Rumor: HDR-FX7 being reintroduced soon by Sony at US$1999

The very often forgotten FX7 disappeared from Sony USA's offerings quietly at the end of last year, leaving the professional HVR-V1 as the smallest 3 sensor HDV camera in Sony's lineup. With the 1/4" sensor shooting only interlaced video, it was overshadowed by Canon's XH-A1 which had 1/3" CCDs and 24/30 PsF. It was outgunned and overpriced for its segment.

As quietly as it disappeared, the forgotten child is making a return at a discount price of US$1999, if this newletter blurb by B&H is to be believed. Priced to fill the huge gap between the consumer HDV camcorders in the about $1000 market and the FX1000 at $3200, Sony seems to be making a concerted effort to keep HDV alive and well.

However, with even the lowest Canon HDV cameras offering 24/30P, I'm wondering if Sony is making a big enough effort. Of course, Sony hasn't announced anything but B&H is one of the largest Sony retailers so it should be a reliable source. This should also make the housing manufacturers who have leftover stock of FX7/V1 housings available VERY happy.

Here are links to the 2 housings I reviewed last year:

Amphibico Endeavor

Gates FX7/V1

That is interesting. The HDR-FX7E (PAL version) has always been available. On the web at the moment the best price I can see in the UK is £1615.00 or just over $3000. I wonder what this will do to the price in PAL land

Roger

Well PAL is always more expensive than NTSC models anyhow, just by the numbers they sell. So those in PAL land may well be left with a very expensive option since it is still old stock.

Alternatively, B&H may have screwed many retailers in PAL land who are trying to move their FX7 at the old price before the new lower price editions come in. It may be just the NTSC model being reintroduced since the 50i model was never removed.

Is there a housing for it? It wasn't a bad cam when it was initially released, it just never caught on.

Steve

Is there a housing for it? It wasn't a bad cam when it was initially released, it just never caught on.

Steve

It fits the same housings as V1, Amphibico, Gates definitely.

J

$2000 would be an amazing price for that camera. For underwater use there is little difference between the FX7 and the V1 if you take away the V1's ability to shoot 25p PAL and 24p/30p NTSC (which obviously could be important for some projects). For topside the XLR inputs make a big difference for audio quality, but of course that's null and void underwater.

The V1/Gates housing is a nice combo. If the price for the FX7 does drop in PALand then I could see myself getting a FX7 for underwater and keeping my V1 for topside.

Cheers, Simon

Is there a housing for it? It wasn't a bad cam when it was initially released, it just never caught on.

Steve

Amphibico had a limited run on their Endeavour for the FX7/V1. I see on their website that the three versions (different ports) with the HD monitor are now sold out. Gates housings are still available.

I agree with Simon, there is little to gain u/w with the V1 especially if you are an amateur videographer. If the lower price comes to fruition then that would make the camera a real bargain.

I am very happy with mine, but I am not aiming to sell anything to the nationals

Roger

Roger- Have you noticed the effects caused by rapid motion with your FX7 I've read about on here.

I would be interested as I know you have been using it a while.

I wondered how it would be shooting sea-lions or dolphins that zoom in and out of a shot.

Thanks. John

Hi John,

I cannot say I have noticed this, but I do tend to flim in good light and blue water. I was recently in Alaska surface filming humpbacks and sea otters and again it all looked clean. I think the problem could arise with higher shutter speeds, but I try to keep everything at optimum levels. I have also done some quite fast panning keeping faster moving fish in the v/f without any serious artefacts or strobing effects.

Roger

Roger-

Good info. Thanks.

John

Guys, underwater, you'd be hard pressed to pan fast enough and the subjects aren't vertical enough to show rolling shutter effect. What you have to watch for more likely is the strobe flash issue, if you have other divers with you. Even shooting off camera, the reflection can cause the shutter effect.

What you have to watch for more likely is the strobe flash issue, if you have other divers with you.

Strobe flashes are a curse regardless of any rolling shutter effect. My video is often marred by my wife/buddy's strobes. Fortunately it is usually only one frame and can be removed with care. We usually try to take it in turns, but sometimes have to film simultaneously in fear of missing that good shot!

A new problem is that with my Endeavor the hydrophone/mic is so sensitive that it picks up her shutter as well!! I think the D200 shutter is noisier than her previous D100. Still I usually only keep a little of the breath sounds in the background audio on editing and it is fairly easy to cut out the shutter noise.

Cheers

Roger

Drew hate to disagree, but I have often had the jellies from the rolling shutter effect while filming macro. These cameras seem to become prone to it when the zoom is engaged, therefore for me it's only ever been an issue with macro and not WA.

Cheers, Simon

Simon

It's definitely ok to disagree. That's what the forums are for. I will say that I've shot at full zoom with a +4 and +7 diopter on pygmy seahorses and only had skew frames when I moved the camera too much too fast during framing. Even so it was minimal. Once I steadied the camera for real capture, there were no rolling shutter issues, whether it was at 24 or 30p.