Ratings Snapshot
5 star:
60%
(3)
4 star:
20%
(1)
3 star:
0%
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2 star:
20%
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1 star:
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Place the pinnacle of high definition in your hands with the HDR-FX1000 HD MiniDV Handycam® camcorder. 24p Progressive Scan Mode delivers high-quality, film-like motion for brilliant scene reproduction while CinemaTone Gamma™ and CinemaTone Color™ provide the color and gamma range to give your footage an amazing film-like feel. This HD camcorder also features three 1/3-inch ClearVid™ CMOS image sensors with Exmor™ derived technology for capturing sharp, detailed images even in lower-light situations. Take control of light in extreme settings with three built-in neutral density filters and three manual rings for adjusting zoom, focus and iris.
In addition to 1080/60i recording, the HDR-FX1000 offers a 1080/24p and 1080/30p Progressive Scan mode that enables shooting with film-like results. Signals scanned at 24p/30p are converted to 60i (using 2-3 pulldown for 24p) and recorded on MiniDV tape, allowing footage to be played and edited using existing HDV products. In this way, progressive images can be handled in the conventional HDV editing environment.
The EIP processor is able to rapidly process the vast amounts of pixel data read from the "3 ClearVid CMOS Sensor", and record beautiful HD and colorful video. The ClearVid CMOS Sensor™ has been developed using the most advanced technologies in the semiconductor industry. It handles video data in 1920 x 1080p and 4:2:2 color space for high-quality signal processing before recording it to tape in the HDV format2. Combined use of the EIP and 3 ClearVid CMOS Sensor imaging system allows the HDR-FX1000 camcorder to provide extremely high image quality with a smooth gradation and detailed image reproduction.
Gain more color control in extreme settings with three built-in ND filters for adjusting the amount of light entering the Image Sensor through the lens. Depending on shooting conditions, the operator can chose from Clear, 1/4, 1/16, or 1/64 filters. In strong, glaring sunlight these filters give users more flexibility in choosing the shutter speed and aperture for superior creative control.
The Optical SteadyShot® Image Stabilization System from Sony reduces blur caused by camera shake and vibration, so your images stay crisp and clear. This optical stabilization system achieves an even higher level of smoothness without the image degradation that can occur with some digital stabilization systems.
The 24p progressive scan signals are recorded to tape as 60i through means of 2:3 pull-down. This 2:3 sequence allows HDV material to be reverted to its original 24p form, as captured by the camera, using a compatible nonlinear editor2. Similarly, a 30p signal is recorded as a 60i signal by dividing each frame into two fields. This approach allows 24p and 30p progressive footage to be played back or fed to an editing suite seamlessly.
A record start/stop button is featured on the handle as well as on the side grip. The zoom lever enables easy zooming even when shooting from a low angle.
Quickly transfer images from the camcorder to compatible devices equipped with an IEEE1394 interface3, including camcorders, digital VCRs, and PCs, using this high speed, bi-directional digital video/audio connection.
The HDR-FX1000 is capable of recording and playing back both High Definition and Standard Definition video recorded on MiniDV cassettes.
x.v.Color™ technology can capture or display nearly twice as many (1.8x) viewable colors than possible with the traditional RGB color standard. This provides a more accurate and vivid color range, for a more natural, lifelike overall experience.
This feature emphasizes the screen's edge in the LCD and viewfinder, making it easier to adjust the focus. You can change the peaking colour to white, red, or yellow according to the color of the subject, and you can also set the peaking level to high, medium, or low. This feature is handy when shooting with manual focus, because it makes it easy to tell where the focus is currently.
To enhance viewing enjoyment, users can create transitions between scenes by using the White fader or Black fader to fade images in and out.
The HDR-FX1000 features three 1/3” ClearVid CMOS Sensors, each having 1,120K total pixels. The 3 independent CMOS sensors each handle one of the color elements – red, green, blue (RGB) – improving the color reproduction of video recordings. Dark scenes can be captured with low noise thanks to "Exmor"-derived technology that features a new column A/D converter and dual noise reduction. Sensor resolution has been optimized and the photosensitive surface area has been maximized thanks to the unique grid arrangement of the photo diode sensors, in which each is rotated by 45 degrees. This model also features the signal processing circuit, the Enhanced Imaging Processor (EIP) which uses Sony's unique image-processing technology.
Superior low-light ability with high sensitivity enables clear shooting of subjects in light as low as 1.5 lux (at 1/30 fixed shutter speed with auto iris and auto gain). This allows you to capture sharp detail and brilliant colors even in less than perfect lighting, especially when professional lighting cannot be used.
The 3.2” Wide1 (16:9) Xtra Fine™ LCD screen displays sharp, bright, vivid images, letting you compose a shot more easily -- even outdoors, while enabling you to change settings to best represent the scene. With 921K pixels resolution and a wide viewing angle, the XtraFine LCD™ screen is like having a HDTV built into your camcorder.
Exmor™ technology captures video with high resolution, high sensitivity, and exceptional detail. Advanced on-sensor A/D conversion and dual noise reduction yields rich tonal reproduction with high signal-to-noise ratio.
This feature allows you to assign features you use often to shortcut buttons. The commonly used features can be used quickly without going through a menu selection (default: Zebra, AE Shift, and Record Review). Features that can be assigned: Extended Focus / Digital Extender (30x) / Ring Rotate/ AE Shift / Index Mark / SteadyShot / Back Light / Spotlight / Fader / Smooth Slow Rec / Color Bar / Rec Review / End Search / Zebra / Marker / Peaking / Pict. Profile / Shot Transition.
HDMI™ connectivity4 provides a simple, high-quality video and audio connection, with the ability to transmit HD video from the camcorder to compatible HDTVs via a single cable.
Change the menu display from English to English (Simplified), Canadian French, Latin American Spanish, or Brazilian Portuguese
The Shot Transition™ function allows for smooth automatic scene transitions. After an operator has programmed a shot’s start and end settings (e.g., for zoom, focus, iris, gain, shutter speed, and white balance) and pressed the start button, a smooth transition takes place over the duration of the shot by automatically calculating intermediate setting values. This is very useful when complex camera settings are required during the scene transition – for example, when panning the camcorder from a distant subject to a close subject
When the histogram feature is turned on, a graph of the image's brightness distribution appears. This gives you an objective determination of whether the video image as a whole is bright or dim. This makes it a handy guideline for brightness adjustment. You can adjust the camera's brightness and AE shift while checking this display.
Four types of Color Bars are available for use. These are convenient for color adjustment when playing back images on a TV or monitor.
Users seeking extra control over image expression can use “Cinematone Gamma” to deepen the color and “Cinematone Color” to recreate film-like color tones. Cinematone Gamma allows operators to quickly set up and load a gamma curve with similar contrast characteristics to a film gamma curve.
The HDR-FX1000 is equipped with a 29.5mm wide-angle “G Lens” made from advanced 10 group, 15 element lens including “Extra-low Dispersion glass” which reduces chromatic aberration caused by light refraction, and produces video with extremely low color fringing. Designed for shooting situations ranging from broad landscape shots to conditions where sufficient distance from the subject is difficult to obtain. The 20x optical zoom (29.5mm-590mm: 35mm conversion) lets you zoom in to the subjects you can't get close to. The optical zoom takes maximum advantage of the lens performance, so image quality does not suffer even at a zoom ratio of 20x, allowing you to faithfully reproduce the subject's impact. The digital extender increases zoom by 1.5 throughout the range up to 30x at full zoom.
The HDR-FX1000 has three independent manual rings (zoom, focus, and IRIS ) for superior control and flexibility while filming which make it easier to promptly make adjustments to meet shooting needs. The IRIS ring allows you to adjust the aperture to attain optimal brightness and express beautiful depth of field shots, highlighting a subject while blurring a foreground or background. Exposure can also be assigned to the IRIS ring enabling the camera to automatically select the optimal iris, gain or shutter speed, seamlessly enabling adjustment of exposure.
The ability to manually adjust gain, shutter speed, and white balance makes it possible to fine-tune the HDR-FX1000 model’s settings for near-professional operability and advanced image expression.
When shooting in overly bright conditions, this feature enables the selection of gain settings in the negative range for satisfying results with minimal noise.
This camcorder features a high-resolution 0.45” Xtra Fine (1,227K pixels) View Finder1 that offers extra clear visibility.
Capture still images directly onto Memory Stick PRO Duo™ media5 (sold separately) for easy transfer to PCs for emailing, printing, or sharing with other compatible Memory Stick® devices (sold separately).
Allows the user to set manual adjustments for a scene (color, sharpness, white balance, etc) into any one of 6 customizable presets, so they can be called up at just the touch of a button. This is useful when shooting under the same conditions repeatedly, as options do not have to be re-set each time. 4 settings for various shooting conditions are offered as defaults – portrait/ cinema/ sunset/ monotone.
While you are shooting, you can add a striped pattern to bright areas of the video image, and display it in the LCD and viewfinder. You can use this as a rough guide for adjusting brightness, helping to prevent blocked highlights.
The LCD and viewfinder feature a Centre Marker that lets users identify the centre of the screen at a glance. Users can also display a Guide-frame grid on the screen that simplifies the vertical and horizontal alignment of shots.
( Rated 4.3 out of 5 Stars AVERAGE RATING | 5 REVIEWS Ratings Snapshot)
5 of 6 (83%) customers would recommend this product to a friend
Rated 2.000000 out of 5 Stars Ratings Snapshot
Reviewer: 1SONYNUT (USA)
Date: Nov 11, 2009
I've had this product for less than a month
1of 3 people found this helpful
Pros: NOT SURE YET..MAY SEND BACK
Cons: BUILD IS UNIMPRESSIVE FOR THE $
FIRST IMPRESSION..YOU THINK YOU JUST FOUND THE PRIZE IN A CRACKER JACK BOX....THEN YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE TINY MENU SPIN DIAL..WHAT WERE THEY THINKING?
Rated 5.000000 out of 5 Stars Ratings Snapshot
Reviewer: GregD (Sydney, Australia)
Date: Jan 2, 2009
I've had this product for 1-3 months
42of 43 people found this helpful
Pros: Simple to use. Professional features. No gimmicks, not heavy
Cons: None really. Not strong in low-light
Simply the best video camera I have ever used. Couple of great features which are unusual for a Sony camera are: 1) The tri-pod mount is actually solid and 2) Doesn't have any of the gimmicky Sony consumer nonsense that Sony low-end cameras have. It gives you full control over exposure and focus that you always wished for in simple, logical control formats. The programable buttons are a bonus too. Delightfully, transferring the footage into say Finalcut Pro is all 100% standard. Video and audio quality sensational and competes equally with anything you see on digital TV and not to shabby against HD TV as well. Would recommend to anyone who is looking for a camera that will give them full control and work with them (not against). You can get on with the work of shooting the scene rather than figuring out the cam. Outstanding!!
Rated 4.000000 out of 5 Stars Ratings Snapshot
Reviewer: Shadowvision (Atlanta, Georgia)
Date: Dec 7, 2008
I've had this product for less than a month
51of 55 people found this helpful
Pros: Manual Control, including Gain, great low light
Cons: No XLR, cold shoe placement possible conflict with LCD
I've had the camera running for a day and it is very impressive. I shot my last feature doc on a Panasonic DVX100 and on another Panasonic 3CCD. And I just finished a project using a Sony HC9 and a Sony HD1000U. The FX1000 will help me achieve a deeper more vibrant look than the lesser expensive Sony cameras I've used. The color reproduction (just the negative) of the HC9 and 1000U did not compare well to the DVX100. I had to process a great deal in post. This was a tradeoff for HD with native 16:9 which everyone expects these days. It appears just looking at the footage in my NLE, that this FX1000 will give me very good color (as in raw right out of the camera). I did some tests in low light and no light (with three 3 watt on camera lights) and was extremely impressed. The manual gain is comparable to what I've experienced with the DVX. The other Sonys I've used have the touch screen menus (fingerprints on your LCD are such a bother). This was hard to get used to, but once you do, it isn't so bad. The FX1000 uses a scroll button for menu options which is located on the lower part of the camera body. This disconnect is going to take some getting used to (sans the fingerprints). But the assign buttons and the picture option button (for dialing in cinegamma settings) is nice and worked fluidly. This is the first camera I've used that has the cold shoe right in front of the LCD screen. I know that other Sonys have this feature, but I've only used the ones above. The reason I mention this is because when you put a light or mic on the cold shoe, it prohibits you from closing (or in the other case opening) the LCD screen. Now, this could present a problem if you want to conserve battery life. Sometimes, my interviews run for more than 3 hours on a film, and I have to either plug in the camera or get big batteries. I bought after market ones for the DVX that lasted for hours and not having to plug in the camera saves time and cords get in the way. Also, and this is obvious, but a XLR adapter could be a plus. I have gotten into some cheaper wireless lavs and they worked very well with the FX1000. Here's a notable difference between the audio on the FX1000 and the 1000U: it seems to have true two channel audio from the mini plug. Therefore, when I plug in one of my cheaper ($100) wireless lavs, I get the audio on the left channel. This is not the case with the 1000U that mixes the two badly (I fixed this with a cheap mixer). I plan on trying out my stereo on-camera mixer to see if I'm able to get the right channel for the other lav. Rarely, is it necessary in my interviews to have two channels, but this would be very helpful. I also use a Zoom H4 (with phantom power XLR) for the HC9 and its line out capability makes it a wonderful adapter (kinda like a Beachtech). Additionally, I like the 72mm filter size here. This makes it a good jump up from the DVX (maybe it is a lateral move, but native 16:9 and HD). Panasonic's answer is AVCHD which my NLE will handle but I'm told that rendering is slow. I'm not ready to ditch tape (think about archiving). Those are my initial thoughts. I still can't find anything that explains exactly what 24 progressive scan is. I've read the book on the camera and the stuff on Sony's website, but I have a nagging question: is this something like 24f. Looking at it in the computer tells me it is better, but I'd like to know more details. The HC9 cinematic effect is pretty good (although you lose manual options, but it is good raw which cuts down a little on processing time). I have that camera attached to a Letus and the stuff I've got, while a little grainy is very cinematic (especially when the blacks are crushed in post, but frankly the raw in cinematic effect is almost right by my eye). So, my two camera approach for my next project is the FX1000 and the HC9 with lenses. Seems like a good light doc rig. Thanks for reading my long winded initial review!
Rated 5.000000 out of 5 Stars Ratings Snapshot
Reviewer: RMD83 (Medford OR)
Date: Dec 1, 2008
I've had this product for less than a month
22of 22 people found this helpful
Pros: Excellent Quality Build, Superb controls, Spectacular Color, Shoots in HDV - output to HDV or SD - brilliant!
Cons: Indoor location would benefit from wider angle lens
I have waited for this camera for 3 years... I looked at the FX7 and did some travel shots with a fellow who had one. It was (is) fine, but pales in comparison to this model. The lens and construction are great, I love mDV tapes, and love the fact that they are cheap and I can archive. I love the L series batteries.... and am using ones from my oldest Hi8 camcorder still. The low light capabilities astound me. I have my Nikon D90 at 3200 plus ISO to capture stills with similar quality to what I get off this sensor (with just a bit of gain noise). I can work it handheld, or on a monopod. I plan to use it tomorrow night on my old 1170 tripod - with built in LAN-c Control, thank you Sony, brilliant. It's too early to say much more, but out of the box, this camera works wonderfully. Even the built in audio is excellent, with meters and headphone jack... all it needs is an XLR adapter.
Rated 5.000000 out of 5 Stars Ratings Snapshot
Date: Nov 23, 2008
I've had this product for less than a month
20of 30 people found this helpful
Pros: Familiar controls, outstanding quality, made in Japan
Cons: No bluetooth mic. Not that anyone has it!
The best selling Prosumer Handycam just got better, read the specs, it has an enormous list of improvements. The value sticks to this camcorder like it sticks to a classic car, you'll enjoy for years. I am enjoying the ease and reliability thoroughly. Quality in construction equals top performance, this is not run of the mill. thanks Sony Japan!
© 2008 Sony Electronics Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Sony, Handycam, ClearVid, Exmor, x.v. Color, Xtra Fine LCD, Optical Steadyshot, HDNA, Memory Stick Duo, i.LINK and the Sony, HDNA, Xtra Fine LCD and Optical SteadyShot logos are trademarks of Sony. All other trademarks are trademarks of their respective owners. Non-metric weights and measurements are approximate and may vary.