Sony V1 & FX7 - UPDATE: 24P in NTSC Model!

[mikkowilson]

UPDATE 9/19: The NTSC (USA) Model has been annouced, it includes 24p and 30p. Details directly from Sony here: http://bssc.sel.sony.com/BroadcastandBusiness/minisites/HDV1080/HVR-V1U/index.html


Ok, I had a good chat with the folks over at Sony this morning.


The Sony V1 with the DR60 onboard

As I reported by text message, the sensors between the cameras are identical.

Here's the specs on the EUROPEAN models.:
3 x 1/4" CMOS sensors, 1080 x 960 each.
They have a new iterpolation method to improve quality.
The cameras are 1 stop slower than the Z1
Both cameras shoot at 50i. (ONLY) the V1 also shoots at 25p.

There is NO word from Sony Europe about the US model. They simply could not say. So speculation may continue as to the progressive framerates of the NTSC V1.

The cameras seem prety user friendly, and the footage that was shown is nice and clean.

They are approximaly similar in size & weight to the PD170, except that the weight is furthur back.


I also checked out the DR60 hard drive recorder.
Holds 60GB an can talk (with full onscreen menus!) with the V1 and FX7 (but not older models) over firewire and can do syncro tape & drive recording. Or it cna run independantly. I don't know if it works on non-sony cameras.

Some of it's sellign points over other units are that it had built in shock protection - if you drop it, it will sense the fall and dock the heads and brace for impact.
It also is very ncie and small, and low power consumption - it'll run 9 hours (!) on a standard Sony battery! It is powered by Sony L series camera batteries or an external power supply, but it can't be powered by the camera. Unfortunatly is does not function as a battery charger.

- Mikko

[Fugitive]

Thanks for all the info Mikko. We needed that.

Allright, so my interest level on this camera has fallen, considerably. The resolution, and well as latitude is lower than the z1/FX1. The FX1 is cheaper as well. About the only reason one would want this might be the 25p, but even that isnt such a big deal since the higher resolution of the FX1E would provide a nicer interpolated 25p conversion.

About the only two redeeming features at the moment seem to be the shock resistance (pretty cool!), and the lower weight.

The dark horse would be the CMOS chips. Lets see how they perform, regardles of the smaller sensor size, as well as lower resolution. Dont really expect muchm but lets see anyways.

[mikkowilson]

Aah, one thing I fergot to mention..

The FX1 is beeing phased out (again, at least in Europe), availabilety will vary from country to country. Want an FX1? better be quick!

The Z1 however is slated to remain in the line for now.


The chips in the V1 and FX7 are the SAME resolution as the FX1 & Z1


- Mikko

[Fugitive]

FX1 has the same resolution as the V1? That cant be right. The V1 is only 1080 x 960, while FX1 is 1080i.

[mikkowilson]

The chips are the same resolution, only smaller a and CMOS in the new cams. The way the signal is proccessed is different.

- Mikko

[Zim]

did they mention a price? I guess they won't say anything about US prices. Can you get some footage to post?

[Zim]

I was told no news, no price yet, no idea if or when. No idea about frame rates etc. But I was told V1a.

[mikkowilson]

There's a photo in the Day 3 gallery of one of the rep's cheat sheet which lists approximate European Prices.

There is NO information on American models.

- Mikko

[Zim]

There's a photo in the Day 3 gallery of one of the rep's cheat sheet which lists approximate European Prices.

There is NO information on American models.

- Mikko

There saving it for another day. The Sony person told me the European prices mean nothing to the USA price.

[Barry_Green]

FX1 has the same resolution as the V1? That cant be right. The V1 is only 1080 x 960, while FX1 is 1080i.

The V1 is 960x1080.
The FX1 is 960x1080.