As a video reader you are informed: You know the resolution behind the term Ultra HD, and you know that this TV resolution of 3.840 x 2.160 pixels is commonly referred to as 4K. They are looking forward to the big-format TV, maybe have a device at home and you can guess what you can expect in the coming months on 4K or Ultra-HD feature films – almost nothing. A few test football games on Sky, a few base movies on special players, which mostly have to be imported from the USA, that’s it.
Display
In view of such prospects, individual creativity is required. Why should not you bring your own experiences, special events, and people into the 4K television and put them on the hard drive for eternity and your own memories?
Picture gallery
This is already today and almost as simple as with standard HD camcorders and cutters. If you do it right. The key is the camcorder FDR-AX1 from Sony: a stately film machine, which with 4,500 euro purchase price quite well with the prices of the TV devices. At least with the ideal play partner, the ultra-HD TV Sony KD-65X9005 (test).
Camera functions
The cable from the HDMI output of the camcorder is connected to three of its four HDMI jacks, and a sharp image appears on the screen: the finest 4K even. The TV and the camcorder support both HDMI 2.0, which makes it possible to transfer a very smooth picture with 50 images per second.
Stereo sound
A first visual test showed clarity about the possible visual acuity: the TV and a large area template stood opposite each other 2.5 meters apart. Positioning the camera exactly in the middle, the original image was "mirrored" with the same size on the TV. A centrally positioned viewer could now directly compare the original and the TV picture via the camera.
Medium lighting and medium focal length were set. The result: fonts of two millimeters size form the resolution limit. This is about the size of the sender line in the address window of standard letters - and that is damn small. This can only be seen in a 65-inch monitor at a distance of 40 centimeters in front of the screen.
The AX1 does not fit into a handbag, but rather reminds of a very compact professional camcorder. In fact, it is extended by a few functions, but equipped with the same sensor and processor. Under the name of PMW-Z100, he is also sold to professional team-mates.
Practice: Movies in Ultra HD
The three lens rings on the zoom lens are striking. Its 20-fold focal length extension provides a comfortable image-excision setting between an enormous wide angle and a veritable close-focus. To move too much, the filmmaker does not have to turn, but on the rings: Manual aperture and sharpness can also be adjusted automatically quickly and unobtrusively. Focusing on the focus at 4K is, in any case, only something for trained professionals.
4K movies rotate and cut
The aperture should not close too far, otherwise the image becomes blurred and the 4K effect is gone. The limit is between bezel eight and eleven. The brightness is reduced with built-in gray filters. Otherwise, the filmmaker should confidently trust the automatic. Only the white balance should always match the current environment, ie, select living room, sunlight or slaughterhouse (neon light).
If you like it less automatically, you can use the six free buttons with sensible settings - such as the magnification function, to be able to see even details when looking at the small viewfinder image. Or it can control the brightness by means of a hatching (called zebra), which is displayed when over-exposed.
Too many functions are not available because of the somewhat meager equipment. And the practical pre-recording (Pre Rec) are missing. Just like the remote control or a reasonable tutorial for the movie starter.
Image quality
All about HEVC - High Efficiency Video Coding
Strange: Sony completely dispenses with photo functions. The camera eventually shoots an 8-megapixel image 50 times per second, and the built-in 18-megapixel sensor should be able to resolve even more image details. Keeping the camcorder very comfortable, the guide hand in the loop, the pointing finger at the large zoom rocker also makes the image cut very fine.
Conclusion
The video is stereo sound: the AX1 is generated by an external microphone. The two professional XLR audio jacks together with extensive control options are integrated into the device. But since no external microphone is included, the built-in test was used in the editorial test, which also proved to be suitable.
Especially sound or music recordings reproduced a very good impression of the sound event on the spot. For interviews, the filmmaker will still have to install an extra microphone close to the call partner. Sound is generally only up to 1.5 meters distance to the microphone well understandable.
The input sensitivity can also be switched by the filmmaker, in order to directly record the sound from the mixer directly in theater presentations. Two-level controls are located on the left and in the middle of the control panel.
Position: Martin Biebel (video tester)
XQD memory cards are inserted as data carriers in slots on the back of the device. An additional plug-in for the SD memory cards used in camcorders is activated only when Sony has the usual AVCHD recording system on camcorders on 4K bored. The recordings looked as sharp on the TV as the live scenes. Also, the difference in quality between the recording at 150 megabits per second and the one with only 100 is marginal - as long as the picture stands.
Ultra HD - The new generation of television
In the case of camera movements, the edges of the picture distort the picture - the picture then appears somewhat more spongy in these phases of movement compared to the still image of the tripod. This effect increases with the size of the screen. A very fine grilling remained unaffected by the illumination of the motif. But it did not bother.
The colors brought the AX1 very accurate and nuanced on the screen. Connected to an HD TV, he showed the sharpest HD image of all consumer camcorders we have ever tested. This message will make the TV manufacturers think: anyone who wants to wait with the purchase of a 4K device can already produce with this camera already 4K material and use it with good quality gain on its current device. More: If the camera is operated in HD mode, the sharpness is visibly reduced, but then corresponds to the usual of HD camcorders.
The AX1 is not very bright: in our candlelight-20-lux-standard situation the picture remained a little dark, the sharpness disappeared, but also the noise remained comparatively discreet. Amazingly, Sony's new high-performance processor, which provides the device with a large, but quiet fan, is one of the small 1/3-inch sensor usable area.
The test result surprised: You do not have to have a 4K-TV (only with HDMI 2.0 interface meaningful), because what this camcorder from brand-name HD TVs is, is enormous. So sharp have you seen so far only on top mastered Blu-rays. Since Sony is the editing software, it is worthwhile to record in 4K and output in HD. The HD mode of the camera does not stop there. The automatics, above all the arming, have fallen, manual adjustment and operation could be improved.
If I had the Sony camcorder, I would have a new hobby, move with it instead of the SLR camera and would take moving picture impressions with full automatic, which on a 4K TV look better than any photo and the reality component including sound . To create a real 4K movie is currently not working on the provided interface as much as the possibilities to get the movie from the computer and the TV.
Buying advice: Six Ultra HD TVs at test
Storing original material on the expensive QXD memory cards is not a real option either. At the moment, I calculate the movies on Full HD and show them with quality gain on 2K and 4K TVs. Since the enclosed editing program burns Blu-rays, I get very good full HD material. The cut list I raise: If I have the 4K player anyway, I render the movies again in the 4K format
Download: Test results, data & measurements
Use correct image rate: The camera allows recording with 50p, 30p or about 24p. For a project you should only use one frame rate - if it is: 50 Hz, the highest. The TV is tuned to it, movements and pans look harmonious. 25p recording jerks. Slow panning: The higher compression in 4K recordings and the playback on large TVs ensure camera edges for soft edges and a flickering impression. So the panning speed must be halved versus HD videos. The camera should stand still. Less cuts: There are four times as much to discover in each picture as before. Even small items are clearly visible. The viewer needs time to process details - especially with wide-angle pictures.; More Wide Angle: There is much to see on the overview. Even if the whole football field is in the picture, you can follow the ball exactly. Then you need to zoom and panning. Format reduction: 4K images rushing slightly more than HD images. If a 4K scene is reduced to HD at the output of the editing system, the size of the noise grains will also shrink by a factor of four. Brilliant HD images even in low light are possible.
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