Sony FDR AX100 UHD 4K

What about the 4K Don, are you happy with it? Paul

Very happy with 4K. When looking at the P5 preview and the single frame it is very sharp and clear ... much better than 5D MK III. The auto focus works great, never a problem. Small easy to carry. The files are easy to process. Like I said the only problem is it tents to over expose so I make it look a little dark in the screen.

Thanks for the comments. I really fancy a camcorder - never used one - you've used a few and rate this one so that's good enough for me!

Just come back from a trip and now finally realise that, as I've been carrying heavy gear round for 30 years, it's definitely time to lighten up - so looks as though my Canon gear is going to have to go. I'm thinking of the AX100 complemented with the GH4.

I used the AX100 for about a week before returning it. It seemed like a very nice camera though, and if the GH4 wasn't coming out around the same time I would have kept it. The Panasonic gives me a bit more options, however, and I think the camera design will get me into more places, as most people assume I'm taking photos.

@Videostock50 I think that is a great combo, I will probably end up with the Sony along side the GH4, I think a camcorder is still very usable and tourists do use camcorders.

The AX-100 is pretty discreet and doesn't draw anywhere near the attention as a Canon 5D or even a GH4 with a 70-200 lens or for that matter any dslr with a good quality zoom that will work in any situation. A flat pan cake lens is great to hiding but has very limited use in a run and gun shoot. It really doesn't look any different to a dozen consumer video cameras and most people have no idea what the "4K" printed on the side means.

I just got back from a wild and crazy Native canoe adventure, where I shot almost constantly with the AX100, and even in public settings no-one looked twice at it. Shot every day for 10 days, many hours, managed to not drop it in the water, glad to have the stabilization (although the "Active" mode screwed me up sometimes) from the deck of a 47 ft landing craft and also a small skiff, all handheld. Used the FS700 also, mainly for slowmo, and even managed to take some pretty decent stills with the AX100. This all would not have worked with a bigger camera, or a camera that required two hands, as I was frequently hanging off the gunwales or the rigging with my other hand. I was able to use the strap on the AX100 to reverse my hold on it so I could use my second hand when I needed to not fall off the boat in heavier seas. Trying the same thing with the FS700 almost had me and the camera both overboard. I used autofocus a lot and it only failed me a few times (like in misty situations with lots of movement. I failed me too when I forgot AF was off sometimes, and then lost a few shots here and there. I got into my third battery at one point, but usually was swapping one for the other, constantly charging (when the engine was off I could not charge).

The zoom was indispensable, as changing lenses in this situation would have been impossible.

Learned to love the EVF. Well kinda. On bright sparkling water, it's necessary, and I sure wish they included an eyecup for it. Also it sure helped when I fine tuned the diopter!

Sadly, the only loss during this trip was my Hero3+ and all the footage it had on it - into the drink after a young man failed to anticipate the power of the rushing water....live and learn. Don't trust others to tie knots on safety floats!

These are not full resolution, but here is a gallery of stills taken with the AX100. One thing of note - the photo button is placed perfectly wrong, so when it is used it is really hard to not cause a jerk in the video. Or maybe I'm the jerk in the video. Who knows. But the photo function is painfully slow, and if you are wanting to go into video record right after taking a photo, well too bad - you have to wait! http://www.backroadbus.com/album/index.html

Totally agree and the slow saving of photos is a drawback. Takes a few seconds and while it is saving that is all the camera will do. The photos still seem very high quality. Kinda like when the 5D MK II came out and both photos and video were then possible from the same camera.

Too bad on losing the GoPro. I've destroyed three of them so far. Blew one up putting it too close to an exploding target inside a giant pumpkin and drowned two when the underwater housing leaked. Still they are a great action and disposable camera to have around.

I remembered you mentioning losing the GoPros, so I knew I wasn't alone. Keep hoping a halibut eats it and then shows up on the docks....at least the card will be OK. Now rendering a 4K UHD timelapse of unholy Apocalypse clouds from the AX100. Love the detail, although the highlights are of concern.

Also, for previewing UHD files, the Daum Potplayer somehow does it great. None of the other players play smoothly. Potplayer must have some sort of buffering. Very handy.