Sony Introduces HVR-V1U and HDD Unit in USby David KenderPublished on Sep 19, 2006 8:00 AM 
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Read Complete HVR-V1U Coverage
September 19, 2006 - Today, at an event in their New York headquarters, Sony announced the release of the HVR-V1U, the first 3-CMOS professional camcorder. This model, which offers true 1080/24P recording, uses the same imaging system as the recently announced prosumer camcorder, the HDR-FX7, with a number of professional upgrades, including XLR inputs and more external controls. A 60GB hard disk recording unit, the HVR-DR60, was announced in conjunction with the camcorder.
“Because of the flexibility when combined with the HDD, the battery life, and everything else, we see documentarians going after it; we see electronic field production people going after it, and the wedding market,” said Bob Ott, Vice President of Marketing for Pro Audio, Video, and Optical Networks.
The HVR-V1U is nearly identical to the HVR-V1E, the European version announced two weeks ago at IBC. The US version conforms to NTSC standards and preferences, recording in true 1080/24P, 1080/60i, and 480/60i. The European version uses PAL standards, offering 25P and 50i recording. The fact that Sony chose to adopt true 24P rather than Cineframe or 24F may indicate that Sony is trying to edge out the Canon XL H1, XH G1, and XH A1, which only offer 24F shooting.
“I think the camera is going to find that niche with people who want to want to make movies and want to have that film look,” said Ott. “The nice thing with this camera is that when you play the 24P originated footage back, you get the 24 frame look without having to do any external adjustments on the computer.”
The new camcorder is the first strictly professional model to utilize a 3-CMOS chip array. Each is a 1/4” Sony ClearVID CMOS, with 1.2 million gross pixels (1.03 million effective pixels in HDV). The ClearVID CMOS has seen a growing popularity in Sony camcorders this year. The 1/3” version is currently found in the four top consumer camcorders. In addition to increased resolution, the ClearVID chip allows for Smooth Slow Record, a high quality slow-motion capture, which has been upgraded to 6 seconds of capture (up from 3 seconds on first generation chips).
The electronic image processor (EIP) is also a key component, which is “optimized to take advantage of the various things we can manipulate, whether gamma or other factors,” said Ott. “Without the EIP chip, ClearVID is nothing…. It’s the EIP that almost takes this camera into future-world [where] with CMOS technology you’re able to analyze every pixel.”
While the HVR-V1 and HDR-FX7 have identical imaging systems, a number of key features marks their difference, centering on an array of manual controls for tight image quality management. “The camera has been designed,” said Ott, “so that you as the videographer are an artist.”
The HVR-V1 offers 2 XLR inputs, absent from the FX7. The time code can be relayed in/out via i.Link (DV cable). Other improvements over the FX7 include Cinematone Color, Knee, Black Compensation, color bars, aspect and safety makers, 6 assignable buttons, and more (read comparison chart). Thanks to the ClearVID-EIP system, gamma and knee can now be analyzed on the pixel level, rather than the image as a whole. Camera profiles, which could be saved internally on the FX7, can be saved and exported to MemoryStick Duo on the V1, then inserted into other V1s. The profile files could also be attached to an email and sent to remote production locations.
The HVR-V1U comes equipped with a 3.5” LCD (211K) and a 0.44” EVF (252K). The lens is a 20x Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T*, F1.6 – 2.8, with a 62mm filter diameter (f=3.9 – 78mm; 35mm equiv f=37.4 to 748mm (16:9), f=45.7 to 914mm (4:3). Ports on the camcorder include AV-out, component-out, DV/HDV, XLR (x2), headphone-out, LANC, USB, and HDMI-out.
The HVR-DR60 HDD Unit
Also announced was the HVR-DR60 HDD unit. This cigarette pack-sized 60GB drive (approx 4.5 hours DV/HDV) can connect directly to the HVR-V1 for tapeless recording via i.Link. It can sync time codes with the HVR-V1, the HVR-Z1, and the DSR-250. The HDD can also perform a “follow mode” which approximates time code with the HVR-A1 and DSR-PD170 (Review, Specs, $2579). Its batteries are interchangeable with the battery series used in the HVR-V1, and when using the NP-F970 battery, it can last for up to 13.5 hours of run time. A 14 second buffer and shock absorbers help protect data.
The HVR-V1U has an expected ship date of December 2006 and an MSRP of $4800, lower than that of the HVR-Z1U. The HVR-A1 will not be discontinued, and Sony has no plans for the V1 to replace any models in their pro line. The HVR-DR60 HDD has an MSRP of $1800, and is also expected to hit stores in December.