Jeff - sorry about the gaff on ccd and cmos I have edited that post to correct. Thanks for pointing that out.

Adam - I also assumed the EX1 footage would be the better image and was pleasantly surprised with the result.

Blow those image up, like you would see it on a typical 50" or larger living room HDTV.

No matter the size of our HDTV, it is still 1920x1080 pixels. The greater the inches the greater the optimal viewing distance but the image is 1920x1080 no matter what so what is your point with this statement?

...You won't see HD1000s being used by your local news station either....
Is this the only standard for what defines "professional"? ENG does not establish what is pro and what is not. There are many grades of "professional" videography. I am sure there are many people in Holloywood, Bollywood and independent cinema throughout the world that would scoff at the equipment used by many local News Stations. Does you local CBS affiliate shoot on Viper?

To claim that a news station wouldn't use it and therefore it is not professional, is a ridiculous assertion that alienates scores of professional videographers who do this as a professional and make a good living doing other forms of videography.
...I'm aware that the low margins on weddings make it awfully tough to justify the costs of pro caliber production equipment, while squeaking out a reasonable living. That's why I decided not to do it. Essentially, the demand (or lack there of) for wedding video is astonishingly weak, apparently because couples just really don't give a rip about getting a quality video of their wedding, and the market only really supports what is analogous to back yard mechanics.

I'm not trying to knock the HD1000, and I don't knock anyone for shooting weddings with it (especially on the ridiculous margins the market will bear), but that doesn't make it a professional quality camera in my mind, anymore than guys doing mechanic work in their back yards with Walmart tools, to earn a few bucks (on slim margins also), makes those tools professional quality (and I don't knock backyard mechanics for using cheap tools either - heck, I've paid good back yard mechanics to fix my car, using tools that aren't professional caliber)...
I am not a backyard mechanic or a weekend warrior. I do this for a living and have been for several years. In my EXPERIENCE, couples care very much about getting QUALITY video of their weddings but they do not always budget for it. Professional results matter more than expensive equipment. Could I get a better wedding video for a client if I shot with a $20,000 ENG camera? Maybe, but what would it take for me to ROI that equipment and still make a living? We are doing this for a living and we use this camera and are getting professional results. Is it good for all circumstances? NO. But to draw a line in the sand and say this is not professional because it doesn't meet ENG standards to me is insulting.
...but that doesn't make it a professional quality camera in my mind...
Perhaps this is the missing piece for me. This is your opinion and at the end of the day you are a stranger to me and that opinion does not change who I am or what I do. I have tried to make my points clear and back my argument up with facts and personal experience but you are entitled to your opinion and it seems clear that you have your mind made up. I just hope that anyone trying to decide whether to buy this camera because they can afford it or go into debt buying another camera that meets your definition of "professional" will see that this camera can be deployed professionally in non-eng markets.

...You won't see HD1000s being used by your local news station either....

I wouldn't be so sure about that. The way the news industry is going I wouldn't doubt they start investing in HD1000s with one of Sony's memory recoding units to cut costs. They still come out to less than P2 cameras. :-)

Perhaps this is the missing piece for me. This is your opinion and at the end of the day you are a stranger to me and that opinion does not change who I am or what I do.

Indeed, we have an honest difference of opinion, which does not change, nor diminish, either of us at the end of the day.

I expect you are quite professional in your work, and certainly understand the very good reasons for using an HD1000 in your work. If I were to shoot weddings, for pay, here in rural Minnesota, at typical going rates, I wouldn't be embarrassed or have any qualms about showing up with my HV20s (or an HD1000) for the shoot (and be confident of producing very nice results, under the right conditions - but not in a poorly lit venue, like the local church here, which is a beautiful Catholic church built early in the last century). It would be hard to justify putting head wear on my XH-A1, for that kind of money (I'd do it as a favor to a friend, but not to put bread on the table).

I don't consider "a backyard mechanic" to be unprofessional (or even second rate), just because they don't work out of a commercial establishment, in a garage with a lift, and may employ some tools that aren't really of professional caliber. I know some dang good mechanics that work out of their garage/back yard at home, some part-time for extra cash and some full-time for a living.

This is my opinion, but I don't consider a tool (whether it's a wrench or a video camera) to be of professional caliber, simply by virtue of being used to earn money by a skilled craftsman. I also don't consider someone to be a skilled professional (or not), simply based on what tools they employ in their work (or whether they work from home or at a commercial establishment).

No matter the size of our HDTV, it is still 1920x1080 pixels. The greater the inches the greater the optimal viewing distance but the image is 1920x1080 no matter what so what is your point with this statement?

It's a lot easier to see detail on a larger screen (like a typical living room big screen TV) than a smaller one (like a typical computer screen) regardless of how many pixels are displayed. To get a good idea what an image will look like on a big screen television, on a small computer screen, it does help to blow it up. I was able to confidently distinguish which camera shot which image when I blew it up on my 22" computer monitor, as I would likely be able to on my 60" TV (didn't try that though). I could not confidently determine which camera shot which image, on my computer monitor, without blowing the images up.

Funny, but if a significant number of pros do use a tool - it is in fact professional caliber. The tool fits the job - you don't drive a limosine to deliver groceries and don't drive a pickup as a taxicab. Fit,finish, and quality match the purpose and economy of the job at hand - anything else is wasted expense and non-profitable.

Congrats on your purchase. I really like my 1000U but would highly recommend you invest in an on-cam HD monitor 7 inches or greater to really push it. Lighting is a good idea but often customers will balk at large or overly bright set-ups. A monitor you can use every time you shoot... Good luck and happy shooting!

Any suggestions on monitors?

Personally, I use an Ikan v8000HD and they now have a version that has HDMI in which would be handy. I am very happy with my purchase. I have also heard good things about something called the "SmallHD" (there is a good thread on here if you run a quick search.) But I have not had opportunity to personally check out the small HD monitor.

Pros for the Ikan V8000 HD:
-can use sony l-series batteries
-good size for pulling focus and using when tripod mounted
-HDMI model has HDMI in
-monitor has pass-through if you need to dual-monitor
-multiple mounting configurations (directly to separate tripod, shoe mount, or hang from bracket with optional arm and invert bracket.)

Cons:
-sucks down batteries pretty quick
-is awkward when using shoulder mount configuration
-can be difficult to use in daylight (recommend purchasing optional sunshade)
-with battery mounted, can stress your shoe when shoe mounted
-not as adjustable as more expensive "studio" monitors. calibration can be difficult...

That is my experience, but in the end it has paid for itself many times over.

Recently I hired a 2nd op to shot a (professionally lit mind you) musical with me. He is very good and shoots with a SONY EX1. Here are 2 comparison images. One is from my HD1000U and the other is from the EX1. These are raw captures from my timeline which I have not altered. Do you see the difference here? Does it justify the price point difference? Which is which?

Whichever vidcap is the HD1000U, it compares very favourably to the EX1. Personally, I think the shot on the right is the one from the 1000U - in that image capture I see noise in the roof of the gazebo and I see some slight fuzziness and interlace combing in the faces of the performers situated on the right hand of the stage. The colour balance in the left hand shot seems smoother, with colours better defined.

If anything justifies the higher price of the EX1, it's the better lens, more extensive manual controls and bigger/better image sensors. Plus you're getting a bigger and better viewfinder.

In a way, asking if the cost of the EX1 is justified is a bit of an unfair question, if using the HD1000U as a benchmark.

All video cameras are light-hungry and do best with lots of light. Few video cams except high-end pro models do very well in low-light. The comparison you made between the EX1 and the HD1000U illustrates that very clearly.

Now in bright light, the qualitative difference of the EX1 should be immediately apparent.

And, if you were to ask me which camera I would buy if I was on a budget and low-light capability wasn't critical, and could live without all of the features and controls a pro model provides, of course I would say I'd buy the HD1000U!

Steve, those are some good points and certainly the HD1000U is not equal to the EX XDCAM cameras on all feature sets. My point is that the HD1000U is a pro camera with a niche market (notably shooters on a budget.) The Ex series, XDCAM cameras offer many other benefits to the HD1000U that justify the price point (and then some.) I am a huge fan of the EX series cameras and hope to move to those models when my capital budget allows. However, the HD1000U can get professional results and in the proper conditions can hold it's own with many of the bigger cams.

If you ask me, I think the HD1000U was born because SONY saw the writing on the wall and believed that there are enough of us wedding and event guys out there who thread the narrow margin. Yes, there are some guys out there able to regularly charge $3000-$6000 and up on weddings and for them the more expensive cameras work but carving out a slice in a repressed market means lowering cost or raising prices and the HD1000U allows you to offer services at a price point that is more reasonable to many cost conscientious clients in this economy. I can purchase 3 HD1000U cameras for the price of one EX1 or 5 for the cost of one EX3. If my shoot doesn't require the expanded capabilities of the XDCAM cameras, then it makes since to use them.

But they are far from equal. Right tool for the right job and in my experience this is a great prosumer camera.

I know I'm very late to this, but I just started using my HD1000u again because I, frankly, was going to sell it. I thought, what the heck, my girlfriend needs some video on her website and I'll see what I can do.

The camera was purchased to shoot a golf course job because the client wanted HD (my HD1000u cost me around $1500). I shot the same course with the DVX100 and it looked great, you know. But outside, the HD1000u looked very good for golf courses and competed well with the 3ccd camera (I'm not forgetting the lines of resolution but I matched the two cameras, old and new footage, and edited in SD for output to web in flv).

But after I sold my DVX on ebay with a bunch of old gear, I bought an FX1000. Honestly, I love my FX1000 and use it for all my professional work.

Now, one thing I noticed from the EX1/HD1000u debate (which is kind of dumb) is no real discussion about media. The EX1 records onto SXS cards and aren't they expensive? I think they are more expensive than the P2s.

I have the CF recorder for the Sony and it is okay. Rigging is tricky. I use it on professional shoots and shoot on tape and card. Neat thing about that is that I take the tape and stick it in a file box and I have an archive. You can't really do that with the EX1, I don't think.

So, media is an issue and should be a consideration.

I have been seriously considering the SONY CF recorder for my HD1000U. What has been your experience with it? What modes have you used it in?

you drive a pickup as a taxicab

Pickup taxi image by davidcks on Photobucket (http://media.photobucket.com/image/pickup%20taxi/davidcks/DSC00156.jpg)

Just sayin'.

Just had to tell someone, I am ordering my second HD1000u this week when B&H re-opens and am pretty psyched about it. I am also ordering a pelican case (1640) so they can both be in the same case. Very excited....

Ever think about supplementing with the Sony HDR-HC9? It's got the exact same innards, yet about $900 less. Might be a good second camera choice...

In this case, I am purchasing it to use for a specific client and the body counts. I actually picked up some extra work specifically to cover this expense, so I am not too worried about the $900 extra. After this purchase, I hope to upgrade to an i7 system and get a primera bravo II, then my next focus is to transition to EX3's within the next 1-1.5 yrs but we will see where it all goes...

For now, I am psyched to be getting another HD1000U.

I have three Sony's, and the HC9 is an excellent third camera for me.

I think it delivers a better image than the HD1000u. I don't really know why, but stuff out of the HC9 looks better (the HC9 is a newer model, the HD1000u is more like a HC7, I think).

And the HC9 is a quieter camera than the HD1000u. The HD1000u has a hollow plastic body and the zoom makes noise (I hardly use it these days). But you have to be careful not to tap on the body of the camera with your fingers. If you're using a shotgun, that sound can be picked up. Strategic use of the soft side of velcro can help dampen such sounds.

My "A" camera is the FX1000, which is serving me very well.

But here's a real advantage to the HC9: size!

On a recent shoot, I was able to get that camera into a place that would have thrown me out with anything bigger. I always carry the HC9 for flexibility. You can look like a consumer and shoot like a prosumer with the HC9.

...the HC9 is a newer model, the HD1000u is more like a HC7, I think...Yes, but the HC7 and HC9 are identical except for the paint job.

I think that the HC9 has peaking and the HD1000U does not. I'll have to check that out. I've been using the HD1000U for a game show I've been shooting and it is great to have the two shoes for a light and my wireless, but the image out of my FX1000 is far better of course.

Excellent catch! The HC9 does indeed have peaking, which neither the HC7 nor the HD1000 do.

There were several minor feature changes/improvements on the HC9 over the HC7 when released, and while it's hard to know exactly WHY, the HC9 did seem to produce slightly better image quality - probably minor firmware tweaks...

probably minor firmware tweaks...

Maybe then it is chance to put HC9 firmware in HD1000 cam. While hardware is the same it doesn't seem so dificult :) Any info?