Toying around with the Sony HVR-V1U
I had a chance to tinker with the Sony HVR-V1U - Sony’s pro version of the HDR-FX7. It shoots native 1080i - with a robust 24p setting that compares favorably with the Canon XH-A1. In some respects, I have always liked the solid feel that you get from a Sony - which maybe dates back to the fabulous PD-150. But what I like most about the V1U is its ease of use. This is not complicated to handle or get used to. The settings are easy to navigate and quite responsive.
The propriotary 3 CCD ClearVid CMOS system gives high quality imaging. Amazing clarity. Good color saturation. Not as good as the XH-A1 in terms of color - but that’s always the Canon vs. Sony trade-off. Still, the Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar 20x (optical) zoom is a very nice ‘peice of glass.’ It feels almost ‘meaty’ with adding too much weight or bulk. This is a nicely balanced camera. It feels solid, like a DVX100 - only with a little more heft.
Some people have told me that for under $4k, this unit is the perfect, flexible tool for the Indie Director. In some respects I agree. However, the unit I tested was then fitted with a Cinevate Brevis 35 digital imager and a nice Nikon prime. The difference was staggering. Sure the Brevis 35 adds around a grand in price to your rig - but with the extra glass it delivers 10,000 times the result. Terrific depth of field and range of focus. A giant leap in aesthetic terms.
I would definately recommend this camcorder - but it was Cinevate attachment that perhaps intrigued me more.
VISIT the Cinevate site.
FULL SPECS ON The Sony HVR-V1U
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