Sony FDR-AX43A UHD 4K Handycam Camcorder

NOTE: Base of camer around tripod mount is cracked. Does not seem to affect functionality.

The Sony FDR-AX43A UHD 4K Handycam Camcorder is a compact, lightweight camcorder designed for content creators and videographers, capturing brilliant, true-to-life 4K video with increased low-light sensitivity in a genuinely portable body. It’s well suited to consumer, vlogging, and travel video use.

At the core of the AX43A is a newly developed 1/2.5″-type Exmor R CMOS sensor paired with Sony’s BIONZ X processing engine, optimized for 4K movie recording with a 16:9 aspect ratio and pixels approximately 1.6 times larger than previous AX-series camcorders. The camera records UHD 4K video at 24p or 30p using Sony’s high-bitrate XAVC S codec at up to 100 Mb/s, or 1080p HD video at up to 50 Mb/s, and can capture 16.6MP still photos. Dual recording lets users simultaneously capture MP4 movies and XAVC S 4K video, along with a built-in 4K time-lapse mode.

The camcorder’s latest-generation ZEISS Vario-Sonnar T* lens (26.8mm wide-angle, f/2-3.8) offers 20x optical zoom, extendable to 30x Clear Image Zoom in 4K, 40x in HD, or up to 250x digital zoom in HD. A built-in gimbal with Balanced Optical SteadyShot image stabilization delivers ultra-smooth handheld footage even while walking or at full zoom. Fast Intelligent autofocus with tracking helps keep subjects sharp, and the minimum focus distance reaches as close as 0.4″ (1cm).

Handling centers on a 3-inch, 921K-dot flip-out, tilting Xtra Fine touchscreen LCD that automatically powers on when opened, well suited to monitoring and selfie-style vlogging shooting. An assignable ring on the front of the camcorder can be set to control zoom, focus, exposure, iris, shutter speed, or white balance for enhanced manual control alongside fully automatic shooting. Audio capture includes 5.1-channel surround sound along with a built-in microphone, and a 1-button Highlight Movie Maker automatically creates short movies to share.

Connectivity includes Micro-HDMI output for large-screen playback, 2.4GHz Wi-Fi for one-touch remote control and sharing with compatible smartphones, and a single SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo card slot. The camcorder measures approximately 2.9 x 5.6 x 3.2 inches, uses a rechargeable NP-FV70 lithium-ion battery, and is not water-resistant.

Key Features
– 1/2.5″-type Exmor R CMOS sensor with BIONZ X processing engine
– UHD 4K recording at 24p/30p (XAVC S up to 100 Mb/s); HD up to 50 Mb/s
– 16.6MP still image capture
– Dual recording (simultaneous MP4 and XAVC S 4K)
– 4K time-lapse mode
– ZEISS Vario-Sonnar T* lens, 26.8mm wide-angle, f/2-3.8
– 20x optical zoom; 30x Clear Image Zoom (4K) / 40x (HD); up to 250x digital zoom (HD)
– Built-in gimbal with Balanced Optical SteadyShot stabilization
– Fast Intelligent AF with tracking
– Minimum focus distance of 0.4″ (1cm)
– 3″ 921K-dot flip-out, tilting touchscreen LCD
– Assignable control ring (zoom, focus, exposure, iris, shutter speed, white balance)
– 5.1-channel surround sound audio
– 1-Button Highlight Movie Maker
– Micro-HDMI output
– 2.4GHz Wi-Fi connectivity
– Single SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo card slot
– NP-FV70 rechargeable battery
– Compact, lightweight body; not water-resistant