Dans Sony HDV HVR-A1U - Inital review

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Level 7

22,416 points

Dans Sony HDV HVR-A1U - Inital review

Broke down and got an HD camcorder It is an Sony HDV HVR-A1U CMOS based camera. (So no CCD chips). The camera is amazingly different from my last one.

Things I like:
"Super Sharp" images in proper lighting
Touch screen that feels solid and you can see it outside
Programable main menu for "commonly used settings"
Awesome audio quality
Even though it is so small you can hook up or send out about any video connector you want from s-video to composite.

Things I do not like:
To small. I have little "girly" fingers and I still struggle with the controls.
Almost too small to hold right.
Video stabilization.... worthless (like all the other cameras I have)
Sensitive zoom control
Night shots are so-so but then again I have not messed with all the exposure controls either. Jury is still out. But it does have night shot and SUPER night shot. Have not played with those either.

Part of me thinks I am being picky the other part wants to send this one back and get the BIG "good" one. Problem is I just do not have the coin right now so I guess I will just have to suck it up.

Importing and editing HD 1080i with Final Cut is a breeze but doing it with iMovie is not as pleasant... or speedy... for sure 😟. Exporting takes FOREVER (Yes, even on my Quad) I am guessing because you have to take so much out to get down to something "small". I exported out 800x450 so I could show you folks but, seeing it on my HD TV set... WOW it is scary sharp.

Went walking around the neighborhood the other day and shot a few things. I think the QT encode did a better job reproducing the colors but the Windows one is a smaller size. Remembering that the native size of this video is almost 200 megs (yes HDV is 3.2 megs per second of video or almost 600 megs when converted to be used in iMovie)

Quicktime Version - 20 megs
Windows Version - 14 megs
The above video really needs a tripod. My apologies.
--

D aniel C. Slagle
Keeper of the "Unofficial" iMovie FAQ

http:// iMovie.danslagle.com

Quad - 2.5 Ghz G5, Mac OS X (10.4), GeForce 7800 GT, 3G RAM, 250GB & 500GB internals

Posted on Apr 14, 2006 5:09 AM

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Answer 1

Apr 15, 2006 4:01 PM in response to Daniel Slagle

WOW!! Dan!
Thanks for posting your movie....looks fantastic and so sharp and clear! Even without the tripod.

We just got an HDTV (LCD, rear projection, 50"--space limited larger one) and I have just been fascinated by the clarity of HD programs. Makes me want to run out and purchase a new Sony HDV for myself, and make some beautiful movies!

I think I will look into that camera.

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Answer 2

Daniel Slagle Author

Level 7

22,416 points

Apr 15, 2006 6:45 PM in response to Beverly Maneatis

I was out today flying helicopters and dragged some 1080i footage back into iMovie. What a pain. I bet the program crashed on me at least 10 times. BUT... with a few saves. I trudged though it.

Boring RC Helicopter stuff (maiden flight)

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Answer 3

Apr 22, 2006 12:09 AM in response to Daniel Slagle

Cool! What a great model helicopter! Did you make it? I had a friend in college who used to make airplanes about that size and try to get them to fly. Somehow he always managed to crash and wreck them! So, I wanted to see yours land...

Are you using iM6?

Why did you have so many crashes--you mean on importing??? or when editing???

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Answer 4

Len Goff

Level 6

17,911 points

Apr 27, 2006 11:12 PM in response to Daniel Slagle

Dan,

That reminds me of my days trying to get a gas-engined model airplane to fly when I was a kid; many decades ago.

At least you got it to fly. My friend terrorised my mom with the plane.

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Answer 5

Apr 28, 2006 1:49 AM in response to Daniel Slagle

Congratulations, Dan! ..A very good little camera: it's really compact and pretty much un-noticeable compared with "..the BIG "good" one", which isn't so easy to carry around ..and they both have pretty much identical capabilities.

Even without the A1's add-on mic assembly, its own internal mics perform far better - in my opinion - than "..the BIG "good" one", so you've got an excellent camera there!

I bit the bullet, followed your lead, and got the Quad ..it seems to be the only way - realistically - to deal with HDV, in iMovie, anyway. [..I'm just "cross-grading" my FCP HD 4.5 (which handles real HD, but not HDV) into Final Cut Studio, including DVD SP ..but I'll stick with iMovie HD nevertheless, as it's SO much easier to use!..]

One of the handiest features, I find, is the little 'Exposure' button and up/down lever at the front, to make immediate alterations to the exposure (..if you're pointing towards something with the sun behind it, for instance..) just by pressing the button and pushing the up/down rocker.

Your demo clips are terrific. (..Instead of a tripod, have you considered one of these?

..I'm talking about the camera stabiliser..) ..it makes everything astonishingly stable, with no wobble or judder ..when you stand still there's no shake, and when you walk there's no bounce..

Congratulations again; wonderful choice!

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Answer 6

Daniel Slagle Author

Level 7

22,416 points

Apr 28, 2006 4:22 AM in response to David Babsky

I bit the bullet, followed your lead, and got the
Quad ..it seems to be the only way - realistically -
to deal with HDV, in iMovie, anyway. [..I'm just
"cross-grading" my FCP HD 4.5 (which handles real HD,
but not HDV) into Final Cut Studio, including DVD SP
..but I'll stick with iMovie HD nevertheless, as it's
SO much easier to use!..]

Well I still have problems with iMovie crashing with titles when using 1080i footage.

One of the handiest features, I find, is the little
'Exposure' button and up/down lever at the front, to
make immediate alterations to the exposure

You are a GOD that is exactly what I need to do. Here is a video I shot of a helicopter flying around doing loops and rolls You will see the exposure is all messed up when it switches to the cloudy sky background

Your demo clips are terrific. (..Instead of a tripod,
have you considered one of these

I have something similar but it does not look as good when I am holding it.

Congratulations again; wonderful choice!

Thanks man glad you are still hanging out here.

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Answer 7

Apr 28, 2006 4:43 AM in response to Daniel Slagle

Unbe lievable aerobatics! Well shot!

Glad to have jogged your memory, about the exposure-hold button.

(There's also that similar Auto/Manual Focus switch just above the exposure button: pushing that to Manual and pre-focusing at the approx distance that the heli will be flying should stop the focus 'hunting' when the heli passes in front of a hedge and back into the sky.)

"..Thanks man glad you are still hanging out here.." ..but it isn't the same without your regular input, Dan..!

The " iMovie FAQ" is looking good! ..I'm digging out my PayPal code right now..

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Answer 8

Daniel Slagle Author

Level 7

22,416 points

Apr 28, 2006 5:06 AM in response to David Babsky

(There's also that similar Auto/Manual Focus switch just above the exposure >button: pushing that to Manual and pre-focusing at the approx distance that >the heli will be flying should stop the focus 'hunting' when the heli passes in >front of a hedge and back into the sky.)

I should be paying YOU consulting fees! So you are saying I can set a manual focus for distance then.... when the heli comes close hit a button and have it re-focus. O.K. So what is my focus point after the heli shoots off again?

Those shots were "extra hard"since there were these GIANT BUGS that came out of nowhere and were crawling in my ears and nose the whole time. After he landed I was jumping and shaking around like a crazy man!

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Answer 9

Daniel Slagle Author

Level 7

22,416 points

Apr 28, 2006 5:19 AM in response to David Babsky

Here is some more footage I shot at different frame rates and exposure settings. Sorry Windows format.
http://danslagle.com/data/movies/GatorPFF06-Teaser.wmv

For those who want to watch Windows Media in Quicktime you should have the Flip4Mac plug-in loaded anyway

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Answer 10

Apr 28, 2006 5:42 AM in response to Daniel Slagle

Mmm.

When the camera's focusing about 120 feet away, everything will be in focus from there to infinity - especially in bright light (..when the aperture closes down to something very small, like almost a pinhole).

When you focus at about 100 feet, everything's in focus for a few hundred feet beyond that, but not quite to infinity ..though I don't suppose the heli's going to fly off " to infinity & beyond!"

(..These things apply to all cameras; the distance you focus at ..so as to get things beyond that still in focus, and also things still in focus at about 2/3 the way to that chosen distance.. is called the "hyperfocal distance", but don't let that bother you!..)

So if the heli's likely to fly at about 100 to 300 feet from you, if you point at something about 150 feet away, and then push the Focus slide switch to Manual, everything should then be in focus from around 100' to 300' ..and probably beyond, too.

Just do a few simple tests before you shoot 'for real', and you'll find that you can keep it in focus all the time, when the focus is fixed at manual, without the cam being distracted by any changing background ..just like fixing the exposure!

[..That camera's also got some 'transition pre-sets', so you could store the focus at, say 400 feet, set the actual shooting focus on manual to 100 feet, and then it'd change smoothly between those two points when you touch 'Shot Transition' on the fold-out screen. ..But I'd have thought that's just too much to handle when you're shooting a rapidly darting helicopter!.. though I dunno, on second thoughts - you could try that..]

Let us know if that helps things..

P.S: Any idea how close and how far it flies? ..I can't tell how far you've zoomed in/out while watching the movie.

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Answer 11

Daniel Slagle Author

Level 7

22,416 points

Apr 28, 2006 7:27 AM in response to David Babsky

Generally when I am shooting I shoot from 20-300 ft. so I guess the "sweet spot" is 150. I really need to sit down with a pilot (not at an event) and just have him run his same routine a few times with locked exposure and focus at various settings, then mix it back together. If I wanted to do a nice presentation of his skills.

Just for fun. This is me flying at 2 in the morning on a bet! It was a fun foggy night!
http://danslagle.com/data/movies/BNFFC.wmv

P.S: Any idea how close and how far it flies? ..
I can't tell how far you've zoomed in/out while watching the movie.

Well they fly as high as the pilot feels comportable with (2 miles is the limit) but I would say 500-600 feet. Focus is not "usually" important then.

I shot this last summer when I first started trying to shoot helicopters and it is a MORE typical flight. Alan Szabo is amazing to watch and a nice "kid"

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Answer 12

Apr 28, 2006 7:52 AM in response to Daniel Slagle

I think I'd seen your Alan Szabo movie before - incredibubble!

..Reminds me of when I first went up in a Cessna - at the controls, I mean - and thought it was like piloting a boat: left/right/ahead (..er, probably not astern!..) till I realised that it moved in a 3rd dimension, too; climbing or dropping, and that you (..I..?) could combine a left (..er, 'port'..) turn with a dive - whoops! - so it was half-again more variables to think about (.."how far up or down should I go in this manoeuvre?"..) as well as the usual "how far left or right, and how fast forward" to go.

..And to do all that, at that speed, with that miniature heli ..way beyond my skills!

I'll try my little HC1, and suggest a few focus settings for those distances you said: 20-300 ft and also 50-400 ft, and I'll let you know what seems to be the 'sweet spot'. Not till tomorrow, though..

..Oo-ooh, I feel giddy from watching all that..! ..am just ready to fall ov er

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Answer 13

Apr 29, 2006 12:07 PM in response to Daniel Slagle

Ah, Dan; I shot some footage for you in Kew Gardens this afternoon, to demo this hyperfoca ..sorry: "sweet spot".. focus business. But while the video's importing and converting and metamorphosing into QuickTime, etc, I thought I'd just reply to an earlier comment of yours:

You said, 1st post above, about the new camera, "..Video stabilization.... worthless (like all the other cameras I have).."

I thought I'd mention that video stabilisation really works only when you're trying to hold the camera steady in a fixed position ..and then, if you accidentally jiggle the camera, then the mechanism - or electronics - tries to shift the picture back so that no jiggle is seen.

HOWEVER, if you intend to move the camera - as when following a flying object - you should turn the stabilisation OFF ..as otherwise it'll make the picture look bad, because it tries to bring the picture back to the previous position from a moment before, instead of letting the motion flow freely.

So if it's ON when you're trying to follow a model aircraft, the video will look jerkier than it would with the stabilisation turned OFF..!

Stabilisation is only really intended - and only really works - for static shots, and can ruin moving shots, making them look jerkier than normal.

- - - -

Anyway: I set the focus this afternoon at about 400', and everything appeared sharp back to about 100' (..video to follow).

I also set it at about 250', and got (reasonably) sharp footage (..filling the screen..) of a full-size aircraft flying overhead at about 2,500'-3000' ..they come in every 90 seconds over Kew, bound for London Heathrow..!

[..But I'd never have been fast enough to follow one of those heli models like you do!..]

So I'll load up some video tonight, or tomorrow (..we've got guests..) and show you what I mean..

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Answer 14

May 1, 2006 4:48 AM in response to David Babsky

Oh: you wrote, 3rd post from the top, "..What a pain. I bet the program crashed on me at least 10 times. BUT... with a few saves. I trudged though it.."

Mine used to crash when applying titles. I started turning off the title preview just before Applying ('Adding'), and that usually helped.

Now I Save just immediately before clicking 'Add', and that Saves, removes the Preview playhead at the bottom of the main window - turning off that Previewing routine - and makes everything absolutely stable: no more crashes ever when adding a title!

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Answer 15

Daniel Slagle Author

Level 7

22,416 points

May 1, 2006 9:44 AM in response to David Babsky

I thought I'd mention that video stabilisation really
works only when you're trying to hold the camera
steady in a fixed position ..and then, if you
accidentally jiggle the camera, then the mechanism -
or electronics - tries to shift the picture
back so that no jiggle is seen.

I knew that... but figured it would not hurt being I moved so much it would not try and apply the stabization. I have also heard it is best to turn it off when on a tripod. The stabization does not seem to work for me even if I am trying to hold still. Maybe I just expect too much, but I have added it to my "quick pick" menu so I can turn it on in a snap.

Anyway: I set the focus this afternoon at about 400',
and everything appeared sharp back to about 100'
(..video to follow).

Awesome I have been replaying the footage and playing with my camera settings. I have high hopes for my next attempt.

[..But I'd never have been fast enough to follow one
of those heli models like you do!..]

Well the 3D Masters come to the UK once a year. It is an awesome event! You should go and give it a shot. It is only REALLY frustrating try to follow the helicopter the first few hours. 😉

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