PXW-X70 vs RX10-II
 

Yes, I know they are two completely different cameras but lets have fun comparing anyway.

Lenses:
RX10-II has a faster and brighter constant F2.8 lens. It's not quite as long but it's certainly faster at 200mm. I think the RX10-II wins that category.

Lens Zoom:
No competition. The X70 has a very nice zoom rocker that is variable and fairly smooth. The RX10 is very limited and has rough motion. X70 = BIG winner in this area.

CODEC:
No competition here. The RX10-II does 100Mbp/s. That's 40Mbp/s more information per second than the X70's very feeble, delicate and fragile 60Mbp/s. RX10-II the clear winner here.

Battery and Recording time:
The X70 has no time limit and wonderful, large batteries. The RX10-II needs external power and an external recorder to mach the X70 here. X70 is the easy winner here. (But the RX10-II is over $1,000 cheaper so you could buy it with that money)

Audio:
The RX10-II has full audio level control but requires an external adapter for XLR. The X70 comes with it. X70 is the easy winner here too.

Picture Controls:
Both have a nice set of common pro controls but the RX70-II has SLOG-2. This is a HUGE feature. The ability to record the sensor's entire dynamic range (around 12 stops) in SLOG-2 is killer. RX10-II is my BIG winner here.

Highlight handling:
Many of Sony's 1 inch type sensor models seem to display harsh highlight's and burn quickly. It's common for Sony shooters to under expose by 1/2 stop to protect these highlights. The RX10-II's SLOG-2 could go a long way in solving this problem. I think the RX10-II "probably" wins this easily too.

Aperture/IRIS control:
The RX10-II has a smooth IRIS ring with end-stops. The X70 has a tiny, endless rotating wheel. Not even a competition here...RX10-II wins again.

Frame rate options:
Yeah...nothing to even say here. It's not even a fight at all...RX10-II all the way.

Photography:
The RX10-II shoots 20mp .jpgs and RAW. The X70?...it was stripped of pictures all together. In fact, all the pixels above and below it's 16x9 sensor crop are literally just wasted doing nothing. I think Sony could have at least given the X70 .jpg capability and removed raw...but nope, they took all photography out completely. RX10-II, easy winner here too.

Price:
With the 4K X70 costing $1,000+ more it's a tough sell for some people. The RX10-II's 100Mbp/s CODEC and SLOG-2 really, REALLY gives a ton of value to the little camera. RX10-II = winner here.

Ergonomics and body shape are a toss up. I love my X70 top XLR handle and side grip but the RX10-II is excellent given is very compact size...I'd call it a toss up or slight advantage to the X70.

I suspect that all in all, the RX10-II will out perform the X70 in final-result image quality. It's SLOG-2 gamma compression and it's tougher and more durable 100Mbp/s CODEC wins out in the end. And with the money you save, you can just about by a Video Devices PIX E5 4K ProRes recorder to go with the RX10-II. This will increase your monitoring tools and 4:2:2 capture quality tremendously.

My winner is the RX10-II...but I'm still keeping my X70! ;-)

Y'all's thoughts??

CT

Re: PXW-X70 vs RX10-II
 

Cliff - That’s an excellent comparison list.

"Y'all's thoughts??" Can this idea be expanded?

We’ve all got the deal-breaker items, and some nearly so, and one of mine is ND filters. I really need something for use in bright light and a ND64 would be nice - not a must have but nice, a screw-in filter being a fall-back.

One item that nearly everyone wants is dual XLR inputs but for me an add-on pre amp with dual XLR inputs, while not the ideal situation, would be considered. Just because there are XLR inputs doesn’t mean the camera circuitry is quiet. I’ve been using a JuicedLink pre and it’s circuitry is really quiet, plus it has phantom power capability and a number of other useful settings and control features.

IS image stabilization wold be a plus. (I do a lot of hand-held). For my cam selection I’ve got some more spec items but they aren’t handy right now so this is just to give an idea.

Everybody has deal-breaker list so "your mileage may vary", as they say.

What would be very helpful is a spreadsheet for doing camera comparisons. If DVinfo could “sponsor” a crowd-sourced” spreadsheet or data base that would be helpful.

An example of how this could look is at MacBook Pro "Core 2 Duo" 2.53 15" (Unibody) Specs (Late 2008, MB471LL/A, MacBookPro5,1, A1286, 2255) @ EveryMac.com. This site has three columns for comparisons and one can compare up to three items. All it would take is a data base for starters and this could be crowd-sourced aka Wikipedia. In the case of camcorders and DSLRs, it would be helpful to have some sort of a short user comment list for items or issues that the specs don’t cover.

Re: PXW-X70 vs RX10-II
 

You know, if the RX10-II had an articulating screen I would be tempted, but Sony has chosen to keep the same design.

I love my RX10, but one camera with no touch screen and no articulating screen is enough for me. I also hate that there is no auto setting for the audio, another issue I'm not pleased with.

Oh, yes, and if they have not made the zoom to move any faster then I would have three reasons not to buy.

Great camera, but it just misses the mark for me.

In my opinion, it's easier to buy a camera from B&H, try it out, and return it if necessary rather than spend months researching it and comparing features online.

In ten years I've only returned one camera, but I love having that option. Nothing tells you if a camera will work for you like actually using it. Just my 2 cents.

Re: PXW-X70 vs RX10-II
 

How does purchasing a new camera, try it out and return it if you don't like it work anyway? So I could purchase a new camera from B&H and possibly get the one you have played with, not a new camera IMO. I always thought they would require a reason to return a camera other than I just don't like it.

Re: PXW-X70 vs RX10-II
 

Let's also consider 8-bit vs. 10-bit color space. X70 wins here.

Re: PXW-X70 vs RX10-II
 

James: You can return cameras to virtually any place you buy them, online or in a store. You do not need a reason. It's like anything you buy most places nowadays. You did not know this?

The idea is not to abuse the policy, but to not be afraid of trying out a new camera. I have purchased a fair number of cameras over the years and like I said I have only returned one, but the option takes the fear away. Same with accesories, etc..

IMO, you do your research, make a decision, then buy something. I see a lot of people agonize for months over a single camera purchase, which I understand, of course. But when possible it's just easier to buy something. After awhile the prolonged decision making process just becomes mental masturbation and you see members who seem to rehash over the same things over, in multiple threads, in multiple forums, and you'd think they'd never bought a camera before. I know it's hard sometimes but at some point you just need to make a decision.

It's like online dating, until you actually meet someone in person you won't know if it will work out.

Re: PXW-X70 vs RX10-II
 

Will you get your money in return when they see you have used the camera? Where I live you have the right to send back anything you buy online within 14 days without giving a reason, but only online, it doesn't apply if you buy in the store. But when they see you have used the product you are not allowed to send it back anymore and you have to keep it, so here you can't use that return policy to test the camera's.

Re: PXW-X70 vs RX10-II
 

I did know that cameras could be returned but never understood what they would do with the returned camera, just send it out as a new unopened camera to the next person that purchases one? Seems it would have to be sold as an open box with a reduced price, I think that there is adaquate info on cameras for one to know if it would fit the need. That's just my opinion. I just hate the thought of ordering a new camera and someone has already messed with it.

Re: PXW-X70 vs RX10-II
 

Of course. A buyer needs to read the store return policy, but yes, you get all of your money back as long as it's returned in like new condition with all packaging materials. Yes, you can have used it.

It's just the way it's done here in the U.S.. If it's beat up, scratched, etc., it would be foolish and dishonest to try and return it.

Yes, James, as common sense tells us, returned items are sold as open box, and the store loses money in that way, but having a generous return policy encourages sales and in the end I suppose they hope to make up for the returns by more sales.

I have purchased several open box cameras and a lot of open box accessories, and they too are returnable, at least where I buy, which is either B&H, Adorama, or Amazon.

Items sold as used are also often returnable.

B&H and Adorama, and even Amazon are very good online retailers who have a long established reputation of trustworthiness. I have bought and returned many items (new and used) from all three places and have NEVER had a hassle. The main thing is to repack the item perfectly, and to be considerate of the store, at least that's what I like to do.

Actually, I had a small issue with Adorama once, years ago. It was very minor, but their customer service (The lovely Helen) reached out to me and more than made things right. Great company.

Re: PXW-X70 vs RX10-II
 

Return policy? It varies by seller. Check with the seller and find out what their return policy is. Some don't allow returns, some might have a "restocking charge, some have rentals where the rental cost can be applied to the purchase, and so forth.

A cam is a big purchase and from the seller standpoint, getting a new box has been opened, the plastic bags opened, owners manual gone through, stuff stored on the cam ...... hey, it's a USED cam now. How can they possibly sell it as "New"? They can't. The seller has to take a loss if it's used.

Talk the return policy over with the seller, better still, get the agreement in writing, then go for it. It's not a good idea to assume every business will accept a return, especially the small and mom-and-pop stores because they can't afford to take the hit. In fact, For what it's worth, I don't know of any retailer that would take back a new expensive camera or camcorder.

Re: PXW-X70 vs RX10-II
 

John, the three retailers I listed can and do accept returns on cameras, lenses, and pretty much anything. Adorama and B&G are all brick and mortar stores who happen to have an online presence and I guarantee they accept returns on cameras. Some VERY expenive cameras might not be returnable, but I don't spend 10-50K on cameras so I wouldn't know about that.

Yes the smaller stores vary, of course, but I would never purchase from a smaller store, it just doesn't make sense. I like supporting local, but for the gear I buy it's just not practical from a business point of view.

Re: PXW-X70 vs RX10-II
 

I didn't have a problem with returns as long as they are sold as open box. I would personally never return any item unless it was defective or appeared used. I have read on the forums for years about I ordered this item, didn't like it and returned it, Sounds like a female at a apperall store!!

Re: PXW-X70 vs RX10-II
 

It is my understanding that the PXW-X70 records UHD @4:2:0- 8 bit. Or that is what I read on the BH site. I am and have been considering the X70 for quite a while and though the RX10-II is a remarkable camera for the money it is a still camera with video features. This does not work for me and many others. My needs are for a complimentary camera for my PMW-300 as many of clients now want a two camera shoot with one locked off. The 29 minute record limit is an issue, the DSLR issues with things attached to get XLR into it, the on camera monitoring, the lens as mentioned. Though the X70 has more than its share of bad press and posts on the 60Mbp/s there would appear to be evidence that it will eventually be upped to a higher rate.
I would certainly like to own an RX10-II for all its other features as a C camera and it will probably be the one that will replace my NEX7 down the road.
What surprises me is that I have not been able to find one comment from Sony on the upgrade or the 60Mbp/s. Has anyone seen anything from Sony?
All of that to say Thanks for an excellent post comparing the two.

Re: PXW-X70 vs RX10-II
 

Am I the only one that questions what the point of comparing them is? They are 2 totally different camera's serving 2 totally different purposes. You might as well trow in a gopro, mine can do 2.7k at 50(!) fps, can I say it is a clear winner in this case? Then it's size and we have another big winner!

I"m just being sarcastic here but if you want to compare the rx10 with another camera you need to use another bridge camera, like the panasonic fz1000 and for the x70 a Canon xa25 alike camera would be more appropriate.

Re: PXW-X70 vs RX10-II
 

I agree with Noa, The X70 should be compared to dedicated video camera - the fact that it doesn't have a photo mode is the clue!!! (Sorry Cliff, I genuinely don't want to sound like an arse - and I do get why you've compared the two)

The Canon XC10 would probably be a far closer comparison for the RX10-II, no XLR's on either, both use a bridge camera layout, both have a single (useable) card slot, both can be used for stills & video etc.

Re: PXW-X70 vs RX10-II
 

Why do I compare them? My opening statement explains it.....because it's "fun".

I knew when I started the thread that some might be upset by the concept. Yes, the two are different cameras...very different cameras. But does that mean that it's a terrible thing to discuss the two together? Hehe...maybe!

For me, sometimes I like throw all of the ergonomic and convenience features of a camera and ask one simple thing:

What camera is going to give me the best image quality of my shot. The best dynamic range, detail and capture codec.

Look at the Zacuto camera shootout. They took several cameras those don't belong together and did image quality tests among them with blind tests! (yes.,..the even used an iPhone)

http://www.zacuto.com/great-camera-shootout-2011

The surprising result was that all these cameras in the rights hands were to that far away from each other.

Don't take it too seriously. It's all for fun.

I certainly hope that nobody finds the idea too horribly offensive. ;-)


CT

p.s...on the "no photo" thing about the X70. As we all know, the sister model, the AX100 DOES take pictures....I'm just sayin'. Photos on a camcorder have been done before....it's shocking, yes, I know.

Re: PXW-X70 vs RX10-II
 

It's not offensive, just weird :) Like comparing a bike to a car, both will get you from point a to b and you also will find "winner" points on both of them if you would compare. But don't let me stop anyone from comparing the camera's, I"m all for fun. :)

Re: PXW-X70 vs RX10-II
 

As far as the no photo thing, I think Sony has drawn a line in the sand between what they consider professional vs. consumers. The X70 falls into the XDCAM line, and is considered professional so it has professional features. A professional generally uses a tool with a specific design to fit their need, therefore there would be no need for a picture function in a video camera. A consumer line camera has lots of "toy" features to compete against the competition and to help it stand out to a typical consumer.

Re: PXW-X70 vs RX10-II
 

Yeah, like the build in projector the sony cx handycam line had in their lcd screens. Sony is briljant though in building in superhandy geekstuff, like my sony cx730 which has a build in videolight.

Re: PXW-X70 vs RX10-II
 

at a recent event during some down time, I was playing around with the projector on one of our small cams, we had quite an audience before too long, pity nobody could hear any worthwhile audio.

was there a comparison done between the PXW-70 and the FDR-AX100 ??

Re: PXW-X70 vs RX10-II
 

Well?...would it be a "weird" thing to decide this?

I'm going to Yellowstone. Do I take my X70 or my RX10-II? My goal is the best picture quality I can get. I want the best CODEC for color grading and I want the most dynamic range...all other features are secondary in priority.

I can look back at my original post and make my decision based on that criteria.

With this in mind,...is the concept of comparing these two cameras still "wierd" to you?

There is a guy that compares his A7s to his RED camera in low light. Yeah, the A7s destroys the RED. Is that a "wierd" comparison?

The Zacudo camera challenge took many cameras that don't normally get compared together just for the sole purpose of: "which cameras give the absolute best image quality...regardless of ergonomics, shape, features or cost" The blind test results are shocking.

Nah,..it's not "wierd" at all.

When people are watching my Yellowstone video, after all the footage is shot and edited, the ONLY thing that will matter to anyone is...How good does this video look and sound?

So yeah,...the X70 stays home and the RX10-II's SLOG-2 and 100Mbp/s trumps ANY other cool feature that the X70 has. If I'm shooting a long form show or interview, than the X70 is back in play. In that case, long battery life and no time limit will have priority over image quality.

Still sound "wierd"?

CT ;-)

Re: PXW-X70 vs RX10-II
 

Yes, to me it does, but like I said, don't let me spoil the fun but to go further on your example; I"m going to shoot in a public place that might prevent me from using a camera but I want something that nobody notices and I still want to be able to shoot in 4K, if you would have added the gopro to your comparison list and it said it was a smallest camera that could do 4K then I"d know I would have to take that one with me, because otherwise I might have taken the x70 with me and maybe not be allowed to shoot at all, to me that sounds weird, but I can say that now because I wrote it :)

I have 8 different camera's here, a g6, gh3/4, rx10, ax100 cx730, xr520 and a gopro 4, I really don't need to have a list to know which camera to use in which situation, I exactly know which ones to use and when based on experience, not by using a winner speculation list... It's just my opinion so don't take it too seriously.

It's my experience that specification mean nothing without having used a camera yourself in the field, your list might say camera A is the clear winner based on specifications only and after you shoot with camera A and B it might turn out you prefer camera B. Your list is full of speculation so what does this teach us?

Re: PXW-X70 vs RX10-II
 

In posting this topic, people can agree with me and that is fine but I'm far more interested in reading about people that disagree with me. I want to hear things like;

"No, I don't like 100Mbp/s anyway. I prefer 60Mbp/s because it looks good enough for my needs and I like the smaller file sizes."

"No, I don't like SLOG-2. I don't ever want to grade it. I don't care about it's dynamic range and REC 709 is all I really want"

"A constant F2.8 aperture lens is not for me. I'd rather have a longer lens and I don't care if it's slower"

"Ergonomics and convenience features are by far the most important thing I'm looking for, that's mostly the only thing I care about".

Stuff like that is what I want to read.

In short, I will sum it up by asking this new question:

If you have a couple of thousand dollars to spend...which camera suits YOUR needs the best? (And please tell me why)

That's all...it's easy. A valid case can be made for both and it's not "weird" or "strange" to compare the two's features if you could only choose one camera to own.

Re: PXW-X70 vs RX10-II
 

For the majority of shooting that I do, I require a zoom lens that can be operated by LANC. All other cameras are out of the question. Now, if it wasn't for that requirement, it would be the Sony A7s hands down.

Re: PXW-X70 vs RX10-II
 

Are we talking any camera in general now or still only the x70 or rx10?

Re: PXW-X70 vs RX10-II
 

Well to answer the question: Which camera suits my particular needs? Both. As a result of your posting the comparison, I have pretty well decided to buy both. The flexibility of RX10 II for discreet or covert shooting in HD is a big plus as well as the 4k, slo mo still mode etc. It is lightweight and I am tired of carrying around a bunch of lenses for my NEX7 and an adapter etc.
And the X70 because it is a great little video camera that will work well with my PMW 300K1 as a B cam in HD. Most of my work and my clients use HD and though the 4K is a nice added feature it will allow me to get great audio as well as broadcast quality HD video.
So for under $4K I end up with a nice package that is lightweight and travels well.
One question: Has anyone read whether the RX10 II has manual audio control or is it ALC only?
EDIT: Found answer- Automatic or 32-step manual audio level control
Thanks
Look for my lenses and follow focus NEX7 and a bunch of other stuff soon to be posted in the classifieds.

Re: PXW-X70 vs RX10-II
 

For me, hands down the X70. It's my first professional-level cam and I am loving it.

Preface: I'm not a professional photographer, videographer, etc. I love doing creative projects as well as capturing family moments either at home or on vacations. I started with a Canon T4i for photos and a Canon HF G20 for video a few years back. There were several instances where what I wanted to do was beyond the limits of the equipment. My audio always sounded awful too.

One example of limits... I was in locations where no flash was allowed. The fastest my still camera lens could go at the focal length I needed was around f/3.5. So I had two choices: blurry images or noisy images. While I could put the HF G20 into manual mode, it was insanely clunky. Several trips in and out of menus to adjust things. Just impractical for many things I was shooting.

Fast forward a bit... I now have a full-frame DSLR with a fast 50mm lens (I found that 90%+ of past photos I shot were all around 50mm with my zoom lens). Between the lens and better ISO performance, I get 5 to 6 stops worth of improvement over my last camera. So while I don't always shoot at f/1.2, it's there when I need it.

For video, the more I dived in technically, the more sad I was as to the marketing hype. I know I thus wanted to move to a professional-grade video system to get the best possible HD at a price point of between 3 and 4K USD. Note: I have zero interest in 4K, so none of my decisions were affected by that.

When comparing cams, I focused on two primary things. First, video and audio quality. I am loving the HD footage of this unit! For audio, I now use a Audio Technica BP4025 stereo mic. Do I absolutely need 24-bit audio? Or 10-bit video? No, but it does sometimes really help when making certain adjustments in post.

Second, convenience. The entire set of dedicated buttons and dials allows me to make very fast adjustments without going into menus.

Other things that I love about the X70 that really pushed my hand towards that unit:

* dual memory card slots that used SDXC cards (no desire to get something with CFast or other expensive storage).
* Three ND filter settings
* two different zoom rockers. I set the smaller on one the handle to be a fixed zoom at a very slow rate. The main rocker does variable zoom. Again, it's things like this that really allow you to immediately do what you need without reconfiguring settings.

Once I got the unit, I found that I also really loved the handle. Very convenient to carry around!

Re: PXW-X70 vs RX10-II
 

Any and all cameras really. For me, the RX10-II have the best overall "image quality" at the $1300-$2500 price range. Of course, I'm a Sony tool and this certainly highly debatable and subjective. ;-)

Re: PXW-X70 vs RX10-II
 

Interesting comparison! I'm considering an RX10 as a back up camera for sure! All things considered, the X-70 is the right camera for me. The things that sealed the deal for me were the size, XLR inputs, 10 bit video, IS, and SDI output. It just works better for my style of shooting. Would be nice to get SLOG and 100mbs 4k video in the future though!

Re: PXW-X70 vs RX10-II
 

Probably stating the obvious but as a video cam, you can't really beat the, er, video cam here. I have both the X70 and the RX10 and the RX10 was quickly relegated to camera 3 behind the X70 and CX900. So much fiddling about with the RX10 that is just makes it a nuisance for me Not to say that it isn't a good camera because it is. Just not the right tool for the job, for me anyway.

Re: PXW-X70 vs RX10-II
 

Yup, no doubt about being "fiddly". I would love to take both cameras apart and do a "Franken-camera". I'd I'd take out the RX10-II's sensor, motherboard and lens and glue it all into the X70's body!

I have the same problem with the A7s. I absolutely LOVE the 4k image from that thing with the Shogun. I'd say it's easily the best $2,500 image you can get. However, I'm forced into using it with a large rig and external 4k recorder to get what I need form it....yuck!

I suppose in the end though, if I got beautiful footage and people love that, nobody is going to care about "how" I got it. Non of your struggles in the field will matter to them. When you watch what Phillip Bloom's shots for CNN in "The Wonder List" with his A7s, as the viewer, all you say is "WOW!" and you don't care at all what "fiddlyness" he went though to get it.

The DSLR revolution a few years back was really huge. What was intended as a nice feature for "consumers" really exploded too far and made it's way deep into the professional market. To get the full frame look and great low light, real Pro's were buying the 5D2&3 like crazy. I believe that Canon thought that the "fiddlyness" and other shortcomings would protect their video camera sales and keep the big dollar pro away form them....but that didn't happen!

In the end, I'm more of a "get the shot, no matter what it takes" kinda guy. I really want SLOG-2 and 100Mbp/s for certain projects so I'm forced to leave my nice X70 at home and go with the RX10-II. I'll sacrifice allot but image quality for certain things has to be overall #1. Plus, not having to protect my highlights to closely with the RX10-II with SLOG-2 is another plus. You gotta be very very careful of that with the X70. It's a really great camera I guess my X70 will now be mostly reserved for long form only stuff.

I just cant turn down the RX10-II's SLOG-2, 100Mbp/s and it's high frame rate modes even though it's a pain in the butt to shoot with.

Re: PXW-X70 vs RX10-II
 

Have you allready shot with this camera or is there allready some real world footage out there that shows what advantage slog2 gives on this camera? I have the rx10 and have some love/hate relation with that camera, eventhough it is very easy to operate and change iso and aperture on the fly the frustrating slow zoom makes it often not usable under run and gun. The image quality can be very nice, the detail and colour is right where it should be, only it easily blows out highlights. If the rx10 II would have a much faster zoom and if the camera could deal better with highlights I"d probably sell my rx10 and get the mark 2 instead.

Re: PXW-X70 vs RX10-II
 

No Noa, I haven't shot with the RX10-II yet. However I have allot of experience with SLOG-2 on the FS700 and the A7s. So, I know what gamma compression does on those cameras. (comparing rec709-ish gamma to SLOG-2)

Philip Bloom has posted an RX10-II video with some SLOG-2 and EOSHD has mentioned it too. EOSHD is extremely impressed with the RX10-II....and that's coming from Canon guys.

If SLOG-2 doesn't do anything on the RX10-II?.... than believe me, I'll be the FIRST to get up here and say so.

However, I believe that it's very highly likely that SLOG-2 will roll those highlights off quite a bit....very nicely, I'm almost certain.

Re: PXW-X70 vs RX10-II
 

Eventually there may well be an AX100M2 with the new stacked sensor - it's logical, and at that point the "consumer" cam will surpass the "pro".... (do consumers even BUY cameras anymore?! The camera aisle at the Fry's I went to the other day was MOSTLY empty bins/mounts, with very few "old stock" cameras on one and a half displays out of nearly a dozen.... tumbleweeds...).


I've said for a while that if one thinks of the 1" class sensor Sonys as a "system", you can cover almost any shooting scenario - an AX100 (or X70, I suppose) has it's place, the RX10 (and now the RX10M2) has another, and the little RX100 series has yet another (though rather limited). ONE camera is always going to have limitations. With 4K, you can get away with one camera cropped and panned to FHD, so you get some gains there, but still, having a workable second cam that fits "other" shooting scenarios has advantages.

All that aside, I would in fact have one of each of the above (now with the latest versions, if I didn't have the existing ones - the prior ones are excellent cameras in their own right, shooting very very good HD). Still very economical, still quite compact and fairly light, enough commonality on functions to be sort of easy to remember the menus and such, and the image quality is hard to beat.

Re: PXW-X70 vs RX10-II
 

I think this topic really boils down to a three separate and basic questions:

Do you want a camera with maximum image quality for the price with convenience or feature set being a secondary need?

Do you want a camera with maximum convenience features for the price with image quality being a secondary need?

Do you want a little bit of both with no "maximum" on anything?

I can certainly see situations where I would want all three at different times or shooting different events. However, if I really think about it, I tend to gravitate to the "Let me begin with maximum quality first and I will suffer though all the convenience heartaches later" category! I own many cameras including and A7s that I rig the crap out of. I sacrifice and go through all the convenience Hell just so I can have that amazing 4k full frame image. I hate shooting in the field with it but I darn sure LOVE grading and editing those Shogun UHD ProRes files in post.

And yes,..I can understand people have the exact opposite mindset. "Just give me a basic image. I'm not into grading it and I want my life to be easy during the shoot"...I get those people too.

So yeah,..my X70 stays but my RX10-II will probably be the one I shoot allot more with. Between the two, I need the maximum quality first for short clip projects. (long form shooting aside..that is the X70's role) Big client projects will see the FS700 with 4K on the shogun.

This topic is not as "weird" as some have suggested after all. ;-)

Re: PXW-X70 vs RX10-II
 

Just took my new RX10-II for a 30 min spin. The new stacked 1 inch-type sensor has NO rolling shutter in 4k!!...it's GONE! Woah! SLOG-2 looks fantastic, highlight handling is a HUGE improvement....dynamic range is EASILY way better than previous 1inch-type models with SLOG-2 turned on. (rec 709 highlights seems the same as previous 1inch-type) Way to go Sony...you fixed it!!

The high speed frame rates are spectacular for a cheap $1,300 camera.

This thing is a little MONSTER!

Re: PXW-X70 vs RX10-II
 

Have shot a few hours now with the RX10-II. Let me tell you, SLOG-2 is brilliant on this camera! It makes all the difference in the world. It's a huge improvement in dynamic range and no more burnt high lights. You can over expose +1stop, (or more) see deeper into the shadows and STILL protect your highlights better that any rec 709-ish profile on it.

Plus you get many more profile options, knee, slope and a ton of painting options.

Even without the 4k, with all the other features, it's a giant upgrade. It looks the same on the outside but it's very different on the inside.

Re: PXW-X70 vs RX10-II
 

Is it easy to colorcorrect that slog2 footage so that it matches other camera's, like a ax100? Or to make it look like what this camera produces colorwise when you are not shootng s-log2? I really like the colors my rx10 produces but have some doubts how easy it would be to match a slog2 image from the markII with that.

Re: PXW-X70 vs RX10-II
 

Sometimes it's easy and sometimes it's not. It just takes practice and you NEED your scopes to really grade SLOG-2 right.

However, the reward for your work is high. You can capture around 12 stops or so in SLOG-2. Any other good looking REC709-ish gamma will only hold 6 or 7 stops? (around there?) So when you are not shooting in SLOG-2, you are throwing away highlights that would otherwise be clipped by REC709.

SLOG-2's latitude is just sooo much more forgiving. The RX10 and RX10-II has more dynamic range that you realize. You just cant use it all with other "normal looking" profiles.

Re: PXW-X70 vs RX10-II
 

I still need to see if it is easily done, like if you take a shot in the standard profile from the rx10 and then shoot the exact same scene in slog2, grade it and make it match with the standard colorprofile. The only difference I would expect then is that slog2 will display a much higher dynamic range. I might be wrong but that slog2 is still 4:2:0 8 bit so grading it will have limitations and the higher bitrate will not be of any help in such a case.