[mmace]

I'm tempted to buy a Sony HDR-SR1 but have a couple of questions

bear in mind I have a baby due VERY soon so may not be able to wait until the HC5 or HC7 are released

1) how much can I film before the HDD is full (in Hi-def)?
2) are any companies working on getting their video editors to work with AVCHD? and if so, does anyone know of any timescales 'til we can see these? (I know about the workaround but that will take too long and too much HDD space!), I can just archive to the PC for the time being
3) What's the quality like compared to the HC3 which I owned before (until it does the other week)?
4) What's the SR1 like in low light compared to the HV10 or the HC3?
5) What resolution does the SR1 record at? (I know that HDV is limited to 1440x1080i)

any help would be greatly appreciated

[redsox_mark]

1) how much can I film before the HDD is full (in Hi-def)?

4 hours in highest quality mode. (11 hours in lowest quality mode, with settings inbetween).

2) are any companies working on getting their video editors to work with AVCHD? and if so, does anyone know of any timescales 'til we can see these?

Yes. Sony has announced there will be a free update to their Vegas 7 editor this spring to support AVCHD. (No specific date, just "spring").

3) What's the quality like compared to the HC3 which I owned before (until it does the other week)?

I've not used the SR1 so I can only comment from reviews and what I've heard from others; quality is very similar. In general the verdict is the HC3 has slightly better quality, but the SR1 has better features.

4) What's the SR1 like in low light compared to the HV10 or the HC3?

Both the Sonys are much better than the HV10 in low light. Between the HC3 and SR1 they are similar - they use the same sensor. But the HC3 has the slight edge.

5) What resolution does the SR1 record at? (I know that HDV is limited to 1440x1080i)

The SR1 is also 1440x1080i.

[senu]

Just to point out that if you must have an edit, The SR 1 also records SD

The actual AVCHD files are just about playable on a Bog standard PC although you can certainly return them from PC to the Camcorders HDD and play them off it to a display

and
It is very Mac Unfriendly

[mmace]

cheers but I'm sticking with Hi-def, no point going backwards when everything I've shot for a while has been in HD, especially with a baby on the way, I want it as future proof as possible.

I can play AVCHD fine on my PC which is connected to my HDTV, but I can never watch stuff til I've edited the rubbish out.

thanks for the comments though, think I'll have to get another HC3