The Official Sony cx760 / cx730 / cx740 Owners Thread - Page 6

I looked all over the web (!) for any reports of people having problems with the lens assembly. There was one guy who attempted to clean the lens when the camera was off and actually knocked it off the interior holder, but when he turned the camera back on it clicked back into place. This was a professional who uses the camera (among others) for weddings. He reported no bad after effects. Then there was guy who posted here who was worried that the lens assembly bounces around when the camera is off. This is apparently the design - when the camera turns on it locks it up. So, as far as I can tell it is not a problem - there are a lot of users, and no reports. I do not see many refurbished units around either.

Sony makes a pro version of the camera (HXRNX30U), which is exactly the same except for some additional electronic features, so it is designed for heavy use. Many pros uses the consumer version, as it is $700 less and they do not see much of a difference.

Only big difference is the audio, the NX30 comes with a XLR mic and can capture PCM lossless.

Hello. Can anyone tell me if cx740/760 has possibility to record at internal memory storage and sd card at the same time ? I cant find an answer anywhere. I dont know if i shuld buy Canon legria g10 or sony cx740/760.
Sorry for my english.

No simultaneous sd card and internal-memory recording.

I should add I think this redundancy is unnecessary: I have shot hundreds of hours of video and recorded high bitrate audio (24-bit, 48Hz) for even more than that on (name-brand) sd cards in various devices and I have never had a failure, ever.
Edited by markr041 - 12/30/12 at 6:38am

Hey Mark. I am having a "buyers indecision" moment; I am waffling between the CX760 and the GW77. I currently have a Sony FX7 (which I love and will keep even if only to have something to play the tapes with), and I have a Sony SR11, which I also love and will keep. I use them for a variety of purposes, from shooting family vacations and holidays, to shooting trains, model railroads, wildlife in national parks, to shooting airshows. I cannot make up my mind if I want the GW77 to compliment the cams I already have by providing a ready to use small tool for those situations when a larger cam would be less practical, or do I want a better camcorder that will give me a better image than either of my present cams can offer? While I know that the final decision will be mine, I could use another persons' observations, experience, and opinion, to give me anothers' insite, anothers' view, concerning my situation. Plus, I am concerned about limitations (battery life, lack of viewfinder) of the GW77 verses the possibility of the CX760 unnecessarily duplicating what I already have. Best cam for "deepest" depth of field when shooting model trains to spot focus of moving model trains? How much better is the stabilization of the GW77 than what I have with the SR11?

Thanks Mark.
Mike

Mike,

Be careful! Mark might add the LX7 to your indecision list! (I'm grinning here.)

Bill

Oh great, another cam in the mix. I know nothing about the LX7.

Mike

Railfan:

Both the GW77 and the CX760 will give you better image quality than what you have - both of these new camcorders have very similar image quality. They both have exactly the same auto features and touch screen - so focus tracking is good on both. The stabilization of the GW77 and the CX760 will also be better than what you have.

The advantages of the CX760 are more manual control (you can fix shutter, for example), easier manual focus (there is a dial - but there is manual focus on the GW77), focus aids like peaking and image magnification, exposure aids like zebra stripes, and even better stabilization + the ability to add external mic. The quality of the CX760 video is really the same as the GW77; you get more features and aids plus the better stabilization. And the viewfinder. Oh, the CX760 also has a video light (two LEDs).

The CX760v completely replaces the SR11; it dominates it in every aspect. The GW77 can supplement or replace what you have (if you like the video of what you have), as it is pocketable and enables you to take it out under absolutely any conditions. And the video quality is superb.

Bill: Ralfan needs a camcorder for his use!
Edited by markr041 - 12/30/12 at 7:48am

Thanks Mark. How do the two cams compare in regards of depth of field? I would prefer a larger? deeper? depth of field to get more of a video in focus when shooting close-ups of model trains. The image here is a frame from a video I shot of my model railroad. While it is not bad, I would like to be able to get more of the foreground and background in focus also.
Edited by Railfan - 12/30/12 at 8:02am

Of course he does! And, his planned use is a little unique.

But, I'm attempting to have a little humor at your expense. I enjoy reading your camera stories. I even followed your 3D experience for awhile. I am tickled pink that you have chosen the LX7 as an additional weapon in your video arsenal. One day my wife might let me touch hers and I will know it strength and weaknesses.

On the more serious side, Mike please consider buying from someone with a good return policy. Based on what she could read and and experience at local stores (where she could touch them), she picked a rugged, waterproof P&S. It was model she could not find locally. She bought one from B&H, worked at it for two weeks, found she didn't like the picture quality and sent it back for a refund. Then she ordered the LX-7 from B&H. The next day the price dropped to $299. By email she requested and received a price adjustment.

My point to Mike the Rail Fan is that in today's retail business model where there are so many choices and so few places to find them, the buying decision is not final until after you get to examine and use the camera for a couple weeks.

So, Mike, get one and try it at what you think might be the hardest thing you regularly do. If the results don't please you, send it back.

Bill

Bill, I plan on doing just that, since nowhere in my town can I get my hands on either of these cams. I just noticed that B&H just raised their price again on the GW77. Will still seriously consider it at that price, as well as consider the CX760.

I would like to show a short video clip of what I am after with my video; how do I download a video clip to show on this thread?
Edited by Railfan - 12/30/12 at 8:25am

That's a nice picture. The sensor on the GW77 (1/4.1") is smaller than that of the CX760 (1/2.88"), so in principle the GW77 at the the same aperture and zoom gives a wider dof.

Thanks. I sorta thought so, concerning the GW77. Would the CX760 then, have about the same depth of field as my SR11?

Mike

The SR11 sensor size is 1/3.13", so yes, closer to the CX760V.

Mike,

The only way I know is to first upload the video to YouTube or Vimeo. Other photo sharing sites seem to have limited ways to share video as well. You need to create an account with password, etc. Basic accounts are free. Both will have a place to select your file and make a copy on their service. Both have privacy settings you can use.

Once you have your video on either service, you put a link here by pressing the little chain symbol above the typing box.

Bill

Thanks, will give it a try. Hopefully, the video will turn out smooth and clear (vimeo).

Hey guys,

Does anyone know the differences between the PJ760VE and PJ760E PAL models? B&H is listing them at $1,349 for the VE and $1,179 for the E one.

Was going to order one yesterday, so I emailed B&H asking them the differences, and they said the VE one had 120X optical zoom while the E model doesn't. I'm not sure if that's the right reply, don't they both have exactly the same functions? Should I be paying $170 more?

Remy

V usually designates the inclusion of GPS capability. The camcorders should otherwise be the same.

don't buy yet...wait till next week....cause sony is going to announce new camcorder (ces 2013) jan 8, 2013

On Vimeo, I do not know, but Youtube is not all bad
http://youtu.be/cb2haE-oYd0

Hi all,

Lots of interesting posts on here, although it is the 'Owners' thread & I'm not sure a large proportion of posts are from actual owners of the cameras... Perhaps those asking questions should use another thread?

Personally I love my CX730, and despite using it almost exclusively on professional & broadcast jobs do not regret not getting it's 'professional' big brother the NX30. For effectively twice the price of the CX730 all you really get extra is the XLR block - which a £200 Beechtek box can replace perfectly.

Here's a little video I shot last week in Andorra, cut just to show how good the CX730 handled the environment, colours, highlights & shadows, and of course the absolutely superb Balanced Optical Steadyshot:
http://youtu.be/bac0m_V3iTE

Have fun with your cameras everyone!

- Can CX730E be used as a webcam?
- Does anyone know of a good rubber eyecup that would fit on the viewfinder?

Hi all!

I am getting a strong interest in video and video editing. Maybe because I have a newborn on the way..
I am considering buying CX740. It seems like reasonably good and build. At the moment I have a Sony A99 to shoot video but I think I could find it useful to couple with a real camcorder.
What do you people find of this idea? Could I get enough manual controls on filming on CX740 or is it almost all automated?

Thanks in advance for your replies.

You can shoot shutter priority, also controlling exposure with the AEshift knob. You can also shoot aperture priority. You can set the max iso. You have manual focus, with peaking. You have the ability to set white balance.
There are no color modes or tweaks for sharpness etc., except a cinema setting (which also adjusts the gamma for more contrast).

There are threads elsewhere shoing how much better the CX7xx is in video compared with the A99 (unless the only thing you want is shallow dof).

Seems interesting. Mark is there any major difference between CX730 and CX740 i.e build quality, beside internal memory?
Concerning dof, I see the two tool work together. With the A99 coming on the scene when I really need the shallow dof.

As far as I know there is no difference CX730 versus CX740. I know a pro wedding photographer who uses a CX730. I have the CX760 with 96GB of memory (!) because in the US there is no no-memory option and I never use the internal memory - you need to attach the camera to the PC by usb cable and the transfer is very slow. I use a 64GB sdx card swapped between camera and PC. Internal memeory is not needed.

Very good advice from you. I think I would then go for the CX730. Can you reassure me build quality is good and camera doesn't feel flimsy or cheap?

Build quality is excellent. This is in no way a cheap-feeling or looking camera. The stabilization is the best in the indistry, pro or consumer.

Very good; I ask for some little help further before eventually ordering (I hope I am not bothering you!). I understand that the box does not contain an LCD screen protection and the battery charger; so I will have to order this two accessories aside, right?

Correct. The Sony BC-TRV Travel Charger is the smallest and lightest. And, you should get an extra battery - the one supplied is the smallest. Battery life is good, but for any serious shooting you always want to have a spare.