Sony NEX VG10 Interchangable Lens Camcorder Misses Changing the Game

Sony announced their first interchangable lens consumer camcorder the NEX VG10. Release date is set for September retailing at $2000 (including 18-200mm kit lens worth $800 that’s a little slow at F3.5-6.3) and you can pre-order today. The camera records 1920x1080i in AVCHD at 24Mbit and can record high quality 14MP stills. But just what is missing from this camera that makes it miss the mark as unseating DSLRs?

This bad boy is bad in that Sony has only equipped it to record in 30p NTSC or 25p PAL (at 60 interlaced fields per second fixed at that 60i frame rate), ergo no 24p recording. The lack of 24p to the Canon 5D off the table for many professionals with the proclivity to acquire the look of film in their recorded work (that coupled with the Canon 5Ds inability to push out HD to an external monitor). Perhaps like with the Canon, Sony can release a firmware update at a later time which will imbue the NEX VG10 with the superpower of 24p.

Beyond that, the E-mount lens system is a bit underwhelming for those looking to use the Nikon or say Zeiss primes they already have in their kits such as this, this, this or this. Yum.

In the end, the Sony NEX-VG10 seems like a good b-cam, or second camera to use in a pinch. Although it weighs-in at 3 pounds, perhaps it could kick some independent documentary film ass.

Says Sony:

Targeting video enthusiasts and photographers, the NEX-VG10E opens up unprecedented artistic possibilities not achievable with conventional consumer video cameras.

Great insights and rundown over at EOSHD.com and PC World has a hands-on review of the Sony NEX-VG10.