[lurcher]

Ok after thinking about it for several days and considering the newer HC3 I decided on the above and bought one today ( not received it yet ).
Has any one bought a larger capacity battery for the HC1 , poss a third party QM71/91D and if so can you point me in the right direction.

I am not worried about buying from HK as I have bought batteries for my JVC MG50 from there very cheap , but I couldn"t find ought for the HC1.
Anything else I might need ?

TIA

[jwramsay]

I have a Sony NP-F960 infolithium fro my DCR-TRV120E Digital 8 camcorder. Anyone know if that is compatible with either the HC1 or HC3?

[lurcher]

Its the M series batteries that the HC1 uses.

[Andy Mack]

i found a really cheap place on ebay selling the 71 battery. £27.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SONY-NP-QM71D-...QQcmdZViewItem

thats cheaper than i bought.

[laser]

I bought the NP-QM91D (Original Sony) for my HC1E, £28 on ebay instead of the £124.95 at Jessops.

Works great and I get approx 6 hours using the LCD display.

Incidently the battery states it is 7.2v 29.8Wh and its is InfoLithium.

[lurcher]

Both good prices thanks. Andy Mack re the battery you flagged up does it def fit the HC1 , as that Camcorder is not shown on the compatable list with the battery.
I have noticed some ebay items state not compatable with HC1 even though the battery part number seems right ie. NP QM 71/91D

[laser]

Originally Posted by lurcher

Both good prices thanks. Andy Mack re the battery you flagged up does it def fit the HC1 , as that Camcorder is not shown on the compatable list with the battery.
I have noticed some ebay items state not compatable with HC1 even though the battery part number seems right ie. NP QM 71/91D

I've checked the instructuion manual for my HC1E and the QM71D is compatible with the HC1E, giving 255 minutes with the LCD.

The other compatible battery is the NP-FM50 which is supplied with a HC1E.

[lurcher]

Thanks for that laser , are you happy with your purchase ? Bought any accessories for it yet.

BTW that link that Andy Mack gave shows the 71D at £18.75 del , not £27.

[laser]

I've bought the Sony polarising filter set, which makes a difference to outside footage on bright days and the 91D battery.

I'm thinking about buying a Rode VideoMic as the onboard mic is only adequate for close range shooting. However I'm trying to work out the best way to connect the Rode VideoMic to the HC1E or my tripod.

I've just bought a Manfrotto Car Pod so I can connect the HC1E to windows on steam trains. Yes, I take footage of trains This is much better than hand holding the camcorder when a tripod can't be used.

The 0.7x Sony Wide Angle lens is probably next on the list along with the Mic. I'll have to wait for the credit card bill to roll over to next month as I also bought a Manfrotto tripod at the same time.

Over the moon with the HC1E, footage is fantastic.

For the moment I edit using Pinnacle Liquid 6.1 and play directly back into the plasma. I was thinking of buying a Snazzio Media player to play the edited high def MPEG2 files but I've decided to buy more camcorder accessories instead and wait for HD-DVD or Blue Ray players to arrive and do the job properly.

One thing which surprised me, I use the manual features more than the auto settings on the HC1E. The manual zoom is great, much greater control. I'm glad I went for the HC1E now.

[lurcher]

Yes it doesn"t finish with purchase of the camcorder does it !
I already have the Sony VCL HGO 0737 W/A Lens which I bought off ebay last year for £65 ( a bargain ) , its a cracking lens.
Looking to buy its stablemate the VCL HGO 2037 T/C.
Already have Manfrotto Legs and a Ball Joint Head.

[laser]

I went for the 501 video head and 755b tripod. Much smoother tilt and rotation than my last tripod.

[lurcher]

Oh and a battery charger en route as I understood the battery can only be charged in the supplied camera.

[jwramsay]

Is Sony Vegas 6 compatible with the output from the HC1? (HDV?)

[lurcher]

Just had alook on the Vegas spec and although it shows several HDV Cameras as tested with the software , I couldn"t see HC1.

[fcat]

yes Vegas 6 works fine with the HC1, best capturing through cinnecraft thoug and working with proxy streams.

I bought two 'Sony' NPF960 batteries through a popular internet auction site and they were very clever fakes, the packaging etc was nigh on perfect but the batteries themselves were less so.

Cosmetically the gold info lithium paint was too gold, and the capactity info stickers were the wrong shade of blue and printed on inkjet paper badly affixed.

The batteries themselves charged as normal and seemed to operate normally but the initial time quoted was 600mins, this began to drop off quite markedly and I'd reckon they were only really good for about an hour.

All original sony M type batteries should definately fit the HC1, if the vendor says otherwise then they are fakes. Generally if an offer looks too good to be true, then it is.

[fcat]

best bet is to buy non Sony branded that way you know your not buying a fake and they work just aswell as original Sony ones at less than half the price!

[redsox_mark]

They may not work with the HC1 though. The HC1 has been designed to reject non Sony batteries - it gives a message telling you to use a Sony battery, and then shuts off. The HC1 checks some internal information to determine if it is genuine or not.

It may be that some non-Sony batteries have figured out how to work around this, and pretend to be Sony... but I wouldn't order a non-Sony one unless they say they will work with the HC1.

It has also been reported that some Sony branded batteries (mainly from Hong Kong) are acually fake and also won't work.

Mark

[redsox_mark]

Originally Posted by laser

I'm thinking about buying a Rode VideoMic as the onboard mic is only adequate for close range shooting. However I'm trying to work out the best way to connect the Rode VideoMic to the HC1E or my tripod.

Attached is a (not so great) photo of my setup. Shown is a tripod adapter from http://dm-accessories.com/index.php and a Bescor adapter from here http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...ist&sku=133276

The tripod adaptor (I have the PROA, now replaced by the PROAT) is great in that it allows you to change tapes whilst on the tripod... and gives you an extra mount point to attach the shoe adapter.

The Bescor I've not been able to find in the UK, though this one from Keene is a similar idea:
http://www.keene.co.uk/cgi-bin/codesearch.pl?6831

Mark

[fcat]

Wasnt aware of that mark, i just bought 2 batteries off ebay, one from the USA and one from Hong Kong and both worked fine right away!

[redsox_mark]

Here's a recent thread from another forum about the HC1 and checking for Sony batteries:

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=66663

As you see, even some non-Sony batteries are now "pretending" to be and making the HC1 happy. But it is still something to watch out for.

If it is a genuine Sony battery it should work, whenever it comes from (Hong Kong, USA, etc). If it doesn't, it isn't really genuine. And some non-genuine ones do work, but not all...

Mark

[lurcher]

Interesting thread thanks Mark , I am awaiting an email from an ebay seller asking about the compatability with the HC1 ( no reply yet ). Just ordered one from this site and will report back when it comes http://www.payless-batteries.co.uk/aboutus/aboutus.php

[fcat]

heres the seller and the actual battery i bought, i bought 2 from him for my HC1 , work fine, definatly recommended even thoug it doesnt look like the HC1 is listed on the auction!! never noticed that but they work!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SONY-NP-QM71-Q...QQcmdZViewItem

[lurcher]

Ok fcat I have ordered one from your link , thanks.
Thats 2 coming from 2 different sources.

[lurcher]

Will a standard 37mm Skylight Filter that are usually about £10 be okay for the lens protection on this camcorder or is there a requirement for an alternative filter for general protection ?.
Want to leave a protective filter on and dont mind paying more for quality to be maintained.

Thanks

[laser]

Originally Posted by redsox_mark

Attached is a (not so great) photo of my setup. Shown is a tripod adapter from http://dm-accessories.com/index.php and a Bescor adapter from here http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...ist&sku=133276

The tripod adaptor (I have the PROA, now replaced by the PROAT) is great in that it allows you to change tapes whilst on the tripod... and gives you an extra mount point to attach the shoe adapter.

The Bescor I've not been able to find in the UK, though this one from Keene is a similar idea:
http://www.keene.co.uk/cgi-bin/codesearch.pl?6831

Mark

Thanks for the info.

The problem in my case is the camcorder is attached to a plate, which attaches to the tripod (see thumbnail). I don't see a way for the brackets to be attached when the camcorder is on the plate. Any ideas?

I though about some type of clamp which would attach directly to a tripod leg but are finding it difficult to find something suitable i.e sturdy enough to hold the Rode VideoMic.

[Andy Mack]

Originally Posted by laser

Thanks for the info.

The problem in my case is the camcorder is attached to a plate, which attaches to the tripod (see thumbnail). I don't see a way for the brackets to be attached when the camcorder is on the plate. Any ideas?

I though about some type of clamp which would attach directly to a tripod leg but are finding it difficult to find something suitable i.e sturdy enough to hold the Rode VideoMic.

the adapter from http://dm-accessories.com/index.php goes from the tripod to the clamp, making enough space to take the tape out while its on the tripod. Its basically just a fin from the clamp to the camera, seperate them so there is enough room for the tape compartment to be opened.

[redsox_mark]

Right - the tripod adapter is meant to work with a tripod quick release plate, and it serves 2 purposes:

1. It provides an additional mount for an accessory using a tripod mount (like the Videomic), and

2. It provides a way to change tapes quickly, without removing the camcorder from the tripod.

I've attached 2 more photos which I hope help... the first shows the big picture of the camcorder with mic on the tripod. The second shows more detail. I've got quite a poor tripod (next on the wish list to improve) but it does have a quick release plate, although a small one.

Basically think of the tripod adapter as an extention of the camcorder. It attaches to the camcorder, and then it can attach to a tripod quick release plate. And because it has an additional mount for an accessory, you can mount your mic with that.

Mark

[redsox_mark]

Originally Posted by lurcher

Will a standard 37mm Skylight Filter that are usually about £10 be okay for the lens protection on this camcorder or is there a requirement for an alternative filter for general protection ?.
Want to leave a protective filter on and dont mind paying more for quality to be maintained.

Thanks

It's OK to use a standard 37mm Skylight or UV filter for protection... but get the best one you can. The idea being that the HC1 has an excellent quality lens, and you don't want to degrade it by using a low quality filter. One with a "multi resistant coating" will also help with glare etc. This probably means paying more than £10.

I use one of these http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...t&shs=BWUVMC37
had to get it from the US though, couldn't find any place local that carried them (or any other multi-coated one) in the 37mm size.

You can't use the filter with the hood though unless you break the tabs off the hood.

Mark

[lurcher]

Mark,
Thanks for that , does this one look like its the one you refer to ? ( hope so cos I"ve jusy ordered it online ).https://www.harrisoncameras.co.uk/sh...asp?prodid=592