Sony HDR-FX7 - $2499 - special order - usually takes 3 to 5 business days
Accessories
Note: the Sony FX7 has a mini-jack audio input and the best mini-jack
shotgun mic on the market for under $200 is the Rode
VideoMic. To connect an XLR shotgun
mic to this camera you will need
either an XLR to mini-jack cable or a Beachtek
XLR adapter which attaches to the bottom of the camera.
Find Sony tape here
Find Sony batteries here
Find a Sony camera light here
When it comes to high-definition, it’s all in the details. Capture every last one with Sony’s HDR-FX7 HDV Handycam®, the world’s first HDV camcorder featuring 3 ClearVid™ CMOS Sensor technology. This unique imaging system handles each of the primary colour elements and allows for greater sensitivity while shooting.
Take a closer look with the HDV Handycam camcorder’s powerful 20x Optical Zoom. Coupled with the anti-reflective, high-performance Carl Zeiss® Vario-Sonnar® T* lens, the HDR-FX7 records a distortion-free digital image with exceptional accuracy. For even greater shooting control, Manual Zoom and Focus Rings provide enhanced smoothness and intuitive framing.
Sony’s Real Time HD Codec Engine supports recording and playback of both High-Definition and Standard DV formats. Switch from high-definition HDV 1080i to standard definition DV recording on the same media. With features like Super SteadyShot® Optical Stabilization and Smooth Slow recording, the HDR-FX7 HDV Handycam delivers exceptional shooting power and control.
Full HD 1080 Video Recording: From the innovators in camcorder technology, Sony’s HDR-FX7 Handycam is the world’s first HDV 1080i consumer-level camcorder and player to include 3 ClearVid™ CMOS sensors. The unique layout enables signal processing for up to 1080 lines of resolution. Record your memories with the spectacular picture and image reproduction of Full HD 1080.
Three 1/4” ClearVid™ CMOS Sensors: With a total of 1,120,000 pixels, this newly-developed technology uses three CMOS sensors to improve colour reproduction, independently handling each of the primary colour elements: red, green, and blue (RGB). The enlarged photo-detector also allows for greater sensitivity in digital video recording and still image capturing.
20x Optical Zoom with Carl Zeiss® Vario-Sonnar® T* Lens: Get closer with the 20x Optical Zoom (37.4-748 mm: 35 mm conversion) and take maximum advantage of the high-performance Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* lens.
3 .5" WIDE Hybrid Clear Photo LCD Plus™ (211K): Multi-layered coating reduces reflection and increases contrast, ensuring excellent visibility in bright sunlight. Its enhanced resolution and extra-large 3.5” LCD makes it easy to adjust settings and shoot spectacular, high-definition digital video.
Manual Zoom and Manual Focus Ring: With just a turn, dual independent zoom and focus rings provide precise, detailed zoom control and overall focus of the image. Fast, intuitive framing and finely-detailed focusing is easy with the natural feel of the rings.
Assignable Buttons: For enhanced usability and ease, six user-assignable buttons are featured on the exterior of the HDR-FX7 HDV Handycam camcorder’s body. Set them to the options you use most often for quick control and shooting convenience.
Real Time HD Codec Engine: The compact Real Time MPEG Encode/Decode system developed by Sony reduces energy consumption and was designed to fit inside a personal camcorder. It provides efficient MPEG2 compression, with recording and playback of clear HD images at the same bit rate of the DV format. This system allows high-definition video to be recorded on the same cassettes used for MiniDV recording.
High-Definition/Standard Definition Switchable: Using the HDV1080i format, the HDV Handycam produces stunning HD video with 1,080 effective scanning lines – the same used in digital HD broadcasts – and can be easily recorded on DV tape. The HDR-FX7 also supports DV Standard Definition shooting. Choose your desired format to suit your shooting needs.
Super SteadyShot® Optical Stabilization: An enhanced version of Sony’s unique image stabilization system, the FX7 Handycam Super SteadyShot optical stabilization system controls an even higher range of shake and vibration frequencies. Unlike similar stabilization systems, Super SteadyShot achieves a higher level of smoothness without video degradation.
Smooth Slow Recording: Thanks to its powerful ClearVid CMOS Sensors, the high-definition HDR-FX7 HDV Handycam camcorder captures quick motions that are hardly noticed by the naked eye, recording at 240fps (fields per second) and playing back smooth slow motion.
Digital Extender: The HDV Handycam Digital Extender mode is available throughout the entire zoom range and digitally enhances the zoom up to 1.5 times the current position.
Shot Transition: Allows for automatic scene transition. Settings for Focus, Zoom, Iris, Gain, Shutter, and White Balance can be set to Assignable Buttons 1, 2 and 3 to create transitions according to the set time. This allows the focus to shift gradually from the front of the screen to a deeper area for smooth change to the Depth of Field.
Exposure/Iris Control: Adjust the exposure brightness in according with the iris and gain to control the amount of light entering the lens. The iris control allows the volume of light to be adjusted. Shutter speed and gain are also adjustable.
Expanded Focus Indicator: The HDV Handycam camcorder’s LCD image is temporarily magnified up to four times its original size without distortion or loss of picture quality. This allows the user more control while focusing, resulting in greater picture clarity and detail.
Picture Profile: Allows for manual adjustments for a scene (colour, sharpness, white balance, etc.) into any one of six presets and can be called up at the touch of a button. Ideal for repeated shooting under the same conditions, you’ll never have to set the options each time. Settings for various shooting conditions are offered as defaults.
Plus More Great Features:
* i.LINK® Interface (IEEE1394) for HDV & DV
* STAMINA™ Battery System for up to 8 Hours of Continuous Shooting
with Optional NP-F970 Battery Pack
* Lighter and Smaller than HDR-FX1
* HDMI™ (High-Definition Multimedia Interface)
* Real Time Digital Video/Still Imaging
* Memory Stick Duo™ media compatible
* 4lux Minimum Illumination
* Peaking Colour and Level Settings
* AF Assist