Spot's HC1 Summary at DVinfo.net

Douglas Spotted Eagle · July 18th, 2005, 09:02 PM

I finally was able to write my comments on the HC1....
http://vasst.com/resource.aspx?id=bc...7-1f95b3c448da

I mounted the HC1 to the top of the Z1, shooting as close as I possibly could of the same subject at all similar modes in the two. Very impressive.
I've got the files with timecode so you can compare, but my hotel in KL won't let me get the large files up, so it will have to wait til I get back to the States late Wednesday night.

Overall, very impressed. It's not an FX 1, for sure, nor is it a Z1. But it's also not a cheap attempt at making hyping HDV.

Chris Hurd · July 18th, 2005, 09:31 PM

Nicely written review, Spot, much appreciated. I guess you're not going to make it to DV Expo East in NYC this week? If I were in your shoes, coming back from the other side of the planet, all I'd want to do is go home.

Kyle Ringin · July 19th, 2005, 06:55 PM

Do other people have trouble clicking the 'Read' button on this site?
My screen is running 1024*768 and I can only just see a one pixel vertical line that is obviously the left edge of the read button and no horizontal scroll bar.

Is it just me?

Paul Frederick · July 19th, 2005, 07:53 PM

Nice review Spot! Hey folks, can you say "Feeder deck"? The previous HDV deck was too expensive to justify, but now you can buy one of these as a feeder deck and have a nice second cam to boot. One to take to the kids ballgame and or vacation!

Do you think the footage would intercut well Spot? Would it be obvious which shot was from what camera?

Stuart Bloom · July 19th, 2005, 11:28 PM

For the last 18 months I've been shooting travel clips with the JVC HD-10U. It's limitations are clear. I have been carefully reading all the posts about the HC-1 and the expected GY-HD100U, which I saw at the NAB. Many differences are obvious. Late this September I will again be leaving for a unique destination that I very much want to have a good video record of. Is the upgrade to the HC-1 from the HD-10 worthwhile, or would it be necessary to wait for the JVC for there to be enough of a difference to warrant the additional costs? I edit using FCP 5.0 on a dual 2.5 Mac. I appreciate and value your suggestions.

Kyle Ringin · July 19th, 2005, 11:29 PM

Nice review. It cleared up some things I'd been wondering about it. Thanks for putting in the effort (once again).

Cheers.

Lynne Whelden · July 20th, 2005, 04:24 PM

Can't access the review. Is it my windows 95 computer?

Kyle Ringin · July 20th, 2005, 07:46 PM

Lynne,
Do you mean you can't find the button to take you to the full article?
The button is above and to the right of the "XXX Views" text. As mentioned I can only see the very edge of it.

Or try this direct link http://www.sundancemediagroup.com/ar..._camcorder.htm

Daymon Hoffman · July 21st, 2005, 05:45 PM

Great thanks for the write up. Was there any footage upload yet? So eager to see it compared side by side with the FX1.

Cheers

Douglas Spotted Eagle · July 21st, 2005, 05:48 PM

Footage of the HC1 and the Z1 is still uploading. Was still having FTP probs even when I hit stateside, but got home early in a.m. and just now getting to it. Gimme about 30 mins, I'll have the page up. Fairly short, but in a dark, highly contrasted space from a park bench.

Daymon Hoffman · July 21st, 2005, 05:52 PM

Gotta hate that! lol Thanks Douglas. :)

Douglas Spotted Eagle · July 21st, 2005, 06:32 PM

http://www.sundancemediagroup.com/ar...on_footage.htm

I want to reiterate.....neither footage shows the cam at the best of its ability. I wanted both cams on auto for most fair comparisons.

Lynne Whelden · July 21st, 2005, 07:33 PM

Spot--Is it your feeling that we should jump on the C1 and not wait for the A1? Can you see any real advantage to getting the topside-mounted XLR mic mount vs. the Beachtek set-up that evidently you're using?

Douglas Spotted Eagle · July 21st, 2005, 07:43 PM

I can't comment on the A1 vs the HC1, because I've only seen proto A1, not the real deal. It looks like the A1 will be just like the Z1 is to the FX....so it would get my money. My bigger point is, while these smaller cams aren't the same as their bigger relatives, I'm in no way afraid of shooting them, either. They still are SO much better than DV that it's not even a point of discussion for me. I'd likely get the A1, if I wanted the more "pro" features that it has. I should have an A1 next week barring any shipping from Japan issues.

Thomas Smet · July 21st, 2005, 08:59 PM

Thanks for the footage Spot.

How do you feel the HC1/ A1 would handle a well lit blue screen studio running uncompressed HD output? Clearly this is the sort of area a whole lot of people can't test out. Considering this is really the only camera in this price range to give a full 1920x1080 pixel count I always felt it would be pretty good even though it is a single chip.

I have been taking a very close look of the footage from Kaku inside of Shake and I have been very impressed. Some areas do seem to be a little softer but one thing that I really did like about the HC1 footage was the lack of edge enhancement compared to the FX1 footage. Edge ringing can be just as bad as color space issues when it comes to keying.

July 18th, 2005, 09:02 PM	#1
Douglas Spotted Eagle VASST Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Stockton, UT Posts: 5,648	Spot's HC1 Summary I finally was able to write my comments on the HC1.... http://vasst.com/resource.aspx?id=bc...7-1f95b3c448da I mounted the HC1 to the top of the Z1, shooting as close as I possibly could of the same subject at all similar modes in the two. Very impressive. I've got the files with timecode so you can compare, but my hotel in KL won't let me get the large files up, so it will have to wait til I get back to the States late Wednesday night. Overall, very impressed. It's not an FX 1, for sure, nor is it a Z1. But it's also not a cheap attempt at making hyping HDV. __________________ Douglas Spotted Eagle/Spot Author, producer, composer Certified Sony Vegas Trainer http://www.vasst.com

July 18th, 2005, 09:31 PM	#2
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	Nicely written review, Spot, much appreciated. I guess you're not going to make it to DV Expo East in NYC this week? If I were in your shoes, coming back from the other side of the planet, all I'd want to do is go home. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

July 19th, 2005, 11:28 PM	#5
Stuart Bloom New Boot Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: los angeles Posts: 7	Upgrade recommendation for amateur videographer? For the last 18 months I've been shooting travel clips with the JVC HD-10U. It's limitations are clear. I have been carefully reading all the posts about the HC-1 and the expected GY-HD100U, which I saw at the NAB. Many differences are obvious. Late this September I will again be leaving for a unique destination that I very much want to have a good video record of. Is the upgrade to the HC-1 from the HD-10 worthwhile, or would it be necessary to wait for the JVC for there to be enough of a difference to warrant the additional costs? I edit using FCP 5.0 on a dual 2.5 Mac. I appreciate and value your suggestions.

July 21st, 2005, 05:45 PM	#9
Daymon Hoffman Major Player Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Australia Posts: 267	Great thanks for the write up. Was there any footage upload yet? So eager to see it compared side by side with the FX1. Cheers __________________ Welcome... to the real world!

July 21st, 2005, 05:48 PM	#10
Douglas Spotted Eagle VASST Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Stockton, UT Posts: 5,648	Footage of the HC1 and the Z1 is still uploading. Was still having FTP probs even when I hit stateside, but got home early in a.m. and just now getting to it. Gimme about 30 mins, I'll have the page up. Fairly short, but in a dark, highly contrasted space from a park bench. __________________ Douglas Spotted Eagle/Spot Author, producer, composer Certified Sony Vegas Trainer http://www.vasst.com

July 19th, 2005, 06:55 PM	#3
Kyle Ringin Major Player Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 241	Do other people have trouble clicking the 'Read' button on this site? My screen is running 1024*768 and I can only just see a one pixel vertical line that is obviously the left edge of the read button and no horizontal scroll bar. Is it just me?

July 19th, 2005, 07:53 PM	#4
Paul Frederick Major Player Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: WestChazy, NY Posts: 291	Nice review Spot! Hey folks, can you say "Feeder deck"? The previous HDV deck was too expensive to justify, but now you can buy one of these as a feeder deck and have a nice second cam to boot. One to take to the kids ballgame and or vacation! Do you think the footage would intercut well Spot? Would it be obvious which shot was from what camera?

July 19th, 2005, 11:29 PM	#6
Kyle Ringin Major Player Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 241	Nice review. It cleared up some things I'd been wondering about it. Thanks for putting in the effort (once again). Cheers.

July 20th, 2005, 04:24 PM	#7
Lynne Whelden Major Player Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: williamsport, pa Posts: 604	Can't access the review. Is it my windows 95 computer?

July 20th, 2005, 07:46 PM	#8
Kyle Ringin Major Player Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 241	Lynne, Do you mean you can't find the button to take you to the full article? The button is above and to the right of the "XXX Views" text. As mentioned I can only see the very edge of it. Or try this direct link http://www.sundancemediagroup.com/ar..._camcorder.htm

July 21st, 2005, 05:52 PM	#11
Daymon Hoffman Major Player Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Australia Posts: 267	Gotta hate that! lol Thanks Douglas. :) __________________ Welcome... to the real world!

July 21st, 2005, 06:32 PM	#12
Douglas Spotted Eagle VASST Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Stockton, UT Posts: 5,648	http://www.sundancemediagroup.com/ar...on_footage.htm I want to reiterate.....neither footage shows the cam at the best of its ability. I wanted both cams on auto for most fair comparisons. __________________ Douglas Spotted Eagle/Spot Author, producer, composer Certified Sony Vegas Trainer http://www.vasst.com

July 21st, 2005, 07:33 PM	#13
Lynne Whelden Major Player Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: williamsport, pa Posts: 604	what to buy? Spot--Is it your feeling that we should jump on the C1 and not wait for the A1? Can you see any real advantage to getting the topside-mounted XLR mic mount vs. the Beachtek set-up that evidently you're using?

July 21st, 2005, 07:43 PM	#14
Douglas Spotted Eagle VASST Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Stockton, UT Posts: 5,648	I can't comment on the A1 vs the HC1, because I've only seen proto A1, not the real deal. It looks like the A1 will be just like the Z1 is to the FX....so it would get my money. My bigger point is, while these smaller cams aren't the same as their bigger relatives, I'm in no way afraid of shooting them, either. They still are SO much better than DV that it's not even a point of discussion for me. I'd likely get the A1, if I wanted the more "pro" features that it has. I should have an A1 next week barring any shipping from Japan issues. __________________ Douglas Spotted Eagle/Spot Author, producer, composer Certified Sony Vegas Trainer http://www.vasst.com

July 21st, 2005, 08:59 PM	#15
Thomas Smet Trustee Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 1,719	Thanks for the footage Spot. How do you feel the HC1/ A1 would handle a well lit blue screen studio running uncompressed HD output? Clearly this is the sort of area a whole lot of people can't test out. Considering this is really the only camera in this price range to give a full 1920x1080 pixel count I always felt it would be pretty good even though it is a single chip. I have been taking a very close look of the footage from Kaku inside of Shake and I have been very impressed. Some areas do seem to be a little softer but one thing that I really did like about the HC1 footage was the lack of edge enhancement compared to the FX1 footage. Edge ringing can be just as bad as color space issues when it comes to keying.