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

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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: HDR-FX1
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #3,287 in Camera & Photo (See Bestsellers in Camera & Photo)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #12 in	Camera & Photo > Camcorders > Professional Camcorders
  #64 in	Camera & Photo > Camcorders > High Definition

• Date first available at Amazon.com: October 15, 2004

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

From the Manufacturer Presenting the world's first consumer 1080i high-definition camcorder, the Sony Handycam HDR-FX1. A revolution in form and function, the HDR-FX1 allows you to play and record interlaced high-definition video at resolutions up to 1440 x 1080 for professional quality video with vivid colors and striking detail. It even offers the ability to switch to standard DV recording and playback as the situation warrants.

The HDR-FX1 is eminently portable and ergonomic.

The HDR-FX1 features the real-time HD Codec Engine, which offers professional-level MPEG2 video compression, and 14bit HD DXP (Digital Extended Processor) for increased processing speed.

Images are captured on three-chip Advanced HAD CCD system that provides increased detail and improved video performance without the color bleeding found in other system. Optical capabilities include a Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* lens with 12x optical zoom and Super SteadyShot image stabilization.

The HDR-FX1 offers an unprecedented amount of control to the user, including manual zoom, focus, and iris control. Picture Profile allows the user to create a number of preset video modes for a variety of shooting settings. Composing shots is easier than ever with the 3.5-inch precision hybrid SwivelScreen LCD display and the extra-large electronic viewfinder.

The Sony HDR-FX1 HDV Handycam camcorder: the revolution begins.

3-1/3-inch 16:9 Advanced HAD CCD Imagers 1,120K Pixels Gross Advanced HAD (Hole Accumulation Diode) CCD imagers with 1,120K effective (video) pixels provides excellent detail and clarity with exceptional digital video performance. Using a three-chip advanced HAD CCD system and dichroic prism to separate color information, colors are extremely accurate, and color "bleeding" and "smearing" are greatly reduced.	By splitting light into its red, green, and blue components, the HDR-FX1 more accurately reproduces color.
Advanced HAD CCD Technology Enhanced CCD design allows more light to reach the imager, which reduces video noise to improve signal-to-noise ratio by up to 6db (2x better than a standard CCD). This is particularly effective when shooting in dark situations.
HDV Recording Format From the innovators in camcorder technology, Sony's HDR-FX1 camcorder is the world's first HDV1080i consumer-level camcorder and player. Now you can record all your memories in true high-definition video.	Switchable HDV/DV Format Recording The HDR-FX1 is capable of recording and playing back both high definition and standard definition video recorded on standard MiniDV cassettes.
Real-time HD Codec Engine A Sony-developed real-time MPEG encode/decode system with reduced energy consumption and compact size to fit inside a personal camcorder. Provides efficient MPEG2 compression and recording and playback of clear HD images at the same bit rate of the DV format, so that high-definition video can be recorded on the same cassettes as are used for MiniDV recording.	3.5-inch Wide Precision Hybrid SwivelScreen LCD Display (250K Pixels) Provides excellent viewing clarity with improved resolution. The 250K-pixel LCD display makes images sharp and detailed during playback or when monitoring recording. The hybrid reflective-transmissive LCD screen provides accurate viewing in sunlight or bright light, virtually eliminating the "wash-out" common with traditional LCD Screens.
Analog/Digital Conversion with Pass-Through Convert and/or record any analog NTSC video source to digital video via the analog inputs. Analog NTSC video can also be passed in real time through the digital Handycam camcorder directly into a PC via the i.LINK interface for easy PC editing of your analog footage.	Manual Zoom and Manual Focus Ring Dual independent zoom and focus rings provide precise and detailed control over the amount of zoom and the overall focus of the image. Fast, intuitive framing when zooming and finely detailed focusing are easy with the natural feel of the rings.
The advanced optical multi-layer T* coating on the camera's Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* lens offers less glare and flare while providing increased contrast.	12X Optical Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* Lens From the authority in lens technology, the Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* lens provides a high-quality 12x optical zoom, which maintains image clarity and color while reducing glare and flare.
	Super SteadyShot Optical Stabilization System An advanced form of Sony's SteadyShot Image Stabilization system that controls an even greater range of shake and vibration frequencies. This optical stabilization system achieves an even higher level of smoothness without degradation of video like some digital stabilization systems.
Expanded Focus Indicator The camera's LCD image is magnified, temporarily, up to 4x its original size without any loss of distortion. This allows the user more finite control while focusing the camera for greater detail and clarity.	Manual Iris Control By turning the Iris dial on the side of the camera, the user can manually adjust the amount of light entering the camera. The iris is adjustable from f1.6 to f11, in 24 steps.
CineFrame Recording Provides the option of recording video at either 30 frames per second or with a film-like 24 fps.	Assignable Buttons Three buttons on the exterior of the camcorder are user-assignable so that they can be set to the options most commonly used, for ease of recording.
MPEG 1 Audio Layer II The HDR-FX1 records audio in MPEG1 Audio Layer II while recording in HDV format, which provides outstanding sound quality even when compressed. In the standard DV format, audio is recorded in either 12/16 bit (selectable) PCM digital stereo for audio quality that rivals that of a CD.	i.LINK DV Interface (IEEE1394) A high speed bidirectional digital video/audio communication between two compatible devices equipped with an IEEE1394 interface, including camcorders, digital VCRs, and PCs.
Picture Profile Allows the user to set manual adjustments for a scene (color, sharpness, white balance, etc) into any one of six presets, so they can be called up at just the touch of a button. Useful when shooting under the same conditions repeatedly, as options do not have to be reset each time. Settings for various shooting conditions are offered as defaults.	Shot Transition Allows for a smooth automatic scene transition. Settings for focus, zoom, iris, gain, shutter, and white balance can be set to the A/B button, and a smooth transition will take place according to the set time. This function enables the focus to gradually shift from the front of the screen to a deeper part of the screen. Thus the iris enables a smooth change of depth of field.

What's in the Box
AC-L15 power adapter/in-camera charger, NP-F570 InfoLithium rechargeable battery, RMT-831 Wireless Remote Commander remote control, AA battery, lens hood, lens cap, multi A/V cable, component video cable, cleaning cassette, shoe adapter, large eye cup, shoulder strap

Product Description

Seeing is believing with the new HDR-FX1 Handycam from Sony, the world's first true 1080i high definition camcorder designed with you, the consumer, and your HDTV in mind. Those special moments you'll capture with the newly developed wide 3x 1/3" CCD and 72mm Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonar T lens are sure to give you a sense of d?j? vu when you view the vivid colors and life-like images on your HDTV. The 3.5" wide hybrid LCD swivel monitor lets you keep an eye on the action regardless of the angle. Backed by a dependable Real Time Codec engine and solid, compact body design, the HDR-FX1 digital High Definition camcorder is your key to making (and enjoying) movie magic for a long time to come.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

55 of 61 people found the following review helpful:

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

By	Ali Hasan "Filmmaker/Political Pundit" (Eagle County, Colorado) - See all my reviews

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!!!!

97 of 117 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)

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)

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.