Sony

HDR-FX1
At last year NAB show SONY introduced the HDR-FX1 HDV camcorder. It began shipping last October and it is by far and away the best under $5,000 HDV camcorder on the market. It supports HDV at 1080i resolution and the video quality is simply stunning. With a $3,500 street price it’s still expensive, but if your looking to make the jump to HD, this is a great place to start.

HVR-Z1U
This is the professional version of the FX-1. With a price tag of around $6,000 I’m sure you’re asking yourself “What do I get for the extra $2,500? First you get XLR connectors and audio input level trimming. The support of professional microphones is a must have for some folks, and not important to others. You also get additional settings for the Sony Cineframe format, which gives you a cinematic film look to your videos. If you are an independent filmmaker this is a big feature, it’s not as important for other types of work.

HVR-A1U
HVR-A1U camcorder, based on a 1/3-inch, 3-megapixel Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) imager.
Sony says it has improved the key attributes of traditional CMOS sensors with proprietary technology, and this CMOS device is also accompanied by Sony’s Enhanced Imaging Processor. According to Sony, the EIP enables the high-speed processing required for capturing high-definition video images, and allows an HDV camcorder to record and playback high-quality still images. EIP technology is also included in a consumer counterpart, the Sony HDR-HC1 Handycam.

The new HVR-A1U HDV camcorder is intended to complement its HVR-Z1U introduced last fall. The HVR-A1U offers many of the same features as the HVR-Z1U but in a smaller unit. The HVR-A1U can record and playback HDV, DVCAM, and DV content, with the ability to downconvert footage into standard definition. The HVR-A1U HDV camcorder is expected to be available in early fall, at a suggested list price of less than $3,500.

HDR-HC1
Under $2,000 HDV HDR-HC1 High Def 1080i Camcorder
In an aggressive move, Sony has just announced the under $2,000 High Definition HDR-HC1 HDV camcorder through a simultaneous worldwide release. The new 1 chip CMOS camcorder is Sony's second consumer HD camcorder announcement, and drops the entry price for consumer HD much lower than any previous camcorder. The HDR-HC1 is also unique because it uses a CMOS chip for capturing the image, instead of CCD chips which have been standard in every digital camcorder for the past eight years. The HDR-HC1 includes a 3 Megapixel CMOS chip which records 1080 lines of interlaced HDV video, a 10x optical zoom, a hybrid focus / zoom ring and a widescreen 2.7 in. LCD

JVC

At NAB JVC introduced their new ProHD product line. The ProHD product line-up adopts the HDV™ format to make high quality HD image recording on DV tape. By including professional capabilities such as 4 channel audio, time code, true 24p HD, and dual media direct recording to hard disc, ProHD products become tools that can be easily used to produce film-like quality HD programming in a variety of applications.

GY-HD100U
The new GY-HD100U has many of the features professional videographers have been waiting for in order to migrate to HDV. The GY-HD100U utilizes three newly developed 1/3-inch CCD image sensors, each one featuring an array of 1280x720 pixels. The camera includes a standard detachable 16x Servo Fujinon HD lens. Other available lens options include a 13x (3.5mm) wide zoom HD lens, a wide-angle converter for the standard 16x lens, and an adapter allowing standard ½-inch lenses to be used on the camera. You also get 2 XLR audio inputs with independent controls for each channel.

The GY-HD100U’s unique compact shoulder design locates camera and viewfinder controls on the left side of the unit. A specially designed Fujinon HD lens provides automatic or manual iris control, with smooth servo zoom and backfocus adjustment. A convenient IEEE1394 interface permits simple, quick connection to an external dual media recording option, a PC or NLE for easy downloading, and editing or archiving. That’s quite a camera for only $6,000!! First shipments are expected this summer.

Panasonic

AG-HVX200
The much anticipated replacement for the DVX-100 was a smash hit at the show. It supports Panasonic’s P2 technology – you record the video directly to P2 solid-state memory cards. With the AG-HVX200, HD and SD video is recorded on the P2 card as IT-friendly MXF files that can be downloaded to a nonlinear editing system or server, or edited virtually instantly from the P2 card by connecting an IEEE 1394 or USB2.0 interface. P2 cards mount like a regular hard drive from a NLE system's point of view, which eliminates the time-taking task of digitizing footage.

The AG-HVX200 is not an HDV camera. Panasonic has decided to go with their own DVCPRO standards instead. This revolutionary, hand-held P2 camcorder provides 1080i and 720p recording with the production proven image quality of 100 Mbps DVCPRO HD. The AG-HVX200 records on a P2 card in 1080 in 60i, 30p and 24p; in720 in 60p, 30p and 24p; in 480 in 60i, 30p, and 24p either in DVCPRO50 and DVCPRO.

On the newly-announced 8G P2 card, the AG-HVX200 records for 32 minutes in DVCPRO or DV, 20 minutes in 720p/24, 16 minutes in DVCPRO50, and eight minutes in 1080i/60 and 720p/60.

Canon

XL H1
High Definition’s Highest Expression
Whether you’re a broadcast ENG producer, or documentary, feature, or commercial videographer, the XL H1 is the affordable, lightweight HD camcorder you’ve been waiting for.

Its Superior Canon Optics and exceptional image processing give you a brilliant HD image. The XL H1 also features uncompressed HD-SDI (SMPTE 292M) and SD-SDI (SMPTE 259M) output, as well as Genlock input and SMPTE time code input and output for multi-camera shoots. And, with its customizable open-architecture approach, selectable frame rates including 24F, and multiple output options, you’ve got exactly the right tool – every time.

The XL H1 features total Cine control, customizable settings and a well-balanced design – for the creative control, flexibility and advanced capability your video work demands. The XL H1 ships in November 2005 and will sell for USD$9,000.

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