Sony HDR-FX1 3-CCD HDV High Definition Camcorder w/12x Optical Zoom

by Sony

Product Details

Product Manual [3.91mb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 17.6 x 11.8 x 10.1 inches ; 7 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 10 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00068JKR0
• Item model number: HDRFX1
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,597 in Camera & Photo (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: October 15, 2004

Product Description

Three 1/3-inch wide-aspect-ratio advanced HAD CCD imagers for true-to-life color rendering.Play and record interlaced high-definition video at resolutions up to 1440 x 1080 for professional-quality video.12x optical zoom with Super SteadyShot Optical Stabilization System. 3.5-inch wide precision hybrid SwivelScreen LCD.Record at either 30 frames per second or, for a film-like feel, at 24 frames per second.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

60 of 67 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent!, October 8, 2005

By 

Muhammad Miguel Ali Hasan "Film Director & Po... (Sunset Beach, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sony HDR-FX1 3-CCD HDV High Definition Camcorder w/12x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

Indie Filmmaker here, always looking out for a better camera!

The Sony HDV series is an astonishing technology

Don't let people tell you that the footage is "too compressed" ---- technically, it is, but once it gets on screen, it looks stunning!

I haven't done much filming with this camera ---- but I have seen its footage and edited its footage

Both on television and the computer monitor, I was impressed with its 'look' ---- very detailed and extremely clear

Editing was a BREEEEEZE with this footage! I edited on Final Cut Pro and could composite 5 layers all above each other, each with a different opacity, and FCP's real time engine kept up without having to render! Thus, the compressed footage makes editing EASY - but Sony has managed to make a beautiful picture out of this stuff too

For the Indie Filmmakers out there ---- test one out before purchasing..... I find the Sony HDV to be the most clear look out there --- emulating a beautifully shot NFL game on HD..... but for cinematic looks, I still may stick with the Panasonic DVX100, as there is a more cinema feel to that one

hope that helps

HAPPY BUYING!!!!

100 of 122 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It may not be the best camera ever but it still rocks!!, November 17, 2004

By 

Larkin Flynn "Hoodwinker" (Aspen, Colorado UDA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sony HDR-FX1 3-CCD HDV High Definition Camcorder w/12x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

I am a student filmmaker and I just bought this camera from sonystyle.com. Its a great consumer camcorder. It does not offer true HD picture quality but it does offer true HD resolution. If you want a HD camera that rivals film cameras expect to spend 50 to 100 thousand dollars.
The best thing about the camera is its resolution and true 16:9 aspect ratio. If you hate the 16:9 squeeze mode on other camcorders this is the camcorder for you. some people are disappointed about the camcorder lacking a progressive scan mode, 720p. its debated if 720p is true HD. the HDR-FX1 shoots 1080i which is true HD resolution. If 1080i shot progressive scan it would go outside the bandwidth limit. So if you plan to transfer it to film one should get software with de-interlacing capabilities.
Over all the minor flaws will piss off professionals, but they have to realize at the moment true HD is only 1080i not 1080p. The lack of XLR inputs will also hurt the camcorder but there are ways around that to. One big worry is the amount of compression that occurs while shoot HDV on a MiniDV tape. From what I have experience the compression is not a major factor to worry about yet until I do more testing. Over all this is a superior camcorder compared to regular DV camcorders. 24p is not the only thing that give the film look. Aspect ratio and detail are very important as well. The resolution and detail is far superior to any other consumer camcorder. If detail and resolution are top of your list, than this is the camcorder for you, once the editing software comes out for it.

27 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best camera out there, May 12, 2005

By 

D. Miletta "-Brandon Miletta" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sony HDR-FX1 3-CCD HDV High Definition Camcorder w/12x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

Hello, I bought my Sony HDR-FX1 about a month ago from amazon.com and let me just say that this camera is amazing. The resolution, when on a computer is 1920x1080. That right there is enough to sell the camera! Its great for me because i work with CG and CMI, the higher the resolution, the more accurate you can be. This is also great for blue/greenscreening as the high resolution, and the amazing color. There are several different modes to shoot in (all are customizable) you will mostly want to make sure you shoot in Cinemaframe30 or Cinemaframe24 because it will look just like film. You can also adjust how much color is allowed in, standard it is at "0" but you can up the color so much that its more vibrant then most movies. The new willy wonka movie has broad, powerful colors and this camera can easily achieve that. I would talk more about this camera but im out of time (great DOF). So dont get stuck in the Canon Xl2 fad where you pay 3,000 more dollars for a crappier camera.