Sony NEX-EA50 NXCAM Handbook
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Sony NEX-EA50 NXCAM Handbook

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  • Page 1 Handbook NEX-EA50...
  • Page 2 High reliability in an adaptable design The NEX-EA50 camcorder features an ultra-large image sensor for optimum high-resolution live-action video capture. The APS-C size Exmore HD CMOS image sensor with 16.7 million pixels produces unparalleled stereoscopic images at shallow depth of field and guarantees improved clarity with minimal noise in low light settings.
  • Page 3 Chapter 0 AUTOMATED FUNCTIONS Chapter 1 SENSOR AND LENS Chapter 2 SHOOTING STYLES Chapter 3 FILE-BASED Chapter 4 PICTURE PROFILE...

  • Page 4: Automated Functions

    Chapter AUTOMATED FUNCTIONS About automated functions For documentaries and events requiring maximum mobility, automated functions such as Auto Focus and Auto Exposure reduce the workload so that you can concentrate on tracking the subject. The 11 x powered zoom lens and E-Mount lens supplied with the NEX-EA50 are compatible with Auto Focus and Auto Exposure. A-Mount lenses also support the following automated functions when used in conjunction with the LA-EA1 or LA-EA2 mount adaptor.
  • Page 5 AE SHIFT for automatically shooting video a little brighter or darker ASSIGN The AE SHIFT function enables you to shoot at an exposure level that is a little higher or lower than the AE function normally selects. Usage examples ■ When the subject is darker than the background, such as when ■...

  • Page 6: White Balance (Wb)

    AUTOMATED FUNCTIONS White Balance (WB) To shoot images in correct colors, you need to adjust your camera so that it can capture a white object as white under lighting conditions with different color temperatures. At the same time, white balance is sometimes used to shoot something that is not white as white for dramatic effects.
  • Page 7 WB OUTDOOR LEVEL (white balance outdoor level) for controlling an image’s color tone with white balance This function lets you change the color temperature (default value at roughly 5,800K) for the OUTDOOR white-balance preset. Usage examples ■ When you do not have a white subject for setting white balance. ■...

  • Page 8: Audio Settings

    AUTOMATED FUNCTIONS Audio settings The NEX-EA50 has two audio input channels and accepts three input sources: built-in stereo microphone, unidirectional mono microphone (supplied) and external line in. There is a +48 V phantom power supply. Using the built-in stereo microphone The stereo microphone is set into the front of the handle.

  • Page 9: Adjusting The Playback Volume

    Wireless and other external microphones Wireless microphones are often used by reporters who are constantly on the move. The microphone is connected to a transmitter worn by the reporter. The receiver is attached to the camera, providing an audio output feed that is connected to the camera input.
  • Page 10 Chapter SENSOR AND LENS 16.7 million pixel APS-C size Exmor HD CMOS sensor The NEX-EA50 delivers rich “bokeh” that brings the subject to life as well as excellent sensitivity to reduce noise in low-light settings. The large APS-C size sensor produces images at sufficient resolution to allow digital zooming with no loss of picture quality, effectively transforming a single focal length lens into a high-quality zoom lens.
  • Page 11 Controlling the brightness Brightness (or exposure) is closely linked to depth of field. Brightness is governed by three factors: aperture (or iris), shutter speed and gain. In a well-lit setting, an ND filter can be used to control the light level and enhance the “bokeh” effect. Gain/ISO The NEX-EA50 allows for higher gain (or ISO) settings, where the image signal level is amplified electrically to boost the...

  • Page 12: Shutter Speed

    SENSOR AND LENS Controlling the brightness Iris In manual control mode, the iris ring is used to adjust brightness by opening and closing the lens mechanically. How to set/operate 1. Set the AUTO/MANUAL switch to MANUAL. 2. Press the IRIS button to display the iris setting. 3.
  • Page 13 External ND filter When using a wide aperture in a bright outdoor setting, for instance to achieve a shallow depth of field effect, a high shutter speed is required in order to prevent overexposure. Where a shutter speed of 1/48 sec would be suitable in 24 p mode, at a larger aperture a very fast shutter speed of around 1/1000 sec would be needed, making movements appear brittle and unnatural.

  • Page 14: Brightness Adjustment

    SENSOR AND LENS Brightness adjustment 　 Zebra display—for checking subject brightness ASSIGN Zebra stripes are superimposed on areas of the image that correspond to the designated brightness level, to provide a guide for brightness adjustment. To check for whiteout, set the Zebra display to 100+ then adjust the brightness to minimize the stripes visible on the screen. For face close-ups, where a brightness level of 62% –...

  • Page 15: Focus Assist

    Focus Assist PUSH AUTO—for temporary Auto Focus (AF) When filming in manual focus mode, press and hold the PUSH AUTO button to temporarily engage Auto Focus. Release the button to revert to manual focus. Switching temporarily to Auto Focus is a good way to ensure smooth focus transition when shifting from one subject to another.
  • Page 16 SENSOR AND LENS Focus Assist 　 Peaking—to identify focus peaks ASSIGN The peaking display is used to check which areas of the image are in focus. Areas in focus are denoted by accentuated outlines. How to set/operate 1. MENU → DISPLAY SET → PEAKING → ON 2.
  • Page 17 　 Spot Focus—focus from the touch screen ASSIGN Spot Focus lets you focus on an object simply by tapping it on the touch screen. (Requires an E-Mount lens.) To minimize camera movement, a tripod is recommended when using Spot Focus. How to set/operate 1.
  • Page 18 SENSOR AND LENS Other assist functions 　 SteadyShot ASSIGN SteadyShot is only available when a SteadyShot compatible lens is fitted. How to set/operate 1. MENU → CAMERA SET → STEADYSHOT 2. Choose from STANDARD and ACTIVE modes. Press the SEL/PUSH EXEC dial to confirm. TIPS SteadyShot modes Standard: For relatively stable conditions.
  • Page 19 How to set/operate ■Register buttons 1. MENU → OTHERS → ASSIGN BUTTON → FOCUS TRANSITION → ON 2. When Focus Transition is on, buttons 4, 5 and 6 are allocated to the Focus Transition function. Press button 4 to cycle through the four modes: STORE, CHECK, EXEC and OFF. ■Store focus points 3.
  • Page 20 SENSOR AND LENS E-Mount system—bringing out the best in every lens E-Mount lenses are compatible with automated functions such as Auto Focus, SteadyShot and Auto Exposure that are particularly useful for zooming in on a subject using shallow depth of field in low-light conditions. Common E-Mount lenses Zoom Macro...
  • Page 21 SEL1018 zoom lens (E10 – 18 mm F4 OSS) The SEL1018 is a super wide angle E-Mount type zoom lens with a zoom range from 15 mm super wide angle (converted to 35 mm format) to 27 mm standard wide angle. The optical system, featuring a combination of three aspherical lens groups and super ED glass, corrects aberrations at the super wide angle end to ensure optimum contrast.
  • Page 22 The LA-EA2 mount adaptor boasts the fastest auto focus in the A-Mount class , with a built-in AF drive motor linked to a 15-point AF system with three cross sensors for high-precision focusing. Sony E-Mount lenses LA-EA2 Sony A-Mount lenses Non-Sony lenses Non-Sony mount adaptors...
  • Page 23 New creative possibilities with high-quality digital zoom High-resolution digital zooming with no loss of picture quality The in-camera digital zoom delivers up to 2 x zoom capability without compromising picture quality. The high-resolution APS-C image sensor has 13.6 million effective pixels in total and 3.4 million pixels at 2 x zoom, well above the 2.07 million pixels of Full HD specifications.
  • Page 24 Chapter Chapter オート機能 SHOOTING STYLES Camera body designed to accommodate accessories and encourage creativity Despite using a large sensor, the NEX-EA50 is designed for easy handling in a range of settings, with a retractable shoulder-pad for greater stability during handheld operation. Optional attachments include a hip support (available from UN) to mitigate fatigue during extended periods of handheld operation and a counterbalance (available from Vocas) to improve weight distribution.

  • Page 25: Time Code

    Time code Editing information such as time code and user bit is recorded as time data. Both Rec Run and Free Run time code modes are available. REC RUN REC RUN is the most commonly used mode, where the time code advances only while recording. The time code also continues during splices.

  • Page 26: Recording Formats

    Chapter Chapter オート機能 FILE BASED Flexible file base workflow Advances in SD and HD technology saw the release of the new The first NXCAM in AVCHD format, released in 2010, brought HDV format in 2003, using cassette tape in DV specifications significant improvements in ambience and picture quality.
  • Page 27 (4:3 or 16:9) or loss of audio. Where data has been split into 2 GB chunks, momentary loss of audio or video may occur as the chunks are not rejoined. Connecting a non-Sony external recording device The Rec-Run time code allows high-quality HDMI camera data to be recorded onto an external device.

  • Page 28: Picture Profile

    Chapter Chapter オート機能 PICTURE PROFILE What is PICTURE PROFILE? PICTURE PROFILE is a menu for adjusting and changing parameters that determine image characteristics. There are many parameters that can be adjusted and changed, but they can be grouped into four types — parameters for selecting basic color tone, parameters for adjusting gradation (darkness-brightness tone), parameters for adjusting coloring, and parameters for correcting white balance.

  • Page 29: Color Mode

    Cinema tone 1: Color tones for cinema tone 1 gamma curve Cinema tone 2: Color tones for cinema tone 2 gamma curve Pro: Color tones similar to standard Sony broadcast camera picture quality (in combination with ITU-709 gamma curve) ITU709 MTX: ITU-709 color tones Level: Use to vary the intensity of the selected color mode from 1 (minimum effect;...

  • Page 30: Black Gamma

    PICTURE PROFILE BLACK GAMMA The BLACK GAMMA setting lets you alter the shape of the gamma curve and adjust gradations in dark areas in the image. ■ ■ RANGE : LOW / MIDDLE / HIGH LEVEL : -7 to +7 This controls the luminance range that BLACK GAMMA Increasing LEVEL set value brightens the image, whereas influences.
  • Page 31 KNEE Video signal This changes the tone expression in high brightness areas. White clip point output (%) ■ MODE ■ AUTO: Automatically adjusts the KNEE settings based on Knee slope (–) what is selected in the following AUTO SET function. ■...

  • Page 32: Color Phase

    PICTURE PROFILE ■ Settings for adjusting coloring COLOR LEVEL COLOR LEVEL deals with saturation in the color space and makes washed out colors appear more vivid. Settings can be adjusted –7 (Grow pale in color) to +7 (Grow rich in color) between .
  • Page 33 DETAIL As described in “Information essential for making the most of PICTURE PROFILE,” DETAIL is a function that emphasizes image edges. By altering the following manual settings, image processing can be varied to create different impressions from the same subject. Because settings other than LEVEL are quite complex, we recommend you start by adjusting only the LEVEL setting first.
  • Page 34 PICTURE PROFILE MANUAL SET → ON/OFF ■ O N : The DETAIL level can be adjusted by using the following settings. ■ OFF: The DETAIL level will be adjusted automatically depending on camera settings. V/H BALANCE ■ Changes the balance between Vertical (V) DETAIL and Horizontal (H) DETAIL. ■...
  • Page 35 ■ Settings for correcting white balance WB SHIFT Fine-tunes white balance or creates an effect that is similar to using a color filter. Two types of adjustment methods — LB-CC and R-B — are available. We recommend you start with the LB-CC adjustment method. A higher set vale leads to warmer colors, while a lower setting creates colder colors.
  • Page 36 PICTURE PROFILE FILTER TYPE → R-B ■ Alters the R (Red) or B (Blue) level in the video signal. –9 (Lowest level) to +9 (Highest level) FILTER TYPE R-B ( ± 0) FILTER TYPE R-B (R=+9) FILTER TYPE R-B (B=+9) PICTURE PROFILE Settings...
  • Page 37 BLACK LEVEL -15 ~ +15 GAMMA STANDARD/STILL/CINEMATONE1/CINEMATONE2/ITU709 BLACK GAMMA RANGE LOW / MIDDLE / HIGH LEVEL -7 ~ +7 KNEE MODE AUTO / MANUAL AUTO SET MAX POINT 90% ~ 100% SENSITIVITY HIGH / MIDDLE / LOW MANUAL SET POINT 75% ~ 105% SLOPE -5 ~ +5...
  • Page 38 PICTURE PROFILE Matching color tone with other models By utilizing the PICTURE PROFILE function, you can use different cameras simultaneously with the NEX-EA50 or create your own world by creatively using color tones along with the bokeh effect. For example, you can even recreate the color tone of the HXR-NX5, which has a distinct color setting.
  • Page 39 For your reference, PICTURE PROFILE settings that were used to match the NEX-EA50’s color tone with that of theHXR-NX5and DSR- PD198/PD177/PD175 are provided below. Please note that actual color tones may differ depending on various conditions. So, we recommend you use the data as a starting point and make further adjustments of your own. NEX-EA50 setting to match HXR-NX5 NEX-EA50 setting to match DSR-PD198/PD177/PD175 Base picture profile...
  • Page 40 PICTURE PROFILE Information essential for making the most of PICTURE PROFILE Difference from image processing using nonlinear video editing software PICTURE PROFILE adjusts colors and the vividness of the image it possible to carry out highly precise image adjustments while upon recording.
  • Page 41 Sony’s LCD and OLED display monitors enable users to choose converts that signal back to a brightness signal and reproduces a gamma curve that simulates that of conventional CRT the subject as an image.
  • Page 42 PICTURE PROFILE What is knee correction? Cameras are not good at clearly capturing a scene that the signal within the standard range for video. For this reason, contains extremely different luminance levels, such as one the signal output level is kept lower than the signal input level object under bright sunlight and another in the shade.

  • Page 43: Color Space

    Color Space The NEX-EA50’s PICTURE PROFILE uses the concept of a color space based on three elements — Hue, Saturation and Luminance. This color space can be represented as a shape that resembles two cones joined at their bases. When you slice the color space at a certain luminance level, a circular cross section appears.
  • Page 44 Sony Corporation. XtraFine and Picture Profile are trademarks of Sony Corporation. AVCHD and AVCHD logo are trademarks of Panasonic Corporation and Sony Corporation. SD, SDHC and SDXC logos are trademarks of SD-3C, LLC. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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