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Reviewing Sony HVR-V1U HDV Camcorder: Part 2

Mar 26, 2007 11:57 AM, By Steve Mullen

Shooting Control

The V1 features include the ability to display shutter speed in seconds or shutter angle, and focus distance in feet or meters. The camcorder also features a histogram display of the video signal so you can achieve optimal exposure in the field. I set Zebra at 100 IRE and allow the highest signal level to peak just over the orange line.

Focus

The most challenging task in shooting HD is achieving and maintaining focus. The task is made more difficult by the inability of most HD cameras’ viewfinder (or LCD) to come close to displaying a high-definition image. The V1’s 0.44in., 16:9 color viewfinder has only 252K pixels, while the 3.5in. flip-out 16:9 LCD has only 211K pixels. Obviously, if you cannot see whether the image is in focus, you cannot trust what you are shooting.

The HVR-V1 has an image magnification feature that magnifies the center of the image. You can use it before you start shooting to achieve focus. Unfortunately, it turns off when you begin recording so you cannot use it to adjust focus while shooting. To achieve focus quickly, you can press the camcorder’s One-Push Auto Focus button.

To aid manual focusing, the camcorder also features a “peaking” function that places a colored outline on sharp edges that are in focus. You can define the peaking color as white, yellow, or red. This system has twin issues: soft edges like a close-up of a face may not be outlined; at other times everything is outlined. The latter indication, while seemingly unlikely, is quite valid because the small CMOS chips create a very deep depth of focus. Obviously, for those who need a minimum DOF for their work, this characteristic poses a serious challenge.

The V1 has a fast and accurate auto focus system. Of course, that does not mean you can simply turn on AF and shoot. First, you must enable AF Assist mode. Once enabled, when you see AF is not perfect, you can manually correct it via the focus ring.

Second, you must know when to not use AF. Third, you need to understand the way AF works. At focal lengths up to 45mm, which is a more than adequate 12X zoom—the 35mm equivalent of a 400mm Tele—the V1 will maintain focus under most all conditions: if someone passes in front of the lens; as the subject moves within the frame; as the subject moves further or closer; and if you don't zoom-in at high-speed. Moreover, as shown below, AF will handle slow or fast pans from one subject to another—even in low light.

The V1 has another automatic function you can use when needed: ATW (Auto Tracking White balance). ATW keeps white balance correct as you move from one type of illumination to another. Below, I have entered a bathroom from a room lit with incandescent lighting. Because a window illuminates the bathroom, its color temperature is very high.

Within 5 seconds, white balance has smoothly adjusted to the new color-temperature illumination.

Like all auto white balance systems, ATW should not be used where scenes are lit by mixed-spectrum lighting. In these conditions, you should manually set white balance or use either of the fixed settings. Sony’s Outdoor preset has a great option — you can manually warm or cool the image. This same capability needs to be extended to the Indoor preset because of the widely varying types of artificial illumination currently used around the world. Under tungsten illumination, I found the Indoor preset slightly too warm. Of course, manual white balance yields the most accurate colors.

The first April edition of HDV@Work will complete my review of the HVR-V1.

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Steve Mullen owns Digital Video Consulting, which 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. In March 2007, DVC will offer a new title: the Sony V1/FX7 Handbook. And, in July 2007, DVC will release an eBook on “Low-Cost High-Definition DVD Creation."

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