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Home: Video University Forums: HDV:
HVR-A1U...my opinion

DSE
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Aug 1, 2005, 8:36 PM

Post #1 of 14 (4690 views)
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HVR-A1U...my opinion	Can't Post

http://www.sundancemediagroup.com/...cles/A1U/HVR-A1U.htm

contains a short review of the new HVR-A1U camcorder, soon to be shipping from Sony.

Douglas Spotted Eagle
Author, producer, composer
www.vasst.com
"I enjoy music, long walks at sunset on the beach, and poking dead things with a sharp stick."

Ranko
User

Aug 2, 2005, 10:54 AM

Post #2 of 14 (3704 views)
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Re: [DSE] HVR-A1U...my opinion [In reply to]	Can't Post

oh man...why must it be bottom loading and touch-screen...now my desire to get this unit has just drop from a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being low desire, 10 being must have)...9 to 4.

Crazy

DSE
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Aug 2, 2005, 10:56 AM

Post #3 of 14 (3701 views)
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Re: [Ranko] HVR-A1U...my opinion [In reply to]	Can't Post

The touch screen doesnn't bother me at all, in fact I found I somewhat liked it, because I don't mess with shutter speed that often. But the bottom-load....that's a problem. The Bogen stand-of fixes this issue somewhat, but it would have been better had they done something on the manufacturers side.

Douglas Spotted Eagle
Author, producer, composer
www.vasst.com
"I enjoy music, long walks at sunset on the beach, and poking dead things with a sharp stick."

MLiebergot
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Aug 2, 2005, 2:38 PM

Post #4 of 14 (3415 views)
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Re: [DSE] HVR-A1U...my opinion [In reply to]	Can't Post

Spot, thanks for the concise review. It sounds like a great DV camera and something I might look into, I can handle the touch screen, but being bottom loading, is too much of a pain to use in the field where quick tape changes are needed. I guess this was needed to keep the small footprint of the unit?

Michael

Cameras: I do use them.
Audio: Yes, it does come with audio if you like.
Software: I am learning...
Support: I need all that i can get.
Computer: MAC BABY!

DSE
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Aug 2, 2005, 3:11 PM

Post #5 of 14 (3408 views)
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Re: [MLiebergot] HVR-A1U...my opinion [In reply to]	Can't Post

Yeah, I've been bugging Sony for an "official" answer, but the likely one in absence, is that they'd have had to re-engineer the camera vs using existing assembly lines, I'd guess. Just for giggles, I took a Bogen Tripod 503 sled, and put 3 small washers between it and the camera. This fixed the hassle, other than if you've got a large sled, you'd not be able to reach the switch to release the eject. But with the 503 head, it worked very, very well.

Douglas Spotted Eagle
Author, producer, composer
www.vasst.com
"I enjoy music, long walks at sunset on the beach, and poking dead things with a sharp stick."

Mathew
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Aug 2, 2005, 3:29 PM

Post #6 of 14 (3302 views)
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Re: [DSE] HVR-A1U...my opinion [In reply to]	Can't Post

I don't consider 150 watts "low light". Most people at least here who do weddings want to see what kind of image they can get with no light. I don't necessarily agree with that approach but if you still have access to the camera I think that is what people want to see.

MLiebergot
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Aug 2, 2005, 4:01 PM

Post #7 of 14 (3281 views)
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Re: [Mathew] HVR-A1U...my opinion [In reply to]	Can't Post

I agree that 150w light isn't low light, but it was used because there was low light and, Mathew, correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't you say that you use a light system with your DVX100?
We know just from the specs that it won't be as good as teh FX1 or Z1, but it would make a good complimentary camera for either of those.
We have been down this road plenty of times lately in regards to the low light issue of the HDV compared to the PD170 or VX2100 etc.

Michael

Cameras: I do use them.
Audio: Yes, it does come with audio if you like.
Software: I am learning...
Support: I need all that i can get.
Computer: MAC BABY!

Mathew
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Aug 2, 2005, 4:12 PM

Post #8 of 14 (3279 views)
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Re: [MLiebergot] HVR-A1U...my opinion [In reply to]	Can't Post

Yeah I use a light at the reception. Just an on-camera Frezzi. That's why I said that I don't necessarily agree with those who don't. I don't use it for the ceremony which can be dark.

DSE is the one who made the example and labled it as low-light. Really I'm not being combative here. I'm just saying for weddings and the majority of VU'ers that if he is going to do a low light test then he needs to show the difference with no light.

As it is this camera probably will make a nice b-roll camera for those buying Z1's. At least that is how I view it.

DSE
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Aug 2, 2005, 4:14 PM

Post #9 of 14 (3284 views)
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Re: [Mathew] HVR-A1U...my opinion [In reply to]	Can't Post

Mathew, you wouldn't agree with anything positive about HDV if your business depended on it.
It was quite dark, certainly significantly darker than any wedding I've ever attended, and while I don't shoot weddings, I certainly know what low light looks like, and I'd submit that anyone looking at that image without an agenda can see it's low light. It's a lamp post, in the middle of a bunch of bushes, with 6 opaque glass shades around the lamp. I didn't measure the light coming off the lamp, but it's significantly dimmed by the glass panels. Additionally, it's pretty clear that the camera is inserting a lot of gain. Come on by the VASST pod at WEVA, and I'll show you the entire footage so you can see what it looked like before gain was added. For fun, we also shot a wide variety of wedding shots, some dark and some not, so we'll have them at WEVA. Given feedback from people in this forum, I wanted to see how this cam would perform, so went along with a friend who shoots wed vids for a living. We shot the A1 next to the Z1 to see how it would stack up.

Douglas Spotted Eagle
Author, producer, composer
www.vasst.com
"I enjoy music, long walks at sunset on the beach, and poking dead things with a sharp stick."

MLiebergot
Veteran

Aug 2, 2005, 4:22 PM

Post #10 of 14 (3276 views)
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Re: [DSE] HVR-A1U...my opinion [In reply to]	Can't Post

"Given feedback from people in this forum, I wanted to see how this cam would perform, so went along with a friend who shoots wed vids for a living. We shot the A1 next to the Z1 to see how it would stack up."

Spot, how did the A1 compare with the Z1? I am not able to attend WEVA this year so I am curous as to what the finding were. I kow the Black Stretch really helps when the gain has to pumped up so that is a big plus. BTW does the FX1 or HC1 have Black Stretch or just teh Z1 and A1?

Michael

Cameras: I do use them.
Audio: Yes, it does come with audio if you like.
Software: I am learning...
Support: I need all that i can get.
Computer: MAC BABY!

DSE
Veteran

Aug 2, 2005, 4:28 PM

Post #11 of 14 (3269 views)
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Re: [MLiebergot] HVR-A1U...my opinion [In reply to]	Can't Post

Just the Z1 and A1 have blackstretch capability. It helps a LOT when you're pumping gain. Black Stretch is on in the "snake" photo I put in the review. The A1 isn't a Z1, but it's pretty easy to adjust the gamma and some minor color correction to make them similar.
After WEVA, we'll likely upload the wedding pieces, or at least some of it. We only shot for about 15 minutes, it was really hot, crowded, and even though the sun was going down, the humidity was nasty inside the tent. So, no real incentive to hang out. Smile

Douglas Spotted Eagle
Author, producer, composer
www.vasst.com
"I enjoy music, long walks at sunset on the beach, and poking dead things with a sharp stick."

Mathew
Veteran

Aug 2, 2005, 5:12 PM

Post #12 of 14 (3248 views)
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Re: [DSE] HVR-A1U...my opinion [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

Mathew, you wouldn't agree with anything positive about HDV if your business depended on it.

That is not true at all. In fact that is the heart of my arguement with HDV right now. I'm not anti-HDV. I rib it sure but my main reason for not switching right now is because of business. I've listed the reasons elsewhere and all of them are business related. I can even work around the low light limitations because I already use a light when needed.

Ranko
User

Aug 2, 2005, 8:22 PM

Post #13 of 14 (3200 views)
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Re: [DSE] HVR-A1U...my opinion [In reply to]	Can't Post

I don't adjust the settings on my camera often too. just before shoots when there is drastic change in light to the environment (ie. indoor to outdorr, etc).

i got no problem with touchscreen cept for a pro cam that will definately be some issue since when there is a need to make changes, one need to do it quick. rite?

but over all, i'm quite excited with the new hdv models coming from sony. I'm sure these are just pioneer models. and something bigger is coming....=)

(This post was edited by Ranko on Aug 2, 2005, 8:24 PM)

DSE
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Aug 2, 2005, 8:52 PM

Post #14 of 14 (3191 views)
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Re: [Ranko] HVR-A1U...my opinion [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

Keep in mind for indoor to outdoor, you have the exposure lever. For anything else you might need to quickly access, you have an assignable button. I found that I liked having white balanced assigned to the assignable button, but you could assign several different things to it. Where it gets challenging is if you end up wanting to leave CineGamma mode for a standard shooting mode, but that's something you'd likely plan for, rather than need to do on the fly.

Douglas Spotted Eagle
Author, producer, composer
www.vasst.com
"I enjoy music, long walks at sunset on the beach, and poking dead things with a sharp stick."