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Sony produces a number of professional and prosumer camcorders.
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[edit] Standard Definition Models
[edit] Sony DCR-VX1000
The VX1000, introduced in 1995, was the first digital consumer MiniDV camcorder. It is also widely used by professional skateboarding filmers, so much that Century Optics designed the Mk 1 fisheye lens just for the vx1000. The vx1000 has been said to be able to produce excellent daytime colors.
[edit] Sony DCR-TRV900/DSRPD100
These models gained wide scale popularity among skateboard filmers when paired with century optics mk1 or mk2.
[edit] Sony DCR-VX2000 & Sony DSR-PD150
The VX2000/PD150 sister models improved on the VX1000 in low light sensitivity and added LCD screen. Both models have 1/3" CCD sensors while the PD150 has XLR audio inputs and independent iris and gain controls.
[edit] Sony DCR-TRV950/Sony DSR-PDX10
[edit] Sony DCR-VX2100 & Sony DSR-PD170
The VX2100/PD170 improved on the VX2000/PD150 models with low light sensitivity of 1 lux, improved LCD screen, and 24 iris increments from 12.
[edit] High Definition Models
[edit] Sony HDR-HC1
The Sony HDR-HC1, introduced in Mid-2005 (MSRP 1999$ US), was the first HDV CMOS camcorder to support 1080i. The CMOS sensor has a resolution of 1920x1440 for digital still pictures and captures video at 1440x1080 interlaced, which is the resolution defined for HDV 1080i. The camera may also use the extra pixels for digital image stabilization.
The camcorder can also convert the captured HDV data to DV data for editing the video using non-linear editing systems which do not support HDV or for creating edits which are viewable on non-HDTV television sets.
The HVR-A1 is the prosumer version of the HDR-HC1, having a few more manual controls, as well as XLR ports.
[edit] Sony HDR-HC5
The Sony HDR-HC5, introduced in May 2007 (MSRP 1099$ US), was the third DV tape HDV CMOS camcorder to support 1080i. The 1/3 CMOS sensor has a resolution of 2MP and interlaced 4MP for digital still pictures and captures video at 1440x1080 interlaced, which is the resolution defined for HDV 1080i. The camera may also use the extra pixels for digital image stabilization. Digital photos can be stored on Memory Stick. Minimum Light to operate on is 2Lux.
The camcorder can also convert the captured HDV data to DV data for editing the video using non-linear editing systems which do not support HDV or for creating edits which are viewable on non-HDTV television sets.
[edit] Sony HDR-HC7
The Sony HDR-HC7, introduced in 2008 (MSRP 1399$ US), was another DV tape HDV CMOS camcorder to support 1080i. The 1/2.9 CMOS sensor has a resolution of 3MP and interlaced 6.1MP for digital still pictures and captures video at 1440x1080 interlaced, which is the resolution defined for HDV 1080i. The camera differs from the HC5 by including a manual focus wheel, mic and headphone jacks, and a slightly larger imaging sensor, producing 3200K gross pixels versus the 2100K gross pixels of the HC5. The HC7 also sports Sony's Super SteadyShot Optical Image Stabilization System. Digital photos can be stored on Memory Stick. Minimum Light to operate on is 2Lux.
The camcorder can also convert the captured HDV data to DV data for editing the video using non-linear editing systems which do not support HDV or for creating edits which are viewable on non-HDTV television sets.
In December 2007, Sony released the HD1000, the shouldermount version of the HC7. Advantages of the HD1000 (over HC7) include (1) much more stable off-tripod footage with the shouldermount (2) full-size zoom control while shouldermount (3) custom ring to manually control the focusing, exposure (iris and gain), zoom, or shutter speed (4) ability to mount a large video light on its front coldshoe (5) ability to mount wireless audio on its rear coldshoe, and more.
[edit] Sony HDR-FX1
The Sony HDR-FX1, introduced in late 2004, was the first HDV 3CCD camcorder which supported 1080i (1440 X 1080 resolution with 4:2:0 color sampling). The Sony HVR-Z1U is the "professional" version of this camera with additional features such as balanced XLR audio inputs, DVCAM recording, and extended DSP capabilities (i.e. cine/gamma controls).
[edit] Cineframe
The FX1 offers Cineframe shooting modes at 30 and 24 frames per second. The camera is still using an interlaced image but extracts progressive images from individual fields by doubling them. The 30fps and 24fps do not offer the same resolution as true progressive scanning but may nonetheless be useful for recording progressive images without interlacing. Furthermore, the 24fps Cineframe shooting mode does not offer the same resolution, or motion cadence as true 24fps progressive scanning.
It does not shoot at 24 frames per second.
[edit] Specifications
The HDR-FX1 includes three 1/3-inch 16:9 1.12 Megapixel gross CCDs. Each CCD measures 960 x 1080 pixels. The HDR-FX1 also includes a 12x optical Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* lens, a 3.5-inch LCD screen, a zoom ring, focus ring, and an iris / aperture ring.
[edit] Known Flaws
When the audio mode of HDR-FX1/HDR-FX1E camcorder is switched to the 16-bit setting (in DV mode), and the unit is then turned off, a software used in the camcorder causes the unit to reset to the default 12-bit setting, though the LCD indicator of the unit continues to display the 16-bit audio setting.
[edit] Sony HDR-FX7
The Sony HDR-FX7, was introduced in September 2006, almost two years after the introduction of Sony's first HDV camcorder, Sony HDR-FX1. The new camcorder is the first camcorder below $3,000 to offer full 1080 HD resolution with a three-chip sensor.
- Resolution: Sony claims "full" 1080 HD
- Sensor: changed to 3 x 1/4” ClearVid CMOS
- Light sensitivity: worse by 33% (4lux)
- Zoom: increased to 20x optical zoom (30x digital)
- Lens/filter: decreased to 62mm/bayonet mount
- Optical Image Stabilizator (OIS, SteadyShot 4 settings)
- Video out: included HDMI
- Weight: reduced to 1.6 kg (3.52 lb.)
The company line (as expressed by Harry Haruna, Manager of Camcorder Product Planning for Sony USA) is that the new Sony HDR-FX7 will have a much improved resolution (full 1080 HD) when the lighting is good. In low-light situations, Sony FX1 will still produce better results.
[edit] Sony HDR-SR1/HDR-SR5/HDR-SR7
The Sony HDR-SR1, introduced in late 2006, was the first high definition hard disk drive based camcorder from Sony. It launched with a 30 gigabyte internal drive and - along with the Sony HDR-UX1 - is the first camcorder that records high definition video in AVCHD format. In June 2007, Sony released two new AVCHD format HD Hard Disk camcorders, a 40GB (HDR-SR5) and 60GB model (HDR-SR7), both of which add the ability to record in Dolby Digital 5.1.
[edit] Sony HDR-CX7
In June 2007, Sony released the HDR-CX7, the first Sony AVCHD camcorder to record video to a memory card. As with most Sony products, the HDR-CX7 records to Sony's own Memory Stick. The product comes bundled with a 4GB Memory Stick Duo which Sony states will hold 30 mins of HD video.
Sony HDR-CX7 weighs 15 ounces with the supplied battery and it can record nearly one hour of full HD 1080 video on an 8-GB Memory Stick Pro Duo flash memory card. It can record longer videos if resolution is reduced or quality is reduced.
This handycam features crash-proof recording system.[citation needed] It is equipped with a 6.1-megapixel complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor and a 5.4-54mm/F1.8-2.9 zoom lens.
For the format of video, Sony chose to save files with a resolution of 1440 * 1080i. The video format specifies a rectangular pixel shape. Most players will render this as 1920 * 1080 format after adjusting for the rectangular pixels.
For this camera, the maximum recording rate is 15 Mbit/s.
[edit] Sony HDR-CX12
In August 2008, Sony released the successor to the HDR-CX7, the HDR-CX12, with a retail price of $899.99.[citation needed]
Major features include:[citation needed]
- 1920x1080i Recording
- 1/3" ClearVid CMOS sensor
- Dolby Digital 5.1 audio
- 10.2MP still image capture
- Face Detection and Smile Shutter technology
[edit] Sony HDR-CX500V
Sony continued its line of consumer HD camcorders that record to non-linear media with the release of the HDR-CX500V in 2009. The CX500V added GPS tagging capability, a new 1/2.8-inch sensor, and enhanced optical image stabilization.[1]
[edit] Sony HVR-Z1
The Sony HVR-Z1 is a professional, broadcast quality, HDV camcorder. It has become popular for producers of documentaries and other television programs because of its small size and relatively low cost. It records in 1080i.
It uses the DV recording format however it can record in DV, DVCAM and HDV versions of the format. It can also record in PAL (25 frames) and NTSC (30 frames).
[edit] Sony HVR-Z5
The Sony HVR-Z5 is a camcorder that was introduced by Sony in October 2008. It uses Sony's new G-Lens, along side the 3 ClearVid CMOS Sensor system, which works well in low light. The HVR-Z5E can switch between HDV 1080i, DVCAM and standard DV recording.[citation needed]
[edit] Sony HVR-Z7/HVR-S270
The Sony HVR-Z7 and HVR-S270 video cameras, introduced in early 2008, were the first 3 CMOS sensor HDV camcorder that records on tape and/or CF card. In previous prosumer models, Sony released model pairs that shared the same optics and sensors, such as the VX2000/PD150, VX2100/PD170, Z1/FX1, and V1/FX7; where the VX/FX was the consumer version and the PD/Z was the professional or prosumer version. What differentiated the models was that the consumer models lacked professional features such as XLR inputs and some manual controls. The HVR-Z7 breaks this pattern as it has all professional features of previous prosumer models, and has no consumer equivalent, although it has a larger shoulder-mounted sister camera, the HVR-S270.
Both video cameras feature interchangeable lenses, attain low light sensitivity similar to the SD low light leader, the Sony DSR-PD170, and offer interlaced and progressive recording in HDV, DVCAM, and DV formats. Compact Flash recording is achieved by a supplied CF card recorder that is removable and connects via a proprietary firewire connection or 6 pin firewire.
[edit] Sony HDR-FX1000/HVR-Z5
The first true successors to the HDR-FX1 and the HVR-Z1, the HDR-FX1000 and HVR-Z5 were released in autumn 2008. They employ the same Exmor 1/3" 3CMOS design as the Z7/S270, and the Z5 is bundled with the same CF card recorder as the Z7, but the physical designs more closely resemble that of the FX1 and Z1.
As with all new Sony prosumer camcorders, both models support interlaced and progressive scan recording, HVR-Z5 having also native progressive recording. Both models have the 1-megapixel XtraFine LCD screen included in the EX1, Z7, and SR11/12. A new feature introduced with these camcorders are the introduction of Sony G Lenses to their camcorder lineup. The zoom range extends 20x, 29.5-595 35mm equivalent, and has a wider angle of view than most fixed lenses in this price range.
[edit] High Defintion 'NX' range
[edit] Sony HXR-NX5
The NX5 is Sony's first professional AVCHD camcorder. It records either onto Sony Memory Stick Pro memory cards, or onto SDHC cards. An optional 128Gb Flash Memory unit provides up to 11 hours of recording time.
It can record in Standard Definition using MPEG2 format, or up to 1920 x 1080 images at 24Mbit/s in High Definition mode in the AVCHD format.
The camera is almost identical to the HVR-Z5, some people calling it the 'Tapeless version of the Z5'.
[edit] Sony HXR-MC50E
A very small and compact camera, but comes with a 3.5mm audio input - not a balanced XLR input. Records up to 6 hours of full HD on 64Gb internal memory.
