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Sony HDR-UX1 reviewed
You know, if CamcorderInfo really wanted to write a shorter review of the Sony HDR-UX1, it probably should have hired Leo Tolstoy, who's always been known for his brevity. That said, we revel in doing the heavy reading for you; so what's the skinny on this high-def shooter? We're glad you asked, because here's the good news: CamcorderInfo enjoyed the cam's strong colors and even saturation, gave it bonus points for the multi-purpose ring control, and noted the respectable battery life, which topped out at barely over two hours. Further, the site says the revamped on-screen menus with two columns of options make the camcorder's on-screen controls a fair bit faster and easier to access. On the minus side, they were very disappointed with the serious noise issues probably caused by the AVCHD compression, particularly in bright light, and added that the problem is even "worse in low light." In addition, the lack of higher-end features like a shutter speed control mar an otherwise decent product. Overall, though, the site gave the $1400 HDR-UX1 (one of the first AVCHD cams on the market), its blessing as a "great camcorder." How do you like that -- a 13,000 word review summed up into four syllables.
Sony unveils HD options with HDR-UX1 AVCHD cam alongside HDD unit
AVCHD, the new recording format from Sony and Panasonic for saving HD video to 8-centimeter mini DVDs, is making its first appearance in Sony's new HDR-UX1 upper-class consumer cam. For the most part the camera mirrors its SD siblings, with a side mounted disc drive, sizable 3.5-inch fold-out LCD, 4 megapixel stills and 2.3 megapixel shots while recording video. The snazz here is that the new AVCHD cam uses dual-layer mini DVD-R discs, making room for a full hour of 1080i video. The HDR-SR1 mirrors the functions of its UX1 brother, but replaces the DVD drive for a 30GB HDD, but still manages long recording times with the AVCHD codec. Both cameras have a mic inputs and manual focus rings, making them more appealing to the discerning prosumer than most Sony cams of late. Of course, all this new format action and prosumer appeal comes at a price: the HDR-UX1 should drop in September for around $1,400, while the HDR-SR1 should appear in October for $1,500. [Via Camcorder Info]
