[ Jump to the forum discussion: Sony NEX-VG10 (APS-C sensor, interchangeable lens) ]

Two months after a preliminary teaser, Sony announced the new NEX-VG10 camcorder. With a DSLR-sized sensor and interchangeable lenses, this new high-definition video camera brings outstanding, unprecedented options to the videomaking world.

But who is it really for? Should you get a NEX-VG10 or a DSLR? As often, it all depends on what you really need… Now this camcorder calls for a full specs review and comparison.

For answers and more, continue the discussion in our forum thread: Sony NEX-VG10 (APS-C sensor, interchangeable lens)

Here is also, hereafter, a demo [...]]]>

[ Jump to the forum discussion: Sony NEX-VG10 (APS-C sensor, interchangeable lens) ]

Two months after a preliminary teaser, Sony announced the new NEX-VG10 camcorder. With a DSLR-sized sensor and interchangeable lenses, this new high-definition video camera brings outstanding, unprecedented options to the videomaking world.

But who is it really for? Should you get a NEX-VG10 or a DSLR? As often, it all depends on what you really need… Now this camcorder calls for a full specs review and comparison.

For answers and more, continue the discussion in our forum thread: Sony NEX-VG10 (APS-C sensor, interchangeable lens)

Here is also, hereafter, a demo video published by Sony.

Sony announced on May 11, 2010 the development of a completely new HD camcorder (read the full press release).

Essential characteristics are:

Any question or comment [...]]]>

Sony announced on May 11, 2010 the development of a completely new HD camcorder (read the full press release).

Essential characteristics are:

• Interchangeable lenses, compatible with the “E-mount” interchangeable lenses developed for the NEX-5 and NEX-3 still cameras. For those, see the announcement and previews at DPReview – Sony NEX mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras previewed,
• Compatibility with α DSLR lenses via a mount adaptor,
• APS HD CMOS sensor, that should bring the same image quality as the current crop of video DSLRs from Canon, Nikon…

Any question or comment on this article? Come over discuss it on our HD camcorders forums!

With these two combined announcements, Sony is introducing brand new exciting options in the market: a DSLR sensor in a true camcorder form factor (we shall see how that fits in one’s hand though), and DSLR-like still cameras in a compact form factor.

As Matthew Jeppsen said (Who will Get The Cheese?), DSLR enthusiasts have been enjoying unprecedented benefits for such a low price: high sensitivity and low noise, filmic depth-of-field, high dynamic range, interchangeable lenses. The drawbacks however have been very strong too: intense aliasing, rolling-shutter artifacts, imperfect recording codec, short record times, bad audio, and an awkward DSLR form factor that won’t hold comfortably.

It will be very exciting to see if Sony manages to overcome these issues in this new product. And also, despite the low depth-of-field that makes focusing so difficult to achieve, can Sony manage to make this a product that ordinary prosumers / hobbyists can truly enjoy carrying around and travel with – or instead will that be again basically a tool for indie film makers only like the current video DSLRs.

Product availability expected for Fall 2010.

What is “industry-shaking” in all this?

Get the answer and more after the break with a Q&A report about the new PMW-EX1R and PMW-350, and also a short test of a fascinating device by JVC which converts 2D video to 3D – in real time, please.

Visiting Siel-Satis 2009…

Q: We have all read the spec sheets and brochures available for download [...]]]> After Sony teased the whole world with an earth-shattering announcement, it was high time to join the party at the Siel & Satis 2009 Trade Show in Paris and ask the question of all questions:

What is “industry-shaking” in all this?

Get the answer and more after the break with a Q&A report about the new PMW-EX1R and PMW-350, and also a short test of a fascinating device by JVC which converts 2D video to 3D – in real time, please.

Visiting Siel-Satis 2009…

New Sony PMW-EX1R and PMW-350: Questions & Answers

Q: We have all read the spec sheets and brochures available for download right on the day of the announcement [press release, PMW-EX1R product page: US / EU, PMW-350: US / EU, and a sponsored hands-on test]. As per the “industry-shaking” teaser, the audience was a little bit… well, underwhelmed. The name PMW-EX1R let us think this camcorder could be using a new EXMOR R sensor (for improved sensitivity and S/N ratio), and actually it does not?

A: The PMW-EX1R is an evolution of the PMW-EX1 (which it replaces). The main improvements include:

• Better handling,
• Improved IR filtering to fix the IR / far-red contamination issues which have been reported (the filter is now built-in),
• SD capability,
• Improved viewfinder,
• Cache Recording which lets you push REC up to 10s after the event occurred, and still get the shot successfully recorded.

Q: So it is about the PMW-350 then? In a nutshell, what is the compelling value proposition brought forth by this new camcorder?

A: PMW-350 brings all the features and benefits of memory-based solid-state recording to a full-featured shoulder-mount 2/3-in HD broadcast camcorder, that you can complement with the usual range of accessories (upward-compatible battery packs, RF transmitter…)

Q: What is the target market segment, who is it for? From the specs and form factor, it seems like a refreshed design taking inspiration from the PDW-F355 XDCAM HD, replacing Professional Disc with memory cards and taking the transition to CMOS. Is it again about extending XDCAM HD features to (slightly) more accessible segments? (*)

A: No, these are different – for instance regarding weight (**). Actually the PMW-350 is targeted at users of DVCAM shoulder-mounts (for ex. the DSR-570 series), to help them make the transition to HD. Solid-state recording with CMOS means lower power consumption and lower weight: although PMW-350 fits a variety of situations, the ideal scenario is ENG (field reporting). Documentary is excellent too, although this creates even stronger requirements (compared to short-lived news) to address the IT archiving challenge (i.e. disk-based archival as opposed to tapes or Professional Discs). And solid-state recording brings additional flexibility in processing footage.

Q: What are the post workflow options (not mentioning the HD-SDI & HDMI live feeds)?

A: There is a wide variety of options. You can extract files from the memory cards with a card reader. Or use hard-disk mobile storage to offload the video from the cards temporarily. Or directly from the camcorder with the USB connection or iLink / Firewire. You can also use Memory Stick cards (without under-/over-cranking capability though).

(*) US List Prices: PMW-350L USD 20,500 / PDW-F355L USD 26,500.

(**) Editor’s note – This sounds a bit odd, weight is not that different as per the specs: PMW-350L 3.2 kg, PDW-F355L 3.85 kg, DSR-570 3.7kg (all without lens). Power consumption is another matter though: PMW-350L 18 W (recording with VF / AF lens / mic), PDW-F355L 32 W (recording with VF / LCD / manual lens), DSR-570 24 W (body).

New Sony PMW-350

Sony F35

JVC DM-TD10 2D-to-3D converter

I had the opportunity to test an amazing device by JVC… This JVC DM-TD10 converter takes a live ‘normal’ HD video feed as an input, and outputs 3D HD video: specialized image processing algorithms are able to separate various focus planes in the video (based on edge recognition, focus, movement) and then create 3D video from the 2D feed.

Here is how the demo was setup:

• An HD camcorder was connected to the DM-TD10 converter,
• The converter output was connected to a JVC 3D LCD display, which is built on polarized filter technology: each scan line is polarized alternatively – odd lines show the image for one eye, even lines show the image for the other eye,
• Polarized glasses separate the 2 images and let you view the video in 3D and full color.

The main drawback is in losing half vertical resolution, but that was not a show-stopper by any means – the viewing experience was really comfortable… With interlaced video, one could argue that you also lose half temporal resolution, but there was no apparent judder.

So basically this demo was actually showing 2 distinct technologies which are there and available today:

• 3D video – splendid and so color rich,
• Algorithmic real-time conversion of 2D video to 3D – fascinating, innovative, amazingly engineered, but maybe bound to stir the same debates of yore regarding old-time B&W movies colorization: do we really want it?

Now, there are still some hurdles to overcome:

• Lower consumer prices for polarized 3D displays,
• Getting the broadcasters on board. Taking one 1080i channel and deciding that it is 3D, is just that: a decision. But the devil is in the details and in setting up an interoperable standard: in addition to a compatible set-top box and display, there must be all sorts of equipment in-between which currently assume that all interlaced scan lines are only separated by time, not by space. Especially devices that work on motion estimation, like MPEG2 encoders / decoders and frame-rate converters. Changing that assumption can hardly be without impact, maybe.

Anyway, the demo was smashing.

JVC DM-TD10 2D-to-3D live converter

JVC DM-TD10: watching one's hand live in 3D

Euphonix color grading tablet

A nice device which lets you use all 3 hands 4 hands simultaneously to control shadows, mid-tones, highlights, and other parameters, with Apple Color for instance.

Euphonix color grading station

Should we expect a new XDCAM EX with the latest EXMOR R sensors? Handheld or shoulder-mount? This, and the price tag, is anybody’s guess.