Open Box Sony RX10 - $937 from Adorama!

You can save about $360 off the street price of a new RX10 at Amazon if you buy an open box camera for $937 from Adorama.

This is a great deal for one of the hottest still/video cameras on the market this Christmas season.

These are brand new cameras with a 1 year Sony warranty  - I don't think they'll last long at this price!

Sony RX10 with Atomos ProRes Recorder - Pocket Cinema Camera Killer?

The biggest challenge with the new Sony DSC-RX10 still/video hybrid camera for serious video projects has been its relatively low bitrate AVCHD codec. Despite this limitation, with a good grade, this camera can produce decent results (see Andrew Reid's RX10 test video, Run and Gun).

But what if you could combine the RX10's downscaling algorithms with a decent codec?  Last night, Atomos posted this tutorial on how to use their Ninja 2 external monitor/recorder with the RX10:



The Atomos Ninja 2 gives the RX10 the ability to record 233mbps ProRes 422, the same codec available on the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera when it was first released.

This codec takes up less space on cards and drives than RAW, and some shooters prefer it as a good compromise between the limitations of 8 bit and the complexity of dealing with RAW.

If you're planning to buy the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera for ProRes only, don't need a lens faster than f2.8 or longer than 200mm, and don't want to deal with RAW, you might want to look at the $1298 RX10 plus a $675 Ninja 2 instead (and don't forget the $6.99 micro-HDMI to HDMI Cable).

Add the fact that the RX10 is a 20.2MP still camera; has a bright OLED viewfinder; a great de-clicked Zeiss constant f2.8, an 8x power zoom; a built-in ND filter; 1080/60p; usable onboard sound plus audio level meters (not to mention little niceties such as a recording time remaining indicator, the ability to delete files in camera and a battery that lasts more than a few minutes) - all features the Blackmagic lacks - and buying a finicky $995 BMPCC plus some kind of viewfinder or LCD shade, an expensive constant f2.8 lens, a superfast SanDisk Extreme Pro card, extra batteries and a screw on ND filter just to shoot gradeable ProRes 422 doesn't make a lot of sense.

If you're a low budget RAW shooter (or want to be), the BMPCC continues to be the absolute best straight out-of-the-box solution.

ProRes shooters, however, now have another, very usable, option.  I'll say it again, it's a great time to be a hybrid photographer/filmmaker!

As usual, if anything here has helped you reach a buying decision, please click on one of the links above or the display ads below to order your RX10, Ninja 2 or BMPCC.

If you don't need a camera or external recorder right now, please shop with our other sponsors, Adorama, Amazon, BorrowLenses, CoolLCD, DigitalRev, uBid, Vimeo, the the Warner Brothers Shop and others whose display ads you see in the margins.  It won't cost you anything extra, and it will help to keep these blog posts coming.  Thanks so much!

New Sony DSC-RX10 - the Panasonic Killer?

I am really excited by the new Sony DSC-RX10's potential for video. Announced at the same time as the full frame A7, this camera has received less recognition - but may be more significant. Perhaps as significant as the moire-resistant GH1 was in 2009.

I especially like the RX10's "de-clicked" 8.3x constant f2.8 power zoom combined with the proven RX100 sensor.  This is essentially a cinema lens on a point and shoot camera.

Add the built-in ND filter, focus peaking, 31 step manual audio level control, audio meters and headphone jack, and you have a serious video camera.

The dust and moisture resistant magnesium alloy body is nice too.

If Sony has really dealt with the line-skipping/moire problem, as this hands on preview from Imaging Resource suggests, I guess I'll have to buy this camera. I had been saving up for the FZ200 to replace my wife's FZ150 - now I'll need to figure out a way to scrape together another $800.

Pricey, yes. But the 1" sensor and 20.2MP still resolution mean the competition for this camera isn't really the FZ200 - it is the G6 and the GH3.

You'd have to buy a $699 Panasonic G6  - plus $1100 12-35mm and $1350 35-100mm constant f2.8 lenses to match the $1298 RX10 in micro 4/3 world.  Compared to $3149 for a plastic camera body and two unpowered zoom lenses, $1298 for a metal body and a power zoom is a real bargain.

And with the G6, you'd still be missing the weather-sealing, the built-in ND filter and the headphone jack.

If you wanted weather-sealing from Panasonic, you'd have to pay $300-$400 more for the GH3. Yes, you'd gain multiple codecs and higher bit rates, but you'd lose focus peaking.

If I were Panasonic, I would be very very worried about this camera.

You can pre-order the new RX10 for $1298 from Amazon or Adorama. These cameras will be very hard to get before Christmas unless you get in line now.

Your card won't be charged by either of these great retailers until your camera ships.  As usual, if any of this has helped you to reach a buying decision, please order through one of the links above or the display ads below or in the margins. It won't cost you anything extra, and it will help keep these posts coming.  Thanks so much.

Amazing Panasonic LX7 Still/Video Slow Motion Camera - $327 at Amazon

This is a terrific little hybrid still/video camera with full manual control, a fast lens and a standard hot shoe.  It takes great stills - but its secret weapon is 720p 120fps slow motion video (100fps in Europe).

Here are a couple of examples shot by London filmmaker Louis du Mont on Vimeo:

The Panasonic LX7 is on sale until September 28th at Amazon for $327.  If you want it in white, you can get it from Samy's via eBay for $328.

If you'd like to buy this camera, please click on one of the links above or display ads below.  It won't cost you anything extra, and it will help keep these blog posts coming.  Thanks!