FDR-AX53 Stabilization Hopeless

[LWGray]

I've just bought the AX53 which I hoped would have an advanced stabilization system but it seems have exactly the opposite. The image is so shaky as to be unusable. My old Sony camera is far superior. This one shakes even when on a tripod.

I have tried downloading the Hardware Update, which I assume must be a fix of some sort but the app simply crashes. The "driver" also crashes. 

Now, have I got a rogue camera that needs to be sent back?

[jumpsuit]

Hi @LWGray 

Have you tried altering (and comparing) the settings for steadyshot for 'off', 'standard' and 'active'?

Here's a video that shows someone comparing these settings so you can check it with yours.

[LWGray]

I tested it fully today and I'm still not impressed. I have had several video cameras, three sony with only one of them with anything approaching a stabiliser and frankly I'd say the AX53 was no better, if not actually worse.

I've also been shooting 4K with a pocket Osmo which also has gimble stabilisation and that is very very good. I was hoping that a camera costing six times more would perform with comparable stabilisation.

I also have a canon camera that we shoot video on using a gimble and well, that requires a bit of skill and upper body strength to get working at a professional level, but that takes some beating. So I wasn't expecting quite that level, but I was expecting something comparable to the pocket osmo.

The video sample here only shows the stabiliser with HD, and well, it's ok in Intelligent mode. And that's pretty much the minimum I expected. But in 4K, those walking shots are hopeless. Maybe my hands are just super shaky, but the Cosmo handles that. It is tiny though, which makes a difference. But even so... the weird flickery nature of the stabilising system is strange.

I tried sticking the FCPX stabiliser on the footage to see what it made of it and it threw the image all over the place. Don't know what that proves exactly other than fixing it in post is pretty much still not much of an option.

[LWGray]

I've been looking at lots of reviews of the camera and I can only assume that I have a rogue camera. I've sent it back. It is obviously faulty... at least I hope it is faulty!

There seems to be a shortage of these camera's available and so trying to find one to test in a shop before buying is an issue.

[HannahEd01]

Hi LWGray, thank you for updating the thread, let us know what happens when you get the new one!

[LWGray]

Well I bought an AX43a, after sending the AX53 back thinking that was faulty, and because this was what was available and I'm going on holiday soon. I wanted a 4K camera with a decent zoom as an upgrade from my old HD camera.

I have pocket Osmo which is 4K with very smooth stabilisation and a not bad picture. It has a hopeless zoom of course. So the 4K AX43a should produce a better image than that camera and certainly a better image and stabilisation to my old HD camera. But the AX43a twitches just like the AX53 I sent back. At 4K any movement of the camera, despite active stabilisation, causes jerky playback. And even if one goes down to HD and uses intelligent stabilisation, you still get odd jerks. 

Once again... my old HD camera gives a smoother image. So I can only assume this is a result of the optical stabilisation system. As i want a 4K camera that can outperform my old HD cameras and my 4K pocket Osmo, I wonder just what it is that I am doing wrong. I am certainly not getting the smooth footage that is advertised on the sony page. 

[Lord_viridis]

Honestly, I can't stand the twitching that all kinds of electronic image stabilisation inevitably causes in movement. I ended up putting cameras on a Ronin and have never looked back.

[SkyNet404]

It's good to know that this helped, but idk if it's just a camera issue or a technology issue at this point since it's affecting most of them. 

[LWGray]

The A43a is billed as a vlogging camera. It is impossible to use as such. The stabiliser is far too unstable! It jumps about as you move. It stabilises hand held none moving shots and that's it. If you move very very slowing you can get a reasonable shot. But even then, you can get weird jumps. The minimal stabilisation on the old HD handicam was far superior.

Considering the cost of this camera compared to the pocket Osmo, it is bizarre that such tiny camera as the Cosmo can produce far better footage. These sony cameras need tripods to function properly. 

[SkyNet404]

Then a Tripod it is XD, since there's really no other fix for it at this point 😕