New Sony HDV cameras!

Laurence wrote on 5/17/2005, 3:40 PM
It looks like an HD successor to the PD10:

http://news.sel.sony.com/pressrelease/5925

Like the PD10, there is also a consumer version, the HDR-HC1.

Both have a singe 1/3-inch, 3-megapixel Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) image, which I suppose is a fancy way of saying 1 CCD (but at least it's a 1/3" one).

Comments

farss wrote on 5/17/2005, 4:05 PM
CMOS is NOT the same as convention CCDs.
If they bring out a PAL version I'l think seriously about buying it, not to shoot HDV, I just don't believe I could use such a tiny camera to capture decent HDV, but to shoot SD 16:9 while travelling.
What I'd love to see Sony make is a decent true 16:9 SD PAL camera that's small enough to take on my travels. The PDX10 is too big, too expensive and crippled by its minute CCDs
Bob.
Quryous wrote on 5/17/2005, 4:32 PM
Is the USB 1.1 port actually usable? I thought they stopped making that stuff 2 or 3 years ago.

And such a TINY little screen, and a touch-screen thingie, to boot. Ugh!
RalphM wrote on 5/17/2005, 4:48 PM
A while back I bought a D8 camcorder to use for transferring 8mm analog to DVD. The touch screen is not my favorite, but it does have a few interesting atttributes such as the ability to touch the area of the screen that you wish to be in focus, etc.

The real problem is that it is hard to keep the camcorder steady while you poke the screen, and if you are outside, its a real problem. If the screen were detachable, it would be interesting.

The real interest of the single chip HD for me is in the still grab capability. When I transfer film to video, there is still not a decent way to capture individual frames for making prints. This camera may be the way to go.
John_Cline wrote on 5/17/2005, 4:54 PM
Is the USB 1.1 port actually usable? I thought they stopped making that stuff 2 or 3 years ago.

As I said to you in the other thread, all it uses the USB port for is transferring stills and maybe web-cam streaming. The still files aren't that large and it won't take that much longer to transfer than with a USB 2.0 port. It's NOT an issue, really.

And such a TINY little screen

Its a tiny camcorder. Would you have preferred that they made the camcorder bigger in order to use a larger screen?

Ugh!

You don't have to buy one.

John
Laurence wrote on 5/17/2005, 6:32 PM
What I wonder is how good the single 1/3" chip will be in low light.
Quryous wrote on 5/17/2005, 7:37 PM
You are right, Johh. I don't HAVE to buy one. But I would like to buy SOMEthing suitable. I would LIKE it to be a Sony.

If it needs to be a bit taller to have a usable screen, so be it. If it has a bottom feed, no way. If it has one of those touch screens, VERY doubtful. Too "touchy" while in use. Causes jiggles. Can't stand them and the fingerprints. I'd also expect a 3-chip unit unless the CMOS has improved so much lately that three are no longer desirable. If Pana can put out a whole line of 3 chippers for under $1300 you'd think that Sony could do at least as well for their price.
John_Cline wrote on 5/17/2005, 9:15 PM
Personally, I would think that the Z1/FX1 is the minimum for producing any sort of commercial HD video. I look at the new HDV camcorders as more point and shoot, family vacation camcorders that just happen to be HDV. Maybe, for example, they could be used for some POV stuff where the Z1/FX1 just wouldn't be practical from a size standpoint.

It does appear that the new HDV camcorders are indeed bottom-loaders and that bothers me as much as it bothers you. What a pain!

As far as the touchscreen is concerned, I never change anything in the menu when I'm rolling on a shot anyway. Other people might and, for them, this may be a problem.

About chip size, a single 1/3" 3-megapixel chip might actually look pretty good. I guess we'll have to wait and see.

John
Cheesehole wrote on 5/17/2005, 10:46 PM
Not small enough for me.

I'm waiting for the matchbox size camcorders to go HD. What's the hold up anyway? My Canon Opturas can take 2 MP stills and they use most of the CCD's pixels for recording SD video... so it seems like all it would need is a new chip to do the HDV compression and *POOF* - pocket size HD camcorders that I can mount next to each other for shooting in 3D!