Can anyone comment on the firmware upgrade for the FDR-AX100?. Is the focus improved significantly, and is the zoom rocker control improved?
Thanks
Denny

For anyone interested in purchase, B&H has a $200 price drop on this camcorder.
Denny

SONY FDR-AX100 PROBLEM

Using my Sony FRD-AX100 cameras (yeah, I have two of them) has become nearly impossible.

I would like to use the cameras in PROGRAM AE mode. If I press the PROGRAM AE mode button, I am presented with this message box on the screen:

"Set the adjustment for brightness to auto."

After much looking up and reading the manual and following the menu trees I concluded there was no way to find anything labeled brightness. So perhaps one of my custom settings (AGC LIMIT or something else) prompted the message.

So I returned the cameras to the factory default state using that menu selection.

Surprise! The error changed, but the PROGRAM AE was still unavailable.

The error message now read:

"Turn off Intelligent Auto."

Interestingly, if I went to another menu selection and selected it, or pressed the MANUAL button (or nearly any other button) the error returned to the original:

"Set the adjustment for brightness to auto."

Still can’t activate the PROGRAM AE mode.

Both cameras have firmware version 2.

Does anyone have any solution to this problem? How do I use PROGRAM AE on the FDR-AX100?

Tom

PS: Just spent an hour with three different Sony "Tech" support reps who didn't really have any knowledge of the camera - one in fact had never heard of it - without getting any help whatsoever.

Don't have an AX100 but several small Sony's. With exposure set to Intelligent auto the camera has control of everything !!! Exposure needs to be set to just " auto " for AE to work. I assign AE shift to the control dial which you should be able to do in the menu. If you have the camera in manual for all of iris,gain and shutter speed then of course AE shift cannot be available you need to place at least one of them in auto mode. Depending on my cameras I have shutter speed set manually and an up gain limit so that auto will control iris and gain for exposure and AE shift I have on the control wheel for me to control how dark or light I want the image compared to how the camera would like it. I find that Sony's over expose a little so usually have AE shift at around - 0.5.

If you want to run the camera in aperture or shutter priority just set that function to manual and AE shift will still work as long as one of the parameters is in auto.

Ron Evans

EDIT : Just read you post again. Not sure if you are long time Sony user or not but Sony modes are strange !! On different cameras the switch between manual and auto is called different things. However they all seem to operate the same. Switching to manual means the manual controls are available NOT that they are in manual until they are controlled. As far as I can tell from the AX100 manual, Program AE is the switch between auto and manual. In the menu what is auto can be Intelligent auto or normal auto. For AE shift control you need Intelligent auto OFF. Pressing Program AE button should switch between auto and manual. In manual control pressing the iris, gain or shutter buttons will allow you to use the control wheel to change the value and the LCD indication will change from "A" to nothing in front of the parameter. Any parameters with À`in front are in auto. So for shutter priority set shutter to say 60 and nothing will be in front of 60 in the LCD and iris and gain will have A in front of them. Pressing the Prgram AE while in manual will return to full auto mode. Pressing Program AE and turning the control dial will control exposure( default dial parameter ) but with the camera deciding what parameter to use to brighten or darken the image. The difference to AE shift is that the camera controls everything but in AE shift a parameter can be fixed or have a limit set. So iris or shutter speed can be set manually and AE shift will then control the other 2 parameters for image brightness. I am just reading from page 38 in the manual but with lots of Sony experience !!! Not sure if I covered what you want .

I've got the AX100, frankly never used the Program AE button... it appears to me at first to be a "vestigial tail" of unknown use, and the manual references to it are not the way it works nor the way I've used the camera...

If you hit the "manual" button, it enables the wheel, which you can set to various things including exposure and AE shift - I've used both, AE shift perhaps being a little better for letting the camera decide, though I'm not sure(?!). Basically a quick and dirty "global" adjustment to image brightness, with the camera choosing the way to get there, but you also can set one of the manual settings below, and that seems to lock in, letting the camera make adjustments to the un-set items to try to meet the "global" adjustment.

All I need to do to make iris, gain/ISO or shutter changes is to press the applicable button, the indicator changes (highlight box), and the wheel takes control of that function, if you want to adjust another function, hit that button, and use the wheel... full manual control of each setting. press again, the little "A" comes up, that setting is auto. Press a different button, the wheel controls that, manual gives you "global" adjustments...

After playing with it a bit, I realized what the "warning" message actually means - it is a single button reset to "stock" AUTO settings! Play with all the buttons, you you find you've gotten into trouble, hit the Program(med) AE, the camera is in full auto... literally in means press that button to "Set the adjustment for brightness to auto."!

I realize that the instructions incorrectly call out the function of the button, and it somehow seems unintuitive to have a "panic" button on a higher end camera.... but sure looks to me like that's exactly what it is!

Never used it before, spent most of my time memorizing the three button (iris/gain/shutter), and the wheel, plus the ND filter functions... now I know it's there, I guess it's a comfortable "emergency" button to return to full auto...

Sure would be nice if it were something fancier like a way to program presets or something cool like that, but I've just been tickled to have full manual in a simple to use layout... maybe they will make it do something cooler in a later firmware release or something, but I think this solves your "mystery"?

Honestly, I never really looked at the manual, I just started fiddling with the buttons until I figured out how they interact, then set about memorizing location and function so I can dial in what I want while shooting. Early on I found that getting shutter down (60 seems about right, anything above 125 causes stutter in 4K mode) was needed, other than that, a little exposure/AE tweak as needed, and everything looks pretty good...

Hopefully this helps you get it under control, it really is a sweet "manual" design after all the earlier Sonys that were "sort of" manual, but not really. I come from a photography background, so being able to dial in iris and shutter for effect is nice to have once again.

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

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

@ 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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

Hi Noa,
Thank you
Regards

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

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

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

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

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

Hi Ron,
It looks like I am going to need to do some experimentation to see just how the down converted 1080p 30fps handles motion.
Thanks for the explanation
Denny

I am not a fan of slow frame rates so really notice the cadence. If the camera is fixed and motion is slow in front of the camera I think it is fine. If you like the cadence of film then it will be OK for you. For fast action like sports you will need a faster frame rate in my opinion. Camera movement will lead to background judder if you are not very careful. Not as bad as 24P but twice as bad as 60i or 60P.

Ron Evans

Hi
Did anyone try to save movies on external media device such as usb stick?
Tnx

Hi
Did anyone try to save movies on external media device such as usb stick?
I save 4K movies off to a 'My Passport' USB hard drive, and then play them on a Samsung 4K TV, using the USB3 port on the TV. A USB stick might be too slow for this.

USB3 flash drives might be OK. portable drives almost certainly OK. It works with USB 3.0 flash drives when edited but not tried directly from the card as I always save it to HD before doing anything else

FDR-AX100 firmware update

The FDR-AX100 will also support XAVC S 4K 100Mbps high-bitrate recording through a firmware update scheduled for March 2015.

Capture every detail of your life in 4K* with compact new... - Sony (http://presscentre.sony.eu/pressreleases/capture-every-detail-of-your-life-in-4k-with-compact-new-handycam-r-from-sony-1103109)

Hi
Mike and Charles,
tnx for the answer
Regards

Hi,
I have AX100 PAL and shooting in 25p 4k.
When watching movie directly from camcorder to 4kTV(samsungHU7500) everything is OK.
Info of TV show=3840x2160 25p
I copied same movie on PC(I7 with 2 gtx970 SLI) connected with HDMI(original Samsung cable 1m) to TV and setup
resolution to 3840x2160 25Hz, playback of movie is choppy, info of TV show 3840x2160 25p.
Change to 3840x2160 50Hz playback of movie is OK, Info of TV show=3840x2160 50p
What is your opinion?
Tnx

Your media player software probably does not have proper vertical sync support. MPC-HC should be able to play the file without stutter. Find the vertical sync option in MPC-HC and turn that on.

As for refresh rates, stick to 50hz since PCs work with higher refresh rates better than lower ones like 24hz or 25hz. You'll notice you will have extreme mouse lag at 24hz or 25hz from a PC.

Directly connecting the camera is fine because it's directly playing the file using dedicated hardware, rather than a media player on a PC.

HI Jack,
Thank you for the answer, I tried with Vsync ON without success.
I will try to find the solution (human curiosity) but it will not to be obligate for me.
I already can watch it on 50Hz.
Regards

Has anyone used a 256 gig SDXC card with this camcorder? Was it successful for 4K recording? What brand and speed did you get?
Thanks,\
Denny

Hi Guys:
I am posting this in your hefty AX-100 because I assume that many of you also edit in FCPX an since the AX-100 uses the same file system that the new AX-33 has may be some of you may have ran into this problem before since your camera has been out for some time. I don't think it is a camera problem but I have not had any luck anywhere else to resolve this problem. I think it is actually a lack of support for the XAVC-S CODEC.

I think I may have found a partial solution or a workaround to this problem.
I was trying to insert in the card reader a new card that I shot on the Sony AX-33 that only contained XAVC-S files that is 4K files shot at 100Mbps on the XAVC-S and HD at 60 Mbps at 60p for 1920×1080 also utilizing the same XAVC-S codec so I try importing the clips into FCPX thru the Import window and again the same problem occurred FCPX would see the card only as a Volume And not as a Camera I did this several times even powering down the computer and powering back up and still no go, so I could not even create an archive of the card.
I thought That I ran out of options when it occurred to me that I had one more format to try on the actual camera setting that did not require the use of XAVC-S codec,,,…. that was MP4 so I set it to that and using the same card that I had shot the previous clips, I shot 3 clips of MP4 at their default setting using the same camera and card and took the card out and reinserted it in the reader, opened FCPX and the import window and ……..VOILA!! the card showed up as a Camera in the import window not only with the 3 MP4 files that I just added BUT ALSO WITH ALL THE CLIPS THAT I HAD SHOT IN 4K AND HD USING THE XAVC-S CODEC of course now being displayed as a Camera I am now able to select and play the 4K files and HD files and even select ranges for import or create a camera Archive. Freaking Amazing!!!
I have a theory FCPX does not show at this point any new supported cameras from Sony that shoot with the New codec XAVC-S but they do show supporting the XAVC (without the S) codec in their support page I kind of wonder if this is actually the problem and it may be fixed in future upgrades.
I know that the XAVC-S codec is the consumer version and the XAVC is the Professional version for the XDCAMS from Sony and that one has a Sony Propietary plugging for import on to FCPX, but I don’t know if it applies to the XAVC-S that is used in consumer cameras like mine.
The Sony AX-100 uses the same codec and file system on the card and it has been out for more than one year I wonder if there are any AX-100 users out there that can comment on this finding.
I will have to do more testing but for now I think this is a work around I still can not find any explanation.

I work out of a new late 2013 MacPro with 6 cores and dual 700 FIREPRO AMD graphic card with 32Gigs of memory I never have trouble with 4K playing in this machine.
Thanks,
Luis

Try this to convert Sony A7S - divergent media (http://www.divergentmedia.com/devices/supporteddeviceinfo/Sony/A7S/125)
or Edius will edit it like butter along with tons of other format.

I know that the XAVC-S codec is the consumer version and the XAVC is the Professional version for the XDCAMS from Sony and that one has a Sony Propietary plugging for import on to FCPX, but I don’t know if it applies to the XAVC-S that is used in consumer cameras like mine.
The Sony AX-100 uses the same codec and file system on the card and it has been out for more than one year I wonder if there are any AX-100 users out there that can comment on this finding.
I will have to do more testing but for now I think this is a work around I still can not find any explanation.

I work out of a new late 2013 MacPro with 6 cores and dual 700 FIREPRO AMD graphic card with 32Gigs of memory I never have trouble with 4K playing in this machine.
Thanks,
Luis

Hi
as suggested by Khoi Pham Edius is your friend. I'm (and not only me) in your situation with Media composer (Pc side) but asking in media composer forum for a solution I recieve only reluctant answers from both Sony and Avid. The other option as suggested is to transcode to prores

Ugo

Thank You Ugo
with all the guys on this thread I really thought there are more guys using FCPX editing the XAVC-S codec from the AX-100.

Edius is out of the question for me because is a Windows program only I Think?? and transcoding to Prores involves another step and so far I have been able to work with 4K natives files which also means smaller files than Prores.
I am hoping some one that works with FCPX will chime in.

Thanks,
Luis

FYI Sony has just posted a firmware update R3 on their website for the FDR AX100.
Denny

Thanks for posting Dennis. FYI, typically when, as members, we report these things it is nice to post the link.

There is a thread devoted to the update located here:

http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/sony-pxw-x70-fdr-ax100/527252-ax100-firmware-3-0-out-today-3.html#post1879718

Sorry Jeff,
My apologies to you and others on the forum. My mistake.
Denny

You made no mistake, Dennis, you were being helpful. All of us have posted helpful information, as you have done, not knowing it was already in another thread! I have done it multiple times.

This thread is a very good place to have this info, since it is such an active and popular thread.

I hope I did not offend you, it was not my intention. Have a great day!

Hi Jeff,
Your comments are much appreciated. I did not take it as being offensive, just helpful info.
Thanks,
Denny

Are there improvements of firmware v3 over v2? Is quality of the video improved? But how much?
Thanks

I found the autofocus function significantly improved over v2 of the firmware. Have not yet seen any of the100 MBPS 4K, so I can't speak to that.
Hope this helps,
Denny

With a SanDisk Extreme Pro 95 MB/s SD XC I U1 class 10 64GB is it possible to rec with 100 MB/s please?
Thanks

With a SanDisk Extreme Pro 95 MB/s SD XC I U1 class 10 64GB is it possible to rec with 100 MB/s please?
Thanks

No, the AX100 checks for the U3 rating. If it is not there, regardless of the speed of the card, it will not work.

Thanks for your news. Can you be so kind to tell me the precise mark i have to buy please? I need the best Sony U3 SD super fast.
Thanks

This card Transcend 128GB UHS-3 card has worked for me so far:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1044487-REG/transcend_ts128gsdu3_128gb_sdxc_uhs_i_u3_r95_w60mb_s.html

Thanks for your news. Can you be so kind to tell me the precise mark i have to buy please? I need the best Sony U3 SD super fast.
Thanks

I'm using this one without any issues: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MCJPSUO/

I found the autofocus function significantly improved over v2 of the firmware. Have not yet seen any of the100 MBPS 4K, so I can't speak to that.
Hope this helps,
Denny

Denny, could you explain in what way focus has significantly improved?

Many thanks
Andy

So what is the advantage of using a UHS-3 card and recording at 100gbs?...How will that improve my footage?

A higher bit rate means more detail/information is being captured. A good way to see the difference is by filming a shot of a park or with trees / branches etc. You should be able to see a clear difference when you play back the footage.