Camera reviews: SONY RX1R, HXR-NX30U FAIL fan & xlr noise vs. CANON XA10/20, Panasonic LX7, Nikon UNCOOLPIX A, Sony RX100, new GOPRO HERO3+, VLOGGERS SHITLIST coming poon sun 27- 31 oct 2013 George Godley

_← SONY RX1R full frame dslr quality compact.
14 mb, 6000 x 4000, 350 dpi iphoto converted to 35 kb, 640 x 430, 72 dpi, medium size & quality. PROS: best audio & 24 mpxl picture quality of any compact when focused. Non-touch screen works in magnetic fields. Feels powerful, solid & reliable unlike canon s100/110 which kept stopping, had muffled audio & rattled. Great features, timer, burst, etc. CONS: slow & shifty autofocus, narrow angle lens, won’t keep everything in focus if subject in front, blurred backgrounds in auto mode unless manual aperture priority ∞, f22 & high iso & even then, blurry photos unless completely still or on tripod even in sunlight, bad stabilizer compared to ‘active’ ones, heavy, no macro, no remote, no flip screen, no dual record, no batery charger, no zoom, stops working after a few flash photos.. -LOUD AUTOFOCUS BEEP & PHOTO SHUTTER NOISE makes a KACHUNK clicking sound like a TR-909 drum machine handclap, intimidating people & even got me banned from one of my favorite vegetarian restaurants for photo blog n’ vlogging my meals (on doctor’s recommendation to document my diet for food allergy medical research) despite having permissions/ verbal releases & being a most polite, generous & loyal customer w/ receipts, photos & videos to prove it (details coming in “Last *Ka-Click!* supper”, SUMMER/ FALL 2013 episodes) lol.. volume can be decreased a bit by covering bottom speaker, not in menu. 28 min. max. MP4 not continuous like AVCHD. Still preferable to lower res, smaller image censor & inferior optics Panasonic LX-7 which occasionally artifacts & corrupts the image & looks & sounds harsher.
Halloween 2014 update: doesn’t inform you there’s no memory card; functions without saving to memory card instead of warning you there isn’t; missed many great shots. No internal memory. apr 2015 update: flash stopped working. #FAIL

Just tested 2 units of the SONY HXR-NX30U & was VERY DISAPPOINTED with the high pitch hum & hiss noise with both built in & external mics (supplied sony ECM-XM1 & senheiser MKH-416) & constant crrackling XLR adapter noise audible in all recordings. The hum & hiss automatically goes on in record mode, probably a fan to prevent overheating which switches off digital cameras & DSLRs though i never noticed it before on previous models. Sony CX700 & PJ760 have rumble & hiss respectively audible on their body but not in recordings (-see 2012 blog for more criticism) & neither work with the NX30 XLR adaptor.
The constant XLR adapter crackle noise is most noticeable with inner earphones. Absolutely inexcusable but decided to keep one of the 2 units for reasons below.
Not one google search result on this, y’all deaf?!

sun 27 oct 2013. Canon XA10 is quieter & lighter, fitting in pocket but the store demo wasn’t working & made a horrible malfunctioning XLR adaptor buzzing noise, so i tested the more expensive XA20 which is too big to fit in pocket. Overall i prefer the Sony nx30 because on the canon, the external mic records on 1 channel only & there’s no switch to record to 2 channels (left & right= center). The sony has a switch on xlr input #1 selecting 1 or both channels. On the Canon, 2 screws in back & one screw in front make the xlr adapter slower to install & remove compared to sony’s 1 front screw & ultra fast plug in adaptor. On the canon, the XLR adapter has to be turned on in the l.c.d menu & doesn’t power up automatically like the sony, causing further hassle & delay when interchanging between built in & external mics. B&H specs say Canon dual records 2 megapixel photos during video, Sony 24 megapixels. In conclusion:

SONY HXR-NX30U PROS / ADVANTAGES
+nothing better on the market that size at this time 2013. Despite shortcomings & disadvantages it’s still better than cx700 & pj760 whose 3.5 minijack inputs hum & buzz intermittently & aren’t as reliable, making you constantly worry & monitor the sound in headphones for unlimited potential malfunctions (earth loops, connection crackles, etc.). (Pj760 built in mic & DEstabilizer were EPIC FAIL in previous 2012 review). With NX30 the malfunctions seem limited to fan hiss & xlr constant crackle so at least you know what to expect.
+fan hum & hiss noise almost negligible/ tolerable esp. w/ external mic depending on ambience level & how professional/ fussy/ purist you are
+XLR adapter crackling noise negligible/ tolerable at auto / manual level 5 & up depending on abience & how professional/ fussy you are
+XLR adapter mic holder is easy to remove mic & flip it backwards to record behind the camera, almost as well as rycote spin rig though it’s too wide to hold mics other then the supplied sony ECM-XM1 stereo shotgun so will need spongy padding or fastening it with the mic sponge.
+24 megapixel dual record photo video with stunning, rich colors & flattering contrast even if limited to a few a minute & some are blurry
+Faster buffer data storage than CX700, with less interruptions & disablings of record button.
+XLR adapter disconnects from shoe mount while power cable stays plugged in power socket, even if it’s very short, increasing flexibility to fit on car dashboard & other challenging places, unlike non detatcheable Canon XA10 & 20.
+No live headphone monitoring delay which was intolerable on the CX700 as you would hear the signal milliseconds afer you speak.

SONY HXR-NX30U CONS / DISADVANTAGES
-CONSTANT FAN HISS NOISE audible in recordings especially with built in mic, even if it’s quite low with external mic, depending on how good/ sensitive your ears are & your definition of “low”.
-CONSTANT XLR ADAPTER CRACKLE NOISE audible in XLR recordings especially under level 5 depending on how loud the ambience is. Absolutely inexcusable & i almost returned both tested units but decided to keep one because despite all this, external mic results still sound better & more reliable than cx700 & pj760 non xlr & unreliable minijack inputs.
-NO PHOTO CAPTURE ON SUPPLIED RMT 845 WIRELESS REMOTE COMMANDER, only on previous RMT 835 model.
-INCOMPATIBLE w/ PJ760 for VIEWING or RECORDING, “a movie w/ a different video signal format from this device has been recorded. Video recording disabled. (when swapping cameras w same used card from nx30 to pj760. Won’t even show movies thumbnails, just photos).
-NO PHOTO CAPTURE FROM VIDEO. “this function is currently unavailable”.
-XLR ADAPTOR JAMMED / STUCK SENHEISER MZA900- PREAMP on BOTH tested units. The first unit took many hours to fix by finding the right spot to loosen with a screwdriver, the second is still stuck & will probably be refunded.
-Drains battery much faster than CX700 esp. w/ XLR adapter.
-External mic & xlr adapter drains n empties battery when camera OFF!!!! overnight!! u gotta unplug it.
-dual photo video FAIL. Only takes one 12mpxl photo during video every 15 seconds when “capture” logo is on in l.c.d. 12mpxl CX700 took 3 immediately & then 1 every few seconds thereafter.
-built in light/ lamp often fails to light up when pressed during record? (pending further testing)
-no mention of this online pretending all’s well when it taint lol
-fails to keep photos in chronological order, no seconds only minutes
-nx30 & pj760/90 lies & pretends to take a photo during video but doesn’t: it gives you 3 for the first minute, then appears to clear the buffer by removing the “no photo camera” logo & green “capture” word in the lcd, deceptively appears to be letting you take more photos (at least 2 before the buffer is full again & the “no photo camera” logo goes on again) when in fact it only lets you take 1. This is sneaky & deceptive because they think no one will notice since it’s a hassle to keep verifying if the pictures were taken by constantly waiting for play mode menu windows. 

PANASONIC LX7:
pros:
+ULTRA WIDE ANGLE LENS & everything in focus, fits more info in picture at a fraction of the cost of sony rx1r
+ultra light so more portable esp. at night & aesthetically pleasing, bright white body blends in with similar clothing.
+smaller/ less threatening/ imposing although the lens sticks out
+silent shutter compared to Sony rx1r which makes a loud ass KACHUNK sound which got me banned from my favorite restaurant (SUMMER 2013 episodes) lol. (see above)
cons:
-REALLY GRAINY & SMEARY IN LOW LIGHT ESP. ANY MOTION
-SMEARY IN DAYLIGHT ANY MOTION
-SHAKY STABILIZER GOTTA KEEP STEADY & HOLD IT W HANDS & NOT MOVE MUCH
-COMPLEX DIFFICULT TO FIND MENUS, CONTRAST +2 ONLY WORKS IN A CERTAIN MODE WHEEL SETTING
-INTELLIGENT AUTO? PLUS?!
-P1010515 CORRUPT ARTIFACTS BEYOND GRAINY, VERY BAD AT TIMES, WELL LIT NO MOTION!!!! 1010380, 1010378..
-lens sticks way out
conclusion: a joy to wear due to light weight & bright white color but much worse results than RX1R except for ultra wide angle

NIKON [UN]COOLPIX A FAIL FOCUS & RECORD is a waste of a grand ’cause it constantly struggles & shifts focus in auto mode & the record button works one time in ten.

SONY RX100 FAIL with magnetic fields; tilting touchscreen freaks out & shuts off entire camera even when extended from camera body with putty. No battery charger. Pros: can be used as a backup camera away form magnetic fields & glorified battery charger & drainer for RX1R since neither cameras include one! Also does a few things the rx1r doesn’t, like macro, zoom, etc.

Am testing the new black GOPRO HERO 3+ & will post a review w/ pros & cons eventually.

Coming poon: VLOGGER’S SHIT LIST
L㋡L (lightens the mood as comedy /satire in case of trouble lol: can’t u take a joke?! (which is what you made yourself))
Detailed report on anti-camera people & places hostile to cameras & vloggers! (while they hypocritically video you of course for “security”).. Eyewitness reports on who what when where why how to avoid & be discreet! Lessons learned from mistakes made, do’s & don’ts, diplomatic vs. undiplomatic ways to handle getting banned & increase chances of reconciliation even if they lie.. traumatic experiences will be exposed, named & shamed so abusers beware, your behavior is recorded & immortalized for posterity- with or without cameras! FREE SPEECH BITCH! tune in later to see, will you make the list or be shortlisted as a “dishonorable *☁ fart* mention” lol
(disclaimer: Satire/ parody of personal thoughts & feelings from exeriences. [think up smart ass comment to put here like Hustler used to in their small print parody disclaimers lol] A more polite dilomatic title: “BLACKLIST/ NO FLY SH!TLIST”  )

Peep my new “ABOUT” page in top menu for sexy pics & recent update lol! later bros & sisses! -Geo