Sony HDR-FX1 HDV Camcorder
This article is not a review of the Sony HDR-FX1, just my impression of owning and operating it.
The Sony HDR-FX1 is my current digital video camera. I bought in back in 2004 when Sony first came out with the HDV format camcorders. Now it is 2010, so I have had it almost six years and it is not obsolete yet. The HDR-FX1 was revolutionary because it recorded at 1080i but used standard mini-DV tapes. The resolution of this camera is 1920 x 1080 interlaced. (For some technical reasons it records at 1440 x 1080.)
The HDR-FX1 is a 3-CCD chip camera which means it has three separate sensors for red, green and blue. It has 1080 horizontal lines and operates at 60 interlaced fields per second. The camera has three Super HAD 1/3-inch CCD chips and captures at 16:9 aspect ration. The lens is a Zeiss 12:1 zoom. It records in HD, but you can down-convert to SD (standard definition).
(I believe that Sony has discontinued this camera. It was replaced by the newer HDR-FX1000 HDV Camcorder, which has CMOS sensors and offers progressive scan ($3200). But you can still buy a FX1 used. Oddly, I have seen the FX1 on Amazon offered at $4800.)
The FX1 was actually the prosumer version of the HDR-ZX1 which sold for quite a bit more money. I think I paid about $3300 for the FX1 and the ZX1 was about $5000. The major difference between the two was that the ZX1 had XLR microphone inputs and the FX1 does not. Well I just bought a SignVideo XLR-PRO and and mounted it under the FX1 to get XLR audio inputs. This cost about $129. I got both the camera and XLR adaptor at B&H Photo which is where I buy all by camera gear.
My Previous Camcorders
Before bought the FX1, I owned a Sony DVX-2000 camcorder which was a 480i standard definition camcorder. That camera recorded on mini-DV tape at 720×480 interlaced. The DVX-2000 was the follow-on to the VX-1000 which was the first mini-DV camera that started the digital video revolution. I shot about 50 shows in my studio with my DVX-2000, so I got a lot of use out of that came.
Before DV, I had gone through two or three High-8 camera, which was the old prosumer analog format. I think I got my first High-8 camera back in 1987 or 1988. I still have hundreds of High-8 tapes and a High-8 tape deck stored away in a warehouse somewhere. All of my camcorders were Sony cameras. I guess I am a Sony kind of camera guy.
So when HDV first came along, I felt it was time to upgrade. I wanted to be the first kid on my block to be about to shoot and deliver in HD. I recall going to the NAB show in Las Vegas every year waiting for Sony or Canon to come out with a low priced HD camera.
Pro-style Operation
What I like most about the FX1 is that it allows manual operation of almost everything. I don’t like to use power zoom and prefer to use a zoom ring with a handle. The FX1 has it. Also, since I was mostly using it in a studio with controlled lighting, I wanted manual control of the F/stop, shutter and gain. There are color bars, Zebra stripes, ND filters, peaking function, histogram–everything a pro cameraman wants. All these controls are brought out as buttons so you don’t have to use the menus ever while operating. I think this is what most separates pro cameras from consumer cameras.
So even though this is technically a prosumer camera, it think it functions more like a professional camera. It allows manual white balance, manual focus, manual exposure, manual zoom–just the way I like it.
Case & Tripod
Two more things you will need with you HDR-FX1 is a case and tripod.
Since the HDR-FX1 is a rather large camera, I use a large Portabrace case to carry it around with all the accessories. The case I use was formerly my camera assistant’s case when I had a 16mm Arri film camera. Back then the camera was in one case, the lenses in another, and all the camera gear in the Portabrace. Now with the HDV camera I am down to just one case to fit everything.
While occasionally I will handhold the FX1 from the top handle, most of the time I shoot from a tripod. I almost never use it shoulder mounted. So normally my FX1 is mounted on a good sturdy set of sticks with a fluid head. The tripod and head I use is a Sachtler DV-6. At $1799 this is not cheap, but it is worth the money. Tripods have a life car beyond any digital camera.
For a real review of the Sony HDR-FX1, look here on camcorderinfo.com. That review was from September 13, 2004 which is about the time I got my FX1