Sony HDR-HC1

Unique features

Expanded focus

Expanded focus lets the user magnify the image temporarily to obtain better manual focus. Expanded focus works in pause mode only; it is not possible to magnify the frame during recording.

A similar feature, named Focus Assist, appeared on the Canon HV20, which was released two years after the HDR-HC1. Focus Assist on Canon camcorders also works only when recording is paused.

Spot meter and spot focus

Spot meter and Spot focus are possible thanks to a touch-sensitive LCD screen, employed on most modern Sony consumer camcorders.

The user can touch the screen to specify a specific region of the image; the camcorder automatically adjusts focus or exposure according to distance to the object and to illumination of the selected spot.

Depending on a scene, changing focus with Spot Focus can cause focus "breathing" or "hunting", when the subject goes in and out of focus several times before the image stabilizes.

Shot transition

Shot transition allows for a smooth automatic scene transition. In particular, it makes rack focus easy.

Two sets of focus and zoom can be preset and stored in "Store-A" and "Store-B" memory slots. The settings can then be gradually applied from one to another within 4 seconds. The transition time is not adjustable.

Presently, the HDR-HC1 is the only consumer camcorder that offers this feature. Newer Sony consumer models offer Spot Focus mode as a means for rack focus. Changing focus with Spot Focus is faster than with Shot Transition, but is not as reliable because the camera has to search for correct focus each time instead of switching to a stored value.

Cinema effect

Cinema effect produces the jerky look usually attributable to a motion picture film. In the world of professional Sony camcorders this effect is known as CineFrame shooting mode.

When Cinema effect is turned on, important manual controls such as shutter speed and aperture are disabled. Implementation of Cinema effect depends on the television system (50 Hz or 60 Hz) used in the target market.

The 50 Hz version of the camcorder, HDR-HC1E, throws away one field from the original interlaced video and doubles another, effectively halving both temporal and spatial resolution. The result can be treated as 25- frame/s progressive video because there is no motion between the two fields of one video frame.

The modification for 60 Hz market records 24- frame/s (more precisely, 23.98- frame/s) video instead, using the process known as 2-3 pulldown. While this recording scheme is widely used in other camcorders that offer 24- frame/s shooting mode, the camera employs an unusual algorithm of generating progressive frames, and then converting them back into video fields.

As Cinema effect is a synthetic method of achieving film-like motion on an interlaced camcorder, it does not improve vertical resolution or light sensitivity. On contrary, spatial resolution is reduced compared to native interlaced recording. The same or better film look effect can be achieved by shooting regular interlaced video and then converting it into pseudo-progressive format with computer software.

Other consumer-grade camcorders are more suitable for film-style recording. In particular, the Canon HV20 and the Canon HV30 camcorders have progressive imaging sensors and are capable of shooting true progressive video preserving spatial resolution and having an added benefit of better light sensitivity compared to interlaced shooting modes.

• The bottom-loading tape compartment means that recording tape cannot be loaded when the camcorder is set on a tripod.
• Non-repeatable focus/zoom ring reacts more to speed with which the ring is rotated, than to angle of rotation.
• Switching between automatic/manual focus and zoom modes is implemented with a mechanical slider, not with a button, which causes camera shake.
• No direct aperture and gain control, though aperture value can be deduced from exposure slider position if shutter speed is locked.
• Expanded Focus works only in pause mode, does not work while recording is in progress.
• Stock lens hood is not compatible with threaded lens filters.

Reliability issues

Problem areas of the camcorder are:

• The zoom toggle
• Weak tape loading mechanism --

References

References

1. "Adam Wilt, How the Sony HDV cameras fake 24, 25, and 30 frame/s".
2. "Jay Holben, More Detail on 24p".
3. "Steve Mullen, Sony's HDR-FX1 1080i HDV Camcorder: using CineFrame 24 mode".
4. "AVCHDUser.com, Canon 24/25/30-fps progressive modes explained".