- Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 17 reviews Back to product review
- My rating: 0 stars
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4 out of 4 people found this review helpful
4.5 stars
"A generational jump"
Pros: Very Professional feel, (not toylike as the Panasonic)
Cons: Where is Nightshot?
Summary: After having read various fairly negative review I was ready to buy the Panasonic GS200, (as a way to save money) until I actually had a good chance to handle both camcorders at the same time.
I was totally taken back by the "toylike" feeling you experience with the Pana CS200, and I was so taken in by the feeling of professionality, style, durability and reliability that the HC 1000 conveys overall.
The best way to describe this "experience" is by viewing the HC1000 as an attempt to bridge a gap or the link (up to now missing) to make camcorders as comfortable and ergonomic as digital cameras of the likes of the Cybershot F717 or F828 (which the camcorder somewhat imitates as to shape, features and ease of use), or other DSLRs (with advantages and disadvantages).
For this reason I find that the Sony HC1000 presents a challenge to traditional camcorder users not dissimilar to the challenge that digital photography presented to old fashion traditional photographers. Of course it is different, and it is new and it requires a change of mindset, of ways of doing things etc. , and if you are stuck in your old ways, you will not like this camcorder (just like the writer of the review).
Here are some things I want to mention (in response to some points made in the review) which I found unfairly stressed in the review.
1) touch screen is a nuisance at first, but you get used to it, and the customizable menus help to "forgive" Sony. Of course if you have decided that camcorders may only have buttons, because that's the way it has always been done, well... then it is a problem.
2) internal battery is a touch of genius. While the AC adapter is connected you can replace the battery all along continuing to use the cam with no need to shut it down (in traditional camcorders when your battery runs out you need to shut down the camcorder to replace the battery or attach the AC adapter).
3) Even though it may be heavier to the left, the cam is still fairly well balanced and the multiangle grip overcomes this issue and makes handling comfortable for this camera. Rotating the multi angle grip really helps when you get tired of holding the camcorder in a certain position. It is not the perfect solution, I agree, but at least the option is there and it is helpful when needed.
4) Just the fact that the camcorder can function as a direct Analog to DV converter (I can transfer from a VCR to my iMovie software without having to record on tape first) is to me a remarkable feature. The HP moviemaker 3000 (which does the same thing) costs about $350.
5) the colours shown on screen are very remarkably similar to the original recorded. By contrast the colours shown on the panasonic GS200 appeared more brilliant than the original. Even the salesperson, having seen the HC1000 screen, could not explain why this is, even after we checked the white balance etc. This panasonic colour enhancement may appeal to many, but I prefer an honest representation of what the colours really were. The sony HC1000 shows it the way it really is.
6) I love the colour bars feature. The cam allows you to record bars ranging from white to black at the beginning of your shoot, as an aid to calibrate the monitor you use to view your work.
7) I love the ability to record on the memory stick the video that is being played back by the camcorder so that a DV video is transformed into a Mpeg clip.
8) Please consider I have only had this camera for about 32 hrs and I am still discovering new features. HOWEVER I am totally impressed. This machine "feels" like "quality" all around. Yes, It is a generational leap forward.
Who is ready for the jump?
