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Reviews from around the WebPowered by alaTest
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alaTest.com
Editors' rating: 88
Summary: alaTest has collected and analyzed 337 reviews of Sony Handycam HDR-HC1 from international magazines and websites. Experts rate this product 81/100 and users 88/100. Comparing these reviews to 104854 other Camcorders reviews gives this product an overall alaScore™ 88/100 = Very Good.
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computerarts.co.uk
Editors' rating: 80
Summary: The HVR-A1E is a great choice for anyone who's looking to take a hassle-free step into high-definition images. It's not cheap by any means, but this is a professional, not a domestic level, product and the feature set and video quality more than ...
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digitalartsonline.co.uk
Editors' rating: 80
Summary: The HC1E did a great job adjusting to transitions from light to dark and produced a clean, low-noise result when shooting in lower light indoors, a result helped by Sony's Enhanced Imaging Processor
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gadgetguy.com.au
Summary: The HC1 is a clear commitment by Sony to the HDV format. While the company launched the format with semi-pro and prosumer models, it has clearly moved the format into the mass market with the HC1. The point is that the acceptance of HDV will come from ...
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newbie.org
Editors' rating: 100
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best-digital-camcorder-reviews.com
CNET editors' buying advice
We have not reviewed this product but here is CNET's buying advice on Digital Camcorders. This content was chosen based on the features included with this model of digital camcorder.
MiniDV format
Most consumer digital camcorders use MiniDV cassettes, which record DV-format video. The DV standard produces high-quality footage that is superior to video recorded by consumer analog camcorders and can deliver more than 500 lines of horizontal resolution, depending on camcorder quality. Consumer and semipro digital camcorders that capture high-definition footage record HDV-format video on MiniDV cassettes.
Best for: Budget buyer; trendsetter; home and vacation moviemaker; independent filmmaker; business videographer.
| Broad range of video cameras, from bargain to professional three-chip models |
| Widely supported by video-editing and -effects software |
| MiniDV decks and other hardware products widely available |
| CD-quality 12- and 16-bit PCM (Pulse Code Modulation) sound capture and audio dubbing |
| MiniDV camcorders may be connected to TV for display or to VCR for copying |
| Some video cameras provide analog-to-digital conversion for digitizing older video |
| MiniDV camcorders can't play analog 8mm or Hi8 cassettes |
| Cassettes with built-in memory chip for indexing video segments are relatively expensive |
Supporting manufacturers: Canon; Hitachi; JVC; Panasonic; Samsung; Sony.
Read more in the Digital Camcorder Buying Guide
HD Camcorders info
If format proliferation is the sign of growing pains in a market, camcorders are in adolescent hell. Prices are dropping, making HD camcorders an attractive buy relative to their SD competitors, but inexpensive doesn't necessarily mean easy. Our most recent tally indicates there are no fewer than four possible media types to use, each of which can support multiple encoding formats; the encoding formats, in turn, support various combinations of standard-definition (SD) and high-definition (HD) video formats. Toss in HD's three different available resolutions, and you have an ugly mess to sort through while you shop. And we haven't even begun to see the inevitable models based on HD-DVD or Blu-ray discs.
Read more in the HD camcorders Quick Guide
See more HD camcorders products
LCD and electronic viewfinder info
More pixels usually mean better viewfinder and LCD image quality. Look for a sharp LCD that's easy to see in bright light; adjustable screen brightness helps, too. The larger the LCD, the easier it will be to see (and the more power-hungry it will be); for all but ultracompact camcorders, look for at least 2.5 inches. An EVF that you can tilt with a diopter lever for adjusting focus will give you more shooting flexibility. Almost all EVFs and LCDs on consumer camcorders display color, although some video enthusiasts prefer black-and-white EVFs, which can make it easier to judge exposure. Touch-screen LCDs have begun to appear on a few consumer video cameras, usually for menu navigation and spot focusing. Some users find them convenient, while others prefer not to have to use the LCD to access camcorder controls.
See more LCD products
Sony HVR-A1U:
