Barry_Green
06-17-2005, 04:20 PM
Trying to get to the bottom of the three models. Some have speculated that the HD101 will be a "universal", worldwide model. Obviously I want to make sure to get the right one; if the 101 is fully worldwide and offers more shooting modes, I might want to get that one.
From what I can deduce so far:
There is a USA model, and a European model without DV/HDV input, and a second European model WITH DV/HDV input (for about $300 more). There doesn't appear to be a single worldwide model. Unlike the Sony Z1, which offers full NTSC and PAL capability as well as both 1080/50i and 1080/60i, making it a genuine worldwide model, the HD100 doesn't appear to do so, at least for standard-def and DV recording.
HD100U is the USA model. Includes 24p and 30p and 480/60p, as well as DV 480/60i and 480/24p (but doesn't appear to offer 480/30p).
HD100E is one of the European models, but has firewire input disabled -- no HDV input, no DV input. Offers 25p, but also offers 24p and 30p. For standard-def, it offers 576/50p as well as PAL DV of 576/50i and 576/25p. No NTSC-compatible video, no 480/60p mode either. So for standard-def it'd be useless in the US, but for high-def it actually offers one additional frame rate (25p) as compared to the US model.
HD101E is the other European model, but this one has firewire input enabled -- you can send either HDV or DV into its firewire port. It appears to offer all the same shooting modes of the HD100E, meaning no NTSC format at all, and no SD format of 480/60p.
So, there's no real reason to fret over which model to get -- if you're in the States, the HD100U is the right one. The European models don't offer any NTSC-compatible standard-def, and while they do offer one additional framerate in high-def (720/25p), that seems like way too little to gain in exchange for losing all compatibility in standard-def territory.
But, for our European friends who are constantly chagrined, it looks like this time the camera will be more capable, comparatively, than its equivalent US model. It won't be 25p only, they'll actually give you 24p and also 30p. It would require a 720/60p-capable display to see the footage, but at least you have the option.
From what I can deduce so far:
There is a USA model, and a European model without DV/HDV input, and a second European model WITH DV/HDV input (for about $300 more). There doesn't appear to be a single worldwide model. Unlike the Sony Z1, which offers full NTSC and PAL capability as well as both 1080/50i and 1080/60i, making it a genuine worldwide model, the HD100 doesn't appear to do so, at least for standard-def and DV recording.
HD100U is the USA model. Includes 24p and 30p and 480/60p, as well as DV 480/60i and 480/24p (but doesn't appear to offer 480/30p).
HD100E is one of the European models, but has firewire input disabled -- no HDV input, no DV input. Offers 25p, but also offers 24p and 30p. For standard-def, it offers 576/50p as well as PAL DV of 576/50i and 576/25p. No NTSC-compatible video, no 480/60p mode either. So for standard-def it'd be useless in the US, but for high-def it actually offers one additional frame rate (25p) as compared to the US model.
HD101E is the other European model, but this one has firewire input enabled -- you can send either HDV or DV into its firewire port. It appears to offer all the same shooting modes of the HD100E, meaning no NTSC format at all, and no SD format of 480/60p.
So, there's no real reason to fret over which model to get -- if you're in the States, the HD100U is the right one. The European models don't offer any NTSC-compatible standard-def, and while they do offer one additional framerate in high-def (720/25p), that seems like way too little to gain in exchange for losing all compatibility in standard-def territory.
But, for our European friends who are constantly chagrined, it looks like this time the camera will be more capable, comparatively, than its equivalent US model. It won't be 25p only, they'll actually give you 24p and also 30p. It would require a 720/60p-capable display to see the footage, but at least you have the option.