Sony HDR-FX1 and JVC GR-HD1 compared by Published on Sep 6, 2004 11:30 AM

There was one high definition camcorder on the market before the HDR-FX1 burst onto the scene, and that was the JVC GR-HD1. Released in the January 2003, the GR-HD1 includes only one 1/3 CCD, as opposed to Sony's HDR-FX1, and this hurts the camcorder in the low light department. That coupled with the general lack of High Definition equipment when the product was released has probably helped hurt the product's popularity in the prosumer market, where buyers have favored Sony's standard definition DSR-PD170 (Review, Specs, $2579). To the the JVC GR-HD1's credit, no other consumer camcorder, HDR-FX1 included, records at 720i (30P). Sony's new HDR-FX1 records at 1080i (60i), and has two more CCDs more pixels between the two to surpass the GR-HD1's puny imager. However, if JVC produces a 720P camcorder with more CCDs and the manual controls of the HDR-FX1, the advantage might shift.

	Sony HDR-FX1	JVC GR-HD1
Power Consumption	8.0 W	9.7W
Video recording system	1080i (1440x1080, 60i fps)	720P (NTSC) (30P fps)
Audio recording System	DV (12bit,16bit) HDV (MPEG2, 48kHz)	DV(12 and 16 bit, 48kHz) HDV (MPEG1, Layer2)
Image Sensor	1/3 inch CCD x 3 Super HAD, 16:9	1/3 inch CCD x 1
Gross pixels per CCD	1 MP each	1.18K pixels each
Tape format	MiniDV, HDV tape	MiniDV
Tape speed	18mm/sec: SP 12.5mm/sec: LP	18mm/sec: SP, 12.5mm/sec: LP
Manual Focus Type	ring	ring (auto, manual, infinity)
Minimum focusing distance	f4.5 -54mm	f5.2-52mm
Shutter speed Options	Auto, 1/4-10,000	Auto and Manual
Minimum illumination	3 lux	35 lux
filter diameter	72 mm	52 mm
Viewfinder	Color, 250K pixels	Color(113K)
LCD	16:9 Hybrid	2.5" Hybrid (200Kpixels)
DV Terminal	yes	yes
S-Video IN/OUT terminal	yes	yes
Video IN/OUT Terminal	composite in/out	composite in/out
Audio OUT Terminal	stereo	RCA x 2
XLR ports	No XLR ports	yes
Headphone	yes	yes
Audio IN Terminal	yes	16 bit, 12 bits
Microphone IN	stereo	stereo
Dimensions	5.83 x 7.125 x 14.375	3.94 x 4.56 x 10.75
Weight (battery)	4lbs 10oz	2.8 lbs
16:9 effect	no, 16:9 native	effect
grip zoom	variable speed	no
second zoom	ring (not variable speed)	ring
adjustable zoom speed	yes	no
movie mode	CineFrame 24 (2:3:2:3) 1080/24i	no
white balance	Auto and Manual	Auto and Manual
zebra patterning	yes	yes
optical zoom	12x	10x
built in ND filter	yes(0, 1/6, 1/32)	yes
still to tape	no	no (to card)
exposure steps	F1.6-F11 (24 step)	F1.8-F1.9 (10 step)
shutter speed steps	1/4-1/10,000	1/4-1/10,000
Shooting Modes	60i (24i in CineFrame 24	30P (720P)
Customized keys	yes	no
Audio Dubbing	yes	yes
Zoom features	ring, toggle	ring, toogle