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Sony overhauls its prosumer 4K camcorder

With a new sensor, lens and an updated microphone, it should be a different beast.

Lori Grunin Senior Editor / Advice

I've been reviewing hardware and software, devising testing methodology and handed out buying advice for what seems like forever; I'm currently absorbed by computers and gaming hardware, but previously spent many years concentrating on cameras. I've also volunteered with a cat rescue for over 15 years doing adoptions, designing marketing materials, managing volunteers and, of course, photographing cats.

Expertise Photography, PCs and laptops, gaming and gaming accessories

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Lori Grunin

Jan. 5, 2016 5:31 p.m. PT

2 min read

Boosting its role as an event-focused camcorder, Sony significantly upgrades on its top-of-the-line 4K consumer model, the AX33, with the new $1,000 (AU$1,400, £680) FDR-AX53. Though it looks similar to the older model, the AX53 incorporates a new lens, new sensor and new microphone -- pretty much the main elements which define video quality.

Sony has switched from a 1/2.3-inch 4:3 aspect-ratio sensor to a 1/2.5-inch 16:9 version; in previous models the camcorder cropped into the middle 8 megapixels for shooting video, which means smaller pixels subsetted from a higher-resolution sensor. The newer model uses the entire 8-megapixel sensor, which has larger pixels. The result is (according to Sony) much improved low-light video quality.

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In addition to doubling the optical zoom range from 10x to 20x, Sony has changed the optical construction by introducing an advanced aspherical lens (which makes it smaller). It also uses a faster autofocus algorithm and a new five-directional microphone designed for less sound bouncing around the capsule.

New features include high-framerate recording to create slow-motion HD video and automatic 4K timelapse creation.

It's expected to ship in March.

The company also revealed two less interesting mainstream HD models. At $550 (AU$770, £375) the HDR-CX675 fills a hole in the current lineup as a

-free version of the PJ670, with the same autofocus updates as the AX53's, improved Balanced Optical Steadyshot stabilization (5 axis) and time-lapse capture.

The $400 (AU$560, £270) HDR-CX455 has the more typical version of Sony's optical image stabilization. It's a

-free version of last year's PJ410 with a slightly larger and higher-resolution LCD, 5.1-channel sound, a built-in lens cover, time-lapse and improved autofocus.

The latter two models will be available in February.