Sony FDR-AX700 Review, Unboxing, User Manual
HIGHLIGHTS:
SONY FDR-AX700 - OVERVIEW
Sony FDR AX700 is the upgraded version of their most popular 4K camcorder model - FDR-AX100. The latest improvisation is the autofocus system with a 273 point phase-detection mechanism. It gives you a fast and accurate focusing opportunity; so, you never miss a single candid moment.
The camcorder gives you complete artistic freedom in capturing creative videos with stunning picture quality, be it public broadcasting, professional event shoots, or personal home videos.
SONY FDR-AX700 REVIEW
Design & Features
Sony FDR-AX700 comes with a small and compact 4” by 7” body, a 3.5” articulating LCD, 0.39” OLED EVF, and lots of easy-to-use manual control options. The lightweight body design is easy to hold and never makes you uncomfortable while shooting for a long time.
It also features a series of manual controls to ease the recording process also positions them at easy-to-access places on the body. With this camcorder, the users get more manual command over the composition aspects.
The 90°/270° rotatable extra fine display screen allows you to compose a scene easily, even under bright daylight, thanks to its 1.55M dots resolution. The 2,359K dots resolution OLED viewfinder makes it easier to set the frame and monitor video recording.
With Sony FDR AX700, you can record 4K resolution video for commercial purposes and HD for personal coverage. While shooting HD videos, the best part is, you can zoom in or crop the footage using the digital extender, besides maintaining its full HD quality. So, if you are planning to get a camcorder for filming sports events or for weddings, you can opt for this Sony AX700.
Moreover, the Carl Zeiss wide-angle lens allows you to fit more background into your frame and offers the best image quality. The lens provides 12X optical video zoom, 192X digitally extended zoom, 18X/4K, and 24X/HD clear image zoom.
Sony FDR-AX700 features a 14.2 MP 1" type back-illuminated Exmor RS CMOS for enhanced dynamic range low-light performance. On the other hand, the Bionz X image processor lengthens battery life while you record in 4K UHD resolution.
NOTE: Music videos and concert shoots are normally taken in low-light; If you're a music artist yourself or know anyone interested in recording music videos, then you can highly recommend this camcorder for him/her as it is one of the highly recommended video cameras by musicians.
The 273-points phase detection AF accurately focuses on the subjects, locks them in the frame, and traces the main face (Main focal point) accordingly. The advanced movie AF algorithm truly works well on fast-moving or unpredictable subjects, like a car chasing scene or animals in a wildlife scene.
Sony AX700 camcorder is much more dedicated to pro-like film production. So, it features a wide range of professional-level functioning modes. You can do color correction or color grading during playback or post-production with S-Gamut and S-Log shooting modes. Professionals often use S-log2 and S-log3 color profiles to make their videos more creative and impactful. You can shoot slow-mo movies also using a low frame-rate recording. The variable frame-rate recording mode provides up to 1000 FPS rates for PAL output and 960 FPS for NTSC output.
Image and video quality
Sony FDR-AX700 captures still images in JPEG format and records video in AVCHD, XAVC, and MPEG4 formats. It uses a highly efficient XAVC-S format for 4K video compression with a 100Mbps bit rate. It also offers an extra 4K video format at 30P or 24P mode with 50Mbps bit rate and a 1080P HD video recording in 24p, 30p, 60p, and 120p mode with 100Mbps bit rate. The 120P recording mode for HD video is another pro addition of FDR AX700 against all regular Sony camcorders.
You can take 8 MP stills from 4K videos and 2 MP still images from HD videos. Moreover, the Sony FDR AX700 aids the still image part with high dynamic range (HDR) mode. With Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG) recording mode, you can capture HDR images with much ease; also, it ensures perfect color contrast and color balance.
Storage
As usual, the dual memory slots offer simultaneous backup recording and extended relay recording.
Connectivity and Compatibility
As you know, the Sony FDR AX700 provides many easy-to-access quick features for professional-level movie production. It also features versatile connection options and mounting options for installing professional audio/video devices. It comes with a type-A HDMI port, 3.5 mm port for headphone/microphone jacks, composite terminal, and multi-interface shoe (MI shoe). The type-A HDMI port establishes a more secure connection than micro or mini types.
The camcorder supports a 2.4 GHz bandwidth Wi-Fi connection, also incorporates a LANC terminal to install a LANC-compatible accessory like a remote controller.
BEST FEATURES OF THE SONY FDR-AX700 4K HDR Camcorder
With these things, Sony has highlighted and marketed their FDR-AX700 model as a reliable camcorder to the professionals. The medium-range price tag and easy-to-access functionalities also can make beginners purchase this camcorder.
SPECIFICATIONS OF SONY FDR-AX700
LENS SPECIFICATION
Focal Length | 9.3 - 111.6 mm |
Zoom | Optical Zoom - 12X |
Maximum Aperture | F2.8 - F4.5 |
Minimum Focus Distance | 1 cm |
Filter Size | 62 mm |
Control Rings | Focus Zoom IRIS |
Focus Control | Autofocus Manual Focus |
IMAGE SENSOR
Sensor Size | 1" |
Sensor Type | Exmor RS CMOS sensor |
Effective Resolution | 14.2 Megapixel |
CAMERA SPECIFICATION
Image Stabilization | Optical Image stabilization with Steady-Shot + Active mode |
Built-In ND Filter | Clear, 1/4, 1/16, 1/64 |
Shutter Speed | 1/8 to 1/10,000 sec |
Minimum Illumination | 1.7 Lux at 1/30 Shutter Speed |
VIDEO RECORDING
Recording Formats | XAVC S / AVCHD / MPEG 4 |
Video Resolution | XAVC S: |
DISPLAY SCREEN
Screen Size | 3.5" |
Resolution | 1,555,000 Dots |
Display Type | 270° /90° Articulating Extra-Fine LCD Touch Screen |
EVF
EVF Display Type | OLED |
Screen Size | 0.39” |
EVF Resolution | 2,359,296 Dots |
Connectivity
Wired Connection | Type-A HDMI, Composite, LANC Terminal, 3.5 mm port for headphone / microphone jacks |
Wireless Interfaces | Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n) |
Mounting Feature
Accessory Mount | Multi Interface Shoe |
Power
Battery Model | Sony NP-FV70A Lithium-ion battery packs |
Battery Capacity | 1900mAh |
SONY FDR-AX700 TEST FOOTAGE
SONY FDR-AX700 UNBOXING
SONY FDR-AX700 USER MANUAL
You will be receiving a detailed user manual while purchasing a Sony handycam fdr-ax700. But, you can also view the user manual from the Company's official website. The user manual will have a complete guide on the different camera settings, firmware, and safety precautions you will need to follow while using this camcorder.
If you wish to check the official user manual of this Sony FDR-AX700 camcorder, click here.
SONY FDR-AX700 accessories
Tripod
For achieving better image stabilization, you may use a remote control tripod-like Sony VCT-VPR1, which is compatible with Sony FDR-AX700 handycam.
Extra Batteries
As the included Sony NP-FV70A battery have only 1900mAh capacity, you need to keep extra batteries. In this case, you can shift to another lithium-ion battery model of the Sony V series that has more battery capacity, like NP-FV100A (3,410 mAh).
Conclusion
The FDR-AX700 4k HDR camcorder looks like other predecessor camcorder models of Sony; but, you know how this compact cam performs. The combination of large format stacked CMOS image sensor and 4K true-to-life video recording capability, including HDR images, renders a picture just as you see them in real. The fast hybrid autofocus system never lets users miss a single fleeting moment; which, is a great reason why professionals buy this camcorder.
At the same time, the home users may not show interest in professional-level functions or advanced features but would like its stunning quality and medium-range price point.
