Looking for feedback on Sony HVR-A1U
by Rick Tejada Flores
on
May 10, 2008 at 3:49:15 am
I demo'd the camera, but still have some questions. Is there any way to tell when you open up the lens when it is going over 0db gain? Is the camera reliable? It seems like a touy, but I was very impressed with the picture quality.
Re: Looking for feedback on Sony HVR-A1U by Ryan Mast on May 10, 2008 at 5:37:02 am
Hi Rick,
I'm a big fan of the A1 -- it's been my primary camera for the past year and a half, and I really like it. Actually, I just demo'ed an A1 for a client this afternoon, and he wants to buy it now, too...
To answer your question... Gain, no, it doesn't give any indicators what the f-stop or gain level is. However, if you record something, then watch the tape back with Data Code turned on, the camera will show you what the settings were at the record time. So, by trial and error, I discovered that to set the camera right at 0 db, turn the exposure the whole way up, then push it down 6 notches. Unless you're recording in standard-def DV mode, never ever let the camera go into gain -- the extra noise wreaks havoc with the HDV codec. Better to boost the brightness in your NLE's color corrector. It is not good in low light -- if you're going to be shooting a lot of plays or something, try looking at the EX-1 or PD-170.
Reliable, yes. Very very reliable. I almost always use cheap Sony mini-dv tapes with it, and I can only remember 3 times that I got dropouts in all that time. Haven't had any problems with it eating tapes, even in bad environmental conditions. I think I had to reset it once when it started acting weird, but that was 10 months ago.
For the price range, it's a great workhorse. Quality is decent compared to its bigger siblings, like the Z1 -- I've used both together on projects, and they compare relatively well. The ability to shoot in SD standard aspect or anamorphic (or output either from an HDV tape) makes it very flexible and useful for someone starting out. It's annoying that some settings, like shutter speed and white balance, are set with the touch screen. The form factor is nice, though. If you take off the lens hood and XLR box on top, it's about the size of the handheld HC1, but if you put all the accessories back in, it looks like a professional camera. The XLR inputs with phantom power are VERY useful -- I think that's the main feature that takes the camera from consumer to prosumer territory. The included shotgun mic is a little noisy, so you might want to replace that at some point, but it's fine to start with.
Let me know if you have any questions! I've spent a lot of time shooting with this camera to use in Final Cut. Like any camera, it does have a couple of quirks (like no gain meter). But overall, it's seriously a fantastic little camera for the price.
OT: HDV and video gain "noise" by David Smith on May 12, 2008 at 1:44:23 am
[Ryan Mast]"never ever let the camera go into gain -- the extra noise wreaks havoc with the HDV codec."
I can't speak to that camera (thus the OT heading above) but I would respectfully disagree with the statement quoted above. I've been shooting with a Z1 for several years and am amazed at how well the images from that camera take gain, even at 9 or even 12db, and not introduce much noise at all. At 3 or 6db gain it's clean as can be. I don't doubt you're seeing the noise you report out of the A1, but I'd place the cause with the camera, not the HDV codec.
Re: OT: HDV and video gain "noise" by Ryan Mast on May 12, 2008 at 4:06:31 pm
My first shoot with a Z1 was an evening reception, where I had to crank the gain to 18db. The second shoot the next day was a morning wedding -- I forgot to turn the gain back down so I closed the iris to adjust exposure. I thought it looked almost unacceptable. Looked fine in SD, but I wasn't able zoom in at all (like I planned). Could've been the lighting, too, idk. The Z1 has better sensors, so it might not produce as much gain noise as the Z1.
But for the A1, I've actually tested the difference in the A1 between boosting gain in-camera, and boosting gain in post. Boosting in post generally produces less noise and fewer MPEGgy artifacts. The HDV compressor will work to accommodate the extra "detail" of the noise, and the overall image quality may drop. If you're in locked-down position, probably not so much, but if the image has a lot of motion, it increases the potential of introducing macroblocking. The difference is usually imperceptible in a downconversion to SD, but I think the difference is substantial in HD.
YMMV. The Z1 might have a better onboard HDV compressor, but IIRC from a paper from Sony about their HDV compressors in that generation, the Z1 and A1 have the same processor... but whatever. Whatever works for you. :-) Good color correction and good sound help a lot to lessen your audience's perception of the noise, anyway.
Re: OT: HDV and video gain "noise" by Douglas Spotted Eagle on May 12, 2008 at 4:20:18 pm
YMMV. The Z1 might have a better onboard HDV compressor, but IIRC from a paper from Sony about their HDV compressors in that generation, the Z1 and A1 have the same processor... but whatever
they share the same encoder algorithms, but the lenses and imagers are vastly different.
For me, I can't imagine using either camera at 18dB for anything I'd consider useful as a non-specialty shot. But as you say...YMMV.
I'm with you...repair levels/exposure in post when possible.
Douglas Spotted Eagle
VASST
Certified Sony Vegas Trainer
Aerial Camera/Instructor
Re: OT: HDV and video gain "noise" by David Smith on May 14, 2008 at 8:23:33 pm
[Ryan Mast]"for the A1, I've actually tested the difference in the A1 between boosting gain in-camera, and boosting gain in post. Boosting in post generally produces less noise and fewer MPEGgy artifacts."
I really should follow your example Ryan and do some tests. I'm a bit of a post chicken actually because I'm just not knowledgeable enough to get it right when I start to play with the image. Thanks for the inspiration, I will have to find the time to learn more about it.
Re: Looking for feedback on Sony HVR-A1U by Rick Tejada Flores on May 14, 2008 at 4:26:45 am
A couple of other things... the demo camera that I tried had a problem with the cassette insertion mechanism -- many time it would close, but not load. Also, when I tested it with the external mini shotgun, got a lot of noise, and couldn't tell if it was mike noise, or noise in the actual recording system.
Re: Looking for feedback on Sony HVR-A1U by Ryan Mast on May 14, 2008 at 4:35:29 am
Never had problems with the tape mechanism. Be aware, though, that the bottom-loading mechanism does pretty much require you to take it off a tripod before changing tapes. I just record directly onto a computer for long events, anyway.
Like I said, you'll want to replace the shotgun mic. It's noisy, but usable. Other mics are fine.
