Apr 9, 2012, 10:49 AM
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Balanced Optical SteadyShot (BOSS) CX730
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I took my new Sony HDR-CX730E for a spin this weekend and so far i´m impressed with the performance of the camera. Follow the links bellow for some test clips.
The only down side was that my current Hypeye did not work with the camera. Pressing the button powered up the camera, but it turn off right away.
Top mounted No enclosure was used Exit temp about -20 degrees Celcius 52mm UV filter screwed on to protect the moving lens BOSS standard x.v.Color on Focus manual (jumps), auto (Zoom test) 50p Quality PS (28M) Rest of settings factory default
The view angle looks wide enough for tandems and mid-distance work. Definitely plus as you can skip buying wide angle lens for those purposes. BOSS seems to be working nice too.
My only criticism is that you're putting the CX115 at an automatic disadvantage by side-mounting the CX115 in that comparison. Side mounts put the camera much more into the wind-stream, so all things being equal you are going to get more shake. If you could top mount both and show the comparison video, that would be awesome. Or if you can side mount the CX730 and it still isn't wibbly wobbly, then that's proof the BOSS technology is, well, BOSS-like.
Personally, I'm trying to compare this new camera with my current CX-550V. It seems to be pretty similar (not 100%, but close), except for the BOSS feature.
(This post was edited by Skwrl on Apr 11, 2012, 4:33 PM)
Or if you can side mount the CX730 and it still isn't wibbly wobbly, then that's proof the BOSS technology is, well, BOSS-like.
Yes, that´s what I’m aiming for.
But to do that I’ll first have to build/adapt a suitable enclosure and solved the Hypeye problem. Or maybe just put an L-bracket on the side for testing.
For enclosure I was thinking of modify an old TonyFly box I have. I order a Sony RM-AV2 remote that I’ll adapt for my needs replacing the Hypeye.
I think it will take about 2 weeks before I can do another side by side test, this time CX730 side mount and the CX115 top mounted. No promises though.
And NO, none at our DZ uses/haves flattops for the moment.
Would it be possible for you to test the cx730 with 0.45 wide angle lens to compare the views with the same equipment as the cx115?
All my wide angel lenses are 37 or 30mm threading, the cx730 uses 52mm. I could get me a step up ring, but it would most likely result in a lot of vigneting (with my current lenses).
..... My only criticism is that you're putting the CX115 at an automatic disadvantage by side-mounting the CX115 in that comparison. Side mounts put the camera much more into the wind-stream, so all things being equal you are going to get more shake.......
As requested I have now uploaded a new comparison video with the CX730 side mounted and the CX115 top mounted (4-way only).
Very nice comparison. I really like the BOSS footage, especially compared to the cx115. However, should steadyshot have been off for the cx115? I'm not sure if that degraded the cx115 footage any.
Also, can you upload the raw BOSS footage for that jump? Thanks.
I picked up a CX760 (the US equivalent of the CX730) and jumped it on a few wingsuit jumps and a tandem jump this past weekend. My review can be summed up as, "WOW, this thing makes stable video".
Video of me diving to a wingsuit flock is usually (with my CX550v) wibbly-wobbly, but with B.O.S.S. on, it was absurdly smooth. It also worked wonderfully with a tandem, although I would say that you'll need a wide angle lens to do any close up work. (I used a .6 screwed onto the face of it for the tandem, and between the camera's wide angle and the .6, it was plenty wide for close up tandem work.)
One knock on it - the manual focus knob can be turned by the wind (over the course of one wingsuit jump, it lost focus), so this needs to be gaffer taped or otherwise restrained. I haven't yet tried to shoot using autofocus (was set to spot focus), but given some of the other features, I'll give that a try.
Any more feedback. I am in the market for a new camera.
How big is this camera compared to the CX100 series?
I need to buy a replacement cam but I have been holding off a bit because I was never thrilled with the CX series video. It always looked shaky compared to video from the older and now obsolete PC series.
I have been reading and researching a little more this morning. Some of the other videos on the web look real nice, especially the ones where they are putting them on rc helicopters.
Is the BOSS so fundamentally different from the previous OSS that is now an asset, when the OSS would previously make the camera un-jumpable?
I'm absolutely sold on this BOSS system, absolutely stable and clear as no other.
Now just the wait to see if anything smaller is offered in Jan when sony releases their new lineup and hopefully cheaper along with outside hard case from perhaps cookie or bonehead or tonfly or whomever else.
Pulling the viewfinder out and up , seemed a good idea , and hypeye also worked good while testing on the ground, BUT waiting for the exit in standby mode, (longer than usual), the camera turned off several times. I pulled out the view finder a few seconds before exit, and immediately the hypeye button to begin rec. It worked just fine during the jump. Despite the problems, great quality and amazing BOSS. Maybe there is a menu setting i don't know about. (The camera was not mine) I ll try to upload the video soon.
Has anyone had any issues with centrifugal force sending the BOSS out wide when cartwheeling or transitioning from a headdown to head up position? I love what see with the BOSS, but I haven't seen any more aggressive flying with the system yet. Just curious. cheers. pope
The camera will not stay on unless the lcd is either flipped open or the viewfinder is pulled out. Unfortunately there is not an option for "power on by LCD" on this camera.
The camera will not stay on unless the lcd is either flipped open or the viewfinder is pulled out. Unfortunately there is not an option for "power on by LCD" on this camera.
I just pull mine out. Is there a problem with doing that?
Once it's pulled out or flipped the HYPEYE 2011+ can turn the camera on and off. Unfortunately it's just the nature of the latest sony cameras. We used to have this same issue with the TGx series of cameras. You can leave the camera for weeks like that with no battery drain.
Just a FYI, Sony and a number of other reputable dealers appear to be running a 200 dollar off sale this week, maybe next.
I am sure come this January or February I will be cursing myself for buying it at 1299, but the price seemed bearable right now, and it is a tax write off.
I deferred the pain a bit with an 18 month deferred interest deal from Sony.
also, does anyone have a definitive answer on the hypeye problem (i.e. does it work with the screen turned or viewfiner out?), as this is the only real issue i can see now, with the wide angle lens/front thread and steadyshot issues sorted...
also, does anyone have a definitive answer on the hypeye problem (i.e. does it work with the screen turned or viewfiner out?), as this is the only real issue i can see now, with the wide angle lens/front thread and steadyshot issues sorted...
Thanks!
I have a CX760, which I think is the US version of the CX730, top mounted with a HypEye. When I want to turn my camera on, I pull out the view finder (which puts the camera into standby mode). When I want to start shooting, I press the button on the HypEye.
I don't have mine in a box, so it's a very simple thing to do. Might be more complicated if you have it in a box.
Sony unfortunately will not allow me to turn the camera on without having a screen flipped onto itself or the viewfinder pulled. Last I checked though, once the camera is set this way you can turn off the camera via the HYPEYE 2011+ and use it normally.
The only issue I've heard is if you are using a wide angle lens you will see odd shake. With that said, both of these cameras are super wide stock and you probably don't even need a wide angle lens.
on the specs, it does seem to say that the composite out cable is sold separately. have you seen this before, does the hypeye work with some kind of bridge cable?
also, the cx410 seems to have no viewfinder, so the screen would have to be flipped...
on the specs, it does seem to say that the composite out cable is sold separately. have you seen this before, does the hypeye work with some kind of bridge cable?
also, the cx410 seems to have no viewfinder, so the screen would have to be flipped...
hi, i´ve been trying the cx 410 for some jumps, viewfinder doesn´t have to be flipped, "viewfinder power on" can be disactivated in the menu. It doesn´t have the half moon output , you need to buy the optional "multi" cable for that. Also the BOSS system works fine but only WITHOUT additional wide angle lens. In the menu there´s the option "lens conversion" but only for a tele lens. On the more expensive models, in the "lens conversion" option you have wide and tele. Anyway i tried to jump with a additional wide angle lens and the results of the BOSS system were not good. Without wide angle the BOSS system works really well. The angle of the camera is quite wide, like a 26mm on a full frame stills camera or similar to a 17 mm on a non full frame stills camera. hope this helps
On the more expensive models, in the "lens conversion" option you have wide and tele.
This is true, but from my experience, it doesn't work very well in freefall. Nevertheless, the built in wide angle is wide enough to film, e.g., tandems and other wide shots.
also, does anyone have a definitive answer on the hypeye problem (i.e. does it work with the screen turned or viewfiner out?), as this is the only real issue i can see now, with the wide angle lens/front thread and steadyshot issues sorted...
Thanks!
This is a video shot with the CX-410 during the recent World Team event in Eloy, no extra wide angle ( as i mentioned before it doesn´t work with the BOSS system on the cx410 ) http://vimeo.com/...73146/video/65509737
(This post was edited by brokky on May 5, 2013, 1:11 PM)
With the vmc-avm1 the HYPEYE does work. I do stock a few of them on our website for those of you overseas. I'm working with my suppliers for finding a more permanent solution.
Thank you, -Trunk
(This post was edited by trunk on May 7, 2013, 9:57 AM)
all this was shot at the weekend by Ewan Cowie with a CX410 with no additional lens (not even a filter - notice on the last jump how the shutter closes!)
