Sony NEX VG20 « Videomaker Community Forums

Cville
Member

I was wondering if anyone here has this camera yet, and if so what they think about it. I am considering this camera in the near future.

I have been reading that there is some controversy about advertised features vs what the camera actually does. So right now I am taking a wait and see attitude to find out how Sony addresses the issue.

Thanks for your input

Tony

Posted 5 months ago #
Bill Bruner
Member

Tony,

I'm looking at the VG20 too, so I rented one last weekend because I was a little frustrated by the lack of English-language reviews. I like the images that the camera produces and the audio, but it has some challenges.

It will take me another week to edit my test video, but, in the meantime, you can find my hands-on preview here. I also took some still pics with it (it is a very capable 16MP still camera). You'll find a side-by-side comparison with stills from my Panasonic GH2 here.

Good luck with your decision,

Bill

Hybrid Camera Revolution

Posted 5 months ago #
Cville
Member

Bill

Thanks for the input. I look forward to seeing the video you took with it. Based on your review so far, what I read on-line is correct that some of the manual control features that are listed on Sony's website are not available on the camera. This makes me wonder was there a problem with the firmware release to get the camera out and it will be corrected with a future firmware update or was the on line material wrong. I have no first had knowledge of the VG10 but I have read it has a lot of the manual setting that are not available on the VG20 such as color, sharpness, and picture profiles that you mentioned in your review.

With that said I am still interested in the camera. I would love to have the FS100 but don't see that one making the budget anytime soon. So I may wait awhile longer and see if Sony addresses any of the firmware issues.

Thank again for the Info.

Tony

Posted 5 months ago #
Kenkyusha
Member

Thank you for the review, it was curious that no one had yet done a hands-on demo... How does the VG20 do with moire, aliasing and skew?

Posted 5 months ago #
Jennifer O'Rourke
Staff

Hi, all... Videomaker just got the VG20 in for review and will be posting our results soon. Kenkyusha, I'll ask our reviewer to look into the moire and aliasing concern. Cville, we'll also look into your questions about manual controls. Our video producer and associate editor had a brief look at the VG10, but we will have the VG20 for a longer interval, so we have a better chance of a more thorough review.

Jennifer O'Rourke

Managing Editor - Videomaker

Managing Editor
jorourke@videomaker.com
VM Customer Support: 1-800-284-3226

Posted 5 months ago #
Cville
Member

@Jennifer

Thanks. I look forward to the review.

Tony

Posted 5 months ago #
Kenkyusha
Member

Jennifer- thank you, that'll be excellent!

Posted 5 months ago #
Bill Bruner
Member

Great news, Jennifer. In the meantime, here is the first English-language hands-on with the camera with test footage from The Camera Store in Calgary, AB, Canada:

Get the Video Plugins

Kenkyusha - I found aliasing and moire to be reduced from my old Canon T2i, but not as good as my GH2. I will post my test footage soon!

Bill

Hybrid Camera Revolution

Posted 5 months ago #
MediaFish
Member

Bill - thanks for the video. I think I will stick with my Canon cameras for the time being. Nothing wrong with the Sony NEX VG20 that I saw in your video but there is just nothing compelling enough to go out and buy one.

Jeff
Media Fish Productions

Posted 5 months ago #
WSanford
Member

I've had the VG10 for a year now and love it. I didn't feel need to "Upgrade" to the VG20 from everything I've seen. The new firmware coming out for the VG10 has peaking which is important if you are using a lense with shallow depth of field or focusing will eat your lunch unless you are in a controlled setting. Many did feel the need to upgrade and I picked up a spare VG10 body for 500 bucks because of it.

I have a 50mm f1.8 E-mount on the way that I'm more exited about.

Posted 5 months ago #
Bill Bruner
Member

Okay folks, I have finally posted the long-promised hands-on comparison of the GH2 and VG20. I am a one-man operation, so the sound and the edit are a little rough, but I hope that everyone finds it useful nonetheless:

Sony NEX-VG20 and Panasonic DMC-GH2: Side-by-side comparison

One of my most interesting lessons learned is that I need to stop being so hard on the VG20's moire problem. Under the right (wrong) circumstances, there are moire challenges that even the GH2 can't deal with.

Bill

Hybrid Camera Revolution

Posted 5 months ago #
Cville
Member

Bill

Thanks for the review. I appreciate the effort you put into this. I know that I don't want an HDSLR body format. So now I just have to decide if the VG20 is worth the money for me.

Tony

Posted 5 months ago #