Sony HDR-AX2000 HD Handycam Prosumer Camcorder Reviews

Overview

Prosumer camcorder reviews
The Sony HDR-AX2000 High Definition Handycam Prosumer HD Camcorder delivers HD broadcast-quality moving images with the convenience of a non-linear recording format.

With 24p Progressive Scan Mode, the Sony HDR-AX2000 HD video camera’s high-quality film-like motion lets you realize brilliant scene reproduction.

CinemaTone Gamma and CinemaTone Color provide the Sony HDR-AX2000 HD camcorder with the color and gamma range to give your footage an even more film-like feel.

Three 1/3″ Exmor CMOS image sensors with Exmorâ„¢ derived technology capture sharp, detailed images even in lower-light (1.5 LUX) situations.

The 29.5mm Wide-Angle to 590mm Telephoto G-Lens allows for wider angle shooting and brings the action closer (20x Optical).

Three built-in neutral density filters and three manual rings provide even more flexibility.


Film-like Progressive Scan 24p/30p

In addition to 1080/60i recording, the HDR-AX2000 offers a 1080/24p and 1080/30p Progressive Scan mode that enables shooting with film-like results.

Recordings are conveniently recorded to non-linear Memory Stick PRO Duo media for editing and playback.


Up to 24Mbps AVCHD2 video
The Sony HDR-AX2000 HD digital video camera can capture video at up to 24Mbps for amazing clarity and detail, ideal for recording on to Blu-ray® media since the AVCHD2 codec is highly compatible with the Blu-ray format.

3x 1/3″ Exmor CMOS Sensors
The Sony HDR-AX2000 HD digital video camera features three 1/3″ Exmor CMOS Sensors, improving the color reproduction of video recordings.

Noise reduction is accomplished via the column A/D converter and the unique grid arrangement of the photo diodes for maximum light sensitivity.


Superior low-light (1.5 LUX)
Superior low-light ability with high sensitivity enables clear shooting of subjects in light as low as
This allows you to capture sharp detail and brilliant colors even in less than perfect lighting, especially when professional lighting cannot be used.
 
Dual XLR (+48V) Audio Inputs
Professional quality video requires professional quality audio.
Featuring dual XLR 3-pin audio jacks, you will be able to provide +48V phantom power to external microphones.

Additionally, the grounded connection allows insertion/removal of connectors in live equipment without picking up external signals.

Wide Angle G-Lens (29.5mm)
The Sony HDR-AX2000 HD video camera is equipped with a 29.5mm wide-angle G Lens made from advanced Extra-low Dispersion glass which reduces chromatic aberration caused by light refraction and captures video with extremely low color fringing.

The 20x telephoto zoom allows you to get close to the action.


Optical SteadyShot image stabilization
Optical SteadyShot image stabilization with Active Mode improves on existing Optical SteadyShot image stabilization by allowing the camera lens to shift over a greater range of motion allowing the camera to compensate for greater degrees of camera shake and deliver a stunning level of image smoothness.


CinemaTone GammaTM & CinemaTone Color
For extra control over image expression, Cinematone GammaTM technology is used to deepen the color and Cinematone Color to recreate film-like color tones.

Cinematone Gamma also allows operators to quickly set up and load a gamma curve with similar contrast characteristics to a film gamma curve.


Three built-in neutral density (ND) filters
Gain more color control in extreme settings with three built-in ND filters for adjusting the amount of light entering the image sensor through the lens.

Depending on shooting conditions, the operator can chose from Clear, 1/4, 1/16, or 1/64 filters.

In strong, glaring sunlight these filters give users more flexibility in choosing the shutter speed and aperture for superior creative control.

3x manual rings for superior control
The Sony HDR-AX2000 HD video camera has three independent manual rings (zoom, focus, and IRIS ) for superior control and flexibility while filming which make it easier to promptly make adjustments to meet shooting needs.

The IRIS ring allows you to adjust the aperture to attain optimal brightness and express beautiful depth of field shots, highlighting a subject while blurring a foreground or background.

Exposure can also be assigned to the IRIS ring enabling the camera to automatically select the optimal iris, gain or shutter speed, seamlessly enabling adjustment of exposure

3.2″ Xtra Fine LCD display1 (921k pixels)
The 3.2″ (16:9) Xtra Fine LCD screen displays sharp, bright, vivid images, letting you compose a shot more easily — even outdoors, while enabling you to change settings to best represent the scene.

With 921K pixels resolution and a wide viewing angle, the Xtra Fine LCD screen is like having a HDTV built into your camcorder.

Enhanced Imaging Processor (EIP) Technology
The EIP processor is able to rapidly process the vast amounts of pixel data read from the three 1/3″ Exmor CMOS Sensors, and record beautiful HD and colorful video.

The Exmor CMOS Sensors were developed using the most advanced technologies in the semiconductor industry.

They handle video data in 1920 x 1080p and 4:2:2 color space for high-quality signal processing before recording it to the dual Memory Stick PRO Duo media.

Together, the EIP and Exmor CMOS Sensors imaging system allows the HDR-AX2000 HD camcorder to provide extremely high image quality with smooth gradation and detailed image reproduction.

Manual Gain/Shutter/ WB Adjustment
The ability to manually adjust gain, shutter speed, and white balance makes it possible to fine-tune the Sony

Sony HDR-AX2000 HD camcorder settings for near-professional operability and advanced image expression.

Minus Auto Gain Control (Minus AGC)
When shooting in overly bright conditions, this feature enables the selection of gain settings in the negative range for satisfying results with minimal noise.


Assignable Buttons
This feature allows you to conveniently assign features you use often to shortcut buttons.

The commonly used features can be used quickly without going through a menu selection (default: Zebra, AE Shift, and Record Review).

Additional features that can be assigned: Extended Focus / Digital Extender (30x) / Ring Rotate/ AE Shift / Index Mark / SteadyShot/ Back Light / Spotlight / Fader / Smooth Slow Rec / Color Bar / Rec Review / End Search / Zebra / Marker /Peaking / Picture Profile.

Customer Prosumer camcorder reviews

Who could ask for anything more?, September 4, 2010
By     W. Wigs
This review is from: Sony HDR-AX2000 Handycam camcorder (Electronics)

I was at a Sony Store recently and got to test drive this amazing camera for a day. I put it through a stress test of constantly changing lighting and bad (on purpose) camera movement to see if I could reproduce the infamous “jello” effect from a rolling shutter on CMOS chips.

I even tried to reproduce a complaint I read about on Sony’s own website that says after 2GB (or 12 mins) of shooting the file would split into 2 pieces and cause stutter in audio and dropped frames at the break. I was using a class 4 SDHC card. The test was shot in 1080 24p FX mode.

Lets cut to the chase.

Pros:
Easy to operate: Being a Canon guy, I thought the controls on a Sony might be a jump for me, but they’re all pretty standard. I had no problems jumping in and doing what I wanted with it.

Low light/Changing Light operations: The front of the store was well-lit with a mixture of color temperature (florescent, tungsten, LED) flood lights. The AX2000 had no problems with automatic white balance. I rolled the iris up to over-expose the image then had the camera auto-iris to reproduce some image tearing.

There were no issues. I walked to the back with a dramatic lighting change. This was lit like a home theater and the camera had no problems keeping up.

Lens: I really liked the 20x zoom and the controls on the lens itself. The placement of the focus, zoom, and iris rings were very nice. I had no trouble telling which one was which and reaching them while I was shooting.

Look and feel: The camera looks like a pro would use it. The ergonomics were fantastic. Buttons that needed to be buttons were buttons, and switches that needed to be switches were switches.

Stock battery: I was amazed at how long it was lasting. Don’t get me wrong, it’s something that a pro would HAVE to upgrade, but in a pinch I wouldn’t be worried about using it.

Cons:
Stock Microphone: This is no surprise, a stock mic that’s bad? NO WAY! I haven’t come across many prosumer cameras with a good mic. This is an easy (and not too expensive) fix, buy a shotgun mic.

Auto focus: This seemed a little sluggish to me. If you’re shooting a wedding or something, this won’t be a big deal. If you’re shooting a sporting event, it might…

Overall Impression:
Some people have complained about editing AVCHD. I’ll say this: I’m on a Core2 Quad with 8GB RAM and a GeForce GT 120 and Premier CS5 and it worked like a charm. Of course I had to render every transition, but playback was smooth as silk and scrubbing through video wasn’t horrid.

I believe that this camera stands alone with no equal right now. The Panasonic version might have 3CCDs, but the zoom isn’t as good and it only records to 1 memory stick which means that I’d have to switch media more often. I was also unable to reproduce the “jello” effect that some complain about with CMOS sensors.

I was handheld the entire time and was NOT being careful when I shot. I just wish my boys at Canon would make something similar because I’m going to be switching brands as soon as I save up the cash.

Other Thoughts:
Canon has announced the XF105 and XF100. These are going to be smaller (and cheaper) versions of the XF305 and XF300. Because the XF100 will shoot with 50Mb/s and 4:2:2 color space, I doubt it will be in the $3000-$4000 range. Although I’ll be ecstatic if it is!

PS… I happen to LOVE Jello! I don’t need Bill Cosby coming after me!

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice Edition to Sony Lineup, August 31, 2010
Prosumer camcorder reviews By     snowleopard (Oregon)
This review is from: Sony HDR-AX2000 Handycam camcorder (Electronics)

This Sony camera is a nice addition to the Sony Line-up, somewhat of a replacement for the HVR-V1u, only shooting tapeless to MemoryStick and SD cards instead of tape. It was released around March of 2010, and competes mostly with the Panasonic HMC-150 which has similar features. Here are the pros as I see it:

* Wider angled lens than many other cameras, which is nice for interiors, and filmmaking. But not much wider than the HMC-150.
* 20x zoom, which is very nice to have. Only the Canons equal this. Sony’s digital zoom is also quite good in a pinch.
* Very fine quality LCD screen. You can argue about the placement.
* Camera will shoot 1080, but also 480, if you want to shoot standard definition like the “old days”.

Here are some cons:

* Camera will not shoot 720p, and will not overcrank (no slow motion).
* AVCHD footage may not play nice with Final Cut Pro or some software, yielding large file sizes that may need converting.
* Low light performance of 1.5lux is a bit of hype. The camera performs about as well as all the others in low light in this class.
* Arguably overpriced, especially with the onslaught of incredible footage seen from DSLR cameras.
* On board microphone is useless.

Some other things to consider: Camera has CMOS chips, which are eventually going to be all that is made. This may be prone to some rolling shutter issues or vibration issues. I’ll let you research this on your own. But CMOS does use less power than CCD chips. Chips are only 1/3″, which will soon be a thing of the past.

Bottom line – If you are a Sony user and have been waiting for a camera that shoots to SD cards in this price range, this will do it, and all you need. It would be very handy for events, sports, interviews, documentaries and some indie filmmaking.

It doesn’t have the interchangeable lenses that the Z5u or EX-3 have, but it’s less expensive than those, and unlike the V1u, it is tapeless, and is probably a stop better in low light than the V1u. If you can live without the overcranking and have a good XLR microhone already, this may be the camera for you.

1.5 lux (at 1/30 fixed shutter speed with auto iris and auto gain).

5 stars out of 5 Very inpressed with this Camcorder !, January 26, 2011
Prosumer Camcorder Reviews 2011 By rkknife
This review is from: Sony HDR-AX2000 Handycam camcorder (Electronics)
My experience level is not professional, just an avid amateur. I have used this camcorder
in various lighting conditions and all of my videos look great. I really like using
the super slow motion feature; it allows me to capture stunning slow motion video.
Low light is fantastic.
Macro shots are crisp and vivid.
Manual focus couldn’t be easier.
Controls are placed within easy natural reach.
LCD screen is in a perfect location for low angle shots
“Steady Shot” in the “active” mode is rock steady
I upgraded from a Panasonic ag dvc30 and this is a huge leap in technology.
Again I’m not a professional but my Sony HDR AX2000 makes my videos look like I am.

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Product Specifications

Brand:Sony
Model : HDR-AX2000/H
EAN Code :

1920x1080/60i with Film-like Progressive Scan 24p/30p

Superior 1.5lux- low-light 3x 1/3" Exmor CMOS Sensors

XLRx2 (Line/Mic/Mic+48V switchable) Audio Inputs

Wide Angle G-Lens: 29.5mm Wide to 590mm (20x) Telephoto

Optical SteadyShot image stabilization w/ Active Mode

Reviews

>Sony HDR-AX2000 Handycam camcorder reviews at Amazon.com
Average Rating: 3.5
R. Rivera Rating: 3 Stars out of 5

Recent Customer Camcorder Reviews


Average Rating: 3.5
R. Rivera Rating: 3 Stars out of 5

Who could ask for anything more?, September 4, 2010 By W. Wigs This review is from: Sony HDR-AX2000 Handycam camcorder (Electronics)


I was at a Sony Store recently and got to test drive this amazing camera for a day. I put it through a stress test of constantly changing lighting and bad (on purpose) camera movement to see if I could reproduce the infamous "jello" effect from a rolling shutter on CMOS chips.


I even tried to reproduce a complaint I read about on Sony's own website that says after 2GB (or 12 mins) of shooting the file would split into 2 pieces and cause stutter in audio and dropped frames at the break. I was using a class 4 SDHC card. The test was shot in 1080 24p FX mode.


Lets cut to the chase.


Pros: Easy to operate: Being a Canon guy, I thought the controls on a Sony might be a jump for me, but they're all pretty standard. I had no problems jumping in and doing what I wanted with it.


Low light/Changing Light operations: The front of the store was well-lit with a mixture of color temperature (florescent, tungsten, LED) flood lights. The AX2000 had no problems with automatic white balance. I rolled the iris up to over-expose the image then had the camera auto-iris to reproduce some image tearing. There were no issues. I walked to the back with a dramatic lighting change. This was lit like a home theater and the camera had no problems keeping up.


Lens: I really liked the 20x zoom and the controls on the lens itself. The placement of the focus, zoom, and iris rings were very nice. I had no trouble telling which one was which and reaching them while I was shooting.


Look and feel: The camera looks like a pro would use it. The ergonomics were fantastic. Buttons that needed to be buttons were buttons, and switches that needed to be switches were switches.


Stock battery: I was amazed at how long it was lasting. Don't get me wrong, it's something that a pro would HAVE to upgrade, but in a pinch I wouldn't be worried about using it.


Cons: Stock Microphone: This is no surprise, a stock mic that's bad? NO WAY! I haven't come across many prosumer cameras with a good mic. This is an easy (and not too expensive) fix, buy a shotgun mic.


Auto focus: This seemed a little sluggish to me. If you're shooting a wedding or something, this won't be a big deal. If you're shooting a sporting event, it might...


Overall Impression: Some people have complained about editing AVCHD. I'll say this: I'm on a Core2 Quad with 8GB RAM and a GeForce GT 120 and Premier CS5 and it worked like a charm. Of course I had to render every transition, but playback was smooth as silk and scrubbing through video wasn't horrid.


I believe that this camera stands alone with no equal right now. The Panasonic version might have 3CCDs, but the zoom isn't as good and it only records to 1 memory stick which means that I'd have to switch media more often. I was also unable to reproduce the "jello" effect that some complain about with CMOS sensors. I was handheld the entire time and was NOT being careful when I shot.


I just wish my boys at Canon would make something similar ;-) because I'm going to be switching brands as soon as I save up the cash.


Other Thoughts: Canon has announced the XF105 and XF100. These are going to be smaller (and cheaper) versions of the XF305 and XF300. Because the XF100 will shoot with 50Mb/s and 4:2:2 color space, I doubt it will be in the $3000-$4000 range. Although, I'll be ecstatic if it is!


PS... I happen to LOVE Jello! I don't need Bill Cosby coming after me!


4.0 out of 5 stars Nice Edition to Sony Lineup, August 31, 2010 By snowleopard (Oregon) This review is from: Sony HDR-AX2000 Handycam camcorder (Electronics) This Sony camera is a nice addition to the Sony Line-up, somewhat of a replacement for the HVR-V1u, only shooting tapeless to MemoryStick and SD cards instead of tape. It was released around March of 2010, and competes mostly with the Panasonic HMC-150 which has similar features. Here are the pros as I see it:


* Wider angled lens than many other cameras, which is nice for interiors, and filmmaking. But not much wider than the HMC-150. * 20x zoom, which is very nice to have. Only the Canons equal this. Sony's digital zoom is also quite good in a pinch. * Very fine quality LCD screen. You can argue about the placement. * Camera will shoot 1080, but also 480, if you want to shoot standard definition like the "old days".


Here are some cons:


* Camera will not shoot 720p, and will not overcrank (no slow motion). * AVCHD footage may not play nice with Final Cut Pro or some software, yielding large file sizes that may need converting. * Low light performance of 1.5lux is a bit of hype. The camera performs about as well as all the others in low light in this class. * Arguably overpriced, especially with the onslaught of incredible footage seen from DSLR cameras. * On board microphone is useless.


Some other things to consider: Camera has CMOS chips, which are eventually going to be all that is made. This may be prone to some rolling shutter issues or vibration issues. I'll let you research this on your own. But CMOS does use less power than CCD chips. Chips are only 1/3", which will soon be a thing of the past.


Bottom line - If you are a Sony user and have been waiting for a camera that shoots to SD cards in this price range, this will do it, and all you need. It would be very handy for events, sports, interviews, documentaries and some indie filmmaking.


It doesn't have the interchangeable lenses that the Z5u or EX-3 have, but it's less expensive than those, and unlike the V1u, it is tapeless, and is probably a stop better in low light than the V1u. If you can live without the overcranking and have a good XLR microhone already, this may be the camera for you.

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