Sony camcorder - can you spot it?!

[harrymotion]

Really need some help identifying what this camera is (model).



Please help! Thanks!

[charlie_tango]

It really looks like a Sony HVR-A1U

[harrymotion]

Angel superstar! Thanks mate.

how does it compare to something like an HV40? any good? I guess the key difference is XLR sound??

[chico_stang]

That's definitely a A1U. I had the "consumer" version of that camera, the HC1. Compared to an HV40, my opinion is that it is only better in terms of construction, appearance, the fact that it has some buttons to control a few things, a proper focus/zoom ring and the A1U has pro XLR inputs plus mic which obviously means better sound than the HV40. Having said that the HV40 beats it in evry other category. It shoots both progressive (30p, 24p) and interlaced (the Sony shoots only 60i). The image quality the Canon produces is just superior in every way. The Sony is just too noisy, even in good light. In this day and age I would choose the HV40 over it even if it means sacrificing the form factor, appearance, and other stuff that obviously is better on the Sony. Overall I'd say the Canon is a better cam.

[cgbier]

I have that Sony. The only advantage it has are the two XLR and the viewfinder. I use it less and less since I have my HV30, and only in good light.

Don't buy it! For what it offers it is too expensive. It is already minimum 3 generations old.

[cgbier]

.... and don't think about changing tapes when the cam is on a mono- or tripod. The bottomloader design makes a more solid body than the Canon toploader to the price that changing tape costs you more time.

Successor for this cam is the JVC HM100.

[chico_stang]

.... and don't think about changing tapes when the cam is on a mono- or tripod. The bottomloader design makes a more solid body than the Canon toploader to the price that changing tape costs you more time.

I forgot about that one... A pain to change tapes, specially if the cam is on a tripod.

[Bob Sanders]

That's definitely a A1U. I had the "consumer" version of that camera, the HC1.

The OP isn't asking about the HC1.
And I should HOPE the HV40 beats it in AT LEAST a few categories given the age difference between these cams.

[cgbier]

A few? Bob, you ever used that thing?

[chico_stang]

Bob, sorry, but the HC1 has to do with this topic. Why? The HC1 is basically the same camcorder as the A1U, only thing it doesn't have is the bigger lens hood, XLR inputs + mic, and a few other small features. Specs wise, they are the same. Image quality is the same. I had it and it is not better than the HV40, not by a long shot. Sure, it has a better looking body, a focus ring, and feels better constructed, more solid, but when it comes to the image quality there is no comparison. And I understand that there is an age difference. But the OP wanted to know how these cameras compare.

[harrymotion]

Everyone, thanks very much for that feedback. In this case I'm pleased to be a proud owner of a superior image quality camcorder, the HV40, which has always served me excellently with my Rode Videomic. I was wondering into the comparison because a professional colleague of mine made a feature film on the A1 (or its consumer counterpart) and I wondered if I was equally-matched to her. The answer is clearly yes from your guys feedback!

Thanks again.

[cgbier]

professional colleague

They have been the staple cam for news gathering some years ago, especially for extreme run and gun. CNN had ordered a thousand of them (was somewhere in the news).

[drapeama]

In this case I'm pleased to be a proud owner of a superior image quality camcorder, the HV40, which has always served me excellently with my Rode Videomic.

You got a nice setup already. If you really want to improve your actual setup, get en external audio recorder, like a ZoomH1, and boom your audio, you'll definitively get better results. Use your Videomic as an "on-cam" microphone and get a good XLR mic to boom your audio and record with your H1.
I'm using 2 great microphones from audio-technica : MB4K and ATM650 (~100$ each). I'm also using a JuicedLink preamp with these mic to "boost" the volume a bit and i'm recording with a ZoomH2. Check in the "mic you bought & why" thread, i've posted a video comparing these microphones (and 3 others) recently. You'll get a good idea.

[HueyNRolf]

I guess the key difference is XLR sound??

Just for the record. XLR is a connector which is more robust than a TRS jack.

Usually, they're used for balanced signal runs, to reduce the risk of signal interference over long cables. Of course, if you do as they are in the picture. Then it's irrelevant.

Phantom power is also common on devices which have XLR connectors, but there's no such thing as 'XLR sound.'

[drapeama]

Usually, they're used for balanced signal runs, to reduce the risk of signal interference over long cables. Of course, if you do as they are in the picture. Then it's irrelevant.

Even with that cable length? I always thought that it was for longer cable length, unless you're under an electrical pylon...or very close (3feet and less) to an electrical source (wall switch, neon lights, etc...)

[HueyNRolf]

Yes, Draps. The risk of signal interference gets greater with longer cables. In the picture, the microphone is on the camera (cringe), so very little risk.

[cgbier]

My physics class from high school is quite a while ago. How is it the @#$%& 20' cable on the ATR3350? If I coil that up (H1 on the belt, mic on the shirt, cable coiled up in the pants pocket), wouldn't that be like an amplifier for the interferences? The coil, I mean.

[Bob Sanders]

The coil, I mean

Most definitely.
Mic cables however (along with any line level audio cable) are shielded. The positive wire(s) is run INSIDE the ground wire, which acts as a shield to interference. Now this isn't ABSOLUTE 100% protection, but cables can be run (or coiled) for some pretty great distances without TOO much worry. In fact (in an average environment) you would probably have to worry about signal loss due in long cable runs more than you would electromagnetic interference.

[Bob Sanders]

Usually, they're used for balanced signal runs, to reduce the risk of signal interference over long cables. Of course, if you do as they are in the picture.

That's certainly true to a certain extent... but for the most part the push-pull effect of a balanced signal is more for signal loss problems over the greater distances. Any cable can be considered a resistor of sorts and the longer it is the greater the resistance. The greater the resistance, the greater the signal loss. If a signal is being 'pushed' AND 'pulled' then it has a better chance of running longer distances without boosting.

[HueyNRolf]

a balanced signal is more for signal loss problems over the greater distances.

Wrong.

[Bob Sanders]

Any time you're ready to prove that... you let me know.

Of course you used that same word on the 24bit thread didn't you

[HueyNRolf]

The chief advantage of the balanced line format is good rejection of external noise

Or is it?

balanced signal is more for signal loss problems over the greater distances.

Source
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balanced_line

Maybe your confusing it with low vs high impedance mics, Bob?

Low-impedance microphones are preferred over high impedance for two reasons: one is that using a high-impedance microphone with a long cable results in high frequency signal loss due to cable capacitance, which forms a low-pass filter with the microphone output impedance

Source
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microphone

So we have the wisdom of Wikipedia vs the wisdom as pulled out of Bob's arse. Maybe Wiki isn't perfect, but I know which one I'd rather trust.

[Bob Sanders]

Fair enough my man... you win one.

Odds say that it had to happen sooner or later.

[HueyNRolf]

Fair enough my man... you win one.

Odds say that it had to happen sooner or later.

That's worth three of them

[cgbier]

Bob, that was not my question and was BS. There's no signal loss in a 20' cable (see HnR's answer). Especially with a powered mic.