HC1 - does it have problems with reds? at DVinfo.net

David Delaney · December 11th, 2006, 02:34 PM

I have been reading some post about the HC1 having problem with banding or streaking or something with reds. Is this true of all HC1? How can you tell if it is true only for older versions?

Graham Hickling · December 11th, 2006, 07:52 PM

Well my HC1 doesn't "band or streak" reds, so I guess the answer is no.

There's been numerous posts about the HC1 not reproducing the color of some reds accurately, and there does seem to be variation between individual cameras in that regard. Not necessarily a "newer" vs. "older" thing however.

Stu Holmes · December 12th, 2006, 11:12 AM

It has basically been fixed. I've read reports from people who have sent their HC1 to Sony for some other small fault and they have reported basically a complete fix for this pinky/lilac-y red problem. My guess is its a firmware upgrade that is automatically done by Sony to any incoming HC1's or A1's for repair.

Caveat : I don't KNOW exactly the nature of the fix but people say it's unequivocally better after it's been to Sony repair center...

Christian de Godzinsky · December 12th, 2006, 03:48 PM

Hi,

I personally can confirm that the red color rendering problem can be solved if you happen to have a bad unit. My HDR-HC1 serial number is 1075723 and I purchased it in November 2005. From day one it had the red rendring problem. Now, precisely on year later I sent it for warranty repair. My only complaint was the poor red color rendering. There were no deep reds, they just turned out red-lilac. The problem was completely gone when I got the cam back 5 days later!!! Gee was I happy :)

I should have sent the cam earlier for service, but I was sceptic since I never got a confirmation from Sony that something could be done to help the problem. Sending it to service just to get no help was one thing that I wanted to avoid.

The HC1 is now color perfect and this annoying problem is just a faint memory - if I do not take in consideration the already recorded tapes that will always remind me of this now fixed problem :)

You can find some before and after images in the following thread (at the end of it)...

http://dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=55503

Best regards,

Christian

David Delaney · December 13th, 2006, 09:10 PM

IS there a way to update the firmware myself?

Christian de Godzinsky · December 14th, 2006, 09:10 AM

Hi,

Nope - no way that I have heard of.

Probably it can be done via Lanc or Firewire or USB, but that is just a wild guess. And you should have the proper sw and/or hw to do it... and from wheren do you get it Sony is not leaking such things out...

Christian

David Delaney · December 19th, 2006, 04:46 PM

So is there a way to confirm which models have this 'red' problem? IS there a certain serial number sequence that has the red's problem?

Evan Dowling · December 21st, 2006, 10:00 AM

I purchased my HC1 over a year ago and thought that I had a problem with the reds. Turns out I just didn't know how to use the camera yet. Being a first generation product, it does have some quirks. The main problem I was having was with exposure. If you overexpose even a little bit with the CMOS chip, it starts to wash out reds making them look pinkish. General rule that I use is to back off the exposure at least two notches from where the camera auto-exposes. It's also important to make sure you white balance before pretty much EVERY shot. Taking those two items into consideration, I don't have any problems with the reds created by the HC1. Really bright reds may have some artifacts in them, but this is normal for Digital Video and can be seen in broadcast footage all the time.

Tom Johnson · December 21st, 2006, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evan Dowling

I purchased my HC1 over a year ago and thought that I had a problem with the reds. Turns out I just didn't know how to use the camera yet. Being a first generation product, it does have some quirks. The main problem I was having was with exposure. If you overexpose even a little bit with the CMOS chip, it starts to wash out reds making them look pinkish. General rule that I use is to back off the exposure at least two notches from where the camera auto-exposes. It's also important to make sure you white balance before pretty much EVERY shot. Taking those two items into consideration, I don't have any problems with the reds created by the HC1. Really bright reds may have some artifacts in them, but this is normal for Digital Video and can be seen in broadcast footage all the time.

yeah good points. i see it the same way , two notches seems to be the key

Frank Howard · December 21st, 2006, 10:06 PM

There is a red to magenta/lilac problem that occurred with a number of the HC1s and A1Us that shipped, including mine among many. That is a known issue that Sony has fixed.

There is also exposing correctly, and many of us tend to bring down the exposure a little from the auto-exposure settings.

And with proper lighting, exposure, etc., you get a wonderful picture that even surpasses the resolution of the FX1/Z1 due to its superior glass and with a little work you can match its color saturation.

Graham Hickling · December 21st, 2006, 11:54 PM

Has anyone had the fix done outside of warrenty? (I ask because I bought my camera used). If so, what did it cost and how long did it take?

Thanks!

Alex Thames · December 22nd, 2006, 09:42 AM

I'm looking to send my camera in for the red fix, how do I do this?

Evan Dowling · December 22nd, 2006, 10:20 AM

Here is the link to the Sony Serivce Website:

http://eservice.sony.com/webrma/web/index.do

You can schedule repairs there or find a local repair facility. Evidently there are no Sony repair facilities anywhere near me (south florida). If you have to send it in and it's out of warranty, it looks like it will be at least $500.

Frank Howard · December 22nd, 2006, 10:26 AM

Just go to the Sony pro site and click on Service and Support and... Voila!
A 30 second Google search got me these...

A list of their repair facilities for under warranty:
http://bssc.sel.sony.com/Broadcastan...eCenters.shtml

If you have to send it in:
http://bssc.sel.sony.com/Broadcastan...8/repair.shtml

And for the HC1:

Graham, I would call your nearest repair facility and/or all of them. Tell them it was an existing defect that is just a quick firmware fix. Who knows, if you get the right person they just might still do it for free. Heck, the worst they can do is say no. Good luck!

Alex Goldshteyn · December 22nd, 2006, 11:23 AM

Check out my attempt at getting this addressed today at this thread.

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=55503

December 11th, 2006, 02:34 PM	#1
David Delaney Trustee Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Niagara Ontario Canada Posts: 1,121	HC1 - does it have problems with reds? I have been reading some post about the HC1 having problem with banding or streaking or something with reds. Is this true of all HC1? How can you tell if it is true only for older versions?

December 12th, 2006, 03:48 PM	#4
Christian de Godzinsky Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Helsinki/Finland Posts: 131	Hi, I personally can confirm that the red color rendering problem can be solved if you happen to have a bad unit. My HDR-HC1 serial number is 1075723 and I purchased it in November 2005. From day one it had the red rendring problem. Now, precisely on year later I sent it for warranty repair. My only complaint was the poor red color rendering. There were no deep reds, they just turned out red-lilac. The problem was completely gone when I got the cam back 5 days later!!! Gee was I happy :) I should have sent the cam earlier for service, but I was sceptic since I never got a confirmation from Sony that something could be done to help the problem. Sending it to service just to get no help was one thing that I wanted to avoid. The HC1 is now color perfect and this annoying problem is just a faint memory - if I do not take in consideration the already recorded tapes that will always remind me of this now fixed problem :) You can find some before and after images in the following thread (at the end of it)... http://dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=55503 Best regards, Christian __________________ The future does not exist - we must invent it !

December 14th, 2006, 09:10 AM	#6
Christian de Godzinsky Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Helsinki/Finland Posts: 131	Hi, Nope - no way that I have heard of. Probably it can be done via Lanc or Firewire or USB, but that is just a wild guess. And you should have the proper sw and/or hw to do it... and from wheren do you get it Sony is not leaking such things out... Christian __________________ The future does not exist - we must invent it !

December 21st, 2006, 10:00 AM	#8
Evan Dowling Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Fort Myers , Florida Posts: 64	CMOS - sweet spot for exposure I purchased my HC1 over a year ago and thought that I had a problem with the reds. Turns out I just didn't know how to use the camera yet. Being a first generation product, it does have some quirks. The main problem I was having was with exposure. If you overexpose even a little bit with the CMOS chip, it starts to wash out reds making them look pinkish. General rule that I use is to back off the exposure at least two notches from where the camera auto-exposes. It's also important to make sure you white balance before pretty much EVERY shot. Taking those two items into consideration, I don't have any problems with the reds created by the HC1. Really bright reds may have some artifacts in them, but this is normal for Digital Video and can be seen in broadcast footage all the time. __________________ Evan Dowling HDV 1080i Sony HDR-HC1

December 22nd, 2006, 10:20 AM	#13
Evan Dowling Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Fort Myers , Florida Posts: 64	Here is the link to the Sony Serivce Website: http://eservice.sony.com/webrma/web/index.do You can schedule repairs there or find a local repair facility. Evidently there are no Sony repair facilities anywhere near me (south florida). If you have to send it in and it's out of warranty, it looks like it will be at least $500. __________________ Evan Dowling HDV 1080i Sony HDR-HC1

December 11th, 2006, 07:52 PM	#2
Graham Hickling Trustee Join Date: May 2004 Location: Knoxville, Tennessee Posts: 1,669	Well my HC1 doesn't "band or streak" reds, so I guess the answer is no. There's been numerous posts about the HC1 not reproducing the color of some reds accurately, and there does seem to be variation between individual cameras in that regard. Not necessarily a "newer" vs. "older" thing however.

December 12th, 2006, 11:12 AM	#3
Stu Holmes Major Player Join Date: May 2005 Location: Europe Posts: 844	It has basically been fixed. I've read reports from people who have sent their HC1 to Sony for some other small fault and they have reported basically a complete fix for this pinky/lilac-y red problem. My guess is its a firmware upgrade that is automatically done by Sony to any incoming HC1's or A1's for repair. Caveat : I don't KNOW exactly the nature of the fix but people say it's unequivocally better after it's been to Sony repair center...

December 13th, 2006, 09:10 PM	#5
David Delaney Trustee Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Niagara Ontario Canada Posts: 1,121	IS there a way to update the firmware myself?

December 19th, 2006, 04:46 PM	#7
David Delaney Trustee Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Niagara Ontario Canada Posts: 1,121	So is there a way to confirm which models have this 'red' problem? IS there a certain serial number sequence that has the red's problem?

December 21st, 2006, 10:06 PM	#10
Frank Howard Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 157	There is a red to magenta/lilac problem that occurred with a number of the HC1s and A1Us that shipped, including mine among many. That is a known issue that Sony has fixed. There is also exposing correctly, and many of us tend to bring down the exposure a little from the auto-exposure settings. And with proper lighting, exposure, etc., you get a wonderful picture that even surpasses the resolution of the FX1/Z1 due to its superior glass and with a little work you can match its color saturation.

December 21st, 2006, 11:54 PM	#11
Graham Hickling Trustee Join Date: May 2004 Location: Knoxville, Tennessee Posts: 1,669	Has anyone had the fix done outside of warrenty? (I ask because I bought my camera used). If so, what did it cost and how long did it take? Thanks!

December 22nd, 2006, 09:42 AM	#12
Alex Thames Major Player Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: New York Posts: 508	I'm looking to send my camera in for the red fix, how do I do this?

December 22nd, 2006, 10:26 AM	#14
Frank Howard Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 157	Just go to the Sony pro site and click on Service and Support and... Voila! A 30 second Google search got me these... A list of their repair facilities for under warranty: http://bssc.sel.sony.com/Broadcastan...eCenters.shtml If you have to send it in: http://bssc.sel.sony.com/Broadcastan...8/repair.shtml And for the HC1: Graham, I would call your nearest repair facility and/or all of them. Tell them it was an existing defect that is just a quick firmware fix. Who knows, if you get the right person they just might still do it for free. Heck, the worst they can do is say no. Good luck!

December 22nd, 2006, 11:23 AM	#15
Alex Goldshteyn New Boot Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 17	Check out my attempt at getting this addressed today at this thread. http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=55503