Thinking about purchasing at DVinfo.net

Matthew Overstreet · March 11th, 2006, 09:28 PM

Hello,

I've been looking into buying a new camera recently, mostly for short film projects. 24p seems enticing, so I was looking into the DVX100. However, I came across the Sony A1U on b&h; it says it records "HDV 1080 60i/30 Frame/24 Frame". So, this records 24p at HD resolution? I haven't heard anything about this camera until now, how does this compare to the DVX100? Seems to be slightly less expensive, I might be interested. Thanks.

Matt

Don Donatello · March 11th, 2006, 11:51 PM

"it says it records "HDV 1080 60i/30 Frame/24 Frame".

P= has come to mean progressive = it doesn't say 24p = it is NOT progressive ...

Graham Hickling · March 12th, 2006, 12:50 AM

The A1's "Cineframe24" mode can provide 24P footage after applying a suitable pulldown. The resolution is not full HD however ... as it is doing some electronic fieldblending.

Do a search on CF24 and you'll find extensive info in the forum on the pros and cons.

Matthew Overstreet · March 12th, 2006, 01:50 AM

Thanks for the info. Besides the 24p issue, how do you think this camera rates compared to the dvx100?

Michael Bott · March 12th, 2006, 04:55 AM

The DVX is the 'shooter's' camera of the two. No nonsense, out of the box - in your hand progressve with a gamma look that is all it's own. I know - I own a Z1 and a HC1 - great cameras, but the A1 is going to be limited on its own. Resolution matters aside, I look back from these HDV days to my DVX100 footage with some regret. There's something special about the footage that camera creates ...

Dan Moran · March 12th, 2006, 09:33 PM

This is a useful thread -- I'm considering buying an HDR-HC1, or a DVX100 -- I've got a friend who owns the DVX100 and he's a rabid proponent of it. But I'm relucant to commit to previous-generation technology when I can go to 1080i at such a reasonable price. I've looked into the DVFilm Maker utility for 24P conversion, and it looks like good technology; I've seen a 1080i-24p conversion previously that I thought looked good, though I don't know how that particular conversion was done.

Latitude worries me. Can someone tell me, or point me at a resource, that would give me the relative latitudes for 35 mm film, the DVX100, and the HDR-HC1? I'm sure the HDR-HC1 will lose that comparison, but how badly it loses would be of interest to me.

Dan Moran · March 13th, 2006, 09:18 PM

Went ahead and bought it. $1349 at the local Best Buy. $1461 with tax. 14 days to return it, 15% restocking -- though I don't expect to return it.
Allegedly the component output is uncompressed -- would be nice, if true. 1080i at 4:4:4 for $1349? Yowza.

Robert Young · March 14th, 2006, 12:17 AM

Dan
HDV is 4:2:0. You can load the HDV images into 4:2:2 or 4:4:4 HD formats by various means, but the actual acquired color sampling is only 4:2:0.

Dan Moran · March 14th, 2006, 02:13 AM

So I see. Been reading up myself. Still unclear if the component out is uncompressed?

Dan Moran · March 14th, 2006, 02:24 AM

Yep, uncompressed. 7th post in this forum. I'll just shut up now until I've read through the forum.

March 11th, 2006, 09:28 PM	#1
Matthew Overstreet Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Whitman, Massachusetts Posts: 168	Thinking about purchasing Hello, I've been looking into buying a new camera recently, mostly for short film projects. 24p seems enticing, so I was looking into the DVX100. However, I came across the Sony A1U on b&h; it says it records "HDV 1080 60i/30 Frame/24 Frame". So, this records 24p at HD resolution? I haven't heard anything about this camera until now, how does this compare to the DVX100? Seems to be slightly less expensive, I might be interested. Thanks. Matt

March 11th, 2006, 11:51 PM	#2
Don Donatello Hawaiian Shirt Mogul Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: northern cailfornia Posts: 1,261	"it says it records "HDV 1080 60i/30 Frame/24 Frame". P= has come to mean progressive = it doesn't say 24p = it is NOT progressive ...

March 12th, 2006, 12:50 AM	#3
Graham Hickling Trustee Join Date: May 2004 Location: Knoxville, Tennessee Posts: 1,669	The A1's "Cineframe24" mode can provide 24P footage after applying a suitable pulldown. The resolution is not full HD however ... as it is doing some electronic fieldblending. Do a search on CF24 and you'll find extensive info in the forum on the pros and cons.

March 12th, 2006, 01:50 AM	#4
Matthew Overstreet Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Whitman, Massachusetts Posts: 168	Thanks for the info. Besides the 24p issue, how do you think this camera rates compared to the dvx100?

March 12th, 2006, 04:55 AM	#5
Michael Bott Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, UK Posts: 47	The DVX is the 'shooter's' camera of the two. No nonsense, out of the box - in your hand progressve with a gamma look that is all it's own. I know - I own a Z1 and a HC1 - great cameras, but the A1 is going to be limited on its own. Resolution matters aside, I look back from these HDV days to my DVX100 footage with some regret. There's something special about the footage that camera creates ...

March 12th, 2006, 09:33 PM	#6
Dan Moran New Boot Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 8	This is a useful thread -- I'm considering buying an HDR-HC1, or a DVX100 -- I've got a friend who owns the DVX100 and he's a rabid proponent of it. But I'm relucant to commit to previous-generation technology when I can go to 1080i at such a reasonable price. I've looked into the DVFilm Maker utility for 24P conversion, and it looks like good technology; I've seen a 1080i-24p conversion previously that I thought looked good, though I don't know how that particular conversion was done. Latitude worries me. Can someone tell me, or point me at a resource, that would give me the relative latitudes for 35 mm film, the DVX100, and the HDR-HC1? I'm sure the HDR-HC1 will lose that comparison, but how badly it loses would be of interest to me.

March 13th, 2006, 09:18 PM	#7
Dan Moran New Boot Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 8	Went ahead and bought it. $1349 at the local Best Buy. $1461 with tax. 14 days to return it, 15% restocking -- though I don't expect to return it. Allegedly the component output is uncompressed -- would be nice, if true. 1080i at 4:4:4 for $1349? Yowza.

March 14th, 2006, 12:17 AM	#8
Robert Young Trustee Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Coronado Island Posts: 1,472	Dan HDV is 4:2:0. You can load the HDV images into 4:2:2 or 4:4:4 HD formats by various means, but the actual acquired color sampling is only 4:2:0.

March 14th, 2006, 02:13 AM	#9
Dan Moran New Boot Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 8	So I see. Been reading up myself. Still unclear if the component out is uncompressed?

March 14th, 2006, 02:24 AM	#10
Dan Moran New Boot Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 8	Yep, uncompressed. 7th post in this forum. I'll just shut up now until I've read through the forum.