I just received my replacement HC1, and the good news is that the red color accuracy is greatly improved over my first one. While not perfect, and not quite as good as my Sony DCR-TRV30 (a very good SD camcorder of it’s time), the reds of this HC1 are very acceptable.
I compared the 2 by recording a red object with my first HC1. Then using the exact same lighting and camera settings, I shot the same object with my new HC1. Playing the tape through my 60" SXRD I can see a major difference as the washed out red cuts to a much darker red, very close to the actual color.

I also took a memory still with the original HC1 and the new one, and guess what? They are almost identical! So my theory about just the camera being out of alignment seems to be right. So of the 4 HC1’s I tested, 2 were poor with reds, and 2 were fine. BTW, my serial number is 1340xxx.

Thanks for all your help on the forum,

Steve

well well.
Congrats Steve - glad you achieved a pretty good result for yourself.

So at last this problem has at least been shown to have a substantial variation between units. So anyone else out there who's struggling with their HC1's and this problem, it looks like it's worth insisting on an exchanged model.

Yes, I also got my HC1 today and the SN is 1340xxx. I tested the red color right away and it seems pretty good!

I really concerned about this issue before I made my mind to order HC1. Now I am totally released and quite happy with the color reproduction. However HC1's steadyshoot seems not working very well... if sony had used optical antishaking, then HC1 would have been an perfect machine in my view :)

I guess persistence and dealing with a good retailer means all the difference. And keeping your cool and explaining the issue.

Awesome job, congratulations.

I could imagine the nightmare scenario of trying and returning each one till you get one that "works" for you--especially since each of the cams do function.

Back in 2002 when I purchased my 30" CRT HDTV at a whopping $1,299 [and weighing close to 130 pounds] I exchanged two sets for obvious convergence/geometry problems, before I got one that was acceptable.

Not to open a can of worms, but I wonder how many people might have bought a HC1 and just lived with and was not aware that their camera might not be peforming at their best.