Sony FDR-AX33 Camcorder

this is and easy to use very good camcorder - love the no shake

After a few days of ownership I returned my AX33 for reasons explain further down.Don’t get me wrong, I still think that this is a brilliant CONSUMER camcorder. It produces stunning footage out of the box. And it does not require much knowledge to get jaw dropping results. The Carl Zeiss lens and Sony’s 1/2.3 type back-illuminated Exmor R CMOS sensor are a great combination.The key selling point of the AX33 is the Balanced Optical Steady Shot, (B.O.S.S.) offering the best image stabilisation to date. It is the first 4K camera to sport such a feature.I would rather present my own user experience than delve into the spec sheet, as this can be found on Sony's website:I bought the AX33 primarily for my youtube channel and live concerts. Initially I was blown away by the BOSS and image quality. Yet on comparing it to the FZ1000 my enthusiasm quickly faded away. (Just do a youtube search of the Sony AX33 vs FZ1000 and you'll understand what I mean). Now, I will not be comparing these two cameras as they have a different sensor (1" on Panasonic vs 1/2.3" on Sony), though it has to be noted that the FZ1000 is cheaper!!The Sony AX33:Image quality is stunning but by no means stellar. IMO, it is a tad softer than the competition, As with other small sensor camcorders it struggles in low light resulting in a very soft and mushy image. In bright light, footage is great yet a certain degree of purple fringing is evident in high contrast areas (pixel peeping).Unlike all the other port openings, which are sturdy and cleverly designed, the accessory shoe cover is so flimsy. The slightest breeze caused this cover to hit my Rode mic. And that’s not all. I simply could not hold the camera in a conventional manner as the mic was in the way!However, what ultimately made me return this camera was the fact that the "HDMI out" does not allow viewing on an external monitor while recording (clean HDMI). My 6 year old Panasonic TM300 allows this!!Now this paints a rather gloomy picture of the Sony, but when faced with so many glaring reviews of this camera I felt compelled to show the other side of the story. In all fairness, I still think this is the best 4K consumer camcorder available at the moment. The BOSS system outweighs the less than optimal image quality. After all what's the use of having super sharp, crystal clear yet jerky footage.Again, this review is not meant to trash the AX33. I just would like to convey that if you're considering one you simply know what's in store for you.Bottom line: The AX33B is the Boss. It is a very keenly priced "point and shoot" 4K camcorder offering awesome image stabilisation