I'm not sure what you mean about the aperture control, but the only thing I'd really be concerned about with the HC1 is low-light performance. I haven't used an HC1, but I do own a Z1, and the low-light performance on that camera isn't great as it is... though you can turn up the gain to 6-12db without getting much noise. Even if you have issues with HDV, you can always shoot in DV mode instead.

I am considering buying one of those two camera's as well. However, I think the biggest problem with the HDR-HC1 is that it is HDV. The time simply is not ready for HDV if you ask me, which is confirmed by many professionals. The costs are much higher as the benefits at this moment. To do good HDV editing, you need a HDTV, a monster of a computer with an expensive video card with HDMI output.

I believe in one or two years, HDV will be much more interesting. That does not mean that it is not a good product. I just think the costs of HDV are still bigger then the benefits.

"Revenge is a dish best served cold."

"To do good HDV editing, you need a HDTV, a monster of a computer with an expensive video card with HDMI output."

No, all you need is a 19" monitor and a decent PC with a Firewire port. My computer is two years old, and it can edit HDV without any real problem.

So why is everyone saying this is not the year to go HDV? On Eventdv, many people have stated that it is still too expensive. There is no physical distribution medium, and that you need an expensive television. I have a 19" LCD monitor and a fast computer (latest powerbook), so what you are saying is that I can edit HDTV without any problem? I am considering these two cameras as well, and the price difference is minimal. The GS-400 costs 1200 EURO in The Netherlands, and the HDR-HC1 1550 EURO.

But I really need to make sure that editing goes smoothly. And I am planning to wait till the 8th of January, and see what new models are announced at the CES. If Pansonic or Canon comes with a prosumer or consumer HDV camcorder, I might wait for it. While waiting, I can work on some scripts and read some books I have.

"Revenge is a dish best served cold."

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So why is everyone saying this is not the year to go HDV?

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By 'everyone', I take it you mean 'all the people who haven't bought HDV cameras yet' :). The Sony Z1 is reportedly Sony's fastest selling professional camera ever.

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I have a 19" LCD monitor and a fast computer (latest powerbook), so what you are saying is that I can edit HDTV without any problem?

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LCD probably won't handle HD resolutions, but you can probably still edit OK. Not sure about FCP, but with Avid Xpress Pro HD HDV editing is about the level that DV editing was at three or four years ago: some realtime effects (e.g. color correction, most dissolves), but most multi-stream effects have to be rendered unless you have multiple CPUs.

The HDV is failing in resolution when it comes to lots of info. Fast action sequences, lots of rippling sparkling water, etc. I would say, save or et a loan and buy a DVX100a. Why spend the money and then be stuck with an inferior camera...wait a few months to a year and buy one you will be happy with for years.

Matthew Sconce

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Originally posted by MarkG
LCD probably won't handle HD resolutions, but you can probably still edit OK. Not sure about FCP, but with Avid Xpress Pro HD HDV editing is about the level that DV editing was at three or four years ago: some realtime effects (e.g. color correction, most dissolves), but most multi-stream effects have to be rendered unless you have multiple CPUs.

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So the moment for HDV is not here yet. Although it is Sony's fastest selling camera, that does not say anything about if the infrastructure for HDV is there. Like I said before, there is no physical distribution media (Blue Ray or HDVD). Furthermore, the editing will require a heavy computer or hours of rendering. Finally, we are still in the first generation of HDV and there are a lot of issues that need to be resolved. I think I will just buy a nice Mini DV camera and will update to HDV in a year or two. When it is widely adopted and much cheaper.

"Revenge is a dish best served cold."

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The HDV is failing in resolution when it comes to lots of info. Fast action sequences, lots of rippling sparkling water, etc.

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You, of course, can post sample files which show those problems?

No, didn't think so.

I've deliberately tried to break HDV compression and never found anything objectionable about fast motion in any shot that I would normally use. On the other hand, I have seen very bad artifacts in shows shot on $100k HDCAMs, which are then compressed to MPEG-2 at a lower bit-rate than HDV for broadcast. If your final output is DVD or broadcast HD, then it's pointless to worry about HDV compression, because your finished movie is going to be more compressed than HDV and if your shot would have caused artifacts in HDV then it sure will when compressed from your glorious HDCAM-SR master.

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Why spend the money and then be stuck with an inferior camera

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Indeed: why spend all that money on a DVX100 when you could have a camera that shoots HD? Pretty much no-one I know is shooting standard-definition DV anymore.

I am personally considering the Panasonic GS-400, Sony HDR-HC1 and the Canon GL-2. The prices are 1180 EURO, 1548 EURO and 1899 EURO. The leap to the Sony VX-2100 is big, as it costs 2600 EURO. So I am not sure for which camera to go.

First of all, I like manual control. The Panasonic GS-400 has a lot of manual control, and I guess the GL-2 will have too. I am more concearned about the manual control options of the Sony HDR-HC1. I really like the look of the camera and the options but I am not sure how suited it is for indie filmmaking. Sony always ****s up with manual controls (on the cheaper models that is, in their topline models they are great).

So just give me your advice please.

"Revenge is a dish best served cold."

i would vote you try sony as the repair service if needed (never had yet) is great! ?:D?

www.stormtv.co.uk

With aparture control, he meant manual iris control. This is the biggest shortcoming on Sony's HDR-HC1 for indie filmmaking.

I am about two buy one of these camera's but they are really competitive. The GS-400 is cheaper and has more manual control, while the HDR-HC1 has stellar image quality and better audio options. This makes it very difficult.

I will wait till after this year's CES anyway, as I think the GL-3 and a successor to the GS-400 will be announced. I am eager to see if Panasonic and Canon go HDV with the new models.

"Revenge is a dish best served cold."