Review of the Sony HXR-NX70

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12 comments on this post

1. AndyB says:

   06/23/2011 at 9:52 am

   Thanks for the review Phil – excellent as ever. Still undecided between the NX70 and the Canon XF100/105 though…!

2. Mike Beckett says:

   06/23/2011 at 12:59 pm

   Excellent review Phil, good real world tests of the NX70.

   You’re dead right about the auto focus. I used to be a snob and never used it, but it is unbelievably good on the NX70. Keep the manual focus for tricky conditions – lowlight, focus pulls, that sort of thing.

   Thanks again for all the efforts!

3. James Rhodes says:

   06/23/2011 at 3:50 pm

   thanks so much for the review guys !! There is next to nothing out there about this camera.

   I’m wondering what size the sensor is. is it 1/2″ CMOS ?

4. Von Riesling says:

   06/23/2011 at 5:59 pm

   Outstanding review. Thank you! I love the real world use and attention to detail.

5. Scott Brown says:

   06/23/2011 at 9:09 pm

   Phil

   Excellent review, well done. Arran is a wonderful place for testing cameras.

   If you had to choose between the NX70 and a EX1R for a run and gun ob doc which would you pick?

   Scott

6. Garth says:

   06/24/2011 at 12:24 am

   Thanks for that.
   Were you using a variable ND filter?

7. Charles says:

   06/24/2011 at 5:58 pm

   Love the title sequence!

   How bad is the zoom rocker, it’s one of the things I’m picky about as decent creep = pro camera to me. I know I can get manual control on the lens ring but if it’s worse/same as the normal consumer camcorder that’s a big put off. I wonder if it’s just bad firmware (ie fixable) or a cheap rocker (ie not)

   Out of interest in your multi camera jazz band shoot how did you capture the sound? Presumably to the NX100?

8. Cliff says:

   09/03/2011 at 1:33 am

   I think you went very easy on sony during the review of the zoom rocker. The truth is that it is horrible! It is easily the worst zoom rocker I have ever touched in 25 years. I’m at a complete loss when trying to explain how this issue got past Sony during the design and testing process.

   Sony, please fix this ASAP!

9. Steve Crye says:

   10/21/2011 at 5:59 pm

   Hi Phil;

   Your NX70 review is the best one out there. But …

   After many weeks of careful research, I’m almost ready to purchase the HXRNX70U. I’ve considered all the trade-offs and pros and cons of Sony vs Canon vs Panasonic.

   The one thing that is keeping me from pulling the trigger is this zoom-rocker problem. I called Sony Pro support and they acknowledge (guardedly) that the problem is real and that so far Japan has not offered a fix. Rumors abound that the source of the bug is a problem resistor, and that in March 2012 Japan will offer a firmware fix. (Why it would take 6 months for a firmware fix is bizarre and makes me wonder if the rumor is correct)

   I’ve read different things about the feasibility of using either the supplied remote, the manual ring, or the touch-screen controls as a method getting a smooth zoom. (I have an HDR-CX550V with a zoom control that is a bit touchy, but useable after one adapts). If any of those alternates will work, I can wait for the firmware udate.

   So, in addition to text responses to my above concerns, I would love it if you could post a very detailed set of zoom samples, that show any and all problems.

   I kind of a have clock ticking – need to record a performance in 2 weeks where I will use the zoom for a slow, lingering pull-back at the end.

   TIA!

   Steve

10. HD Warrior says:

    10/22/2011 at 2:19 am

    OK firstly the touch screen zoom is a lot slower than the rocker switch which just might get you out of a hole till we get a fix for the rocker switch.
    I would still advise getting a Manfrotto 521i remote zoom as it gives you variable speed right from your tripod handle.
    Over the next 2 days I will post some sample zooms from the Rocker, Touch screen and the Manfrotto zoom switch.

11. Steve Crye says:

    10/23/2011 at 3:34 am

    Wow! Thanks for the very quick reply! Your reassurance has me very close to buying the camera.

    I like the idea of the Manfrotto. I have never used any kind of a Lanc control – does it plug into the remote port on the Sony? In another blog post, you mentioned that you jury-rigged a way to attach it to the cam itself. I would like to do that, for all the run-and-gun stuff I do when I don’t have the tripod.

    Cheers and thanks again in advance,
    Steve in El Paso Texas USA

12. Steve Crye says:

    10/23/2011 at 7:25 am

    Hi; from the slick glossy brochure I downloaded from pro.sony.com, it says this:
    Imaging Device 1/2.88 type ExmorR CMOS with ClearVid pixel array, Pixel Gross: Approx. 6648K Video Actual: Approx. 6140K (16:9) .
    So, it seems a little bigger than 1/3 inch, assuming the 1/2.88 is in inches.
    Steve