In an era of mobile cameras that shoot great 4K videos and high-def pictures on our latest smartphones does this product really justify the need of handycam and who and what is this product targeted at? Let’s analyze the details, compare with other gen and conclude if this a good buy even if you own the best smartphone on your pocket.

Sony FDR-AX43A 4K compact camcorder is one of the few handycam that features built-in gimbal with balanced optical steady shot image stabilization. It shoots still pictures at 16.6MP and records UHD 4K video at 24 or 30 fps in dual video mode.

What is in the box: Camera, Rechargeable InfoLITHIUM battery pack, Micro USB cable, HDMI Cable, AC adaptor, Power Cord, User Manual

After unboxing this camera, setting up is very easy. Attach the included beefy battery pack and charge the battery to full with the included ac adaptor by plugging directly to the camera slot. To power on just flip open the LCD screen (no power button).

There is no viewfinder on this camera and for monitoring all the shots is only done using the 3” titling touchscreen LCD. Touchscreen sensitivity has greatly increased compared to my 6-year-old Sony handycam. Once the touchscreen is open for the first time, it lets you access the settings menu for initial setup (language, region, daylight savings, date/time format) and is perfect for viewing, playback or vlogging. Flip-out design is great for taking selfie’s or for vlogging. Lens cover automatically opens when the lcd screen is opened and no separate buttons like old gen and this truly is a quick point and shoot operation handycam.

Imaging edge mobile plus app is recommended at the last step of setup and is available in Appstore or googleplay store. This app is used to transfer still images and 4K videos from camera to mobile phone and to remote shoot and get the latest info about the camera settings.

This camera uses a dual video recording that records two movies at the same time, one in MP4 format that can be used for sharing in social media or posting instant clips. It does record by default in XAVCS or AVCHD format. It does not have inbuilt storage like previous versions that I used, instead has removable SD card (not included). Highly recommend SDXC UHS-I cards that have high read/write speed if shooting in 4K@60Mbps.

This camera has good range of both automatic and manual image and audio options. Automatic image and audio options are good for point and shoot operation. You can attach external flash, electronic viewfinder, stereo microphone to the multi interface shoe. Shoe is hidden on the top next to the mic. Just slide open the cover for attaching the external accessory. Cover seems to be flimsy and need to be careful and prone to breaking quickly if not handled well.

On the side, it has a sliding shutter that covers mini-HDMI port for connecting to TV or projectors.

As always, build quality is excellent with its ½.5” Exmor R Low-Light CMOS Sensor. Picture and video image quality is excellent with little to no noise under dark or brighter shooting conditions. Inbuilt gimbal with balanced optical steady shot image stabilization works great and provides videos with no shake and can be used in faster moving objects or sports capture.

Zeiss Vario-Sonnar Lens with 20x optical provides great zoom range. It has 5.1 channel built-in microphone that captures all the sounds in different directions providing clearly defined audio for all the recordings. 5.1 channel audio is only for recording in AVCHD codec format and is not available for 4K recording that uses XAVC S.

It also shoots in 1080P at 120fps and is great for slow motion shooting. This camera also supports 4K Time-lapse movies where you can capture images continuously over a period at an interval.

Some of the other cool features this camera offers are live streaming, multicamera control (up to 5 compatible Sony cameras), intelligent auto mode, trimming playback, lock-on AF, Face detection and smile shutter, photo capture from movie, dual record, voice cancelling, motion/golf shot, Wi-Fi w/One touch remote and many more.

Battery life is good and is advertised to record up to 235 minutes on single charge which is good for most use cases.

Connection to smartphones is relatively easy with the app and supports NFC to transfer images to Android phones/tablets with touch or tap.

Pros: UHD 4k 24/30p & 16.6MP Stills, Built-in Gimbal, optical stabilization, 5.1 channel surround sound mic, up to 100 Mb/s XAVC S 4k / HD to 50 Mb/s, 3” LCD Flip out & tilting touch screen, Highlight movie maker, 1/2.5” Exmor R Low-Light CMOS Sensor, 20 x optical zoom & 40x clear image zoom, Fast intelligent AF, Dual video recording, great battery life, simple to use with the option to take quick high quality pictures.

Cons: Lack of viewfinder, little heavy due to bulky battery (weighs around 600g with battery), night mode shooting limitations.

Overall, if you are looking for a UHD 4K stable video, improved audio and great pictures with multiple recording codec options and great features then this handycam will not disappoint and would recommend for any content creators or vloggers.

This video camera is a decidedly mixed bag for me. It takes great high quality video, but is hamstrung by a clunky interface and significant limitations when interfacing with a mobile device.
Video is impressive, with the ability to take 4K videos at 24-30 fps, or full HD videos at up to 120 fps. Video images are crisp, but colors are a little muted in contrast to the more vivid colors on my Pixel 7 Pro using 10-bit HDR. Optical image stabilization is very good, with no choppiness when walking or even jogging while recording. Optical zoom goes to 20x, and with additional digital zoom can reach 40x. Sound recording is good as well, although wind noise was pronounced at times.
Build quality is good, as you would expect from Sony, but there’s a lot of plastic. The flip-out touchscreen viewfinder is bright and clear, and it swivels a full 360 degrees. The battery pack juts out awkwardly in the back, pretty much forcing your thumb to rest on the video start/stop button — the problem with this design is that it forces the hand and fingers to be resting only on the right half of the camera, which can make it a little unstable when trying to manipulate the zoom rocker at the top (e.g, trying to push the zoom rocker to the left tends to shift the whole camera to the left, if my thumb can’t rest on the left side of the camera as a counter-balance).
File formats can be confusing. Sony uses XAVC, which can accommodate higher bitrates when recording 4K and therefore higher quality and more detailed videos — but this format is not compatible with Android or iPhone, and requires specific software on a Mac or PC that supports the file format in order to play back or edit. The camera does create a duplicate video file in AVCHD format (which is compatible with mobile phones), but this is only in 720p. It’s a similar situation with still images, which are 3840×2160 when viewed on a PC, but 1920×1080 when transferred to a mobile phone (compare this with a typical picture on a Pixel 7 Pro which is 4080×3072).
The UI is clunky on the 3″ flip-out touchscreen. Buttons are pretty small, so if you have big fingers, it might be a challenge to navigate around. Most of us are used to phone interfaces that include swiping or dragging, but those aren’t supported here — only taps, so it takes a little bit of getting used to. The touchscreen is glossy, so it can be a bit challenging to use on a bright day, since my reflection (along with all the fingerprints from having to touch it so much) would sometimes get in the way of the scene I was trying to capture. A matte finish probably would’ve been better.
Transferring files worked best with a cable connection. There is a wireless file transfer option, but it’s pretty wonky, requiring scanning of QR codes and installing a dedicated app on your phone. I couldn’t get the NFC feature to work with my Pixel 7 Pro.
The bottom line is that this video camera (as mentioned in the product description) is best suited for a professional videographer or content creator who needs to use the best possible (but not widely compatible) video format. Casual users will likely find the XAVC format overkill, and frustrating to use for sharing with friends or posting to social media sites.

The Sony AX43A 4K Handycam® is a fantastic piece of technology in a handheld device.

Unboxing
Like most Sony products, this camcorder has a solid and quality feel. The battery attaches to the back with a click, and the battery release is a small slider on the bottom rear of the camera. A flap to the right of the battery will expose the charging port. The USB cable will also charge the battery when connected to the “MULTI” door on the right side. A full charge via the power cable will take a little over three hours, which is perfect for digesting the contents of the Operating Instructions and reading the online Help Guide.

Setup
After a full charge, opening up the LCD monitor will power on the device. The 7.5 cm LCD monitor is touch capable, which makes it easy to step through the setup and controls. The touchscreen requires a light and precise touch. Some icons are tiny, and it is easy to hit the wrong icon or option. The setup shows a QR code and URL for setting up the Imaging Edge Mobile application. (DO NOT install the Imaging Edge Mobile Plus app. It is for a different camera.) After installing and signing into the app, the phone can be connected to the camera by scanning a QR Code under Menu > Wireless > Ctrl with Smartphone. Video recording and photos can be controlled from the phone when connected. This is very handy for the remote control of the camera.

Use
The Handycam is precisely that, easy to use. Just slide a hand in the handle, flip open the LCD monitor, and use a thumb to press the record button. White Balance, Spot Focus, Exposure, Focus, IRIS, Shutter Speed, Steady Shot, Smile Sensitivity, Audio Rec Level, Display Setting, and Audio Level Display are set to On and Automatic by default – which provides for quickly turning on the camera and start shooting video. The Wide and Tight zoom slider is within easy reach at the top rear, and the Photo button is right behind it.

The built-in balanced optical SteadyShot stabilizer does a beautiful job of reducing screen shake when walking, running, and at full zoom. And with the high-performance Auto-Focus and touch screen subject selection, the video subject stays clear and focused. The 20x optical zoom is smooth and steady. Even with the 40x digital zoom enabled, the video is surprisingly smooth. However, I do recommend the use of a tripod if you’re going to use digital zoom. By flipping the monitor to face forward and enabling face detection, the selfie mode with noise reduction makes this a great video camera for streamers and video loggers.

4K Time-lapse and high-speed recording make this a full-featured camera for capturing scenes over a period of time and creating smooth slow-motion videos. I especially like recording in 4K and still playback to HD devices.

Playback and File Transfer
This camera is the ultimate in flexibility for playback and file transfers. With USB, Wi-fi, MicroSD Card, and HDMI connections, there are multiple options for viewing and transferring the files to other devices. Via the Imaging Edge Mobile application, I could transfer videos and pictures from the camera to my iPad and iPhone. I especially like the ability to playback 4K videos on regular HD devices via the HDMI connection.

Summary
The Sony AX43A Handycam is a Compaq video and photo recording studio built into a lightweight, handheld camera. As a vlogger, I am thrilled with this camera for conducting technical reviews and recording special events. I highly recommend this camera for anyone wanting to break free of the marginal video recording performance of smartphones.

Features
• High-resolution 4K Ultra HD (3840 x 2160) recording
• Internal Gimbal Mechanism via Balanced Optical SteadyShot™
• Exmor R™ CMOS sensor (1/2.5 type back-illuminated) for image clarity, noise reduction in low light, and soft background defocusing
• 8.29 Megapixels (16:9)
• F2.0-3.8 aperture
• F=4.4 88 mm focal distance
• 26.8mm wide-angle ZEISS® Vario-Sonnar T* lens
• 20x optical zoom and 30x/40x clear image zoom, 250x digital zoom
• BIONZ X image processing engine for naturally vivid images and faster processing
• Touch-enabled 7.5cm Xtra Fine LCD™ monitor
• Imaging Edge Mobile application for iOS and Android devices provides remote control, viewing, and file transfer.
• Three mic capsules for high-quality sound, stereo separation, and noise reduction
• Headphone and microphone jacks
• Included battery for up to 235 minutes of recording
• High-Speed 120fps slow motion recording mode
• Time-lapse capture mode for selected interval shots over a period of time
• Time Code and User Bit embedding for synchronizing scene tracking in post-production editing
• Motion Shot mode for tracing split-second action sequences
• Scene selection for night, sunrise/sunset, fireworks, landscape, portrait, spotlight, beach, snow
• 5.1ch surround sound microphone and My Voice Cancelling feature
• Dual video recording mode for capturing in both max quality video and MP4 format at the same time
• Built-in Highlight Movie Maker for automatically creating HD highlight movies with video transitions and selectable background music
• Wi-fi and NFC™ wireless connectivity
• HDMI port
• Composite video out port
• Micro USB port
• Stereo Microphone Minijack
• Stereo Headphone Minijack
• SD/SDHC/SDXC memory card slot

Purchased “open-box excellent” and received product like new. This a great camcorder for anyone looking to get in to semi-professional videography and wants to record for long periods of time at high quality with a minimal amount of gear on hand. The camera has a built-in gimbal that is very good and with some practice you can make very smooth shots. This camcorder can handle a wide variety of subject matter. There is a 20x optical zoom (wowee), so you could even potential film some wildlife. While you can not manually control the focus while shooting, like on the AX53, you can set a manual focus so you can do talking-head style videos without the autofocus interrupting the shot. That is to say, when you do need continuos auto-focus, it is very responsive and accurate.
One drawback of the camcorder is it will not film in vertical mode like a phone or newer camera. You are limited to 16:9 ratio shots. The lens is wide enough that you could potentially vlog with this camcorder but it is not very practical and the content will not be the correct ratio for social media platforms. Filming handheld for long periods of time can be uncomfortable from holding your hand and the camera up.
The included battery will operate for hours shooting at 4K about 1 and a quarter hours and at 1080p, about 1 and 3/4 hours. A 128GB SDXC card will hold over an hour of 4K video and over two hours of 1080p video. The camcorder is designed to run while plugged in to continuous power, so you could theoretically shoot until the SD card is full. I also purchased the Sony ECM-GZ1M “gun zoom” microphone. The zoom feature does work with the AX43A and while I haven’t used it very much yet, it is very cool to have. This microphone also works on my ZV-1, but only as a gun mic. The camcorder also has a line in and monitoring out ports. Additionally, I purchased ProMaster’s version of the RM-VPR1 remote control. This works well for controlling zoom and cutting shots without disturbing the camera. There is also an option to purchase batteries that are larger or smaller than the included one.
There are other cool features in the Sony eco-system, like the ability to sync-start multiple cameras over wireless. This is probably also light enough to use reliably as an overhead camera. I find that the AX43A is a great, fully powered camcorder for anyone that just wants to film and not fiddle with every detail but also want to learn how to manually control the camera when they are ready.