The compact professional camcorders manufactured by Sony have introduced a new level of mobility for ENG and documentary-making worldwide with their superb quality and compact dimensions. These camcorders have dramatically revolutionized the traditional methods of capturing video footage. With the new Sony HVR-V1U camcorder, now you can enjoy the same mobility with the breathtaking beauty of 1080/24P shooting, and have the freedom to create video material with much greater creativity and visual impact. The HVR-V1U will pave the way into a new world of HD video productions.
- 1080/24P scanning with 2:3 pull-down recording
- 3 ClearVid CMOS sensor system; 4:2:2 color used by Sony Enhanced Image Processor
- 20x Carl Zeiss Vario-Zonnar T lens with extra-low dispersion glass; 1.5x digital extender
- 3.5-inch widescreen Clear Photo plus LCD display
- Dual XLR audio inputs with variable control; supplied shotgun microphone
- Dual XLR audio inputs with variable control and supplied shotgun microphone
- 3 ClearVid CMOS sensor system , 4:2:2 color used by Sony Enhanced Image Processor
- 1080/24P scanning with 2:3 pull-down recording
- 20x Carl Zeiss Vario-Zonnar T lens with extra-low dispersion glass , 1.5x digital extender
Outstanding, with some minor caveats
I have had the chance to use this camera a few times, plus compare it to some other HD cameras out there in it's price range, and came away impressed by a few aspects, and more knowing about a few others to consider.
All in all this is a great little HD camera that takes great pictures right out of the box. It handles really nice, has a true microphone that comes with it, and the lens is great on it with it's 20x ratio. It's slow-motion, though at quality a little less than SD, looks fantastic and is great fun to play with. The camera's low light capability is not as good as the Canon XH-A1 in the same price range, or the Panasonic HVX200 (another $2k+), or as good as the older Sony Z1 (which doesn't shoot 24fps). Looking back, the Sony PD170, which was the low-light standard is about 2 stops better in very low light. But the V1u's low light performance is almost one of taste. The camera tends to give a little more fine grain in such low light, kind of like film in some...
Who should buy this camcorder?
I bought my HVR-V1U and have had it a week now. I am very impressed with the quality of video with very good light. In low light the quality of this video camera is poor. But after doing hours and hours of research I decided on this model for a few reasons.
1) Size - This camcorder is about the same size as a VX-2000 with the same feel and pretty much the same layout.
2) 24p - This camcorder can shoot film in true 24p which is great if you want to give your video that "Film look"
3) XLR - This camcorder has 2 XLR inputs to put real good microphones on it if you want and comes with a $230 microphone.
4) HDMI - This model has an HDMI out so I can quickly and easily with one cord connect it to my HDTV. The Sony HDR-FX1 doesn't have this.
I think the slow motion feature is pretty cool to experiment with. But the quality is low and of course there is no sound when you do this.
Everything on the camcorder is made very well. No cheap buttons or...



