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The Macro mode and shooting in low light were also surprisingly good. The images are too large to display in this review, but here are some links to images straight from the camera, captured using the Sony Vegas preview frame print.
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| Image captured in low light. Click image for larger view. |
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| Image captured in macro view. Click image for macro view |
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| AutoLock allows users to lock in their parameters and simply shoot, without worrying about shifting exposures. |
One surprise on the camera is a Lanc control. For a consumer camcorder to have this feature is huge, because it means that if a device such as an Edirol R4 is being used as a master audio recorder with one of the big brother Z1 camcorders, the HC1 can stop/start the R4, providing frame-accurate sync in post during capture. That?s impressive!
Another sweet surprise is the built in Histogram, which allows users to see the balance of color across the spectrum, aiding in finding over exposed points, and can be left on in the lower right of the camcorder preview window at all times, and may be seen in the viewfinder. The camera further offers a Zebra mode that may be set to a value of 70 or 100.
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| The HC1E offers Firewire/iLink output, USB2 output (best for still images) a component output, and a composite/audio output. The outputs are hidden beneath small covers, keeping them from being exposed during shooting. Note the power adaptor input to the right of the composite output section. This is the only way to charge the camera so you don't have to worry about losing the charger. |
There is an iLink connection, a USB 2 connection, an uncompressed RGB output, and a composite output on the camera, an S-Vid/Y/C cable would have added a little more to it, but that also would have meant more size. It's hard to keep realizing this camera is aimed at the consumer market due to the quality of output it provides. A few gripes with this camera that need to be mentioned.
The bottom loading mechanism, while necessary to maintain the small profile of the camera, is really annoying and inconvenient if one is using a tripod. Sony needs to figure out some sort of tripod offset, because taking a professional sled off the bottom of this camcorder every hour is a pain. I know, this isn?t a professional camcorder, but it?s inevitable that the cam will be used on a tripod. I also don?t care for the lens if the lenshood isn?t mounted on the camera, and it?s quite easy to knock the lens hood off. The curvature of the lens takes the edge of the glass very close to the front of the lens where it?s not much to scratch or damage. You?ll definitely want a Sky 1A or similar lens protection on this camera. I wouldn?t consider shooting with out it. I also wish the camera had a traditional shoe rather than the Sony-proprietary AIS shoe. The reasoning behind the Sony proprietary shoe is evident, but it doesn?t seem that offering both, or at least offering a standard shoe that could dummy mount (no power) into the AIS shoe doesn?t seem like too much to ask. It would be a cheap bit of plastic, and would allow for a standard shotgun mic mount or small self-powered
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| The HC1E is screen-menu driven, and you can save shortcut/presets, somewhat like saving a picture profile with the HVR-Z1U HDV camcorder. |
All in all, this consumer camera sports a number of features that one doesn?t normally find until spending in to the low end professional camcorders, and this is extremely refreshing to experience in a sub 2K camera. In fact, other than it?s small size and heft, it?s quite possible that this is the camcorder that will break down barriers into the hobbyist-starting-to-do-wedding-event videos, as it has a low cost, awesome picture-for-price factor, and is packed with necessary features that not only assist in getting a great image, but take steps towards training and familiarizing the newcomer to the camcorder world with features found on more expensive camcorders. Considering that it's also a very nice DV camera that offers pass through, audio dubbing (SP Mode only) and a host of other handy features, the sub-2K price tag is very attractive indeed.
Happy shooting
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