The Official Sony cx760 / cx730 / cx740 Owners Thread - Page 2

A customer review of the CX760 on Amazon says that in certain modes the viewfinder (and I assume also the LCD screen) shows distracting icons that are located in a way that partially blocks the view for framing purposes. The indication is that these icons are not along the edges, but are in the middle portion of the viewfinder. Here is a quote from the review (I added the bolding on the last sentence):

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In highest quality (fx) mode or in 24p, an icon appears to indicate that the camcorder is unable to take still photographs in this mode. In nightshot mode, an icon which looks like an eye in a box plus the word "NIGHTSHOT" appears and will not go away. You end up with a screen which is full of distracting icons, & they don't go away when you press the "DISPLAY" button. And these icons aren't placed in the corners, but around & above the center of the viewfinder so they really really get in the way of the picture.

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Can anyone here who has the CX760 verify this? Do you find that these icons really get in the way, more so than the typical clutter of icons around the edges?

Thanks.

Woo Hoo. I just placed my order for a PJ760. It was tough making the choice between it and a Panasonic X900 - especially without one of the detailed reviews from Camcorderinfo showing how the two cameras compare on technical scores. I went with the Sony based on the supposedly amazing camera stabilization, the wide angle lens, and very positive B&H and Amazon review from people who knew what they were buying. Best value -- not likely. Best camera for my needs -- I hope so. One of the biggest negatives is the size and weight. I hope it's not a deal breaker when I get it. I chose the projector version for the wow factor for my kids and because Sony lists both models as having the same weight.

Good choice. Hope you'll post comments here when you get it, especially about the image stabilization when hand-held.

I'm hoping you post some samples that demonstrated the "supposedly amazing camera stabilization".

Bill

Agree. I would especially be interested in samples where you try to hold the camcorder completely still when zoomed in and also when zoomed out, with no panning or tilting. Almost all the sample videos I have seen have a lot of intentional panning in them and/or have moving subjects in the scene. It is hard to tell which movement comes from panning and which comes from the stabilization not being totally effective. I'd like to see how well the stabilization works to defeat unintentional movement and handshake. Hope you get a chance to try that. Thanks.

Okay, I think I know what you want - it may take a week or so. This camera is going to replace my Canon HF100 which was impossible to hold steady. Do current top end models like the Panasonic TM900 have the ability to stabilize a non moving shot successfully?

Is the best way to share such a video via YouTube?

I know two of the main competitors to the CX760 (Panasonic TM900 and Canon HF 10) have stabilization, but like the CX760, the videos that I have seen for those two camcorders have had panning in them, so it was hard to tell whether the stabilization can make them look tripod-steady when hand-held without intentional movement.

YouTube or Vimeo are good ways to share. I appreciate your willingness to take the time to do this. If you don't get a chance to do it, that is fine, but it would be useful to me, and perhaps other perspective buyers, if you were able to make a brief video. Thanks.

I finally found a YouTube video today that tests Sony's Balanced Optical Steady Shot stabilization, with no intentional movement such as panning, In this case, it's a comparison of the Panasonic TM900 vs. Sony CX730, which I think is a European model that has the same Balanced Optical Steady Shot as the U.S. model CX760. It's in German (I think), so I can't read the on-screen captions, but Google translates the text under the video window to say that one camcorder was held in one hand while the other camcorder was in the other hand. (Holding two cameras at the same time would make it harder to hold them steady; at least it would for me.) The shooter was standing on a slightly swaying dock. At 58 seconds into the video there is a good side-by-side comparison of the steadiness of a zoomed-in shot with no intentional movement of the cameras. The Sony is much more stable in this particular comparison. Quite impressive. The Panasonic may have a little bit better video quality.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7nqyFy9avQ
Edited by dalemccl - 6/14/12 at 12:15pm

Wow, the difference is so dramatic that it doesn't even look authentic. Besides the stabilization, the Sony also presents a clean white boat, whereas the 900 looks dingy white. I'm not sure which is the more accurate, but the Sony looks better. Sharpness of the boat lettering looks about equal in that shot, whereas some of the other comparison videos looked significantly sharper on the 900.

PJ760 Size impression.

I just received my camera so I haven't had time to shoot with it yet, but I'm glad to see that it's not overwhelming large or heavy as some reviews have mentioned. I'd say it's maybe 15% larger than my Canon HF100 and maybe 10% heavier. I will say that the camera feels heavier in use than when just holding it closed. I think this is for 2 reasons. First because the LCD panel is bigger and thicker it creates a heavier leverage when it's opened (this may not be true with a non-projector model). Second, the extra height of the camera means my hand is a bit more open when I hold it in shooting position so it works the muscles a little more (Average male hands).

Overall, while I prefer a small camera, the size and weight of the camera are easily acceptable to me and it will fit in a jacket pocket.

I agree, the stabilization shows a dramatic difference. That increases my interest in the CX760 even more. Hopefully the comparison was done properly and is authentic. Since the YouTube poster was holding both cameras at the same time, it is possible that the hand in which he held the TM900 wobbled or shook more than the hand that was holding the Sony.

I'll be interested in what you think about the stabilization with your PJ760 after you have had a chance to test it out.

Could someone here please upload original footage of Sony CX-730/740/760 (.MTS files) so we can evaluate the real quality?
Please shoot something while walking around, zooming in and out, panning, etc.

Please upload:
1. The highest quality possible (1080p60 for US or 1080p50 for Euro). For US, this means 28mbps / 60 frames = 0.467 mbit per frame.
2. The highest quality possible per frame (1080p24 for US, 1080p25 for Euro). For US, this means 24 mbps / 24 frames = 1 mb per frame.

*As as side note, I wish there was a 60mbps option for the 60fps, so each frame could also have 1mbit of data. Perhaps next year with AHCHD3.0.

Preffered upload site: LimeLinx.com
Many thanks,
Eric

This was a very quick effort at comparing the stabilization of the Sony PJ760 to a Canon HF100 in an attempted still shot. The title on the shot really emphasizes the camera shake. The Sony moves, but it is more of a floating movement so it is not as annoying. You can also notice that the Sony stays in focus better at full zoom.

I was doing my best to hold steady including bracing my body against a door frame. Sony was shot at 60p and then exported at 720 29 fps. This is my first posting to youtube so I could be doing a lot of things wrong.


http://youtu.be/RPEbgENLy3c

The video was very informative. As you said, the Sony floats a little, but it is much less noticeable than the shake of the HF100. The HF100 movement looks a lot like my Sony HDR-XR500V, a 2009 high-end consumer model with Active Optical Steady Shot. Your video shows how much better the new Balanced Optical Steady Shot is. And it's the first video I've seen that attempted to hold the camera still instead of panning and zooming constantly throughout the video.

Thanks for taking the shots and posting them on YouTube.

my friend has a hdr pj760. i played with it 2 days ago, the new balanced optical steady shot is a winner and takes much clearer video.

just remember if you put on a sony wide angle on a pj760 and set the menu 'conversion lens' choice to wide angle or tele photo lens attached. the gyro of balanced optical stays fixed.

Dear friends,

I have just received as a gift the CX570 but I'm thinking of returning it and getting the CX730.
Do you believe it's worth the extra 300 Euros I will pay?
At the same time, I'm a bit confused with the options in flash memory. I find SD cards at 32 GB much cheaper than the ProHG Duo. On the other hand if I record at 28 Mbps I guess I have less than 180 min. Is this correct?

get a cx730.

checkout the video below

http://vimeo.com/groups/145006

Here is a very detailed review: "Sony HDR-PJ760V (96 GB) AVC, AVCHD Camcorder" http://www.epinions.com/review/sony-hdr-pj760v-camcorder/content_592533950084?sb=1

Thanks for the link to the review. It was helpful.

The 760's sold for a while at $100 off (supposedly a Sony instant rebate), but now are back to $1,500 for the non-projector CX and $1,600 for the projector PJ (the U.S. models). I think those are full list prices. Does anyone here know the history of Sony's high-end consumer camcorder pricing as far as how long after introduction of a new model that the price begins to drop below list?

I posted this here by accident. But if you were ever tempted to use a DSLR as a video camera instead of your Sony camcorder, read on...

Sony RX100 test and Sony GW55 (European GW77) test at Slashcam.de

Th GW77 iso video test (sharpness and artifacts (like moire) is far superior to that of the RX100.

Here is the Google translation of what they say about the RX100 test:

"A look at the ISO chart reveals a lack of sharpness of detail and then, which is superimposed on moderate to moiré and aliasing artifacts. These are not as extreme, as with many models of Canon DSLR."

The chart is shockingly bad (my opinion seeing the chart). Here is the page the iso chart is on so you can see for yourself:

http://www.slashcam.de/artikel/Test/Kompakte-und-guenstige-Super-16-Digitalkamera--Sony-DSC-RX100--Kritikpunkte---Aus-dem-Messlabor.html#Kriti

He is what they say (translated) about the GW55 iso test:

"As a result, the ISO chart is reproduced not only handsome but also mapped virtually without significant artifacts."

The page the actual test is on:

http://www.slashcam.de/artikel/Test/Sony-HDR-GW55---Kompakt-Taucher---Aus-dem-Messlabor---Fazit.html#Aus_d

I guess if you want good video, get a camcorder.
Edited by markr041 - 7/16/12 at 9:42am

I don't have a specific answer for you, but the general consensus for all new camcorders is that the prices drop a lot around Christmas so they can clear stock before new models are released in the spring.

The places I would keep an eye out for are Amazon, B&H, and eBay.

Thanks - I hope the general consensus doesn't apply this time, but since it is Sony I suspect it will. They're not usually very generous with discounts.

Love this camcorder. I use it on a multi-rotor electric rc helicopter to take video. The camera is lightweight and the steady shot feature works well. Here is sample aerial video from around Wisconsin captured over the last few months using the cx760.

You have a set of skills that goes beyond amazing!

Bill

I am really surprised that there are not more people on here talking about these camcorders. Are there not too many around yet? Is it not all that popular?

Mike

How do trip the camcorder button , do you use a RC also for that or trip it before take off ? BTW very nice video , enjoyed that .

Me too. I am fascinated with the "Balanced Optical Steady Shot" feature. Sony says it is 13 times better than the the Steady Shot without the "Balanced" part. The YouTubes I've watched show the lens actually moves in the effort to eliminate camera shake. And it seems the 13x claim may be valid based on the few YouTubes I've found where it is being tested.

Bill

And, how does he aim the camera. Or, is it all done in editing.

Tastyseabass:

Amazing video. I would guess a much more expensive camera had been used and your skill is fantastic.