Has anyone pre-ordered a Sony AX100 4k or CX900?

Ron Evans · April 10th, 2014, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Harper

I think I have completely misunderstood the differences between the CX900 and the AX100. They are essentially the exact same camera body and sensor and one shoots 4K and the other 1080. Is this correct as far as the rest of you know?

I just talked to someone and found out that the shoe mount is non-standard (I hate Sony for these things they do sometimes) and I believe this is true for both cameras.

Yes they are really the same with AX100 also shooting 4K. I think you can get adapters for the shoe mount if you want one. not sure if there is one for a standard cold shoe but they are available for the other Sony adapter types.

Ron Evans

Jeff Harper · April 10th, 2014, 01:20 PM

Never mind, disregard post, pixel count is same on both cameras, I had thought they were different.

Max Palmer · April 10th, 2014, 05:53 PM

Does anyone have any definitive answer as to how these models do in low light with this big of a sensor, despite the small aperture? I'm cross-shopping these against the Canon HFG30.

Clive McLaughlin · April 11th, 2014, 04:57 AM

The problem with low light tests is, its hard to tell just how dark it is unless you are in that place using your eyes. Or at least see a comparison with something else that you know like DSLR at ISO 1600 for example.

But looking at this one video I found, I'm far from impressed. Sharpness is great but not always helpful, and yea cropping ability could be useful, but what use are these if you have complete mush in a dimly lit church, or reception.

Just goes to show that theres no such thing as the 'best camera'. You get what you need to serve you best.

Looking at the above clip, I'd sooner buy a CX730 at 600/700 quid than spend £1600 on this (for my needs of course).

Clive McLaughlin · April 11th, 2014, 05:05 AM

Looking at this one, 15db may be useable, but I don't like what I see at 24db at all.

Max Palmer · April 11th, 2014, 05:43 AM

Yeah I'm trying to figure out whether the CX900 will outperforms the HFG30. Also can't really trust these YouTube clips because of the extra compression, so I'm not sure what to make of them.

Todd Mizomi · April 27th, 2014, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Noa Put

The cx900 doesn't have zebra's, the ax100 has if I have to beleive the specs, that's an important difference

I had the chance to look at a CX900 at Best Buy yesterday and can confirm, yes it does have zebras

Noa Put · April 27th, 2014, 01:02 PM

Thats nice to know, can't always believe the specs on the sony site it seems.

Clive McLaughlin · April 28th, 2014, 01:10 AM

Despite considering the CX900 (and even the AX100) I recently took opportunity to snap up another CX730. They are very rare at this point and can probably only be found second hand. This one looked as though it had barely been touched and I got it for £560.

This is less than half of the price of the CX900. I think I've made a wise choice for somebody who doesn't have a lot of cash.

I'd love to see some comparison footage though to see just how much difference in quality I would get for nearly £700 more from the CX900. I wouldn't have excellent stabilisation like the CX730 has - thats one thing for sure.

Any of the CX730 users on here want to buy the CX900 and convince me its worth the step?

Noa Put · April 28th, 2014, 02:28 AM

I got my cx730 new for 830 euro just before it got replaced by a newer model and I believe it was 1000 euro when it first came out, the cx900 now sells for 1500 euro, the main advantages I think are it's larger sensor so you can get a shallow dof if you zoom in, focussing errors will be less forgiving compared to the cx730 but you can push the background easier out of focus which can look nicer. I believe it also has a build in ND? that will also prevent very high shutterspeeds outside.

I"m sure the price of this unit will go down pretty fast so with a bit of patience you might get one for around 1200-1300 euro in a few months, only if one of my handicams would die I will get a new replacement, either cx900 or ax100 but for this and next year they still will have to deal with all my church recordings and dance recitals. I see no need for replacing them for the next 2 years.

April 10th, 2014, 01:20 PM	#17
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	Re: Has anyone pre-ordered a Sony AX100 4k or CX900? Never mind, disregard post, pixel count is same on both cameras, I had thought they were different. __________________ "The horror of what I saw on the timeline cannot be described."

April 10th, 2014, 05:53 PM	#18
Max Palmer Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Trumbull, CT Posts: 132	Re: Has anyone pre-ordered a Sony AX100 4k or CX900? Does anyone have any definitive answer as to how these models do in low light with this big of a sensor, despite the small aperture? I'm cross-shopping these against the Canon HFG30.

April 11th, 2014, 04:57 AM	#19
Clive McLaughlin Major Player Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Belfast Posts: 823	Re: Has anyone pre-ordered a Sony AX100 4k or CX900? The problem with low light tests is, its hard to tell just how dark it is unless you are in that place using your eyes. Or at least see a comparison with something else that you know like DSLR at ISO 1600 for example. But looking at this one video I found, I'm far from impressed. Sharpness is great but not always helpful, and yea cropping ability could be useful, but what use are these if you have complete mush in a dimly lit church, or reception. (FDR-AX100)4K Sample - LOW LUX test under the full moonlight æœˆæ˜Žã‹ã‚Šã§é«˜æ„Ÿåº¦æ’®å½± - YouTube Just goes to show that theres no such thing as the 'best camera'. You get what you need to serve you best. Looking at the above clip, I'd sooner buy a CX730 at 600/700 quid than spend £1600 on this (for my needs of course).

April 11th, 2014, 05:05 AM	#20
Clive McLaughlin Major Player Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Belfast Posts: 823	Re: Has anyone pre-ordered a Sony AX100 4k or CX900? Looking at this one, 15db may be useable, but I don't like what I see at 24db at all. AX100 UHD low-light test - YouTube

April 11th, 2014, 05:43 AM	#21
Max Palmer Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Trumbull, CT Posts: 132	Re: Has anyone pre-ordered a Sony AX100 4k or CX900? Yeah I'm trying to figure out whether the CX900 will outperforms the HFG30. Also can't really trust these YouTube clips because of the extra compression, so I'm not sure what to make of them.

April 27th, 2014, 01:02 PM	#23
Noa Put Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Belgium Posts: 9,509	Re: Has anyone pre-ordered a Sony AX100 4k or CX900? Thats nice to know, can't always believe the specs on the sony site it seems.

April 28th, 2014, 01:10 AM	#24
Clive McLaughlin Major Player Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Belfast Posts: 823	Re: Has anyone pre-ordered a Sony AX100 4k or CX900? Despite considering the CX900 (and even the AX100) I recently took opportunity to snap up another CX730. They are very rare at this point and can probably only be found second hand. This one looked as though it had barely been touched and I got it for £560. This is less than half of the price of the CX900. I think I've made a wise choice for somebody who doesn't have a lot of cash. I'd love to see some comparison footage though to see just how much difference in quality I would get for nearly £700 more from the CX900. I wouldn't have excellent stabilisation like the CX730 has - thats one thing for sure. Any of the CX730 users on here want to buy the CX900 and convince me its worth the step?

April 28th, 2014, 02:28 AM	#25
Noa Put Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Belgium Posts: 9,509	Re: Has anyone pre-ordered a Sony AX100 4k or CX900? I got my cx730 new for 830 euro just before it got replaced by a newer model and I believe it was 1000 euro when it first came out, the cx900 now sells for 1500 euro, the main advantages I think are it's larger sensor so you can get a shallow dof if you zoom in, focussing errors will be less forgiving compared to the cx730 but you can push the background easier out of focus which can look nicer. I believe it also has a build in ND? that will also prevent very high shutterspeeds outside. I"m sure the price of this unit will go down pretty fast so with a bit of patience you might get one for around 1200-1300 euro in a few months, only if one of my handicams would die I will get a new replacement, either cx900 or ax100 but for this and next year they still will have to deal with all my church recordings and dance recitals. I see no need for replacing them for the next 2 years.