Okay, so this isn't really technique, but it IS about wedding videos...sort of.

Have any of you heard or seen the Sony HVR-HD1000U? Goggle it, and you'll find pictures and a link to Sony's site with a press release about it. HDV CMOS.

Here is the press release link:
http://news.sel.sony.com/en/press_room/b2b/broadcast_production/release/31159.html

Sony says they the camera is being marketed to wedding videographers, but from what I can tell, the camera is a bit lacking on some manual controls I need for shooting weddings and from what I can tell, no XLR. It is supposed to sell under $1900 US, though.

Looking at some of the pictures, I cant help but think of the old shoulder-mounted VHS camcorders from the 1980's. There is lots of plastic, and only a few buttons on the thing.

Sony calls it "pro" in the press release, but I think that may be stretching it just a wee bit - at least based on their press release.

I much prefer the pd-150/dvx-100 form factor for weddings and I doubt I'm alone on this. I was trained on full sized ENG style cams and work(ed) professionally with Varicams but I'd hate to lug around anything larger than the PD/DVX style cams at a wedding. All my support gear is suited to the smaller cams as well. In my opinion, it's a vanity camera. It's larger and therefore appears to some as more professional, but is it really? I'm not buying it. I don't have much else to say about this cam.

Hard to tell with all the tiny print and marketing speak, but I am guessing that this camera is a single chip design. No sensor size is mentioned so who knows how good this unit will be in the dark reception.

Hard to tell with all the tiny print and marketing speak, but I am guessing that this camera is a single chip design. No sensor size is mentioned so who knows how good this unit will be in the dark reception.

From the press release:

"The HVR-HD1000U camcorder uses Sony’s 1/2.9-inch ClearVid™ CMOS sensor system with its unique pixel layout rotated 45 degrees to provide higher resolution and sensitivity."

We've been discussing this camera over here for awhile: http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=101903

Please direct your replies to that thread so we can keep everything in the same place - thanks!