Sony HDR-UX1 AVCHD 4MP High-Definition DVD Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom
By: Sony Average Rating: 4.0 Total Reviews: 21
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 On: 2007-09-24
Picked up one of these about a year after its release and at a substantial savings vs. when it was first released. Looked at its replacements the ux5 and ux7 and decided that this model probably fit in between them as the ux5 seemed to have lost features and the ux7 gained. As the price was far cheaper then either, I decided to take the plunge.
Pros:
Very solidly made. This may be a con if you are looking for something light as it is fairly heavy, but the solid feel I think is nice.
Shoots great SD footage and HD footage converts to SD with the included software. Far better picture then the entry and mid level SD camcorders. Nice if you are going to be sending something to someone else, who may not be set up to view the disks in their native format.
In the proper light the HD footage is very nice. Not broadcast quality nice, but still much better then SD footage. Both my parents remarked seperately on how clear the picture was when they first saw it playing on a HD set.
Large 3.5" screen.
Can be edited somewhat with included software, but is very basic.
A hotshoe for adding a light.
Straight to DVD can be nice if you have the means to play the new format (ie blu-ray player or very powerful computer)
Sound is very clear. Im not an audiophile, but even I noticed the crystal clear sound and lack of any internal noise when I played back my recordings.
Cons:
Digital image stabilizer good but not great, optical would have been nicer.
You need a very fast processor (duo core). I have a P4 3.0ghz, seperate video card, with 2mb of ram and it cannot handle the format well at all. The ram is not the limiting factor, but the processor is. In checking my system utilities, my CPU is maxed out at 100%, with only about 400MB of ram being used. Hence I am getting dropped frames in playback. Also if you wish to take advantage of the DL disks (DVD+R DLs only) you need a DVD drive capable of reading DL disks, which again would limit a lot of computers over 1 1/2 - 2 years old.
Indoor shots full of noticeable noise. Again outdoor well lit video is very nice. Indoors is still nicer then SD, but the noise is noticeable. Im adding the sony light that goes on the hotshoe which should help.
For the price this is offered at now, It shoots as nice an SD picture as the SD only camcorders priced at or above this model. That you pick up HD is a nice bonus, and in the right conditions you can get great video and audio.
 On: 2007-05-13
Bottom line, the picture quality that you get is incredible on the standard HQ setting. You can go two levels higher(just higher bitrates) but you shorten your recording time to 20 minutes or 15 minutes depending on which you select. If you have a ps3 ,you can just pop the disk in and watch it on your high def tv. The Dolby Digital recording is excellent as well. I recorded a Disney show at Epcot and the sound was just like you were there. I couldnt be happier with this camera but it may be a challenge for those who are beginners with high def equipment. It also records in standard dvd format if you choose. Nice feature but if thats all you are using it for then you will want to go with a dvd camcorder which is much less money.If you have an external hard drive on your ps3 than you can copy the m2ts files from the stream folder on the dvd and just play them directly from the ps3 when you want. The ps3 downmixes from Dolby Digital to stereo which I hope can be fixed by one of their many firmware updates. If you do purchase this camera then go with the MiniDV-RW media as you can just copy to a standard dvd via the sofware included and then use your MiniDV-rw over many times.The stills are just ok but then again I am used to the Canon S2-IS which really does a great job. You have the options of 4mp,3mp widescreen,or 2mp screen capture during video recording. All seem to do a pretty good job.
On: 2007-04-19
A lot has already been said and there are some excellent reviews here (as well as elsewhere), but I just want to add my 2 cents. I purchased this guy a few months back, and have since purchased a light and a second battery for it (Ill talk about those shortly).
My favorite features include:
1. The 3.5" screen, which should be a must for ANY camcorder, as the 2.5" screens common today are worthless IMHO.
2. The sliding door for accessing the HDMI port as well as the other video ports. This is unique to Sonys UX1 and SR1 HD Camcorders (as far as I can tell) and is the BEST implementation I have seen to cover and uncover ports. Much better than the little plastic plugs that inevitably break-off and are lost.
3. Beautiful, detailed video.
My least favorite features include:
1. The stupid little plastic cover plug for the power port. As mentioned above, this camera has a great sliding door for all its video plugs. Inexplicably, Sony used the plastic plug for the power port, which is right next to the video ports and could have used the sliding door. Stupid. Mine is already threatening to break.
2. Short recording times. It is hard to blame Sony for the short recording time on DVDs. This is just a fact of life and the short time isnt limited to the HD DVD camcorders but it problematic for all DVD camcorders (though less so than here). You make a choice and you live with it. While lots of the reviews mention the dual layer DVDs out there, they are MUCH more expensive and I dont even really consider them an option. Luckily, the lower quality modes still look very good, especially when taping outside. For lower light situations, I would use the higher quality settings. Still, all of the video I take with this thing looks better than any standard def. stuff you may see. Also, related to the DVD issue is that the camera insists on popping up a little comment saying it recommends Sony brand DVDs every time I put in any other brand. This is completely annoying and Sony should rethink the way they try to lock you in to their own brand.
3. Automatic lens cover. Not having to bother with a cover is a great little addition to this thing.
Features I thought I wanted but could have lived without:
I havent yet used the focus ring or the mic in or headphone out yet. I really wanted these, but in retrospect, they were unnecessary for my home use. The mic on this thing is plenty good, and I just dont want to mess with the focus at the end of the day.
Other notes:
I purchased a light and an extra battery here on Amazon and couldnt be happier with them. The light is the Sony HVL-HL1 and the battery is the same one that comes with the camera, the Sony NPFM50. The light is just right to give a boost to indoor recording and makes the picture MUCH better in low light situations. Its only 3 watts but seems VERY bright. It attaches to the hot shoe on the top of the camera. Its priced right and works flawlessly.
As for the grainy picture mentioned by many reviews, I havent noticed anything distracting. Every camera has positive and negative aspects, but I am more than happy with the quality of video this thing takes.
I give this Camcorder 5 stars not because it is perfect, but if you weigh the price and the features, Im not sure there is a better HD or SD camera out there right now. It would not be worth the list price, but at the price they have it for now, you simply cant beat it, as long as you can live with the DVD format. If that is a dealbreaker for you (it wasnt for me, obviously), its a dealbreaker, but otherwise, this is by far the best buy at this price point.
On: 2007-04-02
FANTASTIC camcorder!! Awesome stills and vids. Highly recommended for beginning user based on low price and ease of use!! Only tough part is converting videos. Still recommend to any user looking for HD quality!!
On: 2007-03-15
This is an awesome piece of equipment! This cam produces some of the most stunning video and right now the price has to be the deal of the decade! The dvd format is outstanding and it really is the best of both worlds. I use -rw discs and copy my video to my computer then reformat the disc (which takes about 7 seconds) and use it over and over again so the price of media is virtually nothing, unlike tape which you have to keep buying and buying. The other benefit is unlike a hard disk based cam I dont have to worry about the drive filling up while Im on vacation with no place to offload the video. And unlike A tape based cam I dont have all the problems associated with tape like head cleaning and trying to dig out tape that is wrapped up inside the cam or having to endure hours of tedious capturing or having to properly tension a tape before use or how big of a box I need to store all those old tapes in or worrying about recording over something I have already shot. I could go on and on and on about it but tape is just an old unreliable pain in the rear. As you can tell I have had bad experiences with tape based cams so enough of that.
The AVCHD codec is very efficient you will have about 4.5gb per hour of video compared to 13gb per hour of video from a tape based hdv cam and it records audio in dolby 5.1 surround which is alot better than the stereo only that you get with hdv.
Others have mentioned the short recording time and I suppose it may be an issue for someone but it is not for me. Think about it when you are watching tv or a movie how many times does the cam just sit there pointed at one thing without a break for longer than a minute (or even a few seconds)? There is nothing I can think of that I can record for more than 20 minutes (hq mode) straight that I would want to sit down and watch anyways. Now if you have to record something like a childs school play sure maybe a couple times in your childs life you need an hour shot but I dont and even if an event took say 1 hour straight it only takes 15 seconds to change out a disc and be recording again so in 1 hour I would change twice and miss 30 seconds of video, not a big deal. Most all the stuff I shoot is like 1-3 minutes tops and Im on to the next scene. I have shot a wedding and I was able to get all of it from the time the bride walks in to the time the couple walks out all on 1 20 minute disc. I think most of the people that complain about short recording times are just to lazy to change a disc! As far as the video being noisy in low light well give me a break, it does but so does every other cam that is priced south of $3,500.00! Besides that they do make these things called lights! In the daylight there is no noise at all in the video when played back on my HDTV, just beautiful high def video.
The bottom line for me is that this cam is by far the best bang for the buck available today. Nothing in this price range even comes close to the video quality that this cam produces. It is a snap to record brilliant video and transfer it to the computer. Editing options are limited right now but they do exist and more are on the way so the editing thing is a non issue as well. It has pro type features that are just not found on other cams and I especially like the manual adjustment ring and I would never own a cam again that did not have at least a 3.5" lcd screen. Having used the smaller 2.7" screens before I can tell you that the big screen is way better especially when you are trying to manually adjust elements like focus and exposure. With the big screen you can actually tell what your video will look like, the small screens just dont show enough detail. This cam also takes beautiful still pictuers, I could keep going on and on but the truth is I really enjoy everthing that this cam has to offer and I would not trade it for anything else.
On: 2007-03-13
I bought this camcorder few days back and this is one buy that iam not going to regret. In spite of some of the drawbacks, seeing yourself in HD gives you real high. The picture quality is awesome. Its like stack of 5-6 mega pixel images put together. I have infact paused the video at few places and taken screenshots of them.
Lack of video editing tools is a drawback. Sony provides tools to convert H.264 to Mpeg. So that I can use the Mpeg files on Sony Vegas. Audio quality is excellent. Great camcorder when shooting outdoors. Night time shooting needs improvement. Can spot lot of noise in the video when shooting in dark.
I would recommend to buy a RW disk and dump all its contents to your computer, then erase the DVD contents.
 On: 2007-03-09
The worst thing for this is, you have to bring a bench of disc with you and replace disc every 20 min if you are capturing HD video. I think most of buyers would take HD video if you buy a HD camcorder. But a small disc can only hold 20 min HD video, have to change disc time by time. The CMOS sensor is worse than CCD but it is the best sensor among CMOS in this price today. A lot of noise will come in low light condition! I bought it for $800 and return it. I think youd better buy SR1 with a 30G hard drive. That would be a much better one!
On: 2007-03-09
This is a very good camcorder with the main problem I noted being the DVD format giving only 30 minutes or so of recording in HD mode per disk. It is also a problem that only Blue-Ray DVD players can play back the DVD in HD mode. Even worse that it might destroy the disk if you use it on another player. Nevertheless, the price was good and I think Blue-Ray will be more affordable in the near future. Meanwhile, I can playback my video directly or send it to the computer. I am glad I bought it. If a MiniDV tape version were available at the same price now I think it might be better to stick with the tape version for now though. I was sent a bad power supply with the camcorder but Sony sent a new one right away. Be careful to buy the correct battery and external charger accessories for the camera as it is a bit confusing as to which will work for it. Overall - I am very happy with the camcorder.
On: 2007-03-09
Yeah, the DVD storage should be longer than 15 minute for HD recording. However, the price/quality of this camcorder more than make up for it. Plus i only do home movies so this fits my needs. I am rewarded by this unit everytime i hook this thing up to my HDTV.
I dont do a lot of low light recordings so i am not affected by a number of bad professional reviews in this area.
If you are shopping for a camcorder now, this is one of the best buys out there. I was looking for a camcorder for over 3 months and i finally settled on this one.
On: 2007-03-08
The worst thing for this is, you have to bring a bench of disc with you and replace disc every 20 min if you are capturing HD video. I think most of buyers would take HD video if you buy a HD camcorder. But a small disc can only hold 20 min HD video, have to change disc time by time. The CMOS sensor is worse than CCD but it is the best sensor among CMOS in this price today. A lot of noise will come in low light condition! I bought it for $800 and return it. I think youd better buy SR1 with a 30G hard drive. That would be a much better one!
by: klin97 On: 2007-02-11
But you do need a very fast PC for playback. A 3GHz Pentium 4 or equivalent simply wont cut it. I get jerky and poor video on my single core PC but the problem is fixed as soon as I move the video to my dual core AMD box. Keep in mind that the AVCHD playback software is so demanding that both CPUs are running at about 90% utilization during playback. The conclusion: there is no way a single CPU system can pull it off.
For people who complained about recording time and MAC incompability, those are design and technical limits. I am prefectly happy with 15 min of HD recording time per miniDVD. If you need longer recording time, you should buy a hard drive or miniDV based camcorder. Mac incompatible? Buy a PC. They cost less than Mac accesories.
On: 2007-02-07
Having a DVD burner build-in to this camera saves a lot of time to transfer movies to your computer or simply save them in a secure media (DVD). 30 minutes of normal quality and 20 minutes of HD is more than enough for my home-made movies.
On: 2007-02-01
I purchased the HDR-UX1 to go along with a new HD television. I pondered what to do get HD content to my TV (DirectTV, Dish, or cable). This camera has produced the only HD content that my set has seen as of yet, and I love the picture.
The record time isnt really an issue for me because I shoot mostly scenery and such. However, if you want an HD camcorder for recording your kids basketball games or dance recitals, you should probably go with the HDD model. But if what you are shooting isnt really important in HD you can always shoot in SD for longer record time.
I have noticed that the built-in microphone picks up the sound of the dvd drive, and that could be a problem for things like interviews. I am probably going to go with a separate mic anyway, so again it doesnt really effect me.
Editing is a problem for now, but Sony Vegas is supposed to have an update in the spring to deal with the AVCHD format.
Over all it is a good camera, and to have the HD quality at $799 is totally worth it.
 On: 2007-01-29
I bought a MacBook Pro computer specifically to edit my home videos, due to its ease of use and compatbility with a wide variety of cameras. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that while I can get stills from this camera onto my Mac, the video is incompatible! To even read the documentation on the included CD I had to borrow a PC. I dont know if a driver will ever be available to let me use the Mac with the videos from this camera.
As far as its quality as a video camera, the price is right and it is fine for my use, although heavy and with short recording time.
On: 2007-01-27
This sony cam is great for home use. Vidio quality is great. I highly recommend buying a HD cam.
On: 2007-01-23
I am a videophile, I love this product and just order a Ikelite underwater housing for $1100.00. I record hundreds of hour a year and the 27 minutes on a dual layer is good for me. The quality is the best out there right now for prosumer camera. Purchase a Blackmagic Design Intensity video card for $250.00 and you will be able to caputre right from the HDMI on the camera to a hard drive. Givivng you the abilty to edit your footage in HD with Sony Vegas or Adobe Premire.I use a 30 foot HDMI cable during shoots to capture to my external hard drives via my desktop and it works great. You wont be disapponited with your purchase if your looking to get in early for a good price on HD video.
 On: 2007-01-17
But I can see the noise issues that keep coming up in reviews. Ive purchased plenty of high-end gear in the past and read reviews prior to purchasing. For everything I have purchased there has always been something someone has complained about. Most of the time I never see the issue so I dont worry about it and when I hear things like there are noise issues with this camera I basically blow it off. I have a high-end setup at my house so I assumed it would look better on my TV but it did not. The noise issues are apparent BUT they are not distracting unless you look for it. I will keep this camcorder because the price is really low and Im not a professional. If I was this camera would not be good enough. I bought this just to take recording of my new born son.
One other thing I wish someone would have told me before purchasing this. The Playstation 3 can play the AVCHD DVDs natively. You CANNOT save that format to the PS3. It has to be in a MPEG-4 (.mp4 not .m2ts) AVC format to save it. Their are no converters currently that can do this.
On: 2007-01-01
I purchased this from Amazon.com as a companion to my Playstation3 for ease of use. It could not be simpler. I simply record high-def video to mini-dvd in camera then slide it into my Ps3 and Im watching high-def home video in 1080i. Most future dvd players will be comaptible with Blu-Ray and this camera represents the future of home video at its best. It has worked flawlessly thus far.
On: 2006-12-29
There have already been a few well articulated reviews for this camcorder so I wont rehash the technical details of the camera. What I will do is caution you on over analyzing this product with what you read on the internet. Two sites, camcorderinfo.com and cnet.com do a pretty good job in their reviews of the HDR-UX1. But keep in mind that they are writing from the perspective of the tech junkie and/or semi-professional videographer.
I, on the other hand, am just your average consumer looking to take advantage of affordable HD technology with the purchase of my first camcorder. I have had my camera for a week and have put it through every conceivable test. The bottom line is that it is one of the best cameras I have ever used.
Most online reviews seem to focus on things like "noise" and "compression" issues. I saw none of that when playing back on my 42" Plasma HDTV. The HDMI port on the camera made playback a breeze. Just plug and play literally. The 5.1 channel built-in microphone was really cool too. While recording my dog in the yard, I whistled for him to come and recorded him running towards me. When I played it back on my TV, you could clearly hear my whistle on the back channel speakers of my home theater and hear the dog galloping towards me on the front speakers for a truly surround sound experience.
As for the picture, forget the negatives you hear about AVCHD. The compression worked just fine. It was clear, sharp and definitely in high definition. The video just popped off the screen beautifully and the colors where almost perfectly represented. I didnt see any "noise" that I had read about from other reviews on other websites. Even if you are a professional production company looking for a portable camera to use in the field, this one does the job.
Other features I really like that are not usually talked about are the night shot mode and the still camera ability. Night shot gives it that Desert Storm night vision look. Maybe it is just a novelty with no real practical use, but a really cool feature nonetheless. As for the built-in 4 mega pixel ability as a still camera...one word - impressive. Most people dont buy camcorders for their snapshot abilities, but for someone like me who hikes and mountain climbs regularly, I needed an all-in-one unit with good results. Again, using my dog as a subject I snapped off about 10 still images in different lighting conditions and zoom levels. I then downloaded them to my computer and printed them to my Epson Photo Printer at 8" x 12" on photo paper. I got perfect results. So not only do I have a top-notch camcorder, I have a very good digital still camera as well.
Finally, I agree that there are very few options for editing video at the moment. But that should be temporary. The software industry just has to play catch-up to the AVCHD technology. For now, you can do some basic clipping of video with the supplied software. But the ability to burn to standard DVD from the camera is simple and effective. I shot a quick 2-minute movie in high definition; connected my camera to the computer; uploaded the movie to my desktop; then simply right-clicked the file and clicked "Burn to DVD." The Sony software took care of converting it to a standard DVD and burned it all within about 5 minutes. The playback quality going from HD to standard DVD was the same as any DVD movie you rent at the local Blockbuster. In other words, it looked great and even carried over the Dolby 5.1 onto the DVD. Sure it wasnt a true 1080i recording like the original but even down-converting from the high def of the camera to a standard DVD that can be shared with friends and family was a simple process with great recording quality.
The only real negative I can see at this point is recording time and weight. Other reviewers have mentioned the short record time. I agree. Just 15 minutes for HD+ mode is too short, but keep in mind you can now buy dual layered mini DVDs that double that time. Also, just knock the record mode down to the HD-Standard or HD-LP mode (instead of HD+) and you get a few more minutes. I for one sort of expected short record times so I can live with it. Ill just make sure I always have a half-dozen or so blank DVDs in my camera case. The Sony HDR-SR1 might be a better option for you because it records 4 hours of HD video to a hard drive, but you still have upload to your computer and burn it to DVD if you plan on sharing it. The weight of the camera is pretty hefty by todays standards. My parents have a Canon DC40 and it is a feather compared to the HDR-UX1. I could hold the Canon up chest high and take video all day long, but with the Sony, you definitely know youre holding nearly 2 lbs. Its not a big deal, but for long hikes in the mountains when youre trying to record while walking and carrying a backpack, it can tire the shoulders out pretty quickly.
The last paragraph is probably the only reason I didnt give this camera 5 stars. Also, its tough to give a perfect score to any first generation product. No doubt the technology for HD camcorder will improve quickly, but for now, I couldnt be happier with the purchase. A very nice product for the average consumer. Dont over-analyze the technical side of other reviews you might read on the internet.
On: 2006-12-28
There have already been a few well articulated reviews for this camcorder so I wont rehash the technical details of the camera. What I will do is caution you on over analyzing this product with what you read on the internet. Two sites, camcorderinfo.com and cnet.com do a pretty good job in their reviews of the HDR-UX1. But keep in mind that they are writing from the perspective of the tech junkie and/or semi-professional videographer.
I, on the other hand, am just your average consumer looking to take advantage of affordable HD technology with the purchase of my first camcorder. I have had my camera for a week and have put it through every conceivable test. The bottom line is that it is one of the best cameras I have ever used.
Most online reviews seem to focus on things like "noise" and "compression" issues. I saw none of that when playing back on my 42" Plasma HDTV. The HDMI port on the camera made playback a breeze. Just plug and play literally. The 5.1 channel built-in microphone was really cool too. While recording my dog in the yard, I whistled for him to come and recorded him running towards me. When I played it back on my TV, you could clearly hear my whistle on the back channel speakers of my home theater and hear the dog galloping towards me on the front speakers for a truly surround sound experience.
As for the picture, forget the negatives you hear about AVCHD. The compression worked just fine. It was clear, sharp and definitely in high definition. The video just popped off the screen beautifully and the colors where almost perfectly represented. I didnt see any "noise" that I had read about from other reviews on other websites. Even if you are a professional production company looking for a portable camera to use in the field, this one does the job.
Other features I really like that are not usually talked about are the night shot mode and the still camera ability. Night shot gives it that Desert Storm night vision look. Maybe it is just a novelty with no real practical use, but a really cool feature nonetheless. As for the built-in 4 mega pixel ability as a still camera...one word - impressive. Most people dont buy camcorders for their snapshot abilities, but for someone like me who hikes and mountain climbs regularly, I needed an all-in-one unit with good results. Again, using my dog as a subject I snapped off about 10 still images in different lighting conditions and zoom levels. I then downloaded them to my computer and printed them to my Epson Photo Printer at 8" x 12" on photo paper. I got perfect results. So not only do I have a top-notch camcorder, I have a very good digital still camera as well.
Finally, I agree that there are very few options for editing video at the moment. But that should be temporary. The software industry just has to play catch-up to the AVCHD technology. For now, you can do some basic clipping of video with the supplied software. But the ability to burn to standard DVD from the camera is simple and effective. I shot a quick 2-minute movie in high definition; connected my camera to the computer; uploaded the movie to my desktop; then simply right-clicked the file and clicked "Burn to DVD." The Sony software took care of converting it to a standard DVD and burned it all within about 5 minutes. The playback quality going from HD to standard DVD was the same as any DVD movie you rent at the local Blockbuster. In other words, it looked great and even carried over the Dolby 5.1 onto the DVD. Sure it wasnt a true 1080i recording like the original but even down-converting from the high def of the camera to a standard DVD that can be shared with friends and family was a simple process with great recording quality.
The only real negative I can see at this point is recording time and weight. Other reviewers have mentioned the short record time. I agree. Just 15 minutes for HD+ mode is too short, but keep in mind you can now buy dual layered mini DVDs that double that time. Also, just knock the record mode down to the HD-Standard or HD-LP mode (instead of HD+) and you get a few more minutes. I for one sort of expected short record times so I can live with it. Ill just make sure I always have a half-dozen or so blank DVDs in my camera case. The Sony HDR-SR1 might be a better option for you because it records 4 hours of HD video to a hard drive, but you still have upload to your computer and burn it to DVD if you plan on sharing it. The weight of the camera is pretty hefty by todays standards. My parents have a Canon DC40 and it is a feather compared to the HDR-UX1. I could hold the Canon up chest high and take video all day long, but with the Sony, you definitely know youre holding nearly 2 lbs. Its not a big deal, but for long hikes in the mountains when youre trying to record while walking and carrying a backpack, it can tire the shoulders out pretty quickly.
The last paragraph is probably the only reason I didnt give this camera 5 stars. Also, its tough to give a perfect score to any first generation product. No doubt the technology for HD camcorder will improve quickly, but for now, I couldnt be happier with the purchase. A very nice product for the average consumer. Dont over-analyze the technical side of other reviews you might read on the internet.
On: 2006-12-22
I received my order from amazon yesterday and immediately started playing with it. The default video quality setting is too low and I was about to ship it back as it wasnt much better than my old digital8 from Sony. By playing around in the menus, I found the top quality setting, which appears to be about as good as the highly-compressed high definition feeds from satellite TV.
Unfortunately, the record time is a ridiculous 13-15 minutes per mini-DVD. Our trip to visit santa claus last night burned up 2 DVDs all by itself. I cant imaging how ridiculous it would be to try to record my kids school plays when they get older. A ten-pack spindle of mini DVDs will only give 2-2 1/2 hours at top quality, so imagine changing the disc out 10 times during your daughters dance recital.
I have ordered some dual-layer DVD+R media, but they are at least 8x more expensive for only 2x the record time.
The software for computer playback barely plays at all on my 2.4GHz machine that has 2GB RAM - you must need dual processor or higher bleeding edge hardware to play these back without dropped frames.
There is a software application included which lets you copy the movies onto regular DVD for playback, but it is so limited it only lets you make an exact copy. So you still wind up with a big pile of 13 minute DVDs that you have to swap out when playing back at home. There is no option to consolidate your pile of 13-minute mini DVDs into a single 2-hour DVD for home playback. This is a ridiculous oversight.
Dont take the negative comments too seriously. All in all, the camera is quite interesting and I will probably keep it because of the high quality images. The dual layer media will help improve the absurd recording time, but Ill be looking forward to a version of this camera that includes blu-ray discs, which could store several times as much data.
On: 2006-12-17
I have been researching the Sony HDR-UX1 camcorder and have found some information about it that will help those looking for a DVD camcorder. This camcorder is very similar to the highly rated Sony DVD-505 camcorder, except that it records in high definition. There is some confusion about how to play back the disks. I will attempt to explain.
[1] This camcorder records in high definition to mini-dvd disks using the AVCHD compression format. It will only playback in AVCHD capable DVD players (which will become common in the next couple of years), Blueray players have this capability, but from what I read you should not neccessarily need to get a blueray player, just one that can support the AVCHD compression codec. HD-DVD players may also be able to play these disks. These disks will also play on computer DVD drives with the bundled AVCHD software as well.
[2] You can playback the disk through the camcorder itself and hook it up to your high definition TV directly. So in effect the camcorder itself replaces the need for a blueray player to playback MiniDVD disks.
[3] If you want, you can also record in standard definition (just like the DVD 505) and play back the DVD on almost any DVD player, since the compression used is MPEG 2 for this and all DVD players are made for this.
So basically you have two camcorders in one. Standard definition or high definition. You can shoot in high definition, use the camera or your computer to view without the need to a blueray player. Or shoot in standard definition and view on a standard DVD player. The choice is yours.
[4] Some improved features of this camcorder are manual focus/zoom ring option for more control, Guideframes to compose your shots, 4 megapixel still image capability. You can hookup to your HDTV with component or HDMI connectors. Headphone Jack. Microphone Jack. Dolby 5.1 surround sound. Large high resolution 3.5 inch screen (same as DVD505 model).
[5] How much video can you fit on a disk? It took a while to find out this information, but here it is. In high definition, a dual layer DVD+R disk will hold 27 minutes in highest HD resolution, or in LP mode 60 minutes.
On: 2006-12-17
I dont know how Amazon is able to sell unit this for $799. Not only is their price hundreds less than other retailers, they are throwing in a free ECMHW1 Bluetooth microphone. This represents an absolute bargain. I have purchased over $2k in cameras/camcorders and lenses from Amazon in the past 3 months and have been very satisfied at how quickly they ship. They are also trustworthy in that they ship factory sealed items. I am really impressed at how much the Amazon site has improved over the years.
Preface:
High definition quality is very detailed. It requires good camcorder technique. You have to have a very smooth panning technique or else your video will be choppy and stutter. Dont blame the camcorder as many others have on the internet. See my comments regarding IS below.
On to the review:
1. AVCHD- The HDR-UX1 is one of the first camcorders to be able to record in High Definition using the AVCHD format. You have only two options at this time in playing back video recorded in high defiiniton: 1. Playback by hooking up the camcorder directly to a tv 2. Install Sonys software to playback on a computer. WARNING !!!: The AVCHD software requires a very fast computer. My computer has 2 gigs of RAM, a 256 mb dedicated ATI video card, and a AMD Athlon 64 3500+ processor. I tried playing back AVCHD on my brothers computer (Sempron 2.2 ghz w/ 512 mb RAM) and the video was choppy and after 4 min of playback his computer froze. Video playback is quite smooth on my computer, but I cant wait till they release DVD players that are compatible with AVCHD files. Also, at this time there are no viable AVCHD editing options. This means you will have to leave the video that you shoot in tact. Not a problem for me since the last thing I want to do after a vacation is spend hours on the computer editing video.
2. Mini DVD+R DL support- This is the first Sony DVD camcorder that supports dual layer mini dvd. Only DVD+R or RW is supported. Using a DL mini dvd, recording time ranges from 27 to 60 mins in high definition and 35 to 110 mins in standard definition. If this is not enough recording time, consider the HDR-SR1 (hard drive based)or HC3 (mini dvd based). The DVD works fine for me. Here is how I use the camcorder: I shoot all video in high def. I then use the Sony software to convert my high def video to standard def. dvd. This way, I have a master high def dvd and another one to show friends and family.
3. Picture Quality- Imagine if you could shoot video that was as clear as the pictures taken by a SLR digital camera. Thats what high definition video looks like. Absolutely breath taking!!! The pictures are so detailed and the colors so vivid. There has been a lot of talk on the net that the AVCHD format results in a lot of noise due to compression. I could no detect any noise or artifacts in the video that I shot outdoors (even cloudy conditions). However, there is some noise when shooting in low light conditions, but the quality is still very nice.
4. Battery life- This camera supports the included NP-FM50 battery (1.5 hours), optional NP-QM71D (4 hrs recording time,) and optional NP-QM91D (6 hours recording time)( extended batteries. These figures are very respectable and I like the fact that Sony used existing battery models.
5. LCD Screen- The screen is a 3.5" widescreen and is beautiful. My only complaint is that all controls are touch screen and I am always nervous that I will end up scratching the screen. Sony should have really included a plastic screen protector.
6. Jacks- This unit is full of jacks: Component video, hdmi, headphone, microphone, usb, etc. A component video cable is included, but no hdmi cable
7. Image stabilization- Sony dropped the ball here. The image stabilization is electronic and not optical. The HD pic quality is so detailed that it really requires optical IS. I feel that the IS system on this unit is a tad slow and could be more fluid. IIf you have good camcorder technique (e.g you dont wiggle the camcorder all over the place) then turn on IS. Otherwise, turn it off. Many people on the net have unfairly criticized AVCHD saying that video playback is choppy on their computers. I would bet you that in some cases the cause of the choppiness is the IS system trying to compensate for their poor video technique.
8. Handling-Definitely bigger and heavier than a mini dv camcorder, but is very nicely weighted.
9. Digital Stills- I havent even tried shooting pics since I have a digital slr.
10. Misc- No shoulder strap is included and no starter dvd is included. What the heck is Sony thinking? No shoulder strap on a unit that retails at $1,399.99? Also, why not throw in one blank dvd so people can shoot video right out of the box.
Overall: Highly recommended at Amazons price of $799 + free bluetooth microphone. Dont be scared off by the video compression rants on the internet. Unless, you are planning on using thing to shoot a Hollywood movie, you will be fine. If you are still hesitating in buying this unit, think of it as a standard definition camcorder with high definition capabilities throw in for free. Heck, this camcorder is only $70 more than the DCR-DVD505 camcorder (Sonys top of the line standard def dvd unit).
On: 2006-12-16
I have been researching the Sony HDR-UX1 camcorder and have found some information about it that will help those looking for a DVD camcorder. This camcorder is very similar to the highly rated Sony DVD-505 camcorder, except that it records in high definition. There is some confusion about how to play back the disks. I will attempt to explain.
[1] This camcorder records in high definition to mini-dvd disks using the AVCHD compression format. It will only playback in AVCHD capable DVD players (which will become common in the next couple of years), Blueray players have this capability, but from what I read you should not neccessarily need to get a blueray player, just one that can support the AVCHD compression codec. HD-DVD players may also be able to play these disks. These disks will also play on computer DVD drives with the bundled AVCHD software as well.
[2] You can playback the disk through the camcorder itself and hook it up to your high definition TV directly. So in effect the camcorder itself replaces the need for a blueray player to playback MiniDVD disks.
[3] If you want, you can also record in standard definition (just like the DVD 505) and play back the DVD on almost any DVD player, since the compression used is MPEG 2 for this and all DVD players are made for this.
So basically you have two camcorders in one. Standard definition or high definition. You can shoot in high definition, use the camera or your computer to view without the need to a blueray player. Or shoot in standard definition and view on a standard DVD player. The choice is yours.
[4] Some improved features of this camcorder are manual focus/zoom ring option for more control, Guideframes to compose your shots, 4 megapixel still image capability. You can hookup to your HDTV with component or HDMI connectors. Headphone Jack. Microphone Jack. Dolby 5.1 surround sound. Large high resolution 3.5 inch screen (same as DVD505 model).
[5] How much video can you fit on a disk? It took a while to find out this information, but here it is. In high definition, a dual layer DVD+R disk will hold 27 minutes in highest HD resolution, or in LP mode 60 minutes.
On: 2006-12-16
I dont know how Amazon is able to sell unit this for $799. Not only is their price hundreds less than other retailers, they are throwing in a free ECMHW1 Bluetooth microphone. This represents an absolute bargain. I have purchased over $2k in cameras/camcorders and lenses from Amazon in the past 3 months and have been very satisfied at how quickly they ship. They are also trustworthy in that they ship factory sealed items. I am really impressed at how much the Amazon site has improved over the years.
Preface:
High definition quality is very detailed. It requires good camcorder technique. You have to have a very smooth panning technique or else your video will be choppy and stutter. Dont blame the camcorder as many others have on the internet. See my comments regarding IS below.
On to the review:
1. AVCHD- The HDR-UX1 is one of the first camcorders to be able to record in High Definition using the AVCHD format. You have only two options at this time in playing back video recorded in high defiiniton: 1. Playback by hooking up the camcorder directly to a tv 2. Install Sonys software to playback on a computer. WARNING !!!: The AVCHD software requires a very fast computer. My computer has 2 gigs of RAM, a 256 mb dedicated ATI video card, and a AMD Athlon 64 3500+ processor. I tried playing back AVCHD on my brothers computer (Sempron 2.2 ghz w/ 512 mb RAM) and the video was choppy and after 4 min of playback his computer froze. Video playback is quite smooth on my computer, but I cant wait till they release DVD players that are compatible with AVCHD files. Also, at this time there are no viable AVCHD editing options. This means you will have to leave the video that you shoot in tact. Not a problem for me since the last thing I want to do after a vacation is spend hours on the computer editing video.
2. Mini DVD+R DL support- This is the first Sony DVD camcorder that supports dual layer mini dvd. Only DVD+R or RW is supported. Using a DL mini dvd, recording time ranges from 27 to 60 mins in high definition and 35 to 110 mins in standard definition. If this is not enough recording time, consider the HDR-SR1 (hard drive based)or HC3 (mini dvd based). The DVD works fine for me. Here is how I use the camcorder: I shoot all video in high def. I then use the Sony software to convert my high def video to standard def. dvd. This way, I have a master high def dvd and another one to show friends and family.
3. Picture Quality- Imagine if you could shoot video that was as clear as the pictures taken by a SLR digital camera. Thats what high definition video looks like. Absolutely breath taking!!! The pictures are so detailed and the colors so vivid. There has been a lot of talk on the net that the AVCHD format results in a lot of noise due to compression. I could no detect any noise or artifacts in the video that I shot outdoors (even cloudy conditions). However, there is some noise when shooting in low light conditions, but the quality is still very nice.
4. Battery life- This camera supports the included NP-FM50 battery (1.5 hours), optional NP-QM71D (4 hrs recording time,) and optional NP-QM91D (6 hours recording time)( extended batteries. These figures are very respectable and I like the fact that Sony used existing battery models.
5. LCD Screen- The screen is a 3.5" widescreen and is beautiful. My only complaint is that all controls are touch screen and I am always nervous that I will end up scratching the screen. Sony should have really included a plastic screen protector.
6. Jacks- This unit is full of jacks: Component video, hdmi, headphone, microphone, usb, etc. A component video cable is included, but no hdmi cable
7. Image stabilization- Sony dropped the ball here. The image stabilization is electronic and not optical. The HD pic quality is so detailed that it really requires optical IS. I feel that the IS system on this unit is a tad slow and could be more fluid. IIf you have good camcorder technique (e.g you dont wiggle the camcorder all over the place) then turn on IS. Otherwise, turn it off. Many people on the net have unfairly criticized AVCHD saying that video playback is choppy on their computers. I would bet you that in some cases the cause of the choppiness is the IS system trying to compensate for their poor video technique.
8. Handling-Definitely bigger and heavier than a mini dv camcorder, but is very nicely weighted.
9. Digital Stills- I havent even tried shooting pics since I have a digital slr.
10. Misc- No shoulder strap is included and no starter dvd is included. What the heck is Sony thinking? No shoulder strap on a unit that retails at $1,399.99? Also, why not throw in one blank dvd so people can shoot video right out of the box.
Overall: Highly recommended at Amazons price of $799 + free bluetooth microphone. Dont be scared off by the video compression rants on the internet. Unless, you are planning on using thing to shoot a Hollywood movie, you will be fine. If you are still hesitating in buying this unit, think of it as a standard definition camcorder with high definition capabilities throw in for free. Heck, this camcorder is only $70 more than the DCR-DVD505 camcorder (Sonys top of the line standard def dvd unit).
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