Sony HVR-HD1000


I posted before about the Sony XDCAM EX, a really cool, three-chip HD camcorder that records to solid-state memory, which I just can't afford. But I'd really like to get another HD camcorder so I can do a three camera shoot. Sony's HVR-HD1000 looks interesting. Here's the Pros and Cons (from my perspective):

Pros:
1. Relatively inexpensive (about $1,600 right now)
2. Records to minitapes. (While recording to solid state memory is appealing, until I have a better way to backup and archive large amounts of material, tapes are an inexpensive and attractive medium. Still, if I get this, I wouldn't be surprised if it's the last tape-based camera I buy.)
3. My other cameras are Sonys, so I should be able to figure out the thing and colors probably match better than buying another brand.
4. I really like using a shoulder mount camera for some things, and the other two cameras don't really work well that way.
5. To the uninitiated, it looks like a "real" camera.


Cons:
1. Single chip, so resolution/color not quite as good as my FX1 (but better than the second camera, so that's a bit of a wash)
2. I'm concerned that while it has some manual controls, there's not a lot of them. A single ring on the lens functions as zoom, focus, and exposure, but you have to use the menus to switch.
3. Some people say it's seems cheaply built...but I haven't seen one in person yet.

So now I just have to figure out how to pay for one!

References

1. DVinfo Net: Forum for the HVR-HD1000
2. DVinfo Net: First shoot, first impressions for HVR-HD1000
Really interesting thread started by someone that bought the camera and put it through it's paces
3. CamcorderInfo: Sony Drops the Bottom on Pro HDV Camcorders with the HVR-HD1000U
Basic information about the camera and comments from Sony about who it's being marketed to.
4. TechThoughts: Sony's HD1000u Interesting, but lacking
An interesting read, but I think the guy is way too critical and looking at it from a professional perspective. This camera is really aimed at what I'd call the semi-pro market.
5. YouTube: Promotion video of SONY HDV HVR-HD1000

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Sony GV-D200 review

Image
Sony GV-D200 I've been using a Sony GV-D200 deck to transfer old Video8 and Hi8 tapes. Some of these tapes are over twenty years old, and no longer having a Hi8 camcorder that worked I was concerned that if I didn't do something about transferring them to a more modern format soon, I might never be able to. While Sony no longer make camcorders that use these tapes - that I know of - Sony does still sell the GV-D200 deck (or Video Walkman, as it's sometimes labelled.) They also offer the GV-D800, which is almost identical but adds a small LCD screen for about $120 more. I didn't think I'd need a screen since I was using this to capture to the computer, but you will need an external monitor when you first set it up. Physically, the device is small. At 5 7/8" wide, 5 3/8" deep and 2" high, it's the smallest video deck I've encountered. I used to have a Video8 deck that I thought was small; and it was twice as deep and twice as high. The t...
Read more

Response: Which iPhone to Get?

Image
In response to my iPhone musings, I got the following reader email which actually sums up a lot of my second and third thoughts too: You might have a point about the fancier camera, but otherwise I would buy the smaller model. Its screen is about the same size as that of my Nexus 4, and I don't feel at all like it limits me with a too-small screen. But I do sometimes stretch to get my thumb the reach to the other corner of the screen. It is plenty big for a phone. A phone is a pocket thing. (Well, in my case it lives an ancient REI soft sunglasses case that I have on my belt.) Ubiquitous, handy, convenient, almost always with me. Small is crucial for all of that. Certainly a large screen is cool, but you need a place to put it: don't break a fundamental feature of a pocket phone by getting too big. That is what your small tablet is for. I have my phone with me almost always. I have my Nexus 7 tablet with me nearly as much. The bigger screen is great, yet it fits in some...
Read more

Should you buy the Sony NEX-FS100 Kit Lens?

Image
The Sony NEX-FS100 is available in two configurations: B & H : NEX-FS100U Camcorder only $4,999 B & H : NEX-FS100U (with 18-200mm lens) $5,599 But what does that extra $600 get you? It get's you this: Sony 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 Zoom Lens for NEX Camera This lens is also available separately for $799.99, so at $200 off you'd think everyone would be jumping on it. But not so fast... In his article about switching from the Canon 5D Mark II to the Sony NEX-FS100 , Paul Antico  at Need Creative says of the kit lens: 7) Its 18-200 F3.6-6.3 kit lens absolutely sucks and should be avoided (thankfully, you can order it without one) [ 1 ] But is it that bad? At B & H 's site, 43 reviews give it an average of 4.6 out of 5 stars. That's not a bad rating, though many of these people are using it for stills, and the most common complaint noted is how large and heavy it is. Of course this feeling of size would be exacerbated when you put it on a tiny camera ...
Read more