Thoughts on a new camcorder.

OldSmoke wrote on 5/4/2018, 7:43 PM

@john_dennis Have tested the overheating? I only heard of it. But yes, no ND filters was a no go for me. Also, the AX700 shoots excellent stills too.

Grazie wrote on 5/4/2018, 9:13 PM

@OldSmoke: I was also more than just interested in the RX10 IV. I’m enjoying the Bridge camera format. A camera with 3 Rings. A large sensor. What’s NOT to like? I’ve been hoping and hanging out for Mr Canon to get a successor to the SX50 or SX60hs, with a larger sensor. So, this SONY comes along and appeared to be just the job. But for me it’s those irritating “Cons” that have stopped me from doing more serious field testing. Having had the advantages of my ancient Canon Bridge, with all its ergonomic value, I’m spoilt. Any new camera should at least provide the same Ergs!

No fully articulated Screen. A Bridge camera without this is daft. IMO, it takes away at least half of its ergonomic value being a Bridge.

No NDs..... Really? No NDs?! Even my humble Canon XM2 Tapester has built-in glass NDs. A camera, at nearly £2k without NDs is crazy-wrong.

OK, not a small thing the Menu Structure. Although I really could get my head around it I’ve read and seen YT real World experiences of the complex Menu structure which at the moment is not without its own disconfabulation.

Come on Mr Canon, release your newest version/successor of the SX Bridge. I’m running out of time. And maybe, just maybe, my head could be turned towards SONY.

OldSmoke wrote on 5/4/2018, 9:31 PM

@Grazie Maybe I just so used to Sony cameras that Ibdont find the menu structure complicated at all. i had Canon HFG30 for a while but soild it off when the AX100 came out; the image quality was just not good on the Canon and it had no real control over the ND filter. I also prefer the handling of the AX700 over my a6300. The AX700 has been greatly improved. If you set the single lens ring to focus, you can have theee independent controls when using the rockers for zooming and the small wheel for iris. It also has 6 assignable buttons and the jog style button is a great improvement to make quick adjustments. While the zoom range is not as good as on the RX10iv, it is sufficient for my needs.

john_dennis wrote on 5/4/2018, 11:58 PM

"Have tested the overheating?"

I'll be shooting Saturday and Sunday. I don't expect an issue, but if I experienced heating in May here, there would be no way to make it in August.

NickHope wrote on 5/5/2018, 2:45 AM

For reference, the last general discussion we had on camera choice: https://www.vegascreativesoftware.info/us/forum/best-film-camera-for-best-youtube-quality-vegas-pro-12-vegas-pro-15--108920/

bitman wrote on 5/5/2018, 5:41 AM

I have an RX10iii and owned before the RX10 original. I never had issues with overheating, then again I do not film long, maximum takes of a few minutes and even mostly less than 20 seconds, and mostly in HD. On the other hand the weather and dust sealing has saved my ass many times on torrential rainy days in Brazilian and Costa Rican jungle were the camera got pretty wet. Even in tropical weather it did not overheat. I can do without the ND filter as I often slap a polarizer on when it is that bright. This makes me lose enough stops.

Adi-W wrote on 5/5/2018, 9:44 AM

The RX10 III is a great camera. No heating problem and there is a new PlayMemories Camera Apps available that can be used as a ND filter :
Digital Filter allows you to divide the scene into two or three areas and optimize the exposure and white balance for each area, helping you to shoot the best image. This application is perfect for scenes containing vastly different brightness levels, such as in backlit landscape scenes. These above features enable you to enjoy the same wide dynamic range and expressive rendition as if using a graduated ND filter or reverse graduated ND filter.

I didnot bought it yet because I did got a ND filter before this apps came out.

bitman wrote on 5/6/2018, 5:23 AM

Digital Filter allows you to divide the scene into two or three areas and optimize the exposure and white balance for each area, helping you to shoot the best image. This application is perfect for scenes containing vastly different brightness levels, such as in backlit landscape scenes. These above features enable you to enjoy the same wide dynamic range and expressive rendition as if using a graduated ND filter or reverse graduated ND filter.

@Adi-W Thanks very much for this comment, I am going to look into this APP. It seems a very useful APP from your description. I must say I have never bothered about the APPs you can load into the camera before your comment, not even looked into it, I just assumed it be just some gimmicky stuff as you would find on smartphones.

Adi-W wrote on 5/6/2018, 9:21 AM

Hi bitman, there is really some usefull and well done APPs. Have a look also at the Timelaps APP. And if you try the digital filter, please, let me know your experience with it...

OldSmoke wrote on 5/6/2018, 9:31 AM

Hi bitman, there is really some usefull and well done APPs. Have a look also at the Timelaps APP. And if you try the digital filter, please, let me know your experience with it...

I actually have most of the Apps on my a6300. To be honest, the filter app while nice and with lots of adjustments, when you need it it just takes too long to call it up. The timelapse App on the other hand is good. To say the digital ND replaces a true ND just doesn’t work out in the real world but that is just my experience and opinion.

john_dennis wrote on 5/9/2018, 3:50 PM

@OldSmoke

No overheating this weekend.

I shot without an ND filter the first day in mostly hazy sun. At 1/60 sec. auto ISO, the aperture indicator began to flash f16 at around 1030 AM, but the whites didn’t blow out as bad as my old Canon.

The second day, I used a 5 stop ND filter, but that was too much. I settled on a 3 stop filter.

I had no chance to become familiar with the camera. I made it through most of the menus and guessed, then on deck shooting. My first day of shooting can be seen (poorly) here...

I ordered the missing manual and thanks to some under-paid teachers, I can read.

OldSmoke wrote on 5/9/2018, 5:18 PM

[[MENTION:72247]]

No overheating this weekend.

I shot without an ND filter the first day in mostly hazy sun. At 1/60 sec. auto ISO, the aperture indicator began to flash f16 at around 1030 AM, but the whites didn’t blow out as bad as my old Canon.

The second day, I used a 5 stop ND filter, but that was too much. I settled on a 3 stop filter.

I had no chance to become familiar with the camera. I made it through most of the menus and guessed, then on deck shooting. My first day of shooting can be seen (poorly) here...

I ordered the missing manual and thanks to some under-paid teachers, I can read.

Good work! I still think a proper video camera would be better for the kind of work you do, just me opinion.

john_dennis wrote on 5/12/2018, 6:29 PM

@OldSmoke

"I still think a proper video camera would be better for the kind of work you do, just me opinion."

In spite of how stubborn my wife says I am, you're probably correct. The balance of a camcorder on a tripod would probably be better with the weight of the battery on the back. The bridge camera is quite front-heavy with all that lens out front. I spent an extra $100 for an ND filter and I'm likely not done yet.

I would have bought a Canon GX10 for the UHD @ 60 FPS, but for the poor reviews. I might have bought it anyway if I could have touched one locally (re: what my wife says above).

Overall, I'm happy with the Sony, though. In spite of the fact that every camera I've ever owned has had an optical view finder, I've never used them. Not being able to see the rear screen on the RX10, I looked through the EVF. It's marvelous and it's changed my whole way of shooting. It's changed two other things: 1) I can't wear a hat with a bibb when I use the EVF so I'll probably die from skin cancer and 2) I find myself reaching around the camera to operate things with the wrong hand.

Capturing video at 100 Mbps generates three time the data to transfer to my system. I've found that the camera USB port moves data at ~30 MB/s while my old Sony and IOGear card readers move data at ~19 MB/s. I'm on the hunt for a new SD card reader.

BruceUSA wrote on 5/12/2018, 7:05 PM

John_dennis., Laxar USB 3.0 CF/SD reader is pretty good. I have two of this. I am getting about 87MB transfer speed out of mine uhs sd cards II/CF cards. The faster your sd card and the faster transfer speed you will get.

Grazie wrote on 5/12/2018, 7:14 PM

@BruceUSA Oh yes! + 1 for the Laxar USB 3.0 CF/SD.

john_dennis wrote on 5/12/2018, 7:26 PM

Thanks, I'll check it out. At the moment I don't need the CF side.

OldSmoke wrote on 5/12/2018, 8:09 PM

I use a Sandisk USB3 reader for my U3 cards and I do get almost 90Mb, which is as good as card can deliver.

@john_dennis Does the RX10 have dual SD card slots too like the AX700?

john_dennis wrote on 5/12/2018, 11:22 PM

The RX10 only has 1 SD slot and it is virtually impossible to remove without dropping it. So far, I haven’t removed one except in front of my computer over carpet.

bitman wrote on 5/16/2018, 1:48 PM

The one memory card slot on the RX10 is compatible with Memory Stick PRO Duo, Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo, Memory Stick XC-HG Duo, Memory Stick Micro, Memory Stick Micro Mark 2, SD, SDHC, SDXC, microSD, microSDHC, and microSDXC memory cards.

@john_dennis Just imagine removing the memory card in the crows nest of a tall ship...

john_dennis wrote on 5/29/2018, 2:27 PM