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

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #105099 in Consumer Electronics
• Brand: Sony
• Model: HDR-FX1
• Released on: 2004-09-23
• Dimensions: 4.41 pounds

Manufacturer's Description
Presenting the world's first consumer 1080i high-definition camcorder: the Sony Handycam HDR-FX1. A revolution in form and function, the HDR-FX1 is the first camera to exploit the full potential of the HDV standard and allows you to play and record interlaced high-definition video at resolutions up to 1,440 x 1,080 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. HDV 1080i is a new video standard that will rewrite the history books, for the first time you can now make and edit high definition recordings yourself. The camera uses tried and tested MiniDV tapes which can record full length HDV material thanks to MPEG2 compression.

The HDR-FX1 features the Real-Time HD Codec Engine, which offers professional-level MPEG-2 video compression, and a 14-bit HD DXP (digital extended processor) for increased processing speed. Images are captured on a three-chip advanced HAD CCD system that provides increased detail and improved video performance without the color bleeding found in other systems. 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.3 1/3-Inch 16:9 Advanced HAD CCD Imagers with 1,120K Pixels Gross
Advanced HAD (hole accumulation diode) CCD imagers with 1,120K effective video pixels provide excellent detail and clarity with exceptional video performance. Using a three-chip advanced HAD CCD system and dichroic prism to separate chromatic information, colors are extremely accurate, and bleeding and smearing are greatly reduced.

Advanced HAD CCD Technology
Enhanced CCD design allows more light to reach the imager, which reduces video noise to improve the signal-to-noise ratio by up to 6 db (2x better than a standard CCD). 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 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
Sony developed a real-time MPEG encoding/decoding system with reduced energy consumption and a compact size to fit inside a personal camcorder. Provides efficient MPEG-2 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.

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.

3.5-Inch Wide Precision Hybrid SwivelScreen LCD Display (250K Pixels)
Provides excellent viewing clarity with improved resolution. The 250,000-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 washout common with traditional LCD screens.

Super SteadyShot Optical Stabilization System
An advanced form of Sony's SteadyShot Image Stabilization system that controls an even higher range of shake and vibration frequencies. This optical stabilization system achieves an even higher level of smoothness without degradation of video, as occurs in some digital stabilization systems.

Analog/Digital Conversion with Pass-Through
Convert or record any analog NTSC video source to digital video via the analog inputs. Analog NTSC video can also be passed through the digital handycam directly into a PC via the i.LINK2 interface--in real time, 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 with just a turn. Fast, intuitive framing when zooming and finely detailed focusing is easy with the natural feel of the rings.

Expanded Focus Indicator
The camera's LCD image is magnified, temporarily, up to four times its original size without any loss of distortion. This allows the user more finite control while focusing the camera for greater detail and clarity.

Picture Profile
Allows the user to put manual adjustments for a scene (color, sharpness, white balance, etc.) into any one of six presets, so they can be called up at 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.

CineFrame Recording
Provides the option of recording video at either 30 frames per second or the filmlike 24 fps.

Assignable Buttons
Three buttons on the exterior of the camcorder are user-assignable, so .they can be set to the options most commonly used for ease of recording.

i.LINK2 DV Interface (IEEE1394)
High-speed, bidirectional digital video/audio communication between two compatible devices equipped with IEEE1394 interfaces, including camcorders, digital VCRs, and PCs.

MPEG-1 Audio Layer II
The HDR-FX1 records audio in MPEG-1 Audio Layer II while recording in HDV format. This provides outstanding sound quality even when compressed. In the standard DV format, audio is recorded in either 12- or 16-bit PCM digital stereo for audio quality that rivals that of a CD.

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 lens. The iris is adjustable from f1.6 to f11, in 24 steps.

Shot Transition
Allows for smooth automatic scene transition. Settings for focus, zoom, iris, gain, shutter, and white balance can be attached to the A/B button and a smooth transition will take place at the set time. This function enables focus to gradually shift from foreground to background or vice versa, thus enabling a smooth change in depth of field.

Box Contents

Customer Reviews

Some time later...
This is a follow up to my main review below. After a year of usage I've at last got hold of Adobe Premiere Pro 2.0 and its native HDV support. In other words I can use Windows Media Player to view my FX1 captures in full 1920x1080 resolution for the first time and it's glorious. I've been watching some night time footage I shot in Tokyo last year and the ability of the FX1 to work in low light and to capture the intense colours of the neon signs is amazing. The clarity of the images is everything that I hoped for and fully justifies the cost of the camcorder. A friend said, when viewing my samples: "It's like looking at a fairly good photo... and then it moves!!!"
Finally: bear in mind that the FX1 is only implementing 75% of the 1080i standard resolution (anamorphic 1440 x 1080) because of the storage limitations of the mini-DV cassettes. I'm amazed by the FX1 output so full broadcast 1080i will be stupendous. The future is coming...!

Desirable and efficient...
I spent three weeks in April 2004 lugging one of these around Japan (in its dedicated SONY bag which I highly recommend) and had no difficulties at all. The camcorder performed in great heat and light and recorded some superb images. The zoom is marvellous and the autofocus staggering: I fully zoomed on a bee (and then pulled slowly back to reveal a buddhist temple in Gion Kyoto) and the camera locked onto the tiny bee with no difficulties. If only my Canon 20D SLR would do that! I've not yet seen any HD images from my camera (I need the relevant kit and that's to come) but the converted standard DV is great. I DID see an FX-1 hooked up to a hi-definition monitor in the SONY building in Tokyo and it was amazing so no worries there. My one and only complaint is that the time lapse facility (press the record button in lapse mode and only 7 frames are recorded) can't be automated: I'd love to leave the camera on its own recording 7 frames every minute (for example) but its not possible.
In conclusion: a superb camera for the price in standard DV mode but amazing with the addition of its HDV capability.

Tough, Reliable, great optics
In this day and age why buy an older technology CCD HDV camcorder when there are others with newer CMOS optics? Well right now, the CMOS technology is good but it isn't great, especially in low light. The older triple CCD equipped cameras like the HDR-FX1 and the HVR-Z1 work better in lower light than the newer FX7s.

I've had an FX1 for a while now and must say that I'm very happy with my purchase. The quality of material I've shot is excellent using Sony HDV tapestock and the playback is top end. The camera manual controls are a dream with an excellent zoom ring close enough to the focus ring for the nimble fingered to use one handed, but far enough apart for a separate focus puller to use without getting in the way. The weight of the unit is good, not too much for hand held use. I like the top mounted view screen like the Z1's and I've found the on board mic to be surprisingly good.

I would suggest the purchase of a NP970 (or equivalent) extended life battery - why do Sony ship the orderinary one at all? along with a decent tripod. I've used bith Vinten and Manfrotto tripods with this camera and to be honest can't decide which I like the best, but make sure you get one with a good fluid head suitable for HDV camcorders. The audio in is a 3.5mm minijack but a Beathtek adapter will add a couple of XLR connectors without the expense of having to stump up for a Z1 camera instead.

A great camcorder and I'll have to be seriously impressed with something else before I replace it.