Here's a link for the NX5U manual (PDF):

http://pro.sony.com/bbsccms/assets/f...Ops_Manual.pdf

I saw this:

HDR-AX2000 | High-Definition Handycam® Camcorder | Sony | Sony Style USA

I have to say, the NX5U is probably going to be the next camera I buy. I want to test it out first, of course.

Btw, Chris and Barry, I bought my first camera, the XL1, back in early 1999, and I was ridiculed for even thinking I could make a film digitally, which I did that summer. Ahhh, memories. I also bought the first "mini-HD" camera, the JVC HD10, but let's not go there.

Heath

You can get a $500 rebate on the flash unit (the FMU), bringing the final cost when the check comes, to $300 or less. I gotta say, this is all very tempting!

The prices I've seen on the pre-orders for the NX5U are around $4000, the AX2000 are around $3500. I think if I were to buy one, instead of going the "FX1 over the Z1" route, I'd go with the NX5U.

Heath

There was a bigger price difference with the FX1 and Z1. To my mind the AX2000 is pretty severely stripped down version of the NX5U also (more so than the FX1 vs Z1). I've got to think the price on the AX2000 will probably drop a few hundred bucks before it is actually even shipping (or Sony probably won't sell that many).

I too was thinking the NX5 to be my next camera to replace the FX1 and yes there was a big price difference between the Z1 and FX1. However I don't really need SDI output, don't really need the FMU ( and at the present there is no promotion on that in Canada) and did like the smooth gain change as I often get into this position of needing to shift gain while shooting in the theatre. The AX2000 has exposure assignable to the iris ring that isn't on the NX5 and if I can set gain and iris limits in the menus while keeping shutter in manual this is of more use . I don't really need PCM audio as I will record audio separately in PCM anyway. Not going to use 720P or for that matter 24p or 30p either.

Ron Evans

Yes it does. I can see this folder called "streams" with all the xxx.mt2s in there. However I did not remove it the right way. I still see the thumbnails when I had them offloaded.

I have no idea why Vegas8 wouldnt load them.

And yes, the iris change is stepless like the EX1. Very nice!

In reading the NX5U manual it doesn't look like it does crank forward/back like the ex1. The slow motion has a 12 second maximum so it looks similar to the cx camcorders. Wondering if it also reduces quality like the cx models, if so the slow motion won't be usable for anything professional.

I think the newer Sonys retain higher resolution in the slo-mo mode... the image appears to retain pretty good quality.

It does however do 720/60P so just drop that on a 24p timeline for really nice slowmo.