Re: Sony announces HXR-NX3 professional HD camcorder
 

I've updated my page here to include the operating guide for the HXR-NX3. I couldn't find anywhere online to download it so I asked Sony Australia for a copy.

Sony HXR-NX3 - Sample Files mike-warren.net

Re: Sony announces HXR-NX3 professional HD camcorder
 

Thanks for the user manual. Nice to compare to my NX5U. Some nice additions and some omissions too. The fact the NX3 can record simultaneously to both SD cards is good and likely removes the need for the FMU 128. I like the touch focus and WiFi controls too. It can also record to an external recorder over HDMI too. Missing are timecode lock, HD SDI and smooth gain switching ( also missing from my FDR-AX1 and the PXW-Z100 not acceptable to me in such pro camcorders as switching gain needs to be smooth)

Ron Evans

Re: Sony announces HXR-NX3 professional HD camcorder
 

My NX3 arrived today!! Woohoo. All looking good so far.

1 big annoyance at this stage, similar to the NX-70, there is no option to have the Viewfinder AND the LCD active at the same time! grrrrrrr!!!

Re: Sony announces HXR-NX3 professional HD camcorder
 

Excellent! Congratulations.

I'd still love to see a 50p clip at night time, if you can manage it.


That doesn't make sense. There is nothing in the manual to suggest that limitation, and on page 24 it says this:

To me, that suggests that in this situation, the camera operator must be using the viewfinder.

Re: Sony announces HXR-NX3 professional HD camcorder
 

Then again, I just looked at the NX5 manual, which shows a setting for "VF POWERMODE" The NX3 has no such setting. That seems like a silly omission.

Re: Sony announces HXR-NX3 professional HD camcorder
 

Nope - it's crazy. You flip the LCD over and the operator then cannot see the LCD, nor anything through the viewfinder because the LCD is active. So the operator is staring at the back of the camera not knowing what the hell is being recorded. WTF??? Moronic! Someone at Sony needs a bloody slapping.

Will certainly get some 50p native test shots up very shortly.

Re: Sony announces HXR-NX3 professional HD camcorder
 

VF power selection is there in my FDR-AX1 just like the NX5U. But both these new camcorders miss smooth gain switching . Maybe Sony feel no one switches gain while recording !!!

Ron Evans

Re: Sony announces HXR-NX3 professional HD camcorder
 

Well, that's a deal breaker! I was all set to order an NX3, but I don't think I will now. I always run my NX5U with both the LCD panel and the viewfinder active with both displaying everything, it's just the way I'm used to working.
You couldn't even use a 7" monitor from the HDMI port as an alternative because you can't send peaking and zebra out HDMI (you can with all other display functions though).

Why would Sony do this? It does seem stupid.

Re: Sony announces HXR-NX3 professional HD camcorder
 

That's unfortunate, hopefully you won't discover any other negative "surprises". What other cameras do you have access to that you can compare it to? I'd like to see something to download that shows the effective performance of the 21-40x Clear Image Zoom. This camera still high on my list unless there is a serious NAB announcement in this price range from Panasonic or Canon.

Re: Sony announces HXR-NX3 professional HD camcorder
 

Personally, I'm hoping for something great from Canon, but I don't know if it will happen.

Re: Sony announces HXR-NX3 professional HD camcorder
 

Here's some raw files I took just on sunset last night. All shot at 1080/50p, Outdoor WB, slightly tweaked Picture Profile, LPCM audio. Totally unscientific - fairly much out of the box and waving it around - testing AUTO / vs MANUAL in low light, gain/noise etc.

https://mega.co.nz/#!eFkkUIoY!Yf3M-q...j2x_PS6wyWm0M8

https://mega.co.nz/#!3U01xAjb!JcouiG...RJcecxrsm_D-FU

https://mega.co.nz/#!eJ9AkKpS!GPfEu3...L2Zr64uIWmZQyQ

https://mega.co.nz/#!bYsm2YjK!xKTYZQ...XT6B1ft7lPcx8I

https://mega.co.nz/#!LckXAT5a!Yo1Mg8...gJZqaGpOSkC_5U

https://mega.co.nz/#!bF9kHQqY!I8XXhb...rgBsqoWICGvORo

https://mega.co.nz/#!zYVgHTSK!KEJR9G...m5RUE8xj0xikDw

https://mega.co.nz/#!DBt2QCYL!Rl2Pnb...lUg6j8yYw2Yvbg

https://mega.co.nz/#!2Jch1ZjK!Ainw9X...CbPc4HUljNtFGg

Re: Sony announces HXR-NX3 professional HD camcorder
 

Thanks John. Downloading now...

Re: Sony announces HXR-NX3 professional HD camcorder
 

Hi Tony, I'm upgrading from the Sony Z7 which is HDV and been using since 2008. Similar form factor. The 40x zoom is very impressive. For event purposes no client would ever notice any digital artifacts. Pixel peepers would, but I'm very impressed. 20x is enough for me anyhow as I'm used to only 12x.

The other negative mentioned previously is no SMOOTH GAIN setting which was an option on the Z7. So switching gain manually is instant and harsh. Not a biggie, I tend to select 1 gain setting suitable for the environment and leave it there, controlling things with iris.

Very nice in low light (see clips above). Lighter than the Z7 and slightly more plasticy feel - but solid. Has a built in mic next to the LCD light. Advanced Picture Profile settings (gamma, knee, rgb etc)

I've got a wedding this Saturday and are confident enough to use this as main camera already... with a roving NX70 for cutaways. I'll let you know how I get on.

Re: Sony announces HXR-NX3 professional HD camcorder
 

Let me know if you want to see anything else. The FULL AUTO shots I filmed didn't give me any indication of iris/shutter/gain - my fault, I had turned the CAMERA DATA DISPLAY off which was silly. All sorted now so I can see what settings the AUTO is choosing.

Re: Sony announces HXR-NX3 professional HD camcorder
 

What cute pigs. :)

Thanks for that. Showing what the auto system can do in poor light really gives a "warts and all" view, and it performs pretty much exactly how I expected. No surprises, either good or bad.

I think this camera will sell well for Sony, but now with the viewfinder/LCD thing, there are three things holding me back from jumping in.

Re: Sony announces HXR-NX3 professional HD camcorder
 

It was obviously gaining up significantly.

I guess, to be scientific, it would be nice to see properly exposed shots where the gain is at 6, 12 and 18db, but for me, I feel I have a good enough understanding of it now, between your clips and Zulqar's.

Thanks again.

Re: Sony announces HXR-NX3 professional HD camcorder
 

Oh, one more thing: is it possible to do creep zooms, or is the rocker too touchy?

Re: Sony announces HXR-NX3 professional HD camcorder
 

Zoom is fantastic... lots of options. On the top handle there is a FIX/VAR settings, and in the menu you can change the HANDLE ZOOM SPEED from 1-8. On the 1 setting it takes 30secs to zoom wide (1x) through to 20x. So nice and slow... maybe not creeeeeep. But slow and steady. I use a Manfrotto remote handle and can get a nice variable pressure zoom speed with this also. Unfortunately the FOCUS AUTO/MANUAL switch doesn't seem to work with the Manfrotto handle, but START/STOP and ZOOM do so that's ok.

Re: Sony announces HXR-NX3 professional HD camcorder
 

Does the zoom have a ramp for start and stop or does it just instantly move?

Ron Evans

Re: Sony announces HXR-NX3 professional HD camcorder
 

Hi Ron, it appears to be slightly padded at each end. Not a jarring stop, but I don't know if it's actually true ramping. I'll get something up in the next couple of days for you.

Re: Sony announces HXR-NX3 professional HD camcorder
 

I have the Sony Z7U and Z5U and sometimes I use the shot transition feature that both of these cameras have for doing smooth rack focus. Does the NX3 also have a shot transition feature?

Re: Sony announces HXR-NX3 professional HD camcorder
 

It doesn't have anything called "shot transition", but what you describe sounds to me like touch focus, which the NX3 does have. It's called "spot focus".

Touch something on the LCD and the focus point will shift to that area.

Re: Sony announces HXR-NX3 professional HD camcorder
 

Shot Transition allows you to store settings for focus and zoom (as well as iris, gain, shutter and WB) and then switch between them. Good for a long zoom and focus change, or simply as a custom preset indoor to outdoor exposure/WB change. You could also set transition curve and time.

I think at this level the last one to have it was the Z5. The NX5 didn't have shot transition either.

Re: Sony announces HXR-NX3 professional HD camcorder
 

My NX5U does not have shot transition or spot focus but my FX1 did have shot transition. I think the NEX-EA50 has shot transition and spot focus.

Ron Evans

Re: Sony announces HXR-NX3 professional HD camcorder
 

John,

Would it be possible to shoot a minute at mpeg4 and upload it?

I have two NX5U's The only reason I'm considering the NX3 is for its mpeg4 ability. I currently deliver mpeg4 files to my clients and this would save a lot of processing time.

thanks

Robert Rinkewich

Re: Sony announces HXR-NX3 professional HD camcorder
 

Hi Robert, I'll get an MP4 loaded shortly. Stephen Gradin - no shot transition feature sorry.

In the meantime, I can report just finishing a wedding with the NX3 and it was BRILLIANT. Fantastic in low light reception and great images. Here are a few real world 1080/50p clips.

fern: https://mega.co.nz/#!OZ9lUQYR!LcDins...j0eXD6ELoEIUhI
leaf: https://mega.co.nz/#!nAdSyAQC!Pgx_-A...jrLsV-O423x7NE
crowd: https://mega.co.nz/#!qAUSURpK!l0Bk9_...oYRIL1tx70cH0g
guest1: https://mega.co.nz/#!ucsRXQ5D!X7cA2J...Q_ZThgpGzZX50s
guest2: https://mega.co.nz/#!WBVFXLjI!Zf_VD7...QLoB120payKQQQ

Here's a clip featuring the 40x zoom and I've demonstrated both the creep (Michael Warren) and the ramping (for Ron Evans)

https://mega.co.nz/#!yMtAAY6B!s8R8TN...moSo6GeAf-7ifU

Re: Sony announces HXR-NX3 professional HD camcorder
 

Thanks John.

Re: Sony announces HXR-NX3 professional HD camcorder
 

Thanks John. Zoom is impressive. Ramp is not as smooth as NX5U and does appear to start and stop much like my FDR-AX1.

Ron Evans

Re: Sony announces HXR-NX3 professional HD camcorder
 

John, thanks for all your contributions and opinions on the NX3. Really close to pulling the trigger on this in the next week or so. Any new thoughts or insight you have experienced with yours? I have a sports season contract starting soon and doesn't look like I'll be able to wait until NAB to make a choice.

Re: Sony announces HXR-NX3 professional HD camcorder
 

Thanks John, I'll keep an eye out for it.

Re: Sony announces HXR-NX3 professional HD camcorder
 

Hi Guys

Any thoughts whatsoever on any of my below 2 questions would be really appreciated.

Am confused about the various memory card options with this camera (I've come from tape), and am hoping that I can persuade my company to invest in the HXR-NX3.

Two questions:

1. Which of the below memory cards (or stick?!) would you suggest for maximum quality and maximum recording time which are compatible with the HXR-NX3?

Basically want to have sufficient memory for a long filming day at high quality, but also to have backup cards also.

MS-HX32B
(32 GB, 16 GB, 8 GB) Memory Stick PRO-HG DuoTM

SF-32UX
(32 GB, 16 GB, 8 GB) SD/SDHC Memory Card

MS-PX64
(64 GB, 32 GB, 16 GB) Memory Stick PRO-HG DuoTM Mirroring Memory Stick

2. What brand/type of cable would connect the HXR-NX3 to the new iMac 3.4GHz quad-core Intel Core i5?

3. Any rain covers/cases that might be suitable for the camera?

Again, any thoughts or suggestions whatsoever would be really appreciated!

Warm regards

Re: Sony announces HXR-NX3 professional HD camcorder
 

1. Any suggestions about what quality rain housing/cover would be appropriate for this camera?

2. Would the Rode NTG-1 Microphone be okay to use on this camera (not getting in shot)?

Any suggestions whatsoever would be greatly appreciated!

Warm regards

Re: Sony announces HXR-NX3 professional HD camcorder
 

With regards to point 1, I talked about this on page 2 of this thread, post # 29:
http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/digital-...ml#post1824428

The Sandisk Extreme Pro SD cards are available up to 64GB, which is a supported size in the NX3, and should give about 5 hours record time @ 1080p 60fps. Since there are 2 slots, you can either record 10 hours non stop in relay rec (over 2x the life of a NP-F970 battery, so plug in to AC), or 2 copies of the same footage in simultaneous rec mode.

With regards to your point 2... I wouldn't!!!
Connecting any current flash based camera with a cable is only going to give you USB2 offload speeds. This is sloooooow.

You mention that you are going to do loooooong shoots, so you probably want to get that material downloaded as fast as possible. Follow my advice in post 29, and you can get the data off your camera in a fraction of the time that using a USB2 cable directly to the camera would (other than to do firmware upgrades, I never actually plug any flash based camera into my computer directly to download footage... too slow).

Regarding your final point, the rain cover... I don't have any direct experience with this, but the NX3, the NX5, and AX1 are all very, very similar in size & shape to the Z5 and Z1 tape based cameras, so if you had a preferred solution for one of those tape models, it will likely work on the NX3.

Re: Sony announces HXR-NX3 professional HD camcorder
 

If anyone has this camera, I would greatly appreciate if you could post a short 1 or 2 min clip of the "network quality" mp4 output from the camera.

I need to make a decision on purchase in the next week. I'm either getting another NX5U or the NX3, but it depends on what the lower quality MP4 files look like. I do a lot of events where we sell an HD MP4 file to the customer for upload to the internet. It would be a great time saver to be able to give them the file without processing time.

Thanks

Rob

Re: Sony announces HXR-NX3 professional HD camcorder
 

Thanks for all the info on this camera. I'm really considering upgrading to this camera from my XHA1s. One feature that I would find useful in my work would be a pre-record buffer. I haven't found any mention of this feature on this camera. Does anyone know if this camera has this feature? From my understanding the Canon XA20 and XA25 cameras have a 3 second pre-record buffers. Those are a couple of other cameras I'm considering.

Re: Sony announces HXR-NX3 professional HD camcorder
 

Hey guys, so sorry I haven't replied - 3 weddings a week at the moment and finally got a break this morning.

Robert - here is an MP4 file for you... FX (highest quality) mode in 720/50p

https://mega.co.nz/#!WAMhHbAT!Jg4hJv...IwJbLVQG_FoP_s

Tony - have used camera at about 6 weddings and a couple of corporate shoots. For my needs it is absolutely wonderful. I use it as a main tripod mounted cam, and mix with the NX70 (medium) and GoPro (super wide). It's just got a wonderful image and not loaded with gimmicks. Rock solid SD card recording and all the pro features I need (ND filters, full manual control, XLR inputs, HDMI output). Only annoyed thing is not being able to use LCD and viewfinder at same time. But I can live with that.

Stephen - no pre-record buffer sorry.

Re: Sony announces HXR-NX3 professional HD camcorder
 

Hi John

Thanks for sharing your experiences so far. Very much appreciated. Just wondering if I could fire a couple of questions at you. Like you, I would be coming from a couple of Z7s. It's been a great camera to use but the HDV codec has run its course for me and I don't really fancy messing around with an external recorder. Just an extra thing to look after and set up which is one extra thing you don't really need as a one man band in wedding videography.

One of the things I like about the Z7 is the lens. Great that you can set it at f2.0 and it will stay there throughout the zoom range. Just wondering if you could let me know how the NX3 performs? I think it ramps down to f3.4 at the end of the 20x zoom. Could you let me know what it ramps down to at 12x or roughly half way through the zoom range. Improved low light over the Z7 would be great but I'm hoping it's not too hampered by the lens.

That leads me onto my next one. How is the low light over the Z7? Noticeably brighter and cleaner?

Many thanks

Jon

Re: Sony announces HXR-NX3 professional HD camcorder
 

Offtopic but that mega cloud storage looks like an easy way for clients to download stuff, didn't hear about that one before.

Re: Sony announces HXR-NX3 professional HD camcorder
 

John,

Thank you very much for the clip. I believe the quality of the mp4 out of the camera would work for my purposes.

After weighing the options on the nx3 and nx5u I had to stick with the NX5u for my sporting events. I have two NX5u's already. We use the fmu128 as the backup. The two card slots on the nx5u allow us to quickly switch to a new card when a new event starts. With the nx3, my backup would take up one of the slots. Which would leave me only 1 slot for my main cards, that I have to switch quickly.

Thank you again

Re: Sony announces HXR-NX3 professional HD camcorder
 

I also think I'll continue to use my NX5U because of what you mentioned above. The greater problem with the NX3, IMO, is that you can't use the viewfinder and LCD panel at the same time.