I have started this thread for Sony's latest and coolest camcorder TG1.
Since not many reviews are available let's start adding as we get to know more about it. I am adding my comments from whatever I learnt about this small wonder.

I preordered this tiny wonder after returning the Sony CX7 to store.
I wanted the best HD flash memory compact camcorder. I initially bought
the CX7 but returned after using it for few days. The camera has very awkward design to hold and shoot. It's not even smaller in size than my 4 year old sony DCR PC105.
I think Sony TG1 is the best model out there which combines all - the quality of Sony, HD, compactness

There are not many reviews out there . Every thing about the camera looks cool except the picture quality needs to be reviewed since the CMOS sensor size is 1/5 as against 1/3 for CX7. Fingers crossed.
However in all other areas this camcorder beat all others in the market.

It has the same sensor as the HDR-SR10, so I would assume that the picture quality would be nearly the same.

For anyone who has used a camcorder with a similar form factor, are there any issues compared to a traditional style camcorder? How is the stability in your hand for example?

Stability is not as good as a horizontal design. As an example, I preferred the ergonomics of the Canon HV20 to the HV10 which had the same upright design. But the new Sony is just so tiny, if it takes video of the same quality as the SR10, it will be an instant winner...big time!

If anybody has a matchbook type camcorder, try shooting with your left hand. This way, the LCD screen rests on your hand which gives the camcorder extra support. Keep in mind that I’m left handed so I fully understand if it’s harder for a lot of right handed people.

I shot these with my left hand using a camcorder that doesn’t even have a stabilizer, the Aiptek A-HD+. Since the Sony TG1 does have one, it might have looked lot better with my technique.
http://vimeo.com/942267
http://vimeo.com/942440

2 days ago, I starting thinking about rather or not I should make a video of me using this technique outside to see if it will help a lot of people and after reading this thread, I’m more convinced that I should do it. No guarantee yet.

I would orgue to Ken's comment that models with vertical design are not easy to handle as compared to horizontal.
I used Sony pc 105 for four years and I loved the way I could shoot with one hand (in my case right) and could operate all controls including zoom, still, . I never had a situation where I would have to use my other hand.
I tried the the horizontal CX7 and I have to fumble learching for the zoom button. then design is awkward to handle.

CamcorderInfo just reviewed the HDR-UX20, which uses what appears to be the same sensor as the TG1. Unfortunately the low light performance wasn't very good.

Thanks for noting that bryanb. Here's a link to the review (http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content/Sony-Handycam-HDR-UX20-Camcorder-Review-35064/Performance.htm). As noted above, the TG1/TG3's CMOS 1/5 optical chipset is also found in the SR10. It appears that Sony feels that it's Exmor sensor and Bionz processor can compensate for the small chip size.

It's worth pointing out that the TG1/TG3 uses (I believe) electronic and not optical stabilization. This further reduces resolution since the software boxes the available screen.

I consider that the Panasonic SD9 is the main competitor to the TG1/TG3 and the Camcorderinfo review notes that the Panasonic doesn't perform well at 15 lux either. (15 lux is well after sunset. As they say, it's 15 candles about a meter away.) The CCD gives saturated colours too.

[Incidentally, I downloaded various clips from an SD9 and an SR10 and while they both look good, I preferred the SR10. One of the SR10 clips was outdoors at night by streetlight and my amateur eyes accepted the result.]

I have pre-ordered the TG1 and it should be available in a few days. I'm anxiously looking for reviews and tests. If I'm not happy, I won't take it and I may opt for the SR11 or the significantly cheaper SD9 instead.

IMV, the main advantages are the 1920x1080 size, 1080i, all memory stick, 5.1 sound and small size. I'd really like something easy to use that I can slip in a pocket or a purse. I can live without the manual controls or lens attachments. But if it can't even focus in a dark room, then that might be a dealbreaker.

I went ahead and pulled the trigger on the SR 11. The video quality on this unit is better than I expected. Very nice.

I went ahead and pulled the trigger on the SR 11. The video quality on this unit is better than I expected. Very nice.I think that I may well do the same - even if the SR11 is about $200 more than the TG1, heavier, bigger and more button-filled.

By rights, no one should buy a camcorder now. The HD camcorders are all 1920x1080 but at 60i. To bring an image into something viewable, they must be rendered into 30p. Most displays (ie. my laptop) work at 60Hz or a refresh rate of 60p. A 60i original image - if it moves - on a 60p display looks like crap, weaving around. (BTW, to check a camcorder's quality, move it.) I have no doubt that Sony and the others will release in a year or two HD camcorders (1920x1080) at 60p. The SR11 and TG1 will be obsolete.

Nevertheless, the image of the SR11 and TG1 at 30p looks really good (by today's standards). To get this quality, you'll need Sony's Vegas software to render or you'll have to play the memory card on a PS3. Sony wants us to do it their way.

I got the phone message that my pre-ordered TG1 has arrived. (I'm in Montréal.) I'll test it out but I think I'll go with the SR11. Why? In raw pixels, the SR11/12 offers up 3810K at 16:9 in video. The TG1 has 1430K. This explains why the SR10 (same optical chipset as the TG1) performs poorly at 5 lux.

For such a small device, the TG1 really performs on sound apparently. This is where Sony (TG1, SR11/12 all offer 5.1) has beat Canon completely. 5.1 sound gives the feeling of being there. I dropped any idea of buying a Canon because the MiniDV HV20 and HV30 (which I first looked at) and even the HF10/100 only offer Dolby digital stereo.

Underneath all, I like the feel of the SR11, its viewfinder and I reckon my non-tech SO will just have to learn to ignore all the buttons. Before I decide finally though, I'll take a look at the TG1 waiting for me in its box.

If anyone cares about this, I received the pre-ordered TG1, taking a long close look at it while shooting some sample footage in the store. And then I bought the SR11 instead (which I've been fooling around with for the past two days).

Why did I not keep the TG1? Well, it is noticeably poor with low light. (Pixellated and loses the focus whereas in the same conditions, the SR11 is noticeably better.) The TG1 is simply too small and too simple. I must admit however that the TG1's sound is excellent and the (digital) image stabilization is impressive.

In short, the TG1 is the Paris Hilton of video cameras - head-turning stylish, simple to use and easy to slide in a purse. It would make a perfect gift for a rich man's mistress.

I opted for the clunky SR11 because it performs much better in lowlight, has a viewfinder and a larger screen. The HD is good for storage. There's an external mic plug and the still photos are good enough that I won't need a still camera. I like the feel of the SR11. The TG1 feels like a fashion accessory.

With that decision behind me, I guess I'll have to delve into the long SR11/12 thread. Is there a thread on Vegas 8.0 Pro and DVD Architect?

I thought TG1 will be released on 5/17. Which dealer has it now?

Found a review of the US model here:

http://www.akihabaranews.com/en/review-94-Sony+Handycam+HDR-TG1+Review.html

Enjoy! Some great pics are included as well.

-J

I thought TG1 will be released on 5/17. Which dealer has it now?Mine was at Sony Style in Montreal last week. I had pre-ordered.

Found a review of the US model here:

http://www.akihabaranews.com/en/review-94-Sony+Handycam+HDR-TG1+Review.html

Enjoy! Some great pics are included as well.

-J

Here is another review of the EU version, TG3:
http://www.tracyandmatt.co.uk/blogs/index.php/2008/04/11/sony_hdr_tg3e_handycam_preview_video

I pre-orderd mine from Dell. Good price after a couple of coupons.

I stuck the video samples on a USB memory stick and they played back fine on my PS3. Since I had nothing to compare it to, I thought the video was quite good. I'm willing to sacrifice some video quality for carrying convenience. I liked the features of the Canon HF10, but the TG1 form factor one me over.

Seems like a good camera to have on you at all times. I love the idea of being out with friends and family and not having to lug around a larger camera to capture some candid moments.

This would make an excellent secondary camera for serious videographers.

Finally there is one professional review available for TG1.
Overall video capability of the TG1 is pretty good
Once you start recording video you'll be stunned by how pictures are wonderfully shown on its little LCD. The picture quality though not as good as 1080 but perfect when saved in 720p

The good news is the TG1 overcomes something that many competitors, Sanyo included, are failing at. Image Stabilization (IS) is amazingly stunning and precise whether or not you are Zooming. As far as Auto Focus (AF) is concerned, the TG1 doesn't overkill but offers good performance particularly in Macro Mode which, like the IS, is astonishingly impressive.

Plus:
Compact and Stylish
Good video, once converted in 720p
Good AF even in Low Light
Great IS

Minus:
Horrible UI
Horrible Photo Mode
Needs Sony proprietary SOftware to edit video on your PC
No optional Wide angle lenses

akihabaranews.com/en/review-94-Sony+Handycam+HDR-TG1+Review.html

Now go grab it before it is out of stock like iphone

Finally there is one professional review available for TG1.
Overall video capability of the TG1 is pretty good
Once you start recording video you'll be stunned by how pictures are wonderfully shown on its little LCD. The picture quality though not as good as 1080 but perfect when saved in 720p

The good news is the TG1 overcomes something that many competitors, Sanyo included, are failing at. Image Stabilization (IS) is amazingly stunning and precise whether or not you are Zooming. As far as Auto Focus (AF) is concerned, the TG1 doesn't overkill but offers good performance particularly in Macro Mode which, like the IS, is astonishingly impressive.

Plus:
Compact and Stylish
Good video, once converted in 720p
Good AF even in Low Light
Great IS

Minus:
Horrible UI
Horrible Photo Mode
Needs Sony proprietary SOftware to edit video on your PC
No optional Wide angle lenses

akihabaranews.com/en/review-94-Sony+Handycam+HDR-TG1+Review.html

Now go grab it before it is out of stock like iphone

Here's their conclusion:

"Compact, Stylish and providing good video once turned in 720p, Sony with the TG1 will definitively attract a lot of potential buyer, but unfortunately for us the TG1 is not mature yet, several UI flaws combined with poor photo quality and a poorly design companion software make us wonder why spending SO much money when the HD1000 form Sanyo offers as good as video as the TG1 for half its price (In Japan)"

Not sure they're as enthousiastic about it as you sonyTG1.

Here's their conclusion:

"Compact, Stylish and providing good video once turned in 720p, Sony with the TG1 will definitively attract a lot of potential buyer, but unfortunately for us the TG1 is not mature yet, several UI flaws combined with poor photo quality and a poorly design companion software make us wonder why spending SO much money when the HD1000 form Sanyo offers as good as video as the TG1 for half its price (In Japan)"

Not sure they're as enthousiastic about it as you sonyTG1.


hahaha
Cancelled my order with sonystyle and preordered tg1 on Dell site where I could use 25% off coupon. I got it only for $688.49 before tax and tax is only $50.77 (sonystyle was charging more than $70).
Now where does above review from akihabaranews.com stand.
$688 is almost close to what Sanyo hd1000 is sold for.
So why not go for sony when it excells in atleast few areas over sanyo.
And how long you will keep waiting for new generation model? till your own generation gets old?
:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

The HDR-TG1 is now In Stock at Amazon.com. :D

hahaha
Cancelled my order with sonystyle and preordered tg1 on Dell site where I could use 25% off coupon. I got it only for $688.49 before tax and tax is only $50.77 (sonystyle was charging more than $70).
Now where does above review from akihabaranews.com stand.
$688 is almost close to what Sanyo hd1000 is sold for.
So why not go for sony when it excells in atleast few areas over sanyo.
And how long you will keep waiting for new generation model? till your own generation gets old?
:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

:) .... not quite 25% off .... 15% - 10% = $688.49. I got the same deal. This will be my first upgrade since my circa 1999 Canon Elura. My order still shows "In Production". Did yours ship yet from Dell?

hahaha
Cancelled my order with sonystyle and preordered tg1 on Dell site where I could use 25% off coupon. I got it only for $688.49 before tax and tax is only $50.77 (sonystyle was charging more than $70).
Now where does above review from akihabaranews.com stand.
$688 is almost close to what Sanyo hd1000 is sold for.
So why not go for sony when it excells in atleast few areas over sanyo.
And how long you will keep waiting for new generation model? till your own generation gets old?
:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

:) .... not quite 25% off .... 15% - 10% = $688.49. I got the same deal. This will be my first upgrade since my circa 1999 Canon Elura. My order still shows "In Production". Did yours ship yet from Dell?

Where could I obtain such a coupon?

Where could I obtain such a coupon?

Small Business 15% off is floating around the web. I had to call in twice to get the extra 10%. I bought 2 camcorders so I guess they were more willing to give me the extra 10% off. My buddy, the buyer of the 2nd camcorder wanted to buy a 10% coupon that stacked from Ebay, but in the past, I had pretty good luck by calling and talking with the customer rep. So I did, and we got it.

Small Business currently has the the camera with an automatic 10% off, but when you apply the 15% off coupon, the 10% off gets replaced with the 15%. Call up and see see if they can give you an additional 10% off.

You are right. Dell SB has 15% off and I had purchased a coupon from ebay and used the extra 10%.
I didn't know that I could call and ask for the 10%.
Mine also shows in production and expected sipping date as June 23.
I had called them and they are saying it could be shipped early if they get from the vedor early. Since Sony releasing on May17 and Amazon already shows in stock I think Dell will also ship soon.
Can't wait to get it .

You are right. Dell SB has 15% off and I had purchased a coupon from ebay and used the extra 10%.
I didn't know that I could call and ask for the 10%.
Mine also shows in production and expected sipping date as June 23.
I had called them and they are saying it could be shipped early if they get from the vedor early. Since Sony releasing on May17 and Amazon already shows in stock I think Dell will also ship soon.
Can't wait to get it .

Just to be clear, calling to get the extra 10% off is YMMV.

Would love to see clips from you TG1 owners when you become such. Low light clips would be great!

Would love to see clips from you TG1 owners when you become such. Low light clips would be great!

What's a good place to host/share such large files?

TG1/TG3E reviewed by Engadget:

http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/15/sony-tg3e-tg1-camcorder-review/

Engadget just posted their review which includes sample clips and stills.

Engadget review (http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/15/sony-tg3e-tg1-camcorder-review/)

Engadget just posted their review which includes sample clips and stills.

Engadget review (http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/15/sony-tg3e-tg1-camcorder-review/)

I find it pretty ridiculous they chose the Sanyo over the Sony. Now, I know the Sanyo records MPEG-4 HD @ 1080i, but their sample clip was at 720 (and not even good-looking 720). The difference in recording bitrate has got to be huge between the two camcorders. AVCHD, while a pain in the ass, is a much better codec than standard MPEG-4.

I will, admit, however, that a headphone and microphone jack would be welcome...

I find it pretty ridiculous they chose the Sanyo over the Sony. Now, I know the Sanyo records MPEG-4 HD @ 1080i, but their sample clip was at 720 (and not even good-looking 720). The difference in recording bitrate has got to be huge between the two camcorders. AVCHD, while a pain in the ass, is a much better codec than standard MPEG-4.

I will, admit, however, that a headphone and microphone jack would be welcome...

I wouldn't rely on Engadget for a review, but it is usefull to see their sample clips.

I received my pre-ordered TG1 from DELL today. Boy, it is very small. For those who are interested in the size comparison of Canon HF100, Canon HV10 and Sony TG1, here are a few pictures.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/wliu.levansoft/SCyiwg604QI/AAAAAAAAAYU/6R0Wtv8wyC4/s144/p2.jpghttp://picasaweb.google.com/wliu.levansoft/CamcorderTg1/photo#5200710624060170498

http://lh3.ggpht.com/wliu.levansoft/SCyxJg604RI/AAAAAAAAAZc/JBUz1uPj1zM/s144/p1.jpghttp://picasaweb.google.com/wliu.levansoft/CamcorderTg1/photo#5200726446719688978

http://lh6.ggpht.com/wliu.levansoft/SCyxQQ604SI/AAAAAAAAAZk/TvR3x6SU-vI/s144/p3.jpghttp://picasaweb.google.com/wliu.levansoft/CamcorderTg1/photo#5200726562683805986

http://lh4.ggpht.com/wliu.levansoft/SCyxTw604TI/AAAAAAAAAZs/zYc4Hs_atUM/s144/p4.jpghttp://picasaweb.google.com/wliu.levansoft/CamcorderTg1/photo#5200726622813348146

I received my pre-ordered TG1 from DELL today.

When did you order?

I wouldn't rely on Engadget for a review, but it is usefull to see their sample clips.

www.akihabaranews.com has video samples of both the Xacti HD1000 and the TG1. I played both back on my PS3. I thought the Sanyo was sharper and colors seemed more vivid, but IS was WAY better on the Sony.

When did you order?

I placed my order on 5/9.

Anybody know if the kit (semi-soft case, extra batter , charger & carrying pouch) is available separately. Sonystyle was selling this kit for $100 but only when bought together with camera.

I'll be selling mine - not impressed. Anyone interested in a 5 minutes used camera with Sony direct 2 year extended warranty, send me a PM.

I'll be selling mine - not impressed. Anyone interested in a 5 minutes used camera with Sony direct 2 year extended warranty, send me a PM.

Jet, what didn't you like about the TG1 and do you have a basis for a comparison?

Jet, what didn't you like about the TG1 and do you have a basis for a comparison?

I literally shot 5 minutes of footage on it, and yes, it was more than enough for me to see this camera is not for me. In comparison, Canon HV10 and a Sony HDR-FX1. I've been thinking I'm too picky, but I may just spring for Sony's PMW-EX1 which I know, in comparison is no comparison ($800 vs. $8k).

But frankly MPEG2, is more than good enough (at the 25mbps) vs. AVCHD. The video tests I shot while you can see a marked resolution improvement over HDV 1440 (1440x1080 vs. 1920x1080 on AVC), the artifacting just looked terrible. I shot an well lit indoor scene with my cat as a screw around test (wanna test aliasing? shoot an animal - all the individual hairs will drive the camera nuts), forgetting the aliasing which was far worse than the HV10, the artifacting was pretty bad.

I went outside, shot some very well (i.e. bright) daylight shots since I know low light won't be this camera's friend. Shot some really basic stuff, office building, tree's, car driving by, even an airplane flying by (against pure blue background). The video is grainy as hell to start with, artifacting all over the place. The greens had a neon look to them (trees), and well, let me get back to the grainy looking video. Artifacts galore, noise all over the place, even with the jet flying by against a solid blue background. Moving objects also tended to have an 'edge enhancement' look, like early video compression (the 'halo' look). Put the camera on a tri-pod, and it faired no better.

Does this camera suck? Perhaps not. But is AVCHD ready for prime time? My parents would probably really like this camera as would the casual shooter. But enthusiasts, well, I'm going back to my HV10. I'm on the fence about pulling the trigger for a Sony EX1 or waiting for Red One Scarlett (a year off). Yes, those camera's aren't in the same price/quality range, but I think the quality coming off the HV10 (and the FX1 which has lower res CCDs) looks considerably better than off the TG1. And an HV10 (or 20) is still cheaper than the TG1. Why Sony (and other companies) can't give users the option of shooting MPEG2 as well as AVCHD is beyond me.

If I have to have video looking like the TG1 to have a low cost flash based camera, I'll live with tape. That or sell the TG1 and buy a hard disk recorder for the HV10 (silly given it'll cost more than the camera).

Anyway, I get no kicks out of slamming a piece of hardware, but I'm not thrilled with it. If others are enjoying their camera's, seriously, that's great. I know Levansoft who has posted a few posts up, he has both, perhaps he can give his thoughts.

I might do a comparison test of the HV10 vs. TG1, but other than as an FYI for others, I won't be keeping the TG1. It's been listed in the AVS classifieds for $795 w/2 year warranty extension.

I also received my TG1 from Dell preorder which was drop shipped directly from sony. I played with it this past weekend and I just luv the compact size (fit in my back pocket)and quality. I agree the night shots are pretty bad and grainy but I do not plan on shooting much night shots and if I do I will get a separate light for it. For a 4 MP camera the image is pretty poor but I do not plan on shooting many stills with this. This camcorder is aimed at a specific market for the casual videophile/family vacation shooter. I think it is a great camcorder for what it is.

Now I just need to find a good software to compliment this camera's avchd format.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a89/pscdoc/Sony%20HDR-TG1/IMG_9570.jpg
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a89/pscdoc/Sony%20HDR-TG1/IMG_9566.jpg

Jet, I'm not sure why you would have gotten grainy video outdoors. What are you watching the footage on? I downloaded about 6 clips and shot several myself at Sony plaza. I displayed them on my 60" Pioneer Kuro and there is virtually no noise in the outdoor shots I downloaded and none in the medium lighting of the Sony store.

When I pointed in to darker areas of the store and zoomed, the video became a bit grainy. But at no point did it display the grain that either my HV10 or HV20 did in very poor light. I've found that in general the Bionz & Exmor processing does a better job at controlling noise than any of the Canons I've had. Take my word for it, I know what to look for having been a previous owner of an FX1, FX7, various Sony smaller HD cams, the Canon HV10 & HV20 and now the SR12.

The Sony processing has actually been a benchmark (mentioned in some reviews) in controlling noise. I really saw little difference in this respect between the TG1 and my SR12. However the SR12 does display a bit more open and sharper picture.

So I'm wondering if it's not a display issue on your part (computer monitor?). The outdoor video should certainly not look grainy or artifacty.

Jet, I'm not sure why you would have gotten grainy video outdoors. What are you watching the footage on? I downloaded about 6 clips and shot several myself at Sony plaza. I displayed them on my 60" Pioneer Kuro and there is virtually no noise in the outdoor shots I downloaded and none in the medium lighting of the Sony store.

I also own a FX1 and HV10. I use FX1 to shoot shows and weddings. I use HV10 when I travel. I bought HF100 recently for its SDHC card. I can shoot many hours (of lecture) in lower res in one 16GB card without having to change the tape. Now I got the TG1 for its size. It is perfect for vacation and I can bring it with me all the time.

I found that the low light performance of TG1 is very poor which is expected for its size. But outdoor performance is great. As to the “grainy video” that Jet mentioned, I did see it when I hooked up TG1 to my Pan TH-42PX75U – a 720P plasma TV. HF100 showed a better picture on 75U. However, when I hooked up TG1 to my Pan AE2000U (a 1080P) projector through HDMI 1.3a cable, the outdoor video looked great. I didn’t see any grainy stuff. It looked almost as good as my FX1.

One thing to note is that TG1 doesn’t have its video mode set to HD FH by default. So you will have to change that yourself if you want to record in highest quality.

I am very happy that I bought TG1. I would not buy it if it was the only camcorder that I own. Like I said I bought TG1 for its size. There are times that even HV10 is too big for me to carry. That’s when TG1 comes handy.

Jet, I'm not sure why you would have gotten grainy video outdoors. What are you watching the footage on? I downloaded about 6 clips and shot several myself at Sony plaza. I displayed them on my 60" Pioneer Kuro and there is virtually no noise in the outdoor shots I downloaded and none in the medium lighting of the Sony store.

So I'm wondering if it's not a display issue on your part (computer monitor?). The outdoor video should certainly not look grainy or artifacty.

Nope - not a display issue at all. A series of flat panel displays (1080p) plus computer monitor all exhibited the same issues. It's like watching overly compressed cable. And as Levansoft pointed out, yes, you have to change the recording quality manually to the highest setting (first thing I did).

I know this camera (and most single chip cameras) won't perform well in low light, so I didn't even bother to test this out. But I go back to my airplane example where there were numerous compression artifacts surrounding the fuselage as it flies. It reminds me of the first gen JVC 720p camera (although the colors pop on this camera vs. the JVC).

Again, maybe I'm being far more picky than I should, but this camera isn't for me.

I also own a FX1 and HV10. I use FX1 to shoot shows and weddings. I use HV10 when I travel. I bought HF100 recently for its SDHC card. I can shoot many hours (of lecture) in lower res in one 16GB card without having to change the tape. Now I got the TG1 for its size. It is perfect for vacation and I can bring it with me all the time.

I found that the low light performance of TG1 is very poor which is expected for its size. But outdoor performance is great. As to the “grainy video” that Jet mentioned, I did see it when I hooked up TG1 to my Pan TH-42PX75U – a 720P plasma TV. HF100 showed a better picture on 75U. However, when I hooked up TG1 to my Pan AE2000U (a 1080P) projector through HDMI 1.3a cable, the outdoor video looked great. I didn’t see any grainy stuff. It looked almost as good as my FX1.

One thing to note is that TG1 doesn’t have its video mode set to HD FH by default. So you will have to change that yourself if you want to record in highest quality.

I am very happy that I bought TG1. I would not buy it if it was the only camcorder that I own. Like I said I bought TG1 for its size. There are times that even HV10 is too big for me to carry. That’s when TG1 comes handy.

Make sense. The display I'm using is the Pioneer Kuro 1080p 60" display and the TG1 videos are, for the most part, noiseless...and I'm very sensitive to video noise. It sounds as if the down conversion on some 720p displays are causing the noise issues. I know my SR12 is about as noiseless a consumer HD cam as I've ever seen.

I also think the Pioneer has a great reputation for showing the picture as close to the source as just about any display out there, so that might help too.

Nope - not a display issue at all. A series of flat panel displays (1080p) plus computer monitor all exhibited the same issues. It's like watching overly compressed cable. And as Levansoft pointed out, yes, you have to change the recording quality manually to the highest setting (first thing I did).

I know this camera (and most single chip cameras) won't perform well in low light, so I didn't even bother to test this out. But I go back to my airplane example where there were numerous compression artifacts surrounding the fuselage as it flies. It reminds me of the first gen JVC 720p camera (although the colors pop on this camera vs. the JVC).

Again, maybe I'm being far more picky than I should, but this camera isn't for me.

I'm pretty picky Jet and I just don't see the noise or artifacts on my Pioneer plasma. Certainly the noise levels on my SR12 are actually lower than they were on my 3-chip FX1 and FX7. So I truly don't think this is a format (or camera) issue for that matter. The reviews of the SR series AVCHD cams have specifically pointed out how noise-free and artifact-free they are. I see the same thing with the TG1, just not quite as sharp or 'open'. It seems Levansoft also saw a clean outdoor picture when he hooked it up to a 1080p display. I did set the TG1 for the highest quality video as I do my SR12.

So I can't explain what you're seeing or why it looks like 'heavily compessed cable'...sure didn't from what I've seen and I used to have that heavily compressed cable! :)

On another issue, does anyone know if the TG1 has zerbras like the SR11 & SR12?

[QUOTE=On another issue, does anyone know if the TG1 has zerbras like the SR11 & SR12?[/QUOTE]

I would like to know this as well, in addition to whatever manual controls the TG1 may have. (I realize, solely based on the lack of buttons on the body of the camera itself, that there either aren't many manual options, or they're all accessed through the touchscreen UI).

Here’s samples from Watch.Impress just incase you haven’t seen it yet.
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/av/docs/20080409/zooma353.htm

On another issue, does anyone know if the TG1 has zerbras like the SR11 & SR12?

Yes, there are three zebras options on TG1: Off, 70 and 100.

There is also a deep color option (x.v.color) that you can turn it on. I believe the default is off.

I really like the face detection option. It works really well. It not only adjusts the focus on face, it also adjusts the exposure too. I wish my FX1 had the face detection so that I don't have to manually adjust iris for people on the spotlight.

Does it make more sense at this point to buy two 8 gig Memory Stick instead of the ridiculously over-priced 16 GB sticks? I don't really see the benefit of spend more to have 110 minutes of continuous recording. I'd rather save the $45 and get another battery. Comments?

Does it make more sense at this point to buy two 8 gig Memory Stick instead of the ridiculously over-priced 16 GB sticks? I don't really see the benefit of spend more to have 110 minutes of continuous recording. I'd rather save the $45 and get another battery. Comments?

Buy the two separate sticks, not only save yourself money, but theoretically (depends on your situation), you can start copying over footage from the full stick while continuing to shoot from the fresh one.

Yes, there are three zebras options on TG1: Off, 70 and 100.

There is also a deep color option (x.v.color) that you can turn it on. I believe the default is off.

I really like the face detection option. It works really well. It not only adjusts the focus on face, it also adjusts the exposure too. I wish my FX1 had the face detection so that I don't have to manually adjust iris for people on the spotlight.

Excellent! I'm picking one up tomorrow at Sony Style in N.Y.C. The Sony Style near me sold out in record time for a new arrival. I would have thought they dropped the zebras on something this small, but it's great they retained it! I'm really impressed they were able to retain this level of video quality in something so tiny. A really nice 'knock-around' cam!

My buddy went to a fashion show last night and a guy there had the TG1 that he had just picked up. He looked at the TG1's LCD in the somewhat dim light of the show, and he thought it looked very good. Of course it's very hard to determine how good the video will be just from a small LCD.

Interestingly my friend showed me the videos he shot with his SR12 at this show. Even with the face detection on, he would have been much better off using the zebras. There were times the models, while walking down the runways, did not turn fully toward him and their faces were blown out.

There's nothing like zebras to nail your exposure.

Buy the two separate sticks, not only save yourself money, but theoretically (depends on your situation), you can start copying over footage from the full stick while continuing to shoot from the fresh one.

Is there any reason not to buy the SanDisk branded Memory Sticks? I don't see why not, as SanDisk co-developed the form factor with Sony. They're slightly cheaper too, right?

Is there any reason not to buy the SanDisk branded Memory Sticks? I don't see why not, as SanDisk co-developed the form factor with Sony. They're slightly cheaper too, right?

Sandisk are fine. Shop around, generally cheaper than the Sony but not always.

Interestingly my friend showed me the videos he shot with his SR12 at this show. Even with the face detection on, he would have been much better off using the zebras. There were times the models, while walking down the runways, did not turn fully toward him and their faces were blown out.

There's nothing like zebras to nail your exposure.

Did he leave the AE on Auto for the fashion show? He really should have shot it the "Spotlight" AE mode, it would have given him much better results, even without the face detection kicking in.

Eric, that's exactly what I said to him! But he felt since he was zooming to presenters on stage and then catching the runway models as he pulled back, the spotlight would have been hit & miss. I still think he would have been better off with the spotlight. You could see face detection kick in, but only as the model's head turned toward you. Prior to that her face was somewhat blown out.

Well I've got to report that I picked up the TG1 and found myself very disappointed with it. It's already gone.

I found the low light much worse than the SR12. In fact, in my house at night with recessed lighting turned on, the SR12 looked significantly better. What I was also disappointed with was the outdoor performance relative to the SR12. The TG1 was softer with less dynamic range and color that made the SR12 look like a 3-chip camera by comparison.

Perhaps if I had never owned an HD cam I might have overlooked some of these issues, but honestly, it pales by comparison to the SR12. For whatever reason I thought the results would be closer than they were. This made me appreciate the SR12 that much more and I've given up on the idea of a 'knock around' small HD cam.

Well I've got to report that I picked up the TG1 and found myself very disappointed with it. It's already gone.

I found the low light much worse than the SR12. In fact, in my house at night with recessed lighting turned on, the SR12 looked significantly better. What I was also disappointed with was the outdoor performance relative to the SR12. The TG1 was softer with less dynamic range and color that made the SR12 look like a 3-chip camera by comparison.

Perhaps if I had never owned an HD cam I might have overlooked some of these issues, but honestly, it pales by comparison to the SR12. For whatever reason I thought the results would be closer than they were. This made me appreciate the SR12 that much more and I've given up on the idea of a 'knock around' small HD cam.

Interesting. What do you think was the difference between the shots you took at the Sony store and the shots you took at home? You seemed pretty impressed with the previous samples.

I just ordered a TG1 from Amazon.com today. I, too, have the SR12 and absolutely love it, but I need another smaller camera for "pocket-ability" situations (lots of vacationing this summer where the SR12, while small, just isn't small enough). Also, can't take the SR12 to the top of the Rockies @ 14,000 ft. in Colorado because of the hard disk drive altitude limitations.

I hope the TG1's HD video quality is acceptable. I'm willing to live with slightly sub-par quality in exchange for ultra-portability.

Well I've got to report that I picked up the TG1 and found myself very disappointed with it. It's already gone.

I found the low light much worse than the SR12. In fact, in my house at night with recessed lighting turned on, the SR12 looked significantly better. What I was also disappointed with was the outdoor performance relative to the SR12. The TG1 was softer with less dynamic range and color that made the SR12 look like a 3-chip camera by comparison.I tested my pre-ordered TG1 in dark corners of the store/mall where I received it. I wasn't satisfied and so switched up to the SR11.

At home with the SR11, at about 11 pm, there was a minor traffic jam outside my window and I filmed it. While not perfect, the SR11 made a believeable image. I feel like going back to the Sony Style store and mall with my SR11 and taping the same file that I still have from the TG1.

In fact, I don't need to. The TG1 offers the same video chip set as the SR10and there are many SR10 downloadable files on the Internet. IMV, the TG1's stylish, small size doesn't justify the loss in picture quality. Others may disagree.

Ken Ross, I'm surprised to learn that IYO the TG1 performs "poorly" in good light. My criticsm of the TG1 is its lowlight abilities and its simplicity.

The TG1 is a good, extremely sophisticated camera. The 5.1 sound is great and its electronic image stabilization is innovative and has to be seen. Its size is justification alone. As to its style, one reason I chose not to buy it is theft. The clunkier SR11 is less an object of attention than the TG1.

Sony has been slow to release models and we'll all see whether the TG1 fits a niche. It's aimed at the point-and-shoot crowd but it's HD and expensive.

For a hundred dollars or so more, I got double or so the raw pixels and I'm about to add a wide-angle lens. For me, once I had it in my hand, the SR11 was an obvious choice over the TG1. Others may disagree.

I orderd the TG1 from Ebay about two weeks ago and have been trying it out. I went to Europe last week and taped a lot of footage. We use Panasonic HVX200's at work and edit through Avid, Final Cut, and Premiere Pro so I was curious how it might compare.

Here's my first quick impressions of the TG1:

The good:
- Small, light weight. Fits nicely in a pocket.
- Quick-on - Your ready to shoot right away
- For it's size, the video isn't bad.
- The touch screen is great and allows access to a lot of functions
- I like the spot meter, manual white balance, zebra stripes, and spot focus ability (they're not professional controls by any stretch but nice to have as an option)
- Great image stabilizer - much better than Sanyo's HD1000 system
- Sharp LCD screen; viewable in bright Sunlight

The bad:
- The zoom control and camera switch are easily confused
- AVCHD codec is just 'okay.' It tends to make footage look soft/burry compared to higher quality codecs. This isn't limited to the TG1 though. I've seen the same issues on the new Canon HF series. On the up side, it's better than Sanyo's MPG codec (more Mbps/sec, less artifacts) and fits a lot of information on a small card. From a few feet away on my Samsung 46" LCD, it looked just the DirectTV in HD. Tip to folks who want to edit their footage: Use Elecard's conversion software and flip it to HDV to make it compatible with most edit suites. For small projects, Pinnacle's Studio software works natively with AVCHD but as your project grows, the program bogs down.
- Lowsey still camera performance. The 4MP images look more like 2MP blown up. Colors have a neon glow to them, edges are fuzzy and there is too much video noise. The flash makes skin tones orange. It reminds me of the first generation digital cameras. Ended up using my Canon SD850 to shoot all my stills.
- so-so battery life -- about 1hr and 20 mn on average shooting the highest quality HD. Buy a second battery!
- Can't add wide angle/telephoto lens or accessories
- NO HDMI out on the cradle; only component - Sony, what were you thinking ?? The TG1 offers a great docking station that both charges and hooks the unit to your TV. However, if you want HDMI quality the cradle is worthless. On a 1080p flatscreen, component out looks grainy and pixelated. The camera does offer HDMI but you have to plug in a separate cable directly to it. If you have a 1080p set, you definitely want HDMI - makes a big difference.


Overall - luke warm about the TG1. Great gadget. Very easy to use while on vacation. But if you're not in a hurry, best to wait for the next generation when the still image features and codec mature.

I orderd the TX1 from Ebay about two weeks ago and have been trying it out. I went to Europe last week and taped a lot of footage. We use Panasonic HVX200's at work and edit through Avid, Final Cut, and Premiere Pro so I was curious how it might compare.

Here's my first quick impressions of the TX1:

The good:
- Small, light weight. Fits nicely in a pocket.
- Quick-on - Your ready to shoot right away
- For it's size, the video isn't bad.
- The touch screen is great and allows access to a lot of functions
- I like the spot meter, manual white balance, zebra stripes, and spot focus ability (they're not professional controls by any stretch but nice to have as an option)
- Great image stabilizer - much better than Sanyo's HD1000 system
- Sharp LCD screen; viewable in bright Sunlight

The bad:
- The zoom control and camera switch are easily confused
- AVCHD codec is just 'okay.' It tends to make footage look soft/burry compared to higher quality codecs. This isn't limited to the TG1 though. I've seen the same issues on the new Canon HF series. On the up side, it's better than Sanyo's MPG codec (more Mbps/sec, less artifacts) and fits a lot of information on a small card. From a few feet away on my Samsung 46" LCD, it looked just the DirectTV in HD. Tip to folks who want to edit their footage: Use Elecard's conversion software and flip it to HDV to make it compatible with most edit suites. For small projects, Pinnacle's Studio software works natively with AVCHD but as your project grows, the program bogs down.
- Lowsey still camera performance. The 4MP images look more like 2MP blown up. Colors have a neon glow to them, edges are fuzzy and there is too much video noise. The flash makes skin tones orange. It reminds me of the first generation digital cameras. Ended up using my Canon SD850 to shoot all my stills.
- so-so battery life -- about 1hr and 20 mn on average shooting the highest quality HD. Buy a second battery!
- Can't add wide angle/telephoto lens or accessories
- NO HDMI out on the cradle; only component - Sony, what were you thinking ?? The TG1 offers a great docking station that both charges and hooks the unit to your TV. However, if you want HDMI quality the cradle is worthless. On a 1080p flatscreen, component out looks grainy and pixelated. The camera does offer HDMI but you have to plug in a separate cable directly to it. If you have a 1080p set, you definitely want HDMI - makes a big difference.


Overall - luke warm about the TG1. Great gadget. Very easy to use while on vacation. But if you're not in a hurry, best to wait for the next generation when the still image features and codec mature.

Are you talking about Canon's TX1, of Sony's TG1?

Interesting. What do you think was the difference between the shots you took at the Sony store and the shots you took at home? You seemed pretty impressed with the previous samples.

Josh, you're right, that's what was upsetting. I thought, based on the video I shot at Sony Style, it would be really nice. Although I could see the difference in Sony Style with the video I shot with the SR12 that sat alongside the TG1, it wasn't a huge difference and an acceptible loss. The SR12 was somewhat sharper and more 'open' in the store video. Now my house is probably not quite as brightly lit as the Sony store.

The video in fairly dim areas in my house began to get quite soft...not quite as bad as the Panasonic SD9, but moving in that general direction (not good). The colors also washed out long before the SR12's colors did. In this kind of lighting the SR12 looked professional next to the TG1's output. It was sharper, retained colors better and had less noise.

The other thing that surprised me was the difference in outdoor video. I shot only in the morning and it was somewhat cloudy to partly cloudy. But even there you could see the dynamic range of the SR12 was clearly superior as were the colors. The video of the TG1 seemed more 'compressed' amd more consumery although it was pretty noiseless. The whole A/B process really made me appreciate the SR12that much more. I did this same exercise when I had the Canon HF10.

Now keep in mind I'm very anal about video quality and what I found unacceptible you may find to be just fine. So just make sure you can return the TG1 if necessary. You may find it works just fine for your purpose.

Josh, you're right, that's what was upsetting. I thought, based on the video I shot at Sony Style, it would be really nice. Although I could see the difference in Sony Style with the video I shot with the SR12 that sat alongside the TG1, it wasn't a huge difference and an acceptible loss. The SR12 was somewhat sharper and more 'open' in the store video. Now my house is probably not quite as brightly lit as the Sony store.

The video in fairly dim areas in my house began to get quite soft...not quite as bad as the Panasonic SD9, but moving in that general direction (not good). The colors also washed out long before the SR12's colors did. In this kind of lighting the SR12 looked professional next to the TG1's output. It was sharper, retained colors better and had less noise.

The other thing that surprised me was the difference in outdoor video. I shot only in the morning and it was somewhat cloudy to partly cloudy. But even there you could see the dynamic range of the SR12 was clearly superior as were the colors. The video of the TG1 seemed more 'compressed' amd more consumery although it was pretty noiseless. The whole A/B process really made me appreciate the SR12that much more. I did this same exercise when I had the Canon HF10.

Now keep in mind I'm very anal about video quality and what I found unacceptible you may find to be just fine. So just make sure you can return the TG1 if necessary. You may find it works just fine for your purpose.

I just got my TG1 in the mail from UPS. I'll post my impressions tonight.

Ken Ross, I'm surprised to learn that IYO the TG1 performs "poorly" in good light. My criticsm of the TG1 is its lowlight abilities and its simplicity.



August, not 'poor', just not as good as the SR12. I thought the video outdoors would be nearly the same as the SR12, but IMO it wasn't. I just wasn't willing to take these hits in PQ in both good and poor light.

August, not 'poor', just not as good as the SR12. I thought the video outdoors would be nearly the same as the SR12, but IMO it wasn't. I just wasn't willing to take these hits in PQ in both good and poor light.Hmmm.

I tested the TG1 severely in low, ordinary light and then I decided that I was prepared to pay a little more for a slightly clunkier camera with better over all features.

While I didn't test it severely in strong light, I figured that the TG1 would perform about as well as the SR11/12 in good light. Your opinion argues otherwise.

(Bear in mind that the TG1 has the same optical chipset as the SR10.)

I think there's a point here. In general, the capture specs must be better than the delivery specs. I am planning to make standard 720p DVDs for people while keeping files for future editing. To get good 720p, one needs at least good 1080i. Underneath all, I reckon the SR11 with its 3810K native pixels just offers a better image than the TG1's 1430K image. Ken, you claim to be an image aficionado. I'm not. Yet, the difference between the TG1 and the SR11 is enough for my eye and I chose the pricier SR11.

In choosing the SR11 over the TG1, I sacrificed elegance, ease of use, size and price. My better half, who adores style, will have to ignore the SR11's buttons and clunkiness. I'm afraid what will happen when she holds the TG1 in her hand in a shop and understands that I rejected it. "I can put this one in my bag," she'll say.

She'll ignore the SR11's easier screen, mic plug, viewfinder, additional lenses, hard drive, better grip. "It's not that bigger," I'll say.

Above, some have mentioned the Canon HF-100/10 or HV-20/30. In my mind, there's no comparison because of sound. A modern camcorder must deliver good 5.1 sound. The full sound puts you in the picture and the TG1 and SR1 do that. As much as I like the non-AVCHD, dependable mini-DV world of Canon's HV, it only offers Dolby stereosound.

Sony's AVCHD works well now if you have a Duo PC and you use Vegas. To get the full 1080i effect, you need Blu-Ray or a PS3 or Vegas Pro.

Above, some mentioned the Panasonic SD-9. IMV, its image just wasn't right, compared to the Sony SR11 or TG1/SR10. To me, the colours of the SD-9 are too saturated. (I downloaded and edited several.) I decided that I didn't want to live in a 1950s world of extreme Technicolor. The SD-9 is a very good camera though and I almost bought it. I really liked the generic memory chip and its standard files.

At present, I'm in the market for a wide angle lens for my SR11.

I just got my TG1 in the mail from UPS. I'll post my impressions tonight.

...really anticipating your first impressions now that the holiday is over :confused:

...really anticipating your first impressions now that the holiday is over :confused:

I ended up having to work most of the Holiday...so hopefully I'll have some time tonight to post some clips on Vimeo.

I ended up having to work most of the Holiday...so hopefully I'll have some time tonight to post some clips on Vimeo.

Will you be able to post the raw MT2S files on Vimeo?

Just wanted to let you all know that I've not forgotten you!

I came down with a pretty bad sinus infection last week. Add this to a grueling week of work and I had zero time to do an arm-chair analysis of the camera. Hopefully, though, with a clear sinus and work calming down this week, I can post some .MTS files and make a comparison between the TG1 and the SR11/12.

All that said, here are my initial impressions. All test were shot with everything on Automatic Settings:

1.) As you've all read by earlier posters, the low-light performance can range from acceptably bad, to down-right abysmal. I took some footage of my two cats playing around at night in my apartment with just the TV and one ceiling light on (no direct lighting). TONS of macro-blocking compression, noise, and non-black muddiness. In these situations, it's clear that the SR11/12's chip is far superior.

2.) The dynamic range behavior seems to vary depending on the circumstances. I have a few test shots of one of my cats (they are dark-gray in color), sitting on the kitchen's linoleum floor. The cat appears to be almost black, while the off-white linoleum seem to retain quite a bit of color-grading and texture. The camera just can't handle the detail in the cat's fur. However, from sitting across the room, zooming into the nightlight above the stove (an incandescent, clear-glass bulb, probably less than 30 watts), with all of the lights off in the apartment, the background falls off to a decently clean black; however, not as clean of black as the SR11/12 would provide. Contrast in these situations was pretty good, and I feel pretty happy with the results.

3.) The abundant light performance of this camera can range from excellent to acceptable. I agree with Ken that sometimes, even with tons of ambient light, there seems to be some grain in sections of the images. However, every now and then, I've found very little grain. For one test, I took the camera for a drive, setting it on the dashboard of my car, which is made of a soft plastic with a lot of texture in the material. With the broad-daylight hitting it, the detail was clearly rendered by the camera. Not surprisingly, when used in a macro-like fashion, with abundant light, the 2.3 MP CMOS sensor performance is impressive.

4.) The auto-focus is a bit sluggish all around, and, as you can expect, even more so in low-light. I would like a Cam Control dial as in the SR11/12, but this is an ultra-portable, so I'll make-do with the touch screen in a pinch.

5.) No NightShot feature. Adding this feature would make up for the weak low-light performance. I know, I know, it's a gimmick of a feature, but I really like this and use it a lot.

6.) I believe the SuperSteadyShot on this camera is electronic, and not optical, as some have reported. Being such a small camera that is subject to every movement of one's wrist, I think it does a pretty good job.

I took the TG1 with me when I went out with a few friends the other night. This was to primarily test the "portability" of the camera. Watching the footage later I realized that these kind of circumstances really push the electronic image stability to it's limits.

7.) Don't even bother using the Smooth Slow Record mode if your light source is lacking; you won't see anything. However, I took a macro-shot of a candle burning from about 5 inches away. Looked great (duh).

8.) For an all-day excursion of videography, be sure to bring one or two extra batteries. You're going to get about 45 mins. of typical continuous recording time, or about 100 minutes of video playback. Also, my first tests were out shooting with the supplied 4 GB card, which is only good for 25 mins. of footage at the highest quality. Buy some 8 GB cards, or even the new 16 GB Memory Stick if you can afford to. Having to lug around a laptop to dump the card constantly defeats the purpose of having an ultra portable camcorder.

9.) Overall, this is great compact camcorder. It'd be nice if the low-light performance was better, but I'm personally okay with taking a hit in quality to have something I can literally slip into my pocket. I foresee myself using this camera in outdoor situations for the most part (the primary reason I bought this camera is to take it above 10,000 ft. when I go hiking in Colorado each year [SR11/12 will not operate in high-altitudes due to the hard disk drive design limits]).

Additionally, I'll be taking a trip to Vegas in about a month. Surely this will be an all-out HDR-TG1 Torture Test. And, hopefully, I'll get those .MTS files uploaded soon. Thanks for listening!

I had a quick moment to post a clip on Vimeo.com from the TG1. It's the not original .MTS file, but it is a good example of a TG1 clip in average lighting conditions:

http://vimeo.com/1114768

I was really hoping to get this corder because its superb size, but now I'm not sure anymore

They image quality is ok, but I expected a bit better, and the price is still a bit steep. I think it would be worth it at $600, so maybe I should just wait for the inevitable deep discounts. Otherwise, I would probably go for the Canon which is about twice the volume, but much better PQ. Most of my use is really vacationing or events, but I still want reasonable indoor capability. The other disappointment is battery life.

Decisions decisions.

I was really hoping to get this corder because its superb size, but now I'm not sure anymore

They image quality is ok, but I expected a bit better, and the price is still a bit steep. I think it would be worth it at $600, so maybe I should just wait for the inevitable deep discounts. Otherwise, I would probably go for the Canon which is about twice the volume, but much better PQ. Most of my use is really vacationing or events, but I still want reasonable indoor capability. The other disappointment is battery life.

Decisions decisions.

I've been pretty surprised about the battery life. I was expecting much worse, but I can get about a full hour of continuous recording. And the Sony NPFH50 spare batteries can be had for under $40.00 on Amazon.com, and are pretty small to carry with you.

On another note, I've made an interesting discovery. The HDR-TG1 and HDR-SR10 both use Sony 1/6th-inch, 2.3 MP CMOS sensor. However, reading up on the specs, apparently the effective pixel count is only around 1.45 MPs. Now, taking 1920 x 1080, you get 2,073,600 pixels. Does this mean the TG1 is blowing up 1.4 MPs to make it fit in a full HD frame? Something sounds fishy here...

Yeah, I have been wondering about the pixel thing myself.

I am thinking they have to be using the same sensor as the SR10 - no way they designed a custom sensor for TG1.

So one explanation is even though the sensor is 1920 x 1080, because they are boxing it for the electronic image stabilization, then they have less pixels in the box, say 1440 x 1000 (it makes sense to have more pixels on the sides).

Or another explanation is that due to the small form factor, the lens simply doesn't have the width to cover out to 1920 pixels, so they just don't illuminate the edges of the sensor.

Whatever the reasons, if the TG1 is a 1.45Mps effective pixel video camera, then this means they are interpolating up to 1920 x1080.

This combined with the smoothing function of the EIS might start to explain why the TG1 has such a soft picture compared to other HD cameras.

I wanted to get my brother an HD camcorder. He has two young children, so this would mostly be for home movies. I debated between the Sony TG1 and Canon HF100. They're both great cameras for how large they are. But the Canon wouldn't always be convenient. A great camera that requires a bag instead of a pocket is going to get used much less frequently. So that's why I was looking at the Sony. But the Sony is expensive, and it doesn't double as a still camera very well.

Anyway, what I think I'll do is get him the Canon HF100 and the Samsung NV24HD. The Samsung is a tiny 10-megapixel camera with a great 1280 x 720p movie mode. (h.264, 30 fps @ ~7 Mbps, 48 kHz AAC audio) Its video quality is a good step down from the Sony's, certainly, but the Samsung is a lot smaller and cheaper. I surely wasn't going to buy him the Canon *and* the Sony. But I can buy the Samsung and the Canon for as much as the Sony alone. The Sony is just too narrow of a niche.

Any thoughts?

Somewhat relatedly, I'm getting him a Popcorn Hour network video player / NAS for storing and playing the videos. It's a great device.

I debated between the Sony TG1 and Canon HF100. They're both great cameras for how large they are. But the Canon wouldn't always be convenient. A great camera that requires a bag instead of a pocket is going to get used much less frequently.

I was thinking along the same lines sometime ago. I ended up getting the Sony TG1 for the simple reason that I would be able to use it more. It is very easy to take with you in your pocket and produces some great video. I don't think that any consumer HD camcorder in the market today can match the performance of a good still camera for stills.

Initially, I had considered buying the Samsung NV24HD over the Sony TG1 myself.

I looked at some of the videos of the Samsung NV24HD posted on the web (Vimeo, etc.), and the video quality was pretty poor.

Add to that, I read multiple reviews claiming that as a camera, the N24HD picture quality is not that great either.

So you might want to look at a Canon powershot, or something like that for the camera portion.