If you are in the market for a new pro or semi pro camcorder, then the market of late has never been better. We looked at the astonishing Canon XA10 last month in Auscam and now Sony has fired its return salvo in the form of the HXR-NX70E.

The trend towards smaller units is showing through with the NX70E; a consumer camcorder used to be this size, let alone a broadcast ready camcorder with a super wide 26.3mm lens, professional level external mic with XLR ports (2 of), assignable focus ring and a proper viewfinder as well as a superb LCD touch screen.

The design of the NX70E is brilliant I have to say. The external mic mount which is removable, also doubles as a top mounted handle and the LCD is simply huge at 3.5”. The add-on eye cup is reversible and the overall balance, even with that big LCD and the mic attached is excellent.

Both SD and Memory Stick can be used to store video plus there is a whopping 96GB on board as well, just in case!

A lot of thought has gone into the controls layout as well I suspect as while the On/Off Record buttons are in the customary Sony position, all others have been placed for easy access on the left of the body and on the rear of the camera without being under the LCD if it is closed.  There is also a separate comprehensive audio control panel on the top left of the mic mount. The battery location is different too as this is under the LCD screen.

And if you are so inclined, GeoTagging is supported.

One thing that is a bit different – and I am not sure of the logic of this – is that the removable lens hood contains the lens cover. One can only assume Sony’s research says once added, users don’t remove the lens hood.

One fabulous party trick is that the NX70E is dust and rain proof, as long as the external mic mount is not added that is. All ports have dust  and rain proof rubber cappings – indeed some are quite tough to pop open – and all switches have rubber seals around them. This makes this camcorder excellent for sports enthusiasts such as yours truly.

At $3500 RRP this is one that will walk off the shelves.

We’ll have a full review shortly.

By David Hague

David is the owner and publisher of AusCam Online. He has a background in media dating back to 1979 when he first got involved with photojournalism in motorsport, and went from there into technology via a 5 year stint with Tandy Computers. Following that, he ran a software distribution company on the Gold Coast and was one of the first to recognise the potential of Microsoft Windows.

Moving back to WA, David wrote scripts for Computer Television for video training for the just released Windows and Office 95 among others, and was then lured to Sydney to create web sites for the newly commercial Internet in 1995, building hundreds of sites under contract to OzEmail including Coates Hire, Hertz Queensland, John Williamson, the NSW Board of Studies and many, many more.

He went back into full time journalism as the Managing Editor for Channel 7's 'Gadget Guy', Peter Blasina's publications VideoCamera and Pixelmag, before starting Australasian Camcorder magazine when these publications were shelved. He lives at Sydney's Avalon Beaches nearly on the ocean front with dog Budweiser and in his spare time is a nut for motor sport, road safety, fishing, science fiction - especially Dr Who - and technology.

David can be contacted via david@auscamonline.com