[charles]

I have just purchased the above camcorder,and would welcome answers to any of these questions
1.Do you use normal or high quality tapes?Have you had any good or bad experiences with either
2.Have you been able to obtain a high quality i link to component cable?If so from where
3. Have you done any hi def editing?Which programme do you use.
4.Any foibles with the machine.
Thanks
Charles.

1.Tapes

I only ever use Maxell tapes, no other reason other than than they've never let me down, they are cheap enough to use once and Maxell pledge to retrieve data should the tape become damaged (at a fee), like most others I do not advocate the mixing of brands, the big 'no-no' seems to be mixing the Sony HDmaster tapes with any other, so the advice would be decide on a brand, buy in bulk and stick to it.

2. I link to componet cable.

Not sure what you need this for, ilink is itself a digital component signal, if your monitor has a firewire in then use this (i.e some sonys and apple cinema monitors) for both SD and HD playing.

The HC1 should have came supplied with an analogue component output which can be switched between 576 or 1080 depending on the capabilities of your display (most HDready monitors should be able to downconvert from 1080 to whatever the maximum resolution of the monitor is.

3. I use Final Cut Pro 5 for HDV editing, had installed Final Cut Express but the 'Apple Intermediate Codec' this application (and ImovieHD) uses requires a lot of rendering, both on input and export. Final Cut 5 Imports live, only requiring rendering for output. Final Cut requies an Apple Mac to run.

I am sorry to report that I cannot get Adobe Premiere 1.5.1 to work to my satisfaction, similarly I have also used Pinnacle 10 Plus without great success.

4. Foibles.
Some silly things you've probably tummled yourself: bottom loading, no independant control of aperture and gain, no aperture or gain readout in camera mode, pretty weak low light performance. Manual audio level control is a pain in that you cannot adjust it on the fly. Unconventional accessory shoe mount. Supplied battery is woefully inadequate in hdv mode.

[ianh64]

I am on my second tape - I use the Sony Excellence range and fingers crossed, no problems. I always tried to use these with my previous DV camcorder and always used Sony. I don't think that I will bother with the Sony HDV tapes but a few £ extra for the Excellence tapes I feel is justified.

Are you after a better quality component cable. If so, it seems to be a proprietry connector. I would be interested in an integrated component+sound that I could leave plugged in to the back of my AV rack so I didn't have to use the composite lead of sound.

I have not done any editing but I did capture HDV into my new Sony laptop using Sony's supplied (with laptop) s/w . It looked pretty good.

I agree with the battery. Luckly my old NP-FM70 works fine - I think the NP-FM90 model would be too heavy for my liking. And I wish that I didn't have to use the touch screen for everything.

the excellence tapes are only really different from the premium in that the excellent have an IC chip built in, the IC function is not compatible with the HC1, so I wouldn't bother spending the extra if it were me.

[redsox_mark]

1. I bought some of the "HD" tapes, as was worried about possible drop-outs.
http://www.stanleysonline.co.uk/product-3736.htm
These have worked fine.
I've also shot some "less critical" footage on ordinary Sony "Premium" DV tapes, and these were also fine.
Not sure if the "HD" tapes really reduce the probability of drop-outs or not, or if it is just hype.


2. Don't know.. what is wrong with the provided component cable?

3. Yes, I use Sony Vegas. I use a modest machine (1.6 Mhz Pentium M laptop). I've done rough cuts using Vegas directly, for more complex editing I create a DV proxy.


4. Variable delay from going from standby to record, can be a few seconds. I hate that it doesn't have a standard accessory shoe, but I knew this from the start. I work around this with one of these http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...ughType=search
I also bought a adapter from a guy on eBAY which allows you to change tapes and battery while the HC1 is mounted on a tripod.

(I love my HC-1).

Mark

tell me more about this adaptor Mark....

Ta

[redsox_mark]

His eBay name is "twinky6". When I bought mine it was a fixed price of $19.95 (12 quid or so). With postage it cost something like £18.

I see now he has just 2 left and is auctioning them off, but I think he plans to make more:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Tripod-adapter...QQcmdZViewItem

It is well made and does the job. It is a metal plate which is cut out to give access to the tape door. You connect the plate to the tripod mount on your HC1, then connect the plate to the tripod. Simple but effective.

I've tried to attach a picture, I've not done that before, hopefully it works.

Mark

Mark, you're a star, thanks for this. I donlt thinkthis partiuclar design will work with my tripod, but it's seems hes up for modifcations.

Thanks again.

[redsox_mark]

Roy,

You are welcome! The guy (Jeff) did say he could do modifications if it didn't fit your tripod.

In fact I'm thinking of upgrading my tripod, and if possible will try and get one where this adapter still fits.

Mark

[charles]

Dear Roy
Thank you for your comments.It would seem that high grade tapes are a waste of money.The supplied firewire/component cable looks very basic.With 1080 I would have thought that a top quality cable was essential. Charles

[charles]

Thanks for your reply.I will certainly save money on expensive tapes.
Charles

[redsox_mark]

Certainly don't by the "Excellence" tapes with the chip - the chip adds no value with the HC1.

I don't think you can be so certain about the "HD" tapes. Sony claims "90% fewer errors and 50% fewer dropouts for improved reliability and audio/video stability". The issue with HDV is if you do get a bad spot on the tape the impact is greater than DV because of the GOP structure. You could lose half a second, rather than just a single frame (1/25th of a second).

You may not get any dropouts with a standard DV tape.. but if you find you do, or if it is critical, you might want to consider the HD tapes.

From what I've read, if you always use a fresh tape you are unlikely to get a dropout with a quality DV tape... but if you re-record over them this gets more likely.

Mark

[charles]

I have used the camcorder at lenght today and am very pleased with the results.I have used the Hi grade tape that came as afrrebie with the unit and also the standard Sony tape.To be honest I cannot see any difference and that is from showing the results on a 46" Toshiba DLP TV.
One thing I have noticed is that keeping the camera 100% steady is vital.The smallest amount of unsteady hand movement results in slightly juddery images.Using a tripod will be my next investment! Strangely recording the same material using standard definition does not produce these foibles.Any reason why HD recording is more suspect to minor movement than standard recording?
The digital still performance is superb with the bonus of widescreen images Charles

a number of potential reasons:

1.HD has more pixels so more info, so imperfections are more obvious, with SD the shake may be less than would show between each line of pixels.

2. Focal length, if you are zoomed in then any shake will be magnified by the factor of the zoom.

3. Have you switched on the image stabiliser? Was it switched on or off before?

4. If you are inauto exposure mode with auto shutter then it is possible that the shutter is slowing or you are experiencing strobing (particularly on moving subjects, solution, switch off the 'auto' shutter and set shutter manually to '50'

5. You tripod should help, as should a £20 LANC contoller from Jessops.

Check that there are no picture effects switched on. Also if you were using the monitor as a live preview for the still sfacility then there will be judder or movement artefacts becaus ehte refresh rate is lowered on the camera.

[redsox_mark]

Charles,

You won't see any difference in the picture quality when using different tape. It is digital, it either correctly records it or not. The only thing you could POSSIBLY be more likely to see with the standard tapes are drop-outs (easier to damage the tape).

Mark

[charles]

Thanks for your reply.Having checked out the items mentioned your first observation would seem to be correct.A sony tripod seems an obvious choice-around £90 (VCT1500L)
Do you use a tripod at all?
Would like to connect an external mike to the hot shoe on the Sony but I have been told that the connection is only suitable for sony mics so I will need an adaptor! The Sony Centre do not sell adaptors.Very helpful!! Charles

Don't buy the Sony, pay a wee bit extra and get a manfrotto 190/390 kit instead, far superior in every way and shall still be serving you well in 10 years, the sonys are quite plasticky and you are really paying over the odds for the sony name, if you need a lanc controller then get the Jessops one, a steal at 20 of your english pounds.

Jessops also do an L shaped baracket which you can mount a mic on, and it makes the miniscule HC1 easier to hand hold as well. 10 sterlings

[redsox_mark]

Roy,

Have you used the Jessops lanc with the HC1? If so, does it allow you to zoom slower than the camcorder zoom? One issue with the HC1 it is difficult/impossible to do a very slow zoom... especially with the "rocker". I've seen reports that with the Sony tripods with built in Lanc (e.g. VCT870-RM) you can zoom as slowly as 24 seconds (from full tele to full zoom or vice versa)... as opposed to 10 seconds or so with the camcorder.

Thanks,

Mark

Yep, it has 2 speeds, fast and slow, don't get me wrong it is no Manfrotto 522, but it a tenth of the price, its great for avoiding camera shake when focussing in telemacro mode or at the far end of the zoom

[charles]

Thanks for your very useful reply.What type of head would be best? Regarding your observations on picture stability on HDV hand held recordings I saw the Sony rep at John Lewis today and he aggreed that Steady Shotand its competitors are not really suitable for HDV when showing on a large screen.To put this to the test I recorded identical material hand held with steady shot on,and then using a tripod with steady shot on and off.The tripod recordings were completely free of any minor movement but switching steady shot off gave a more natural flow to the image especially on zoom.What have been your findings? Charles

exactly that, when on a tripod the steady shot still works away so you get a slight frame drift, almost makes you sea sick, but very hard to pin down.

if you can stretch to it then get a 702RC, if not then a 128LP, if not then the 390RC.

[charles]

Roy
Purchased a Manfrotto 190D plus 390RC2 head and a genuine Manfrotto case for £1o5 today.Build quality is in a different league to the Sony.
Charles

Hi guys,

This is my first message so please bear with me

I have had my Sony VX2000 for a number of years now and I very rarely use it anymore...but when I do I find it's a bit of a hassle to carry about.
I have the proper Sony aluminium case along with a portable Sony Mini DV Deck.
As you probably know, the picture quality is superb...even in incredibly low-light situations!
The colour is also outstanding and I put that down to the 3CCD...I think?

So, because of the size issue I was thinking about selling and changing to the Sony HDR-HC1 which will also satisfy my need for keeping up with technology!
If I change cameras, does anybody think I will lose picture quality?...I really don't want to lose the fantastic colour seperation I already have.
I know I will benefit from HD recording but currently I do not own a HD TV and nor does anybody I know.
It will sort of defeat the purpose if I change to the HDR-FX1...although it would be nice

I currently use Premiere Pro to edit and Discreet's Combustion to add my effects...from reading your replies so far, it sounds like I would have to change my editing programs too???

Anyway, enough of my waffling...any advice would be appreciated.

Stay lucky

Dave

[redsox_mark]

Dave,

I've not personally used the VX2000, so I can't say for sure. But from all I have read the VX2000 will likely be better in low light than the HC1. In "good light" the HC1 is excellent... it will of course have higher resolution than the VX2000... but the colours? Harder to say. Compared to a single chip SD cam (which is where I came from) I find the HC1 excellent... but compared to the 3 CCD, can't say for sure.

Premiere Pro 1.5.1 has a plug-in for HDV support.. Premiere Pro 2.0 has native HDV support.

Mark

The HC1 is optically and operatinally a lesser cam than the solid vx2000.
If you are recording SD and standard aspect for the forseeable future I would hold off, there are other HDV cameras in the offing (the HC3 for example)

One benefit of the HC1 is the true widescreen, even in DV mode (with 4:3 SD only switching) the HC1 also lacks some fine control over the vx2000, for example exposure is plus or minus, not f-numbers and gain (you don;t even get told what these settings are until playback) the zoom rockor is pretty tiny, it's a bottom loader blah blah blah, the price of all the extra features is that the vx2000 is bigger and heavier, but it's still one of the best SD all-rounders.

It does have better colour quality than the HC1 which I find a little destaturated and lacking in contrast compared to any 3ccd camera I've used (pertinently the z1 and fx1) but then it costs nowhere near what these cameras, or your vx2000 cost. At a recent shoot for live projection the HC1 was used as a master shot with two z1's picking up details, one person compared the master shot to 'the old grey whistle test' i.e. similar to vidicon cameras... it's not that bad really, but for SD your vx2k will win out.

I've also found the HC1 struggles in low light, although a single 1/3inch imager should be brighter than a dichroic prism set up, you are squeezing roughly four times as many pixles onto it.

One other arguement is that the vx2000 may start shedding it's value pretty quickly now, if you don't sell soon, it may bot be worth your while.

Thanks for your speedy reply guys.

I might try and find out what my camera is worth and see if I can sell it as a whole package on Ebay???...do you think it will sell better as a package(Camera, Hard Case, Fluid Head Tripod, DV Deck) or seperately?...I might be heart broken if it's not worth much and therefore I'm better off keeping it.
I don't know whether I'm strong enough to sell it now and keep the money tucked away for 6 months until a more suitable camera comes along!

Stay lucky,

Dave

why sell the tripod? it'll do your HC1.

I was only thinking of selling the tripod because I thought it may sell more easily together.
I saw my camera sell on ebay for around £950...is that a good price?

stay lucky, Dave

for a private sale that is really top money, I wouldn't pay that for one and I wouldn't count on getting that kind of dough as a vendor. I sold an XM2 in vgc for £750 recently, after the paypal & ebay fees I actually had £700.