Sony HDR-HC1 HDV Camcorder Reviewby Robin LissPublished on Jun 29, 2005 1:30 PM
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Ease of Use (7.0)
The HDR-HC1 is surprisingly easy to use, for as many features as it offers. Unlike the less expensive DRC-model Sonys, it does not come equipped with an Easy mode. This should not be a big loss for most people in the prosumer market, which is this camcorder’s likely audience. There is an auto lock switch under the LCD, which assumes control of exposure, shutter speed, white balance, and some other features. A big plus, and one that we always like to see on higher-end camcorders, is the focus ring. Buttons for common controls like exposure and zoom are easily accessible on the body. Everything else must be accessed through the touch screen menu, which can be difficult. The problem is the amount of information Sony has tried to cram onto a 2.7” screen; a fat thumb will almost certainly be keying in wrong selections from time to time. That said, the hierarchy of the menu is clear and usable.
LCD/Viewfinder (8.5)
The Sony HDR-HC1 features a 2.7-inch widescreen LCD with 123K pixels of resolution. The LCD screen has three buttons on it, one for recording, one to zoom in, and one to zoom out. It makes perfect sense that the LCD screen on the HDR-HC1 is widescreen because HD is natively wide screen. The LCD screen includes about half the pixels of the HDR-FX1’s LCD screen, which makes manual focus a bit difficult, a problem that is exacerbated by the HD resolution of the camcorder. From a focusing perspective, I really wish that Sony had included the higher resolution LCD screen.
When tested for performance, the HDR-HC1’s LCD screen performed well, as we’ve come to expect from Sony camcorders. The LCD screen does not solarize when rotated, a problem that is found on other manufacturer’s models. The touch control of the HDR-HC1 is very responsive. Sony has clearly gotten very good at making high-performance LCD screens.
We didn’t score the HDR-HC1’s LCD / Viewfinder score lower because of its excellent viewfinder. The camcorder includes a 252K pixel viewfinder, the same pixel resolution which is found on the HDR-FX1. The viewfinder is absolutely stunning. This is unquestionably the sharpest viewfinder image I’ve seen with maybe the exception of only Canon’s XL2 (which costs $5,000). Focusing with the viewfinder is much easier than is focusing with the LCD screen, and I believe it is more than sufficient for manual control of focus.
On the positive side, the HDR-HC1’s viewfinder can rotate upwards about 70 degrees. The weakness of the viewfinder system is that it can not extend outward from the camcorder’s body. Since the battery lies almost flush with the back of the camcorder (on models like the HDR-FX1 and the DCR-VX2100 it is quite a bit recessed), if you use a larger battery than the one included, you’ll probably find your nose constantly rubbing up against it, and operating the viewfinder is going to be a bit uncomfortable.
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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 |
The HDR-HC1 is a medium sized camcorder. It's smaller than models like the GL2 but slightly larger than the PV-GS400. It's small enough that you can hold it in one hand and the camcorder won't shake. I really like the size of the camcorder from a handling perspective. It's not too small, so it has some volume, but it's not so big that it can't be held in one hand.
From a weight perspective the HDR-HC1 is very well built and balanced. I must say the HDR-HC1 is one of the best balanced camcorders I've felt. Unlike most models, it only has a slight tendency to lean forward (very slight) which will be outweighed by a large capacity battery. It's just very well weighed out.
The HDR-HC1 is also very comfortable to hold. The "bump" on the right side allows your hand to comfortably wrap around the side of the camcorder. Combined with a nice little raised finger grip on the top of the camcorder I was able to get an incredibly solid hold on the HDR-HC1 with just one hand. I don't think that it would be likely that you'd drop the HDR-HC1 or get uncomfortable holding it in just one hand. It's a good thing because this camcorder is just too good to drop on the floor!
When holding the camcorder in your right hand your left hand can easily access the critical manual control functions which are located on the lens barrel on the left side. The layout works perfectly with the standard style of shooting. My hand could easily wrap around the zoom / focus ring and the exposure control was easily accessed with my thumb. From a control perspective the camcorder is just laid out wonderfully, no buttons are in awkward positions and nothing gets in the way of shooting. Of course, I hate the touch screen and every time you adjust a feature with it it shakes your camcorder just a little bit; however, the critical controls are in real buttons so you won't have to use the LCD screen too much.
The only glaring handling problem is that the viewfinder does not extend outwards. If you have an extended battery on the HDR-HC1 it's going to render the viewfinder useless and make operating the camcorder much harder.
Shooting with the HDR-HC1 is simply enjoyable. The camcorder is a great size and weight and the layout is very well thought out. The great handling of this camcorder really adds to its functionality, and because it's easy to shoot with you're going to be able to shoot better video.
Portability (7.0)
The HDR-HC1 is small. It's not small the way a DCR-PC55 or sub $500 camcorder is small, but for a high-end quality camcorder, not to mention for an HD camcorder, this thing is tiny. It's unquestionably the smallest HD camcorder ever, and it's the first one that is practical for most consumers. Plus the camcorder is surprisingly thin, and while it won't fit in your pocket, it will only take up a small bag. While the HDR-FX1 is an amazing camcorder, it's not exactly the most practical size for most users and the 5 lbs weight will get heavy quickly when handheld. When most camcorders shrink in size we see a significant drop in quality and features. While things have been stripped from the HDR-HC1 to make it smaller, it's still a great camcorder and very portable at under 1-3/4 lbs (with tape and battery).
Battery Life (4.7)
With a mediocre battery life of under a hour, actually a little over three quarters of an hour, Sony’s new HDV camcorder is practically begging you to buy another battery. Total recording time with LCD open (and no zooming) was 47 minutes. You will certainly need a new battery because this thing eats through power faster than Cookie Monster eats through Chips Ahoys. This could become a problem with the non-extendable viewfinder, because a large battery is sure to jut out.
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