Is the HC3 sharper than the A1u? at DVinfo.net

Forrest Schultz · May 26th, 2006, 09:51 AM

From the footage ive seen , the HC3 seems to be sharper than the A1u, speciffically Jung's 24p footage he posted.

I dont know if they are different chips or what, can someone clarify if they should look different, or are they actually the same resolution-wise? thank you.

Nevermind, im retarded. the footage Jung shot was with the hc1, not HC3. So that leaves another question,

IS the HC1 sharper than the A1U. or should they be the same?

Evan Dowling · May 26th, 2006, 01:23 PM

when you shoot in the 24 mode on the HC1, you loose a lot of resolution so you can't compare the two by that footage. The HC1 and A1u will be the same as far as sharpness and resolution goes. I believe there was a previous post where we agreed that the HC1 looked slightly (barely noticable) sharper then the HC3.

Alexander Karol · May 26th, 2006, 03:19 PM

The HC3 takes off under low-lit situations. However, under ideal lighting situations, the HC1/A1 will provide slightly sharper images than the HC3. To be quite honest, it'll be unoticeable unless you're freezing frames and scrutinizing each frame. I wouldn't worry too much about the difference.

David Tamés · May 26th, 2006, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Forrest Schultz

IS the HC1 sharper than the A1U. or should they be the same?

In theory they are very similar cameras, based on the same core, so the results should be identical. If they are different, then I suspect the Sony engineers might have cranked up the "sharpness" setting a little bit or something, but as far as I know, teh A1U and HC1 are identical in terms of the imager and resolution. The differences lie in audio interface features and image settings (e.g. A1U offers black stretch).

Stu Holmes · May 26th, 2006, 04:30 PM

HC1 and A1 are to all intents and purposes, same video.

Slight difference with thigns like Black Stretch switched-on in A1, but that doesn't affect sharpness.

HC3 vs HC1 - well this has been 'done to death' really i think on several DV sites, and i agree with Alexnder Karol that really there's little appreciable difference when watching video footage on a big screen.

There IS more of a difference when it comes to color balance, tone, color saturation and things like that.

Forrest Schultz · May 26th, 2006, 09:04 PM

ya, from what ive seen, the HC3 does a way better job than the HC1 for red color reproduction. i wonder, does the A1u have a good red color reproduction? or does it lack that just as the HC1 did.

Michael Stowe · May 26th, 2006, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Forrest Schultz

ya, from what ive seen, the HC3 does a way better job than the HC1 for red color reproduction. i wonder, does the A1u have a good red color reproduction? or does it lack that just as the HC1 did.

Reds on the A1 seem to have the same issue as the Hc1.

Heath McKnight · May 31st, 2006, 11:46 AM

The A1 and HC1 are similar, like the Z1 and FX1. And shooting in CF24 does indeed cut down on vertical resolution.

heath

David Tamés · June 1st, 2006, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heath McKnight

[...] shooting in CF24 does indeed cut down on vertical resolution

Yes it does, and if you care about the details, check out Adam Wilt's excellent description and discussion of Cineframe 30 and Cineframe 25 on his web site at: http://www.adamwilt.com/HDV/cineframe.html

Heath McKnight · June 1st, 2006, 08:04 AM

Adam rocks.

hwm

Dennis Hingsberg · June 17th, 2006, 03:15 PM

The HC3 does not have cinemode right?

Alexander Karol · June 17th, 2006, 05:09 PM

My A1 doesn't seem to present the red color problem some are talking about. I'm not the only one without this problem neither.

May 26th, 2006, 09:51 AM	#1
Forrest Schultz Major Player Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Atwater, CA Posts: 246	Is the HC3 sharper than the A1u? From the footage ive seen , the HC3 seems to be sharper than the A1u, speciffically Jung's 24p footage he posted. I dont know if they are different chips or what, can someone clarify if they should look different, or are they actually the same resolution-wise? thank you. Nevermind, im retarded. the footage Jung shot was with the hc1, not HC3. So that leaves another question, IS the HC1 sharper than the A1U. or should they be the same?

May 26th, 2006, 01:23 PM	#2
Evan Dowling Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Fort Myers , Florida Posts: 64	when you shoot in the 24 mode on the HC1, you loose a lot of resolution so you can't compare the two by that footage. The HC1 and A1u will be the same as far as sharpness and resolution goes. I believe there was a previous post where we agreed that the HC1 looked slightly (barely noticable) sharper then the HC3. __________________ Evan Dowling HDV 1080i Sony HDR-HC1

May 31st, 2006, 11:46 AM	#8
Heath McKnight MPS Digital Studios Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Palm Beach County, Florida Posts: 8,531	The A1 and HC1 are similar, like the Z1 and FX1. And shooting in CF24 does indeed cut down on vertical resolution. heath __________________ My Final Cut Pro X blog

June 1st, 2006, 08:04 AM	#10
Heath McKnight MPS Digital Studios Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Palm Beach County, Florida Posts: 8,531	Adam rocks. hwm __________________ My Final Cut Pro X blog

June 17th, 2006, 03:15 PM	#11
Dennis Hingsberg Trustee Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,055	The HC3 does not have cinemode right? __________________ Blog: www.hingsberg.com Ultimate Exposure Guides for FS5/F7S/F5/F55

May 26th, 2006, 03:19 PM	#3
Alexander Karol Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 198	The HC3 takes off under low-lit situations. However, under ideal lighting situations, the HC1/A1 will provide slightly sharper images than the HC3. To be quite honest, it'll be unoticeable unless you're freezing frames and scrutinizing each frame. I wouldn't worry too much about the difference.

May 26th, 2006, 04:30 PM	#5
Stu Holmes Major Player Join Date: May 2005 Location: Europe Posts: 844	HC1 and A1 are to all intents and purposes, same video. Slight difference with thigns like Black Stretch switched-on in A1, but that doesn't affect sharpness. HC3 vs HC1 - well this has been 'done to death' really i think on several DV sites, and i agree with Alexnder Karol that really there's little appreciable difference when watching video footage on a big screen. There IS more of a difference when it comes to color balance, tone, color saturation and things like that.

May 26th, 2006, 09:04 PM	#6
Forrest Schultz Major Player Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Atwater, CA Posts: 246	ya, from what ive seen, the HC3 does a way better job than the HC1 for red color reproduction. i wonder, does the A1u have a good red color reproduction? or does it lack that just as the HC1 did.

June 17th, 2006, 05:09 PM	#12
Alexander Karol Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 198	My A1 doesn't seem to present the red color problem some are talking about. I'm not the only one without this problem neither.