293wv12 Sony HDR-FX1E

9/3/05

11:10 am

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On test

3-CCD HD/DV CAMCORDER G Approx price: 2,500

Sony HDR-FX1E

The future of hi-def TV isnt far off, but shooting HD-quality home video is already a reality. Lisa Keddie takes a look at Sonys HDV/DV camcorder
ith prices of HD-ready LCD and plasma screens falling, and the dawn of HDTV, HD DVD and Blu-ray breaking, it wont be long before high definition appears in homes throughout the UK. But a far greater development is the long-awaited arrival of affordable HD filming for the consumer. Enter Sonys 2,500 HDR-FX1E HDV/DV camcorder.This little beauty can record and play back 16:9 HDV 1,080i (50 interlaced frames per second) and mini DV 576i footage. Whats doubly exciting about this latest semi-pro cam,apart from the
more information and a higher resolution to store than DV PALs 720 x 576 pixels, so its compressed as a type of MPEG2 video.This process of capturing HD as MPEG2 video to mini DV tape gave birth to the new and much raved about HDV format.

looks & features

Decked out in pro-style charcoal grey,the HDR-FX1E means business and resembles Sonys PD170 DV/DVCAM camcorder,but is slightly larger.The 3.5in colour widescreen LCD panel is uniquely positioned across the front of the carry handle,
Footage was simply stunning for a domestic cam. Images were crisp and incredibly detailed
fact that it still uses standard mini DV tape,is that it can be found for as little as 2,170 online. Compared to JVCs GR-HD1 HDV/DV camcorder, which is only available in the US and records HD at 1,280 x 720 progressively (720p) to a video bandwidth of 19Mbps, the Sony HDR-FX1E captures high-def pictures at 1,440 x 1,080 interlaced (1,080i) to a larger bandwidth of 25Mbps.This bandwidth is also identical to standard mini DV, hence the same tape duration is used, regardless of whether you record to HDV or DV. But HD content has behind the onboard stereo microphone,and covering various VCR and LCD controls,plus a button for outputting and recording colour bars at the start of tape.The handle has a small,two-speed-adjustable zoom rocker beside a record button for low-angle filming. All the necessary manual controls are within easy reach on the body, namely a volume level dial,large silver iris (exposure) dial,and focus, gain,shutter,white balance and twolevel ND filtering controls.Assign buttons store set-ups and the Expanded Focus button zooms in on
the frame for checking focus before recording.The lens hood and shutters (instead of a lens cap) shield the 12x optical zoom 1.6/72mm Carl Zeiss lens with its focus ring and zoom ring with end stops. The HDR-FX1E records 16:9 HDV footage using three 1/3in (1.07-megapixel effective) widescreen 1,080i HD CCDs, processing four times more information than traditional DV camcorders to give sharper,richer pictures.HDV content can be tweaked in Picture Profile using Cinematone Gamma and Cineframe features to add warmer,smoother contrasting and film-motion effects to video.HDV audio is recorded as twochannel 48KHz/16-bit MPEG1 layer 2. With Auto selected in the VCR HDV/DV menu, the HDR-FX1E automatically plays back HDV 1,080i or 576i, depending on a screens native resolution, via the component video output, or the HDV/DV i.Link (Firewire) port thats also used for dubbing and capturing to a HDV/DVcompatible editing system.
You can create your own hi-def content with Sonys amazing HDR-FX1E. Who needs Sky?

Details

FEATURES
Recording formats: HDV 1,080i, DV 576i Screen shape: 4:3 (DV only), 16:9 Recording modes: SP, LP (DV only) HD Ready: yes Dimensions: 151(w) x 181(h) x 365(d)mm Weight: 2.1kg (with battery, lens hood and cassette) Other Features: three 1/3in (1.07 megapixel effective) widescreen 1,080i HD CCDs; 12x optical zoom 1.6/72mm Carl Zeiss varior-Sonnar T* lens (4.mm, 35 mm equivalent 32.mm); dedicated focus and zoom rings; manual exposure, shutter and white balance controls; 3.5in/251,000-pixel colour wide LCD panel; 0.3in/252,000-pixel colour viewfinder; Expanded Focus; Cinematone; Cineframe; Picture Profile; Shot Transition; Fader; Assign buttons; SteadyShot; MPEG1 layer 2 (two-channel 48KHz/16-bit) HDV audio recording; 16-bit and 12-bit PCM audio recording

ease of use

The HDR-FX1E was too heavy to hold as a handycam after a time, and needed the support of a tripod or Sonys optional 300 VCT-FXA shoulder brace.The headphone socket is in an awkward position as our headphone jack and cable got in the way of operating the main zoom rocker during hand-held filming. But the camcorder was ideal

Key connections

i.Link in/out
(Not pictured) IEEE1394 connection for outputting or inputting HDV or DV footage

S-video

Outputs standard definition pictures to a monitor

Component video out

For HDV 1,080i playback on a LCD or plasma screen

SOCKETS

HDV/DV (i.Link), S-video, composite video and stereo analogue audio inputs and outputs; component video output; mic input (stereo mini-jack); headphone (stereo mini-jack); Lanc

Audio/video

Playback and dubbing of DV footage to an analogue source

CONTACT

www.sony.co.uk
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Also Consider >>

SONY HVR-Z1 Professional version of HDR-FX1E includes balanced XLR inputs and DVCAM recording, but 1,000 more Not reviewed
JVC GR-HD1 HDV 720p (prog-scan) camcorder, but only one native 4:3 format CCD and not sold in UK Not reviewed

Remote

Fairly standardlooking Sony cam remote with small but clearly defined buttons
picture and detail still remained reasonably clear under strong light.
Ease of use ##### Layout ###### Labelling ##### for low-angle filming using the handle zoom, record controls and the suitably positioned LCD panel. Monitoring 16:9 HDV pictures in native widescreen, rather than anamorphically (vertically stretched) proved invaluable. So, too, did the focus and zoom rings when the HDR-FX1E was mounted on a tripod for pulling focus.The LCDs

performance

HD footage via component on a 45in Sharp LC-45GD1E LCD TV and a 43in Pioneer PDP-435FDE plasma screen bowled us over.The footage was simply stunning for a domestic cam. Images were crisp and incredibly detailed,rich in colour and tone. Detail was picked out in landscape woodland scenes and distant shop signs that would normally be a soft mush of colour in 16:9 mini DV. Even widescreen DV pictures looked better than anything we have seen before.But once HDV has been experienced,theres no going back to DV.Reds and skin tones looked true to life.Cinematic features boosted warmth and contrast,and added a jittery film effect.Standard motion was smooth,but the all-familiar interlacing artefacts and jagged edges were visible during motion sequences. The over-sensitive onboard microphone picked up all operator movements on the plastic handle,
though this problem could be alleviated by covering it with a rubber grip.The HDR-FX1E doesnt have balanced XLR inputs like its professional version,the HVR-Z1,but audio recorded via an external Sennheiser ME-66 mic and Beachtek DXA-6 beachbox connected to the mic/line-in mini jack was acceptable.

Pair this cam with a Sharp LC-45GD1E TV and you wont believe your eyes

Ratings

WHATS GOOD
Picture; price; looks; manual controls

conclusion

This is merely the beginning of affordable consumer HD filming.We are keeping our fingers crossed for a three-chip HDV 720p (progressive scan) model with detachable lens that does away with interlacing issues.In the meantime,HDV is slowly killing off mini DV,even though it records to the same tape stock.The deciding factor is not only going to be cost,but whether the means of editing and storing the HDV content are available.Sadly,its the video editing side thats flagging at present, and software makers must make every effort to catch up and produce affordable consumer products just like this gem of a camcorder I

WHATS BAD

Position of headphone jack; lack of balanced audio ports

Fact file

Picture Sound Features Ease of use Value
##### ##### ##### ##### #####
I HDV 1,080i recording I HD/SD playback I Component output I HDV/DV in/output I Widescreen monitoring

OVERALL VERDICT

Stunning HD picture quality from first HDV 1,080i consumer camcorder
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