Sony AX100 Hands-On Field Test

[@benespection]

This is possibly the best FDR-AX100 review I've found. Thank you for the attention to detail and candor.

[@LeDrummerDu88]

4K VIDEO !! OOOH YEAAH ! + excellent review, as always. CameraStoreTV became one of my favorite channel, keep it up guys!

[@zezetech]

It has become THE review site, in my opinion. More often then not 'famous' bloggers have turned their reviews into ego-trips and soap boxes. Often discounting a camera (or camcorder) for purely personal and trivial reasons, rather then trying to give an impartial, objective rundown.

[@Jason_Hermann]

Excellent review Jordan!

[@PeteWoronowski]

Jordan, really appreciate your honesty and knowledge in making these helpful videos. Very best to you. It would be great for you to make an updated video as the last Sony updates for this camera made huge quality jumps in both image quality and auto focus.

[@markwith140]

Thanks Jordan and Camera Store TV, your videos and reviews are always first rate and enjoyable to watch. Keep up the good work.

[@mcrazza]

More Jordan hosting! And A7s review, please.

[@seeinglight]

Really appreciated the review. Only thing I didn't catch and would love to 'hear' is how the audio/mics performed. Thanks!

[@ElenaMatveevaa]

hey, what camera you used when record this video?

[@Roshan_420]

Elena Matveeva check his description

[@phungdavid3677]

The same question of Elena Matveeva. Which camera did you used to record this video?

[@claudefrollo2685]

Sony FS700

[@mountainhobo]

Nice review, Jordan. I hope it is possible to turn sharpness and contrast down because the fragments shot on AX100 wanted to scratch my eyes out with the halos and brutal tonal transitions.

[@miike111]

Great review on the Sony camcorder Jordan. I hope to see more of your review on video gear!!!

[@AdamLoretz]

Nice vid. Confirms my concerns over the AX100s spec especially compared to the GH4

[@IPRAstrong]

great review

[@alphaphotoandvideo]

so you can add a regular video light ? because of the weird shoe???

[@MikeMessiah]

i had a heart attack at 4:12

[@srobart]

Thanks for the review guys. I know I can always count on you for timely, clear and concise information. I like hearing about cameras from the video side, too (although this one is pretty much only video, but I mean when you do a video review on a still camera). Keep up the great work. :)

[@john3Lee]

Canada always looks beautiful at this time of year.... Btw - Have you tested any of the Black Magic cameras.?

[@Native20559]

Dang, Chris ought to let you in front of the camera more often Jordon, you rock!! Thanks for the great review!

[@chadecopeland]

Great job with the review Jordan! Cheers.

[@muhammadarifhossainid3951]

Really great review.

[@liberty610]

Thanks for this upload. I'm debating on if I want to get this camera or not, and I think you have helped me decide. I currently don't want a super crazy pro camera, but I want more options them my current don't handy cam. Plus I'm looking for 4k to stay up with the times. My main need for this camera will be depth of field capabilities and low light shooting. looks like this handles those well. I'm doing small protections and looking for depth of field for sit down interviews and what not.

[@DmitryBrodsky007]

Great review Jordan! But what about A7s? That's what we all want to see!

[@TheCameraStoreTV]

The second Sony can get us one, we'll be reviewing it. Jordan @ The Camera Store TV

[@jariol]

Good job... Kind of real world feel to your video and interesting change from Chris's semi Kai feel

[@hypnosiscenternyc]

Excellent review and demo. I loved my Sony FX1 ... but I climbed on the dslr bandwagon and it took all the fun out of shooting

[@jacksonsdrones]

Nice Video! I'm thinking of buying this camera but do You think it's is Worth buying in 2022? Also Is it a little out dated?

[@JonPais]

nice review, Jordan. Strange about the hotshoe, that really might have been a deal-killer were I even considering the camera, since I also like to shoot with a Rode on camera. As it is, I think I'll go with the GH4.

[@TIMagicProd]

Good review! I know how much you liked the RX10 for video, but for my use, the codec limitations, the lack of LPCM audio, the inability to monitor video from the smartphone via wifi, and the inability to shoot still captures while shooting video were deal breakers for me. As for the upcoming GH4 (I own the GH3), the poor built-in mic's and the lack of an effective image stabilizer still make the AX100 (or CX900) a viable choice for video.

[@vikrantl1824]

This review is great. Any review on the LCD screen for AX43 in day light? I see reviewers have tagged it as highly glossy. How would you compare the LCD screen with AX53 and AX 700.

[@andrewjones-productions]

I also have this camera since the Japan launch on March 14th. I agree with Jordan, I feel that the fact that a universal-sized hot shoe is embedded into the camera body so that third party accessories can't be attached is utter lunacy and extremely frustrating. Initial frustrations stemmed from the fact that the AX100 is quite similarly designed to the HXR-NX70 camera which has a cold shoe and hot shoe (albeit the former AIS shoe) configuration. The current XLR adapter is essentially the unit that came with that and was then used on the NX30 and later adapted for consumer products. At NAB, Sony have finally created a single point of contact version of this unit (prototype), although it doesn't appear to have a cold shoe on top. This is under-development, but I think that letting Sony know now that we expect a cold shoe on top may be a stitch in time. I don't know if it is technically possible, but my major gripe with this camera is that when recording in 4K, there is no simultaneous output via HDMI. Other than that, I am overall fairly pleased with the camera, but the GH4 would likely serve my needs better.

[@marcel911]

How does the output of this camera compare to the lumix LX100 in the same hands? The Lumix uses 100mb/s as opposed to 60mb/s

[@GrzegorzMatuszewski]

Very disappointing color for the price. Violet everywhere. For example, at about 8:00 look at the shadows rendered by the (much more expensive) FS700 and compare them to the output from AX100. Not good.

[@arcadia449]

You can correct that by altering the colour temperature settings.

[@davidmacdougall910]

GREAT review, thanks for this. Packed full of practical and helpful information. I just picked up the AX100 today, not really as an impulse buy but more like I was in the market for a prosumer camera, went to the store, thought this was more in my price range and quickly read 2 reviews while I was waiting to pay. For what I need it to do, it is perfect. Agreed with Jordan on the hot shoe issue on top. Grrr. But I ordered an adaptor and will stick a shotgun mic on top. Wish there was some way for proper XLR inputs but XLR to 3.5mm jack will be fine, I guess. Next challenge is to figure out that 4K file transfer and which compression codec to use in the editing process...

[@8654ZuluFoxtrot]

Get the Sony XLR-K2M XLR Audio Adapter and have a beautiful audio solution for this amazing camera. Yes it's not cheap, but if you look at what you are getting and the excellent size and weight of this new accessory, it's well worth every penny. You DO NOT want to go the XLR to 3.5mm cable. It messes with the sound a great deal and you will not like the result. Invest in quality equipment to match the quality camcorder.

[@111danish111]

When are sony 4k 60fps capable camcorders coming out ? this camcorder is roughly 3 years old .

[@colvinang2684]

Please make a video about SONY A77II !!!! CANT WAIT !!!

[@Vaptomwen]

Perhaps you could do one more episode before Chris gets back , the Sony A7s preferably!

[@PhilippeOrlando]

Just curious, now with the update at 100mb on this cam why do people who are mainly interested in video even bother with something like the GH4?

[@andrewvanrhoberts]

In the same price range which would you recommend for documentary footage and short films? A Camcorder like the AX-100 or a Camera like the GH4 in the same price range? I heard you mention in a video that a camera would be better for video recording rather than a camcorder.

[@mg428]

Such a nice review. 1 question though: For someone who is ONLY interested in 4K, do you think the lack of 60Hz is a deal breaker? Would you wait for the next iteration of this camcorder which would likely come in 4k 60Hz?

[@jloza98]

When panning, zooming or moving with this camera, why does it look a bit "choppy", is that normal or can it look smoother?

[@bobbybeariow]

Nice review Jordan

[@feritosman]

it's not true that with small sensors there isn't much to focus on. I had a 3-CCD 1.4.1" camcorder and for every new object I shot I had to re-focus.

[@NSAwatchesME]

great review, this is what i was looking for. i really want to get a good camera, i think i'll wait a bit longer for the a7r to get cheaper and have better lenses or something else that does 4k

[@JoseAguilar-qu5yz]

How does the Sony CX900 fair being that it is similar specs but limited to HD? Is it a worth purchase if you can't afford the 4K offering?

[@78pianist]

Hi Jordan, I am very curious on your take on the upcoming Sony A7S.

[@johnnymossville]

Always great reviews Jordan, Nice job here. I think this is a great camera for serious home video shooters who want to take full advantage of their new 4k tv. I'm glad Sony is making it. It would also make a good second camera for a pro to use for event videography. I don't think I'd build a business around it though.

[@petermuller8054]

Hi, I also own this camera, but all my footage is a little noisy, even though when filming outside with sun is shining. In this example video here I dont see grainy footage at all. Even in lower light conditions. So I am asking myself, how this scenes were shot with which kind of seetings, to archieve such sharp and detailed quality without any kind of grain or noise. It doesnt seem possible for me to get this done like you in this video ... defect or just my own fault with wrong settings? :( I tend to use stuff like NeatVideo in post to get rid of the grain :/

[@Pete292323]

Jordan why is the 4k video from the AX100 choppy?

[@woodandmetalandstuff]

4K camcorder vid and we can only watch in 360p WFT?

[@DaveLundy]

Sidney Turner Weird! The highest resolution I can get, two days later, is only 480p.

[@baabaablacksheep6693]

Guys, this one VS the Canon Vixia HF G50 UHD 4K? My priority is low light, gun and shoot and manual controls, especially IRIS... They both seem to produce equally good quality picture

[@cinemenico]

Great video Jordan! Yeah, the AX100 footage can look amazing, but it's kinda a philosphy thing and I think me and the camera aren't on the same page. It seems like a good step-up for a consumer videocam shooter, but for more of an enthusiast I don't think you can beat the still image design camera's with good video modes, such as the GH4. I like Sony's new 12MP 4K A7s too, but I doesn't record 4K straight away to card, so you'll need like the Atomos Shogun, so then it becomes again: how much are you willing to spend and how bulky do you want to make it. If you were already planning on shooting with rigged out rigs, than its lowlight performance might pursuade you, if you're more of a run-n-gun type of shooter, I don't see much that can touch the awesome GH4.

[@Jameses]

Hi, any issues for overheating if i intend for this for event videography for up to 3 hours?

[@fouryearproductions]

What's up with the trees in the beginning?

[@CloseLineProjects]

As microphone I use the Sony ECM-XYST1M wich you plugs in the camera. An excellent sound with 2 small mic's

[@rajsdca]

Would you please do a comparison on the sony a6000 and the Sony RX100 mark 3. Thank you very much. Rob

[@RRVideosAndSound]

how well does focus ring work with sony's hot shoe mic?

[@51equinox]

One thing that bothers me about many cameras is they can't pick up low light and high light at the same time. You have to choose one or the other. If you adjust it to pick up the darks then the lights are bloomed out. Adjust to pick up the brights and the darks are black... Are there any good camcorders that don't have this problem? Is there a technical name for this feature so I know what to look for?

[@xperience-media7396]

Some cameras handle the 'tonal range' better than others - its also called dynamic range. Sony, Pentax, Fuji and Nikon handle the range of lighting from dark to bright the best. Canon is the poorest - many photographers compensate by using a fill light on the subject while exposing for the background. Canons next generation camera needs to fix it or they'll lose customers.

[@BasemBandak]

Can you recommend a camcorder for shooting concerts? (Manual Focus Preferable)

[@2828play]

Hi, can you touch to focus with this camera? Thanks

[@JesseLee]

does it support slog or picture profile? thanks

[@Interaktionsdesign09]

VERY nice review - thank you. The question is: is it still the best con/prosumer videocam now in 2015 - in this price-range? I need one for e-learning movies, interviews and acting / performance / theatre documentation. I was considering Nikon d5300 - but thats not so useful for performance documentation, due to the video-codec-limitation on 30 minutes in DSLRs. Any good advice out there?

[@321bluff]

whats the difference between this and a point and shoot and dslr??

[@tptrsn]

Thanks Jordan, excellent review and video! I've gotta say, there is something about the quality of the video from this, and other Sony cameras that just leaves me slightly underwhelmed. To my eye the Panasonic GH series just kills them...

[@TheCameraStoreTV]

My eye too. Although we did have really terrible light the day I shot this. The interior, lit stuff looks much nicer. Jordan @ The Camera Store TV

[@angelisone]

When shooting still photos, how frame per second? And is Sony HVL-F60M supported with this camera?

[@RobPinna]

Gj! From which focal length aperture increases above 2.8?

[@DaveLundy]

You're reviewing 4K video, so why is this only available at 360p resolution?

[@gearreallydoesntmatter]

Because you have no patience :)

[@DaveLundy]

Mattias Burling Just how much patience is needed?! It's now two days later and the highest resolution available is only 480p. I didn't realize that KZbin didn't make all resolutions available at once.

[@gearreallydoesntmatter]

Dave Lundy Then I apologize, its probably because you have a computer, browser or connection thats not up for it. I can watch it in full res without any issues and have since it was published.

[@DaveLundy]

This is weird! I occasionally watch 1080 with no problems, but usually only use 720p. As of now, the only options visible for this video are 240p, 360p, and 480p on this 4th gen. i7 laptop connected via WiFi to my network. A much older & slower PC on the same network, but wired, shows options all the way up to 2160p. Even on my WiFi connected laptop, I routinely watch 720p KZbin videos easily. TheCameraStore's recent Nikon D4S Hands-On Extreme Low Light Test video shows 1080p option on this same laptop, which is playing smoothly at that resolution. I'm puzzled.

[@TheCameraStoreTV]

Dave Lundy Hey Dave, We've had quite a few viewers having issues when we upload 4K episodes to KZbin. The 1080P files never seem to give anyone any trouble. The good news is that 4K support is still very new, so the kinks should be ironed out shortly. Jordan @ The Camera Store TV

[@kaybhee6]

what computer hardware needed for viewing....pls

[@keniatajones7884]

Hi, I bought this camera and see two major issues. First - when you record objects in motion - let say moving car or children playing while just holding camera in hands the video quality is terrible. It just slightly helps with shaking but, most of all, camera cannot adjust focus properly recording moving object not sharp and "blurry". With a tripod and if object not moving that fast video quality is great. Second - it is unacceptable noise (hiss) making "raw" clips simply useless. I have to run Adobe Audition to correct the audio. Can you answer me if those issues are common? Thank you.

[@AccidentalBroadcast]

++Waiting for 1080p! Zing

[@MrArnand]

Eyyyyyy. Always good to find you somewehere else! Haha!

[@JeanV1986]

Great review, Jordan. Thank you.

[@magicgreenhat]

Do you happen to know what the average file size and video length is for 4K-30p videos on this thing? I'm having trouble finding information on that.

[@abooboo654]

+magicgreenhat www.echomist.co.uk/software/StorageCalculator.html under camera files scrool down to xavc many flavours

[@aetrr]

Guys, I got ax100 and it seems not strong AF (blurring, very slow) I don't know if any of a6100 or a6600 or Zv1 could match or give better image quality than ax100 because the lens in AX100 is very good. I understand the sensors difference from 1 inch sensor all the way to Aps-c but still the lens in ax100 is very good (if anyone knows how much the lens cost of ax100? In equivalent to sony lens?) Both Zv1 and ax100 is one inch sensor both same sensor but I don't know if zv1 lens could beat or same ax100 lens? Do you think that a6600 or a6100 can beat the ax100 or zv1 with their own lens come with the body (in term of video quality)?

[@OverJam52]

Thanks for the review. Would that fit on a Ronin-M ? Cheers.

[@randyhammer7777]

I bought an AX100 last week and I had something strange happen ONCE. When I pulled out the viewfinder, the green power light came on, but the image never showed up in the viewfinder OR the LCD screen. I had to remove the battery then reinstall the battery to get the images back on the LCD and the viewfinder. Anyone else ever had this happen? (The lens cover was removed)

[@victoroliveira3256]

Great review as usual, where have you guys been?

[@TheCameraStoreTV]

Here. Our D4S video went up last week. Jordan @ The Camera Store TV

[@lincolnking3339]

Great review, nice camera. Thanks.

[@thomastmic]

Will the 1080p xavc-s 50mbps work on a class 10 30mb\s card? cant wait for the A7S Hands-On.

[@TheCameraStoreTV]

Yes, class 10 cards should have no problem recording the 1080P files. Jordan @ The Camera Store TV

[@ziu3581]

HI. THERE much difference between AX100 VS RX10II AS TO DYNAMIC RANGE ? I am from Argentina

[@tucompaivan]

global shutter or rolling shutter ?

[@sydneyweddingsandevents665]

+Ivan Figueroa Rolling shutter. Says so in the review.

[@ps3Tank11]

what do you think of frd ax1

[@Isaacraj1234]

which is the good camera for short film below 1000$.

[@tinop414]

What are the best settings for the camera? I always have a ton of noise indoors. Even with low db.. can't seem to figure out why.

[@thebuzz3190]

set the iris to the biggest aperture which is f2.8 and lower the frame rate to 24 and shutter speed to 50i/s

[@MisterM-ow6qk]

Does this overheat? Is there a time cap of 30 minutes or is it as long as the battery has power?

[@AustrianGeek]

There is no 30 min. limit on there (you can run as long as the battery has "juice" ^^). I used the CX900 quite alot (the smaller 1080P only brother) - And it never overheated.

[@johnakridge2916]

These are easy to operate though and do great in all things you need. The cameras like dslr and mirrorless cameras however are complicated and annoying at times to operate

[@EDHBlvd]

Nice review!

[@yourultimatebodyplan5754]

Does it work without any problems with final cut pro for mac?

[@TheCameraStoreTV]

I cut this episode on FCPX, and had no issues at all! Jordan @ TCSTV

[@jalexb915]

Good review. I just don't think you gave a fair review of the Canon XC10 in this class.

[@basketballmaven1454]

Why can't they make a DSLR camcorder with everything the DSLR has but some of the benefits of the camcorder like the shape and zoom?

[@CarlLewis74]

AMAZING CAMERA!!!

[@josafsandoval1408]

How are you recording audio?

[@crazybiscut]

A7s review please?

[@ObelixCMM]

Great review Jordan! Does it shoot RAW pictures or just JPEG?

[@TheCameraStoreTV]

Just JPEG, unfortunately. Jordan @ The Camera Store TV

[@ObelixCMM]

TheCameraStoreTV Thanks!

[@ShadowRider8700]

Hey man grt video.. love your reviews.. mate can u review panasonic hc x1

[@zukaka84]

1080p crop at 1:16 does not look nice at all.

[@angrejsinghvideodirectorsi6393]

plz tell me India prize Sony FDR ax1004k handycam

[@GKTraveller]

great video !!

[@SoAnswerAway]

Thank you for the tips.

[@najeelas66]

Sir, em sorry ... What's the db? 😊

[@thanhnhando3070]

One of the best for video making.

[@xperience-media7396]

Impressive, nice review. ND Filters are a real bonus at this price point. The 1" sensor and new codec is probably more desirable than 4k at this stage but importantly will enable me to transition into 4k when the time is right. I anticipate I will team this up with an all weather mirrorless camera for good mobility & shooting in all weathers for our adventure videos.

[@BryanMiraflor]

How many card slots are in it? You never answer basic questions ):

[@rzero21]

TCS TV going crazy at 4:05 hahahaha