Sony HDR-UX1 First Impressions Camcorder Review

by John Neely
Published on Jul 26, 2006 4:30 PM

Intro Performance
Format Tour
Auto / Manual Controls
 Still Features
Handling and Use Audio / Playback / Connectivity
Other Features Comparisons / Conclusion
   



Picture & Manual Control
Automatic Control
The HDR-UX1 (Review, Specs, Recent News, $729.95) offers an Easycam Mode which we expect to be on par with Sony’s generally excellent automatic control performance. In addition to full-auto, the HDR-UX1 also has automatic Spot Focus and Spot Metering. These features allow users to restrict the camcorder to using selected “spots” on the screen in its calibrations of focus and exposure simply by touching the LCD screen. The camcorder should be as easy to use as the DCR-DVD505 (Review, Specs, $664), which is to say incredibly easy in Easycam Mode, but with the significant added benefit of high definition video capability. Sonys typically excel in automatic controlsm with Canon finishing behind as a close second. Their camcorders are marked by quick, responsive changes to lighitng intensity and temperature. The HDR-UX showed this same responsive in what was certainly a less-than-ideal room for shooting. Despite an overall dim ambience with lots of multi-colored lights, the camcorder adjusted rapidly (at least from what we could see in the viewfinder.)

Overall Manual Control
The HDR-UX1 features the manual controls found on Sony’s top camcorders and significantly improves upon them with its return to the multi-function ring that we lauded in our reviews of the HDR-HC1 (Specs, $2295) - now with even more funcitons. What was once used for just zoom and focus can now control focus, exposure, AE shift, and white balance shift. Sure, we lost zoom, but we gained a whole lot more. The ring is a pleasure to use with a smooth feel and a studded surface that's nearly a finger wide.  It also benefits from the lens barrel's diameter, much larger than on the DCR-DVD505, which gives it a natural feel. This camcorder  also has a zebra striping option, with settings at 70 and 100, a feature many pros would be loathe to shoot without. While manual controls have never been Sony’s strong suit, the HDR-UX1 offers a relatively good selection that comes close to matching the options found on Panasonic camcorders.


The multi-function ring on the HDR-UX1

For manual controls not adjusted by the multi-function ring, the camcorder makes use of Sony’s ubiquitous touch screen display. Our usual complaints about LCD touch screen interfaces apply. Touch screen LCD’s tend to pick up finger grease, and while very easy to use for menu navigation, they are unwieldy means of making manual control adjustments. We much prefer external controls like the joysticks found on many Panasonics that don’t clutter the display with onscreen adjustments, or require you to touch it while tweaking your image. While this camcorder allows manual control via the touch screen interface, there’s no reason to use it in place of the ring for focus and exposure.

Zoom
The HDR-UX1 features a 10x optical zoom and 80x digital zoom. While the modest 10x optical zoom is not stellar, the zoom toggle has a very well-implemented rocking switch design. This zoom toggle permits very smooth zooms at variable speeds, and represents one manual control that Sony has mastered. The zoom cannot be controlled via the multi-function ring, as it could on the HDR-HC1. This loss is made less bitter by the fact that a ring has been added to a DVD camcorder at all, and that it controls so many other functions.

It is worth noting that while the digital zoom maxes out at only 80x, the high digital zooms found on many consumer grade camcorders offer no appeal to higher-end users. Digital zooms are capable only of magnifying the pixels available at a camcorder’s peak optical zoom level, and therefore result in significant image degradation unacceptable in professional settings. Keeping the digital zoom on this camcorder to a reasonable 80x is an indication that Sony has not pitched it for the mass market of point and shooters who are likely to be impressed by optical zoom counts of 1000x and above.

Focus
Manual focus is adjusted using the excellent multi-function ring, which resembles the ring found on the HDR-HC1, lost on its successor, the HDR-HC3 (Review, Specs, $969.99). Most other Sony consumer camcorders use the touchscreen display for focus adjustments, a tedious and imprecise process involving touching either end of an onscreen scale. While we find any touchscreen-based manual control adjustments wanting, good focus control is even more important on a high definition camcorder than a standard definition model. Sony deserves kudos for including a true multifunction ring on the HDR-UX1 that does its HD video capacity justice.

Exposure (Aperture)
There are a few methods of manually adjusting exposure on the HDR-UX1. The multi-function ring allows you to adjust exposure levels in 23 EV steps (+/-11). This level of control is also available in the touchscreen menu. A secondary control, AE shift, is also available via the multi-function ring. This control allows you to shift the aperture and shutter speed while maintaining the same exposure, thus giving you greater depth of field control than you normally get on a Sony, which never seems to offer fully independent aperture.

Shutter Speed
There is no manual shutter speed adjustment on the HDR-UX1 despite the fact that Sony (somewhat misleadingly) reports it to have a shutter speed range of 1/4 to 1/500 of a second. That reported range applies to the camcorder’s automatic shutter speed adjustment range.  With great manual conrols in other respects, and the potential to produce some exceptional looking video, it's a shame Sony didn't provide users with the option to adjust shutter speed manually.

White Balance
Manual white balance adjustment is adjusted via the touch screen, and should be less disruptive than other manual control adjustments since it is generally set before recording footage. The HDR-UX1 includes the same white balance presets found on the HDR-DVD505: Auto, Indoor, Outdoor, and One Push (manual). There is also a white balance shift control, available on the multi-function ring, which allows you to make more subtle changes to the red and blue channels via an on-screen scale.

Gain
There is no manual gain control on the HDR-UX1, and this is another option we think Sony should have included.   While the manual control feature set is very good, with the additional of shutter speed and gain controls, the HDR-UX1 would have been a much more formidable product.




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