Sony HDR-FX1000

The Panasonic AG-HVX200 is a compact professional camcorder that can record video to either MiniDV tape or P2 memory cards. When recording with tape, however, the camcorder can only capture standard definition video. With P2 cards, the AG-HVX200 records HD video using the DVCPRO HD codec, which may appeal to some users who don't like working with HDV. You can also record standard definition footage to P2 cards using the DVCPRO50 and DVCPRO/DV codecs. The camcorder has lots of features and is similar in size to the Sony HDR-FX1000 and HVR-Z5U. This all comes at a pricier cost, however, and P2 cards are not cheap. It could be an interesting choice for a pro who is looking to ease into the world of tapeless workflow, but still wants the option of capturing standard definition footage to tape. We can't attest to the AG-HVX200's performance, but once we get it through our labs we'll be able to give you our analysis.

	Comparison Specs
	Sony HDR-FX1000	Panasonic AG-HVX200
Price	$3199	$4299 (approximate street market price)
Primary Recording Media	MiniDV tape	P2 cards or MiniDV tape
Still Image Media	Memory Stick Pro Duo	N/A
Image Sensor	Three 1/3-inch CMOS	Three 1/3-inch progressive CCD
Effective Pixel Count	1.04 Megapixels	unknown
Lens Mount	No interchangeable lens	No interchangeable lens
Audio Input	3.5mm mini-jack	2 XLR (2-channel capable)
LCD/Viewfinder	LCD Screen : 3.2-inch; Approx 921,000 pixels Viewfinder : 0.45-inch; Approx 1,227,000 pixels	LCD Screen : 3.5-inch; Approx 210,000 pixels Viewfinder : 0.44-inch; Approx 235,000 pixels
Weight	2100g (4.56 lbs.) fully loaded	2500g (5.5 lbs) without battery
Dimensions	169 × 178 × 349mm (6.75 x 7 x 13.9 in.)	168.5 x 180 x 390mm (6-11/16 x 7-1/8 x 15-3/8 in.)
Uncompressed Video output	No	No
Optical Zoom	20x	13x
Frame Rates	HDV: 60i, 30p, 24p	DVCPRO HD: 1080/60i, 1080/24p, 1080/30p), 720/60p, 720/24p (native), 720/30p (native)