Sony Announces HVR-V1U: New HDV Camera with 1080/24p Scanning

By Beth Marchant

September 19, 2006    Source: Studio Daily

Coming on the heels of Sony Europe’s announcement of the HVR-V1E and companion hard-disk drive during IBC, Sony U.S.A. this morning introduced the HVR-V1U HDV camcorder and HVR-DR60 hard-disk drive. The camera’s most notable new feature is, like the European version, 1080/24p true progressive scanning and a three-CMOS sensor design. 4:2:2 color sampling is achieved through Sony’s own Enhanced Image Processor and users can save and load camera settings via Memory Stick Duo.

Like the earlier and slightly larger Z1U, the new model features a Carl Zeiss Vario-Zonnar T* lens, though this version has increased the zoom to 20x from 12x. A wide-angle adaptor is also available.

The HVR-DR60 drive can record up to 60 GB of material, or roughly 4.5 hours of HDV compressed footage, and transfers at a rate of approximately 80 Mbps. The drive recognizes both HDV (.m2t) and DV (.avi) formats and functions in SBP2 mode when transferring files to a computer for editing. Users attaching it to the V1U can also record to a standard miniDV HDV tape loaded in the camera and to the hard drive simultaneously. Sony is offering what it calls “HDD Smart Protection,” a triple-layer of drop-and-tumble insurance that features a sensor for detecting drop-outs, a 14-second buffer memory that keeps recording and a shock absorber that protects the drive from falls up to about 3 feet. It also uses the same battery, the NP-F970, that works in the PD170.

The camera and drive, tentatively priced at $4,800 and $1,800, respectively, are scheduled to begin shipping in December.

Look for a "First Look" review by Douglas Spotted Eagle, who has been shooting with the camera for the past several weeks, in Studio/monthly's upcoming October issue.