Sony issues NEX-VG10: first interchangeable lens HD Handycam camcorder
By Darren Murph 
posted July 14th 2010 12:42AM
posted July 14th 2010 12:42AM
CAMCORDER REDEFINED: SONY DEBUTS WORLD'S FIRST CONSUMER INTERCHANGEABLE LENS HD CAMCORDER
SAN DIEGO, June 13, 2010 – Following the 25th anniversary of its industry-leading Handycam® product line, Sony today announced the innovative NEX-VG10 Interchangeable Lens HD Camcorder.
The new NEX-VG10 is the world's first consumer camcorder with interchangeable lenses and the first Handycam camcorder to feature an extra-large Exmor™ APS HD CMOS sensor.
"The NEX-VG10 takes Sony's Handycam line to the next level by allowing unprecedented artistic expression that isn't possible with conventional consumer video cameras," said Andy Bubala, director of Sony's camcorder business. "With this camcorder, video enthusiasts and photographers can now capture cinematic full HD movies and premium stereo sound."
Sony's NEX-VG10 Interchangeable Lens HD Handycam® Camcorder is equipped with the same Exmor™ APS HD CMOS sensor used in the "NEX-5" and "NEX-3" digital cameras and compatible with the high grade "E-mount" series of smaller, lighter lenses optimized for video shooting with silent operation and AF. It is also compatible with a wealth of "A-mount" interchangeable lenses used by Sony's existing α DSLR camera lineup via a mount adapter (sold separately), including award winning Sony G Lenses and Carl Zeiss® branded lenses.
Coupled with Sony's powerful BIONZ® processor, the camcorder's Exmor™ APS HD CMOS sensor realizes high resolution video and 14 megapixel still images. Approximately 19.5 times bigger than the standard sensor found in conventional camcorders, the APS HD CMOS sensor enables an extremely shallow depth of field. This allows videographers to achieve cinematic results with stunning background defocus (bokeh). Users can also enjoy DSLR-quality photo capture with features like Auto HDR, Handheld Twilight, and Anti Motion Blur, as well as catch fast action sequences with a continuous burst rate of up to seven fps.
The NEX-VG10 can capture full 1920x1080 high definition video at up to 24Mbps for amazing clarity and detail, ideal for recording on to Blu-ray Disc™ media. It also comes with an E-mount 18-200mm lens optimized for video shooting that offers a powerful 11x optical zoom in addition to a silent auto-focus system and Optical Steadyshot™ image stabilization with Active Mode for superior versatility.
Satisfying the needs of serious videographers, sound quality matches the stellar imaging performance of the NEX-VG10. Its Quad Capsule Spatial Array Stereo Microphone uses advanced processing algorithms to combine signals from four individual microphone capsules. The result is exceptionally clear stereo audio with high directional response, allowing videographers to capture more sound from their subject and less background noise. The camcorder also features dedicated inputs for optional external microphones and headphones to monitor sound levels.
The camcorder's TruBlack™ technology brings remarkably higher contrast and brightness to its 3.0" Xtra Fine LCD™ swivel display, delivering more natural, realistic colors and easier viewing in bright conditions. The LCD is supplemented by a high-resolution adjustable electronic viewfinder that helps framing, monitoring and capturing clear images.
Compact and easy to handle, the NEX-VG10 gives videographers the flexibility of a removable lens with the ergonomics and operability of a Handycam camcorder. An intuitive jog dial and hotkeys make it easy to navigate menus and adjust shooting parameters, including full manual control of Iris, Shutter Speed, Gain and White Balance for professional results.
Dual accessory shoes (Alpha Hot Shoe/Universal Cold Shoe) allow for many still photography and video accessories, such as the ECM-CG50 shotgun microphone and external flash lighting. There's also a choice of rechargeable battery options, including the NP-FV100 that provides up to 315 minutes of continuous HD shooting (may vary), and a specially designed soft carrying case.
Included with purchase as a download voucher ($99 value), Sony Vegas® Movie Studio HD Platinum 10 video editing software includes powerful tools for video compositing, color correction and sound mixing to produce cinema-quality HD movies with ease. You can also share your creations via DVD, Blu-ray Disc™ media, or upload to the web – all from one simple program.
The NEX-VG10 accepts both Memory Stick PRO Duo™ (including Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo™) and SD (including both SDHC and SDXC formats) media. Users can record up to four hours of high definition footage (1920x1080, FH mode) when using the 32GB memory card.
Sony's Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo HX offers an industry leading 30MB per second transfer rate, which means Handycam users can upload video clips in a fraction of actual playback time.
Price and Availability
The NEX-VG10 will be available in September for about $2,000 and presales on www.sonystyle.com will begin July 14. They will also be available at Sony Style® retail stores and at authorized dealers nationwide.
I'm glad I held off on buying a camcorder. This might actually be what the doctor ordered for me.
@strawe
Wow, what kinda doctor do you have? Great Scott!
@strawe
SONY NEX-VG10 promo video... "Shot with Canon 7D"
@strawe
yep ive been looking for one too. I hoping the best for this camcorder, and i think it will be pretty top of the line for consumer camcorders. Not sure about the interchangeable lenses, considering sony's DLSRs arent too great....however, their handycams are (own an older model myself), so my hopes are high!
maybe NOW they can shoot their own videos with their own camcorders, not canons xD
@techbot224 First of all, the Alpha series is a very decent lineup. Second, Sony sensors are effin' awesome. Who do you think makes the sensor for Nikon's D90? Third, what makes this a killer cam is the fact that E-mount has the shortest flange focal distance of any of the digital camera systems out there. This means that with an adapter you can attach pretty much every single camera (and some film cam) lenses ever made. For example, you could mount a Leica Noctilux 50mm f0.95 on this sucker and get unbelievably shallow depth of field shots. Try that with a 7D.
@strawe
finally, a camcorder that could take GOOD photos
@techbot224
I'm going to be you've never even touched an Alpha series dSLR...
I have had a a200 for quite a few years... thrown a ton of Minolta glass on it, and had great fun, gotten great shots out of it... even had a few offers to sell the pictures for $$$... not too bad for the $.
Some people need to see Canon or Nikon on the body to see it as viable I guess.
Highest resolution in a full frame 35mm format... Sony.
Cheapest full-frame dSLR... Sony.
Hmm...
@ruby
how can you say that ?????...........did you found something in writing
@JawsOGRE Your're right, people shouldn't be knocking the picture quality of Sony SLRs, however, do the Sony full-frames shoot video? Heck, a recent model a friend of mine got didn't even have the choice of live view operation. I didn't like the control layout, but that's personal preference.
This thing with the backlit sensor could be very cool. Being limited to 24Mbps bitrate could be a problem though that might still be imposed by the format.
@techbot224 You do realise that some of the Sony/CZ lenses are acknowledged as being top tier stuff, right? That 135mm makes bokeh like nothing else on this planet.
@RawheaD I really love and excited but I worried about the size and placement of the mic. shadow might come out in smaller lens
@RawheaD Sony sensors are fine, but the Exmor line specifically made for Sony's Alpha line suffer from Sony's processing pipeline of the Bionz processor. DPReview even states that the current Alpha line with their Exmor sensors are slightly under performing to Canon/Nikon.
@techbot224 Since when do companies shoot their own ad and promo material. That usually goes to the company's ad agency, who uses whatever equipment they and their staff choose to use.
@techbot224
Sony already make the best video camera on the planet.
The F35.
@JawsOGRE @RawheaD and everyone else:
what i meant was that their DSLR series isnt as popular as other brands such as Canon, not that that the series is BAD. I also never said anything about how the detachable lens system on this bad. Im just saying that judging at the market trend for the past...well a long time, i think other companies will outsell this. although this will always be the first, im sure Canon, Nikon, etc. will create similar products that will continue to succeed.
i HOPE they can turn the trend around
Very unexpected...
Wow! 2000 USD is consider a bargain in prosumer arena, only if they can deliver the same performance with their 3CCD / 3CMOS brothers ...
maybe, *maybe* reconsidering my planned Pentax K7-for-multi-lens-video purchase....
still like looking through the glass to aim, though.
"11x optical zoom"
Doesn't the lens determine the zoom?
@RioRyan "It also comes with an E-mount 18-200mm lens optimized for video shooting that offers a powerful 11x optical zoom"
@ChrisK15
The part isn't even in the article anymore...
@RioRyan Um. Yes it is: "...and the 18-200mm lens that's bundled with it..."
@leonardlow
Okay now kindly direct me to the part that I was talking about, the 11x part.
Yeah. Thanks.
@RioRyan You do realise that an 18-200mm lens is an 11x zoom, right? Just like how a 70-200mm is a 2.85x, and a 17-55mm is a 3.2x?
@RioRyan
The 11x is based on the 18-200 lens.
18 times 11 = 198. If you round that, it becomes 200. So 11x. Get it?
@RioRyan
GUYS
the original piece read
"not to mention the 3-inch swivel display, 11x optical zoom, Optical Steadyshot image stabilization, BIONZ processor and twin accessory shoes."
It has SINCE been EDITED.
Thank you for stopping by.
@ChrisK15
The 18-200mm is a $800 lens. The fact that this $2k camera comes bundled with it, means that body-only we should expect this camera in the $1200 range.
$2k?! Please use a good codec!
@GMoney Can't be great. A 24Mbps data rate. :( *groan* - just half the data rate of the 5D Mark II, which itself only has a 4:2:0 colour space. No Pro-res or RAW shooting on this, I'm afraid. :(
@leonardlow
Its AVCHD, and 24 Mbps is standard for a camera in this price range. You're not going to get AVC Intra-100 or RAW in this price range. Also, the 5DII is still 8-bit, Long GOP, 4:2:0. Consider this is a $2k camera that comes bundled with a $800 lens.
This camera and AVCHD should still produce excellent results, especially with a sensor the size of super-35mm film.
@GMoney
Well, at least I can still go HDMI out to a capture deck and bypass the compression.
Now if Sony could just do that ie: (what every one wanted) with the psp they could really turn things around for the psp
MARCUS PSP!!!
@ihve2cuties
It's so amazing how they get everything right here! Yea, I wish they will be like this for the PSP too!
Looks like a winner at only $2000!
Engadget- please review this product when it becomes available!!
Looks very cool.
Haha, well if I had a million bucks : D
"can capture full 1920x1080 high definition video at up to 24Mbps"
Perhaps they mean 24 "FRAMES" per second?
@mickbab
Not sure, but I think that is meant to be the bitrate...which is HUGE, almost as much as a blu-ray disk...
@kapanak Yeah, bitrate. Sony says it's "ideal for recording to Blu-ray." Fancy!
@kapanak Meh 24Mbps is less than half the bitrate I get shooting on a 5D Mark II. :( Which means it's going to be twice as compressed, and unlikely to be nearly as good. :(
@leonardlow Well since this is a prosumer cam, the codec's probably more suited for video, hence it doesn't need much space.
@Cheesus Crust Um. "the codec's probably more suited for video, hence it doesn't need much space." - that doesn't make any sense. LoL. The H.264 MOV codec used on the 5D Mark II IS a video codec, dude. There is NOTHING out there that is "more suited for video". :)
@leonardlow A 5D2 cannot take video for more than 10 minutes. It has poor audio inputs. It has rolling shutter artifacts. And you say nothing is more suited for taking video?
Anyway, bitrate isn't everything. If this camera has a better compression implementation it can produce better results at lower bitrates than a 5D2.
That is quite epic...although, I hope it comes with manual controls for resolution and frame rates, as well as exposure, etc...otherwise, the Canon 5D...heck, even the T2i can do all that, except for all the accessories you need to get the DSLR, that comes standard with this Handycam...
@kapanak The 5D Mark II will still beat this hands down for absolute imaging quality. 5D has a larger sensor for more cinematic depth-of-field and better low-light performance, and has more than twice the bitrate for the same 1080p/24fps imaging, which means (in a nutshell) half the compression.
Wow looks great. Hope it performs as good as it looks.
>> "Budding videographers will also appreciate the Quad Capsule Spatial Array Stereo Microphone"
Budding videographers would rather have XLR inputs...
@Michael Scrip +1
XLR inputs please Sony!!!
"For all intents and purposes, this is Micro Four Thirds for your camcorder, but since Olympus and Panasonic own that specific technology, Sony's left calling the NEX-VG10 an "interchangeable lens HD camcorder." "
Jesus Christ, how many times do we have to point this out to you guys? Stop calling APS-C sensors as Micro Four Thirds! Sony is not calling this an MFT not because they don't have the rights to the name, but because an APS-C sensor is of different dimensions to that of a Micro Four Thirds sensor!
Research. Please.