SONY FDR AX-100 | Video Camera Review
by Gayendra Wickramarathna
(Sri Lanka)
September 2016 I visited B&H Photo in New York to purchase video equipment needed for my work namely Sri Lanka Web Ads. It is a new business venture in Sri Lanka or maybe in the world where we make documentaries of a Product or a Factory or a Hotel or anything for that matter. We give customers a free service of hosting these videos on our e-commerce platform which is a virtual 4K UHD video trade directory bundled with a SEO where a customer can find a supplier of a particular trade on Google search with a video thumbnail appearing on the SERP of that customer's 4K video uploaded on YouTube.
I purchased the Sony FDR AX-100 4K prosumer handycam which fitted my budget. I went through almost all the reviews on the internet comparing the Blackmagic Ursa Mini too.
For the price of US$1,498 this is the best prosumer in the market today.
The 1 inch Exmor R CMOS sensor is superb in low light. I did some handheld recording and the steadyshot camera stabilization proved it self. Though it does not record 4K at 60i it serves the purpose in other HD formats.
It does not go to the real 4K levels like the Blackmagic Ursa, but the 3840x2160 rez is mind blowing. I played back a movie I shot of a factory where they cut & polish Granite on a 4k 53 inch curved TV and WOW - it was Cinema quality which made my client very happy with my work. The post was done on Adobe Premier CS6 Pro.
Want to let u guys know that my desktop with a 4Gb RAM & a i3 Processor stopped when I inserted the recorded XAVC-S format video on a Sony SDXC Class 10 Memory Card. I am using my Acer i5 laptop and it works now.
JPEGs have a max Rez of 20 Mp.The built-in Mic is good, but I off'd the recorder's voice switch. Near Field Communication support is good to transfer files to your Smartphone and to the Sony's PlayMemories App.
The built-in ND filters with 3 steps is really beneficial and this feature is not available in the Ursa.
I am a satisfied customer of the Sony FDR AX-100 & would recommend it to anyone to film UHD videos with the 1 inch sensor which is not available in Video Cameras in this price range.
Gayendra Wickramarathna
Sri Lanka
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