Comments on: Sony Professional HVR-A1U CMOS High Definition Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom

By: Eric S. Nowels

Eric S. Nowels — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 23:48:40 +0000

This camera is loaded with great features that are hard to find in prosumer grade miniDV / HDV, but the CMOS sensor doesn't cut it for me.

Having xlr inputs as well as minijack that accepts both mic and line level signals is essential in my line of work. So is easy on the fly manual exposure and audio gain control, manual focus, long battery life and consistent white balance and last, but far from least is good image quality in less than stellar lighting conditions. The A1U did not deliver on this last criteria. My only complaint about this camera is it's slow lens and noisy sensor. The camera relies far too much on gain rather than aperture to increase exposure which adds grain, color artifact and a shift in color balance and contrast.

Sony did a great job of cramming a lot of these features into a small camera while retaining an intuitive set of controls. For things like white balance and manual audio controls the LCD menus can be cumbersome to navigate, but the physical buttons and dials on the body of the camera make accessing exposure, focus, and zoom plus a custom assignable button a snap.
Rating: 4 / 5

By: Jean-marc Kalongo

Jean-marc Kalongo — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 21:49:38 +0000

At first i wanted to buy the DVX100B ,i did not know that better products could exist, in other hand every time i called DVX100b dealers they were very rude, i really don’t understand why !!!!!and they told me i could not use the DVX unless i purchased the lens which was so confusing, so after arguing many time because of their rude and cold attitudes i decided to call Panasonic them self, they told me that NO lens should ever been purchased for that camera to work, and that the lens already comes attached , they also said that such dealer are illegally their try to rip people off big time , seller like bestcameraprice, or express cameras and other expocameras ,are doing the same stupid thing , and on top they are very rude, like it’s out of style,!!! it also look as if it’s the same Dealer that has several website and try to act up as different one from the other be ware!!!

I started to accept the possibilities of using other brands,for my work, cause i was looking for the Hollywood look and 24fr/PS and a pro camera, so i stared looking around after many ,many long, and sometimes frustrating hours Thank God i discover the SONY HVR A1 the Perfect one ” The one hat gives you 24fr/s and the Hollywood look, and the craziest of all it delivers AMAZING HIGH DEFINITION which the DVX 100B don’t so in conclusion the Sony HVR A1 is a great Professional Power Pack Camcorder it is a slap in the face to those that are accustomed to the same thing !

The HVR A1 is a must have.
Rating: 5 / 5

By: Louis Fridhandler

Louis Fridhandler — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 19:25:10 +0000

The Sony HVR-A1U CMOS High Definition Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom performs as advertised. It is very versatile to answer the user’s various demands on it. When High Definition DVD recorders (Blu-Ray or HD DVD) become standardized and widely available, I expect this technology will be the norm. The pictures in Hi-Def are wonderful.
Rating: 5 / 5

By: Stephen J. Reid

Stephen J. Reid — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 16:52:40 +0000

I purchased this camera last month, and almost at once I knew it was not the camera for me. For several years, I've owned and used a Sony DCR-VX2100 3 CCD Mini DV Camcorder, and have been truly impressed with it. I thought that buying a high definition camera from the same company would be a great move. I was so wrong.

The HVR-A1U is the most disappointing camera I have ever come across in my life. It is astonishingly slow to auto focus, and at lower light levels makes nearly continuously adjustments. Even with the CCD turned up to full brightness, the picture looks washed out. Admittedly, I used it mostly at 480i, but even in 1080i mode, the result was no better. So much for the manufacturer's boasts about the Zeiss Vario-Sonna lens; they are, in my opinion, thoroughly unwarranted.

The sound quality was also poor, despite the large mic, and when rewinding tapes, this camera makes the most horrendous noise. It is actually designed to do so since the noise changes pitch as the tape spools from one segment to the next. The sound is irritating at all pitches, and I cannot imagine why anyone would want to listen to it.

The camera was also a lot smaller than the photos lead one to believe, so check the dimensions if you're used to a bigger, semi-professional camcorder.

I returned this camera after trying it for 10 days. Buyer be warned about this one.

Rating: 1 / 5

By: Edison

Edison — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 14:43:42 +0000

This is a great camcorder, taking nice videos.

One thing I like to see in their next version is using hard disk, instead of using tape. Tape is not reliable. HDD is a lot easier for repeat use.
Rating: 4 / 5