With Samyang and the Jupiter 9 you have some good affordable A77 optics.
NEX 7 will be similar spec but there are doubts over manual control in video mode. I'd say it will have P/S/A/M like the A77 in video mode and that they'll leave it out of the NEX5N instead (on which the VG20 will be based) but we just won't know until tomorrow!
You can adapt the M42 lenses like Jupiter 9 to other systems. Not so lucky with Alpha mount to Canon but the Alpha Samyangs will work on the GH2 and NEX also.
Alpha mount Samyangs without metering? Thanks, no. Pentax ones works like AF leses, with all metering, flash, correct aperture shown, etc, just without AF :-)
Well there has been a slow but definite movement on the consumer side to include more pro features. The Prosumer category is a bit nebulous now as cameras that companies simply call consumer are actually prosumer models. ie. the Canon HFG10 and XA10. For years the HDMI output on consumer video cameras have been pretty high quality considering the price point. We know that the cameras have the ability to produce at least 4:2:2 and the only thing that stops that is camera companies blocking that level of output. I don't see why they'd need to do that in the case of the VG20.
I believe that the VG10 may just have output 4:2:2, but I haven't fully confirmed that.
This guy did tests of the old VG10 with HDMI to NanoFlash.
"As nice as it would be I wouldn't get your hopes up, its still a consumer camcorder." Thats the ultimate truth.
What I dont get is that entry pro camcorders with great feature sets like the HMC40 and Sony nx70 are sub 3k and are pretty damn good. Why doesn't Sony or Panny give us those cams with the same features, form factor, and everything else, with a big chip and interchangeable mount sub 3k.
Whoever would do this could win big time. There is really no excuse for this not to happen. The AF100 and FS100 to me are overpriced for what they are.
They know they can milk you up one or two generation. I think without the digital slr revolution we would still be buying 35mm adapter and everybody would be drooling on the RED MX as the only affordable 35mm camera. That is why I don't see a 422 hdmi output from the VG20, too close to the FS100.
A 35mm adapter and an XA10 wouldn't be a bad combo even today, as I am kind of tired of DSLR's at this point(less with the superb GH2 more with the canons). But I am not paying $4900 for the same features I can get in an HMC40(give or take). Its a still camera sensor put in an ugly video camera body. You don't even get a lens with the thing. The VG20 is even worse if it looks like that. The VG10 body was a piece of shit consumer crap when you can buy a entry prosumer camcorder for the same price that functions far better. They just reuse the nex sensor and make you buy a Sony lens. Only the Stalin/Lenin stands to help us. At least the nex/vg20 will adapt better.
From what i've read the VG10 does indeed output 4:2:2! I think that it's safe to assume that the VG20 will also output 4:2:2 as well. When you pair that with the improvements they are said to be making, it's a much more interesting option. If they beefed up the bottom of the camera that will help too, since many complained it flexed when trying to mount to tripod etc.
I don't know why the camera companies haven't used the Pro Video Camera form factor and just used the DSLR sensor. AF100 is about as close as it seems we're gonna get. To be honest I like the smaller body of the DSLR with a proper cage rig. There's a flexibility and compactness to it that works in tight spaces as well as everywhere else. VG20 is a nice compromise. A little bit of the video cam form factor but still small.
I'm with you on the DSLR form factor to a point, The scartlet/epic form factor is my favorite and that's just a beefed up DSLR. The ultimate compromise is to make a video centric battery grip with XLR inputs and maybe a few knobs to make people like me happy. This will make a DSLR more pro looking and beefier.
@fstopandgo, I must admit that if I had the money i'd definitely go for a RED. Love the small size and modular system and of course the great resolution. Thing is tho, with every advance the DSLR's are getting better and better for a fraction of the price. I'm really hoping that these new Sony's up the anti and give us just about everything we need image wise. If they do that will push Canon, Panasonic and Nikon to have to step up too.
- DPReview reports that switching to movie mode on the A77 results in a dramatic crop of the sensor. It isn’t yet clear whether this crop goes away if you disable SteadyShot Inside in movie mode. - There are no manual audio controls (as far as we know) - The HDMI output is 1080p not interlaced! Good news. - It has peaking for manual focus - AF micro adjust (like the 5D Mk II) is present - AF in video mode is only available in P mode not M (boo!) - NEX7 has manual control in video mode (WOO!)
This guy is suppose to be a video guy WTF... His video images are shit while his photos are much better. His videos look so... video. Deep dof, highly contrasted image and god the blur on the boat shot. I think he used an open shutter. It is strange how many of those big corporation use shit people to test and show their product. He could not do worst than this. In this world of look rather than substance where suffice to say that someone gets some hype using a blog etc.
For photography, no miracles here, 24 megapixel apsc sensor + 30% light loss from slt does not good give high iso. I don't know how it will translate for video but a bit of a show stopper, lots of NR smearing no details as low as 800 iso.
Just wait for the GH3... announcement early next year. The Sony's do nothing special.. they conform to the AVCHD 2.0 spec... so will every other cam that will be released from now on.
Canon can be very interesting as they will either do the same or use their 4:2:2 broadcast codec. I think there is a good chance they will use the last one on the 1D-7D-5D lines (the XX and XXX lines will use the AVCHD 2.0 spec I suppose, as they are very consumer orientated, maybe even the 7D).
Just had my taste of the A77 just now at the private launch. First thing first, you can have AF even in manual mode not just P. (: And FYI, theres no 60p and 24p for the PAL version. Only 50i, 50p, 25p.
But then again, the Sony fella told me that its just a prototype. So everything would be different in the final product.
And oh yeah, if you love the 12fps, think again! Yes the 12fps is fast BUT the buffer is HELL SLOW. It takes 10-12 seconds for the buffer to clear and to write the pics to the memory card. That's a bummer for most of the sports photography enthusiast that was there just now.
And the last thing that just bugs me, the screen of the A77 is cluttered with rubbish everywhere. Its just confusing looking at the screen. No manual audio control too. BUMMER. Thats SONY for you.