REVIEW
HEAD
HEAD OF THE FAMILY
INTRO
Introducing the senior member of Sony's
range of 'family' camcorders, the FX700, a compact Hi8 machine due to go
on sale shortly for just under £1000
COPY
Originally high-band camcorders were targeted at serious video
movie-makers but for the last couple of years manufacturers have tried to give
Super VHS-C and Hi8 a much broader appeal. On a global basis this has been
fairly successful but it has to be said that we in the UK have stubbornly
resisted all such efforts, we seem to be more interested in bargain-basement
prices, than quality or performance.
Sony certainly haven't given up, and to prove it they've come up with a Hi8
version of their very popular FX series of 'family' camcorders.
The FX700 is very clearly related to the other FX machines, with its
distinctive low-profile shape and integral microphone. The large LCD panel on
the side is another reminder of the FX500 but internally there have been a
number of changes. The most important ones are the provision of extra manual
controls, principally exposure (controlled from a small thumbwheel) and a
return a manual high-speed shutter,
that's in addition to the program AE system, though this one is simpler than
the one on the FX500. There's an interesting new feature on the underside of
the machine in the shape of a small fold-out stand. This is part of the
machine's tripod mount and when unfolded angles the machine slightly upwards,
so it can take face-level shots whilst standing on a table.
One significant change has been the return to a conventional
battery charger and AV connections, the FX 700 has a set of sockets on the
right side of the machine. Previously AV connections were also available on a
set of contacts beneath the battery. These were routed through the charger, via
the battery adaptor plate which clips on to the back of the machine. Like
pretty well all Sony camcorders this one has the vital Control L (aka LANC)
socket, so it can be used as a source deck with an edit controller, in an
editing system; it also has a passable insert edit facility, allowing new
scenes to be dropped into an existing recording, without any picture
disturbance at the edit in and out points. Insert edit in this case can be
controlled automatically, using the tape counter to designate the beginning and
end of the new segment.
The lens is another carry-over
from the FX500, and it has the same semi-wide-angle field of view, this is most
noticeable with the zoom pulled back and vertical lines close to the edges of the screen appear slightly barrelled.
It is an inner-focus lens, with manual focus controlled by a servo-ring around
the lens barrel. It's certainly a whole lot better than the more common rocker
switch or thumbwheel arrangements on other camcorders with this type of lens.
HANDLING AND OPERATION
You hardly need reminding this is
a Sony product, it looks and feels as though its built to last. It fits neatly
in the hand and the balance is very good; maybe it's a little heavier than you
might expect, but this only adds to the
chunky feel of the machine. The viewfinder isn't changed from the FX500, and
although it's very versatile -- it can be viewed at a distance, just like
Canon's 'sportsfinder' -- the adjustment is coarse and a mite fiddly.
The extra manual controls are very
welcome, especially manual exposure which allows the machine to operate under a
far wider range of conditions, not to mention its use as a special effect, or a
remedy for difficult lighting conditions, such as strong back or front
lighting. The two-mode program AE system is set for portrait shots (sharp
subject against a soft background) and sports, where the shutter speed is
fixed, to reduce blur when shooting fast-moving subjects, or from a moving
vehicle.
PERFORMANCE
High-band picture performance is
immediately noticeable on playback, the picture is sharper, more clearly
defined and there's far more detail, when compared with a typical 8mm or VHS-C
recording. Our tests showed horizontal resolution to be a little above
380-lines, which isn't quite up to the over-rated 400-line benchmark, but you
would need a special test pattern to in order to spot such a small
difference.
Colour accuracy in natural
daylight is impeccable, and it stands up well in some forms of artificial
light, though the WB system needs the human tough under fluorescent light which
if left unadjusted gives a slight yellowish caste to the recording. Like most
8mm/Hi8 machines the FX700 has limited trick-frame capabilities, the pause
function produces a very noisy picture, and slomo, such as it is, is simply a
series of noisy still frames. The program AE modes are rather more successful
and come in quite useful as a simple one-touch creative tool for special
circumstances. The autofocus is reasonably responsive, certainly a major
improvement on earlier Sony AF systems which were notoriously vague.
Full-marks for the stereo hi-fi
sound system, the soundtrack is sharp, clear and it has a good dynamic range. Understandably the stereo image
created by the single-point mike isn't very wide but the added dimension is
clearly there. In any case there's a socket for an external mic, so it can
easily be used with an accessory mike, if needed.
VERDICT
Sadly the FX700 isn't going to change the UK consumers deep-rooted
prejudice to putting performance before price but it should still do well
amongst the cognoscenti who will know a good thing when they see it.
SPECIFICATIONS
Make/model SONY
CCD-FX700
Recording format 8mm/Hi8
Guide price
£1000
OPTICS
Lens
f1.6, 6.1-61mm
Zoom
10x (2-speed)
Filter diameter
37mm
Pick-up device
0.3in CCD
Min. illum. (lux) 3
VIDEO DECK
Tape speed (mm/sec)
20.051(SP), 10.026(LP)
Max. rec. time
120mins (LP mode)
Remote control full
function IR, Control L (LANC)
Main facilities
auto/manual focus, auto/manual
exposure, 2-mode program auto-exposure, auto white balance, fader,
high-speed shutter, time/date/age recording, insert edit, 8-colour/5-mode title
superimposer, built-in stand, audible
warning, sportsfinder eyepiece
VIEWFINDER
Viewfinder
0.6in monochrome
Viewfinder info. deck
mode and status, low battery, tape count, shutter speed, fader, focus mode,
tape end, time/date/age, title, zoom position, AE mode
AUDIO
System
FM stereo hi-fi
Microphone
single-point stereo
GENERAL
Sockets
audio and video out (phono), S-Video out, LANC, external mic, earphones
(minijack
Size (mm)
118 x 112 x 260
Weight
1.1kg (inc tape and battery)
STANDARD ACCESSORIES
Batteries, (nicad, lithium and alkaline), straps, AC charger/power
supply, AV leads, remote handset, SCART adaptor
PERFORMANCE
Resolution
>380-lines
Colour fidelity good
Picture stability good
Colour bleed slight
White balance good
Exposure very
good
Autofocus
average
Audio performance good
Insert edit
clean
Playback thru adaptor N/A
VC RATINGS
Value for money 8
Ease of use 9
Performance 8
Features 8
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(c) R Maybury 1993 0503
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