Sony camcorders: Difference between revisions

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Sony produces a number of camcorders.

The Sony HDR-HC1, introduced in Mid-2005 (MSRP 1999$ US), was the first HDV CMOS camcorder to support 1080i. The CMOS sensor has a resolution of 1920x1440 for digital stillMedia:Example.ogg pictures and captures video at 1440x1080 interlaced, which is the resolution defined for HDV 1080i. The camera may also use the extra pixels for digital image stabilization.

The camcorder can also convert the captured HDV data to DV data for editing the video using non-linear editing systems which do not support HDV or for creating edits which are viewable on non-HDTV television sets. Link title

The Sony HDR-HC5, introduced in May 2007 (MSRP 1099$ US), was the third DV tape HDV CMOS camcorder to support 1080i. The 1/3 CMOS sensor has a resolution of 2MP and interlaced 4MP for digital still pictures and captures video at 1440x1080 interlaced, which is the resolution defined for HDV 1080i. The camera may also use the extra pixels for digital image stabilization. Digital photos can be stored on Memory Stick. Minimum Light to operate on is 2Lux.

The camcorder can also convert the captured HDV data to DV data for editing the video using non-linear editing systems which do not support HDV or for creating edits which are viewable on non-HDTV television sets.

The Sony HDR-HC7, introduced in May 2007 (MSRP 1399$ US), was the another DV tape HDV CMOS camcorder to support 1080i. The 1/2.9 CMOS sensor has a resolution of 3MP and interlaced 6MP for digital still pictures and captures video at 1440x1080 interlaced, which is the resolution defined for HDV 1080i. The camera differs from the HC5 by including a manual focus wheel, mic and headphone jacks, and a slightly larger imaging sensor, producing 3200K gross pixels versus the 2100K gross pixels of the HC5. The HC7 also sports Sony's Super SteadyShot® Optical Image Stabilization System. Digital photos can be stored on Memory Stick. Minimum Light to operate on is 2Lux.

The camcorder can also convert the captured HDV data to DV data for editing the video using non-linear editing systems which do not support HDV or for creating edits which are viewable on non-HDTV television sets.

In December 2007, Sony released the HD1000, the shouldermount version of the HC7. Advantages of the HD1000 (over HC7) include (1) much more stable off-tripod footage with the shouldermount (2) fullsize zoom control while shouldermount (3) custom ring to manually control the focusing, exposure (iris and gain), zoom, or shutter speed (4) ability to mount a large video light on its front coldshoe (5) ability to mount wireless audio on its rear coldshoe, and more.

The Sony HDR-FX1, introduced in late 2004, was the first HDV 3CCD camcorder which supported 1080i (1440 X 1080 resolution with 4:2:0 color sampling). The Sony HVR-Z1U is the "professional" version of this camera with additional features such as balanced XLR audio inputs, DVCAM recording, and extended DSP capabilities (i.e. cine/gamma controls).

In September of 2006, Sony announced FX1's successor - Sony HDR-FX7. The notable differences include a change from a three-CCD sensor to a three-CMOS one.

The FX1 offers Cineframe shooting modes at 30 and 24 frames per second. The camera is still using an interlaced image but extracts progressive images from individual fields by doubling them. The 30fps and 24fps do not offer the same resolution as true progressive scanning but may nonetheless be useful for recording progressive images without interlacing. Furthermore, the 24fps Cineframe shooting mode does not offer the same resolution or motion cadence as true 24fps progressive scanning.

The HDR-FX1 includes three 1/3-inch 16:9 1.12 Megapixel gross CCDs. Each CCD measures 960 x 1080 pixels. The HDR-FX1 also includes a 12x optical Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* lens, a 3.5-inch LCD screen, a zoom ring, focus ring, and an iris / aperture ring.

The Sony HDR-FX7, was introduced in September of 2006, almost two years after the introduction of Sony's first HDV camcorder, Sony HDR-FX1. The new camcorder is the first camcorder below $3,000 to offer full 1080 HD resolution with a three-chip sensor.

• Resolution: Sony claims "full" 1080 HD
• Sensor: changed to 3 x 1/4” ClearVid CMOS
• Light sensitivity: worse by 33% (4lux)
• Zoom: increased to 20x optical zoom
• Lens/filter: decreased to 62mm
• Video out: included HDMI
• Weight: reduced to 1.6 kg (3.52 lb.)

The company line (as expressed by Harry Haruna, Manager of Camcorder Product Planning for Sony USA) is that the new Sony HDR-FX7 will have a much improved resolution (full 1080 HD) when the lighting is good. In low-light situations, Sony FX1 will still produce better results.

The Sony HDR-SR1, introduced in late 2006, was the first high definition hard disk drive based camcorder from Sony. It launched with a 30 gigabyte internal drive and - along with the Sony HDR-UX1 - is the first camcorder that records high definition video in AVCHD format. In June 2007, Sony released two new AVCHD format HD Hard Disk camcorders, a 40GB (HDR-SR5) and 60GB model (HDR-SR7), both of which add the ability to record in Dolby Digital 5.1. Like most HDV camcorders, all current AVCHD models capture video in 1440x1080i resolution.

In June 2007, Sony Australia released the HDR CX7K, the first AVCHD format HD camcorder to record video to a memory card. As with most Sony products, the HDR CX7K records to Sony's own Memory Stick. The product comes bundled with a 4GB Memory Stick Duo which Sony states will hold 30 mins of HD video.

• Sony HDR-SR1 review
• Sony HDR-FX7 review
• Sony HDR-HC1 review
• Sony HDR-HC1 manual
• Examination of Cineframe modes at adamwilt.com.
• Sony FX1 review at FilmDailies.com - a filmmaker's blog
• Sony HDR-FX7 review - FX1 successor