On the Road with the HVR-V1U, Part 4 by Steve Mullen Published on Dec 19, 2006 6:00 AM
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A video pro journeys to the far ends of the globe with Sony’s new HVR-V1U. Steve Mullen provides first-hand accounts of the camcorder’s features and performance exclusively for CamcorderInfo.com.

<- Read Part 3

Part 4
I’m on the road in Asia with an HVR-V1 HDV camcorder on loan from Sony. I’m gathering data for my “Sony HVR-V1 and HDR-FX7 (Review, Specs, Recent News, $2599) Handbook” to be released in January 2007. As I write this report, I am in Chennai, India.

Gamma determines the relationship between light input (X-axis) and signal output (Y-axis from 0 to 110IRE). Gamma can be represented as a curve as shown below.

 

The V1 offers three gamma curves, while the FX7 offers two. Both offer Normal Gamma (no Cinematone Gamma enabled) and Cinematone Gamma Type 1. The V1 also offers Cinematone Gamma Type 2. Images from the three curves are shown below.

 
Normal Gamma

 
Cinematone Gamma Type 1

 
Cinematone Gamma Type 2

My initial tests in Las Vegas convinced me that I would never want the amount of black “crush” provided by Type 2. Nevertheless, so many folks asked me to shoot 24p with a “film look” I used decided to try Type 2. Type 2 worked well for the Hindu wedding in Malaysia, given the relatively even illumination in the wedding hall. When, however, shooting at the Temple, in very high contrast situations, I noticed a severe lack of latitude. Nevertheless, I decided to stick with Type 2 until I could view the footage on an HD monitor.

So the next day I went to my neighborhood “Sony World” and viewed in a 55-inch RP HDTV (the one I have at home) and a 46-inch Bravia.

 

 

I say neighborhood, because Chennai is a very large city of 8 million. Therefore, there are multiple Sony Worlds. And, I say “my” because I’ve been working in and visiting India (and the entire Asia/Pacific region) since the early `80s. For the last 15-years, I’ve come almost every December/January to Chennai.

When I watched the Temple video using Cinematone Gamma Type 2 I did appreciate than many shots were very dramatic and “filmic.” Nevertheless, I’ve decided Cinematone Gamma Type 2 should be used only in low-contrast situations. Therefore, I’ve switched to Cinematone Gamma Type 1 as my standard Cinema gamma.

Of course, since I’m shooting 24p I have enabled Cinematone Color. Color Level and Color Phase have both been set to zero. Sharpness has been slightly decreased from “7” (Normal) to “5.”

In my next report, we will look at Black Compensation and Knee control.

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Steve Mullen owns Digital Video Consulting that offers eBooks on HD production. Currently, DVC (www.mindspring.com/~d-v-c) offers two eBooks: the Sony HDV Handbook and the JVC ProHD Handbook. In January 2007, DVC will offer a new title: the Sony HVR-V1 and HDR-FX7 Handbook.