NEW Sony SHOULDER MOUNT CAM less than $1900 (NOT A JOKE)

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SONY INTRODUCES ENTRY LEVEL SHOULDER-MOUNT PROFESSIONAL HDV CAMCORDER

New Model Delivers HD Performance and Flexibility to a Wider Range of Shooters

PARK RIDGE, N.J., Aug. 22, 2007 – Sony is introducing an entry-level professional HDV™ camcorder with a shoulder-mount design, bringing the benefits of HD production to a wider range of users.

The new HVR-HD1000U model is targeted toward wedding videographers, freelancers and educational video creators, offering them more versatility and more opportunities for generating business with a moderately priced camera.

“Our professional HDV camcorders are designed to offer customers high-definition shooting capability, along with maximum revenue-generating opportunities at a modest investment,” said Bob Ott, vice president of marketing for professional video products at Sony Electronics. “With its shoulder-mount design, this new camera brings affordable HD capabilities to a broader range of pro shooters.”

The HVR-HD1000U model supports both the HDV and the standard-definition DV formats. In DV mode, the unit can work exclusively as a DV camcorder, allowing users to maintain their current DV workflow without any disruptions. When needed, the camcorder can be instantly switched to high-definition mode.

The HDV format allows users to shoot approximately 60 minutes of HD video on a 6mm cassette tape. Sony’s highest-quality 6mm videotape, DigitalMaster™, is the recommended professional media for HDV applications. These 63-minute cassettes (model PHDVM63DM) use Sony’s AME (Advanced Metal Evaporated) II technology and features dual-active magnetic layers.

The new camcorder also has several down-conversion modes that output converted standard-definition signals to users’ current SD production systems, including displays and DV non-linear editing systems, while retaining an HD master tape for future use.

The camcorder adapts to a wide range of shooting situations and features a high-end Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonner T* 10x optical zoom lens to help reduce reflection. The Super SteadyShot™ (optical) feature of the unit is an image stabilizer using an active optical lens method that helps avoid any deterioration in image quality. The lens itself shifts vertically and horizontally to compensate for the polarized light axis in real-time.

The HVR-HD1000U camcorder uses Sony’s 1/2.9-inch ClearVid™ CMOS sensor system with its unique pixel layout rotated 45 degrees to provide higher resolution and sensitivity.

The camcorder’s photo creation functions can produce photo data for DVD jacket designs, website content, news, photo albums and other applications.

Users can capture up to 6.1 mega-pixel still images in Photo mode. In addition, it can capture up to 4.6 mega-pixel still images even while HD video is being recorded. For added flexibility, the new camera can capture still images from any moment of HDV recording in print-ready quality of up to 1.2 mega-pixels.

The camcorder also has a new configuration with an LCD monitor and an electronic view finder (EVF). The LCD monitor is in front of the camera operator when the camcorder is shoulder-mounted, and it is attached to the EVF level. This unique layout enables traditional EVF monitoring, as well as LCD monitoring for the operator even while the camcorder is held on the shoulder.

“The 180-degree tilt mechanism allows for LCD monitoring when the camcorder is held in a high- or low-angle position,” Ott said. “The 360-degree swivel mechanism will allow LCD monitoring from the front, right or even left of the camcorder so that a reporter or a director can monitor what is being captured by the camcorder.”

The “Smooth Slow Rec” function allows users to perform slow-motion playback by capturing images at four times faster than the normal field rate (240 fields/s). In this mode, quad-speed images are captured for three seconds, stored in the camcorder’s built-in buffer memory, and then recorded to tape (in either the HDV, DVCAM™, or DV formats) as slow-motion pictures lasting 12 seconds. When using this function, Ott said the resolution of the camera image is decreased.

The Super NightShot™ function of the new model uses a built-in infrared light emitter to record objects in zero lux light levels and to allow night-time monitoring and surveillance.

A multi-function assignable lens ring is located on the lens unit, and any one of the following functions can be assigned to the ring for easy adjustment: focus (default), zoom, brightness, shutter, auto exposure shift and white balance shift.

Other features include up to 10 hours operation using an optional NP-F970 battery, a range of digital I/O (HDMI, i.LINK®, USB, Memory Stick Duo™ slot), supplied external stereo microphone (ECM-PS1), and a multi-language menu.

The HVR-HD1000U camcorder is planned to be available in December, at a suggested list price of less than $1,900.

http://news.sel.sony.com/en/press_room/b2b/broadcast_production/release/31159.html
 
8-23-07-hvr-hd1000u.jpg
 
Seems like a pretty good idea - would be nice to have for a low budget multi cam documentary or something. Or a student news station. Or a real news station...
 
i think it be great for wedding shooters that requires only interlaced pic. Now the bride/groom that paid you $ 2000 will think they are actually getting their money's worth because its a big shoulder mounted cam that looks just like the "TV people" uses.
 
arges03 said:
Price is about right for the (lack of) features

The LCD/VF options are sweet I will admit.
Click to expand...
What do you mean by lack of features? This sounds like an amazing price to me! I want to know if it shoots 24p. If so then it is a no brainer!
I think Sony actually know what they are doing with this one. Even if it is 60i only it is still perfect for news,schools, and weddings. Very good job Sony. I won't say anything bad about your company until November. :)
I know the college I worked at will buy 3 easy. Looks professional is really what they really care about.
 
Nik Manning said:
What do you mean by lack of features? This sounds like an amazing price to me! I want to know if it shoots 24p. If so then it is a no brainer!
I think Sony actually know what they are doing with this one. Even if it is 60i only it is still perfect for news,schools, and weddings. Very good job Sony. I won't say anything bad about your company until November. :)
I know the college I worked at will buy 3 easy. Looks professional is really what they really care about.
Click to expand...

Nik first off there isn't mention if it's 3 CMOS or one 1/3 CMOS sensor.
Yes it doesn't have 24P functionality most likely. But there is no mention of the audio function on this unit. Knowing Sony, since this camera will be from their consumer (not professional) division, then it will ahve 1/8 mic input and no XLR functionality. If this is the case then it is utterly useless as a shoulder mounted cam. As all shoulder supported cameras should have at least XLR functionality built in.

EDIT: Seesm that this camera is developed by Sony's PRO Division. So XLR's might be a possability, but from the pic, it doesn't look so.

Also it would have been nice to see the ability to record to large tape and not just mini DV, but that's Sony.

Most likely Sony will announce a beefed up version of this camera in the future, after this is released of course.

Interesting that Sony is releasing this, with the upcoming release of the EX cmas shortly.
 
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I think as far as features - looks like no XLR's, only one control ring that is assignable to focus, zoom, iris, etc., and I'm guessing no 24P. Still not too shabby at all for the price.
 
OK argus03 I guess it is right for the price. It just looked to me the way it was worded like you were dissing the features it has. I can deal with the audio stuff but no 24p really? That really looked like a good idea to them on paper. I am sure vegas06 is right they will release a higher end model for a grand more with 24p and xlr inputs, but will it still have one control ring? Oh well interlaced shooters rejoice!
 
August 23, 2007 – Sony today announced a new professional HDV camcorder, the HVR-HD1000U. Priced at a mere $1900 MSRP, the camcorder is clearly gunning to undercut Canon’s XL H1 ([SIZE=-2]Specs, Recent News, $7947.89[/SIZE]), at least on looks. It features a shoulder-mounted design, a single 1/2.9” ClearVID CMOS sensor, 10x optical zoom, and a new EVF/LCD design. The HVR-HD1000U is expected to ship in December.


The body design is remarkably similar to Canon’s highest-end HDV camcorder, the XL H1, which retails for five to six times the price. The difference in manual controls, internal imaging, and output options is vast, but the intent is clearly there: look like a pro, spend like a consumer.


The CMOS chip in the HVR-HD1000U is the same found on Sony’s top-end consumer HDV camcorder, the HDR-HC7 ([SIZE=-2]Review, Specs, Recent News, $1128.56[/SIZE]). CamcorderInfo.com’s extensive testing of the HC7, including the complete review and an HD Camcorder Shootout, showed the imaging system was good, but failed to stand up to the Canon HV20 ([SIZE=-2]Review, Specs, Recent News, $903[/SIZE]) in most respects. The most crucial difference was in video quality, where the Sony HDR-HC7 displayed more artifacting and weaker colors. Once adapted into a professional model, the colors are likely to be processed under a different gamma curve, toward a less saturated tone. The question remains, however, as to whether the basic quality of the video will stand up to professional scrutiny. Bob Ott, vice president of marketing for professional video products, stated that consumer camcorder and professional camcorders are run off of two different production lines, with much higher standards for the pro models. This entails everything from construction to performance, including signal-to-noise ratio and colorimetry. While consumer and pro lines can share certain parts, it’s the implementation and integration of those components that sets them apart.
The HVR-HD1000U is targeted at a very specific audience, those who need “maximum revenue-generating opportunities at a modest investment,” stated Ott in the press release. This includes the wedding market and, rarely cited but quietly acknowledged, the adult video market. The shoulder-mounted design conveys a level of professionalism impossible with a compact point-and-shoot. The “modest investment” is made possible by the inclusion of a consumer imaging system. The are some pro-level features that raise the HVR-HD1000U well above the level of the HDR-HC7. Videographers are likely to appreciate the full-sized multifunction ring on the lens barrel, which can control focus, zoom, brightness, shutter speed, auto exposure shift, and white balance shift. It is unknown what the exact depth of the manual control suite will be. The consumer division of Sony is known for restricting certain controls, such as aperture. The HVR-HD1000U is, however, a release from Sony’s Professional division, leaving several questions unanswered.


The camcorder allows for shooting in both HDV and standard definition DV modes. It is also capable of down-converting within the camcorder from HD to SD for output to NLES and playback devices. This feature may prove very useful for those ready to begin the costly shift to HD production, but who can’t yet commit to an entire overhaul of their systems.

Super SteadyShot optical image stabilization is included, along with the infrared Super NightShot mode. Output options include Firewire, HDMI, USB, and a MemoryStick Duo slot. An external microphone is included, the ECM-PS1, which mounts to the upper-right of the body. It appears to be replaceable, though the connection type is not specified. The NP-F970 battery is included.

Still photo captures of up to 6.1 megapixels are possible when in Still mode. While shooting video, stills can be captured in resolutions up to 4.6 megapixels. The camcorder also appears to have photo capture during video Playback mode, which allows for low-res images of 1.2 megapixels.

The HVR-HD1000U retails for $1900 (MSRP) and is expected to ship in December. Specs are forthcoming later today.


 
yep exactly like the DVC7 style. I can't wait for the update with xlr inputs and 24p for a $1000 more. I am sure they will make it. Panasonic is coming for them with there new DVC7 style AVCHD camcorder. Game on folks! If picture quality is paramount I think the HV20 will still be king under 3K. We shall see soon. Next Cannon dropping the baby XL H1?
 
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