REVIEW
HEAD
THE FAMILY WAY
INTRO
It's back to basics with Sony's latest budget family machine, the super
compact FX200
COPY
Let's get it over with. The Sony FX200 lacks any form of manual focus,
not even a focus lock, and that bothers us. For most family users, most of the
time it shouldn't be a problem but when the FX200's autofocus system cannot
cope -- and it does happen -- there's not a thing you can do about it.
Don't let that put you off, especially if what you're looking for is a
smart-looking, no-fuss compact camcorder, with an unthreatening price tag. The Sony name counts for something too, and
build quality is up to their usual high standard. The FX200 has arrived at a
difficult time for the UK camcorder market. As recently as six months ago there
were at least a dozen machines costing less than £600; following Black
Wednesday prices have risen and the choice is nowhere near as broad. Those
price rises pushed the FX300 up to £650 and out of the budget category. The
FX200 has taken its place, it is essentially a stripped-down version of the
FX300 with an 8x zoom instead of a 10x, and the fader, backlight compensation
and age/event recording features have been omitted. They've also left out the
infra-red remote control, though we're relieved to see Sony haven't dropped the
Control L socket as well, which means the FX200 can still serve a useful role
as a source deck, when connected to a suitable edit controller.
Nevertheless, Sony have managed to retain at least one of the FX300's
more up-market features, a 3-mode auto-exposure system with settings for
portrait shots, sports action, and high-speed shutter. In the portrait mode the
subject stands out against a softened background as shutter speed varies
automatically between 1/50th and 1/200th of a second. The Sports mode is
intended to reduce blur when recording fast-moving subjects, or when shooting
from a moving vehicle, shutter speed is automatically adjusted from 1/50th sec
to 1/500th sec. In the high speed shutter mode the speed is fixed at 1/4000th
sec, this helps improve replay of fast-movement (golf swings etc.), when the
recording is viewed on a deck with slow motion or still frame facilities. (That
normally entails dubbing or editing the original recording onto VHS).
The FX200 is deceptively small, not much larger than most palmcorders in
fact, and that means it's relatively light and very easy to handle. And so it
should, with only one major camera control! The general layout is similar to
previous FX machines, with the deck controls on the right side of the body.
This is an unusual place to have them, but they're no less accessible or
difficult to use for that. Another oddity is the sportsfinder eyepiece, which
allows the viewfinder screen to be seen at a distance. Sony appear to have
modified the optics of a conventional viewfinder by slotting in a concave lens
between the objective lens, and the screen. In the normal setting it produces a
very noticeable barrelling of the viewfinder image, which can be a little
off-putting, until you get used to it.
PERFORMANCE
The FX200's close relationship with the FX300 is clear to see, and we got
an almost identical set of test results. Our best estimation of horizontal resolution is a shade over 230
lines, it has to be a guesstimate because the focus cannot be locked off or
adjusted manually. Slight colour spillage is another characteristic of this
design and once again it is prevalent on saturated reds. Colour accuracy is
quite good, even indoors under artificial light, though it is best to avoid
tube lighting as this can also cause problems with reds, in particular, which
tend to appear weak. Colour and luminance noise levels are below average, and
the picture looks quite clean.
The on-board microphone has good directional properties and the FM
soundtrack is very crisp. The FX200 has an external mic. socket and headphone
monitor sockets, they're becoming a rarity these days, so well-done Sony!
VERDICT
Providing you're aware of its limitations and avoid the obvious pitfalls,
like shooting in poor light, highly patterned subjects, through bars or glass,
or highly-reflective objects, the AF system is fairly dependable. Sony also
warn about shooting stationary objects when the machine is mounted on a tripod,
or using marine packs and rain hoods, you'll have to decide how important those
are for yourself. The FX200 is a likeable little machine that can be a real
pleasure to use -- videophobes take note -- though we suspect it may be a
little too basic, even for those with only a mild interest in the subject.
BOX 1 -- WHAT ELSE IS AVAILABLE?
Six hundred pounds just happens to be the price of the dreaded Panasonic
CS1 record-only VHS-C camcorder. Given a choice between that and the FX200 we
know which one we'd go for! Looking a little further afield there's the Canon
E200, a good machine that's worth considering, though it lacks character; we
reckon it's worth spending another £30 on its stablemate, the E400. We quite like the Samsung 807 and
808 which are now very good value for
money. The Hitachi E31 is a perennial favourite; it is beginning to look its
age but its difficult to beat on a features per pound basis. Sanyo's RZ1 hasn't
a lot to offer but we'd still keep it in mind. Apart from the CS1 there's only
a couple of VHS-C machines below £600; they are the JVC GR-AX5 which is getting
on a bit, and the Dixons/Curry's
exclusive GR-M3, both are competent, though unexciting. If editing is a
priority the FX200 is just about the cheapest camcorder with an editing terminal,
if not we'd certainly think twice about any machine with manual focus.
SPECIFICATIONS
Make/model SONY
CCD-FX200
Recording format 8mm
Guide price
£600
OPTICS
Lens
f1.6
Zoom
8x (two speed)
Filter diameter
37mm
Pick-up device
0.3in CCD
Min. illum. (lux) 4
VIDEO DECK
Long Play (LP) yes
Max. rec. time 240mins
(LP mode)
IR remote control ? no
Edit terminal? yes/Control L
MAIN FACILITIES
Auto Focus? yes
Manual focus? no
Auto exposure? yes Programmed
AE? yes
Auto white balance yes Manual
white balance? no
Power zoom yes Manual zoom? no
Backlight compensation no Insert edit? no
Character generator? no Digital Superimposer? no
Image stabiliser? no Video
light? no
Battery refresh? no
Accessory shoe? yes
Record review yes Fader? no
Digital effects no Digital zoom? no
ADDITIONAL FEATURES
time/date recording, tally lamp
VIEWFINDER
Viewfinder
0.6in monochrome
Sportsfinder eyepiece? yes
Viewfinder info.
deck mode and status, low battery, tape count, tape end, time/date, head
clog, dew
AUDIO
Stereo? no
Audio dub? no
Wind noise filter? no
Mic socket? yes
Headphone socket? yes
Microphone omnidirectional
electret
GENERAL
Sockets
video and audio out (phono), external mic., headphone and Control L (minijack)
Size (mm)
118 x 108 x 265
Weight
1kg (inc. tape and battery)
STANDARD ACCESSORIES
Batteries, (nicad and lithium), straps, AC charger/power supply
video light? no remote
control? no
cassette adaptor? N/A RF Converter? yes
SCART adaptor? no
PERFORMANCE
Resolution
>230-lines
Colour fidelity
average
Picture stability good
Colour bleed
slight (reds)
White balance
average
Exposure
good
Autofocus
average
Audio performance good
Insert edit
manual inserts fair
Playback thru adaptor N/A
VC RATINGS
Value for money 8
Ease of use 9
Performance 7
Features 7
---end---
(c) R Maybury 1993 0507
| 
