Sony - AX43A 4K Handycam with Exmore R CMOS sensor camcorder - Black

Purchased "open-box excellent" and received product like new. This a great camcorder for anyone looking to get in to semi-professional videography and wants to record for long periods of time at high quality with a minimal amount of gear on hand. The camera has a built-in gimbal that is very good and with some practice you can make very smooth shots. This camcorder can handle a wide variety of subject matter. There is a 20x optical zoom (wowee), so you could even potential film some wildlife. While you can not manually control the focus while shooting, like on the AX53, you can set a manual focus so you can do talking-head style videos without the autofocus interrupting the shot. That is to say, when you do need continuos auto-focus, it is very responsive and accurate. One drawback of the camcorder is it will not film in vertical mode like a phone or newer camera. You are limited to 16:9 ratio shots. The lens is wide enough that you could potentially vlog with this camcorder but it is not very practical and the content will not be the correct ratio for social media platforms. Filming handheld for long periods of time can be uncomfortable from holding your hand and the camera up. The included battery will operate for hours shooting at 4K about 1 and a quarter hours and at 1080p, about 1 and 3/4 hours. A 128GB SDXC card will hold over an hour of 4K video and over two hours of 1080p video. The camcorder is designed to run while plugged in to continuous power, so you could theoretically shoot until the SD card is full. I also purchased the Sony ECM-GZ1M "gun zoom" microphone. The zoom feature does work with the AX43A and while I haven't used it very much yet, it is very cool to have. This microphone also works on my ZV-1, but only as a gun mic. The camcorder also has a line in and monitoring out ports. Additionally, I purchased ProMaster's version of the RM-VPR1 remote control. This works well for controlling zoom and cutting shots without disturbing the camera. There is also an option to purchase batteries that are larger or smaller than the included one. There are other cool features in the Sony eco-system, like the ability to sync-start multiple cameras over wireless. This is probably also light enough to use reliably as an overhead camera. I find that the AX43A is a great, fully powered camcorder for anyone that just wants to film and not fiddle with every detail but also want to learn how to manually control the camera when they are ready.

It was my best buy of the year 2024, amazing images and videos! Great zoom too! I love my new sony camera!

The Sony AX43A 4K Handycam® is a fantastic piece of technology in a handheld device. Unboxing Like most Sony products, this camcorder has a solid and quality feel. The battery attaches to the back with a click, and the battery release is a small slider on the bottom rear of the camera. A flap to the right of the battery will expose the charging port. The USB cable will also charge the battery when connected to the "MULTI" door on the right side. A full charge via the power cable will take a little over three hours, which is perfect for digesting the contents of the Operating Instructions and reading the online Help Guide. Setup After a full charge, opening up the LCD monitor will power on the device. The 7.5 cm LCD monitor is touch capable, which makes it easy to step through the setup and controls. The touchscreen requires a light and precise touch. Some icons are tiny, and it is easy to hit the wrong icon or option. The setup shows a QR code and URL for setting up the Imaging Edge Mobile application. (DO NOT install the Imaging Edge Mobile Plus app. It is for a different camera.) After installing and signing into the app, the phone can be connected to the camera by scanning a QR Code under Menu > Wireless > Ctrl with Smartphone. Video recording and photos can be controlled from the phone when connected. This is very handy for the remote control of the camera. Use The Handycam is precisely that, easy to use. Just slide a hand in the handle, flip open the LCD monitor, and use a thumb to press the record button. White Balance, Spot Focus, Exposure, Focus, IRIS, Shutter Speed, Steady Shot, Smile Sensitivity, Audio Rec Level, Display Setting, and Audio Level Display are set to On and Automatic by default - which provides for quickly turning on the camera and start shooting video. The Wide and Tight zoom slider is within easy reach at the top rear, and the Photo button is right behind it. The built-in balanced optical SteadyShot stabilizer does a beautiful job of reducing screen shake when walking, running, and at full zoom. And with the high-performance Auto-Focus and touch screen subject selection, the video subject stays clear and focused. The 20x optical zoom is smooth and steady. Even with the 40x digital zoom enabled, the video is surprisingly smooth. However, I do recommend the use of a tripod if you're going to use digital zoom. By flipping the monitor to face forward and enabling face detection, the selfie mode with noise reduction makes this a great video camera for streamers and video loggers. 4K Time-lapse and high-speed recording make this a full-featured camera for capturing scenes over a period of time and creating smooth slow-motion videos. I especially like recording in 4K and still playback to HD devices. Playback and File Transfer This camera is the ultimate in flexibility for playback and file transfers. With USB, Wi-fi, MicroSD Card, and HDMI connections, there are multiple options for viewing and transferring the files to other devices. Via the Imaging Edge Mobile application, I could transfer videos and pictures from the camera to my iPad and iPhone. I especially like the ability to playback 4K videos on regular HD devices via the HDMI connection. Summary The Sony AX43A Handycam is a Compaq video and photo recording studio built into a lightweight, handheld camera. As a vlogger, I am thrilled with this camera for conducting technical reviews and recording special events. I highly recommend this camera for anyone wanting to break free of the marginal video recording performance of smartphones. Features • High-resolution 4K Ultra HD (3840 x 2160) recording • Internal Gimbal Mechanism via Balanced Optical SteadyShot™ • Exmor R™ CMOS sensor (1/2.5 type back-illuminated) for image clarity, noise reduction in low light, and soft background defocusing • 8.29 Megapixels (16:9) • F2.0-3.8 aperture • F=4.4 88 mm focal distance • 26.8mm wide-angle ZEISS® Vario-Sonnar T* lens • 20x optical zoom and 30x/40x clear image zoom, 250x digital zoom • BIONZ X image processing engine for naturally vivid images and faster processing • Touch-enabled 7.5cm Xtra Fine LCD™ monitor • Imaging Edge Mobile application for iOS and Android devices provides remote control, viewing, and file transfer. • Three mic capsules for high-quality sound, stereo separation, and noise reduction • Headphone and microphone jacks • Included battery for up to 235 minutes of recording • High-Speed 120fps slow motion recording mode • Time-lapse capture mode for selected interval shots over a period of time • Time Code and User Bit embedding for synchronizing scene tracking in post-production editing • Motion Shot mode for tracing split-second action sequences • Scene selection for night, sunrise/sunset, fireworks, landscape, portrait, spotlight, beach, snow • 5.1ch surround sound microphone and My Voice Cancelling feature • Dual video recording mode for capturing in both max quality video and MP4 format at the same time • Built-in Highlight Movie Maker for automatically creating HD highlight movies with video transitions and selectable background music • Wi-fi and NFC™ wireless connectivity • HDMI port • Composite video out port • Micro USB port • Stereo Microphone Minijack • Stereo Headphone Minijack • SD/SDHC/SDXC memory card slot

The Sony AX43A Camcorder was a neat package. The size and compactness make it minimal. Inserting the battery was easy. Turning the camcorder on was easy. The Controls and learning were super easy. Anyone with a basic understanding can easily set up this camera. Since this is a Camcorder it is meant for recording. You can have a bigger battery that lasts longer. When you turn on the camcorder it opens the lens. The rotating Window is fine and easily readable. I haven't had a problem. The Auto-Focus is decent and tracks well enough for me. There wasn't as much adjustment as far as getting it dialed in. So, I just left everything on auto. The Internal gimble, you can feel inside kind of when you use it. I guess it works. I used this on a Tripod mainly. The Image is okay for a 4k image. It will record in 4k 30 frames on record only. Not as a webcam function. It will act as a webcam for 1080p 60 frames. When I uploaded my footage it wasn't anything spectacular. Yet, the image was clear and crisp and was fine. Your not going to get a cinematic image. This is fine for anyone who just wants to record. Just hit a button and record. That is the best for this tool. Setup the SD-Card and just press one button to record. You can keep it plugged up all day and the battery will last awhile. This Camcorder has some Zoom! My biggest negative with the camcorder was the system UI. It seemed kind of outdated for a newer model of a camcorder just released. Like you can't touch the screen and scroll down like you would think. You have to hit the arrows. It just doesn't feel as Intuitive as it should. Trying to set it up just feels so unfulfilling. This is the biggest draw back! I liked and enjoyed the Camcorder. Just the UI for me slows down the experience.

Whether you’re a content creator, videographer, or just someone looking to record those special moments, then look no further. The Sony FDR-AX43A camcorder is a fantastic solution for photos and video needs. This camcorder offers so many features and options along with the best stabilization system that I have seen so far. So, lets go over some of the features of the new Sony FDR-AX43A Camcorder. Setup: The setup process on this camcorder is simple. The 3 in touch screen LCD display will guide you in setting up your time zone, language preference and assist in downloading the Sony Imaging Edge application, which allows you to control and share your photos and videos and that is pretty much it. The camcorder is ready to go. The AX43A offers tons of features and options that you can tweak to your liking. Options such as recording 4K or HD, choosing the Rec Frame rate, Shooting modes, Audio recording, image stabilization. Wireless WIFI connection and so much more. The camera has a nice 3-inch color and touch screen display, and you can customize your settings easily. The screen can be flipped to your liking and controls the power on the camera. If you flip open the screen the camera powers on and close the screen to power, it off and saves battery life. The camera is small, compact, and lightweight but with a premium feel. The camera measures about 3.25 H X 2.75 W x 5.62 D and 1.12 lb. weight Features: • Built-in Gimbal – So, I had mentioned earlier about the stabilization system and that is due to Sony’s Balanced Optical Steady Shot with a built-in gimbal which is 13x more effective and better at capturing smooth and steady shots even while you’re moving around. This system eliminates the need for expensive and bulky external gimbals. • 5.1 Ch Surround Mic – This camcorder also comes with a 5.1 Ch surround microphone. The camcorder has 3 microphones built-in allowing them to capture sound from 5 directions. But if you are looking for something more directional, you can simply add a directional microphone with the “MI” slot. • 4K Video Quality – This camcorder features the latest Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T 20x Optical wide lens. The lens along with the CMOS sensor brings all your videos to life. The colors, brightness, sharpness, are crisp and clear and look simply amazing. 4K videos can be recorded at 100mbps or 60mbps and 30 or 24 frames per second. The lens also has an auto lens cover that opens and closes automatically once you power on or turn off the camcorder. • Battery Life – The battery life on this camcorder is pretty good. On a full charge the battery will last about 2.5 hours. The auto on/off features on the camcorder will help preserve and extend your battery life. • Input and output Slots – This camcorder does require an SD card for video and image storage. The following SD cards are compatible and recommended with this camcorder Memory Stick PRO, Secure Digital, Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC), Secure Digital Extended Capacity (SDXC). • HDMI OUT – Cable Provided • MI SLOT – compatible with Directional and wireless microphone, Spotlights • MULTI PORT – Can be used for an external hard drive, or to connect to device without a USB port. Overall, the Sony AX43A is the perfect camcorder for anyone that is simple to use but comes with professional results. For us this camcorder could not have come at a better time. We had an addition to our family and my wife and I have been using this to capture all of our special moments with our little one. I would recommend anyone in the market to definitely check out the New Sony FDR-AX43A Handycam.