Re: Sony FDR-AX100
 

I have both AX100 and AX53 like Ron.

In my humble opinion, the AX53 makes better pictures - there is less noise, much better HD internal recording and timecode, user-bits and time lapse recording - but of course the AX100 has more manageable manual settings and a bigger chip.

I feel that the AX100 is now showing its age, it is still a very capable camera, but I'm pretty sure the replacement for the AX100 will be very strong, hopefully with UHD 50/60P

The touch screen on the AX100 has poor response, not great in a run and gun mode, whereas the 53 is really good.

Paul :-)

Re: Sony FDR-AX100
 

Bit slow in responding as I was busy yesterday but I agree with Paul.

Ron Evans

Re: Sony FDR-AX100
 

I have both. The AX-100 has a better picture by virtue of the larger chip BUT both serve their purpose..

Re: Sony FDR-AX100
 

Hi

Long time not being here but back...

Looking to discontinue use of my PD150 and move to the ax100. Can not justify going to a 4K similar to my old PD150. Am but a humble part time for fun video person... not my main life.
I do some theatre work for a dance school (My daughter is the owner and I am slave labour).
Up to now I have edited in Premiere on ibm and now an IMAC and prepared DVD's on Encore and a duplicator stack (7) for distribution.
Several questions, on assumption of buying a ax100 within a few days(good second hand deal)

1 DVD's I am told are passed. OK, but how to distribute to customers and still have product control?

2 ax 100 has no built in xlr. Sony have two VERY expensive ones.Anyone use any xlr "box" to connect to theatre system boards? Any recommendations?

3 4K sounds great, but how to distribute? Or does one drop down a level? Even Back to DVD's???

Help....

Martin

Re: Sony FDR-AX100
 

Martin - wth regard to question #2, an XLR “box”, one solution can be a JuicedLink unit. JuicedLink has a pretty good reputation for low noise so that is a plus. Also, there are additional controls available such as gain controls for each channel and the XLRs are the locking type.

Review: LVProductionsTools of the Trade: NEW! Juicedlink CX211 XLR Adapter...

This one is the CX211 and can be found used quite inexpensive. On mine, I use a small piece of an antiskid material between the unit and the bottom of the cam so the attach screw dosen’t have to be overtightened. This also protects the typical serial number on the bottom of the cam from getting all scratched up.

The JuicedLink pre really adds to the audio capability of the cam. Separate recorders are also an option but this addresses the question. The middle picture, on the right, is the writing on the bottom of the unit.

Re: Sony FDR-AX100
 

If you do not need 4k or UHD why not look at the NX100. About the same price as the AX100 and has XLR etc with bigger batteries more professional look if that is important or even the new Panasonic UX90.

I have the AX100 and AX53 but for me unless there is 60P UHD I am not interested in slower frame rates and I use just as HD cameras. I think these cameras that are just 30P UHD is just a limitation of the technology for price and a nice marketing ploy. The higher resolution makes judder even more pronounced unless camera work is very well controlled.

Ron Evans

Re: Sony FDR-AX100
 

4K isn't that expensive to at least stick one's toe into the water - and the AX100 can still shoot 1080p. The judder or stutter or shimmer can be reduced to a significant degree by keeping shutter speeds down so a natural motion blur avoids the "series of very sharp stills" jumpiness.

I just saw UHD Blu-Ray players at a warehouse discount store for under $200 ("half off" the $400-ish retail). 4K delivery on disc may be affordable sooner rather than later, but you'll find that the enhanced detail trickles down even to an SD DVD as well as giving you pan/crop options in post. BR discs might be an option as well? Of course we live in a "streaming" era, and other "digital delivery" options. Protecting one's end product continues to be a challenge, short of physical discs... 1's and 0's can be copied if the incentive to do so is sufficient....

Re: Sony FDR-AX100
 

A friend of mine has just made an extension of the cable, from jack to XLR. I never used it yet. Do you think it is good or do I have to worry about using this extension?

Re: Sony FDR-AX100
 

Thanks John and others for the responses. I think a xlr box sounds good.Still have not pulled the pin... Too many questions. How to edit 4k, Premier? External add on mike?

Martin

Re: Sony FDR-AX100
 

Well, pulled the pin and now have an ax100. Cute little thing!!! Now trying to get familiar with it. By luck I was able to get a Beachtek DXA SLR active xlr box on eBay from Paris. Came in days and looks like it was hardly used. I have just updated the ax100 firmware and am ready to go. Will try this afternoon with grand daughter's gym class.
Any clues from those using this camera are appreciated. Also items about editing with Premier cs6 on my iMac. Best practices etc.

Thanks
Martin

Re: Sony FDR-AX100 - firmware v.
 

Hello, I have a Sony AX100E and I have just noticed its firmware is v. 3.00. I know now it is available the v. 3.10.
1) What benefits can I get if I do the update?
2) My AX100 loses the memory. In fact when it doesn't work for 7 days every time I have to enter into the settings and to configure, language, date and hour. I think I have to change the small battery inside the camera. But is it easy to do it? Can I make it? Thanks for your info.

Re: Sony FDR-AX100
 

https://esupport.sony.com/CA/p/swu-d...&os_group_id=6

This is an old update from April of 2016. I have not bothered updating my AX100 as I always use 128G SDXC U3 cards anyway.

Seems the update just allows recording on a SDHC card though why anyone would want to do this I do not know !!!

Also you just need to leave a battery on the camera to retain all the settings. I leave a spare battery on all my cameras to make sure the settings do not change. When I shoot I use larger batteries anyway.

Re: Sony FDR-AX100
 

Thanks for your news. I'm sorry, I don't understand fine your writings. But is not the problem the small round shape discharged battery that is inside the camera? Why are you telling about larger batteries for shoting?

Re: Sony FDR-AX100
 

The normal camcorder batteries keep the internal battery charged. Then you do not have the problem. I have used the smaller NP-FV50 series batteries I have to just keep the settings on the cameras and normally use NP-FV100 or FV70 series batteries when I shoot. You do not need to replace the battery it is very small and needs to be recharged frequently. That is not a defect it is by design. The easiest is just to leave a battery on the camera. The main camcorder batteries will last with the camera switched off for months and I just remove and recharge before a shoot. I believe these instruction are in most of the Sony camcorder manuals.

Re: Sony FDR-AX100 editing
 

Any suggestions as the best editing software for 4K with an ax100 for mac?

Thanks
Martin

Re: Sony FDR-AX100
 

I use FCP X.
But you need a good computer and some very good external hard drives also.
4K will drain all your resources fast.....very fast.

Re: Sony FDR-AX100
 

Here is some useful information found on another site. Hope this helps all around.
https://www.sony.ru/res/attachment/f...7492960962.pdf
Martin

Re: Sony FDR-AX100
 

I am not a big fan of the 30p judder, especially fast motion that can't be helped at times.


What shutter speed to you utilize for 30p UHD? And.....60p XAVC 1920x1080p. ?

Thank you

Re: Sony FDR-AX100
 

I run in shutter priority mode on my "30p" cams, try to keep the speed under 125(ish), preferably 60 or 90.

The easiest way to explain it is... the slower the shutter speed, the more motion blur you'll get in each "frame", so while you lose some sharpness potentially, motion looks more natural than it would with a series of super sharp stills.

My first shooting with the camera was a shock after shooting 1080/60p, since I was just running auto first time out... it was setting the shutter at 350 or so...very sharp, very shimmery in high detail shots, and jarring when there was motion in or through the scene. The super sharpness of 4K sort of works against you with the lower frame rate, and you have to run manual to reintroduce enough motion blur so moving objects look like they are actually moving, not jumping from frame to frame!

Re: Sony FDR-AX100
 

Hi Dave
Your recounting of shutter speeds is good information. I only recently got an AX100 and just ran test of dancers with it set for 4K at 30 frames and 1/60 and gain and iris and focus in auto. Impressed by the clarity and noticed the frame to frame in sharper images. Whole new ball game from my
old pdf150. Lots to learn. But wow what clarity.
Now how to edit and distribute...

Martin

Re: Sony FDR-AX100
 

More questions....
Has anyone used a 128 gb card? I shoot dance recitals and need to cover long times such as 1.5 hours, even more. In the past with dv tapes I have had to have arranged breaks where a dancer would go on stage and improvise until she saw my recording lamp on. Works but can be a bit of a hassle, especially if one is clumsy and drops the replacement tape...

Martin

Re: Sony FDR-AX100
 

Yes I use 128G Sony SDXC U3 94MBps cards and they work just fine.

Ron Evans

Re: Sony FDR-AX100
 

128G and 256G have worked fine for me, Lexar branded SDXC U3.

Re: Sony FDR-AX100
 

I've been using SanDisk Extreme Pro 256GB cards lately. Along with the NP-FV100A batteries, I think I'm getting over 5 hours of continuous recording time. Just bought a new charger for the batteries. Very nice, with display of remaining battery life in time and percent, and also shows time to charge to 100%. One thing to know is it holds two batteries, but is a CONSECUTIVE charger. With 4 cameras using those same batteries, I can return from a shoot and put the cams away and stack the depleted batteries next to this charger and just cycle them all through it without having 4 cameras plugged in all over the place.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...r_Charger.html

There's also this shooting grip I came across. I heard it works with the AX100, need to find out if it works with the AX53 as well. Looks like a possible solution for handholding the camera. It has built-in remote control buttons for zoom, record start/stop and photo shutter. It's the GP-VPT1 Shooting Grip/Mini Tripod.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...ting_grip.html

I also picked up the RM-VPR1 wired remote control, having just seen in the brochure that it works with both the AX100 and AX53. Got home and tested it, works fine with both. Get two zoom speeds, which I'd describe as "crash" and "creep".

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ..._terminal.html

There's a wireless version also.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...l/prm/alsVwDtl

Sony's constantly changing remote protocols is enough to drive one to drink.

Mark

Re: Sony FDR-AX100
 

Thanks to Mark, Dave and Ron for the info on larger cards. I should have seen the info on card size in an earlier post by Ron. Maybe I need new glasses.
Looks like Mark found some interesting "toys", thanks.

I have an earlier Sony wired remote which I used with my PD150. Would be nice to repurpose it to the AX100. RM VD1 which clipped on my tripod arm. Has a 2.5mm male plug for the LANC connection. Now I need to find a way of getting to the small usb connection on the camera. If I can find will that work???

Martin

Re: Sony FDR-AX100
 

I have 2 adapters. 2.5 to A/V then A/V to small USB. This works for the AX100 but the protocol for the AX53 is different so will not work.

Ron Evans

Re: Sony FDR-AX100
 

As Ron says, you need two adapter cables. The exact Sony ones you need are:

VMC-AVM1 (has a flat-style MULTI plug on one end for connection to the camera and a D-shaped jack on the other end)

A-3AV (has a D-shaped plug on one end for connecting to the VMC-AVM1 and a 2.5mm jack on the other end for connecting to your LANC remote control)

These two cables are short, combined length is about a foot.

Mark

Re: Sony FDR-AX100
 

The LANC connections moved from that old VD1 plug into the AV plug for a while and then moved again into the MULTI, which as actually a "dual layer" USB port with extra contacts.

In theory you could "hack" an adapter, but the time and effort are probably better spent buying the "right" remote, and having fun shooting!

Re: Sony FDR-AX100
 

The two adapter cables were not expensive and have been well worth it for me. Never been impressed with these Sony remotes. With the cables, I can connect a Cannon ZR2000 (no longer available) and get more functions plus 8 zoom speeds. And my remote attaches properly to a pan handle with a huge rocker switch for zooming. This is with the AX100 of course. The AX53 is another story.

Re: Sony FDR-AX100
 

I also have a Sony VCT-VPR100 that comes with adapter cables for the remote handle that work with all interfaces including the AX53. Not a great tripod but at least all the interface cables work for everything !!!

Re: Sony FDR-AX100
 

Have tried to get the two cords and ran into cost problems. One quote for one was$US14, not a problem.... The delivery was about $US55.
Basically it looks like it will be cheaper to buy a new controller. Looking on eBay and will probably by a new controller for about $US25 delivered. Hate wasting older stuff and I will often fiddle but not worth it for this.
Thanks for the directions...
Martin

Re: Sony FDR-AX100
 

New problem.
I shot a dance show this morning ( Using the 4K route) and all was good until my battery quit. Changed batteries and continued. All the files seemed to be good and played back ok.
Later transferred to my iMac and at first all was good. Do not know what happen but in the clip file I found one XML file associated with a MP4 file had disappeared. The regular MP4 file is still there but will not play. Anyway to recover the XML component. Naturally this was the largest segment... Checked the original camera file and it too had the problem


Help
Martin

Re: Sony FDR-AX100
 

A corrupt file due to the loss of power. Not many options I'm afraid. AeroQuartet is available if you really need that footage.

Re: Sony FDR-AX100
 

The camera can sometimes recover a corrupted directory but that needs to be done in the camera of course.

Re: Sony FDR-AX100
 

Well.... put the corrupt file aside for the moment and started on a performance (second of four for the day) recorded in 4K and looks good. Got it into my Premier cs6 and did a whole bunch of editing. Tried to cut down the dead time of all the little munchkins to come up with a decent memory for the parents ( and myself as I have a granddaughter in the performance).

The finish in Premier looks and sounds crisp. Now to get it to Encore to put out as DVD. Normally from my PD150 days I would use the Dynamic link to Encore and all would be good. Tried that with a small clip and it would be WAYYYY to much for a DVD. I thought it would reduce size etc to match the need. No way.

I tried Export, Media and tried several settings but to no good avail. took some results through to a test Encore set up but not very good.


I am over my head at the moment and would appreciate some direction. I was comfortable with the PD150 and tape and premier etc but felt I should progress and went for the AX100.
Any direction for media settings etc to get to Encore....

Thanks
Martin

back to the corrupt file later..... would like to get the other 3 performances away...

Re: Sony FDR-AX100
 

I might be out here but when I'm editing I often have footage from say AX100 in 4K and other clips from PMW200 and perhaps AVCHD from a Sony PJ790 and even from a Canon but i'm laying them on a 1080P timeline, so I define the sequence first and the 4K clips i set to frame size, I think in Premiere Pro CS 6 under video effects, scale - you just reduce the scale of the clip down to whatever your sequence is set to.
Then you should be able to dynamic link to Encore (thats the way I do it) or another way is to output the clips as MPEG2 and then load them into Encore. You could also use a Bitrate calculator to make sure the clips will fit on a DVD.

Re: Sony FDR-AX100
 

hi all

thanks Rob for the direction, I think.
I think I have some knowledge but just enough to be dangerous.

Please follow what I am doing and let me where I should change direction....ultimately, at this point, I wish to use Encore to make a dvd

I use an iMac 27" I5 late 2016 with 24 Gb of ram (moved from PC about a year ago)
Premier cs 6
I have got a 4K file from the AX100 on the computer and can take a clip from it
Open up Premier with new project
Name the project and select a location
Does it matter whether I select DV or HDV in the capture, as I am not capturing from camera? selecting DV
Having clicked OK I then have the sequence presets, which does not have AVXC-S as an option
Do I make a choice such as AVCHD 720p30 1280x720 with square pixels......don't really think so..
Or do I choose custom and then Settings ? and then what ? Custom,29.97, D1/DV NTSC Widescreen 16:9
video previews??etc and then save as a new preset?

Then presumably I import the file in question.

Two many variables and not enough knowledge.

I could go back to the PD150 (where I was comfortable) for future work but that sounds regressive and wastes my ax100. ( I can hear my wife snickering in the background)

Any help or direction is appreciated.
Thanks
Martin

Re: Sony FDR-AX100
 

Hi
Is there anyway to restrict the viewable part of the lcd screen to JUST safe frame.
Rather than the little white guides showing the corners of the safe zone, Id like the entire screen to be safe zone only
thanks

Re: Sony FDR-AX100
 

No such setting option for safe area. Maybe use some clear acetate (overhead projector slide material) and use a printer to apply a safe area rectangle line on it. Cut it to size of the LCD and attach with clear tape. It might interfere with the touchscreen function though. Another possibility would be to get some really thin, colored tape (like what they sell for making permanent lines on dry erase boards) and lay out a safe zone on your screen. This could still interfere with some touch screen selections but might be better than a plastic sheet over the entire screen.

Re: Sony FDR-AX100
 

Usually what I do is lay the clip on a 1080P timeline that way i have a HD clip and i just link it into Encore and it usually takes care of it from there! You could create a custom sequence too.
I did a quick and dirty test here, you'll need to make sure that your in full screen and 1080P resolution to see anything!