Camcorders > Sony Camcorders > 10 - 20x > HDV

Advantages: Good 16x9 picture
Disadvantages: Heavy, too many buttons

...the quality is good but Sony still insist on putting vague controls for focus and iris control - there is no distance scale on the focus ring. The iris control is the fiddly little silver knob you can see in the picture. Headphone feed: as with all Sony camcorders the volume on the headphone socket is insufficient. Weight: this is a heavy beast - if you\'re thinking of operating hand-held for more than 3 minutes, think again. You cannot put this ...
...camera, with manual controls designed as an afterthought. If you are a pro looking for a proper, manual control creative device I would suggest looking at similar priced Canon products, or spend more and go for a Sony camera that takes interchangeable broadcast quality lenses and sits on your shoulder. ... Read review

Advantages: HDV 1080i, LCD Monitor, Hundreds of Professional Features and the Carl Zeiss 1,6/4,5-54 T* Lens
Disadvantages: Ultra sensitive manual focus that takes some getting used to.

...can find all the best Sony accessories for your camera from tripods to raincoats. It also gives detailed useful information on each product and the specific product names so you can search them on Google, eBay, Amazon, Ciao! and the website addresses provided in the booklet. The booklet itself has been very useful to me as I have purchased many products in it and the quality of the products has been exceptional. ^^^Response^^^ I really could go ...
...I would be here all night. I certainly recommend the camera to anyone who makes semi to professional films/TV or even if you are starting to get into film etc. It will do whatever you want, its fantastic and a bargain for under £2000. I have learned so much from this camera; it has transformed me to a much better film photographer. It’s Fantastic! I purchased mine through Amazon because of the warranty but I am sure that Purely Gadgets are just ... Read review

Advantages: Stylish, compact, easy to use, light weight, exceptional quality
Disadvantages: Did not come with software, expensive

...on to this little gem. Sony are renowned electronic manufactures so straight away you know you're in good hands. The sleek design place host to a number of different functions, such as a large, touch screen LCD display, a Carl Zeiss lens (basically a top quality make). The camcorder comes equipped with a memory stick duo for digital pictures, a system that's works very well. The HDV format means this camera can film high definition imagery to be ...
...to purchase a fire wire, a small price for a quality investment. Overall the Sony HDV 1080i is a fantastic camcorder with every function you would expect, and far more besides. If you have the money and the creative intentions to make your own movie, go out and buy it. ... Read review

Advantages: GOOD PHOTO QUALITY, GOOD SOUND, 8/10
Disadvantages: NO VIDEO LIGHT, COMPLEX MENU SYSTEM FOR ADVANCED FEATURES

...at the 1080i high-definition resolution. Sony promises "4.5 times the definition of DV". It uses the same MiniDV tapes you're used to, and around an hour of 1080i shooting will fit on a single tape. When HD is not required you can shoot in Standard mode too. Photo quality is good. Images lack some quality compared to those taken on digital cameras , but ultimately they are good for 6 x 4 prints. A Carl Zeiss lens is used which takes supports a ...
...Memory Stick PRO Duo Included Accessories Lens hood, camcorder shoulder strap, lens cap Cables Included USB cable Component video cable Supported Battery Sony NP-FM50 Supported Battery Details 1 x Li-ion rechargeable battery - 1180 mAh ( included ) Run Time (Up To) 80 min ... Read review

Advantages: It's not a Sony
Disadvantages: I haven't got the money for a second one

First impressions was that it was better than I had hoped for! The styling, weight and general appearance was what I expected for £800 (bought November 2007 but I did have to shop around to find one at that price). All the reviews I read about the poor electronic stabilization were right! If you want to hand hold it be prepared for some pretty poor results. Anticipating this I invested in a decent tripod, jib and steadicam (from B Hague's) so I ...
...but thankfully there is a mic input so I use an external Rode stereo videomic which produces great results. The ability to plug in an external screen makes using the jib simple. When I read the spec and saw the 60 Gb HDD I thought I'd never use all that ... last weekend I was left with just 20 minutes of space left at full HD recording! The files are recorded in .TOD format which, as I understand is almost the same as mpeg2 but you have to use ... Read review