Eight million pixels at 30fps - 4K family videos are here

Sony has been at the forefront of prosumer camcorders for a while. We've known many a lower-budget TV show to use a three-chip VX1000 in the past and, more recently, Full HD and, even, 4K equivalents.

Sony has shown us the first 4K camcorder for the consumer – the Sony FDR-AX100E. It's aimed at those looking to future-proof videos as well as take full advantage of their new pricey 4K sets. Note: This is not a full review but a preview based on a short amount of hands-on time with the product.

I purchased the Sony FDR-AX100 to shoot theatre productions for DVD and Blu-ray. I already use a variety of cameras including the Sony HDR-AX2000.

The picture quality in 4k is amazing; Much better than a prosumer camera

Shutter "wobble

XAVC S 4K and HD are amazing. ND filters are very helpful (ND2 and ND3 affect color slightly). Manual Control buttons are well designed. EVF is great. Monitor is very high quality. Power consumption is improved (battery time is very good).

While the Sony FDR-AX100 is probably not going to be the first choice for professional shooters, they'd be foolish to rule it out, especially if they want to travel (relatively) light and still get great video.

Incredible 4K video; High-quality still photos; Wi-Fi remote control; Excellent build quality; manageable size

Main control ring not as precise; Sun washes out LCD; Complicated onscreen info; Touchscreen can be unresponsive

If you already own a 4K television you already know there's not a lot of 4K content around but Sony's new HandyCam lets you create your own. The Sony FDR-AX100E allows users to capture their memories at the highest resolution and enjoy it in all its glory on a 4K or ultra high definition TV.

When it was announced, the AX100 was a one-of-a-kind product. In a few ways, it still is. However, its most interesting new trick can be accomplished by less expensive, more flexible devices.

A compact camcorder offering high quality at a reasonable price is hard to find, but the AX100 delivers. The 1 CMOS sensor is larger than most in cameras of this size along with a prosumer interface many Sony users are familiar with.

Battery has over 2 hours of capacity when used with CX-760 & 900 cameras. Because of larger capacity, it takes longer to fully charge on my Travel Charger and longer for the charge status progress indicator to show status.