Looks like the rumors of Sony’s HDR-FX7 digital camcorder are true. Sony has announced their newest HDV camcorder, the HDR-FX7, which will not turn out to be a replacement for the popular FX1. Rather, the HDR-FX7 is likely to be a top-end choice for prosumers and professionals like wedding videographers and journalists. Among other things, this will mainly be due to the fact that it is about 40% lighter than the FX7, 25% smaller, and has a longer battery life.
The longer battery life comes courtesy of the three CMOS sensors that make up the imaging center of the Sony HDR-FX7. CMOS sensors use much less power than CCD sensors. They are also cheaper to make, which explains how Sony is able to keep the FX7 price competitive. Each of the three sensors is 1/4″ in size, which departs from the usual 1/3″ sensors in these types of camcorders.
However, because of the smaller sensor size, Sony was able to pack a powerful 20x optical zoom onto the HDR-FX7, which is a first for them. The downside of the smaller chips and the CMOS sensors is that the minimum illumination rating has been increased to 4 lux. The 3 lux rating on the FX1 was a big advantage that will surely be sorely missed.
The Sony HDR-FX7 also retains the FX1’s 4:3 aspect ratio sensors, which means that each pixel is barely stretched to create the 16:9 aspect ratio we all crave. Pretty much every other HDV camcorder manufacturer out there is putting native 16:9 chips into their camcorders.
Missing from the HDR-FX7 is Sony’s CineFrame mode, which gave users a 24P-like effect. This will seriously dissuade Indie filmmakers from purchasing this camcorder, and Sony agrees saying the HDR-FX7 is best suited for the “advanced consumer user.”
Other features include optical image stabilization, 1.22 megapixel stills, Smooth Slow Record, and a 3.5″ widescreen LCD. For audio input, the HDR-FX7 features a standard 3.5mm stereo jack. Many are sure to miss the XLR inputs found on other digital camcorders of this class (albeit more expensive).
You can expect the Sony HDR-FX7 to be available next month, October, for about $3,500.
