Re: Sony PXW-X70 announced: Pro XDCAM version of AX100
 

That sounds bizarre - can't see the rationale behind that unless to conserve battery life. I did have both LCD and EVF turned on in the menu system and when my face was up against the large eyecup I could still see (with my left eye) that the viewfinder was still on but it would cut in and out without any particular pattern.

Re: Sony PXW-X70 announced: Pro XDCAM version of AX100
 

Thanks for posting these files, but I haven't found anything yet for a Mac that will play them.

Davinci Resolve Lite (v.10) got the closest, but it had wild glitches and color shifts.

Re: Sony PXW-X70 announced: Pro XDCAM version of AX100
 

On my NX70U it depends which way you go with the focus. Zoomed out there is insufficient focus resolution on the focus-by-wire (e.g. jumps from 2 to 8 m) but if I zoom in and focus (say at 3.2 m) I can zoom in and out and maintain focus so it's not as if there is focus shifting.

Re: Sony PXW-X70 announced: Pro XDCAM version of AX100
 

I think it has a lot to do with the theatre environment I shoot in. We are normally 50 to 100 feet from the stage. Normally with the NX5U I focus on something about 1/3 into the stage and can manage the iris to maintain good depth of field so I do not have to continually refocus when zooming in or around the stage. For the NX30 , CX700 or the XR500 in the lower light environment they tend to be wide open with high gain and so will have less depth of field. Focusing in close will result in the image not being in focus when zoomed out to wide so will need to be re focused again to get a sharp wide image. The change is small but is noticeable on all these cameras of mine and is due I think to the best focal point to capture the full stage within the depth of field being different to the point that was at the zoomed in position. Then when zoomed in again will need refocusing again. Initially I had this problem with the NX5U till I had the lens unit replaced within warranty the exact same thing with my FDR-AX1 as I was particular when I got it and immediately sent it back !!! . I honestly haven't bothered with the smaller cameras as they mainly stay fixed unattended or my wife uses and for family stuff the NX30U is mainly in auto ( with AE shift ) and works great then. I am sure my needs are different from most as I am looking for everything in focus not just the subject. In other words maximum depth of field whether zoomed in or wide.

Ron Evans

Re: Sony PXW-X70 announced: Pro XDCAM version of AX100
 

Some new videos shot with the PXW-X70:

@samjamez shared on twitter that this was shot with the PXW-X70:

http://youtu.be/GkbYkuY3wgU?list=UUd...d6R3eQOZlBz-iA

Re: Sony PXW-X70 announced: Pro XDCAM version of AX100
 

I have an Adobe CC membership and the latest version of Premiere Pro CC plays uses and even renders files in the XAVC format without a hassle. Using a Macbook Pro OSX 10.9.5.

Re: Sony PXW-X70 announced: Pro XDCAM version of AX100
 

So neither FCPX nor Avid will import these files. I don't have an Adobe subscription so will just wait for Sony to provide their solution in October (supposedly).

The video posted above looks much better than those raw clips posted earlier this week.

I still have great hopes for this camera.

Re: Sony PXW-X70 announced: Pro XDCAM version of AX100
 

i don't see anything appealing about the IQ of this camera from the above video. the image looks old and very regular.

david

Re: Sony PXW-X70 announced: Pro XDCAM version of AX100
 

Should these files be playable in the most recent version of the Sony Content Browser- Can the MXF files be imported individually into the content browser, does it matter that these files are outside of the Sony folder structure?

I tried importing them and a browser error saying that it could not import came up.

Re: Sony PXW-X70 announced: Pro XDCAM version of AX100
 

Files play fine in Edius Pro 7.

Ron Evans

Re: Sony PXW-X70 announced: Pro XDCAM version of AX100
 

Content Browser 2.0 "supports" XAVC. But I'm sure they mean XAVC-Intra. It does not support XAVC-S (from AX100) and having used both cameras (I ownt the X70 and used the AX100 for 2weeks) the file structure of the so-called XAVC-L ("Long GOP" from the X70) to my eye is virtually identical to XAVC-S from the AX100. Are we dealing with Sony marketing a so called "professional" codec for the X70 when both codecs are really one and the same? Perhaps someone with more technical and inside knowledge than myself could comment.

Yes it does but isn't it a PIA to import these files without thumbnails and having to hold down the control key while you select every other file (labeled MXF) and skipping the files labeled HTML one at a time? Perhaps I am missing something here and not doing it the proper way. Perhaps the new software Sony is releasing that supplants Content Browser will recognize all favors of XAVC and we will be back to the days of selecting a large group of thumbnails and dumping them into the Edius bin all at once. Sony touts this camera as "professional" grade but this portion of the editing process certainly isn't.

Re: Sony PXW-X70 announced: Pro XDCAM version of AX100
 

After looking into it more- It seems like content browser is being replaced by this new software browser on Sept 30th and I expect this will read everything
https://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/catalystbrowse

more
http://www.sony.com/SCA/company-news...on-appli.shtml

Re: Sony PXW-X70 announced: Pro XDCAM version of AX100
 

Thanks for the links - I had misplaced them. It looks like "problem solved" as far as clip management.

Also, having a PXW FS7K on order it looks like I might be able to use the S-Log3 functions on that camera and do color grading without having the equivalent of a PhD in color grading and spending hours in the process (or perhaps I.m being overly optimistic).

Re: Sony PXW-X70 announced: Pro XDCAM version of AX100
 

Ok. I got my x70 yesterday from Singapore ( I live in Thailand) Really distressed about not being able to edit in PPCS6 but have downloaded a trial of PPCC and it works fine. The images are just so crisp and clear on my 27" iMac. I've uploaded some VERY BADLY SHOT AND EDITED footage so that you can take a look. remember it is on YT at 1080, degraded by their compression, but I hope it will help you decide. Believe me, the original footage is just so sharp!
You can see the footage here

Re: Sony PXW-X70 announced: Pro XDCAM version of AX100
 

Mike which shop did you buy your X70 from?

If the shop is not a sponsor here, can you email me at hantanbl@gmail.com

thanks

Re: Sony PXW-X70 announced: Pro XDCAM version of AX100
 

Weird. The video starts off with the unboxing of a Panasonic X70.

:-)

Andrew

Re: Sony PXW-X70 announced: Pro XDCAM version of AX100
 

[quote=Bill Petropoulos;1862744]Some new videos shot with the PXW-X70:

@samjamez shared on twitter that this was shot with the PXW-X70:
Arras Tunnel Open Day - Wellington - YouTube


I had the chance to handle the camera and I can confirm that the handle (the only reason for a non-broadcast user would buy this one over the AX100 basically for the "looks") is small but big compared to the camera, taking all the fun away from a small tool to go unnoticed. Also the handling is absurd (you end up holding it with three fingers, like a toy). The XLR is important with any camera but I doubt that not many of the X70 buyers have any or plan to buy any. Wireless lav is more important (more than XLR) and it works fine on the AX100. The version batteryless is interesting but you still have to bring them for the receiver so... not that big after all (and on the X70 you have to remove the handle making the process idiot-proof, in terms of idiotic if you ask me).

Again the AX100 still looks good with all the problems still not fixed with the X70 by the way.

for broadcast is cheap and interesting.

Re: Sony PXW-X70 announced: Pro XDCAM version of AX100
 

XAVC-S is 8bit 4:2:0 but XAVC-L is 10bit 4:2:2 depending on the subject matter, lighting and also the playback chain you may not notice much of a difference at first. Heavy processing will see a difference though.

I do not have the camera so I just put the files from the internet into Edius which played back fine. What software came with the camera ?

I too am looking forward to the new Browser software should replace the 4 I now use. PMB, Content Management Utility, XDCam Browser and PlayMemories Home.

I still have PMB on one PC and PlayMemories on a second PC to transfer the AX1 files as PMB has been replaced by PlayMemoies minus some features !!! Hope we get a nice full set of features with the new software.

Ron Evans

Re: Sony PXW-X70 announced: Pro XDCAM version of AX100
 

I have the new PMW-300 and was early out the gate with applying the latest firmware which brought the XAVC recording capability to the camera. I quickly recorded a sample file just to see how it worked .... and I haven't done any more with it since.

Going out on a limb here ... I simply couldn't see the difference in quality between it and 50Mbit XDCAM. Maybe it's something that you need to get used to (like better quality audio speakers) and it's only later that you can look back and see the difference? I really don't know.

Just earlier today I was recounting this to a friend who works in the industry and does a lot of colourist work in addition to editing. His response wasn't to say "yes, it really is better, just wait and see" in terms of image quality. He merely commented that the XAVC material was even better for colour grading work due to the extra two bits of depth in the image data.

Not that there is anything wrong with 50Mbit XDCAM which itself grades beautifully.

I honestly don't feel compelled to record in XAVC and have my recording capacity cut in half due to the doubled data rate of the new format.

Andrew

Re: Sony PXW-X70 announced: Pro XDCAM version of AX100
 

Here are some shots I took and finally got a chance to put them together. Crudely thrown together in Premier Pro. The original files do look much better as Mike Griffiths noted.

Re: Sony PXW-X70 announced: Pro XDCAM version of AX100
 

I'll have crack at that embed for you:

Andrew

Re: Sony PXW-X70 announced: Pro XDCAM version of AX100
 

Thanks. Not sure what I was doing wrong w. the Vimeo. Youtube embedded just fine. Thanks for the help.

Re: Sony PXW-X70 announced: Pro XDCAM version of AX100
 

Have you never seen this boring videos of people unboxing, there was one of the X70 a few days ago, it was a joke, but maybe you could not see that! ( my sense of humour is pathetic!!)

Re: Sony PXW-X70 announced: Pro XDCAM version of AX100
 

OOPS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT!!!!! thinking of my GH3 at the time that I love, humblest apologies!!!!!!!!

Re: Sony PXW-X70 announced: Pro XDCAM version of AX100
 

Hi Mike,

I did note the sense of humour. And I knew the Panasonic reference was an unintentional goof. Happens to us all.

Andrew

Re: Sony PXW-X70 announced: Pro XDCAM version of AX100
 

You've got a credit on the video for pointing it out, no royalties I'm afraid!

Re: Sony PXW-X70 announced: Pro XDCAM version of AX100
 

Ok, Tonight I tried out the Infra Red system, and am disappointed, but maybe I'm not familiar enough with the camera yet. If anyone has comments, ideas or suggestions PLEASE POST THEM
The video (very short) is

Re: Sony PXW-X70 announced: Pro XDCAM version of AX100
 

I have only limited experience with Sony IR recording, but my thoughts are:
1) it is intended to be used not so much in low light, but rather in NO light
2) the image quality is not expected to be very good
3) the IR light doesn't project very far, so it's more effective for closer in shots.
Personally, I have never found an actual use for this feature, but it is on so many different Sony cams, for so many years, I can't help but think someone must use it for something...

Re: Sony PXW-X70 announced: Pro XDCAM version of AX100
 

Try your test again in no light, with an up close subject. The camera basically has a small IR spotlight that is only really capable of reaching 9-12 feet. Perfect for interviews, but not usable for really anything else. For me, it's a perfectly acceptable feature as you can't expect a camera to provide light where there is no light.

Re: Sony PXW-X70 announced: Pro XDCAM version of AX100
 

I think Ghost Hunters, PI's, certain wildlife videographers (bats and other nocturnal critters), and people wanting to take video of sleeping babies are the "primary market"...

Robert is correct on all three observations...

I'll add that nightshot is NOT designed for military style IR as heat detection (useful for ID'ing and icing bad guys), but rather is a mode designed to capture an IR illuminated scene so there is no need for "normal" spectrum light that might disturb the subject or call attention to the shooter in otherwise dark conditions.

As noted, the Sony has a smallish IR emitting LED that will illuminate a limited area (think of it as any other "on camera light"). There are larger IR LED arrays capable of illuminating (in IR light) a much larger area if you need to shoot a large area in near or total darkness (see ebay).

Nightshot and IR illumination are not designed for typical video, but as noted, there must be a market, because it's been a long time Sony "feature", maybe someone at Sony REALLY likes video of stuff that goes bump in the night?!

Re: Sony PXW-X70 announced: Pro XDCAM version of AX100
 

Sony Catalyst is available! a bit strange but it does work for the X70

Re: Sony PXW-X70 announced: Pro XDCAM version of AX100
 

I agree, but have you seen the Sony promo where they are blowing glass? that will blow your mind

Re: Sony PXW-X70 announced: Pro XDCAM version of AX100
 

Thanks everyone for the comments on IR. I'm new to Sony, having used Panny cameras for several years now. This test does illustrate the points made. The IR light is weak, not much use but someone will use it
See a VERY short clip

Re: Sony PXW-X70 announced: Pro XDCAM version of AX100
 

I am a little disappointed so far. It does not recognize the Sony MRW-E80 XQD card reader at all which PlayMemories does just fine, it will only display/transfers AVCHD files and does not join these FAT32 flies into m2ts clips so pretty useless for me !! There are icons for files and clips in the lower right of the copy window but the clips icon is greyed out. So hope it is me not using correctly or maybe a future update but as it is it is useless to me. Will stay with using 3 programs ( Playmemories for AX1, Content Management Utility for NXCam AVCHD and PMB for the CX700 stuff). Since there is no driver for Win 8.1 for the MRW-E80 I will see if it works for the AX1 directly connected on my laptop later and report back.

Sony seem to be going backwards in their software. Playmemories has less features than PMB, the original NXCam Content Management Utility for me has more useful features than the newer Content Browser !!!

Ron Evans

Re: Sony PXW-X70 announced: Pro XDCAM version of AX100
 

About the only thing it does is add clip previews and playback. When you copy it to your hard drive it puts in the whole structure - not just the MXF files - it puts in XML files and if you are copying a group of clips you can't select copy all - you have to go down and individually select every other file (MXF) or organize them according to clip size and only copy the large files (XML files are only a few KB). You cannot drag and drop a group of clips into your NLE (at least not mine - Edius Pro 7). Content Browser was much simpler and more efficient.

Re: Sony PXW-X70 announced: Pro XDCAM version of AX100
 

Strange piece of software that Catalyst Browser... You can't do much with it.

- transcode to another format must be done clip by clip, rather annoying when you have 300 clips to transcode
- strange way of browsing, not intuitive at all
- adjust color: missing simple things like EXPOSURE or CONTRAST, or things like PRESETS
- when selecting clips I hear loud ticks from my USB audio unit!?! Buggy
- nowhere you can right click and get a nice context sensitive menu with lots of options
- it can copy, wow, but you can already do that with finder or explorer
- still can't open X70 clips with Final Cut
- missing: adjusting the interface, dragging borders, adding or deleting columns
- adding metadata not there
- confusing keyboard functions... delete lets you browse up a level?

This software isn't even for beginners. Let's just say it is a beta version with lots of possibilities for future expansion.

Re: Sony PXW-X70 announced: Pro XDCAM version of AX100
 

Tried Catalyst on my laptop , Win 8.1, did not recognize my FDR-AX1 but thought it was just an attached USB drive !!! It saw the XAVC-S files when I searched through the directories and would play them. PlayMemories recognizes it as a FDR-AX1 and presents the clips without having to search through the directories. The NX30U was recognized and metadata displayed but not clips just individual FAT32 files. Useless. I will wait to see if a real version appears in a future update.

Ron Evans

Re: Sony PXW-X70 announced: Pro XDCAM version of AX100
 

I agree completely. If they just could have taken the old Content Browser and made it recognize other codecs than Mpg HD 422. It was all so simple - just have it recognize the SxS from the camera - copy to another file on your video editing drive and then click on that and highlight and drag the thumbnails right into your video editing bin.

I suspect some of the features that people really want will be in Catalyst Prepare at $200 a pop.

Re: Sony PXW-X70 announced: Pro XDCAM version of AX100
 

After unzipping the mxf files, I am not able to drag and drop into Sony Vegas 13 timeline. Am I missing something? Please help as I will be ordering 1 soon. thanks

Re: Sony PXW-X70 announced: Pro XDCAM version of AX100
 

So what do we think of the quality of the footage? On "another forum" they are not impressed, calling it mushy and soft. Yes, I've seen the glass-blowing piece. Yes it looks very nice. What do our members who've got hands on experience think?