A basic description of the NX70
The NX70 is a handheld, rainproof HD camcorder with an non-removable electric zoom lens, progressive or interlaced recording, and balanced XLR inputs via a removable handle. The handle must be removed for use under rainy conditions. As of the publication time of this article, the NX70 is a segregated camera, so you need to choose among either the 50 Hz version or the 59.94 Hz version. Each version now offers its appropriate progressive 1080p and 720p modes, as well as 1080i (interlaced) and Infrared NightShot. The NX70 includes an ECM-XM1 shotgun microphone, AC adapter/charger, and NP-FV70 2060mAh rechargeable battery.
When I say “handheld”, I mean that it is not a shoulder mounted camera (at least not without some other device), nor it is considered “palm-sized” as its little sister the NX30 is, which I’ll be covering very soon. The NX70’s physical details are as follows:
How waterproof is the NX70?
You can be confident that rainy or dusty shooting environments will not affect the reliable operation of the HXR-NX70 thanks to its IEC60529 IP54 rating, which was made without the handle which includes the XLR audio input module. The camcorder’s sealed body design makes sure that harmful sand and large dust particles do not get inside. That’s why it’s the first camera or camcorder I’ve ever seen where the battery goes inside.
A waterproof performance rating of IPx4 means that the main camera body is protected against rain showers and water splashes. However, it should not be submerged under water or sprayed with pressurized water from a tap or hose. When used with accessories such as an external microphone, a rain cover should be used to protect the accessory and connection. Its rating does not guarantee 100% protection against exposure to extremely fine particles.
What shutter speeds are available at each framerate?
Shutter speeds are typically expressed as simple fractions (i.e. 1/60th of a second). Both in still photography and in motion picture production, the shutter speed refers to how long the shutter remains open per frame. Together with several other factors, the shutter speed affects the overall exposure. In addition, the shutter speed determines how much (or how little) motion blur may be in each frame. In motion picture production (video or film), there is an important relationship between shutter speed and framerate. Framerate of course refers to how many frames are shot per second. In the NX70 camera, shutter speeds are simplified and expressed as the denominator of the original fraction (i.e. 1/60 is abbreviated as simply “60”) both in the menu as well as in the onscreen display while shooting.
