Sony PXW-X70 Professional XDCAM Compact Camcorder with 4K Upgrade License
UPC's:
Fantastic Camera
This camera is amazing!I've been using it for corporate and documentary films. The amount of features packed in this little device is well worth the money I paid for it. I bought this camera$ and started using it right away. After 6 months I'm more than satisfied with the quality of the picture, the size, the audio, the zoom and the focus. I'm not sure about the 4K feature but I'm hoping the upgrade is free.I definitely recommend this camera.
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Very Nice Camera but 4K upgrade falls short at 60Mbp/s
I like the form factor of the X70. It's a wonderful grab and go camera. Audio features are nice, picture profiles are fantastic and the image sensor is clean and sharp. However, Sony has announced a future paid firmware update that will enable 4k. (similar to the cheaper Sony Ax100) But instead of matching the AX100's 100Mbp/s 4K bitrate, Sony has committed only to offering a lowly 60Mbp/s. This is quite shocking as the AX100 is a consumer Handyc... Show More
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Good camera, but I have problems with the XLR unit
I have just bought the camera from B&H and I have noticed that the XLR unit generates terrible audio noise. It also records the sound of the zoom lever when I zoom in and out. It seems to be a problem of communication between the main camera body and the XLR unit when switched to mic or mic+48db. I would really like to know how I can solve this issue and than give the camera a 5 star rating.
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
OK for fixed or maybe ENG, NOT suitable for event shooting
I rented two of these for use at a multi-camera event shoot at the Richmond Auditorium last week. We shoot stage productions all the time, and have worked with a variety of Sony, Canon, JVC and Panasonic gear (plus a GoPro Hero Black 3+) as part of our configuration. Let me start by saying -- I was *SO EXCITED* to have a chance to rent these pupplies from BorrowLenses; I asked questions about output formats, recording formats, smoothness of contr... Show More
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Really happy with this camcorder
I am using this camcorder for interview and shooting news. It is small to carry almost anywhere I go and its video is sharp. I was looking for a camcorder that has 4:2:2 10-bit and this one have them. The draw back for me at this price range is the lens hood. It is easy to loose it.
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
I really like this camera...
Finally Sony has created the type of small camera I've always wanted. I've used a variety of cameras and always like having a small form factor on hand for certain types of jobs. The frustration has always been either lack of full manual controls (MC-50) or lack of pro features (AX-100). This camera has it all. The audio handle while having the convenience of being removable is incredibly sturdy when attached and top notch quality. The assignable... Show More
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Regret
$ 4K upgrade makes me sad. Picture is good and I'll definitely continue to use it, but in my effort to get ahead of the game, preordering this was my worst idea ever. If they give me 4K for free or make me pay for a MUCH better 4K capability then I'll stop giving it the cold shoulder, but until that day this is at best a B-roll camera despite it being my only video camera.Smooth stabilization, pretty DOF with the sensor, easy to color correct, sm... Show More
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
NIce cam but 4K upgrade is a joke.
I purchased this for a 2nd camera for events to pair with my FS100. I like the button layout and it feels great handheld unlike the FS100. Overall nice picture in decent lighting, gets grainy quickly on the tele end in low light. I'm disappointed with the recent announcement that the 4K upgrade will only be 4:2:0 8 bit 60 Mb/s, same as the cheaper AX100 and you have to pay for the upgrade. Hopefully they will come out with a beefier 4K upgrade in the future otherwise I'll look elsewhere when I need 4K.
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Pretty good camera
The Pros: I'm very pleased with the picture on this camera. To the extent that that's all-important to you, it has very pleasing and sharp picture. It has a small footprint. Lots on controls on the outside, so there aren't many operations you'll need to wade through the electronic menu for. Pretty good zoom range. The footage from this camera keys well when green-screening. The cons: The autofocus has an annoying tendency to focus on things behin... Show More
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Excellent camera for the money!
I am giving this camera 5 stars not because it is the best camera in the world, but because it is really amazing camera for the price. Are there some things I would change about this camera? Absolutely! But once I saw the image that this thing has, I had to have one. I have used and owned a lot of cameras, JVC gy-hd700, 5D, 7D, GH3, Sony PMW 320, Sony F5 and the list goes on. Except for the F5, this camera has the best image out of all of them! I... Show More
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Great Video Camera
I use this camera to record live concerts in my area. I had been using consumers cameras and have added this camera to my gear. The first time I shot with this camera, I used the XAVC recording codec. I had to use the Sony Prepare program to render out and then bring it in to Vegas Pro. The footage from this camera in low light was just amazing. I was just blown away on how clear the footage was. I added a condensed stereo mic and plug it directl... Show More
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
A Valuable Professional Tool
First off, in response to the few negative reviews about support for this camera's video, there is an overwhelming amount of support out there. The highest-quality format this shoots, XAVC, is the same featured in Sony's top of the line pro video cameras and is in regular use throughout the industry. Adobe Premier Pro CC supports XAVC without issue and others follow suit. Beyond that, for those out there not working with this camera in profession... Show More
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Great
Great camera, can't wait for the 4k update. A monitor is needed, the lcd is nice, but not like what's being recorded. Love it all, great picture, solid sound, full pro functions, solid build wow. So much camera stuffed into a small package is so great I bought another one for multi cam set ups.
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Underwhelming
I make movies about birds and local events. Compared with other cameras I shoot regularly (Panasonic GH3 and Nikon D7100) , the Sony PXW-X70 is expensive and poorly designed. My Panasonic GH3 is a brilliant camera, for both stills and movies, but I wanted better image stabilization and a motorized zoom in a light, inconspicuous package. Physically, the camera is solid and easy to hold. It has good controls for manually setting aperture, shutter s... Show More
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
PXW-170 - I love it!
To begin with, I don't consider myself a professional. So having read the previous reviews, I knew I wanted this camera from the start. My previous camera was a Sony PD-170. It served its purpose for a while. I mainly used it to record dance recitals but got to the point where I needed the 16:9 format.One of the best features is not having to use more tapes. I have the XLR microphone but have not used it. I normally dub over and mix the sound tra... Show More
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Lot of Features In A Small Package!
Initial Impression - Just received this little power-packed Pro Cam and I'm already impressed. I needed a camera that has the functionality of the FS100, but with stabilization on par with the HXR NX30U, plus 4k capabilities This is it! All Sony needs to do to make this better is to make it with interchangeable lenses. If you're familiar with Sony's FS 100, this camera has many of the same features. The picture is clean, and the button layout is ... Show More
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Disappointed
I bought my Sony PXW-X70 in an effort to return to a more functional camera like the Panasonic P2 and the the AVX-200 in the past. I wanted to throw my Canon 7D and 5D to the trash (because of the uncomfortable operation design) and start working again with a camera with professional audio inputs and controls, a more comfortable LCD to see video, the top handle for better operation, and many other great features this camera offers. Add to that eq... Show More
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Good but not ready for Windows workflow
Camera is really well made, and the footage is very nice. It's not a low light camera, as in DSLR low light, and the quality is about the same as the Canon XA20, unless you can use the XAVC. But, you need a MAC for XAVC because NONE of the conversion software for windows works, you will just get audio with no video.EVEN SONY's Catalyst Browse converter is useless. It will not export to Pro-res from the Windows version, and furthermore the export ... Show More
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Solid camera
The new XAVC format works great in Adobe Premiere. Picture looks clean even with 6db gain under low light.
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Good Things Come in Small Packages
The PXW-X70 is an amazing camcorder that is also budget friendly. The 1 inch sensor is perfect for broadcast video, and I still cannot figure out how sony fit it all into this casing. The quality of the output video is really nice, and with the manual controls, integrated adjustable ND Filters, and Shotgun Mic holder its also great for run and gun shoots. The only issue with that I have found so far is that the phantom power is not as great as I ... Show More
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Nice Camera--Colors not Accurate
We purchased three of these for our daily streamed program. We needed low cost and HD-SDI output. This was by far our best cost/quality alternative.Easy to use, many nice features. Two zoom knobs--one we set to constant speed, the other variable, are useful. Iris and many assignable buttons are also excellent.We have LED lights for color wash, standard bulbs for our studio main lights. These cameras do not accurately pick up the colored lights. T... Show More
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
An amazing Camera!
This is an incredible little camera with a great new video codec that captures beautiful 422 10bit at 50Mb video. It has both PAL and NTSC frame rates. It comes with professional XLR audio inputs with Phantom power and an HD-SDI output. All this in a small light wight package for a great price. The XAVC Long GOP is now supported by Adobe Premiere CC 2014 and it works seamlessly. I was told by Sony that FCP X will support it in December. As a professional documentary filmmaker I am extremely pleased and excited about this Sony Camera and I can't wait for the 4k upgrade.
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Can now read XAVC files
The Sony X70 is a great camera, the quality of even the AVCHD images is stunning. Many complained about not being able to read these files in most NLEs. Sony have just released 'Catalyst Prepare' This programme will read the files, but better still, will read old HVR files, MOV files and MTS files so it's now possible to do a rough cut with a range of cameras before loading into your NLE. so I think the X70 deserves 5 stars!
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Nice, but...
After discovering that I hate shooting DSLR video (Nikon D-800) due to miserable form-factor issues we professionals all know about, and wanting to upgrade from my reliable Sony HDV tape-based camcorder, I received my little PXW-X70 from B & H this week. The camcorder has good build quality and works much better in low-light than my HDV camcorder. It has many nice features, the most exciting of which is the 1 sensor and upgradability to 4K. What ... Show More
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
