DCR PC-1000 vs DCR HC-1000

I am at a loss. I want to know which one of these is better. I want to keep my budget around 1500.00. These two seem to be at the top of my list, but I'm not sure which to buy. Any suggestions would be cool. I'm looking for Pros/Cons about each that a newbie can understand. I want good video, with ease of use. I do plan to use 16X9 and want the option for surround sound. I guess what I'm asking is: What would you buy and why? Thanks,.

BTW: I'm also considering the Pan GS400

I'm also trying to decide between these two. It's tough because the PC1000 is brand new, unreviewed and using a brand new technology (Cmos sensors).

For about another $200 street, though, I'm leaning towards the HC1000.

The HC1000 uses a 1/3" CCD with Sony's proven HAD technology. The PC1000 uses a never before tried CMOS sensor (for lower cost, not higher performance) and the CCD is only 1/6". Without any reviews in yet, you have to believe image quality and low light performance will be a notch above on the HC1000.

The other advantage I believe is that the HC1000 uses optical stabilization. Better image quality, better low light and better stabilization for $200 more? You better believe it.

If that goes out of your budget though, at this point the safer play might be the HC90 which specs the same as the PC350 for around $750 online.

The PC-1000 is rated at YIKES!!!!..........................7 LUX.


I'm also trying to decide between these two. It's tough because the PC1000 is brand new, unreviewed and using a brand new technology (Cmos sensors).

For about another $200 street, though, I'm leaning towards the HC1000.

The HC1000 uses a 1/3" CCD with Sony's proven HAD technology. The PC1000 uses a never before tried CMOS sensor (for lower cost, not higher performance) and the CCD is only 1/6". Without any reviews in yet, you have to believe image quality and low light performance will be a notch above on the HC1000.

The other advantage I believe is that the HC1000 uses optical stabilization. Better image quality, better low light and better stabilization for $200 more? You better believe it.

If that goes out of your budget though, at this point the safer play might be the HC90 which specs the same as the PC350 for around $750 online.

Here's a review of the pc1000. Unfortunately, it's in Japanese. Can anyone translate?
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/av/docs/20050223/zooma194.htm

Same cameras were in the finals of my own decision as well. The GS400 has an awkward widescreen implementation: Unless you want to sacrifice valuable vertical resolution, you have to live with an anamorphic picture on the 4:3 monitor screen. Not very nice if you want to record mainly 16:9 format.
I don't like the indirect way the manual control ring works either.

This left only the DCR-HC1000 and the DCR-PC1000 for me.

Considering the widescreen aspect, the PC is the winner because the monitor image is considerably larger than on the 4:3 screen of the HC.

Both models have microphones that are not really decoupled from the camera body and are directed upwards. I don't expect too much from these. With the PC, you are limited to the small range of active shoe microphones that Sony has announced: One 4 channel intended for surround recording, one 2 channel and one gun/tele model. None of these are currently deliverable where I live.

The HC has better low light performance. According to the specs it has 5 lux and the PC has 7 lux minimum.
On the other hand, the PC has night vision, which the HC doesn't.

The range of shutter speeds is larger with the HC. I think this is most important for still pictures. Don't know how significant it is for video since my current camera does not allow manual shutter speed selection.

The manual ring of the HC can be used for either focus or zoom. The PC has a small dial on the left side which can get various functions assigned by means of the menu. One of these is manual exposure control. This works really smooth. On the HC you can adjust the exposure only through the menu.

Nice feature of the PC is the lens protector which automatically opens and closes.

On a japanese press page from Sony you can find some sample pictures that show the advantages of CMOS over CCD. These examples made me accept the disadvantage of worse low-light performance. I have experienced at least as many situations where I got into trouble due to too much contrast as I got into trouble due to too little light.
http://babelfish.altavista.com/babelfish/trurl_pagecontent?lp=ja_en&trurl=http%3a%2f%2fwww.sony.jp%2fCorporateCruise%2fPress%2f200502%2f05-0202%2f

Yesterday I ordered the PC 1000. Have not received it yet.

Latest update:
I've now received my PC1000.
I have to make a small correction to my previous post. At least the european version does NOT have night vision. You have really a vast amount of manual setting and configuration options.
Even though the horizontal angle of view does not change when switching between 4:3 and 16:9 the vertical resolution (lines) remain the same. This is different many other cameras.

Low light performance is bearable. Unlike CCD cameras you don't get a noisy picture, but a slightly blurry one, due to the excellent integrated noise reduction. CMOS really has better dynamic range, i.e. less over- or underexposed areas when the lighting is inhomogeneous.

The electronic (non-optical) steady shot works very well. With such a small camera it's of course difficult to achieve smooth camera movements. It matters a lot how you hold the camera. Training different positions with the camera connected to a large TV set is a good idea. Personally I achieve best results in the following way:
1. Support ellbows at the body. For horizontal camera movement, turn the upper body while not moving the feet. Hold camera ALWAYS with both hands.
2. Hold camera at waist hight keeping the ellbows about 10 cm away from the body. Your arms will serve as a kind of "steadycam". Hold camera ALWAYS with both hands.
Also the position of hands makes a big difference. Try!

Is the still quality worth mentioning?.

Like all you chaps, I troubled over the PC1000, HC90 and HC1000. Having reviewed the PC1000 against the HC90 I discounted it from my choice simply on the video quality. I personally saw the HC900 being notably better. I since opted for the HC1000 on video performance grounds following the opinions on this forum.

Hope you enjoy you PC1000s - I only wish it had better video quality at least on a par with the HC90 and I would have bought it myself

Here's a review of the pc1000. Unfortunately, it's in Japanese. Can anyone translate?
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/av/docs/20050223/zooma194.htm

Translated version from Japanese to English is here (http://www.camcorderinfo.com/bbs/showthread.php?p=126920#post126920)
Regards