Various questions Sony HC1

[Alex Thin]

Well, I make the question in other way, What are you using to capture your hdv footage from camera to PC?

Hardware: Pc processor, memory....
Software: OS,capture tool .....

ANyone using CapDVHS?

thanks.

[Ryan Shaffer]

I rented a Z1 and a FX1 to tape a wedding but, did not have the cams long enough to import all of the footage. The client owns a HC1 and says I can borrow it to import my footage to my G4. Does anyone know if this will work? Are they compatible? Will there be any loss in quality?

[Alexander Karol]

Sure will...no loss of quality should occur as you are not recording over the tape using the HC1's sensor, simply reading the tape. A lot of users have purchased the HC1 simply to use it as an HDV deck.

[Jack Zhang]

I would just like to add that if you use a consumer HDV cam as a VCR, it is more vulnerable to popping a transistor as the components that make up the circuit board are a lot lower quality than the FX1. DO NOT USE THE HC1 AS A LONG-TERM DUBBING SOLUTION! The M10 is suited for that.

[Andreas Fernbrant]

So what is the deal here?
I've been trying to read up on this but fall short.
Can anyone please enlighten me?

What the main diffrences between the HC1 and A1.
I know the obvious (A1 is directed to a more professional market)

And are you able to use manual controls on the A1 altough they
might be under some menus? What manual controls can't you
control fully with the HC1?

Kind regards and a big thank you,
/Andreas

[Alexander Karol]

The main differences between both camcorder is the audio module, the lens hood, low-light performance (A1U has black stretch), and some other minor software improvements on the A1U.

Unfortunately, the A1U as well as the HC1 lacks Gain control. It also lacks individual Iris control and can only be manipulated together via the Exposure setting.

People that have reviewed the A1U have also mentioned better picture quality, but there is no technical evidence for that. Low-light performance in the A1U is definetely superior due to black stretch feature.



Hope this helps.

[Andreas Fernbrant]

Thank you,
So you have no control over gain and iris?
You can't force the cam to not gain?

[Alexander Karol]

Well, you can manipulate the exposure setting. People have already created a table correlating the exposure setting with the aperture and gain setting. I believe that if you increase exposure to the 6th notch from the right, you will get full aperture and no gain.

The problem is, you can only see what aperture and gain level you're on when playing the tape back. So basically you have to change the exposure, record a 1-2 sec clip, go to playback mode, watch it with "Data Code" option enabled, and you can see what the aperture and gain level is set to. This is the way with most of the SONY's newer consumer camcorders.

At least with the HC1/A1U you have direct shutter speed control (via the touch screen menu). I feel that you can easily resolve the situation by printing out the exposure table and taking it with you when recording. That way you can reference to it when manipulating the exposure, which by the way, can be done via a dedicated lever on both, the HC1 and the A1U.

[James Bresnahan]

I just assumed I would be able to watch my old Canon Elura
DV recordings on the DV playback system of the HC1.

When I tried this, however, both video and audio played back
in an irregular, stuttery fashion. I know the tape was recorded SP
and had no dropouts, but I haven't gone back and checked all the
HC1 playback settings to confim this is a true incompatiblity issue.

Haven't heard much about this issue from other HC1 owners.
Perhaps because no one is dumb enought to stick cruddy old
DV tapes in their new baby ;). Unfortunately, this is currently
the only way I have to view my DV archives.


Jim

[Fredrik-Larsson]

I recorded some stuff on a Canon XL-2 and played back fine. It might be that you force HDV out or something. Check the menus so that you choose DV-tape and DV-out.

[Alexander Karol]

My A1U played back my old HC90 and PC330 footage perfectly. I'm sure it is the settings that he mentioned.

[James Bresnahan]

Thanks guys--I will double check the settings.

Overall, my HC1 experience has been pretty great in the two weeks
I've had it.




Jim

[Holger Leonhard]

Hello Forum,

doeas anybody knows if the HC1 has a function to avoid tape contact to the video head in record standby / pause mode?
Sometimes I need the camera longer time on record standby, e.g. adjusting light or preparing the scene. If the tape all the time has contact to the rotating head both - head and tape - will wearout soon.
It´s IMO an issue concerning especially the HC1 because the cam has a bottom loading Tape and so it can not be unloaded easily to spare the heads when mounted on a tripod.

[Stu Holmes]

No it doesn't have that function you require (to best of my knowledge).

You can adjust, i beleive, the time it will stay in standby mode before it powers down.

If you're preparing a scene, and you don't want the tape/head to wear then either :
1) power down and do scene prep you need that doesn't require checking every second or two in LCD/viewfinder.
2) put the camcorder in stills mode will, i believe, disengage the head from the tape as it's capturing stills to memory card. In this way you can still see the scene and may be your best option. (though will be in 4:3 in think).
If you need to check exposure etc. or white balance or whatever, then flip it back to tape mode, do your checks and then back to memory-stills mode. Should be best bet.

Alternatively just don't be paranoid about it and do your scene prep faster !

[Holger Leonhard]

thanks, I will look for this still mode!

Do you know if the FX1 has a tape spare feature ?