Sony HDR-HC1E HDV Camcorder

The Sony HDR-HC1 is the world’s first consumer HDV camera. HDV is the recently agreed standard for high definition camcorders and has been adopted by most of the major camcorder manufacturers.

It’s also supported by video editing software such as Apple’s iMovie and Final Cut Express, and Pinnacle Liquid Edition. Like HDTV, the HDV standard allows for two video resolutions, 1080i and 720p. It also states that images should be recorded in 16:9 widescreen.

The Sony HDR-HC1 shoots in the 1080i format and although it has a 4:3 aspect ration CMOS chip, it letterboxes the video it captures and outputs at a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. While this sacrifices some of the resolution of the chip and isn’t ideal, the quality of the video it produces is stunning and surpasses anything you will have seen from other camcorders.

Video quality is aided by high quality optics in the form of a Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* lens with 10x optical zoom. Other features worth noting are a widescreen viewfinder, 2.7in wide LCD with touchscreen, a manual zoom and focus ring, and a battery life of up to five hours with an optional Stamina battery.

The Sony HDR-HC1 has a good selection of connecton ports. There’s FireWire (iLink or IEEE1394) in and out, composite video, S-Video, and component. There’s also an interface shoe for adding accessories such as an external microphone or video light.

In addition to shooting high definition video, the HC1 will also shoot in regular DV mode and will take 3 megapixel digital stills.

Since its launch in late 2005, the HC1 has garnered rave reviews across the video camera and computer press. It’s a great start for consumer high definition camcorders and heralds a new era in home movie making in the same way that Hi-8 and Mini DV did in the 1990s.

Thinking about buying a digital camcorder? Check out How to Buy a Digital Camcorder.