoe on top but you won't be able to mount onto the camera as there is not cold shoe as there is on the VG 30, so you have to use a bracket on the side.
Shame as in all other respects the camera really feels and works like the NX70

Has anybody noticed the AX100 hotshoe? (Sony "Multi Interface Shoe")

The hotshoe cover flips up and out to the left. The shoe has "notches" in the middle of the top blades. This is OK except that the recessed well that it sits in will not allow you to drop in a standard cold shoe video light or accessory. (no room to drop in and slide forward)

Unlike the implementation of the "Multi Interface Shoe" built into Sony Alpha cameras, this one only accepts Sony accessories. (not any other standard shoe plate)

Am I seeing that wrong? If its true, that's certainly a dirty trick.

Looks like you will need a 3rd party "riser/adapter" part.

Yes, the KM 1 will plug into the multi shoe on top but you won't be able to mount onto the camera as there is not cold shoe as there is on the VG 30, so you have to use a bracket on the side.
Shame as in all other respects the camera really feels and works like the NX70

The NX70 had a bad power zoom control. I believe this was corrected in later models.
How is the zoom control on the AX100? Most consumer cams have lousy zoom control.

The NX70 had a bad power zoom control. I believe this was corrected in later models.
How is the zoom control on the AX100? Most consumer cams have lousy zoom control.

It seemed nice and smooth, nothing like the NX70 which had to work in a different way because of the waterproofing

Hmmm - that K1M is $800... if you didn't already have one laying around, a NX version with XLR adapter/handle/mic might compare favorably?

I think the motion with 30p is the only reservation I've got (I have my doubts about Sony squeezing 60p out of this generation - that notation that Panasonic had to specially select and tweak memory to get it to work on their 4K GH doesn't look promising from a marketing or usability standpoint...). The ability to crop to HD from 4K is a huge plus. I'm guessing this will mix well with the RX10 and RX100M2 shooting 60p 1080... now to go sell some more stuff that I won't need anymore!

As for that shoe... sounds like the usual Sony thing - an adapter should be cheap enough, I have them for the AiShoes... I think they were under $10...

This review says the AX100 has a projector built in. What?

Sony Debuts 4K Camcorder That Costs Just $2,000 (http://mashable.com/2014/01/06/sony-4k-camcorder/)

Sony makes an adapter MultiInterface Shoe Adapter - Handycam Accessories Sony Store - Sony CA (http://store.sony.ca/multiinterface-shoe-adapter-zid31-ADPMAC/cat-31-catid-All-Camcorders-Accessories?_t=pfm%3Dcategory)

Ron Evans

@ Glen -
Methinks the "reviewer" had one too many at the after party and got the features of the PJ series mixed up with the AX100 - no sign of a projector on THAT LCD, but it supposedly is a 3.5", which will be NICE! Typically Sony utilizes the "PJ" designation on the cams with projectors, and they do have a couple new ones, all with smaller sensors than prior 7xx series cams, if the specs are correct.

I also took a better look at that cover over the shoe in the pix on that site - it is VERY long front to back, so it may well be that a stock cold shoe can be fitted? This of course depending on clearance between the shoe and the outer shell of the camera.

Yup. As Dave said, there are a ton of pix out there from all different angles on the AX100 and there is absolutely no projection lens anywhere.

Somehow it would seem out of place on a cam like this.

Has anyone who has viewed this camera at CES looked at how the 120fps slow motion works? This is an advertised feature, yet it's not listed in the frame rate / image size specs.

Specifically, I curious what resolution it uses - full HD, 720p, or something even less??

Is it implemented like "Smooth Slow Record" with just a few seconds of record time (usually 3) before the fast internal buffer has to be dumped to SD card (like high end consumer handy cams, and the NX5, Z5U, etc), or can it shoot this frame rate continuously?

Thanks for any insight that people with hands on can provide...

Specifically, I curious what resolution it uses - full HD, 720p, or something even less??

All the press is saying it's 120fps @ 720p, not sure on the length of time. Here's the official video from Sony that shows the 120 fps @ 720p clearly. Check the 1:10 mark in the video. Sony promo video.

I agree it isn't listed in the specs, but again half of what they have probably isn't 100% just yet.