Cheap 1080/50p/60p

[lowlight]

I’ve been checking out full HD 50p camera options and was looking at the forthcoming Sony DSC-HX100. Sort of bridge camera size with useful articulated LCD and 30X zoom. Interesting, but with a small sensor crammed with 16 megapixels I am not sure about how the video will look, particularly in low light. Also, no filter thread and no mic jack. Sony are also bringing out budget HDR-CX130 and CX160 camcorders. I believe these are almost identical to each other except the CX160 comes at a moderately higher price with a mic and headphone jack (and 16GB built-in). They are fitted with a smaller (4.5mm so pretty tiny) sensor than the HX100 camera, but significantly fewer pixels at 4200K gross, so less densely packed and possibly OK in lower light levels. There are a just a few video samples produced by the CX160 online at the moment, but of course you are at the mercy of the conversion quality for web so difficult to tell how good the footage really is. The cost for the CX160 is temptingly cheap considering you get 1080/50p (or 60p) and mic/headphone jacks. Around US$470 (or £415) at the moment and may come down a bit once launched. The CX160 is a dedicated camcorder and so should avoid or at least reduce most of the compact/DSLR-type video problems you can sometimes get (aliasing etc). It’s also got that important mic jack. Sensor and associated technology is advancing in leaps and bounds but, nevertheless, is it possible to get respectable full HD video out of such a small sensor? For the money it sounds good value. Having said full HD, I would actually need to downscale the video in post to 720/50p for blu-ray compatibility.

 

[swoopie]

The Sony DSC-HX100 with no way to attach filters, no mic input, no 24fps makes it seem a wee bit useless to me.

The HDR-CX130 with a tiny sensor and a tiny lens is going to produce a grainy image in poor lighting, and it won't matter one bit how many pixels it has if light can't get to them.

I wouldn't buy any of these. A used Canon HV30 will run about the same price and produce superior results, not to mention that HDV footage is much easier to edit.

 

[lowlight]

The Sony DSC-HX100 with no way to attach filters, no mic input, no 24fps makes it seem a wee bit useless to me.

The HDR-CX130 with a tiny sensor and a tiny lens is going to produce a grainy image in poor lighting, and it won't matter one bit how many pixels it has if light can't get to them.

I wouldn't buy any of these. A used Canon HV30 will run about the same price and produce superior results, not to mention that HDV footage is much easier to edit.

The HV30 is respected for producing impressive image quality, and it’s also a fair point that HDV is less demanding to edit. However, the HV30 can’t shoot 1080/50p which is a requirement for me if I can’t get 720/50p in camcorder form economically. The CX160 can, but I appreciate your views about the small sensor which is why I posted my question. On the plus side, it does have a back-illuminated Exmor R CMOS Sensor. If the HV30 could shoot 720/50p I would definitely have it at or near the top of my list. Although I would also have to buy a convertor to go with it as it can’t match the 30mm wide angle of the CX160.