Is the 'NX5' the PMW-160??
 

The PMW-160 is almost identical to the 'NX5' with the exception of capturing video in XDCAM format in 4:2:2. Is this the 'replacement'?

J.

Re: Is the 'NX5' the PMW-160??
 

It has new full sensors and is a competitor to the new JVC etc but for the price the PMW200 is much better deal I think. I would like a different set of improvements for my new NX5U AVCHD 2.0 and some more touch controls but I really do not see this happening. A new version of the EA50 with ND filter and SDI output would be a more likely version I think.

Ron Evans

Re: Is the 'NX5' the PMW-160??
 

Ron...the more I looked at the PMW-160, the more I kept thinking that this is "essentially" an upgraded 'NX5', with three 1/2 sensors and 4:2:2/50 Mbps color capture. Same 'G-Lens' and basically the same physical layout. It was just a thought.

Thanks for playing along.

Best regards,

J.

Re: Is the 'NX5' the PMW-160??
 

They are 1/3" sensors not 1/2. Which was my point that the 1/2" sensor PMW 200 is a much better deal. Yes it does look like an upgrade NX5U to go against the other 1/3" sensor cameras with higher data rate codecs than AVCHD 2.0.

Ron Evans

Re: Is the 'NX5' the PMW-160??
 

The PMW-150 in PAL land was shown at BVE in London last month and as Sony weren't showing the NX5 anywhere on their stand I took that to mean the 150 replaces the NX5. It must do; the specs are too similar for them to run parallel.

I too would agree that the 200 is a far nicer beast. Proper big ½'' chips (30.7 sq mm) and an effectively non-ramping f/1.9 14x zoom. Up against tiny 1/3'' chips (17.3 sq mm) with a ramping 20x zoom going from f/1.6 to f/3.4.

tom.

Re: Is the 'NX5' the PMW-160??
 

Yes Tom. For the NXCAM lineup, which is AVCHD , I think the NX5U may be the last of the 3 chip cameras. Currently, other than the NX5 all the NXCAM range are single chip. We will have to wait and see what NAB offers next month. The current trend is to single large sensor cameras in this lineup so new versions of EA50 or FSxxx series are more likely than a new NX5xxx. I think the PMW150/160 was an answer to the competitors and I am sure Sony does not expect to sell lots when the PMW200 is clearly a better choice at about the same price or less and for which their competitors have little competition. We may of course see a NX5 replacement in this prosumer line when 4K starts to appear !!!

Ron Evans

Re: Is the 'NX5' the PMW-160??
 

Remember that the NX5 uses the ClearVid pixel pattern on the sensors, so it's not truly full raster. Only the 160 is full raster 1920x1080.

Re: Is the 'NX5' the PMW-160??
 

Yes the sensors from the PMW160 in an AVCHD 2.0 version of the NX5U would be an improvement/upgrade from the current NX5U. My wish list was indeed that for a new version but I guess Sony saw the competition from JVC 600/650 and went for the PMW range codec not AVCHD 2.0. Hence the model is a PMW160 not a new NXCAM model.

A model like that with AVCHD 2.0 60P, touch focus etc from the rest of the lineup and I would have changed my NX5U. I think a more likely new AVCHD NXCAM model will be a EA50 with ND filters. Same progression as the FS100 and FS700 !!!

Ron Evans

Re: Is the 'NX5' the PMW-160??
 

The JVC 600/650 really can't compare to the image quality of an NX5U. When it was originally released, I thought I'd get an HM600 to use with my NX5U, but I've since been following some threads about the HM600:

http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/jvc-gy-h...ml#post1790182

and not that I'd use auto-focus much, but:

http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/jvc-gy-h...uto-focus.html

Still, it would be nice to have an updated NX5U with the features you mentioned.

Re: Is the 'NX5' the PMW-160??
 

It will be interesting to see reviews of the new Canon XA20/25 when they come out as they look like nice cameras. Even the G30 if XLR is not needed.

Ron Evans

Re: Is the 'NX5' the PMW-160??
 

The 160 has the same lens and sensors as the NX5. I too think that if you are in the market for a 160 to give the 200 a serious look.

Re: Is the 'NX5' the PMW-160??
 

The 160 may have the same lens as the NX5U but it definitely has new sensors. I too think for the money the 200 would be a better choice.

Ron Evans

Re: Is the 'NX5' the PMW-160??
 

Hi Guys,
I am new to this forum.but I am a professional casual wedding videographer in Melbourne. Currently I am using Sony hvr-z5p, this camera gives a good quality video but i realized some professionals using canon 5d mark3 for wedding video purpose. while making online 5-7 mintutes samples of the wedding for websites, 5dmark3 looks excellent.

Can anyone advise, what is the right video camera(not dslr) to buy in next 3 to 4 months to upgrade my sony z5? I was thinking nx5 again its over 3 years old, should i wait for its replacement?

Thanks in advance.

Regards,

Ryan

Re: Is the 'NX5' the PMW-160??
 

Ryan...I just did a quick search on you current camera and I see that it is a 'mini-tape based camera'. From your inquiry, am I correct in assuming you're interested in a tapeless solution? If that's the case, and your budget can withstand it, I'd recommend one of the new Sony HD422 XDCAMs as a viable alternative, i.e., PMW-150, -160 or -200. The PMW-150 is PAL only and the PMW- 200 and -160 are both NTSC and PAL. I've never held a Sony HVR-Z5P, but, based upon the images I've reviewed, the camera shares many of the features and basic layout of the Sony Handheld Cameras family. Recently, I upgraded from a HXR-NX5U AVCHD camera to the new Sony XDCAM PMW-200 and found the 'family familiarity' and transition quite easy. Since Sony did not announce a replacement for the 'NX5U' during NAB '2013, it's probably a safe bet you won't see a replacement before June or August of '2014.

Best regards,

J.

Re: Is the 'NX5' the PMW-160??
 

I expect the replacement may be like the 4K demo they showed at CES. At least that is what I am hoping !!!
It looked to be a similar body to the NX5/AX2000/PMW160. With the new 4K TV's appearing I would not be surprised to have this sort of camera next year. My NX5U will do till then.

Ron Evans

Re: Is the 'NX5' the PMW-160??
 

Ron...yeah, you may be right about a 4k camera. I don't think I have the 'budget' to keep up with 'resolution increases'. : )

Re: Is the 'NX5' the PMW-160??
 

I don't think it will be an expensive camera. I think it will be in line with the NX5 etc. At least that is what I am hoping. I have bought this range of cameras since the VX3 and they are all about the same price just keep improving the specs and I don't expect 4K to be any different really. The really high end 4K will be the FS700 , F55 etc The high end will have the XAVC codec and this lower end the XAVC-S. Much like AVCHD and the higher end codecs. I don't want it for 4k but a way of shooting 4k and giving freedom for HD edits much like I used HDV to edit in DV.

Ron Evans

Re: Is the 'NX5' the PMW-160??
 

James in your opinion, do the ½" sensors on the PMW 200 have a significant advantage in terms of low light and resolution over the ⅓" ones on the NX5 ?
been looking at the PMW 200, but it's very spendy compared to the NX 5, even the memory is costly.

Re: Is the 'NX5' the PMW-160??
 

Quite simply, yes. Look at this thread - http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/sony-xdc...ction-ebu.html - and the test reports Alister links to. (But note my comments later on - there's a couple of errors in the working, such that the reports significantly understate the DR of both the PMW150 and 200.) It seems the 1/2" sensors give around a stop improvement in factors such as sensitivity and dynamic range (as would be expected) - you get what you pay for.
Yes, but if you're happy with the 35Mbs codec, you can use SDHC cards via an adaptor. No, not as good as XDCAM422 50Mbs recorded to SxS - but far, far better than AVC-HD.

As for "Is the 'NX5' the PMW-160??" then I think it's quite likely that yes, the 160 is the successor to the NX5. The problem with the AVC-HD cameras is that the whole rationale behind high bitrate AVC-HD was out of date almost before the first cameras hit the shelves. They were conceived as a way to record decent quality video without the expense of high end memory. But people demonstrating being able to record 35 Mbs onto SDHC cards fairly reliably meant "what's the point?"

If XDCAM EX offers better quality than AVC-HD, and is far more easily dealt with by computers than AVC-HD, then a bitrate only about 40% higher becomes a reasonable price to pay if it involves transcoding to edit.

Re: Is the 'NX5' the PMW-160??
 

Rob...thank you for asking me, but I don't think I can properly answer your question. I never used my 'NX5U' in low-light conditions enough to give you an educated response and I've never performed any "A/B testing" to acquire meaningful data.

Regarding the PMW-200, I can only rely on the Sony specs as stated in their User's Manual and a training video both of which indicates, better low-light sensitivity for the PMW-200.

My primary reason for purchasing the PMW-200 is newer technology (the 'NX5U' is almost five years old), XDCAM workflow and 'broadcast capable', 10-bit 4:2:2 Color Space on-board the camera. Prior to my purchase of the PMW-200, I would use an Atomos Field Recorder for anything requiring 'broadcast quality' (as defined by the EBU, i.e.,10-bit 4:2:2 Color Space @ >50Mbps).

Sorry, I couldn't help more.

Regards,

J.

Re: Is the 'NX5' the PMW-160??
 

I believe the PMW-200's HD422 codec is 8-bit, not 10-bit.

Re: Is the 'NX5' the PMW-160??
 

It is, and in answer to James ("anything requiring 'broadcast quality' (as defined by the EBU, i.e.,10-bit 4:2:2 Color Space @ >50Mbps") then the EBU does not require 10 bit working to qualify as broadcast quality - their relevant document is http://tech.ebu.ch/docs/techreview/t...rod-Codecs.pdf

Most significantly, from the conclusions near the end:
It's unlikely that any camera of 1/2" chips or less will have a noise performance sufficiently good for 10 bit recording acquisition to have much point.

Re: Is the 'NX5' the PMW-160??
 

Hi James & Ron
Sorry for the late reply, Really appreciate guys for your suggestions, hope I will keep using my Z5 till next year, since most of my clients are still asking for the DVDs not blue rays so I will manage with 1440*1080 camera resolution till then.

Please update me if you guys find any new release video camera suitable for wedding.

Thanks very much all of you for your reply

Ryan

Re: Is the 'NX5' the PMW-160??
 

thank you very much David for the insight, makes things a lot clearer to me.
James thanks for your reply, obviously the ½" sensors are going to be better than the ⅓" and yes the workflow must be much more improved.
I'm looking at getting at some stage a cam with ½" sensors the NX5 has caught me out a few times.

Rob

Re: Is the 'NX5' the PMW-160??
 

Hi Ryan

I switched from 3 x 1/3rd chips (Panasonic AC-130's) over to Sony's EA-50's in January this year and so far I have been delighted with the results. Using it as a proper video camera works very well and the APS-C sensor gives really good images. It sadly comes with on a stock lens which is rather slow It's a power zoom 18-200 F3.5 -F6.8 but still gives nice results. In really low light you can zap on your still camera lenses with an adapter and it then really shines. My current reception favourite is a Tokina 11-16 F2.8 thruout and works really well and is part of my Nikon still camera kit. It also has a pile of features that my Panasonics never had and so far I haven't found anything that Sony has left out!

Price is not bad either! From VideoPro in Brisbane it's under $4000 with free shipping.

They have worked very hard in the last 6 months and I delighted so far.

Chris

Re: Is the 'NX5' the PMW-160??
 

Thank you for correcting my error. Yes, the PMW-200 does record 8-bit 4:2:2 @ 50Mbps. I think my confusion is based upon something I read, that the camera adds the 2-bits (Null-bits) to the 'SDI Out', if you're using an ancillary recording device. Though, I may be wrong.

Regards,

J.

Re: Is the 'NX5' the PMW-160??
 

Hi Chris,
Just wondering, EA50 is it good for weddings/birthdays? I have heard about it but it’s a shoulder mount camera, I am looking for something handheld the size of nx5/z5 is really good.

Ryan