[TECH]:: Sony NEXVG10E - quantum leap in consumer video cameras

                     Mariet - please copy to Rory
                     Anthea: The school might want one :-) (wait for
price to drop)

Intro:  http://www.dpreview.com/news/1007/10071401sonynexvg10e.asp
Specs:  http://www.dpreview.com/news/1007/10071401sonynexvg10e.asp#specs
Pictures of the beast:
http://www.dpreview.com/news/1007/10071401sonynexvg10e.asp#images

Despite being largely*  a repackaged Sony NEX5 with a few enhanced
specifications this camera represents (IMHO,AE) a quantum leap [tm] in
consumer digital photography that the NEX5 didn't quite manage.

SVCs = standard video cameras = typical consumer vidcams to date.
CVCs = consumer vidcam including these ones.

People will make "real" movies with these.

Others can debate the merit of the 'ql' description and find extra
things good about it, but here are the mainest** points

- Removable lens - allows Sony E-mount or, very importantly, Minolta
aka Sony A mount lenses (using an adaptor).
First HD CVC with removable lens.
Vast number of good to utterly superb lenses available. This alone
will transform what can and will be done with CVCs

- APSC sized 'APSD' "half frame" sensor - same size as most digital
SLRs (half full frame). ~ 20x sensor area of typical consumer video
cameras allowing much better noise performance, image quality and
more. Also,

Large sensor allows shallower depth of field than SVCs giving
'cinematographic effects' unachievable heretofore.

- 1080i HD at 24 fps (up from NEX5 offering). [Still 'too slow' BUT
matches current cinematic standards to allow a 'look & feel' that is
different than what is achieved at 30 fps. eg just as filament hum
plays a part in 'the valve amp sound', SLOWER frame rate is part of
the overall cinema experience]. (That said, the frame rates specs in
above specs page are confusing and also disturbing. WHY they change
frame rate for NAM is understood, but ... .)

- 14 MP (megapixel sensor plus APSC size allows excellent quality JPG
still images as well.

- 5+ hours of HD shooting on largest (optional) battery  of

- Bundles with an 18-200mm lens. They had to do no worse than this to
compete with SVCs, which have massive optical zoom ranges due to their
pathetically small sensors.
You can get an 18-275? lens now that will fit fwiw. Of more interest
is probably the ability to fit truly high quality eg constant f2.8 A
mount lenses.

- Sony make it. S' are the 600 pound gorilla of the professional video
camera world. Some of it must rub off.

Also ran:

- Good LCD monitor

- Competent accessory set (shotgun mics and friends)

- LOOKS real. Compared to an eg Canon EOS5D MkIIs xxx etc this LOOKS
like a video camera. The Canon MAY be better for video and is vastly
better for stills but ... .

- Quad mics for better spatial resolution yada yada ...

- Dual memory cards - 1 each of SD & MSPro . Shame about the MSP. 2 x
SD would be superb. You can get adaptors :-).

- $US2000 intro with 18-200mm lens.




         Russell McMahon
____________________________







* aka: "largely being"

** aka: top few points in no particular order
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