Sony HDR-HC1 HDV Camcorder Reviewby Robin LissPublished on Jun 29, 2005 1:30 PM
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Comparisons
Sony HDR-FX1 (review) Sony's HDR-FX1 is the big brother of the HDR-HC1 (Specs, $2295). The HDR-FX1 was Sony's first HDV camcorder and the first official HDV camcorder on the market (the first unofficial one was JVC's GR-HD1). The HDR-FX1 is certainly aimed at high-end users and professionals. The camcorder doesn't even have a touch screen, it has real dials for all of its control. The body is incredibly solid and it's about three times the size of the HDR-HC1.
From a performance perspective, the HDR-FX1 performs much better, though that is to be expected. The HDR-FX1 uses a 3 CCD system compared to the HDR-HC1's 1 CMOS chip system. There are also many more features on the HDR-FX1, but it doesn't include the touch screen, which some users will find easier to use.
The HDR-FX1 is really for a different market than the HDR-HC1. A wedding videographer or an independent film maker will love the HDR-FX1 for its high level of control and amazing picture quality, but a consumer would hate it for its lack of portability. It would be unrealistic to take the HDR-FX1 on a trip. Of course, that's not to say that the HDR-HC1 can't be used in prosumer situations or for independent films, it's just that the HDR-FX1 is much better.
JVC GR-HD1 (review) JVC's GR-HD1 was the first HD camcorder, and while it was an innovative product, it really lacked on many fronts. The performance was incredibly poor, and the control was limited. The HDR-HC1 wins hands-down, in my opinion. The GR-HD1 is just too old and the technology has progressed significantly since its introduction.
Canon GL2 (review) Other than the HDR-FX1 the HDR-HC1 doesn't really have a close competitor in technology. If you're looking from a price perspective, Canon's GL2 comes pretty close. Announced three years ago, the GL2 is really designed for professional shooters. It has a high level of control and does great in both bright light and low light shooting situations. It beats the HDR-HC1 on the control perspective hands down, and also wins out slightly on low light performance.
However, the GL2 is a standard definition camcorder while the HDR-HC1 is high definition. The low light performance is close, in fact almost too close to call a winner. The bottom line question here is this: do you want a three year old camcorder with more control, or a brand new high definition camcorder with slightly disabled manual control? For me, the choice is easy. The HDR-HC1 unquestionably wins. I imagine an HD competitor to the HDR-HC1 will come from Canon in the next few years, so soon this might be a much closer race, but for now, I'd recommend the HDR-HC1.
Panasonic AG-DVC30 (Review, Specs, $1700.89) (review) Panasonic's AG-DVC30 is produced by their professional division and has all the control and performance to show it. The AG-DVC30 performed better in low light, but again, you're comparing a standard definition camcorder to a high definition camcorder. Like the GL2 comparison, I'd pick the HDR-HC1 over the AG-DVC30 for the same reasons.
Sony DCR-HC1000 (Review, Specs, $1199.89) (review) To be honest, we're only including this one in this section and not the full review because any serious videographer wouldn't even consider the DCR-HC1000. While it's price is close to the HDR-HC1, it has critical design flaws that make it not even worth talking about.
Who It’s For
Point-and-Shooters (8.0)
Though the HDR-HC1 doesn’t features automatic controls as good as other Sony camcorders, it still performs well in auto mode, is easily handheld, and features an easily assignable focus / zoom ring for very easy and smooth zooms.
Budget Consumers (8.0)
While not exactly cheap, this is the cheapest HD camcorder available, and as such, is a great deal.
Still Photo / Video Camera Hybrid (7.0)
Still performance on the HDR-HC1 is excellent. It captures with roughly the same options as the DCR-PC1000 (Review, Specs, $699.97), and produces wonderfully crisp still images.
Gadget Freak (7.5)
The gadget freak should be pleasantly accommodated by the HDR-HC1’s ability to capture HD footage solely, but the combo ring, and a wealth of other features, should thoroughly wet his or her whistle.
Manual Control Freaks (8.0)
The HDR-HC1 does feature more manual control than most Sonys, including manual shutter speed, sharpness, WB shift, AE shift, and color shift, but unfortunately it lacks independent iris adjustment and gain, both of which are included on the HDR-FX1. The combo zoom / focus ring on the HDR-HC1 is perhaps the most useful manual control device on the camcorder and definitely a necessary element for such an expensive piece of electronics.
Pros / Serious Hobbyists (8.0)
Definitely for the serious hobbyist.
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MORE INFO @ SonyHDVInfo.com
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| - NEW HDR-HC1 Community - HDR-HC1 compared to HDR-FX1 - SonyHDVInfo.com's Analysis of the HDR-HC1 |
Conclusion
If the HDR-HC1 is a sign of the future and subsequent Sony HDV consumer camcorders are made this well, Sony will be able to recapture the passion of serious video consumers which they’ve seemed to have lost in recent years. The camcorder performs excellently in normal light and very well in low light. In addition, the image is about 3x sharper, with 3x more pixels than a MiniDV signal. The video produced from the HDR-HC1 is gorgeous. It's some of the best video we've seen out of any camcorder on this market. You just can't get that much quality for that few dollars anywhere else. Nothing comes close and the HDR-HC1 even challenges Panasonic's PV-GS400 (Review, Specs, $1099) for the position of best value on the market today.
The HDR-HC1 is an example of how Sony knows how to make high-end camcorders. The DCR-VX2100 (Review, Specs, $1980) with its excellent low light performance, the HDR-FX1 which produces stunning images and is built like a rock, and even the DCR-DVD403 (Review, Specs, $489) which is a DVD camcorder that even a camcorder nerd can love--the HDR-HC1 will join this group of higher-end Sony camcorders as a great model. Sony was smart to include a focus / zoom ring, the exposure dial, the advanced audio options as well as the ultra crisp viewfinder. Add all that to the fact that the HDR-HC1 is a high definition camcorder producing stunning images, and you have a camcorder that is one of the best on the market today, and certainly the best buy in its price range.
The HDR-HC1 is so good that I think it will likely win a CamInfo Select in 2005. I don't know, because we haven't given out the awards yet. Until another company comes out with another HD camcorder that improves on the HDR-HC1's few faults, this model is a winner that is certainly worth your dollar.
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