George, the HC7 performed very well under opening shock and high speeds. It's a great little camera, no doubt. It shifts exposure very quickly and without a bloom between exposure settings.

I’m usually the type of person that will use the manual focusing ring more so than auto especially when I’m using an HC1 or a Z1u but since the HC7 doesn’t have a focusing ring around the lens, how is the auto focusing compared to either the Z1u or the HC1. I do complain about the HC20 not having a focusing ring around the lens but at least I cannot complain about the way it may handle auto focus because the HV10 does it extremely well and the HV20 should be even better.

Thanks DSE! Glad to hear it. Looks like it is the helmet cam for HDV then. With all the other stuff, I can use it for all the other site shots. With the 3 second high-speed, it will be killer for adding super-slow jumps. Add the Beachtek, headphones, and shotgun for other material. What a sweet package for small form and mobility.

Bear in mind that the super slow mo is reduced quality, so you'll want to take that into consideration. However, I'm also looking forward to trying some super slo mo, even if it only ends up on youtube.

Just Got the HC7 instock at B&H, but we haven't put it on display yet.

Didn't get to much time to play with it, but it feels great in the hand, and on the screen it looks similar to the FX7.


-Kris G


EDIT: They just pulled it out of our system. I don't know why.

Does the HC7 have black stretch or free run time code features? I'd like to use it as a B cam for my Z1u, but also take it on vacations.

Thanks.

HC7 X.V. Color ?
 

Please explain X.V. Color, can it be viewed on any HD TV, and will it mix with Sony FX1 in editing in Vegas 7?
Thanks
John

It’s only viewable on future TVs from Sony, Samsung and others that supports Deep Color. The TVs basically have to be HDMI 1.3 complaint. You would also need a category 2 HDMI plug to receive the full colors. Because the PS3 is HDMI 1.3 complaint, you can put your HC7 footage on a Blu-Ray disc and still get all that extra colors if you have the proper TV.

The only other High Definition units besides the PS3 that supports Deep Color is the Toshiba HD-XA1 HD-DVD player that is already out and the Samsung BD-P1200 Blu-Ray player that is almost out.

Here is a thread I provided a while back that talks about the first Sony TVs to use x.v.Color.
http://dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=83526

Hc7 Hdv
 

Thanks Paul
I think I have a better understanding of xv color.
Will HC7 also play HDV on a regular HD TV (Sony SXRD), but not show the
Deep Color?
Also will the HC7 play a HDV tape recorded on the FX1?
Or are you saying they are two competely different formats?
Thanks
John

Everything is fully compatible. It’s like hooking up an HD camcorder to a standard TV. The TV may not be HD but it can still play the footage in standard definition. Basically it will still play on an HD TV but you won’t see the extra colors.

The HC7 won’t have any problems at all playing footage from an FX1.

but what about the "tele macro" feature?
 

I've not really seen this before.

And it seems to be very different from the "ordinary macro" found on most camcorders since their inception.

Looking at some high end tele-macro lenses available for photography, it seems like there is at least a possibility that this feature could be used for a shallow depth of field.

But I'm not finding any detailed information on this anywhere (including the manual).

Anybody tried this yet?
It could bring a close to my year long experimentation with different gg and vibration mechanism in my hacked "letus flip"

Tele-macro only works over a very limited range so it's great for some things and not a lot of use for others. Good if getting close will frighten your subject and/or get you injected with venom.

tom.

OT - Daniel, you have a HC5/7? So, when are we going to see a music video using, say, Stock20 music? :D

no tom, I don't have one.
But I'm thinking about one for a project I'm working on.

Stock20 has forced me to retire from all pro video work.
I've made one exception this year for my favorite non-profit.

here's a link to a low res version:

http://www.stock20.com/media/mawbyfinal.wmv

And yes, I used all Stock20.com music. :)

I actually surfed the site, used the "favorites" feature to plan my project, bought the stuff (using in store credit of course), and downloaded.

I wanted to experience it like a customer. It wasn't too bad. But our new interface and search developments are going to make it a lot better...

thanks for asking :)