Sony HVR-HD1000U

tcbetka wrote on 9/30/2008, 5:48 AM
Any opinions on this camera?

It's miniDV format, but Sony offers a nice external HD option to fulfill the quick file transfer requirement. Checking some reputable stores on the internet (thanks for the tips on these, for those who've sent emails!), I see that this camera is indeed within my budget. This is a very nice looking camera, but I wonder if it's simply too much for my needs right now?

As usual, thanks for the opinions.

TB

Comments

tcbetka wrote on 9/30/2008, 5:59 AM
Ah, found this thread on the camera:

http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/forums/ShowMessage.asp?ForumID=4&MessageID=603459

...it seems that folks don't feel it's as good as it looks.

TB
farss wrote on 9/30/2008, 6:16 AM
Yes,
it's a HC7 in a big, mostly empty box. I really don't like it and the most annoying thing is the viewfinder doesn't extend far enough from the camera body to line up with my eye. So I very quickly get a pain in my neck. If you don't have such a fat head as I you might be OK with it.

The one plus and why we have several of them is they have composite and component on RCA connectors which is handy when running to a vision mixer.

The pictures are quite good but you can get the same for less money and bulk by buying the HC7

Bob.
Laurence wrote on 9/30/2008, 7:56 AM
With the HVR-HD1000U, you'd basically have the same quality as you already have with your Sony AVCHD camcorder. Not that this is bad. It's quite good actually.

The advantages of the HD1000 is that it looks more professional if you are charging money for your work and the shoulder mounting gives you a nice steady picture compared to hand-holding a small camcorder.

Pop a nice monopod under your current camera and your footage will look just as good.
DRuether wrote on 9/30/2008, 8:48 AM
As others have said, the HD1000U is unlikely to satisfy - but if you can afford it, the about to be released Sony HDR-FX1000 (see - http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/581316-REG/Sony_HDR_FX1000_HDR_FX1000_Handycam_HDV_Camcorder.html for a description and price) is likely to be the HD equivalent of the wonderful and long-running low-light Mini-DV king, the VX2000/2100 (and its variants).
--DR
TheHappyFriar wrote on 9/30/2008, 9:38 AM
I like it. I don't like the small cams, I find it hard to keep them steads & it's hard to hold them eye level.

Right now, I wouldn't trade it for a cheaper one. But when I bought it in January/Fed, there wasn't really anything between it's price (~$1400) & a $2,500 camera. There might be now. But for ~$23,000 I got the camera, two archive tapes (they are really really good, no dropouts on those tapes yet & I've over-written them ~6 or 8 times now. The cheap tapes give dropouts in HD after ~2 or 3 uses. Not many, but 1/2 a second is 1/2 a second!
JohnnyRoy wrote on 9/30/2008, 9:48 AM
In the $1500 - $2500 range I would go for the Sony HDR-FX7 at $1999USD. This looks like a really nice HDV camera for the price.

~jr
TheHappyFriar wrote on 9/30/2008, 10:26 AM
that wasn't around 8 months ago. :) At least not at that price (I looked & looked & looked & looked...)