Sony FX7, Sony FX1, Sony Z1U, Canon XH A1, XH G1, Panasonic AG-HVX200, JVC GY-HD110U Compared

by John Neely
Published on Sep 7, 2006 3:30 AM

Related Articles

News: New Panasonic AG-HPX170 P2 Pro Camcorder · Exploring the Panasonic HVX200 · Sony HVR-V1U, Sony HDR-FX7, HVR-Z1U, Canon XH A1, JVC GY-HD110U, and Panasonic AG-HVX200 Compared


 Read Full Coverage of Sony HDR-FX7 on CamcorderInfo.com

HD Market Overview

Photo Gallery

 HDR-FX7 Announced

The Indie Dispatch: Special
FX7 Edition

Model

Sony HDR-FX7

 Sony HDR-FX1 Sony HVR-Z1U Canon XH A1/ XH G1 JVC GY-HD110U Panasonic AG-HVX200
Price
 $3500.00 $3700.00 $5946.00 XH A1 $3999.00 (est.) XH G1 $6999.00 (est.)  $6295.00 $5995.00

Video
Model
 Sony HDR-FX7 Sony HDR-FX1 Sony HVR-Z1U Canon XH A1/XH G1 JVC GY-HD110U Panasonic AG-HVX200
Image Sensor
3 x 1/4” ClearVid CMOS (RGB)
 3 x 1/3” CCD
Super HAD		 3 x 1/4” ClearVid CMOS (RGB)
 3 x 1/3” CCD 3 x 1/3” CCD 3 x 1/3” CCD
Gross pixels per Sensor
 1120K pixel each 1120K pixel each 1120K pixel each 1670K pixel 1110 K pixel 500K pixel each (Uses pixel shift to achieve higher resolution)
Effective pixels
1037K pixel 1037K pixel 1070K pixel SD DV 4:3: 1170K pixel
SD DV 16:9: 1560K pixel
HDV: 1560K pixel		 NA  
Frame Rates
1080/60i, 480 60i
 1080/60i, 480/60i, 1080/30F, 480/30

1080/60i, 1080/50i, 480/60i, 576/50i, 1080/30F, 480/30F

1080/60i, 480/60i, 1080/30F, 480/30, 1080/60i, 480/30F, 1080/24F, 480/24F 720/24p, 720/25p, 720/30p, 576/50p, 480/60p, 480/24p, 480/60i 1080/60i, 1080/24p, 1080/24pA, 1080/30p, 720/60p, 720/24p, 720/30p, 480/60i, 480/24p, 480/30p 

Media
Model
 Sony HDR-FX7 Sony HDR-FX1 Sony HVR-Z1U Canon XH A1/XH G1 JVC GY-HD110U Panasonic AG-HVX200
HDV Media
MiniDV MiniDV MiniDV MiniDV MiniDV P2 Card (SD DV to MiniDV tape)

Lens and Optical Features
Model
 Sony HDR-FX7 Sony HDR-FX1 Sony HVR-Z1U Canon XH A1/XH G1 JVC GY-HD110U Panasonic AG-HVX200
Optical Zoom
20x 12x 12x 20x 16x  13x
Lens Mount
No No No No Yes No
Lens F-Stop
 F=1.6-2.8 F=1.6-2.8 F=1.6-2.8 F=1.6-3.5 F=1.4 F=1.6
Focal Length
 37.4mm-748mm
 4.5mm-54mm

16:9 - 32.5mm-390mm
4:3 - 4.5mm-54mm

 5.4-108mm 5.5-88mm 4.2 mm-55 mm
Minimum illumination
4 lux 3 lux 3 lux  60i, 1/60 ss = 7 lux, 1/30 ss=4 lux; 24F, 1/48 ss = 6 lux  NA  3 lux
Filter Diameter
62 mm 72 mm 72 mm 72mm 72mm 82mm
ND Filter
1/4, 1/16 1/6, 1/32 1/6, 1/32 1/6, 1/32 1/4, 1/16  1/8, 1/64

LCD/Viewfinder
Model
 Sony HDR-FX7 Sony HDR-FX1 Sony HVR-Z1U Canon XH A1/XH G1 JVC GY-HD110U Panasonic AG-HVX200
Viewfinder
Color 252K pixel Color 252K pixel Color 252K pixel Color 0.57" 269K pixel Color 230K pixel Color 0.44” 235K pixel
LCD
Color 3.5" 250K pixel Color 3.5" 250K pixel Color 3.5" 250K pixel Color 2.8” 207K pixel Color 3.5" 250K pixel Color 3.5” 210K pixel

Audio
Model
 Sony HDR-FX7 Sony HDR-FX1 Sony HVR-Z1U Canon XH A1/XH G1 JVC GY-HD110U Panasonic AG-HVX200
Audio recording System
HDV (MPEG2, 48)
SD DV (12bit,16bit)		 HDV (MPEG2, 48)
SD DV (12bit,16bit)		 HDV (MPEG2, 48)
SD DV (12bit,16bit)		 HDV (MPEG2, 48)
SD DV (12bit,16bit)		 HDV (MPEG2, 48)
SD DV (12bit,16bit)		 HDV: MPEG1 Audio Layer II 48kHz, 384 kbps/2 channels)
SD DV:  PCM 16 bits 48kHz/2 channels; 12 bit 32kHz/4 channels
Microphone IN
 3.5mm stereo mini jack 3.5mm stereo mini jack XLR in x 2 XLR in x 2 XLR in x 2 XLR in x 2
Headphone
Yes (Mini) Yes (Mini) Yes (Mini) Yes (Mini) Yes (Mini)  Yes (Mini)
Audio IN Terminal
      16 bit (2 channels), 12 bits (4 channels)   Pin jack x 2

Zoom
Model
 Sony HDR-FX7 Sony HDR-FX1 Sony HVR-Z1U Canon XH A1/XH G1 JVC GY-HD110U Panasonic AG-HVX200
Zoom Control
 Grip and handle levers Grip and handle levers Grip and handle levers Grip and handle levers Grip
 Grip and handle levers
Secondary Zoom
Ring
 Ring (not variable speed) Ring (not variable speed) Handle, ring Ring - mechanical
 Ring
Adjustable Zoom Speed
Yes
 Yes Yes Variable or multiple constant speed settings  Yes Yes - 3 speeds

Manual Controls and Handling
Model
 Sony HDR-FX7 Sony HDR-FX1 Sony HVR-Z1U Canon XH A1/XH G1 JVC GY-HD110U Panasonic AG-HVX200
Shutter Speed
 1/4 - 1/10,000
 1/4 - 1/10,000
 1/4 - 1/10,000 1/4-1/15,000
    1/4-1/2000
White Balance
Auto/One Push, A/B Preset Auto/One Push, A/B Preset Manual, Auto, One Push Auto, 3200K, 5800K Manual, 2 custom presets   Manual, 2 custom presets
Zebra Patterning
Yes Yes Yes 70%-100% in 5% steps   50%-105% in 5% steps
Exposure Range
F1.6-F11 (24 step) F1.6-F11 (24 step) F1.6-F11 (24 step)  N/A    N/A
Gain
 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18dB 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 18dB 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 18dB -3 - 36dB 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 18dB Up to 18dB (60i/60p)
Up to 12dB (30p/24p)
Ring Controls
 Focus, zoom Focus, zoom Focus, zoom Focus, zoom, iris   Focus
Customized Keys
6 assignable buttons, 2 users
 3 assignable buttons 6 assignable buttons Yes   3 assignable buttons
Gripping Positions
Grip, handle Grip, handle Grip, handle Grip, handle    Grip, handle

Still Features
Model
 Sony HDR-FX7 Sony HDR-FX1 Sony HVR-Z1U Canon XH A1/XH G1 JVC GY-HD110U Panasonic AG-HVX200
Still Resolutions
 1.22 MP
NA NA 1920x1080, 1440x1080, 848x480, 640x480 NA NA
Still Media
 MemoryStick PRO
 NA NA SD, MMC NA SD
Photo Buttons
Grip
 NA NA Grip, handle NA NA

Ports
Model
 Sony HDR-FX7 Sony HDR-FX1 Sony HVR-Z1U Canon XH A1/XH G1 JVC GY-HD110U Panasonic AG-HVX200
HD/SD-SDI Out
 NA NA NA XH A1: No
XH G1: Yes		 NA NA
HDMI Yes NA Yes Yes
 Yes
 Yes
Genlock In
 NA NA  No XH A1: No
XH G1: Yes		 NA  No
TC-In/Out
 NA NA  No XH A1: No
XH G1: Yes		 NA  No
IEEE 1394
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
S-Video IN/OUT
 Component, Mini and S-Video Component, Mini and S-Video Component, Mini and S-Video Yes   Yes
Composite Video IN/OUT
 Composite (Mini) in/out Composite (Mini) in/out Composite (Mini) in/out RCA/BNC jack RCA Composite in/out
Audio OUT
 Stereo Stereo Stereo RCA Stereo mini jack  
Accessory Shoe
Cold Cold Cold Hot    
Other
 Smooth Slow Record, 1.5x Digital Zoom Extender, AF Assist




General
Model
 Sony HDR-FX7 Sony HDR-FX1 Sony HVR-Z1U Canon XH A1/XH G1 JVC GY-HD110U Panasonic AG-HVX200
Dimensions
 175mm x 156mm x 322mm
(5 3/4” x 6 1/4” x 12 3/4”)		 151mm x 181mm x 365mm
(5 15/16” x 7 1/8” x 14 3/8”)		 151mm x 181mm x 365mm
(5 15/16” x 7 1/8” x 14 3/8”)		 163mm x 189mm x 351mm
(6.4" x 7.4" x 13.8")
 235mm x 232mm x 315mm
(9 1/4" x 9 1/8" x 12 3/8") 		168.5mm x 180mm x 390mm
(6 11/16” x 7 1/8” x 15 3/8”)
Weight
 1.6 kg (3.52 lb.) w/battery 2.1 kg (4.7 lbs.) w/o battery 2.1 kg (4.7 lbs.) w/o battery XH A1: 2.26 kg (4.98 lbs.) w/battery
XH G1: 2.33 kg (5.14 lbs.) w/battery
 3.1 kg (6.9 lbs.) including lens, battery, microphone and tape) 2.5 kg (5.5 lbs.) w/o battery
Power Consumption
NA
 7.4 W VF, 8.0 W LCD, 8.4 W VF+LCD 7.4 W VF, 8.0 W LCD, 8.4 W VF+LCD  7.4V DC 7.2 V  7.2V DC