Sony FDR-AX100: First Impressive 4K Video I've Seen

I did some test grades today with various clips that I downloaded from vimeo. The low bitrate is making it hard but its totaly manageable.
But Im having trouble finding daylight clips with proper exposure and no blown highlights that are ungraded, my guess is that many users arent willing to use extra NDs and the built in are a bit to weak, can anybody who has the camera confirm or dismiss?
 
Lobbamobba said:
I did some test grades today with various clips that I downloaded from vimeo. The low bitrate is making it hard but its totaly manageable.
But Im having trouble finding daylight clips with proper exposure and no blown highlights that are ungraded, my guess is that many users arent willing to use extra NDs and the built in are a bit to weak, can anybody who has the camera confirm or dismiss?
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I think what you are seeing most out of the AX100 thus far are users that don't quite understand zebras and exposure. The camera in auto tends to over expose. The built in ND's are just about plenty. Maybe a screw on 1 stop would help it more. I think the camera can grade fine for shots without too much movement in front of the lens. You still want to nail your exposure with it and understand that this is not a RED or RAW camera. All in all the camera is what it is and that is being a camera with a really nice lens and super resolute image as long as you abide by its shortcomings of just enough of a bit rate to record the image. It's a HandyCam. I bought it for the propose of grabbing a camera with a 20x zoom incase I see a shot that I would like to record 4K in. I call it my "Glovebox cinema camera".
 
dustylense said:
I think what you are seeing most out of the AX100 thus far are users that don't quite understand zebras and exposure. The camera in auto tends to over expose. The built in ND's are just about plenty. Maybe a screw on 1 stop would help it more. I think the camera can grade fine for shots without too much movement in front of the lens. You still want to nail your exposure with it and understand that this is not a RED or RAW camera. All in all the camera is what it is and that is being a camera with a really nice lens and super resolute image as long as you abide by its shortcomings of just enough of a bit rate to record the image. It's a HandyCam. I bought it for the propose of grabbing a camera with a 20x zoom incase I see a shot that I would like to record 4K in. I call it my "Glovebox cinema camera".
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Thanks for the response :)
it was my suspision also that many users use it just as it is, a camcorder. And I Am absolutely not saying that there is anything wrong with that. Quite the oposite.

I work as a producer, I have never needed/wanted to freelance, I have no need for my equipment to make me money.
But my biggest hobby is making videos. Sometimes documentarys for webb or broadcast, often youtube stuff and most of all just shooting videos of my dog or what ever. For that my phone or a t3i would do just fine.
But I really enjoy using semi or full out pro stuff within reason. A FS700 is totaly out of budget but I have a BMPCC and recently had a BMCC so the AX100 and GH4 is on my radar for experimenting with 4K.
the GH4 would be the safe choice but havent we all dreamed long enough for a great camcorder so we could just stop with this DSLR stuff?
Im trying to evaluate if I should cancel my GH4 preorder and just go for it. If Im not happy I can always sell it.
Right now its a little bit the bitrate but mostly the DR thats holding me back. Im not hoping for 13 stops here but when I see all the white skies I wonder if I would be happy.

Im looking constantly after a place that will rent them out but it doesnt look like it. Same thing with the XA20 thats been on my radar prior to the AX100. Lowest range that I have found for rental is the c100.
 
dustylense said:
Pound for pound the Gh4 will be the best of the 3 4K cameras that we know of (ax100, BMC4K and gh4). I just think the Gh4 has an overall balance of features that the other cameras don't. Size, simple SD card, 422 out with recorder (there will be a 4K HDMI recorder, count on that), DR, image profile, 96fps 1080, and the ability to mount any lens you can think of as long as there is an adapter.

The BMC4K is a camera that you would pick for specialty shooting where you think the GS will be of help and the codec might be of importance.

The AX100 holds it's own. Limited in looks because you can't set in camera sharpness. But it has it's place for being the all in one camera to run around with with it's marvelous lens and high detail. If the AX100 had 40 more bits/sec it would elevate the camera even more. I bought it as a glove box cinema camera that can always be on the ready. This weekend I travel to the Bay area in CA for a shoot next week (stills shoot) and plan on shooting with the AX100 up the coast. I did this a few weeks ago with the BMC4K as you can see in the vid below.


I will be buying the Gh4 when I can get one easily. Too bad I sold all my M4/3 glass last year :-(....
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You've posted some good comparisons Christopher. Proving the do all camera still may not exist. The BMC seems too high maintenance, low image quality, & poor in low-light. The AX100, to me, provides the best 4K image, but lack of profile adjustment is troubling. The GH4 hasn't shipped yet, so is still enjoying a specification honeymoon that may still disappoint. I'm especially interested to see if its high bit-rate All-I codec is better than the GH3 moire riddled 72Mbps All-I.

Though my GH3 has been a great camera, I'm going to wait and see if the GH4 lives up to its hype, and then may continue to wait for the GH5.
 
Lobbamobba said:
I did some test grades today with various clips that I downloaded from vimeo. The low bitrate is making it hard but its totaly manageable.
But Im having trouble finding daylight clips with proper exposure and no blown highlights that are ungraded, my guess is that many users arent willing to use extra NDs and the built in are a bit to weak, can anybody who has the camera confirm or dismiss?
Click to expand...

Try this one:

https://vimeo.com/89673510


No re-compression was applied. Used ND-1,2,3 in many shots. Original UHD upload is downloadable.
 
@ markr41 and dustylens (Gold Coast)

Some very nice footage in both videos. Particularly close ups and telephoto. Where it breaks down for me is the wide shots where the camera seems to be trying to cram in all the detail and not quite making it.

Still, overall the arrival of these latest cameras foretells exciting developments for 4K production.

Thanks for sharing.
 
stoneinapond said:
@ markr41 and dustylens (Gold Coast)

Some very nice footage in both videos. Particularly close ups and telephoto. Where it breaks down for me is the wide shots where the camera seems to be trying to cram in all the detail and not quite making it.

Still, overall the arrival of these latest cameras foretells exciting developments for 4K production.

Thanks for sharing.
Click to expand...

I'm sorry, but I cannot understand what you are saying - it is precisely the amount of detail where this camera really shines. It is by test (Slashcam.de) the sharpest 4K camera available. The detail in wide shots is stunning. Are you viewing these videos on a UHD screen? What are you comparing to? The AX100 resolves more detail without artifacts compared to the Canon K, the BlackMagic 4K and the GH4. No artifacts. On my UHD, color-calibrated screen I have never see such clean detail. You did not download the UHD version? There must be some explanation.
 
markr041 said:
I'm sorry, but I cannot understand what you are saying - it is precisely the amount of detail where this camera really shines. It is by test (Slashcam.de) the sharpest 4K camera available. The detail in wide shots is stunning. Are you viewing these videos on a UHD screen? What are you comparing to? The AX100 resolves more detail without artifacts compared to the Canon K, the BlackMagic 4K and the GH4. No artifacts. On my UHD, color-calibrated screen I have never see such clean detail. You did not download the UHD version? There must be some explanation.
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Wow, it's either a full moon or NAB is coming.:happy:

For you sharpness equals detail. Not for me. And you focused on the one criticism and forgot about the other comment.

I know what I'm buying so the rest is just looking around. No need to over think this.

Again, just as we hear differently, so do our eyes see differently. It doesn't make anything worst or better. The only reason I even entered this conversation is that Dan said he didn't see any difference in the GH4 4K footage that showed any improved resolution over previous models. I guess there must be some explanation.....
 
Any low light samples from it, I mean like a very dark room, like a wedding reception type of low lighting with just candlelights, dimmed chandeliers and exit signs on ?
This is what I'm up against twice a week.
 
Anyone know how to power this cam with the USB port? No luck of any kind with USB powerbanks or adapters.
 
@ DrDave...I have been able to power the AX100 using a portable INSIGINIA NS-MB20800-C 20,800mAh power source, 5V 4.2A. Tried a Piston Power 9000mAh 5V 1.5A power source and no luck. I suspect it may be related to the higher amperage of the Insiginia, but that is just a guess...
 
mrveronn said:
@ DrDave...I have been able to power the AX100 using a portable INSIGINIA NS-MB20800-C 20,800mAh power source, 5V 4.2A. Tried a Piston Power 9000mAh 5V 1.5A power source and no luck. I suspect it may be related to the higher amperage of the Insiginia, but that is just a guess...
Click to expand...


Thanks for the info. I was suprised when I plugged it in that nothing happened.
 
Nice and high detail in the video! But theres also lots of digital sharpening. It was not a pleasing look at all. Rather consumer-look on the images to be honest.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdEZzYEnCDw

Its possible to rape these images with digital sharpening too. Shouldnt be an issue to shoot at f/11 and unsharp the pictures to hell and back afterwards ;-)
 
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