No reason not to be a Pro

FPP wrote on 8/4/2015, 4:11 PM

I'm still in absolute awe of perhaps one of the most amazing full hd video cameras available to low to medium budget video producers.. The HDR CX900 has changed my life as a poverty stricken producer.. The footage works with my Sony Vegas pro 12 flawlessly as my editing skills have been increasing by leaps and bounds. Currently I own 3 CX900s (I do alot of multicam projects) at a personal financial investment derived from my confidence in this unit. Lots of personal financial sacrifices were made for me to have this many, but they have proven to be worth it.
The next unit above the CX900 is the 4K able Sony FDR-AX100 4K Ultra HD Camcorder which as we all have posted numerous times before are the same camera only difference is the 4K. and a few hundred dollars, depending on where you buy. ( Must have very powerful computer to edit 4K from what I gather)
I know this is a "Dead Horse" topic, but if you want to start your journey toward quality production work, this camera is your foot in the door of professional territories along with your Sony Vegas Pro NLE.
I have never been so inspired by any other camera in my life.
It will and is difficult to find a gem like this in the current price point.. New or Used.

Comments

VidMus wrote on 8/4/2015, 4:57 PM

I have the CX-900 and even with the latest firmware, the auto-focus is disgustingly bad!

I will use manual focus whenever I can but when I am at the theater and the close-up action is all over the place or I am at church chasing a preacher all over the place, I can count on the CX-900 to go out of focus every time! And it will lock in an out of focus state. As in nothing is in focus even with great light and contrast to focus on. And even with no movement at all and with great lighting and contrast, it will drift out of focus and lock blurred.

Otherwise, it is a great camera. !00% failure for run and gun!

I use my old PJ-710 for close-ups and let the CX-900 do the wider shots. That is not the way it should be. The PJ-710 snaps to focus while the CX900 has to think about it for a while and then moderately go into focus, if at all. At least it no longer crawls to focus as it originally did. Sony failed miserably with the auto-focus on the CX-900!!!

I am seriously thinking about selling the CX-900 and getting something else!

If the camera cannot focus properly, it does not matter what anything else is...

FPP wrote on 8/4/2015, 5:43 PM

@VidMus-
I'm not a camera expert with regards to the CX900's functionality, but it almost sounds like some malfunctioning going on with your unit.
When ever I shoot live stage plays, I set up focus zones with the director and actors when they are stage blocking.
I set up 1 unit (WS) left stage and the same for right stage. I am usually operating the main camera center stage to capture (CU) and follow shots knowing that the other units are recording consistent cutaways.
All units are set on manual focus and I have captured brilliant images.
The zoom is a bit slow on the unit but studying the play's script helps me anticipate with very little of the issues you speak off.
I not too long ago finished a talent show in multicam and I will see if I can get permission to post a clip to show how I was able to follow the Host from one side of the stage to the other in manual focus. I'm sure you know wha t you are doing and maybe more than me, but I just haven't found those problems at the degree you have.