Review: Sony HXR-NX80 4K Camcorder

Concerns

I was surprised to find that there's no external battery charger for a $2,300 (list) camcorder form Sony’s professional division. The camcorder itself still has some issues that I feel may come from the fact that it’s an evolution from a consumer model--most importantly, its inability to display an image on both the viewfinder and the LCD screen at the same time. It’s only one or the other. I demonstrate this in the video that accompanies the article.

I was bemused by the menu button being on the left front, under the screen hinge, but the joystick for navigating the menu on the right side next to the record button. Typically, whatever navigates the menu is right next to the menu button, not on the other side of the camcorder. I also found the menu items too small to even try to navigate them with the touchscreen.

You could use Sony’s Content Browser Mobile (CBM), which enables control of the camcorder over WiFi (in addition to content browsing) when connected to the camcorder’s built-in hotspot (Figure 5, below). I was not able to find a way to use CBM to reach the NX80 when the camcorder was connected to an external WiFi for streaming. Maybe I was doing it wrong but if not, this would be a critical opportunity to improve the technology.

Figure 5. Sony’s Content Browser Mobile

It’s nice to be able to wirelessly control the camcorder, but I feel it needs to also be able to happen on a local area network, in addition to when connected to the camcorder’s self-generated wireless access point. Without it, the benefit of having that control is only available for some of the ways the camcorder can be used. If you want to use it for streaming, currently you’re locked out of wireless camera control via the CBM app.

Deliverables

When it comes down to deliverables, the NX80 fit the bill. I needed the HDMI because that’s what my video mixing solution uses. I needed the good light gathering of a larger sensor because of the dark situations I knew I’d encounter. But I also needed a good zoom range to be able to vary the shot, up to a good closeup from the back of the breakout room. And I wanted 4K so I could punch in on the recorded image in post to an even closer FullHD shot, if I needed to. The NX80 delivered all that and never broke a sweat.

I’ve been a Sony professional user since U-Matic, Betacam, DVCAM, HDV, and on and on. My studio has 4 Sony HD camcorders in it now. This NX80 delivers better images, with a longer zoom, in a tinier package that travels very, very easily. If you need camcorders for a multicam live streaming kit that needs to travel, these little cameras deserve a look.