HC1/HC3 CMOS Sensor question at DVinfo.net

Prech Marton · June 10th, 2006, 02:56 PM

Hi!

I have read a Sony document (a pdf file) that says, these camcorders
doesn't have a built in ND filter, because the cmos sensor has
a wider dynamic range of exposure than ccd-s.

My question is this true? I know, hc1/hc3 have not so good lowlight
capabilities, but i film outside in nature with enough light.
So i have better dynamic range? Every cloud has detail, nothing
is overexposured when in bottom of the picture are darker trees?

I've seen a few hc1 sample video, but i can find the answer.

thx
Marton

Stu Holmes · June 10th, 2006, 05:55 PM

i'm pretty sure that the HC1 and A1 both have internal ND filters that flip into the optical path when the light levels rech a certain value.
Optimum quality is acheived at a physical aperture of f4 so beyond that ND filters are used to control increasing light levels (they're very small filters) until it gets TOO bright and the iris closes down almost completely.

Andre De Clercq · June 11th, 2006, 08:27 AM

HC3, and I think HC! too, has an auto shutter function. When set "on" it causes the shutter speed to go up, instead of the iris closing down, when scenes get too bright(beyond the internal ND reach). This way, soft images caused by diffraction are avoided.

Mikko Lopponen · June 12th, 2006, 03:24 AM

They also use the wider range of cmos so that they won't have to close the aperture as soon. The camera keeps it at f4 as long as possible.

June 10th, 2006, 02:56 PM	#1
Prech Marton Major Player Join Date: May 2004 Location: hungary Posts: 462	HC1/HC3 CMOS Sensor question Hi! I have read a Sony document (a pdf file) that says, these camcorders doesn't have a built in ND filter, because the cmos sensor has a wider dynamic range of exposure than ccd-s. My question is this true? I know, hc1/hc3 have not so good lowlight capabilities, but i film outside in nature with enough light. So i have better dynamic range? Every cloud has detail, nothing is overexposured when in bottom of the picture are darker trees? I've seen a few hc1 sample video, but i can find the answer. thx Marton __________________ Relaxing clips with waterfalls and music, 3D photos, 3D videos: www.3d-video.hu

June 10th, 2006, 05:55 PM	#2
Stu Holmes Major Player Join Date: May 2005 Location: Europe Posts: 844	i'm pretty sure that the HC1 and A1 both have internal ND filters that flip into the optical path when the light levels rech a certain value. Optimum quality is acheived at a physical aperture of f4 so beyond that ND filters are used to control increasing light levels (they're very small filters) until it gets TOO bright and the iris closes down almost completely.

June 11th, 2006, 08:27 AM	#3
Andre De Clercq Major Player Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Belgium Posts: 804	HC3, and I think HC! too, has an auto shutter function. When set "on" it causes the shutter speed to go up, instead of the iris closing down, when scenes get too bright(beyond the internal ND reach). This way, soft images caused by diffraction are avoided.

June 12th, 2006, 03:24 AM	#4
Mikko Lopponen Major Player Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Helsinki, Finland Posts: 393	They also use the wider range of cmos so that they won't have to close the aperture as soon. The camera keeps it at f4 as long as possible.