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Reviewing Sony HVR-V1U HDV Camcorder

Mar 12, 2007 12:00 PM, By Steve Mullen

Optical System

The V1’s Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* lens has a filter diameter of 62mm. The lens has a bayonet-mount sunshade with lever-operated lens cover, and it uses extra-low-dispersion glass. The f-stop range varies from 1.6 to 2.8.

The lens has a 20X optical zoom. The range is from 3.9mm to 78mm, for a 35mm equivalent range of f=37.4mm to 748mm (16:9) or f=45.7mm to 914mm (4:3). While news and nature photographers will appreciate the 748mm telephoto capability, those shooting in tight places will find a 37.4mm wide-angle to be inadequate. (When working with a 35mm camera, a 28mm or 24mm lens is considered “wide.”) The zoom range can also be extended digitally by approximately 1.5X to reach the equivalent of 1100mm for a 35mm camera. The digital zoom does not appreciably degrade the HD image.

A wide lens ring controls focus using servo control. Sony's Super SteadyShot OIS is employed for image stabilization. A switch on the side of the lens selects between “none” and a 1/4 or 1/16 ND filter. Zoom is controlled via servo control from a vari-speed rocker control, a handle multi-speed rocker, and a perpetual lens ring.

Exposure Control

The exposure dial can be defined to control iris from F1.6-F11, to bias the automatic exposure using AE Shift, or to provide multi-function exposure control. AE Shift mode works extremely well for run-and-gun shooting because you can make quick alterations to AE-determined exposure as you monitor using the histogram display. By the way, in the vast majority of situations, I found the AE system to be spot-on. By setting AE Response to Slow, the AE system will smartly ignore brief illumination fluctuations and yet make smooth transitions when light levels change. When using AE Shift mode, be aware that if you leave this mode, the last shift value continues to alter exposure.

When you use Exposure 1 or Exposure 2 modes, you need to be aware that the Shutter-Speed button (E1 mode) or Shutter Speed and Gain buttons (E2 mode) are “locked,” preventing you from using these controls. However, until you press the Manual Exposure button, the camera is in AE mode and shutter speed (E1) or shutter speed and gain (E2) will be altered by the camera as it optimizes exposure.

The V1 does, however, attempt to use the default shutter speeds based upon the chosen frame-rate: 1/60 for 60i/30p and 1/48 for 24p. To minimize the possibility of the unwanted shutter-speed and/or gain changes, set AGC (automatic gain control) Limit to +12dB and AT Iris Limit to F5.6. Remember to confirm the current shutter speed and gain are correct before pressing the Manual Exposure button—which actually does “lock” shutter-speed (E1) or shutter-speed and gain (E2).

CMOS sensors and EIP

Between the CMOS sensors and its Enhanced Imaging Processor (EIP), Sony’s HVR-V1 has two very welcome attributes: superb latitude and no vertical smear.

Minimum illumination is rated at 4 lux, only 1 lux lower than the CCD-based Z1. Traveling in Asia, I found the V1’s low-light capabilities to be very acceptable. For example, note the visible movie screen in the upper-left corner of the screenshot of a restaurant in Malaysia at night. The screen in reality was very dim.

Video gain can be set to 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, and +18dB. Because noise is typically visible only in medium-dark areas, there is no simple relationship between gain and noise. By engaging Black Compress or Cinema Gamma 1, you can push these areas to black, removing noise from the frame. I found I could use +9dB gain without adding noise – although in many situations I used +15dB, as shown below.

Steve Mullen owns Digital Video Consulting that offers eBooks on HD production. Currently, DVC (www.mindspring.com/~d-v-c) offers two eBooks: the Sony HDV Handbook and the JVC ProHD Handbook. This month, DVC will offer a new title: the Sony V1/FX7 Handbook. And in June, DVC will release an eBook on low-cost high-definition DVD creation.

© 2009 Penton Media, Inc.