Customer Ratings & Reviews

According to the instruction manual it will take approximately 190 minutes to charge. It took approximately 2.5 hours to fully charge, plugged into a 110v receptacle. Instructions display a longer charge time if connected to the USB port of a computer. The Sony FDR-AX43 Handycam is solid built, fits comfortably in my hands (even in my big hands), and the controls are conveniently placed. The AF algorithm quality is excellent, and the built-in stability feature is exceptionally good. The built-in shake gimbal maintained great video stability and the image processing system maintained a quality focused image, when videoing a quick moving object, and adjusting the handycam from full telephoto to full wide angle and while I was moving. When videoing, outside our home, I moved from full sun light into a covered, shaded, area. Once in the shaded area I could not make out the image on the LCD screen and assumed I did not get the that part of the video. However, when reviewing the video, on the handycam LCD screen, TV, or computer the video was very acceptable. When recording a video, the image on the camcorder monitor may appear dark, to the point you do not think you are getting a quality image or any image, however on review the video was surprisingly vivid. Sound on my videos was truly clear and crisp and I was amazed at how low the capture was on my voice, when I was talking, during the recording. You also have the controls that can virtually eliminate the voice of the person recording the video. The ability to control most of the setting on the camcorder LCD touch screen, makes adjustment, while videoing, simple and quick. I found with my big hands, some of the LCD touch screen adjustments were hard to use because the options, on the LCD screen were close together, so hitting the one I wanted was not easy. From Wide angel to Telephoto the use of the top control is in a good position however it is extremely fast, so it takes a light touch. The focusing during these operations is amazingly fast and incredibly sharp. While videoing I picked up a soaker hose, at approximately 60 feet away, you could see the fine streams of water with amazing clarity. You have options to use your cell phone device or computer to, download, or control video options, during videoing and play-back, with “Imaging Edge Mobile” app or “PlayMemories Home” app. Like any new electronics with all the options the FDR-AX43 has, there is a lot of versatility and capabilities and I am sure, with time, I will find a lot more. I would say I only touched the tip of the iceberg attempting to use some of the FDR-AX34’s features and options.

Camcorders have become a bit of an oddity these days. When everyone's got a high quality still and video camera built into their cell phone, it takes a lot to justify buying a larger dedicated device. With the AX43, Sony has decided to focus on delivering a wide array of features and options for expansion that you could never get in a cell phone. After spending a week with it, I've found this can be both a blessing and a curse. First up, the basics. As mentioned, the feature list on this thing is ridiculously long. You can link it to a cell phone and use it as a remote control/monitor for remote shooting. You can make manual adjustments to practically everything to do with recording, or leave it on auto. It can even help highlight problems with your lighting. But the standout feature of the unit is an internal gimbal that can help cancel out any shakiness or wobbling from the person operating the camera. Gimbal mounts have long been a standard feature in professional productions to produce steady footage, but they're rarely convenient or affordable enough to see much use by consumers. Sony's internal solution can't really match those due to the limitations imposed by the casing, but the difference between it and a standard camcorder or digital stabilization is night and day. When used in concert with digital stabilization it can smooth out even severe shaking, though admittedly you can still see that something's going on. There is one downside to this feature though that I think should be addressed. The gimbal does feature several moving parts, most of which are located right below the microphone. It's not as bad as the days when tapes were the standard recording medium for camcorders, but there is some mechanical noise being picked up. An external mic is highly recommended if you care about getting good audio. Unfortunately, as impressive as these features are, it's also contributes to what I'd say is the main weakness of the AX43 as a device for more casual users. The sheer amount of customization and control provided can be dizzying. While I'm far from a professional I've got enough of a background with photography to allow me to understand what all these different settings do and what they're for, and I still found myself feeling more than a little intimidated by it. It's not helped by the fact that limitations in bandwidth and processing power often makes configuring it a balancing act. It has an inbuilt microphone array capable of recording 5.1 audio, for example, but if you want to record in 4K you'll be limited to stereo. As such it's easy to accidentally lock yourself out of a specific feature you want without really intending to. And while the on screen interface does its best to explain why you've been locked out, it can only really provide one reason at a time. Fine if you're setting up a shoot for a Vlog, less so if you're after candid footage of your pets and children. The most obvious solution to this is to leave the camera in auto mode all the time. Unfortunately I have to say there are issues with that too. While it performs admirably in natural lighting with human subjects, it's not quite as adept outside of its comfort zone. While filming indoors with everything automated it has a tendency to rapidly switch between different filming profiles and can struggle to focus in wide angle shots without a human subject. My ultimate conclusion is that a certain base level of proficiency with the manual settings is required if you're going to take full advantage of the camera's features, which makes it much more of an enthusiast level product. The ideal user for this camera in my mind is someone who's got some background with the more technical aspects of photography and filming and doesn't mind taking their time setting up a shot. Vloggers, aspiring filmmakers, or photography buffs will love having this much fine control in such a portable package. It could also be great for an occasional user who hopes to eventually become one of these things, as it's ability to accommodate (however imperfectly) a wide array of different skill levels from its operator offers plenty of room for them to grow into. But this isn't something to buy for someone who just wants to be able to point and shoot and have everything come out at roughly the same level of quality.

This is the second video camera I’ve tried. And both times the LCD screen is not bright enough to compensate for glare when using the camera outside to film sports games. Even set to full brightness, the glare in the LCD screen makes it impossible to see what you’re filming while outside.

The Sony - Handycam AX43 4K Camcorder is a great video camera that truly lives up to the Sony name. The last camcorder I owned was a Sony Mini-DV camcorder and although I should have known better, I was still surprised by just how much camcorder technology has improved since the Mini-DV days. What really stood out to me the most when I first began using the AX43 was the image stability. After recently watching some old home videos that were recorded with my old Sony Mini-DV camcorder and then watching videos recorded with this new AX43, the difference in image stability was astounding which I suppose is to be expected given the internal gimbal mechanism in the AX43. This is truly a gamechanger, especially when recording active scenes like my kids’ sporting events. What makes the image stability even better is the image quality. Having a stable recorded image wouldn’t mean much if the image itself isn’t good quality and I must say I am very impressed with the quality of both the video and audio so far. Speaking of audio, the “My Voice Canceling” feature is a nice addition since I tend to get worked up and cheer for my kids often while recording their games. Another awesome feature I love is the dual video recording. With this enabled, the camera records a secondary feed at the same time as the main feed but as a lower quality MP4 which makes it easier to share. These secondary files are easily transferred to cell phones for easy sharing. The only slight drawback I noticed was the brightness of the LCD screen. When using the camera outdoors in bright sunlight, it was a little hard to see the picture on the screen but the screen itself is very responsive to touch and it is clear the technology in the screen has improved markedly compared to my old camera. Overall, the Sony - Handycam AX43 4K Camcorder is a great camcorder and I highly recommend it!

Today, lots of people rely on their smart phones to shoot photos and video. That is fine; however, if you want 4K quality, as well as shooting and editing options, the Sony FDR-AX43 is a great choice. If you are not highly skilled in setting up the finer points of shooting photos or 16:9 videos, the AX43’s automatic settings do the hard work for you. Pretty much, you only need to point and shoot. Getting started is easy. Charge/install the battery, insert a memory card (not included), open the 3” LCD display, and the camera turns on and is ready to shoot photos and/or shoot videos. “And/or” because you can capture a still shot (5540 x3056 resolution) amidst shooting video. No worries. Features of the AX43 include: • Zeiss 4K zoom lens (20X optical; 205x digital); auto-focus. • Gimble stabilizer for stabilizing shooting. This really helps If, like me, you tend to move when shooting. • Particularly good audio recording. • Dual video recording, which allows you to shoot an AVCHD file e simultaneously with an MP4 file. • Movie Maker function to assist in producing short movies without postproduction editing. • The battery, though is takes quite a while for a full charge, provides power for about 2.5 to 3.0 hours. • Wi-Fi connectability • And lots more… Getting used to operating the camera properly and smoothly takes a few times of usage; but, once done, it is pretty much easy to use. As to comfort of use, my thing was getting accustomed to the position of the battery. Its location on the rear seemed awkward and unbalanced; however, the more I used it, the less the problem. This is a genuinely nice vidcam, packed with lots of genuinely nice features. It does not come cheap, but you get a lot of quality for your money. Another great product from Sony.

Horrible! Another big company using the “Covid” excuse to NOT answer the phones! I took this piece of crap camera back to Best Buy! Got my money back and so should you!

Inside the box you’ll get the camcorder, battery mini HDMI ( I believe but you can output to HDMI) to HDMI cable, micro USB cable and the power adapter. This camera will use Sony’s Magic stick or SD cards for storage. As far as capability of the camera it can shoot in 4K I’m stereo sound or in HD with 5.1 surround sound. Not going to lie as much as the surround sound is great unless you’re using 4K most modern smartphone cameras will shoot almost as good video as this in 1080p these days. This thing has a built in gimble basically as well which improves the shot while in motion as well and means you don’t have to buy one. Doesn’t have full manual control but for as a hobby or just family recording it works great

Although people usually use their smartphone for casual videos, if you want a much better and more professional experience, a good quality camcorder is a no-brainer. The Sony FDR-AX43 is not necessarily a Pro camcorder but it definitely is close to being one and will shame your smartphone. I’m talking about a camcorder but I was so impressed by the 5.1 sound experience that I will talk about that first. First time I try a camera that can capture spatial sounds without lots of external mics. Though it obviously can’t be perfect due to physical limitations, it is as good as it can be. There is much more to talk about this but the review would take forever. Understandably impressed after running a video on my 4K TV and 7.2 surround system. As to image quality, usually the first thing that matters on a video recording system, there is a lot to like here. With a 20x optical – not digital – zoom, it makes it perfect for any occasion, be it indoors or outdoors. The optical stabilization that Sony calls SteadyShot has always and still is one of the best in the market. No matter how much your hands or car shake, it always looks like the camera is immune to movement as if it were floating above ground. The image quality is superb, even more so than the sound quality, which had already impressed me. Whether it was under low light or bright light, noisy or quiet environments. I was able to record in both XAVC S and in MP4 formats. While XAVC S was obviously much better, the MP4 format allowed me to share those videos quickly. The good thing is that you can record in both formats at the same time, allowing you to video edit using XAVC S. And if you enjoy time-lapse movie made of still images like I do, this camcorder is excellent for that. I got perfect results every time. Again, when it comes to image quality, this will shame any smartphone out there, as well as cheaper camcorders. A great addition is live streaming with WiFi. I’ve done that using an iPhone but this was the first time I used a camcorder and the result was stunning. I’m not going back to my iPhone for that anymore unless I have to. So much better. The reason I might still use my phone in some cases is because it doesn’t depend on WiFi alone, which allows me to jump on LTE/4G anywhere I have coverage. With 5G coming, I will be able to use my phone hotspot to connect the AX43 to it. Maybe that will make my phone feel less jealous. What did not impress me - it actually disappointed me extremely - was using it on a very sunny day – 96 degrees and no clouds to be found. I just couldn’t see what I was recording. I know this is an issue even for the most high-end smartphones out there – my iPhone is not much better – but it could be solved with an optical or even electronic viewfinder, or maybe a hood of some sort. Of course, that would increase the price. The other thing I didn’t like that much although it is just an annoyance that didn’t get in the way of the good experience I had, is the battery. It stays outside the body of the camcorder. It distracted me at first although I completely forgot about it after a few minutes of shooting videos. As its charge last hours of recording time, I call that just a small annoyance. I would recommend this camcorder to anyone who wants to produce great quality, real 4K videos with impressive sound, indoors or outdoors as long as the sunshine doesn’t get in the way of the live-view screen.

I received the Sony 4K Handycam camcorder, the FDR-AX43/B for review as part the the Best Buy Tech insider program. I was excited to test this camera, I have to be honest my Google pixel has been my video recorder of choice for a long time! Well Sony has not disappointed me. I wanted to use this cam to start some Vlogging so I ran around shooting some footage (literally running around). The Balanced Optical steady shot worked fantastically steadying every jog and stumble! Next, I tested out the 4K ability and Zoom, all I can say is Wow, The image sensor and processing are great. Next up was testing Slow motion for this I had my wife shoot me running!!! All I can say is that is going into the family funny shots folder, seriously the 1080p slow mo captures every detail and would be great for sports or action events. Sony even includes software (by download) to control and do some editing of content. The have apps for Android and IOS phones and tablets and PC apps for Windows and MacOS. While professional editing tools are better theirs will get you started. For those who like tech specs here is a list • 30x Clear Image Zoom for 4K footage with steady shot on • 40x Clear Image zoom for HD footage with steady shot on • 20x optical zoom (ZEISS Vario-Sonnar T zoom) • Effective resolution of 8.29 megapixels • Records XAVC S 4K video at a bit rage of 100 Mbps • Slow-motion can be captured in 1080p resolution at 100fps • Improved Exmor R sensors the photodiodes before the wiring there is no light obstruction from the wiring layer. This is an improvement from the previous Exomor sensors. This allows smaller sensors to have higher resolutions without decreasing light sensitivity. • Directional 3-capsule noise reducing stereo on camera mic • 2.95” LCD touchscreen and viewer 16x9 • Connectors for external mic and headphones • Up to 235 minutes of continuous recording time • One-touch remote and one-touch sharing by NFC for Android devices • Easy manual pairing for iOS and other devices is also available • Highlight Movie Maker. Using Dual Video Rec, the FDR-AX43 can simultaneously capture at 4K (3840 x 2160) or Full HD (1920 x 1080), and HD (1280 x 720) for both full-quality storage and easy sharing. • Imaging edge software for Windows and Mac and Mobile for Android and IOS The Sony 4K FDR-AX43/B Handycam is a great digital video camera. The ability to shoot up to 4K and Balanced Optical steadyshot to keep your videos shake free without an external gimbal are great. An optional pistol grip is available this is especially attractive for Vlogging! The small size make it extremely portable for a go anywhere Video accessory.

This Sony AX43 camcorder is an outstanding cut above many in this price range. The unit is not too heavy and perfect for hand held shooting. The mounting of the included battery can make it a tad bit awkward depending on how you're shooting and of course there is no optical view finder which means you're at the mercy of the fold out LCD screen in framing your shots. The built in optical stabilization works way better than I expected it to and is more than serviceable for "walk around" shots, as long as you're not running or on uneven terrain. I like the fact I could take a 55mm UV lens filter I had laying around and screwing it onto the lens assembly as it helps cut down on the typical summer time hazy skies. If you're shooting 4k video, and really you should be, then I would strongly recommend paying more and getting a high end SD card that is fast. And large because when you see the results of 4k video shot with this thing you'll become a shootin' fool in no time. The quality of the videos I've shot so far on this Sony camcorder are well above average with colors that seem to pop and captured detail that is better than most other camcorders I've used in the past. I've not experienced any stuttering or choppy video so far. A couple of downsides are the previously mentioned awkward battery placement, the fact the video screen can be a bit difficult to make out in bright sunny conditions, and the built in microphone which leaves something to be desired. However, if you invest in an external mic the shoe assembly on top will accommodate most external mics with ease just be sure to not get one too long with a fluffy wind guard or it may end up at the top of your shots. Overall this is one of the better 4k camcorders in this price range and I am very much looking forward to shooting with it for years to come.

Great camera! Love the features and specs. Not too heavy, easy to carry on. The quality of pictures is great.

The highlight movie feature works great and I love that aspect of this camera.