Strongest Point & Shoot Mini DV Camcorder by Sony
Written: Jan 06 '05 (Updated Jan 07 '05)
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Pros: Professional quality video output from small precision camcorder; Top quality and Easy of use.
Cons: You pay for the quality. Touch screen is awkward till you get hang of it.
The Bottom Line: HC1000 is a top quality Sony camcorder that produces pro quality video in point and shoot mode, but has total control through user configurable touch screens.
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| sailorpilot's Full Review: Sony DCR-HC1000 Mini DV Digital Camcorder |
This is a top notch point & shoot camcorder. I bought it despite its cost after long study (also carefully comparing Panasonic and Canon offerings), finally deciding video quality and its ease of use in all circumstances outweighed alleged inconveniences that might result from its having several controls on its touch screen. The video it produces is commercially viable. After all, Alexandra Pelosi filmed her entire video of the President's 2000 campaign - which was nominated for 6 Emmys - on an earlier version of this handheld by Sony (the respected TRV900). Pelosi has stated she was able to rely entirely on the logic built in by Sony in its "point and shoot" mode and never set a lever on the camera during hundreds of hours of shooting. You can change settings but you must learn the use of the touchscreen which is complicated and foreign to those not experienced with it.
Quality is evident in this camera's craftmanship. Sony's experience is incorporated in the design and mix of features and the automated settings that can optionally be used that result in ease of use and top quality video from the 3 CCD camera. Its colors in the video output are dead on.
For the videographer looking to change settings, the hybrid zoom and focus ring is excellent and other settings are available through the user configurable touch screen menu.
A few key features of this camera include: Top quality Carl Zeis T* lens; 3 large chips with quality color video; 37mm optics larger than some predecessors); Top quality optical anti-shake technology; High quality Night shot mode; Ample program features including overexposure zebra stripes; passthrough analog conversions of older media to digital format; upgraded hybred LCD that is easier to see in bright light; great closeup ability (you will also want to get the $119 Sony VCL-SW04 wide angle lens as the standard lens has the 35mm equivalency of a telephoto lens covering a range of 49mm to 588mm - there is plenty of zoom there and the optical steady shot is necessary to make it usable, but you will seem too close to your subject without the wide angle lens); Excellent 16:9 improved video output; reliable timers showing amount of time in all modes left in battery; new handheld grip on right side of camera that allows ease of shooting from shoulder-high down to ground shots; jacks for headphone, alternate mic, video in and out; availability reported for improved 4-channel sound with PC software (I am a mac enthusiast and my setup doesnot include that); top notch infrared focus; the digital camera mode is mediocre with a 1 MB output but I recommend you don't buy a camcorder - especially this one - to shoot snapshots; the camera uses the new short format, Sony memory stick duo - and those are also not cheap in larger sizes.
A new battery system provides over an hour of per battery, but you can extend this with the backlighting on the LCD and other higher drain options off. There is also a very good comprehensive (if IMHO extremely overly pessimistic and unfairly critical) review of the camera focusing on that reviewers personal perceptions of the negatives of the touch screen (its not that bad) at http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content/Sony-DCR-HC1000-Camcorder-Review.htm . I fully considered that and other critical reviews before making the purchase. We intend to use the camera for pro-sumer and commercial output. I saw both the HC1000 and its rivals considered by the review (one of them has allegedly since had significant quality control manufacturing problems). I am happy to have purchased the Sony HC1000 for its quality, usability and its production output, and am not in the least disappointed.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 1355.00
Recommended for: Professional Videographers - Broadcast Quality Videos
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Epinions.com ID:
sailorpilot
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Member: Ed Kelly
Location: sailing US & Caribbean
Reviews written: 3
Trusted by: 1 member
About Me:
Ocean sailor, IFR pilot, Amateur Radio, photography and videography, Experienced Trial Lawyer and present cruiser.
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