Various questions Sony HVR-A1

Dorothy Engleman · April 11th, 2006, 12:37 AM

Thanks to Bret Corbin for the heads up.

Dorothy

Vish Matepi · April 14th, 2006, 12:37 PM

although it says not for hawaii residents in the fine print?
fear not my fellow hawaii residents.. i recieved my check in the mail yesterday
here's how i did it.

1) buy the damn camera from B&H it's far more stress free than.. oh never mind
don't wanna hurt peoples feelings.

2)follow the rebate instructions, you know right? upc bar code, fill in your name etc etc.

3) ok after you've filled your name in, you need to have a very close friend or family that lives on the mainland because although its made out to your name
... you just never know these days.
ADDRESS MUST BE MAINLAND ADDRESS, CABEESH?

and in about 4weeks your have a little itty bitty check that looks more like a upc code from a box or something.
oh and i cashed it yesterday, and i was a little worried that sony would have insufficent funds.. but looks like they got paid this week.

Frank Howard · April 14th, 2006, 01:12 PM

Has anyone transfered A1 or HC1 output to film. If so how were the results?

Stephen Warner · April 17th, 2006, 05:52 PM

(We could call it LAHAUG.)

It would be a good way for HC1/A1U users in the Los Angeles area to network and get together. Any HC1/A1U users, let me know--here or by private message.

Dan Moran · April 19th, 2006, 12:17 AM

I'm interested. I'll PM you with my e-mail address.

Bruce S. Yarock · April 20th, 2006, 02:53 AM

I've been shooting with a Canon XL2, and have been trying to deceide on a second camera, at the same time getting my feet wet in hdv. I rented a Z1 for a weekend, and considered that or an FX1. I was able to tweak the XL2 and the Z1, and get a decent picture match.
I just found out about the A1, and it looks very interesting, and affordable. (After a shoot yesterday in a cramped Helicopter, I'd also appreciate a smaller cam).
Here are my questions:
1- How does the picture quality compare to the Z1/Fx1?
2-How flexible is the A1 for twaeking settings?
3-Is there an owners manual posted here (Couldn't find it).
Thanks
Bruce Yarock

Frank Howard · April 23rd, 2006, 12:37 AM

I picked up the A1U yesterday. Ryan at EVS suggested I check out the rental to make sure it was the camera I wanted and plugged it into a monitor. One of the seats had a bright red decal so I focused on that. Sure enough it came out a little pink, but nothing that couldn't be color corrected for in post. I am *very* impressed with EVS and will be going back. Chris knows how to pick his sponsors. Not only did I get a very good price, but the people part of the equation simply can't be overestimated.

I thought there would be a sharp learning curve, but an hour reviewing the parts of the manual that applied to me made things much simpler. Since I wouldn't be using in camera effects much, if at all, it cut down the pages I needed to absorb to well less than ten.
Today, I went to an exhibition of Lewis Carroll's works and filmed some beautiful illustrations that I knew I would not likely see again, including a handwritten version with drawings by Mr. Carroll himself and one illustrated by Salvador Dali.
Then I went to a mall and got some shots of the clearance sale for the 'Ideology' line of products because I couldn't resist the irony of seeing Ideology at 50% off.
When I replayed the shots, all taken on full auto because of my insecurity with manual settings on shots I wouldn't be able to retake, I was extremely impressed with the results. All I can say is wow I'm impressed!
I'm not one of those people who think digital, even HD, will ever replace film any more than digital recording will ever replace the natural compression of bouncing off tape. But it gives us a way to make stunning footage that's impressive enough that you know if people notice the difference, it means that much more went wrong than simply the use of digital...

Craig Terott · April 25th, 2006, 01:58 PM

B&H listing a $500 rebate for the A1U. I wonder why?

Adam La Prade · April 25th, 2006, 02:22 PM

Why wonder?

There is currently a $500 rebate on the A1U.

Boyd Ostroff · April 25th, 2006, 02:24 PM

I would guess they're using it as an incentive to sell a few more cameras. The rebate isn't new however:

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=57935
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=64279

Jesper Andersson · May 1st, 2006, 04:44 PM

Hi!

There is alot of clips out there that barely begins before it is over so there is
quite hard to get a satisfying impression of what the camera can perform.

So is there anyone that have / know a site that have a longer footage, something like 5-10 minutes with a bitrate of about 20-30mbit/s?

Would love to see one. Thanks

Dorothy Engleman · May 1st, 2006, 09:25 PM

Hello Jesper,

Perhaps the Sony HDV Shooters' Club will help:

http://bssc.sel.sony.com/Broadcastan...rs/index.shtml

Dorothy

Paul Chun · May 8th, 2006, 03:14 PM

I've been playing around with the manual audio functions on the A1 and noticed that I'm not able to set channel 1 to auto and channel 2 to manual. Is this correct? My Z1 is able to do this, but not the A1. Or am I doing something wrong? Can anyone shed some light on this?

Brian Prelesnik · May 30th, 2006, 07:34 AM

I am curious if anyone out there is using the HVR-A1U with a Focus Enhancement FireStore FS-4 Portable DTE Recorder with their camcorder and if so, have you had any problems using the FS-4 and how do you like it? If you do have a FS-4, what kind of projects have you used it on and do you also record to tape simultaneously as well for back up purposes? Looking at going this route versus getting a VTR deck to cut down on wear and tear on the camcorder heads. Any information, pros or cons or opinions are welcomed.

Tim Cool · June 5th, 2006, 12:22 PM

I am going on vacation to Tahiti, and haven't had time to learn all the best settings for bright sandy beach scenes!
Any suggested settings I can print out and take with me?
Thanks in advance.

I have the Sony WA, circ.polarizer, haze filter, NTG-2.
Tim

April 11th, 2006, 12:37 AM	#31
Dorothy Engleman Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Santa Monica, California Posts: 146	6 Month Warranty Extension on HVR-A1U Thanks to Bret Corbin for the heads up. Dorothy

April 14th, 2006, 12:37 PM	#32
Vish Matepi Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Kailua, Hawaii Posts: 34	A1U Rebate For Hawaii. although it says not for hawaii residents in the fine print? fear not my fellow hawaii residents.. i recieved my check in the mail yesterday here's how i did it. 1) buy the damn camera from B&H it's far more stress free than.. oh never mind don't wanna hurt peoples feelings. 2)follow the rebate instructions, you know right? upc bar code, fill in your name etc etc. 3) ok after you've filled your name in, you need to have a very close friend or family that lives on the mainland because although its made out to your name ... you just never know these days. ADDRESS MUST BE MAINLAND ADDRESS, CABEESH? and in about 4weeks your have a little itty bitty check that looks more like a upc code from a box or something. oh and i cashed it yesterday, and i was a little worried that sony would have insufficent funds.. but looks like they got paid this week.

April 14th, 2006, 01:12 PM	#33
Frank Howard Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 157	A1 or HC1 Output To Film? Has anyone transfered A1 or HC1 output to film. If so how were the results?

April 17th, 2006, 05:52 PM	#34
Stephen Warner Tourist Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 1	Anyone interested in forming a L.A. HC1/A1 users' group? (We could call it LAHAUG.) It would be a good way for HC1/A1U users in the Los Angeles area to network and get together. Any HC1/A1U users, let me know--here or by private message.

April 20th, 2006, 02:53 AM	#36
Bruce S. Yarock Trustee Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pembroke Pines, Fl. Posts: 1,842	A1 as scond camera? I've been shooting with a Canon XL2, and have been trying to deceide on a second camera, at the same time getting my feet wet in hdv. I rented a Z1 for a weekend, and considered that or an FX1. I was able to tweak the XL2 and the Z1, and get a decent picture match. I just found out about the A1, and it looks very interesting, and affordable. (After a shoot yesterday in a cramped Helicopter, I'd also appreciate a smaller cam). Here are my questions: 1- How does the picture quality compare to the Z1/Fx1? 2-How flexible is the A1 for twaeking settings? 3-Is there an owners manual posted here (Couldn't find it). Thanks Bruce Yarock

April 19th, 2006, 12:17 AM	#35
Dan Moran New Boot Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 8	I'm interested. I'll PM you with my e-mail address.

April 23rd, 2006, 12:37 AM	#37
Frank Howard Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 157	I got the A1U I picked up the A1U yesterday. Ryan at EVS suggested I check out the rental to make sure it was the camera I wanted and plugged it into a monitor. One of the seats had a bright red decal so I focused on that. Sure enough it came out a little pink, but nothing that couldn't be color corrected for in post. I am very impressed with EVS and will be going back. Chris knows how to pick his sponsors. Not only did I get a very good price, but the people part of the equation simply can't be overestimated. I thought there would be a sharp learning curve, but an hour reviewing the parts of the manual that applied to me made things much simpler. Since I wouldn't be using in camera effects much, if at all, it cut down the pages I needed to absorb to well less than ten. Today, I went to an exhibition of Lewis Carroll's works and filmed some beautiful illustrations that I knew I would not likely see again, including a handwritten version with drawings by Mr. Carroll himself and one illustrated by Salvador Dali. Then I went to a mall and got some shots of the clearance sale for the 'Ideology' line of products because I couldn't resist the irony of seeing Ideology at 50% off. When I replayed the shots, all taken on full auto because of my insecurity with manual settings on shots I wouldn't be able to retake, I was extremely impressed with the results. All I can say is wow I'm impressed! I'm not one of those people who think digital, even HD, will ever replace film any more than digital recording will ever replace the natural compression of bouncing off tape. But it gives us a way to make stunning footage that's impressive enough that you know if people notice the difference, it means that much more went wrong than simply the use of digital...

April 25th, 2006, 01:58 PM	#38
Craig Terott Major Player Join Date: May 2005 Location: Glendale, AZ Posts: 691	A1U $500 Rebate B&H listing a $500 rebate for the A1U. I wonder why?

April 25th, 2006, 02:22 PM	#39
Adam La Prade Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 77	Why wonder? There is currently a $500 rebate on the A1U.

April 25th, 2006, 02:24 PM	#40
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,802	I would guess they're using it as an incentive to sell a few more cameras. The rebate isn't new however: http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=57935 http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=64279

May 1st, 2006, 04:44 PM	#41
Jesper Andersson Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Sweden - Halmstad Posts: 28	I am searching for a long Sony HVR-A1E footage, is there anyone avalible? Hi! There is alot of clips out there that barely begins before it is over so there is quite hard to get a satisfying impression of what the camera can perform. So is there anyone that have / know a site that have a longer footage, something like 5-10 minutes with a bitrate of about 20-30mbit/s? Would love to see one. Thanks

May 1st, 2006, 09:25 PM	#42
Dorothy Engleman Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Santa Monica, California Posts: 146	Hello Jesper, Perhaps the Sony HDV Shooters' Club will help: http://bssc.sel.sony.com/Broadcastan...rs/index.shtml Dorothy

May 8th, 2006, 03:14 PM	#43
Paul Chun Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Honolulu, Hawaii Posts: 132	Manual Audio I've been playing around with the manual audio functions on the A1 and noticed that I'm not able to set channel 1 to auto and channel 2 to manual. Is this correct? My Z1 is able to do this, but not the A1. Or am I doing something wrong? Can anyone shed some light on this?

May 30th, 2006, 07:34 AM	#44
Brian Prelesnik Tourist Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 2	HVR-A1U and Focus Enhancement FireStore FS-4 Portable DTE Recorder I am curious if anyone out there is using the HVR-A1U with a Focus Enhancement FireStore FS-4 Portable DTE Recorder with their camcorder and if so, have you had any problems using the FS-4 and how do you like it? If you do have a FS-4, what kind of projects have you used it on and do you also record to tape simultaneously as well for back up purposes? Looking at going this route versus getting a VTR deck to cut down on wear and tear on the camcorder heads. Any information, pros or cons or opinions are welcomed.

June 5th, 2006, 12:22 PM	#45
Tim Cool New Boot Join Date: May 2006 Location: Bellingham, WA Posts: 18	Suggested settings: A1U Beach setting I am going on vacation to Tahiti, and haven't had time to learn all the best settings for bright sandy beach scenes! Any suggested settings I can print out and take with me? Thanks in advance. I have the Sony WA, circ.polarizer, haze filter, NTG-2. Tim