Sony EX Cams vs NEX-EA50

[The Irish TRex]

Hi,

Current panasonic user here (HMC150) looking to make an upgrade soon in cams for Wedding Videography purposes only. In general, EX1/EX1R/EX3's have always had great reviews in terms of how they handle in low lighting and due to their slightly bigger sensor size to 1/3" sensor cams, a bit easier to obtain shallow DoF. Curious how they "should" match up with the upcoming Sony NEX-EA50 cam that has a larger ASP-C sensor in terms of low lighting and depth of field???

Obviously the sensor on the new EA50 is bigger, but does that mean it "should" be better in low light and allow for more shallow depth of field than these proven 1/2" sensor cams? If not, why not?

For Weddings, I would love more shallow DoF, and like the idea that this APS-C sensor might allow for that while giving me a little more "wiggle room" than say a full frame cam would. Plus I like the power servo zoom function for my style of shooting. I'm honestly not quite certain about the EA50 purchase because an on-board ND filter and HDSDI out are important to me for my setup which the EA50 does not have, but beyond that...I'd love to know more about how the EX line of cams (and even the upcoming PMW200) would "most likely" stack up against this upcoming NEX-EA50 camera.

Thanks!

 

[morgan_moore]

If not, why not?!

Becasue it only uses 1 pixel in four for video? Because you wont have a 1.8 lens?

As event cameras I dont think its a simple comparison at all.

I have EX1 and FS100 Btw.

I guess the 50 will be a better lowlight cam with the kit lens .. by a bit
The 50 WILL be way better with a faster prime
I think the 50 will have a base of 100ISO and will not scream for ND like an FS100 does, like a 5d2 a simple two stop should do the trick .. i guess

The FS100/C100 will outperform a PMW in low light im sure of that

Really the C100 is specced for you but like all S35 cameras - no decent zoom

To me there is one huge difference.

THe EX1 has a nice feel on the manual focus, the 18-200 kit lens in its current incarnation has horrific delay on the manual focus, and the AF cannot be relied up leaving you in a rock hard place hole

At least with the EX1 you can focus.

It is not beyond the realms of possibility to consider shooting with an EX1/200 with an NEX5n/35-F2 mounted on top for the odd beuaty shot with narrow DOF.

S

 

[The Irish TRex]

Becasue it only uses 1 pixel in four for video? Because you wont have a 1.8 lens?

As event cameras I dont think its a simple comparison at all.

I have EX1 and FS100 Btw.

I guess the 50 will be a better lowlight cam with the kit lens .. by a bit
The 50 WILL be way better with a faster prime
I think the 50 will have a base of 100ISO and will not scream for ND like an FS100 does, like a 5d2 a simple two stop should do the trick .. i guess

The FS100/C100 will outperform a PMW in low light im sure of that

Really the C100 is specced for you but like all S35 cameras - no decent zoom

To me there is one huge difference.

THe EX1 has a nice feel on the manual focus, the 18-200 kit lens in its current incarnation has horrific delay on the manual focus, and the AF cannot be relied up leaving you in a rock hard place hole

At least with the EX1 you can focus.

It is not beyond the realms of possibility to consider shooting with an EX1/200 with an NEX5n/35-F2 mounted on top for the odd beuaty shot with narrow DOF.

S

Thanks for the reply. I had a feeling that comparing them as even camcorders wouldn't be easy which is why I'm here asking for advice. Your response helps. Especially since you own an EX1/FS100. First glance at the Canon C100, I'm not a fan. It may look beautiful but is missing two, well 3 HUGE things: No slow-motion (I tend to shoot all my Weddings at 60p), No HDSDI out (which bummed me about the EA50 but I was thinking of workarounds), and no power zoom (which in my style is huge...I'm a personal fan of crawling zooms every now and then).

So back to the real question of EX cams vs. EA50...so you've worked with the 18-200 zoom lens that is coming with the EA50 and didn't like it? Or a different one? I'd say 10% of the day I'm in auto, and the rest I use manual so good easy focus is big for me as I'm sure it is for all shooters. Now, I'm coming from a Panasonic HMC150 which, although it is a workhorse and has done a suitable job thus far, its LCD is awful at almost 5 times less sharp and its overall image is a bit soft for my taste.

Looking for a boost in sharpness in the picture, more shallow DoF (although not necessarily a CRAZY amount since I don't "choreograph" the couple so I'm more on the fly, a power zoom that is smooth and slow and of course, the ability to shoot at 60p. The EA50 give me the 1080p60 option. I was also looking at the Panasonic AC160A's for the same reason which I haven't ruled out yet. I'm just trying to wrap my head around how EX1/EX3/EX1R's compare to the EA50 and why.

Your post helps. More feedback is DEFINITELY welcome.

 

[ex1r777]

If you are going to do a lot of lowlight work, stay away from the ex1r. It's a noisy camera. Soon i'll put a sticker on it that says "powered by Neat Video". I'm not joking.

However noise is not everything. Just by looking at the camera stats, for general all purpose shooting, ex1r > ea50. 35mbits > 28mbits afterall. Also ea50 doesn't have nd filters. Every 'video' camera should have 'built in nd filters'. It's what abs to a car. I mean come on, we are soon in 2013.

Won't comment on anything else. I'm not a pro and don't know other cameras. However i'm waiting for panasonic gh3 at the moment. I need a small camera to use on my glidecam. Ex1r is too heavy for that. Maybe you should wait as well.

In conclusion:

Lowlight: ea50 > ex1r. Bigger sensors will ALWAYS be better in low light, it's all about physics afterall.

Everything else: ex1r > ea50.

 

[morgan_moore]

...so you've worked with the 18-200 zoom lens that is coming with the EA50 and didn't like it? Or a different one?

That lens is not released. I have the 18-200 zoom

I dont like it compared to the real focus ring on the EX1

In manual it lags adjusting focus after you do

AF is OK

Result you cant reallly trust AF or MF!

S

 

[The Irish TRex]

In conclusion:

Lowlight: ea50 > ex1r. Bigger sensors will ALWAYS be better in low light, it's all about physics afterall.

Everything else: ex1r > ea50.

And by everything else, you mean what?

Curious.


Thanks!

 

[BillP]

I'm in the same boat. Looking to upgrade my HMC150 for a better image. I'm considering the PMW-200.
But I hear more cameras will be announced in the next couple of months, so I'm gonna hold out.

About the EA50,
I think I read somewhere that the lens on the EA50 will not hold focus when changing focal length. So even though it has a servo motor, it won't work like a traditional zoom lens where you can zoom in, set focus, zoom out, and it will still hold focus.

 

[morgan_moore]

I have never zoomed in a shot. to me it looks 1980s and using 25p it is juddery - most TeeVee camera work is 50i which can take crash zooms

I think people who want this should consider the F3 which offers the 18-200 in a better built package doubtless parfocal and all the rest.. at cost of course.

S

 

[ex1r777]

And by everything else, you mean what?

Curious.


Thanks!

-EX1R has 35mbits internal recording with 3 cmos sensors. NEX-EA50 has only 1 sensor and records 28mbits max. Expect more video artifacts with the latter.
-NEX-EA50 has no sdi out. It has hdmi out but it is 4:2:0 (we don't know this yet but very low chance it will be 4:2:2). EX1R can do 4:2:2.
-EX1R has 2 card slots so you can swap them during recording. NEX-EA50 has only 1.
-In any run&gun situation it will be much easier to hold things in focus with the EX1R (which is NOT very easy unless you are open wide), comparing to the NEX-EA50, which is advertised as an ENG style camera (with APS-C sensor). Bear that in mind.
-NEX-EA50's lens extends out when you zoom. You will have a harder time with matte boxes.

And the more important thing, again: it has no built-in ND filters!! That thing is 4 times larger than a dslr, yet it doesn't have ND filters!! As if it wasn't enough that the lens extends out when you zoom, they expect you to attach some nd filters for outdoor shooting, so it will be EVEN LONGER lol rogar-BlackEye(DBG

Just watch the first video on here: http://www.hdwarrior.co.uk/category/sony-nex-ea50/ .Look how huge that thing is. When you are outdoors, people may jump onto you thinking you are holding a RPG-7

Again, i'm not a pro. But even i wouldn't fall for this. I'd stay away from this camera if i were you. Get a dslr, make yourself a shoulder support and use it that way. It will be much better than this. Sony couldn't decide what they wanted to do with this product imho. It's 1 meter long, doesn't have nd filters but can shoot photos. It has a compartment on side for external recorders but no sdi out. It's advertised as an ENG style camera, but it has APS-C sensor and no real manual rings.

Noise, shallow dof, interchangeable lens, 1080p60fps. These are what this thing has over a ex1r. But dslrs can do those too. So why pay 3000$ more for this thing?

Edit:

I'd stay away from this camera if i were you.

I lost a bit of my objectiveness there, because i was thinking the way i shoot. NEX-EA50 will have place for some specific shooting scenarios and yes, weddings is one of them. It will suit you better in that aspect, comparing to an EX1R.

 

[dcloud]

-EX1R has 35mbits internal recording with 3 cmos sensors. NEX-EA50 has only 1 sensor and records 28mbits max. Expect more video artifacts with the latter.
-NEX-EA50 has no sdi out. It has hdmi out but it is 4:2:0 (we don't know this yet but very low chance it will be 4:2:2). EX1R can do 4:2:2.

Ex1r is mpeg2, ea50 is h.264 so yeah youre wrong.
i kinda doubt it wont be 4:2:2. But ok give me an example of a prosumer cam that does this and ill say its plausible

 

[ex1r777]

Ex1r is mpeg2, ea50 is h.264 so yeah youre wrong.
i kinda doubt it wont be 4:2:2. But ok give me an example of a prosumer cam that does this and ill say its plausible

Wrong in what exactly? Stats are there. You are not implying that ea-50 will have better image in terms of video quality, comparing to the EX1R, are you?

Anyway. A user in the other thread was spot on:

I am sure that Sony will tell everybody in 2 years when they come with the second version with internal ND, how much they listen to us. For a little $ 4000 more. Always the same with those manufacturers, always forget one thing or another. In this case a vital feature for a camera that is definitely for eng run and gun style. I would like to see how many people will be able to fit some ND with the zoom lens unless they use a big matte box and rail system.

In the end i can only comment on one thing for sure: don't buy EX1R for low light shooting. Not in 2012. Get something with a bigger sensor. I forgot the original poster was going to use the camera for weddings so yeah; EA-50 will be the better choice for him.

Peace

 

[Donald Ong]

-EX1R has 35mbits internal recording with 3 cmos sensors. NEX-EA50 has only 1 sensor and records 28mbits max. Expect more video artifacts with the latter.
-NEX-EA50 has no sdi out. It has hdmi out but it is 4:2:0 (we don't know this yet but very low chance it will be 4:2:2). EX1R can do 4:2:2.
-EX1R has 2 card slots so you can swap them during recording. NEX-EA50 has only 1.
-In any run&gun situation it will be much easier to hold things in focus with the EX1R (which is NOT very easy unless you are open wide), comparing to the NEX-EA50, which is advertised as an ENG style camera (with APS-C sensor). Bear that in mind.
-NEX-EA50's lens extends out when you zoom. You will have a harder time with matte boxes.

And the more important thing, again: it has no built-in ND filters!! That thing is 4 times larger than a dslr, yet it doesn't have ND filters!! As if it wasn't enough that the lens extends out when you zoom, they expect you to attach some nd filters for outdoor shooting, so it will be EVEN LONGER lol rogar-BlackEye(DBG

Just watch the first video on here: http://www.hdwarrior.co.uk/category/sony-nex-ea50/ .Look how huge that thing is. When you are outdoors, people may jump onto you thinking you are holding a RPG-7

Again, i'm not a pro. But even i wouldn't fall for this. I'd stay away from this camera if i were you. Get a dslr, make yourself a shoulder support and use it that way. It will be much better than this. Sony couldn't decide what they wanted to do with this product imho. It's 1 meter long, doesn't have nd filters but can shoot photos. It has a compartment on side for external recorders but no sdi out. It's advertised as an ENG style camera, but it has APS-C sensor and no real manual rings.

Noise, shallow dof, interchangeable lens, 1080p60fps. These are what this thing has over a ex1r. But dslrs can do those too. So why pay 3000$ more for this thing?

Edit:


I lost a bit of my objectiveness there, because i was thinking the way i shoot. NEX-EA50 will have place for some specific shooting scenarios and yes, weddings is one of them. It will suit you better in that aspect, comparing to an EX1R.

Oh come on.. It's not THAT big...its one of the smallest shouldermount cameras around, quite similar to the ex3 when you retract the shoulder plate. I'm sorry, but 1 metre long is a bloody exaggeration. It's only 42cm long, 14cm wide (which is basically identical to the EX3). Compared to the EX1 which is 30cm long. The difference is only 12cm, which really isn't that great. Which makes it very small for a shouldercam.. I'm quite sure people are smart enough to discern between a camera and an RPG. I've also seen people use much larger full-size shouldermounts like the PMW350 in public without getting attacked by a bunch of idiots thinking it's an RPG. I'm sorry, but that's quite hilarious Oh, lets not forget the EA50 is only 1.72kg, its light enough that you can use it handheld and cradle it between your arm, which essentially hides the bulk of the camera under your armpits and allows for very discreet shooting...granted, not the most ergonomic way of shooting, but it can be done.

Yes, it has 1 card slot, but it takes the sony 128gb FMC, i'm not sure if the EX1 does, but if i remember correctly, it does not. Also, stop the lens down to f11 and you won't have a hard time keeping focus as long as you stay roughly the same distance from the subject. Yeah, no ND is a bummer, but you could just use regular screw-ons or a mattebox and some 4x4s. And i mean, people really exaggerate the whole shutter speed thing and blow it way out of proportions. Seriously, shooting above 1/60 ISN'T the end of the world. If you're doing events/ENG, the reduced motion blur is actually a good thing. And if you're doing narratives, you can afford the time to play with a mattebox and filters. Maybe its just me, but i really don't find the look of high shutter speeds to be much of a problem unless you're shooting at night, in which case you may run into storbing with artifical lighting, but in low light, you woundn't be using a filter any way, would you? Stillmotion shoots alot of their DSLR stuff without filters at 1/250 or higher and the footage still looks amazing with barely any harsh jittering.

Yes, it definitely isn't a full-on ENG camera (I'd take the EX1 over this any day for ENG), rather, the EA50 is more suited for events/narrative. So, is the EA50 perfect? No. Is it better than the EX1? in some instance, yes. In others, no. Would i take it over a DSLR? Yes, any day of the month.