Great overview. I do landscape, nature and some wildlife videos. This is my work horse. Full frame with multiple lenses are out of reach. The AX700's 1" sensor is larger than most camcorders which gives excellent video quality. The 4K is excellent, though I usually work in 1080. It is as you said very versatile. One of the real benefits of a camcorder is battery life and recording time. The stills cameras will do video, but you need to change batteries all the time and limit recording length. The ergonomics of a video camera versus a stills camera in the field for video make these a real winner.
I own sony a7RIII, A6500, Canon D5 and FDR-AX700, This is the most versatile Video camera , I Use this a Lot on a regular day to day. Love this Sony, You are spot on
a nice and quick explanation of what the possibilities are of this camcorder the fdr AX700 from Sony I have been using the camera for over 4 years and recently also in combination with the DJI Ronin S.
I agree with you there, and you should definitely try an ax100, I believe for most people the ax100 would be way more than enough, but for consistent pro-work, the ax700 has dual card slots. Seems most film makers don't use autofocus at all anyway, hence the success of cameras that have no AF, like the gh5. Regular people have no idea what "grading" is anyway, lol. As for ax100 footage, it can be stripped to vlog/slog, then graded to REC 709 and above, the ax700 definitely will yield better fidelity and skip that process though! Great video!
Fantastic review, and so timely - I just bought a Sony FDR-AX700 today !! I have been looking to update from my Panasonic HDC-SD600, which is HD1080i and about 8 years old!! I ordered the Sony and got a fantastic price of $1398 - $500 off the $1898 price that it seems everyone is at currently. I found that price by doing a DuckDuckGo search and seen that Abe's of Maine (which is actually in Brooklyn !!) had that low price. So, now I have been searching TH-cam for user videos, and came across yours. Thanks for the review and I will checkout some of your other videos, Charlie
@@hoosierpirate3050 - you were right on about Abe's - they called me and informed me that the Sony HDR-AX700 that I ordered was in fact an "International" version and made for the PAL format. And then, they proceeded to try and sell me the US version for the $1800 price. Of course, they would add an extra warranty and a SD card. I said no and they did cancel the order. So, I went ahead and ordered a "kit" on Amazon and it has arrived and things are going forward.
@@everydaylifewiththebensons285 Good deal it has worked out in the end for you. i've been shopping around for this camera also. but between walmart and amazon, ebay. I have decided to bite the bullet and buy from a authorized dealer. for me a lot of money to gamble with. Thx u for the reply back on Abe's
I had this camera for a few years. I was very happy with it. What I was missing was a better image stabilizer. But otherwise it's a great camera. Now I have a Panasonic HC-X20 with a better image stabilizer. If SONY had developed this camera further, with a better stabilizer, it would be a very good, super camera with very good workmanship.
I do love this camera,too. I am always impressed by the feeling this cam gives by using it! I use an usb cable to connect it with a power bank : raeisusp AC-L200 AC-L25A .
Great review! I am glad that camera companies are still making camcorder though I wonder how long. I have a panasonic camcorder that holds up really well considering its age as long as you like 1080p @ 60fp. I enjoy your camera/video reviews!
Thanks. I suppose analysts at the big companies made the decision to move away from the lower end camcorder market for a reason. But with all the generic camcorders flooding places like Amazon and other sites, I feel like it would be worthwhile for companies to update their entry level camcorders. There clearly seems to be a market. But who knows.
Thanks. The AX53 has fewer options for manual control, a bit less dynamic range, only one memory card slot and worse low light performance. But it is smaller, lighter, cheaper and has better image stabilization. They are both very good cameras. Edit: Oh, and the AX53 has more optical zoom as well.
The AX100 is sort of the predecessor to the AX700. It has almost the identical body and the same lens. The main difference is the sensor. The AX100 has a 20-ish megapixel sensor, while the AX700 has a 15-ish megapixel stacked sensor. The lower resolution, stacked sensor in the AX700 also has phase detect autofocus in addition to contrast detect, while I believe the AX100 only has contrast detect. Basically, the AX700 has improved autofocus, less rolling shutter and Sony's HFR modes up to 960 FPS (in really short bursts).
Sony has discontinued this camera. I hope that’s because they are coming out with an updated version soon, but my fear is they’ve just decided to get out of the prosumer camcorder market.
Yeah, I noticed that too. And I feel the same way. It's a shame that every manufacturer seems to be going that route, at least somewhat. I guess the market demand just isn't strong enough for camcorders these days. But I, too, hope they have a replacement on the way.
Thank you so much for your review. Do you know if the camera downsamples the 4k image to 1080p when recording at 1080p? I had a canon GX10 and the 1080p quality was amazing and it was because the camera used the whole 4k sensor and downscaled to 1080
Unfortunately, I don't know if it downsamples the 4k when recording in 1080. However, the majority of the video I've recorded with this camera for the channel has been in 1080P. The 1080p is pretty good. For many of my videos, this was the main camera and I recorded in 1080 because it was good enough and the files were smaller. I tried a Sony A6400 at one point and the 1080p was so much worse that I had to use 4K.
Low light performance with the AX53 I found to be unacceptable. Really glad I returned it and sprung for the 1” sensor AX700 a few years ago. The AX53 stabilization was great though and had decent video in plenty of light.
Honestly, it's okay, but not great in direct sun. It's rarely a problem for me, but I think I have used the viewfinder once or twice when direct sun made the screen difficult to see.
For my videos I also use an A7IV and a ZCam E2C. The ZCam stays mounted on an arm on the wall of my sound booth, pointing down at the desk. So that's actually what I used for most of this video. I've used a mix of other cameras over the years, but that is what I'm currently using.
I use PP10 and have kept it on AUTO most of the time over the last few years. My horizontal pans at 24fps and 30fps both in 4k seem pretty dang blurry. Is there a way to get a smoother pan like you see in documentaries?
Sometimes a slightly slower pan can make a big difference. If you have a 180 degree shutter (so, 1/48th of a second for a 24 frames per second frame rate) you will always get a little motion blur. A faster shutter speed can sharpen up movement a bit, but it can make movement look a bit jittery, though not everyone notices. It's also possible it's just a result of bit-rate. Any compressed video will tend to have more detail in a stationary scene because there isn't as much loss when all the frames are essentially the same. In my experience, once you start panning there are more compression losses because every frame is completely different. In this case, recording at the highest possible bit rate can help. Also, if you are recording in low light and go with something like 1/24th of a second to get more light, you will have more motion blur. If you are leaving the camera in auto, I'm not sure if it will go that low on shutter speed or not.
Sir! 7:13 How about the built-in mic, is it directional? In other words when you're standing behind the camera does your voice becomes muffled? My ax43 onboard mic is definitely directional and when I stand behind it my voice becomes muffled (I'm a fan of the smaller older Sony handycams because they utilize omni-directional onboard mic
I thought the AX43/53 had a feature to try to focus the audio forward and even "zoom" the audio when you zoom in (processing trickery using multiple mics). I would think this feature could be turned off? Also, some camcorders have the mics in front and if you are talking from behind the camera, it can sometimes sound muffled simply because the camera itself is sort of shadowing your voice. I don't utilize the internal mics on the AX700 beyond scratch audio very often. However, I've never noticed them to be directional. They are on top of the camera, just behind the lens, so if you are behind the camera and have the camera below your mouth level, I imagine it would pick you up pretty well.
Totally understand where you're coming from Son! Example: with the older version Sony Handycams such as HDR cx210 / cx405 you can stand anywhere around the camera and it picks up the audio beautifully. hence omnidirectional 🤟 it's all good no biggie thanks for your response ✌
If you have good lighting, they will probably both be similar. Especially since live streaming entails encoding the video at an often lower bit-rate. The mirrorless cameras will have the advantage of cleaner video in lower light, and they will have a shallower depth of field with the right lenses, if that is something you are going for. But the AX700 can provide 4K output over HDMI, it can be powered externally with no issue, and it can run continuously with no overheating (something not all Sony mirrorless cameras can do, though some can).
@@bigtb1717 apprecaite you! been using the sony a6400 and jsut got the sigma 16 x 1.4 lens for my show today. Have the zv1 as well, though going to sell that for a possible camcorder.. love the video quality of the a6400 with the sigma lens ( th-cam.com/video/jWP2JYXVHbU/w-d-xo.html ) and was curious if the camcorder can match the quality? Many thanks again! I started years ago with a low end canon handycam and worked well, but... LOL Peace!
The AX700 won't quite match the image quality of the A6400, especially if you use 4K, because the A6400 oversamples in 4K. Also, with the f1.4 lens, you will be getting more light. However, the 1080p from the AX700 actually seems slightly sharper to me. Even still, the overall image quality from the A6400 will likely be a touch better. Not that any of these are massive differences. I did have to turn on high temp mode on the A6400 when I was used it to prevent it from overheating and shutting down on me. I never had it shut down on me with that mode enabled, even after an hour or so, for what that's worth. I have been throwing around the idea in my head of doing an image quality comparison test between the AX700 (and maybe even a smaller sensor camera) and a couple mirrorless cameras. Maybe even do some "blind" comparison examples to see how much difference, in the real world, people would really notice. Could be fun. Not sure when I'll get to it, but I'll definitely put it on the list.
If you are live streaming, are you plugged into a power source or working off battery? I have done a two hour live recording with the AX700. My stills camera would have required three battery changes with gaps in the video.
great shots and review! Do you know if this cam can record at 4k/60 HDR for two hours straight and not overheat in summer with stabilization and other specs on? how long would the battery last?
Very helpful review, thanks. One question. Does the AX700 retain settings when the battery is swapped? For instance, if the white balance and exposure etc. are set manually, will those settings still be the same after changing the battery?
Thank you for the info. Looking to get a camera for family videos given I have a newborn and a 3 year old at home. Question, what video editing software do you use?
I currently use Davinci Resolve. I've previously used a couple others. Sony Vegas (back when it was Sony) and more recently, PowerDirector. But I've used Davinci Resolve for the last 3-5 years.
@@bigtb1717 thank you. I’ve been using a go pro for a few years but audio is awful on it for home videos and events among other limitations. Hoping a new camera and the right software will make it easier to create and make family content. Thank you so much
When you record in 4K on Sony AX700, do you see the video having micro jitters, like jerky motion to the footage on panning left and right? I see the video you posted here is good, was this shot in 4K? Thanks
A lot of the video I've recorded with this camera was in 1080p, but I have recorded in 4K quite a bit and I never noticed the jerky motion. Could be a setting, or maybe a framerate issue. Any chance you are putting 30 FPS footage on a 24 FPS timeline, or vice versa? What about shutter speed? A fast shutter speed can make the video look a tiny bit jerky when recording at 24 or 30 FPS because there is no motion blur to sort of blend the frames together (which is more important at 24 or 30 FPS).
I am thinking of getting back into the filming hobby. When I was younger, I would film skateboarding. My main camera was a Sony TRV900 and a VX1000 3CCD cameras. With those cameras, I would carry "color cards" so I could adjust my colors the way I wanted to. Is that something is still able to be done on these newer camcorders? Have not touched a new camera in years so I have no Idea but I am interested in this camera.
If you do the manual white balance setting, you can adjust the color somewhat and you can also adjust some aspects of color in the picture profile. There are also many different color and gamma profiles to choose from. But you don't have a vectorscope or anything like that built in, so you'd just have to go by eye, so to speak, with a color card. You can hold a white or gray card up to the camera and have the camera auto-set the color and white balance based on that as well.
@@bigtb1717 Ahhh got it. So it sounds like this is still possible. Glad to hear it. I think I am decided on the Sony AX700, i've always been a big fan of Sony camcorders.
@@Immortalkalashnikov I have another video where I go through the menus and settings/options in this camera. Might help you see if it will do what you want.
Unfortunately, there is no way to take or save a picture while recording video. In fact, the camera will not let you take a picture when in video mode. You have to switch into photo mode, at which point you can no longer record video. It's one or the other. If you are recording in 4K you could extract 4K frames from the video, but obviously that's not quite the same.
@bigtb1717 Thanks. Yeah, I figured it out that that is the case. That's why I bought an AX53 as it does take photos while recording. Now I have two cameras. More likely, I will be returning the AX700.
Excellent Video, I understand it can work with some Olympia lenses, to improve whether zoom and macro images. Do you happen to know if it is possible? Thanks for an interesting and enjoyable review.
This isn't an interchangeable lens camera. I've heard of some thread-on wide angle and macro lenses (they thread onto the filter threads), but I haven't tried them myself. Most thread-on lenses I've seen aren't the best quality but again, I haven't tried any myself on this camera.
I appreciate your answer, and I share with you a video I just found with a guy using some additional lenses as I heard from a friend of mine. based on your remarks and some other recommendation, I bought this model and it is fantastic. So thank you very much. th-cam.com/video/bZ5hSfAwXi0/w-d-xo.html
I am curious about your statement about its optical stabilization. I have an AX 33 which has BOSS, so I thought the AX700 only has Active Image Stabilization.
The AX700 doesn't have "BOSS" stabilization, but it does have optical stabilization in the lens. It also has an "active" stabilization mode, which I believe adds digital stabilization on top of the optical.
How interesting, i am considering to purchase this camcorder for my own welding videos. I had a play around with my Sony A7iii and i was not happy with the results as i am getting very strong banding and flickering similar to what you have from 5:40 but in my case 3-5 times worst. No matter what changes i make to shutter speed and its correlation to frame rates the banding just not going away. I was surprised to see similar banding in your video as i hoped that it will not happen. My current camera is Canon Legria G10 and it produce no flickering and no banding what so ever. Perhaps i should consider the root of Canon camcorders. Thank you so much fro your video it helped me tremendously! If you do not mind me asking what audio set up are you using for your narration in this video? You sound velvety, silky smooth
The banding has a lot to do with framerate, but I think it also has to do with the sensor readout speed. Small sensor cameras with relatively low resolution (like your Legria) will often have very fast readout speeds, so they will be less likely to have banding. The A7III has a somewhat slow readout speed, particularly when recording at 4K, because it oversamples from an even higher resolution. I know the AX700 has less banding than the A6400 I tried. Honestly, even just in standard LED lighting I often had to adjust the shutter speed to minimize banding with the A6400 and I never saw banding with the AX700 in anything arc shots, and even then it's not always bad. For audio, I record videos like this in the audio booth I built. I record into a laptop with a USB audio interface. For this video I was using an Earthworks SR314. It has a bit more self-noise than I'd like for the price, but it is a good sounding mic. Any other questions or anything, let me know. Cheers!
Would you suggest this camera for recording stand up comedy shows... not the best lighting but usually not too bad... any sound issues? thank you for any recommendations
This camera would probably do okay in that situation. Sound is going to be the biggest challenge and that's going to be true with any camera. Depending on where you are in the crowd you may end up picking up more of the audience reactions than the comedian. This camera does have a 3.5mm microphone input jack, so you could use an external shotgun mic which might help cut down on a bit of the audience sound, though depending on the size of the venue, you may have to make sure the mic is pointing towards the closes source of sound, whether that be the comedian themselves or the nearest speaker of the sound system (in a bigger place). I haven't tried to record in that situation before, so I can't say for sure what would work best. If you are recording in an official capacity, they may have a way for you to receive an audio feed from their system. At that point it would just be a matter of getting it into the camera. You'd have to figure out what they are providing so you'd know how to adapt it and get it into the camera.
They both have positives and negatives. Personally, purely for video, I'd choose the AX700 all the way. Built-in ND filters, more dedicated video control buttons and features, unlimited recording length and likely longer battery life. The RX10 IV has more zoom and is much better for pictures, so as a "hybrid" camera it would be a better choice. It also has a 30 minute record limit, so that could be a consideration.
Thanks for this review. Do you know or could check at what focal lengh the lens reaches f4,5 aperture? And can you make all setting sby touching LCD? Thanks.
I'll check the focal length/aperture when I get a chance. The touch screen is a bit limited. It can to touch to focus track and can be used in the menu at times for things like touching an X or for touching OK or Cancel, stuff like that. But for general menu navigation, you have to use the joystick on the back.
Sure. It does a fine job in auto. Even in "manual" mode you can leave the camera to adjust most stuff on its own and only adjust what you want. But you can certainly just leave it in auto. There are certain situations where you might get better results if you were to choose certain settings manually, but this camera does a fair job in auto.
@@bigtb1717 THNX up to 4K my estimate, one thing also _ see my youtube _ I am a glider pilot and have to take it with me in the plane, size matters, too big is a nogo.
Thanks for this amazing review mate. I'm deciding between a Sony AX700 or the new Sony FX30 + PZ18-105mm f4 g oss. I will be shooting mostly in a studio with a black background, but the set will have professional lighting. A power zoom lens is very important to me, that's why I suggested the Sony FX30 with the PZ18-105mm lens, but feel free to suggest another power zoom lens better than this one and if possible with a longer focal length. Does the Sony AX700 power zoom have a speed setting? Which camera will give me better image quality? The Sony AX700 will give me a longer focal length, that's very good, but probably the noise will be lower on the FX30, right? Can you help me choose the best camera for me? Thanks!
The FX30 will have better image quality. 10 bit, newer color science, lower noise, better dynamic range, better codec options. The 18-105 f/4 is a constant aperture, so it won't change exposure as you zoom in and out. The AX700 has a brighter maximum of f/2.8, but it goes down a bit as you zoom. If you stop it down you can make it stay constant, but it's something you have to be mindful of. As you say, the AX700 has a longer zoom range than the 18-105, but you can't change the lens. Though I'm not aware of any power zoom lenses longer than 105mm. It also has unlimited recording without a fan (though the fan on the FX30 is pretty quiet). It's certainly not a direct comparison, but I do have a video comparing the image quality of the AX700, A6400, A7III and AX53. None of those have the newer codecs, 10 bit, etc., but it may still help.
FX30 is overkill for what you will be using. I have personally used the AX700 and the FX5. Two completely different cameras. The FX series is aimed at cinema/TV productions. The shoulder hurts from seeing the FX5 lol.
I have a AX53 from more than 1 year and I'm really happy for that. I use frontal ring for exposure control but i'm really dissappoint that when im recording 4K there is no hdmi out, so I can not use an exterrnal monitor to control all. Can you confirm me that on AX700 hdmi out works also during 4k saving? I'm thinking to buy a second hand AX700 to add to my AX53.
Hi Sir new sub here, me i know what is your settings for the arc shot? for 2022 what cam corder you can recommend for recording videos specially in welding arc shot ? thank you for sharing
All my arc shots for a long time are with this AX700. I set the camera for manual focus, set the camera up pointing at where I'm going to weld and set the focus at the right spot. Then I turn the ISO/Gain all the way down, set the iris/aperture around f/8-10, then set the shutter speed to 1/576-1/1200 of a second. Finally, I turn the built-in ND filter to the highest setting and start recording.
Hey, I just chatted with Sony and I kind of don't believe them about the following LOL. I bought the AX700 and I love it. But I do put it on a 20 foot tripod at times to record sporting events. I asked if there is a way to turn the camcorder on and off either remotely or through some kind of wired device, and they said No. I suggested the camcorder's remote, the Sony app (Imaging Edge), and asked for a wired option. I prefer not to drop the tripod during halftime for example just to shut off the camera, so hoping there is a logical option.
I have a wireless remote system for Sony cameras that connects to the "multi-interface" port. Basically a micro USB port on Sony cameras. I know for a fact it will turn point and shoot cameras like the RX100 on and off. I thought it would work on the AX700 too, but I can't remember for sure about powering the camera on and off. I went to the bag where I keep it so I could give it a quick test and let you know. It's not there, lol. No idea where I left it. I'll dig for it and try to test it out and let you know in the next day or two. It was around $40-$50 I think.
Revo VRS-Multi-W. I just looked it up. I guess the wireless version is currently almost $60. They have a wired option for about $30, but it probably wouldn't work quite as well for your application. Those prices are from B&H Photo, by the way.
@@bigtb1717 thank you! please let me know if you find and test it. i have a shocked sony tech on my other monitor right now, he said he doesnt see a sleep (battery save) mode on the ax700 but there was one on ax53
Just a note, the Revo VRS is different from many of these remote controls in that it has a "sleep" button. This is the button I've found will turn the camera on and off. I'll find it and let you know some time tomorrow whether or not it will turn the AX700 on and off.
Yeah, I hope they aren't abandoning camcorders. Last I looked, it seem that he AX700 isn't available anymore. I hope they are going to replace it instead of simply abandoning it.
I hope so too.. im going to go with the panasonic x1500 for now... but I'll keep my eye out for Sony, cause if they release another rmodel with 10bit and 4k monitor playback and 60p, that's going to be awesome... @@bigtb1717
how would this match against the A7S III or Alpha 7 IV, kinda in between to make a decision for video recording, and 4+ hours battery while recording 4K is a big Pro for Camcorders, also I'd imagine this doesn't heat up that terrible like a Mirrorless.
The A7SIII and A7IV are both going to have a cleaner image and be better in low light. And obviously, being full frame, they can achieve a shallower depth of field at a given field of view. Honestly, depending on what you are doing, a shallow depth of field may or may not be a good thing. For instance, if you are recording at a desk and want everything on the desk to be in focus, you might need f/5.6 or so with a full-frame camera, which might make it difficult to get enough light or require a higher ISO. Probably not a big deal on those cameras since they are great at higher ISO, but with a 1" sensor, the whole frame might be in focus with an f/2.8 aperture, which lets in more light. It just depends on what you are doing, because a super shallow depth of field isn't actually a good thing in all situations. Battery life on the SIII and 7IV is pretty good, and in most situations, you won't have overheating issues on either one. But battery life is a bit better on the AX700 and I think you can get larger batteries as well. It also comes with an AC adapter that can power the camera indefinitely. I've never noticed the AX700 feeling even warm, but I do typically record at 1080p. Still, I'm sure you won't have to worry about overheating with the AX700. In terms of pure image quality, the SIII and 7IV will definitely do better than the AX700. They have a slightly cleaner image overall and have higher quality codec options (10 bit, 4.2.2 and higher bit rate options as well). They also have the flexibility of interchangeable lenses. However, they are also quite a bit more expensive (particularly the SIII) and the AX700 includes a versatile, reasonable quality lens with powered zoom. It just can't be swapped out. If you want to record at 1080p, the SIII is excellent and the AX700 does pretty good. From the tests I've seen, the A7IV loses a bit of detail at 1080p (I mean, more than is strictly explained by the drop in res). So at 1080p, the A7IV is probably the softest in terms of detail, though it's still a cleaner image in terms of noise than the AX700. At 4K, the A7IV is probably the sharpest, most detailed because it oversamples from 7K. However, they all do well in terms of detail, and the A7IV has the most rolling shutter of the three in 4K because of that oversampling. In terms of image stabilization, the AX700 wins there. If you have any specific questions, let me know and I'll answer if I can. I don't have access to an A7SIII, but I might be able to do a comparison of the AX700 and A7IV at some point. Not sure exactly when.
I've had good luck with Sandisk cards over the years. Most of my cards are Sandisk Extreme and I've never had an issue. I do have a few Sony cards now and haven't had an issue with those either, but those are more expensive because Sony only makes UHS-II cards. You don't need that much speed for the AX700. So I use UHS-I, Sandisk Extreme/Extreme Pro cards. They aren't the cheapest, but they aren't too expensive. I think a 64GB Sandisk Extreme Pro is around $15-$20. I always buy from an authorized retail seller to have the best chance at getting genuine cards.
I have a Z Cam E2C mounted on an arm in my sound booth above the desk. That is what I have been using lately for the videos at this desk. I have it powered externally and recording into an external SSD. Makes a very convenient, semi-permanent setup in the booth. I generally record at 1080p, H265 which gives reasonably small files and plenty of quality for video at the desk. No fan, so it's silent, but can still record continuously, as long as I need. So far, it has been an excellent little camera, at least, for my usage.
I was actually looking at getting this camera for a while before money got tight again. Glad to know I wouldn't have been disappointed had I been able to get it. Until I can get it I guess I'm stuck with my little piece of shit camcorder that only lets me control 1 element at a time lol.
For a long time it was a Blackmagic Pocket 4K. I still think that is a great camera. Reliable for me, good image quality, good color. But I wanted autofocus for a few applications and I wanted something a bit smaller and simpler. My Pocket 4K had a V-Mount battery and SSD rig set up which allowed for long, continuous recording, but it was pretty big and I wanted a simpler, smaller camera. I currently use an A7 IV as my "main" camera and the AX700 for arc shots and stuff like that. Dual SD cards allows me to have a backup of my files, the internal battery gets me a couple hours of record time and H265 files allow good enough quality with relatively small files. It's. a great camera for what I do (not just TH-cam).
Feedback: When you say something like "It isn't/doesn't have the best [thing] in the world" it would only be helpful to qualify which camera *in it's class* is/does have the best of said thing.
Great Info, Question: You mentioned that you have replaced the ax700 with another camcorder as your primary,, With what and why? Also did you see this vid th-cam.com/video/bZ5hSfAwXi0/w-d-xo.html thoughts, Thanks!
For a while I was using a Blackmagic Pocket 4K. I loved and still love that camera, but I found myself getting into situations where I really wanted autofocus. I now use a Sony A7 IV. The AX700 still gets used a lot, but I appreciate the 10 bit video, better dynamic range and better low light of the A7 IV. Not just for TH-cam, but I have also done marketing videos and photos for the company I work for a few times and it's nice to go from recording stellar video to taking great stills in an instant.
![Sony AX Series Camcorders Compared to Sony XDCAM [AX700, Sony HXR-MC88, Sony PXW-Z90V]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/bT5GCdLuOmI/mqdefault.jpg)
I've owned it from the moment it came out. I've traveled the world with it for years and never had any issue ever. Thanks for the great overview.
Killer camera. I also shot short movies with it and they look gorgeous.
Great overview. I do landscape, nature and some wildlife videos. This is my work horse. Full frame with multiple lenses are out of reach. The AX700's 1" sensor is larger than most camcorders which gives excellent video quality. The 4K is excellent, though I usually work in 1080. It is as you said very versatile. One of the real benefits of a camcorder is battery life and recording time. The stills cameras will do video, but you need to change batteries all the time and limit recording length. The ergonomics of a video camera versus a stills camera in the field for video make these a real winner.
why don't you use cx900e, 1" and 1080p,
I own sony a7RIII, A6500, Canon D5 and FDR-AX700, This is the most versatile Video camera , I Use this a Lot on a regular day to day. Love this Sony, You are spot on
I got this camera last year and I love it.
I've been looking to buy my first camera for a while now, and this video helped me a lot. Thanks so much!
Nice camera and it does a great job on your TH-cam videos! 👍
a nice and quick explanation of what the possibilities are of this camcorder the fdr AX700 from Sony
I have been using the camera for over 4 years and recently also in combination with the DJI Ronin S.
thanks for this review great details.. been looking for AX700 pre own now..
I agree with you there, and you should definitely try an ax100, I believe for most people the ax100 would be way more than enough, but for consistent pro-work, the ax700 has dual card slots. Seems most film makers don't use autofocus at all anyway, hence the success of cameras that have no AF, like the gh5. Regular people have no idea what "grading" is anyway, lol. As for ax100 footage, it can be stripped to vlog/slog, then graded to REC 709 and above, the ax700 definitely will yield better fidelity and skip that process though! Great video!
Fantastic review, and so timely - I just bought a Sony FDR-AX700 today !! I have been looking to update from my Panasonic HDC-SD600, which is HD1080i and about 8 years old!! I ordered the Sony and got a fantastic price of $1398 - $500 off the $1898 price that it seems everyone is at currently. I found that price by doing a DuckDuckGo search and seen that Abe's of Maine (which is actually in Brooklyn !!) had that low price. So, now I have been searching TH-cam for user videos, and came across yours. Thanks for the review and I will checkout some of your other videos, Charlie
let know that works out for you. I've heard Abe's like to up sell, and a lot of their stuff is for other markets and not U.S. warranted
@@hoosierpirate3050 - you were right on about Abe's - they called me and informed me that the Sony HDR-AX700 that I ordered was in fact an "International" version and made for the PAL format. And then, they proceeded to try and sell me the US version for the $1800 price. Of course, they would add an extra warranty and a SD card. I said no and they did cancel the order. So, I went ahead and ordered a "kit" on Amazon and it has arrived and things are going forward.
@@everydaylifewiththebensons285 Good deal it has worked out in the end for you. i've been shopping around for this camera also. but between walmart and amazon, ebay. I have decided to bite the bullet and buy from a authorized dealer. for me a lot of money to gamble with. Thx u for the reply back on Abe's
I had this camera for a few years.
I was very happy with it.
What I was missing was a better image stabilizer. But otherwise it's a great camera.
Now I have a Panasonic HC-X20 with a better image stabilizer.
If SONY had developed this camera further, with a better stabilizer, it would be a very good, super camera with very good workmanship.
I do love this camera,too. I am always impressed by the feeling this cam gives by using it!
I use an usb cable to connect it with a power bank : raeisusp AC-L200 AC-L25A .
Great review! I am glad that camera companies are still making camcorder though I wonder how long. I have a panasonic camcorder that holds up really well considering its age as long as you like 1080p @ 60fp. I enjoy your camera/video reviews!
Thanks. I suppose analysts at the big companies made the decision to move away from the lower end camcorder market for a reason. But with all the generic camcorders flooding places like Amazon and other sites, I feel like it would be worthwhile for companies to update their entry level camcorders. There clearly seems to be a market. But who knows.
Best camera for documentaries, journalism and just regular interviews and fun days. Wink wink.
Love the Ax 53 and would this as well I suspect (or even more perhaps). Nicely done video!
Thanks. The AX53 has fewer options for manual control, a bit less dynamic range, only one memory card slot and worse low light performance. But it is smaller, lighter, cheaper and has better image stabilization. They are both very good cameras. Edit: Oh, and the AX53 has more optical zoom as well.
@@bigtb1717 I occasionally see a used ax100 on sale: more similar it appears to the 53, but with a one inch sensor, so sort of in between.
The AX100 is sort of the predecessor to the AX700. It has almost the identical body and the same lens. The main difference is the sensor. The AX100 has a 20-ish megapixel sensor, while the AX700 has a 15-ish megapixel stacked sensor. The lower resolution, stacked sensor in the AX700 also has phase detect autofocus in addition to contrast detect, while I believe the AX100 only has contrast detect.
Basically, the AX700 has improved autofocus, less rolling shutter and Sony's HFR modes up to 960 FPS (in really short bursts).
Great review! Thanks!
Sony has discontinued this camera. I hope that’s because they are coming out with an updated version soon, but my fear is they’ve just decided to get out of the prosumer camcorder market.
Yeah, I noticed that too. And I feel the same way. It's a shame that every manufacturer seems to be going that route, at least somewhat. I guess the market demand just isn't strong enough for camcorders these days. But I, too, hope they have a replacement on the way.
Nice, made a few ax700 video's on YT myself, great camera.
Thank you so much for your review. Do you know if the camera downsamples the 4k image to 1080p when recording at 1080p?
I had a canon GX10 and the 1080p quality was amazing and it was because the camera used the whole 4k sensor and downscaled to 1080
Unfortunately, I don't know if it downsamples the 4k when recording in 1080. However, the majority of the video I've recorded with this camera for the channel has been in 1080P. The 1080p is pretty good.
For many of my videos, this was the main camera and I recorded in 1080 because it was good enough and the files were smaller. I tried a Sony A6400 at one point and the 1080p was so much worse that I had to use 4K.
@@bigtb1717 I just one and I think Is pretty good but the 1080p I believe Is a step behind canon, 4k Is great
Excellent presentation!
Good review, but for me, the FDR-AX53. I like the B.O.S.S. stabilization, and the zoom is off the charts.
The AX53 is a great camcorder, for sure. Price of the AX53 has gone up lately, but it's still quite a bit cheaper than the AX700.
Low light performance with the AX53 I found to be unacceptable. Really glad I returned it and sprung for the 1” sensor AX700 a few years ago. The AX53 stabilization was great though and had decent video in plenty of light.
If you could make a tutorial with this camera that would be really appreciated!
Great review. All info I needed is there. Just one question. Is the screen visible in daylight as my ax53 has terribly dark screen in daylight.
Honestly, it's okay, but not great in direct sun. It's rarely a problem for me, but I think I have used the viewfinder once or twice when direct sun made the screen difficult to see.
great review thanks
I have 2 AX700's. I love them but I want to know what you upgraded to.
For my videos I also use an A7IV and a ZCam E2C. The ZCam stays mounted on an arm on the wall of my sound booth, pointing down at the desk. So that's actually what I used for most of this video.
I've used a mix of other cameras over the years, but that is what I'm currently using.
@@bigtb1717 great cam for both photos and videos
I use PP10 and have kept it on AUTO most of the time over the last few years. My horizontal pans at 24fps and 30fps both in 4k seem pretty dang blurry. Is there a way to get a smoother pan like you see in documentaries?
Sometimes a slightly slower pan can make a big difference. If you have a 180 degree shutter (so, 1/48th of a second for a 24 frames per second frame rate) you will always get a little motion blur. A faster shutter speed can sharpen up movement a bit, but it can make movement look a bit jittery, though not everyone notices. It's also possible it's just a result of bit-rate. Any compressed video will tend to have more detail in a stationary scene because there isn't as much loss when all the frames are essentially the same. In my experience, once you start panning there are more compression losses because every frame is completely different. In this case, recording at the highest possible bit rate can help.
Also, if you are recording in low light and go with something like 1/24th of a second to get more light, you will have more motion blur. If you are leaving the camera in auto, I'm not sure if it will go that low on shutter speed or not.
I really would like to play ( try) this recorder......
Sir! 7:13 How about the built-in mic, is it directional? In other words when you're standing behind the camera does your voice becomes muffled? My ax43 onboard mic is definitely directional and when I stand behind it my voice becomes muffled (I'm a fan of the smaller older Sony handycams because they utilize omni-directional onboard mic
I thought the AX43/53 had a feature to try to focus the audio forward and even "zoom" the audio when you zoom in (processing trickery using multiple mics). I would think this feature could be turned off? Also, some camcorders have the mics in front and if you are talking from behind the camera, it can sometimes sound muffled simply because the camera itself is sort of shadowing your voice.
I don't utilize the internal mics on the AX700 beyond scratch audio very often. However, I've never noticed them to be directional. They are on top of the camera, just behind the lens, so if you are behind the camera and have the camera below your mouth level, I imagine it would pick you up pretty well.
Totally understand where you're coming from Son! Example: with the older version Sony Handycams such as HDR cx210 / cx405 you can stand anywhere around the camera and it picks up the audio beautifully. hence omnidirectional 🤟 it's all good no biggie thanks for your response ✌
Great video! Curious your thoughts of this camera versus a sony mirrorless for live streaming, regarding video/image quality? Thanks so much!
If you have good lighting, they will probably both be similar. Especially since live streaming entails encoding the video at an often lower bit-rate. The mirrorless cameras will have the advantage of cleaner video in lower light, and they will have a shallower depth of field with the right lenses, if that is something you are going for. But the AX700 can provide 4K output over HDMI, it can be powered externally with no issue, and it can run continuously with no overheating (something not all Sony mirrorless cameras can do, though some can).
@@bigtb1717 apprecaite you! been using the sony a6400 and jsut got the sigma 16 x 1.4 lens for my show today. Have the zv1 as well, though going to sell that for a possible camcorder.. love the video quality of the a6400 with the sigma lens ( th-cam.com/video/jWP2JYXVHbU/w-d-xo.html ) and was curious if the camcorder can match the quality? Many thanks again! I started years ago with a low end canon handycam and worked well, but... LOL Peace!
The AX700 won't quite match the image quality of the A6400, especially if you use 4K, because the A6400 oversamples in 4K. Also, with the f1.4 lens, you will be getting more light. However, the 1080p from the AX700 actually seems slightly sharper to me. Even still, the overall image quality from the A6400 will likely be a touch better. Not that any of these are massive differences.
I did have to turn on high temp mode on the A6400 when I was used it to prevent it from overheating and shutting down on me. I never had it shut down on me with that mode enabled, even after an hour or so, for what that's worth.
I have been throwing around the idea in my head of doing an image quality comparison test between the AX700 (and maybe even a smaller sensor camera) and a couple mirrorless cameras. Maybe even do some "blind" comparison examples to see how much difference, in the real world, people would really notice. Could be fun. Not sure when I'll get to it, but I'll definitely put it on the list.
@@bigtb1717 much appreciated! Yes temp on high. Set at F1.8. Thanks again! Seeing a blind test would awesome!
If you are live streaming, are you plugged into a power source or working off battery? I have done a two hour live recording with the AX700. My stills camera would have required three battery changes with gaps in the video.
great shots and review! Do you know if this cam can record at 4k/60 HDR for two hours straight and not overheat in summer with stabilization and other specs on? how long would the battery last?
Very helpful review, thanks. One question. Does the AX700 retain settings when the battery is swapped? For instance, if the white balance and exposure etc. are set manually, will those settings still be the same after changing the battery?
Yes, all settings are retained when swapping batteries.
@@bigtb1717 Thanks so much.
Thank you for the info. Looking to get a camera for family videos given I have a newborn and a 3 year old at home. Question, what video editing software do you use?
I currently use Davinci Resolve. I've previously used a couple others. Sony Vegas (back when it was Sony) and more recently, PowerDirector. But I've used Davinci Resolve for the last 3-5 years.
@@bigtb1717 thank you. I’ve been using a go pro for a few years but audio is awful on it for home videos and events among other limitations. Hoping a new camera and the right software will make it easier to create and make family content. Thank you so much
When you record in 4K on Sony AX700, do you see the video having micro jitters, like jerky motion to the footage on panning left and right? I see the video you posted here is good, was this shot in 4K? Thanks
A lot of the video I've recorded with this camera was in 1080p, but I have recorded in 4K quite a bit and I never noticed the jerky motion. Could be a setting, or maybe a framerate issue. Any chance you are putting 30 FPS footage on a 24 FPS timeline, or vice versa? What about shutter speed? A fast shutter speed can make the video look a tiny bit jerky when recording at 24 or 30 FPS because there is no motion blur to sort of blend the frames together (which is more important at 24 or 30 FPS).
@@bigtb1717 Thanks for the reply, actually I was planning to buy one and see some videos on youtube are not smooth.
I suppose, most of my use is on a tripod. It's possible that there is some micro-jitter to the stabilization, but I haven't noticed it in my use.
I am thinking of getting back into the filming hobby. When I was younger, I would film skateboarding. My main camera was a Sony TRV900 and a VX1000 3CCD cameras. With those cameras, I would carry "color cards" so I could adjust my colors the way I wanted to. Is that something is still able to be done on these newer camcorders? Have not touched a new camera in years so I have no Idea but I am interested in this camera.
If you do the manual white balance setting, you can adjust the color somewhat and you can also adjust some aspects of color in the picture profile. There are also many different color and gamma profiles to choose from. But you don't have a vectorscope or anything like that built in, so you'd just have to go by eye, so to speak, with a color card. You can hold a white or gray card up to the camera and have the camera auto-set the color and white balance based on that as well.
@@bigtb1717 Ahhh got it. So it sounds like this is still possible. Glad to hear it. I think I am decided on the Sony AX700, i've always been a big fan of Sony camcorders.
@@Immortalkalashnikov I have another video where I go through the menus and settings/options in this camera. Might help you see if it will do what you want.
Please do tutorial video on AX700!
Does it allow you to take photos while recording video? My old Sony HDR-SR1 does. Need to upgrade to this if it allows it.
Unfortunately, there is no way to take or save a picture while recording video. In fact, the camera will not let you take a picture when in video mode. You have to switch into photo mode, at which point you can no longer record video. It's one or the other. If you are recording in 4K you could extract 4K frames from the video, but obviously that's not quite the same.
@bigtb1717 Thanks. Yeah, I figured it out that that is the case. That's why I bought an AX53 as it does take photos while recording. Now I have two cameras. More likely, I will be returning the AX700.
Excellent Video, I understand it can work with some Olympia lenses, to improve whether zoom and macro images. Do you happen to know if it is possible? Thanks for an interesting and enjoyable review.
This isn't an interchangeable lens camera. I've heard of some thread-on wide angle and macro lenses (they thread onto the filter threads), but I haven't tried them myself. Most thread-on lenses I've seen aren't the best quality but again, I haven't tried any myself on this camera.
I appreciate your answer, and I share with you a video I just found with a guy using some additional lenses as I heard from a friend of mine. based on your remarks and some other recommendation, I bought this model and it is fantastic. So thank you very much. th-cam.com/video/bZ5hSfAwXi0/w-d-xo.html
I am curious about your statement about its optical stabilization. I have an AX 33 which has BOSS, so I thought the AX700 only has Active Image Stabilization.
The AX700 doesn't have "BOSS" stabilization, but it does have optical stabilization in the lens. It also has an "active" stabilization mode, which I believe adds digital stabilization on top of the optical.
How interesting, i am considering to purchase this camcorder for my own welding videos. I had a play around with my Sony A7iii and i was not happy with the results as i am getting very strong banding and flickering similar to what you have from 5:40 but in my case 3-5 times worst. No matter what changes i make to shutter speed and its correlation to frame rates the banding just not going away. I was surprised to see similar banding in your video as i hoped that it will not happen. My current camera is Canon Legria G10 and it produce no flickering and no banding what so ever. Perhaps i should consider the root of Canon camcorders.
Thank you so much fro your video it helped me tremendously!
If you do not mind me asking what audio set up are you using for your narration in this video? You sound velvety, silky smooth
The banding has a lot to do with framerate, but I think it also has to do with the sensor readout speed. Small sensor cameras with relatively low resolution (like your Legria) will often have very fast readout speeds, so they will be less likely to have banding. The A7III has a somewhat slow readout speed, particularly when recording at 4K, because it oversamples from an even higher resolution. I know the AX700 has less banding than the A6400 I tried. Honestly, even just in standard LED lighting I often had to adjust the shutter speed to minimize banding with the A6400 and I never saw banding with the AX700 in anything arc shots, and even then it's not always bad.
For audio, I record videos like this in the audio booth I built. I record into a laptop with a USB audio interface. For this video I was using an Earthworks SR314. It has a bit more self-noise than I'd like for the price, but it is a good sounding mic.
Any other questions or anything, let me know. Cheers!
@@bigtb1717 Thank you!
Waiting for 4k 60p version.
Would you suggest this camera for recording stand up comedy shows... not the best lighting but usually not too bad... any sound issues? thank you for any recommendations
This camera would probably do okay in that situation. Sound is going to be the biggest challenge and that's going to be true with any camera. Depending on where you are in the crowd you may end up picking up more of the audience reactions than the comedian. This camera does have a 3.5mm microphone input jack, so you could use an external shotgun mic which might help cut down on a bit of the audience sound, though depending on the size of the venue, you may have to make sure the mic is pointing towards the closes source of sound, whether that be the comedian themselves or the nearest speaker of the sound system (in a bigger place). I haven't tried to record in that situation before, so I can't say for sure what would work best.
If you are recording in an official capacity, they may have a way for you to receive an audio feed from their system. At that point it would just be a matter of getting it into the camera. You'd have to figure out what they are providing so you'd know how to adapt it and get it into the camera.
@@bigtb1717 thank you for your responce..
What do you think about this AX700 vs the Sony RX10 IV for video etc ?
They both have positives and negatives. Personally, purely for video, I'd choose the AX700 all the way. Built-in ND filters, more dedicated video control buttons and features, unlimited recording length and likely longer battery life.
The RX10 IV has more zoom and is much better for pictures, so as a "hybrid" camera it would be a better choice. It also has a 30 minute record limit, so that could be a consideration.
@@bigtb1717 Thank you !
Polarize filter Lens for this câmera dont make Sense? Im using Fusion protector Hoya without UV
Thanks for this review. Do you know or could check at what focal lengh the lens reaches f4,5 aperture? And can you make all setting sby touching LCD? Thanks.
I'll check the focal length/aperture when I get a chance. The touch screen is a bit limited. It can to touch to focus track and can be used in the menu at times for things like touching an X or for touching OK or Cancel, stuff like that. But for general menu navigation, you have to use the joystick on the back.
Great video. I do have a question. I know absolutely nothing about using manual setting. Will this camera work well just keeping it in auto mode?
Sure. It does a fine job in auto. Even in "manual" mode you can leave the camera to adjust most stuff on its own and only adjust what you want. But you can certainly just leave it in auto. There are certain situations where you might get better results if you were to choose certain settings manually, but this camera does a fair job in auto.
@@bigtb1717 thank you for your response.
I currently use the Sony AX53 but want to purchase another camcorder. Maybe I’ll consider the AX700.
I have another video where I go over all the features, menus, and operation of the AX700, in case you decide to go that route.
@@bigtb1717 I will watch. Thanks
Well great....I had decided for this camera.... now in doubt again..... Looking for 4k 60fps ( preferable) Sony. ANY advice is welcome.
Are you looking for a camcorder form factor? What is your budget?
@@bigtb1717 THNX up to 4K my estimate, one thing also _ see my youtube _ I am a glider pilot and have to take it with me in the plane, size matters, too big is a nogo.
Thanks for this amazing review mate. I'm deciding between a Sony AX700 or the new Sony FX30 + PZ18-105mm f4 g oss.
I will be shooting mostly in a studio with a black background, but the set will have professional lighting. A power zoom lens is very important to me, that's why I suggested the Sony FX30 with the PZ18-105mm lens, but feel free to suggest another power zoom lens better than this one and if possible with a longer focal length.
Does the Sony AX700 power zoom have a speed setting? Which camera will give me better image quality? The Sony AX700 will give me a longer focal length, that's very good, but probably the noise will be lower on the FX30, right? Can you help me choose the best camera for me?
Thanks!
The FX30 will have better image quality. 10 bit, newer color science, lower noise, better dynamic range, better codec options. The 18-105 f/4 is a constant aperture, so it won't change exposure as you zoom in and out. The AX700 has a brighter maximum of f/2.8, but it goes down a bit as you zoom. If you stop it down you can make it stay constant, but it's something you have to be mindful of. As you say, the AX700 has a longer zoom range than the 18-105, but you can't change the lens. Though I'm not aware of any power zoom lenses longer than 105mm. It also has unlimited recording without a fan (though the fan on the FX30 is pretty quiet).
It's certainly not a direct comparison, but I do have a video comparing the image quality of the AX700, A6400, A7III and AX53. None of those have the newer codecs, 10 bit, etc., but it may still help.
FX30 is overkill for what you will be using.
I have personally used the AX700 and the FX5. Two completely different cameras. The FX series is aimed at cinema/TV productions. The shoulder hurts from seeing the FX5 lol.
I hope Sony brings some new 1.0 camcorders in the market. I'm not the fan of mirrorless staff.
I'm a fan of both, lol. Camcorders really are great for video though.
I have a AX53 from more than 1 year and I'm really happy for that. I use frontal ring for exposure control but i'm really dissappoint that when im recording 4K there is no hdmi out, so I can not use an exterrnal monitor to control all. Can you confirm me that on AX700 hdmi out works also during 4k saving? I'm thinking to buy a second hand AX700 to add to my AX53.
If I get a chance, I'll test this tomorrow and let you know.
@@bigtb1717 Thanks!!
Unfortunately, when you begin recording in 4K the display output blacks out. The on-screen data remains, but the actual video feed goes away.
@@bigtb1717 Thank you!! I'm quite sure I will buy in next week a Panasonic HX-1500
Great video! Can it be used while plugged in the wall socket?
Yes. And it comes with an AC power cord.
@@bigtb1717 Great! Thanks man
Hi Sir new sub here, me i know what is your settings for the arc shot? for 2022 what cam corder you can recommend for recording videos specially in welding arc shot ? thank you for sharing
All my arc shots for a long time are with this AX700. I set the camera for manual focus, set the camera up pointing at where I'm going to weld and set the focus at the right spot. Then I turn the ISO/Gain all the way down, set the iris/aperture around f/8-10, then set the shutter speed to 1/576-1/1200 of a second. Finally, I turn the built-in ND filter to the highest setting and start recording.
@@bigtb1717 thank you for the information very much appreciated
I love mine.
Hey, I just chatted with Sony and I kind of don't believe them about the following LOL. I bought the AX700 and I love it. But I do put it on a 20 foot tripod at times to record sporting events. I asked if there is a way to turn the camcorder on and off either remotely or through some kind of wired device, and they said No. I suggested the camcorder's remote, the Sony app (Imaging Edge), and asked for a wired option. I prefer not to drop the tripod during halftime for example just to shut off the camera, so hoping there is a logical option.
I have a wireless remote system for Sony cameras that connects to the "multi-interface" port. Basically a micro USB port on Sony cameras. I know for a fact it will turn point and shoot cameras like the RX100 on and off. I thought it would work on the AX700 too, but I can't remember for sure about powering the camera on and off. I went to the bag where I keep it so I could give it a quick test and let you know. It's not there, lol. No idea where I left it. I'll dig for it and try to test it out and let you know in the next day or two. It was around $40-$50 I think.
@@bigtb1717 Awesome much appreciated, do you recall the make/model of the item?
Revo VRS-Multi-W. I just looked it up. I guess the wireless version is currently almost $60. They have a wired option for about $30, but it probably wouldn't work quite as well for your application. Those prices are from B&H Photo, by the way.
@@bigtb1717 thank you! please let me know if you find and test it. i have a shocked sony tech on my other monitor right now, he said he doesnt see a sleep (battery save) mode on the ax700 but there was one on ax53
Just a note, the Revo VRS is different from many of these remote controls in that it has a "sleep" button. This is the button I've found will turn the camera on and off. I'll find it and let you know some time tomorrow whether or not it will turn the AX700 on and off.
Is there a leveler? To check if its level with the horizon.
I don't think so. I don't remember ever seeing an option and I just looked again and couldn't find anything.
@@bigtb1717 Bummer! :p
wasn't this 10 bit and has a LOG color profile??? I have been reading differing information
It does have multiple S-Log and HLG profiles (as well as many other color profiles). But it is just 8 bit, 4.2.0 color.
thanks for the response!! I think im going to wait it out a while longer... I think a new model might be coming soon.. I hope @@bigtb1717
Yeah, I hope they aren't abandoning camcorders. Last I looked, it seem that he AX700 isn't available anymore. I hope they are going to replace it instead of simply abandoning it.
I hope so too.. im going to go with the panasonic x1500 for now... but I'll keep my eye out for Sony, cause if they release another rmodel with 10bit and 4k monitor playback and 60p, that's going to be awesome...
@@bigtb1717
how would this match against the A7S III or Alpha 7 IV, kinda in between to make a decision for video recording, and 4+ hours battery while recording 4K is a big Pro for Camcorders, also I'd imagine this doesn't heat up that terrible like a Mirrorless.
The A7SIII and A7IV are both going to have a cleaner image and be better in low light. And obviously, being full frame, they can achieve a shallower depth of field at a given field of view. Honestly, depending on what you are doing, a shallow depth of field may or may not be a good thing. For instance, if you are recording at a desk and want everything on the desk to be in focus, you might need f/5.6 or so with a full-frame camera, which might make it difficult to get enough light or require a higher ISO. Probably not a big deal on those cameras since they are great at higher ISO, but with a 1" sensor, the whole frame might be in focus with an f/2.8 aperture, which lets in more light. It just depends on what you are doing, because a super shallow depth of field isn't actually a good thing in all situations.
Battery life on the SIII and 7IV is pretty good, and in most situations, you won't have overheating issues on either one. But battery life is a bit better on the AX700 and I think you can get larger batteries as well. It also comes with an AC adapter that can power the camera indefinitely. I've never noticed the AX700 feeling even warm, but I do typically record at 1080p. Still, I'm sure you won't have to worry about overheating with the AX700.
In terms of pure image quality, the SIII and 7IV will definitely do better than the AX700. They have a slightly cleaner image overall and have higher quality codec options (10 bit, 4.2.2 and higher bit rate options as well). They also have the flexibility of interchangeable lenses. However, they are also quite a bit more expensive (particularly the SIII) and the AX700 includes a versatile, reasonable quality lens with powered zoom. It just can't be swapped out. If you want to record at 1080p, the SIII is excellent and the AX700 does pretty good. From the tests I've seen, the A7IV loses a bit of detail at 1080p (I mean, more than is strictly explained by the drop in res). So at 1080p, the A7IV is probably the softest in terms of detail, though it's still a cleaner image in terms of noise than the AX700. At 4K, the A7IV is probably the sharpest, most detailed because it oversamples from 7K. However, they all do well in terms of detail, and the A7IV has the most rolling shutter of the three in 4K because of that oversampling.
In terms of image stabilization, the AX700 wins there.
If you have any specific questions, let me know and I'll answer if I can.
I don't have access to an A7SIII, but I might be able to do a comparison of the AX700 and A7IV at some point. Not sure exactly when.
Have you used it with any gimbal?
No, I've never tried it on a gimbal.
most modern video cameras are fine for anything compared to the old standard DEF. any comparison's are nothing more then splitting hairs.
Which sd cards do you recommend?
I've had good luck with Sandisk cards over the years. Most of my cards are Sandisk Extreme and I've never had an issue. I do have a few Sony cards now and haven't had an issue with those either, but those are more expensive because Sony only makes UHS-II cards. You don't need that much speed for the AX700. So I use UHS-I, Sandisk Extreme/Extreme Pro cards. They aren't the cheapest, but they aren't too expensive. I think a 64GB Sandisk Extreme Pro is around $15-$20. I always buy from an authorized retail seller to have the best chance at getting genuine cards.
Interesting, I thought arc shot where filmed with an auto darkening filter.
which camera did you use to record this?
I have a Z Cam E2C mounted on an arm in my sound booth above the desk. That is what I have been using lately for the videos at this desk. I have it powered externally and recording into an external SSD. Makes a very convenient, semi-permanent setup in the booth.
I generally record at 1080p, H265 which gives reasonably small files and plenty of quality for video at the desk. No fan, so it's silent, but can still record continuously, as long as I need. So far, it has been an excellent little camera, at least, for my usage.
Thanks for the response. Your footage looks great.
But I checked the Z cam is quite expensive, so one should expect good video 😉
I was actually looking at getting this camera for a while before money got tight again. Glad to know I wouldn't have been disappointed had I been able to get it. Until I can get it I guess I'm stuck with my little piece of shit camcorder that only lets me control 1 element at a time lol.
What is now your go to camera?
For a long time it was a Blackmagic Pocket 4K. I still think that is a great camera. Reliable for me, good image quality, good color. But I wanted autofocus for a few applications and I wanted something a bit smaller and simpler. My Pocket 4K had a V-Mount battery and SSD rig set up which allowed for long, continuous recording, but it was pretty big and I wanted a simpler, smaller camera. I currently use an A7 IV as my "main" camera and the AX700 for arc shots and stuff like that. Dual SD cards allows me to have a backup of my files, the internal battery gets me a couple hours of record time and H265 files allow good enough quality with relatively small files. It's. a great camera for what I do (not just TH-cam).
@@bigtb1717 Thanks!
Feedback: When you say something like "It isn't/doesn't have the best [thing] in the world" it would only be helpful to qualify which camera *in it's class* is/does have the best of said thing.
Sadly no further updates since 1.01. i think they buried this camera
I thought this thing was 10 bit😢
Nope, 8 bit only. It would be cool if it had 10 bit recording, but it hasn't been a big deal for my use case.
8bit
Great Info, Question: You mentioned that you have replaced the ax700 with another camcorder as your primary,, With what and why? Also did you see this vid th-cam.com/video/bZ5hSfAwXi0/w-d-xo.html thoughts, Thanks!
For a while I was using a Blackmagic Pocket 4K. I loved and still love that camera, but I found myself getting into situations where I really wanted autofocus. I now use a Sony A7 IV.
The AX700 still gets used a lot, but I appreciate the 10 bit video, better dynamic range and better low light of the A7 IV. Not just for TH-cam, but I have also done marketing videos and photos for the company I work for a few times and it's nice to go from recording stellar video to taking great stills in an instant.