Saw this on B&H, how accurate is this?

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?A=details&Q=&is=REG&O=productlist&kw=SOHVRA1U&cpncode=08-5076537-2&sku=384527&srccode=cii_5784816

No sign of it on Sony's website.....

I just received an email from B&H stating their price on an A1U and they DO mention a $500 rebate! Not sure if I should mention the final price here (simply click on the link in David's message above and then click on the 'email me a better price' link on that page for a quote), but I've seen HC1's in stores around here (southern CA.) going for more!

This makes me wonder just what's going on... almost seems too good to be true.

I called B&H and they are swearing by it, they say it's true and the rebate form will be mailed with the camera yet no other retailer has it nor does Sony's website. It does sound too good to be true.

I just checked the price they sent me through e-mail also. With that final price, they might sell out! Say's it's good at any authorized Sony dealer.

I just checked the price they sent me through e-mail also. With that final price, they might sell out! Say's it's good at any authorized Sony dealer.

At this price, I might have to jump on one.

After thinking long and hard ( I have really been eyeing the A1 as my first HD camera due to it's size and picture quality, and then add FX1 or Z1 later), I was going to hold off on buying an HD camera this year and go for another PD170 (Matches my VX2100's and great in low light, which A1 will be adequate at best).
This was strictly a business decision, because I see myself only delivering SD DVD's for probably at least 1-2 more years, in the consumer Event Video market.

I don't have the funds to upgrade to new cameras, monitors, and my computer system yet which is currently a 3.4 GHZ HT P4 processor, ASUS P4P800E Deluxe motherboard etc., which although is fast enough to work with proxy or Cineform converted HD footage, the process would be too long to justify recording in HD (preferred), converting and delivering in SD DVD.

But for the price listed with rebate, I might have to jump on it. Now if they would offer a discount for the Z1, i would seriously consider the jump to HD

I just couldn't pass this price up either. I also called to verify the rebate and was assured that it would come with the unit. The battery is smaller than my FX-1, so I bought an extra (49.95) battery.

This Camcorder (with the Audio Panel removed) will be great for vacation usage.

Thanks for the tip.
Ben Hardy

Well, I ordered one but I hope this is not a mistake, funny, on the mail in $500 rebate info PDF (from the "Rebate Available" link), they list a website http://www.sony.com/hvra1ucashback , but when you click on it, you are directed to the PD-170 link that list 4 items with rebates but the A1U is not listed....

Confused but hoping the $500 rebate is legit...

David,
B & H is one of the sponsors of this forum. They have a long track record of being a reputable dealer.

That said, why not just print a copy of the "e-mail quote" from B & H, in case there's any question (from Sony) as to the validity of this offer. I did.
Ben

Ben,
Good idea about printing the e-mail quote. I just did in case I go with the A1. P.S. Hope everything is well for you in Metairie since the storm. My friend lives in Houma. Ray

I was just in B&H today to confirm this since I bought the camera there last week.

The guy that had helped me last week was there, we discussed some issues I had with the camera (despite the Sony PDF alluding to it and the B&H catalog saying it, the camera CANNOT shoot in 50i/PAL like I needed it to, but that's another story, for another post), and we looked up the rebate - it's for purchases between Dec. 28 and march 31st, so I still qualify - taking the double hit of not having the 50i option AND missing a $500 rebate by a few days might have depressed me beyond belief for a few days.

They say it's legit, although the Sony link is incorrect.

I figure there's still some time for this to unfold, so I'll wait a few weeks to send it in, hopefully with a corrected form from Sony.

despite the Sony PDF alluding to it and the B&H catalog saying it, the camera CANNOT shoot in 50i/PAL like I needed it to

Where on B&H's site does it say that the A1U can shoot 50i PAL? In the specs it says

Signal System
NTSC
HDV 1080 60i/30 Frame/24 Frame Record and Playback

and

When it is set up to record standard definition video this camera is an NTSC device that stripes the tape at 30 interlace frames per second.

or maybe you were looking at the A1E?

This model is specifically for PAL system video applications.

But it appears that they didn't properly edit this listing because it also says

When it is set up to record standard definition video this camera is an NTSC device that stripes the tape at 30 interlace frames per second.

Which is clearly an error. But the NTSC model (HVR-A1U) doesn't claim any PAL capability that I can see on B&H's site.

The NTSC version of the A1 does not do PAL. It does Cineframe 30, Cineframe 24 and 60i only.

Yes, guys, I understand your skepticism, I only have one post and all, but I assure you I did as much research into this 50i/60i as I could before purchasing, and it was primarily based upon two things, as no one had the camera out on the floor here in New York City, at least not at my usual pro-video haunts. Having just done a shoot with the Z1, I had used the 50i mode because the interview was being edited in the UK and the editor had requested it.

I had more interviews to shoot, the rental costs were mounting, and I figured, hey, I need a new camera anyway, this A1U camera might share the usual Sony 'Pro version/Consumer version' relationship that they have had forever, as in VX1000 to TRV900, or more specifically, as in Z1 to the FX1, A1U to HC1 - "Z1 has 60i/50i, FX1 does not. A1U has 601/50i, HC1 does not," I derive from the scarce info on this topic on the internet and B & H. Wrong, Bill, wrong.

The first of the two wrong clues, an early PDF from Sony, which I say 'alluded to 50i' because the chart showing formats did not specify which model of the A1 it was showing data for, simply said '60i Mode (NTSC)' and '50i Mode (PAL),' which I (wrongly) interpreted the word 'MODE' to mean it was _switchable_, as the word 'MODE' often implies. I wish the chart had simply said 'PAL Version of Camera' and 'NTSC Version of Camera.'

Here's a link to the chart from the PDF:

http://img63.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hvra1chart0qm.jpg


Next, and the thing that sent me to the store to buy one, was this listing in the B&H catalog. I've been buying from them for years, and they have always been knowledgable and helpful, and more importantly, had things I wanted in stock. Who would second guess this if you saw it? It was like bumbling across the DaVinci code! I had found the answer I had wanted for the last few weeks -

http://img79.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bandhhrva1u3zi.jpg


With the interviews coming up the following weekend, I went ahead and purchased the A1U. I poured over the camera for two nights before sadly realizing 'There is no way to switch this to 50i like its big brother the Z1.' It played back the 50i tape I had shot on the Z1, the same icon shows up onscreen when it plays on the Z1, but no ability to shoot in 50i like the Z1.

I looked at all my clues and figured it's just the way it is - The Sony PDF never _really_ states you can shoot both, I simply assumed it would when I read that chart and saw the word 'Mode' written, with no footnotes telling me 'Only on Camera X, not on Camera Y.' As for the B&H blurb, might even be a misinterpretation of the same PDF I had found.

I ended up renting another Z1 and shooting 3 out of 4 interviews I was scheduled for on it before I had to return it on Monday morning (Thanks to the wonderful people at AbelCineTech for coming through at the last second) and of course, I get the call that the 4th interview is happening, although it had been cancelled.

So I hauled out the A1U, shot at 60i, and sent the editor in the UK an apologetic e-mail that he would have to convert it. He e-mailed me back and it was fine.

Well, it worked out OK - I had no intention of returning the camera, it certainly wasn't a deal-buster, and in fact, the string of interviews I had to tape were actually the big excuse to go get a new camcorder anyway, so I'm happy, but I'm let down that Sony obviously disabled a small 'pro' feature on a camera they call 'pro.' There are so many other things going for the Z1 I hardly think it would canniblize sales like putting this feature on the FX1...

A fun part of this whole thing is I got to shoot a quick 30 second test on both the Z1 and the A1U within a few minutes of each other on Monday morning, and to be honest, they look almost identical, I forgot which one was which when I transferred them, the only things that reminded me were the tell-tale moves of the camera due to the size, and the gain on my A1U being locked on manual when I went outside - the exposure blew out the image, reminding me of how I fumbled for the 'auto' setting on my camera. I'm sure some Z1 fans will attack me for saying it, but for the price and small size, it's very much in the same league. Of course the control over the camera is much better on the Z1, but still...

The other fun part is this rebate news! I hope this is for real, but as you know, I'm a bit skeptical of Sony PDFs right now...

I'm confused...you guys think that the A1 has 60i and 50i capabilities? If so, you're wrong. The A1U only does 60i and the A1E only does 50i; unlike the Z1. I hope you guys didn't purchase the A1 solemnly based on this feature.

So after all the trouble and reassurance from B&H that the package will be shipped with the rebate form, I get the package today with a form that tells me to visit this site for the rebate form, http://www.sony.com/hvra1ucashback , unfortunately, there is no form for the A1U on that site, so it looks like I will have to call B&H tomorrow as it seems my original suspicion was correct. For $500 more, might as well buy a Z1. This sucks as it's an unnecessary inconvenience, but I'll wait to see what they tell me tomorrow.

For $500 more, might as well buy a Z1.

??? The Z1 costs $4,500...

I am suggesting that without the $500 rebate, maybe the extra money for the Z1 considering it is a better camera overall, it might be worth the extra dollars....

??? The Z1 costs $4,500...

So after all the trouble and reassurance from B&H that the package will be shipped with the rebate form, I get the package today with a form that tells me to visit this site for the rebate form, http://www.sony.com/hvra1ucashback , unfortunately, there is no form for the A1U on that site, so it looks like I will have to call B&H tomorrow as it seems my original suspicion was correct. For $500 more, might as well buy a Z1. This sucks as it's an unnecessary inconvenience, but I'll wait to see what they tell me tomorrow.

David, I posted this on another forum, and another poster contacted B & H by phone asking them about this. They informed him that Sony will have the new link for the A1U corrected and up on Jan. 15th.

Thanks for the update, I really hope so as I am not keeping this camera without the $500 rebate, I am returning it and that return window should not run out on the 15th. I'll wait and see.

David, I posted this on another forum, and another poster contacted B & H by phone asking them about this. They informed him that Sony will have the new link for the A1U corrected and up on Jan. 15th.

i m thinking of buying a new camcorder (i have an old sony dcr - trv 10)
but still don't know what to take hvr-a1u or panasonic ag-100a
somebody can recommend me anything?

January 15th is here, nothing yet....

David, I posted this on another forum, and another poster contacted B & H by phone asking them about this. They informed him that Sony will have the new link for the A1U corrected and up on Jan. 15th.

Its there now. Does this mean the camera nets at 2199?

Dave

How do you know who is an "authorized" seller so one can use the rebate?
I see broadway photo http://www.bwayphoto.com/product.asp?id=snhvra1u&l=yahooshopping says they have it cheaper, but, how would one know if the rebate works with them?

Dave

Maybe I need new glasses, what link are you seeing the rebate at?

Thanks

Its there now. Does this mean the camera nets at 2199?

Dave

go to b&h,, http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...de=cii_5784816
and click on rebate and up comes the form

dave

That's the problem, that's not the rebate form,. it then tells you to visit http://www.sony.com/hvra1ucashback ,
which comes up empty....


go to b&h,, http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...de=cii_5784816
and click and rebate and up comes the form

dave

I e mailed Sony last week, and here's what they wrote back:

Thank you for your inquiry. Yes, there is a rebate promotion currently running for the HVR-A1U, although it is not on our web site yet. You will be able to view this promotion at http://www.rebate-zone.com/sonyb2b early next week.

Look at the promotions link.

Should be up by midweek.

We're sorry for any confusion. I just spoke with our buyer and he ASSURES me the rebate is "kosher." Sony has promised him they'll update the rebate page by the end of the day Jan 17th. Whether they do or do not, the rebate _is_ legit.

It's Jan.17th, and still no Rebate Info on Sony's Web Site. My A1U is being delivered today from B & H. I'm not going to open the shipping carton until the rebate is posted. The salesman misinformed me that the Rebate Form would accompany the A1.

This is not the way B & H usually takes care of its customers.

Ben Hardy
H & G Recorded Productions

It's Jan.17th, and still no Rebate Info on Sony's Web Site. My A1U is being delivered today from B & H. I'm not going to open the shipping carton until the rebate is posted. The salesman misinformed me that the Rebate Form would accompany the A1.

The sales associate gave you the best and most reliable info he had at the time which he'd received from his sales manager who got it from our buyer who got it from Sony USA. On behalf of each of them, I apologize for your inconvenience but it is Sony USA, and not B&H, to whom you should direct your discontent.

I've purchased 3 cameras from B&H and countless accessories and I can attest to the fact that B&H's word is as good as golden. I plan to buy 3 HDV cameras from them this year (not sure which -> possibly the A1U) and I know B&H will take care of me.

Long live B&H and NAPP together... free shipping!!!!!!!!

GREAT NEWS!!!

It's finally up!

http://www.rebate-zone.com/sonyb2b

The sales associate gave you the best and most reliable info he had at the time which he'd received from his sales manager who got it from our buyer who got it from Sony USA. On behalf of each of them, I apologize for your inconvenience but it is Sony USA, and not B&H, to whom you should direct your discontent.

GREAT NEWS!!!
It's finally up!

I think it here and it comes out there.

Does anyone know why sony has a $500 rebate on the a1u? I don't see any competition, at least not at their price point, for a similar hdv camcorder.
Are they clearing out existing inventory to make way for a new revision?
Has anyone posted info on a sony hdv roadmap?
Could this be a move to keep the A1U competitive in the face of a possible Canon GL2 hdv revision?
Thanks!
*I have to make a purchase decision by Feb 15th and don't want to be bummed out by a new revision on the 16th.

Does anyone know why sony has a $500 rebate on the a1u? I don't see any competition, at least not at their price point, for a similar hdv camcorder.
Are they clearing out existing inventory to make way for a new revision?
Has anyone posted info on a sony hdv roadmap?
Could this be a move to keep the A1U competitive in the face of a possible Canon GL2 hdv revision?
Thanks!
*I have to make a purchase decision by Feb 15th and don't want to be bummed out by a new revision on the 16th.

Ok you're trying to read too much into this. Rebates are a common thing for Sony to do. All this is meant to do is to spur sales and interest in the A1. And just from the postings I have seen on this board alone, seems to be working.
The HC1 is selling like hotcakes, and the A1 isn't which is why the rebate most likely.

I stumbled upon this forum over the weekend and noticed the rebate topic which lead me on a low cost pursuit across the net in search of an HVR-A1U. In doing so I noticed numerous dirt cheap prices on the HVR-A1U

infinitphoto.com has it for $1599

prestigecamera $1799

preferredhpoto $1819

CCI Cameracity $1175

and several others in the sub $1500 range.

Are these scams or cameras without warranties? Anyone here gamble and go with one of the lower cost camera shops, any feedback, mistake?

Regards, John

I use B&H only!

Most of those other companies "say" they have the cameras but unless you buy their overly inflated accessories, the camera mysteriously is not longer in stock!!!!

On second thought I just finished reading a series of threads on some of the photo shops listed above.

It appears through research of others that expressphotos, infinitiphoto and bestpricecamera are all the same company with bait and switch as the game.

http://www.epinions.com/msg/show_~threads/cat_id_~22/id_~4653/forum_id_~145

Other than B&H Photo what other authorized Sony dealers have any of you had good dealings with?

Regards, John

I bought my 1st camera from onecall.com and had pretty good success with them.

Is Zoommania an authorized Sony reseller?

How does one know which companies are actually authorized without taking their word for it over the phone?

Regards, John

Is Zoommania an authorized Sony reseller?

How does one know which companies are actually authorized without taking their word for it over the phone?

Regards, John

John you can go to the Sony Rebate page and see a list of authorized dealers, and I can guarantee you that none of those low balling discount dealers are on them.
They are bait and switch, and for the most part most any online dealer based in Brooklyn NY will be so.

If you want the camera, I say go with B & H, as you won't find a better authorized dealer price out there for the most part.

B & H does such great volume business that they get specail deals on prices from manufacturers like Sony, that enable them to sell their products for lower than normal pricing. This is whay you will see them with links on their site saying, email me a lower price, as they can't advertise their actual selling price publicly.

Trust me on this go with B & H. as you will have peace of mind knowing that the camera isn't Grey Market (from Japan and not with US Warranty), and you will get reliable support and service from them.

Just remember the old addage, "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is."

You might luck out and save a few bucks somewhere else, but I guarantee you it won't be worth it.

Trust me on this go with B & H. as you will have peace of mind knowing that the camera isn't Grey Market (from Japan and not with US Warranty), and you will get reliable support and serice from them.

Just remember the old addage, "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is."

You might luck out and save a few bucks somewhere else, but I guarantee you it won't be worth it.

I agree with Michael. Plus you will save yourself a lot of headches by dealing with B&H. Their name would not get mentioned so much if they were NOT so reputable!

I have to chime in, as I too almost tried to go with some of the 'online/shipped from Brooklyn' stores - in the weeks before the holidays, the camera was $1699 on some of the 'price-hunter' sites, but then mysteriously went up to $1899 on several sites in one day.

After reading so many reviews on epinion.com and other sites, I decided that while getting a A1U for $1699 or even $1899 _seemed_ like it might be worth the trouble, buying it from B & H for $2499 was much easier on the mind and spirit. Plus, I live in NYC, and I was able to walk in, buy it and get my mitts on it - instant gratification!

The serendipitous and karmic pay-off has come in the form of this rebate, making the camera almost as 'affordable' as the online scammers purport to be.

Getting to the rebate form has been a mild annoyance - create an account on Sony online, enter a bunch of information, then download the rebate form - but it's obviously well worth doing: excluding tax, it's making the camera approximately $2000, actually within the range of the casual HC1 prices you see.

If you want to buy this camera, Go with B & H before the rebate ends and don't look back.

Just bought the A1U! And of course from B&H.

On second thought I just finished reading a series of threads on some of the photo shops listed above.

I advise adding www.resellerratings.com/ to your bookmarks.

Wow! This is hard to believe, but with the rebate from a site I just ordered this camcorder off of, the price comes out below the lowest price I could find for the HC1!!! Not only that, but I'm upgrading from a GS400, and am barely paying anything extra to move up to this camera! I think I'm going to need to take a cold shower after this!!!

Would you mind sharing the site and price? Thanks!

Sure...

I ordered the camera from PrestigeCamera.com for $1781 + $89 s/h. Total came out to $1870.55, and minus the rebate brings it down to $1370.55, only $30 more than the cheapest HC1 I could find!!!

I do not see them listed on Sony's site as an authorized dealer. Does anyone know if that would preclude the camera from qualifying for the rebate?

I hope that's not the case, but there was a field for adding additional resellers. So I'm assuming Sony's list isn't a complete one.