Sony has announced 4 new HD Camcorders to be available by the end of Feb...

http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_BrowseCatalog-Start?CategoryName=dcc_DICamcorders_HighDefinitionVideo&Dept=cameras

I'm wondering if the HC7 is using the same or similar technology as Sony uses in the Panavision Genesis?

http://www.panavision.com/product_detail.php?maincat=1&cat=36&id=338&node=c0

The Genesis is also a single sensor camera which allows it to use conventional 35mm lenses and gear. Films I've seen shot with it looked great and you wouldn't know it was a single sensor camera.

Now if they'd target the student filmmaker market a little more and give us a true 24fps instead of a 24fps "effect."

I guess what I want to know is how it compares to the
SR1 and the UH1. I will be anxiously awaiting for the first in depth field test/bench test of this camera.

Mike

Very cool.

I'm looking forward to seeing the HC5 and HC7 reviews.
No wonder the prices on the Hc3 have been down in the 1000 range....

I bought the HC3 last month as I was concerned that HDV camcorders were being phased out. When Sony announced the HC7 I boxed up my HC3 and returned it. I'll end up paying more for the HC7 but hopefully the reviews will be very posititive and it'll be worth the extra $$$.

So the sony site says this will record to DVD with the same quality as MiniDV. Is this true?

I sold my HC3 as well, a good camera but the HC7 adds a lot of features I really missed, mic jack, headphone jack and optical image stabilization.

I wonder how good the still shots will be on the 7? Rated at 6.1 megipixal wich is plenty if the sensors and optics work well for still it would be nice to take just one piece of eqpt on vacation.

I sold my HC3 as well, a good camera but the HC7 adds a lot of features I really missed, mic jack, headphone jack and optical image stabilization.

I think the mic input on the HC7 is going to make it s storng seller, there are so many comments on forums that its missing on the HC3 - who wants to spend $1000 on a camcorder with no input?

Also, with HD, your production quality comes up and its natural to want the sound quality to match the picture!

Paul

I think the mic input on the HC7 is going to make it s storng seller, there are so many comments on forums that its missing on the HC3 - who wants to spend $1000 on a camcorder with no input?

Also, with HD, your production quality comes up and its natural to want the sound quality to match the picture!

Paul

Many on this forum make a big deal out of having a great mic input on these consumer HD cams. The reality is vast majority of the public do NOT care about the sound quality beyond acceptable. Last year over 90% of the audio systems sold (dollar wise) in the States had speakers less than 1cm in size. They were called MP3 players and iPods. On the other hand over 80% of the TVs sold (dollar wise) last six months were digital HDTVs. That gives you the idea that most people continue to be impressed by HD PQ while care less about SQ beyond decent. And I can tell you that out of few dozen people I showed my HD footages to all were blown away by its PQ yet NONE mentioned lack of SQ even though I could here imperfections in the sound tracks.

So for vast majority of consumers SQ in these HD cams is no issue, and for a majority of users on this forum it is a make or break issue. But if I were a manufacture who should I listen to? I think the answer is an easy one.

I was thinking about purchasing an HC3, but it looks like I'm going to have to wait...

here is a random question on the mic jack topic:

Is it common for the latest consumer handheld camcorders that DO have mic jacks to be capable to mix the external audio (mic) with the built in cam mic?

I'm really wondering if the HC7 will let you do this, as thats a feature that will make or break purchase for me....

I have not used consumer handhelds much with mic inputs and have never really noticed if they let you mix the audio. I've gotta assume they do, right?

I don't know of any that let you mix the internal mic with an external mic during the live shoot. I seriously doubt the HC7 would allow this, but I guess we have to wait for the manual to be released to know for sure.

I have the HC3, but don't see too much benefit in upgrading to the HC7 if it also shoots at 1440x1080 like the HC3. Could be why Sony doesn't have the "Full HD" logo stamped on it.

I use the Sony ECM-HGZ1 Gun Zoom microphone with my HC1. It connects to the shoe and well worth the investment. The camera mic due to where it is tends to pick up your breathing which is annoying. If you buy a camera that has a microphone that actually points forward then it may be less of an issue.

I also recommend a wide angle adapter to anyone shooting a lot of family gatherings as it is often difficult to get a good shot with the camera lens in tight spaces. I use the Sony VCL-0637-S and there is a setting on the camera for using the wide angle adapter which corrects any fish eye effect.

I wonder when we will see any reviews.

The newly announced Sony HD camcorders are due to be released sometime around mid to end of February.