Sony Launches Pro HVR-V1E Camcorder - With Progressive Scan

by John Neely
Published on Sep 7, 2006 11:00 AM



At the IBC Conference in Amsterdam, Sony today announced the addition of a new high-end prosumer HDV camcorder to its line-up the HVR-V1E.  This introduction of the HVR-V1E follows this morning’s announcement of the new low-end prosumer HDR-FX7, a camcorder that resembles the MiniDV DCR-VX2100 in terms of design and size. The HVR-V1E joins Sony’s high-end HDV camcorders, the HVR-Z1E (called the HVR-Z1U in the US) and the scaled-down HVR-A1E/U in a summer that has marked a significant expansion of Sony’s high definition camcorder offerings.



Significantly, the new camcorders announced in Europe feature true progressive scan 25p video recording – a first for a company that has held back while competitors like Panasonic and JVC have rolled out models capable of 24p/25p/30p recording. The new camcorder also records in three formats – HDV, DVCAM and MiniDV, providing a high degree of flexibity to producers who are in the process of making the transition to MiniDV.  In addition, the HVR-V1E uses three ClearVid CMOS imagers rather than the CCD technology found on prosumer camcorders in the past.  Sony claims CMOS sensors provide better video performance under normal lighting conditions over CCD-based camcorders with equivalent sized imagers.

The HVR-V1E joins the HDR-FX7 in its use of three ClearVid CMOS Sensors, an imager that first appeared in several consumer camcorders, including the HDR-HC1, HDR-HC3 and DCR-DVD505 (Review, Specs, $664).  While the consumer models used a single CMOS sensor, the two camcorders announced today are the first camcorders to use a three CMOS arrangement. Sony has added their Smooth Slow Record feature to both three CMOS camcorders, an option that allows high-quality slow-speed recording in short bursts that can be instantly played back.

Like the HDR-FX7, the HVR-V1E has a Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* Lens with a 20x optical zoom lens, rated at F2.8 in full-telephoto. The HVR-V1E also features Sony’s Digital Extender feature, a prosumer-level digital zoom that adds 1.5 x magnification to the optical zoom power for a maximum of approximately 30x.

The European HVR-V1E announced today records HDV in 1080/50i as well as 25p  - a feature that until now has been missing from Sony’s prosumer camcorders.  25p recording allows for direct conversion to the 50i PAL standard for broadcast, but also lends itself easily to video-to-film transfer with the loss of only one frame.  Other features on the HVR-V1E include two XLR audio inputs, timecode linking for mullti-camera shoots, and a Camera Profile feature for synchronization with other HVR-V1E’s.  The German site Videoaktiv claims the HVR-V1E will retail for around 4600 Euros (around $5,800).