If you're looking to produce real 4K video on the cheap, look no further than Sony's FDR-AX100 Handycam — a consumer 4K camcorder that costs a mere $1,999. That's less than half of Sony's "prosumer" 4K offering, which starts at $4,499.
The new 4K Handycam is also significantly more compact than the previous model — Sony says it's 46% smaller and 67% lighter. I got a little hands-on time with it, and it's definitely nice and light, although it's still a bit heavier than your typical full HD camera.
The AX100 captures 4K video (3,840 x 2,160) at 30 frames per second (fps) in the XAVC-S format, but it also can produce a second file, one that's lower-res and more shareable, in MP4 format. It's no slouch in full HD format either, able to capture 1,920 x 1,080 video at up to 120 frames per second for serious slow-motion footage.
Sony's Balanced Optical SteadyShot (BOSS) system reduces hand shake, ensuring the footage you record is as steady as possible, even when you've got the 12x zoom maxed out.
All this and wireless, too: You can pair the camcorder with a phone or tablet, which can act as a remote control via Wi-Fi. You can also transfer files, and the pairing process is painless if your phone has NFC — just tap and you're connected.
The large fold-out LCD screen also includes a projector (not 4K, of course) so you can show off your footage wherever you are. The projector even has automatic keystone correction so you'll still see a nice rectangle even if it's projecting at an angle.
Sony threw in a couple of new voice tricks, too: Premium Closer Voice will make a distant voice sound like it's closer than it is, while My Voice Canceling gets rid of the shooter's voice, in case you don't want your personal comments to show up on your daughter's ballet recital video.
The FDR-AX100 will be available in March.
Image: Sony