Re: Sony introduces HDR-CX700v 1080p60 camcorder
 

Ugh, I can't believe they eliminated the "my menu" capability that the CX500/520/550 had... that'd be an even bigger leap backward than downsizing the LCD!

This raises an interesting question, and I think you have to leave the camera sit for 24 hours to find this out, but on the CX500/550 the lo lux "turns off" automatically and must be reset from the menu (thus warranting a top level button). Does the setting "stick" in the 700?

Tried to find a link to the manual, and it apparently isn't posted yet, though it did say you Canandians could get this while us Southern North Americans can't!


I'd suspect that the 60P is more or less "future-proofing" as the standards continue to ramp higher and higher - i'm guessing that Vegas will handle the footage fine, but that once again it will require more horsepower to edit. I've noticed that Vegas 10 seems to handle the 24Mbps from the CX550V with no trouble, but I need to play with it some more to see how well it does when comparing to the 16Mbps stuff from the CX500 (comparable to the XR500)

I see the 60p being handy for "slo-mo", since you'll have double the data, and for pulling frame grabs, again due to the higher rez. Not sure how much improvement you'd see in most video though...


Blu Ray burners are coming down nicely, so won't be long until storing 25-50G shouldn't be too difficult!

Re: Sony introduces HDR-CX700v 1080p60 camcorder
 

Very short video on Vimeo in 60P. Shot from the front door as it was raining on a very slippery /icy condition . Not going to wander around outside until tomorrow !!!


Ron Evans

Re: Sony introduces HDR-CX700v 1080p60 camcorder
 

HDR-CX690E on the Sony Latvia website in English. Doesn't mention a lens hood as an accessory...

HDR-CX690E (HDRCX690E) : Overview : Cameras & camcorders : Sony

Re: Sony introduces HDR-CX700v 1080p60 camcorder
 

The hood is listed as an accessory in the manual (thanks, Ron), so it is likely to be in the box.

SPK for 700
 

I am trying to find out if the Remote input is compatible with the Sony SPK splash packs. I have been using the HDR-SR11 in a spalsh pack for a couple of years. I am hoping the CODEC on this new camera will be better for shooting actions sports in water situations. I am generally filming off the back of a wave runner in the surf.

Thanks for any info

Re: Sony introduces HDR-CX700v 1080p60 camcorder
 

It should be compatible - generally the A/V jack has the remote input to accept the plug from the SPK.

You may have to use a different sled or modify one of them to position the camera, but I've been using SPK-HCB (older version of the sport pack) with CX550V's currently, and everything all the way back to the HC series in the past.

Not only will you find the encoding has improved, the sensor is better, and now with 60p it should also make for better shooting... Oh yeah, and most importantly, the OIS is massively better...

Re: Sony introduces HDR-CX700v 1080p60 camcorder
 

Yeah!!! Just got my shipping email from Sony Style. My cx700v will be here Wednesday. Can't wait!

Have been thrilled with my xr500v I bought 2 years ago.... Can't wait to are this top it.....

Re: Sony introduces HDR-CX700v 1080p60 camcorder
 

Will be interested to find out how you view changes from the XR500. I like the addition of zebra, peaking and expanded focus and the audio display. Lighter and smaller than the XR500 too. Noise seems to be very well managed.

Ron Evans

Re: Sony introduces HDR-CX700v 1080p60 camcorder
 

So, if I buy this camera, and record in 1080p60, what do I do with the material? BR only supports 1080p30.
Just trying to figure out how one is going to delivery to a customer to watch, now or into the future.

Re: Sony introduces HDR-CX700v 1080p60 camcorder
 

You can drop every other line and deliver 1080 60i, if you want smooth motion. Or you can slow the video by half for a clean slow motion effect.

Even if you will deliver in 60i, capturing in 60p rather than 60i is worthwhile. Interlace is terrible for post. If you want to "fly in" or "push down" a video frame, you can do it smoothly with a 60p source, while DVE effects with 60i material often flicker.

Re: Sony introduces HDR-CX700v 1080p60 camcorder
 

Bluray doesn't support 1080p30. Bluray is 1080i, 720p or 24p. Remember this is a consumer camera. The consumer can edit with the software provided by Sony or in-camera and playback on a Sony TV in 60P. That's Sony's intent. Same for Panasonic I expect. 60P will integrate fine in a 60i project and will then make a Bluray at 1920x1080i or a SD DVD as normal. For the future if the standards change then maybe there will be a 1902x1080P60 in the standard. The output from the CX700 has integrated fine both in Vegas 10 and Edius V6 with files from my NX5U and XR500. Just make sure the NLE has the properties correct.

Ron Evans

Re: Sony introduces HDR-CX700v 1080p60 camcorder
 

Ron, I am able to use CS5 to take 1920X1080p60 (just rounding) and have a BR disc made with 1920X1080 at 29.97fps setting and it works just fine. Now, looking around the web, it looks like one can author the full avchd 1920X1080P59.94 fps with some sw packages, burn onto dvd or BR media, and a number of BR players will play this avchd disc it sounds like. All I want from my output is a simple menu structure like a DVD has to just allow folks to move around easily in the material with thumb nails to show them what they are going to.
I guess the question is unless the monitor takes a native 1920X1080P59.97fps input, it would not matter.
So much to learn at this point, but still seems the bottom line is I will take video at the max quality and deal with tool improvements down the road. At least CS5 Premiere Pro can be set to work with the full quality video, even though I am not sure it means much.

Ordered my camera yesterday so hope to be playing with next week. I have my second granddaughter due in 3 weeks, so granddad needs to be ready with the camera.

Re: Sony introduces HDR-CX700v 1080p60 camcorder
 

Yes Dave most NLE's will just take fields from the full frame in a normal 60i project. That's what CS5 did for you ( 29.97fps is 60i). So until things change you can just make Bluray or DVD's as normal. PS3 will play the native files from any disc they are written too.

As to monitors, all the flat panel NTSC moitors ar 60P native. They unfortunately have to deinterlace the normal 60i input to display, so 60P is what they want, certainly over HDMI.

Ron Evans

Re: Sony introduces HDR-CX700v 1080p60 camcorder
 

Ron, cs5 Pro one can get to a project of 59.94 fps. So, when I bring in my video, I do not get the red bar on the timeline, just the yellow. When I input to encore, yep, only 29.97 option. BR output looks good.

I have been reading there is avchd authoring tools out there that will put menus with a Avchd disc that some devices will play the native 1920X1080p 59.94 fps.

Fun stuff to play with. Still wish I could have gotten a cheaper camera, but I wanted the eye piece so was forced to get the 700. Really did not need the GPS or large flash card, but what the heck.

Re: Sony introduces HDR-CX700v 1080p60 camcorder
 

I thought that the Motion Browser would make a 60P disc but it will not as far as I can tell. I have Edius V6.02 and Vegas 10 which will also use a 60P timeline but on export to Bluray of course will revert to 60i ( 29.97) to the spec.

Copying the files to a disc they will play in the PS3 though so will also have to see if I can find an authoring program that will do 60P BDAV.

Off away skiing for a week now.

Ron Evans

Re: Sony introduces HDR-CX700v 1080p60 camcorder
 

Ron,

Just like you, had really crappy weather here the day I got my camera (showed up last wednesday). So I've only been taking inside pictures, certainly NOT worth posting yet.

Do you have any issues with the transfer speed into a PC? My XR500V transfers stuff at about the speed you'd expect. However, the CX700V is dog slow. I mean I recorded a 58MB file and it took 2 minutes to transfer. The same size file on the XR500V took like 15 seconds.

Windows is not griping at me about "the speed can be faster" on the USB port.

You having these issues?

Stacy

Re: Sony introduces HDR-CX700v 1080p60 camcorder
 

Hello, I've been frequenting this thread to see if the CX700 is a good camera for me, but couldn't find enough info online, so I just bought it.

I didn't know you couldn't control the iris, shutter, and exposure at the same time. Does anyone know a way around this? Or at least be able to view the iris, shutter, and exposure on the LCD display at the same time? This is a real dealbreaker when I need complete manual control.

Here is a quick video review I did: YouTube - Sony HDR-CX700v REVIEW

Thanks.

Re: Sony introduces HDR-CX700v 1080p60 camcorder
 

Jeff ,
when did you buy the 700?
I chose to go with the cx550V because it was a great price, has the bigger lcd at 3 1/2", and pic quality wise its virtually identical to the 700 and 560.
the new features, peaking, zebras, 1080p and 24p would make sense for me on a higher end camera where you would use them.
but its hard to beat the performance and pic quality you get out of the cx550v.
on all these cams you can only utilize one manual adjustment,so you wont be able to control more than one at a given time.
the auto focus on this camera is excellant. im so used to shooting all manual focus (dsr300 dvcam) that i didnt think much of auto focus .but its very solid on the cx550v.
besides, since its so good, you wont use manual focus, besides the fact that using the little dial to focus is a pain.
if youre still under the return period, i would send it back and get the 550v. sony still has them for 950.

Re: Sony introduces HDR-CX700v 1080p60 camcorder
 

Jeff, good catch on the zebra, peaking and expanded focus not being on the CX560V... although on a small camera may not be a "necessity" - lived without them on prior Sonys.

As for "need complete manual control", there are limits to what you can do with the small form factor camera - on a bigger cam where you could have separate buttons/knobs for each function, it might be workable, but when you think about how these operate, you could easily end up "up a creek" without a control... with a larger cam, you just jump from button to button if you "need" to, but in a small camera, you've got to change button settings... As it is, you can press and hold the function button, choose EITHER iris or shutter, make your selection, then press and hold again and choose AE Shift...

You can use AE shift to alter the cameras "built in" exposure settings, in effect over-riding the preset exposure (which you also override when you adjust "exposure", albeit in a more coarse way, letting the camera decide best settings for shutter and aperature).

Effectively you are telling the camera to operate with aperature or shutter priority with the other two settings, I suspect this is done to prevent getting your image too far out of whack - this is after all a camera designed for the consumer. You should still be able to use AE shift if you want a blown out image or an artificially dark one.

As Jim notes, these cameras are already highly optimized, and generally will be able to adjust to a shooting condition faster than you can get to a button to change a setting... I find setting the AE Shift a bit to the "-" side and using exposure if and when needed is more than sufficient to control image quality in most shooting conditions.

Re: Sony introduces HDR-CX700v 1080p60 camcorder
 

In my mind the big difference with the CX700V is the 60p and the 28mps data rate at this setting. If you have looked at 60p at 28 mps from the Panasonic TM700 you know that the detail, lack of artifacts, and handling of motion is exceptional.

Pat

Re: Sony introduces HDR-CX700v 1080p60 camcorder
 

I have also ordered the 700, rather than get the 550. Screen size means nothing. I want the 60P, and 96 gig of flash. Zebra will be nice.

I have a friend who has the 550. So, when I get the 700, I want to try a test. I want to take both cameras and record with them side by side. I then am going to a friends who has a 72 inch LCD which I believe takes a native 1920X1080P signal, which I hope will take 59.94fps also. Either way, I will pump in the 1080i from the 550 and 1080p from the 700 and see if I can see any difference on the large screen.

If we can see a difference, he plans to sell his 550 and buy the 700.

Re: Sony introduces HDR-CX700v 1080p60 camcorder
 

Interesting, another forum has a person with the 700 who has blasted it and sounds like is sending back for the tm900. I guess the VF on the 700 is 4/3 not 16/9. The manual controls can only be done one at a time.
Says did not like the picture quality. Boy can folks flip flop fast on this stuff

Re: Sony introduces HDR-CX700v 1080p60 camcorder
 

Thanks for the responses.

Jim - I got the CX700 on March 13 and put it through some functionality tests. I couldn't live without manual control, so I just returned it.

I love small cameras and I love how pro features are being incorporated into these tiny bodies nowadays. I shot an entire feature film with a Canon HV20 and it blew me away with the high quality footage it delivered, so I was expecting the CX700 to be even better with 1080/60p and a beautiful 26.3m wide angle lens.

I need full manual control and a simple way to access it. I think that's not too much to ask.

Re: Sony introduces HDR-CX700v 1080p60 camcorder
 

that's why I'm waiting for HF G10, there will be full manual control, not sure though about simple way to access :)

Re: Sony introduces HDR-CX700v 1080p60 camcorder
 

Jeff,

I started testing a CX700v last night. What did you think of the image quality? I'm finding it softer than the Panasonic TM700 so far, but haven't really given it a thorough test drive yet.

Pat

Re: Sony introduces HDR-CX700v 1080p60 camcorder
 

Pat,

I had returned my CX700v as soon as I found out I couldn't get full manual control out of it, so I did not give the camera any significant quality tests.

Of the little I DID shoot, here are my thoughts:

1080/60p was gorgeous. I shot on auto mode, late afternoon, exterior -- I wish FCP7 could transcode Sony's 60p. The Panasonic TM700 is really good, as well -- that's too close to call for me.

1080/24p looked fantastic as well on automatic. I was able to transcode the 24p clips to ProRes in FCP7 and watched it on a 24" HP monitor. I would compare the 24p of the CX700v to the Sony Z5U - it looked that good. Sony sure screwed up not giving full manual control with this camera.

That last thing that impressed me was the Low Lux mode. Aside from the Night Vision, a handy feature the Panasonic cameras lack, the Low Lux mode on the Sony was better than my Pany HMC40 and Canon HFS200.

I think the CX700v is the ideal camera for people who shoot live concerts in small venues and have no control over the environment. You can sneak this camera in your pocket, have an ultra wide angle lens for tight spaces, and the automatic mode will compensate well for the concert lighting. BUT if you want control, this isn't the right tool to use.

Re: Sony introduces HDR-CX700v 1080p60 camcorder
 

Thanks Jeff,

I shot some more test video yesterday indoors and outdoors. In auto this camera seems to operate with a wider aperture than the TM700 in the same lighting, which may account for the softer images I was seeing (softness was more pronounced on the frame edges). Using landscape mode outside gave me a crisper image, and the footage looks much better than it did earlier. There is a fair amount of CA at full zoom - it was particularly bad in full auto, but improved somewhat in auto mode/landscape mode.

Pat

Re: Sony introduces HDR-CX700v 1080p60 camcorder
 

What reference point are folks making comparing to? A 100K professional camera? A 1.3K camera?
If I look at what we get for our money compared to what I spend on my HDV camera just 5 years ago, this stuff is just amazing!

Re: Sony introduces HDR-CX700v 1080p60 camcorder
 

I have the camera and starting to play with it. So far I like the view finder since it can be used to turn the camera on and off. Pretty neat. Like the audio icon on the LCD display so I can see that audio is being recorded in 5.1. Have set the video to max recording, which means the picture mode does not work. Anyone know if you put a SD card it, can it be pointed to for pictures and work?

Re: Sony introduces HDR-CX700v 1080p60 camcorder
 

If it's like the CX550, nope, the 24Mbps must consume all the available processing and buffer, so it can't do dual mode (shoot stills while shooting video).

Re: Sony introduces HDR-CX700v 1080p60 camcorder
 

I cannot say enough good things about the camera... My only real complaint is I had to wait from when I ordered it on January 5th until it arrived on march 9!

I was a previous owner of a xr500v, and was pleased with it as well.

I have no problems with the manual controls on this camera, as they are far superior to those on the xr500V. I do understand, fully, though that is a consumer-oriented camera... Not even a prosumer camera.

This camera was designed for the techno-dude in the household that likes a top of the line camera with a few extra sprinkles of "pro" stuff. Think a top of the line point and shoot digital camera vs. A Nikon D300.

In my opinion, it was never designed by Sony to make movies or to replace a $225K F35. Do I wish it had a "ring" on the lens rather than the little knob? Sure. But then it would be bigger. I love the compact size of this camera and was very pleasantly surprised at just how small it was when it arrived, considering I had bought it sight unseen.

Please keep in mind that there seemed to be a leap in manual abilities and technology from my xr500v (which is now two years old) and the cx700V. I skipped the cx550. I am thrilled to be able to set my shutter speed at 60 and leave it there! I actually think the response on the little knob for focus or exposure is not too bad at all. Considering the market the camera was designed for, i have really only three gripes....

1. The zoon can be a little laggy. Move the zoom rocker and theres an almost inperceptible delay, but enought to bug me a little....
2. It seems to take a while to boot up. The XR500V was up from dead and ready to shoot in like 2 seconds. This one is more like 4-5 but feels like forever.
3. I miss the ability to use the viewfinder while the LCD is open and flipped around! I hope this gets fixed in a FW update. I got some of my best and funniest videos of my young children when I flipped the LCD around so they could see themselves. On the XR500V, I could then use the viewfinder to see what I was shooting, On the CX700V, they took this out for some reason!

Re: Sony introduces HDR-CX700v 1080p60 camcorder
 

Stacy, great post. I have always had larger Sony cameras in the past. I always had to carry these around with a shoulder strap and the wife never wanted to use them. But when I put the 700 in her hand last night she had this big smile and loved it. So, even though some things are "different", the trade offs that Sony made to make the unit as small and light as possible is huge for the market they are going after.

I had not run across the LCD out and viewfinder goes dead. I agree this is not ideal, but maybe this is so the battery life is as long as possible? Again, trade offs for what the majority want. And if I am the designer, small size, light weight and Maximum battery life would be my first design musts.

After reading the manual, not totally sure how and what to use to dump my video clips to an external disc.
I assumed the built in USB would be this, but the manual to me implies I need to purchase the optional USB cable. I also need to find the part number for the HDMI cable which is not included. Real tight of them to not put in the Svideo cable. Clearly they want to make us spend a bunch more money. :o(

But so far, am glad I finally went from a tape work flow to a tapeless. Now I am all ready to take pictures of my second Granddaughter who will be born in a few weeks.

Too bad one cannot leave the camera in max quality and still take pictures to an SD card. Will have to see how quickly I can change this.

Question for the smile feature. I have heard if you are not using this but leave it enabled, it can focus on faces which might not be what one wants to do. Are folks leaving on or off this feature if you are not using?

Re: Sony introduces HDR-CX700v 1080p60 camcorder
 

Dave,

I also am using the camera, exclusively, in 60p mode so I don't get the pictures. On the other hand, when I was using the XR500V, I ended up deleting most of those pictures anyway. You can easily stop video and take a picture.

I did have one other gripe.... the transfer speed when using Picture Motion Browser. Normally, the included software with pretty much any product is pure crap. PMB, however, is REALLY good software!

However, it is so slow I could watch my grass grow during the transfer. I did some testing and found the following:

1. When using the full PMB software on the PC, it is the slowest. Think like 3GB in 1.5 HOURS. Totall unacceptable.
2. When using MTP USB mode and using the PMB Portable and transferring that way, it's better but not what I'd call fast. It did 3GB in about 40 minutes.
3. If you just set the USB to Mass Storage and drill down and copy the files yourself, that is blazing fast. The 3GB transfered in under 2 minutes.

As far as I can tell, there is a translation going on with the file names. The file names on the camera itself are 00001.MTS, 00002.MTS, etc. But when you use the software it renames the files with the date and time they were shot. Way better. This method seems to be what's talking so long.

More interesting than that, it doesn't seem to just be a bug in the new version of PMB becuase I used the old trusty XR500V, compensated for the lower bitrate by shooting longer to get right around 3GB and that transfer worked very fast inside the latest version of the software that is so slow on the CX700.

So frankly I'm stumped. I've tried all these tests on three different PCs (one with Win7 x64, one with Vista x32 and one with Win7 x32). All pretty much extactly the same.

As far as the HDMI cable, I just bought one off of amazon. You don't need a special Sony cable. I bought this one and it works great.

Yes, you need a special cable (for crying out loud) to use the "internal" USB to copy to the external drive. It's like $30. Quite a lot.

But again, other than these gripes, most of which are not really THAT much of a deal breaker, I highly recommend this camera to anyone. The 1080p60 looks amazing on TV and edits quite well. I was surprised.

Re: Sony introduces HDR-CX700v 1080p60 camcorder
 

Stacy, thanks for this data. I hope to play with the transfer stuff soon, so will take your inputs as I try.

That adapter part is great, but 2.95 shipping for a 1.18 part, ouch, I will try and find at Frys.

I plan to have lots of data to transfer, so I need to find a working fast process.

So, did you have to use the 30 dollar cable to transfer to an external USB hard drive for the fast speed, or could you use the internal connected one?

I had assumed I could just hook up the USB to my windows box, and just SMB the files over w/o
any special s/w, or a different USB cable needed. Is this not true? :o(

Re: Sony introduces HDR-CX700v 1080p60 camcorder
 

You don't have to have the special USB cable. I don't

Just use the built-in one on the hand grip. It's the same thing. I think the special cable is for when you want to hook it up to a external drive that's designed to copy without a PC.

The speical cable is a not to the Type B (Flat) it's to the Type A (which normally ends at the device instead of the host).

If you use the USB in the grip, please let me know what your success is on the transfer speed, please.

Regarding the HDMI cable..... Do you know what you're going to pay for a "non-generic" cable? Probably like $40 if you buy from Best Buy or Sony. a total of $4.50 is pretty good.

Re: Sony introduces HDR-CX700v 1080p60 camcorder
 

Will try to give a transfer a try soon.

Here is one cable I think would work?

Re: Sony introduces HDR-CX700v 1080p60 camcorder
 

Stacy -
Are you trying to use the USB out that is built in with that little pigtail, or the socket on the side of the camera? I'm going to venture a guess that the socket is designed for transfer to an external drive, and may be somehow limited, where the USB pigtail is for "regular" transfers - otherwise it's very odd that you're seeing slow transfer rates. I don't have a 700 to play with :-(... but that's a guess from the description and that oddball dual USB out setup.

Second, do you notice a difference in startup time between "first" startup and subsequent ones? If Sony retained the design used previously, the first startup is a little longer, then when you close the LCD it goes into a "snooze/fast restart" mode for want of a better term, so any reopening of the LCD will reboot the camera much faster, within a set amount of time (I have no idea what that "standby" period might be). I know some earlier Handycams had a button for quick restart you had to press, but then I noticed the button disappeared and you could tell they made it an "auto" feature.

With 60P you should be able to do clean frame grabs of around 2M pixel, might be enough for stills, usually the "dual mode" is somewhat limited, and I suspect interpolated anyway, so frame grabs might be "better"?

Finally, I find it REALLY strange that the flipping the LCD 180 turns on the VF on feature has disappeared - that's a feature I'd think would be a "must" with Japanese consumers, for the very reasons you've mentioned - the ability to flip the LCD so kids can see themselves while you "monitor" via the VF was a surprise the first time I discovered it, but it does get you some great footage! I just double checked though, and the CX550V ALSO no longer has this feature, so I guess they eliminated it after the XR500... bummer.

Re: Sony introduces HDR-CX700v 1080p60 camcorder
 

Yep, have the VF on, and when I open the LCD, off it goes.

Re: Sony introduces HDR-CX700v 1080p60 camcorder
 

Stacy, need to make a larger file but. When I copied a 140mb file via SMB, it took a while and it called the file .MTS

When I used PBM, it seemed to be much quicker, and call the same file .m2ts

Playing this one my PC via VLC, the video is not smooth, even thought the audio is. With is full screen, the video is choppy. But, if I make the size smaller, it is fine.

Playing via media player, the audio is messed up. (But I might need a PC reboot since have heard this before playing other type of files)

If I play the same video via PBM, audio and video perfect.

Re: Sony introduces HDR-CX700v 1080p60 camcorder
 

Wow can recommend a good camera bag to carry the camera with lens hood on, batteries, and cables.
Would like to have something as small as possible, but fit all the needed stuff for a trip