New Sony cams with widescreen LCD at DVinfo.net

Tommy Haupfear · February 10th, 2005, 03:48 PM

I was browsing the latest crop of Sony MiniDV cams and I ran up on the recently released DCR-HC42 and DCR-HC90. At first glance nothing caught my attention but then I saw what appeared to be a 16:9 LCD and sure enough it was. Its about time!

Has anyone had the chance to play with one of these yet?

Click here for photo of DCR-HC90

Jeff Toogood · February 10th, 2005, 04:08 PM

Looks pretty cool, I hope to god that those zoom controls on the LCD aren't the only zoom controls on the camera.

Knowing Sony, they very well could be!

Tommy Haupfear · February 10th, 2005, 06:12 PM

Quote:

I hope to god that those zoom controls on the LCD aren't the only zoom controls on the camera.

One step forward and two steps backward. I have yet to see any other zoom controls on the HC90.

Kurth Bousman · February 10th, 2005, 07:25 PM

Just looking at the specs , the hc90 only has 690k pixels while the pc350 has 2048k for video even though they both have 3mp 1/3" chips - the screen is nice though- kurth

Tommy Haupfear · February 10th, 2005, 07:31 PM

Kurth, doesn't the PDX10 also use 690k video actual? I don't know how much stock you can put into the PC350's 2048k video actual compartively.

Also check out the new 3CCD PC1000 also with the widescreen LCD!

Click here

Boyd Ostroff · February 10th, 2005, 07:36 PM

The only resolution spec which Sony published on the PDX-10 was specifically for 4:3 mode. My own tests indicated that about 750k pixels are used for 16:9 video: http://www.greenmist.com/dv/16x9/10.JPG

Kurth Bousman · February 11th, 2005, 09:55 AM

Boyd - and isn't that times 3 on the pdx10 ? Tommy - the pc350 has gotten great reviews on it's image quality and has a 1/3 " ccd chip versus the pc1000 3 x 1/6" new cmos chips. Whose to know , but I do love the lcd.

Tommy Haupfear · February 11th, 2005, 10:12 AM

Kurth, a 3CCD cam uses each CCD independently for video and remains 1070k (gross) on the PDX10.

With 4:3 and 16:9 video only requiring 340k or 410k pixels it would be interesting to compare footage between a cam like the PC350 and the HC90 for both aspect ratios.

Kurth Bousman · March 7th, 2005, 01:18 PM

Well , I just learned 2 things of interest about the HC90 - one it has the same sensor as the pc350 and two, the most interesting , is I read on another forum that it does 30p with 16:9 - does anyone have any more info on this ? thanks

Tommy Haupfear · March 7th, 2005, 02:32 PM

Kurth, as far as I can tell the manual only mentions a cinema effect under digital effects that combines both 16:9 and what they call progressive picture (30p). It unfortunately locks out both manual sharpness and exposure. Would be nice to see some video/frames from this unique cam.

Below are two screenshots from the HC90 manual on Cinema Effect and Progressive Recording.

Click here

Click here

Kurth Bousman · March 7th, 2005, 06:20 PM

Tommy - thanks - I found this thread that has some good info about the HC90
http://www.camcorderinfo.com/bbs/t113491.html
sorry , I can't remember if i can post threads to other forums - delete me if necessary- Kurth

Kurth Bousman · March 7th, 2005, 07:27 PM

Tommy - I just downloaded the manual for the HC90 and it appears you can lock shutter at 1/30 with 16:9 and 30p set- sounds interesting- Kurth

February 10th, 2005, 03:48 PM	#1
Tommy Haupfear Wrangler Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 1,415	New Sony cams with widescreen LCD I was browsing the latest crop of Sony MiniDV cams and I ran up on the recently released DCR-HC42 and DCR-HC90. At first glance nothing caught my attention but then I saw what appeared to be a 16:9 LCD and sure enough it was. Its about time! Has anyone had the chance to play with one of these yet? Click here for photo of DCR-HC90

February 10th, 2005, 04:08 PM	#2
Jeff Toogood Major Player Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: St.Thomas, Ontario, CANADA Posts: 428	Looks pretty cool, I hope to god that those zoom controls on the LCD aren't the only zoom controls on the camera. Knowing Sony, they very well could be! __________________ Toogood Studios

February 10th, 2005, 07:25 PM	#4
Kurth Bousman Major Player Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: san miguel allende , gto , mexico Posts: 644	Just looking at the specs , the hc90 only has 690k pixels while the pc350 has 2048k for video even though they both have 3mp 1/3" chips - the screen is nice though- kurth

February 10th, 2005, 07:31 PM	#5
Tommy Haupfear Wrangler Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 1,415	Kurth, doesn't the PDX10 also use 690k video actual? I don't know how much stock you can put into the PC350's 2048k video actual compartively. Also check out the new 3CCD PC1000 also with the widescreen LCD! Click here

February 10th, 2005, 07:36 PM	#6
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,790	The only resolution spec which Sony published on the PDX-10 was specifically for 4:3 mode. My own tests indicated that about 750k pixels are used for 16:9 video: http://www.greenmist.com/dv/16x9/10.JPG

February 11th, 2005, 09:55 AM	#7
Kurth Bousman Major Player Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: san miguel allende , gto , mexico Posts: 644	Boyd - and isn't that times 3 on the pdx10 ? Tommy - the pc350 has gotten great reviews on it's image quality and has a 1/3 " ccd chip versus the pc1000 3 x 1/6" new cmos chips. Whose to know , but I do love the lcd.

February 11th, 2005, 10:12 AM	#8
Tommy Haupfear Wrangler Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 1,415	Kurth, a 3CCD cam uses each CCD independently for video and remains 1070k (gross) on the PDX10. With 4:3 and 16:9 video only requiring 340k or 410k pixels it would be interesting to compare footage between a cam like the PC350 and the HC90 for both aspect ratios.

March 7th, 2005, 01:18 PM	#9
Kurth Bousman Major Player Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: san miguel allende , gto , mexico Posts: 644	Well , I just learned 2 things of interest about the HC90 - one it has the same sensor as the pc350 and two, the most interesting , is I read on another forum that it does 30p with 16:9 - does anyone have any more info on this ? thanks

March 7th, 2005, 02:32 PM	#10
Tommy Haupfear Wrangler Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 1,415	Kurth, as far as I can tell the manual only mentions a cinema effect under digital effects that combines both 16:9 and what they call progressive picture (30p). It unfortunately locks out both manual sharpness and exposure. Would be nice to see some video/frames from this unique cam. Below are two screenshots from the HC90 manual on Cinema Effect and Progressive Recording. Click here Click here

March 7th, 2005, 06:20 PM	#11
Kurth Bousman Major Player Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: san miguel allende , gto , mexico Posts: 644	Tommy - thanks - I found this thread that has some good info about the HC90 http://www.camcorderinfo.com/bbs/t113491.html sorry , I can't remember if i can post threads to other forums - delete me if necessary- Kurth

March 7th, 2005, 07:27 PM	#12
Kurth Bousman Major Player Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: san miguel allende , gto , mexico Posts: 644	Tommy - I just downloaded the manual for the HC90 and it appears you can lock shutter at 1/30 with 16:9 and 30p set- sounds interesting- Kurth