Conclusion: To Buy Or Not To Buy
The Sony HDR-FX1 impressed us greatly. It's perfect in terms of image quality, has good sensitivity, and features professional-level ergonomics. Its innovations are such that it will remain a benchmark in the market for years. But does that mean you should make the move to high definition?
You must remember that buying an FX1 implies investing not only in a pricy camera, but in a whole series of other expensive products. To appreciate its quality you need a flat-screen television set or HD-compatible video projector, and to edit the HDV video you need a powerful video-editing computer - these can add several thousand dollars to the total bill.
Many people will wonder if it makes sense to invest in a Panasonic AG-DVX100A or a Sony DCR-VX2100 when the Sony HDR-FX1 can shoot both in DV and HDV for $3,990. It's a legitimate question, but it's not a simple one to answer. One reason is that the Panasonic AG-DVX100A has dropped to $3,400 and also has an XLR port for a professional microphone, which the FX1 lacks. Another is that regular DV is compatible with all editing software, and even an entry-level computer costing $600 is enough for dealing with it, unlike HDV. Finally, we must point out that image quality isn't just a matter of the number of pixels on the screen; color rendering and sensitivity are also important, and in these areas, the AG-DVX100A and DCR-VX2100 don't take a back seat to the HDR-FX1.
To help you make this difficult choice, here are four good reasons to buy and not to buy this video camera:
Buy it if:
- You want to show your video on an HD flat-screen TV or a home cinema setup
- You have a computer powerful enough to do editing
- You want a camcorder that can shoot both in DV and HD
- You want to shoot in native 16:9
Don't buy it if:
- You want a camcorder with an XLR port
- You don't have a powerful enough computer to edit HD
- You don't have an HD-compatible TV
- You feel a DV camcorder can already produce images that are of acceptably high quality
Sony HDR-FX1 | |
---|---|
Recording medium | MiniDV cassette |
Video compression | HDV (MPEG-2) / DV |
Audio compression | PCM |
Vertical scan lines | 1080i / 576i |
Definition | 1440x1080 pixels |
Imagers | CCD 16:9, 3x1.12 megapixels |
Area | 1/3" |
Filter diameter | 72 mm |
Optical zoom | 12x |
35 mm equiv. focal length | 32.5 mm - 390 mm |
Sensitivity | 3 lux |
Shutter | 1/4 - 1/10,000 sec |
Viewfinder | Color, 180,000 pixels |
LCD display | 16:9, 9 cm, 250,880 pixels |
16:9 mode | yes (native) |
24p mode | Yes |
Inputs | DV, composite, RCA audio, S-Video, microphone mini-jack |
Outputs | DV, composite, RCA audio, component, S-Video, headphone mini-jack, LANC |
Flash/Torch | no/no |
Software | No |
Accessories | Composite cable, component cable, charger, power cord, remote control |
Weight with battery | 4.6 lb (2.1 kg) |
Dimensions | 5.9" x 14.2" x 7.1" (15.1 x 36.5 x 18.1 cm) |
Colorimetry | ***** |
Definition | ***** |
Sensitivity | **** |
Optics | ***** |
Ergonomics | ***** |
Connectivity | ***** |
Quality/price ratio | **** |
Overall score | ***** |