Sony HXR-NX200 Review, Unboxing, User Manual
HIGHLIGHTS:
SONY HXR-NX200 FULL HD NXCAM CAMCORDER - OVERVIEW
The Sony HXR series steps into the professional 4K camcorder world with their NX200 model. Otherwise, it shares overall similar specifications and features to the predecessor HD model, NX100. The imaging unit with a Sony G zoom lens, 1” BSI Exmor R CMOS sensor, and built-in ND filters delivers stunning image quality in 4K, FHD, and HD.
These upgraded features attract most professionals, whereas the easy operability and affordable price encourage the amateurs to keep their hand on the HXR-NX200. The lightweight body, brighter display, and longer battery life are genuinely helpful for outdoor shooting.
Know the specs and features closely to define whether it is capable of giving the flexibility to work you want or not.
SONY HXR-NX200 REVIEW
Design & Features
The handheld camcorder features an array of manual controls and automatic functions, making it more suitable for handheld shooting. The ergonomically designed lightweight body is truly easy to handle, though you can use it in complete auto mode using the included remote controller.
Being a professional, you must prefer manual adjustment of composition aspects; that’s why the video cam offers three individual lens rings for easy adjustment. The smooth going rings give you manual control over focus, zoom, and IRIS, whereas you’ll get some dedicated buttons for controlling the recording features, aperture, GAIN values, and shutter speed.
The Sony G Lens itself ensures impressive optical performance, whereas the 29mm wide-angle and 12X optical magnification range makes it easy to capture the best close up landscape shots. The digital extender function allows you to increase zooming performance up to the 24X magnification range.
This digital extender and 24X clear image zoom function help capture most distant scenes. After getting optically zoomed in at a maximum 12X range, the Pixel Super Resolution Technology lets you additionally enlarge the image by 200% in HD and 150% in 4K.
The large-format 1” BSI Exmor R CMOS sensor maximizes optical performance and ensures superb clarity and sharpness. It offers 7 times better low light shooting performance than other small-format sensors and pleasing bokeh with a shallow depth of field. Being backside-illuminated, it captures more light and reduces the involvement of blurriness or noises to the next level.
During outdoor shoots, you don’t need to carry along a separate filter. The integrated Neutral Density (ND) filter wheel makes it easy to achieve all the advantages of shallow depth of field by enabling a proper filtering position between clear, 2 stops 1/4ND, 4 stops 1/16ND, and 16 stops 1/64ND.
The users can record in DV and AVCHD formats, which are very efficient for conventional post-production workflow. Sony also includes XAVC S format recording at 50 Mb/s speed in the HXR-NX100 model for stunning image quality, better workflow efficiency, and storage efficiency. The higher bit rate of the XAVC S format includes less noise, and most non-linear editors (NLEs) support this video format. But, you need to use a Class 10-rated SDXC media card for recording in XAVC S format.
The easy adjustable 0.24” electronic viewfinder lets you look through it from your comfortable angle, the 3.5” LCD display screen is also rotatable and bright enough for outdoor shooting under daylight. Their high resolution (both have 1,560,000 Dot pixel resolutions) enhances monitoring efficiency, enabling precise and clear view under all lighting conditions.
Image and video quality
The Sony HXR-NX200 records MPEG4-AVC/H264 4:2:0 long profile 4K UHD at 100/50Mbps in 25P mode, Full-HD at 50 Mbps in 25P and 50P modes using XAVC S codec. It also supports DC compatible 2.0 AVCHD and the most demanding AVCHD codec recording for full HD and HD videos. You could record 1080P HD videos at up to 28 Mbps bit-rate in 50P or 25P modes. Such multi-format recording options with different frame rates and bit rates ease the process of content integration into the existing workflows.
The large-format BSI sensor ensures the highest clarity and sharpness, whereas the newly added gamma curve helps develop a more natural look, avoids oversaturation of brightly lit subjects regardless of exposure setting. On the other hand, the six picture profile settings offer ready-to-use composition sets, though you can customize them according to your requirement.
STORAGE
The HXR-NX200 has two memory card slots; that support simultaneous and Relay recording with virtually limitless recording time. The primary card supports SD/SDHC/SDXC and Memory Stick Pro Duo cards, whereas the secondary card is only compatible with SD cards (SD/SDHC/SDXC).
The rechargeable Sony L series Li-ion battery, model no NP-F570, allows you to record or playback video respectively up to 150 minutes and 250 minutes while using the LCD screen.
Connectivity and Compatibility
The HXR-NX200 has a multi-interface shoe, which is compatible with most Sony accessories and other third-party accessories, such as external flashlights, microphones, and much more.
The camcorder offers the most demanding dual 3-pin XLR terminals for audio input plus a Multi/Micro USB port, a type-A HDMI port, a BNC composite, and two separate stereo mini jacks for headphones and remote. The HXR-NX200 includes a wireless remote commander (RMT-845) for easy remote control operation.
BEST FEATURES OF SONY HXR-NX200 CAMCORDER
Most professionals appreciate the improved low light shooting features, well-balanced color reproduction, multi-format recording with higher resolutions, better image stabilization mechanism, and bright display unit of this camcorder. The NX200 offers all pro-level functions, top-class optical performance, expanded connectivity, and accessory compatibility without breaking the bank. The affordable price is another point; that collects votes for Sony HXR-NX200.
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SPECIFICATIONS OF SONY HXR-NX200
LENS SPECIFICATION
Focal Length | 9.3 to 111.6mm |
Zoom | Optical Zoom: 12X |
Maximum Aperture | f/2.8 to 11 |
Filter Size | M62 mm |
Control Rings | Focus, Zoom , IRIS |
Focus Control | Autofocus, Manual Focus |
IMAGE SENSOR
Sensor Size | 1" Type |
Sensor Type | Back-illuminated Exmor R CMOS Sensor |
Resolution | 14.2 Megapixel |
CAMERA SPECIFICATION
Image Stabilization | Integrated Shift Lens Optical Stabilizer |
Built-In ND Filter | Clear, 2 Stop (1/4), 4 Stop (1/16), and 6 Stop (1/64) ND Filter |
Shutter Speed | 1/6 to 1/10,000 sec |
Gain | -3 to 33 dB |
Minimum Illumination | 1.5 Lux at 1/30 Shutter Speed |
White Balance | 2300 to 15,000K |
VIDEO RECORDING
Recording Formats | AVCHD/ XAVC S |
Video Resolution | AVCHD : MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 and DV format compatible AVCHD 2.0 1920 x 1080 at 50p, PS mode (28 Mbps) XAVC S：MPEG4-AVC/H264 4:2:0 Long profile 4K (3840 x 2160) at 25p, 100Mbps/60Mbps |
Audio Recording | XAVC S 4K : Linear PCM 2ch, 16bit, 48kHz |
DISPLAY SCREEN
Screen Size | 3.5" |
Resolution | 1,560,000 Dot |
Display Type | Articulating LCD Screen |
EVF
EVF Display Type | LCD |
Screen Size | .24" |
EVF Resolution | 1,560,000 Dots |
Connectivity
Wired Connection | Two 3-pin XLR Inputs, Multi/Micro USB, Type-A HDMI, BNC composite, two separate Stereo mini mini jacks for headphones and remote |
Mounting Feature
Accessory Mount | 1 Multi-Interface Shoe |
Tripod Mount | 1/4"-20 Female Thread |
Power
Battery Type | NP-F570 L Series Battery |
Battery Capacity | 3500mAh |
Output Voltage | DC 8.4 V |
SONY HXR-NX200 TEST FOOTAGE
SONY HXR-NX200 NXCAM CAMCORDER UNBOXING
SONY HXR-NX200 FULL HD USER MANUAL
You will be receiving a detailed user manual while purchasing a Sony HXR-NX200. 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 Sony nx200 camcorder.
If you wish to check the official user manual of this Sony HXR-NX200 camcorder, click here.
SONY HXR-NX200 CAMCORDER ACCESSORIES
Battery
The included NP-F570 battery provides only two and half hours of runtime; we recommend going with other compatible large-capacity batteries like Sony NP-F770 (4400mAh), which may last up to 8 hours.
Tripods and Monopods
The Sony HXR NX200 uses only an optical steadyshot mode for image stabilization. There is no dedicated image stabilizer, making it less convenient for handheld shooting. If you have a shaky hand, you must use a 1/4 “-20 Female Thread compatible tripod to get the best stable shot, which also prevents hand fatigue or strain. You don’t get tired even after a prolonged shooting session.
Microphone
When you’ll get the XLR audio input interface for best quality audio, why would you restrict the audio recording unit only with the built-in microphone? Choose a reliable omnidirectional microphone; that has a windscreen guard and noise cancellation mechanism to capture the best sounding noise-free focused audio.
On the other hand, you could connect a Sony wireless microphone like UWP-D11 or UWP-D12 with SMAD-P3/P3D adapters to the MI mounting shoe for cable-free shooting, making the news gathering or interviewing season less complicated and relatively more reliable.
Conclusion
Most professionals appreciate the newly added gamma curve function to get natural skin tones and true-to-life imagery with ease, making the camera perfect for filming seminars, weddings, and other live events. In my opinion, the Sony HXR-NX 200 is a good choice for the persons; who want a low-cost 4K filming camera for multi-purpose usage.
