This is the camera we have all been waiting for the MC50 with Pro XLR inputs and sound controls but Sony have taken the NX70 one stage further and made it rain and dust proof…fantastic.
UPDATE : After some searching I have found the magical words…MANUAL GAIN…finally we have manual gain control which is switched via the menu.
As you can see from the back you can now access the SDHC card rather than it being underneath as in the MC50. We also get a proper on/off switch and a headphone socket.
Looking at the side of the camcorder Sony have brought the battery compartment from the back to the side of the camera which is no bad thing and best news for all MC50 owners is the inclusion of the Sony “V” battery, once again Sony are learning not to bring out a new battery every time we get a new camcorder.
Rain and Dust Proof Performance
You can be confident rainy or dusty shooting environments will not affect the reliable operation of the HXR-NX70E thanks to its IEC60529 IP54 rating. The camcorder’s sealed body design makes sure that harmful sand and large dust particles do not get inside. A waterproof performance rating of IPx4 means that the main camera body is protected against rain showers and water splashes.
A waterproof performance rating of IPx4 means that the main camera body is protected against rain showers and water splashes. However, it should not be submerged underwater or sprayed with pressurised water from a tap or hose. When used with accessories such as an external microphone, a rain cover should be used to protect the accessory and connection. IP5x rating does not guarantee 100% protection against exposure to extremely fine particles.
Ultra-wide Angle 26.3mm G lens
Engineered for superior optical performance, Sony G lenses deliver brilliant, accurate colour reproduction and sharp, amazingly detailed images. In addition, the 26.3mm focal length offers a broader perspective than previous lenses for enhanced wide angle shooting so you can capture more of the scene when close in.
Assignable Lens Ring (Focus/Zoom/Iris)
Get the most out of your camcorder with enhanced manual controls. The assignable lens ring allows for manual adjustment of focus, iris, and zoom settings so you have complete creative control.
Optical SteadyShot image stabilisation with Active Mode
Optical SteadyShot image stabilisation with Active Mode provides superior compensation for camera shake to deliver stunningly smooth video from wide angle to full telephoto shooting. In addition, the innovative 3-Way Shake-Cancelling feature adds electronic roll stability for even smoother video capture.
Back-illuminated Exmor R CMOS sensor for superb low-light video
Journalists rarely shoot under studio lighting conditions and Sony’s back-illuminated Exmor R™ CMOS sensor delivers stunning low-light sensitivity with improved image clarity and drastically reduced grain. Designed for compact cameras and camcorders, the Exmor R™ sensor relocates the photo diodes above the support circuitry, maximising the light gathering area per pixel so you can shoot with better results in low-light conditions. The sensitivity is roughly double that of conventional CMOS sensors of the same size and pixel size.
1920 x 1080 Full HD 50p Recording with 12.3 Mega pixels still image capture
The compact HXR-NX70E shoots in Full High Definition quality (1920 x 1080) with a choice of 50p, 50i and 25p frame rates. It can also simultaneously shoot 12.3 Mega Pixel (4672 x 2628) still images (Note: Dual Rec is not active when recording mode is set to FX or PS.) It also supports playback via HDMI and compatible HDTV, for complete flexibility in reviewing your footage.
96GB* embedded Flash Memory for up to 40 hours of HD recording
Built-in Flash memory provides extra capacity, ideal when working remotely, as well as providing additional workflow options for back-up and sharing content. 96GB embedded Flash memory can record and store up to 40 hours of high definition video footage in HD LP mode.
* 96GB equals 96 billion bytes. A portion of the total storage is used for system management and/or application files.
3.5” touch-screen XtraFine™ LCD display (921K)
The large 3.5” (16:9) XtraFine LCD screen (921K) displays sharp, bright, vivid images, letting you compose a shot more easily and alter setting to best represent the scene, even when outdoors in bright lighting conditions.
XLR adaptor with selectable phantom power and shotgun microphone
The detachable handle has a compact, ergonomic design. Two balanced XLR audio inputs are built in with phantom power and attenuation options that professional shooters require for clean sound quality. Default audio settings for XLR recording are highlighted in green for easy reference in the field in order to reduce operator error under difficult lighting conditions.
The ECM-XM1 shotgun microphone mounted on top of the handle provides audio recording performance similar to larger shoulder-mounted ENG style cameras.
Geotagging with built-in GPS receiver
A built-in GPS receiver makes the HXR-NX70 an ideal choice for professional videographers. The receiver gives you the ability to “geo-tag” shooting locations – making it easy if you need to return to the same location or to create a log when surveying remote locations. Your locations can be tracked on Google maps and all GPS data can be extracted with a PC.
Additionally, the receiver automatically adjusts your camcorder’s clock to the proper time zone when international travel is part of your assignment.
Direct Copy to external HDD without PC
Store content or backup important shots by copying footage directly from your camcorder to an external hard disk drive (sold separately) without using a computer. The HXR-NX70E can also access videos stored on an external hard drive for playback on HDTV, allowing you to utilise the camcorder’s handy playback features.
Additional information: Direct Copy is compatible with USB media that meets the following requirements: USB 2.0 or higher and formatted in FAT32 file system. It is recommended that external HDD is AC powered. The HXR-NX70E must be connected to AC power when using Direct Copy. VMC-UAM1 cable is supplied to connect HXR-NX70 with USB media, however connection via USB hub is not supported. There may be cases when USB media is not compatible with the Direct Copy function.
No manual Gain?
I think it’s Sony’s way of fooling us into thinking a consumer cam cx700v with a new coat is a pro cam
just go buy the cx700v bound be be half the price and exactly the same picture
Do you mean video gain? Because I can see two audio gain dials on the audio block there.
Yes there is manual gain which is unfortunately activated in the menu but as they say “mussent grumble” at least we have an updated MC50 with Pro audio and gain control.
yea but phil why oh why do they tease us with a nice small fully featured cam to only make it usless by shoving things like gain into a menu.
its enuff to make u wanna scream ‘have any of you boffins ever used a camera outside a lab!!!!’
Better to have a fully featured…manual…camcorder even if the gain is selectable in the menu. I must admit camera engineers seem to get feedback from dimwits most of the time.
well so what is the size of sensor?
Spec sheet says:
1/2.88 Exmor R backlit
I’m assuming that’s inches and not a ratio as that puts it at the same size as it’s MC50 sibling
That strikes me as a good sensor size given the overall size.
1/2.88 equals 1/2.9 in my book, i.e. just s smidgen bigger than the NX5’s 1/3rd inch chipset.
And never mind gain being in the menu – where are the selectable ND filters? OK, so they’re undocumented and automatic, meaning we can never believe the aperture readout.
tom.
Bring it on!
I know that HXR-NX70 will be available only in June while Preston already sell this camcorder at 1800 UK Pounds. Here is the link: http://www.videokit.co.uk/3789-sony-hxr-nx70.html
Thanks for your nice blog. I am interested in this new Sony camcorder.
No…Preston’s and CVP are advertising both camcorders but they are not for sale till June.
I have the HXR MC 50 U —- audio is a big linitation, (when I get a different signal into its audio input – room noise sounds strange) is there anything i can add on to resolve issue and give me sweet sound (or is it a wiering thing)?.
how do I set the white balance? not a big fan of auto-white balance change during a shot.
What is the best alternative to this prosumer camera then?
I like the weather proofing, but why such a small sensor? – the resolution from sensors this size is a little wanting in sharpness – it appears to be exactly the same sensor as on a HDR-XR520v camcorder I bought about 6 years ago and in todays world the video image quality from a DSLR should be industry standard for a camera of this price and the kind of market it is trying to attract.