Sony HVR-V1 - Expert Reviews

Pros: Exceptional image quality, Plenty of modes and functions, Professional components and design

Cons: Daunting for first-time users, Mediocre stills mode, Prohibitive asking price.

Verdict: If you're an indie filmmaker with a medium-sized budget on your hands, you could do a lot worse than this consumer/professional hybrid camera.

Review summary: Sony's latest addition to its professional HDV camcorder lineup is the HVR-V1U. This camcorder is packed with a host of features designed for serious amateurs and budding professionals

Pros: Fast Sharp imaging Good color saturation Excellent user control over major camcorder features

Cons: Moderately high-priced Slow auto-focus response in certain circumstances

Verdict: The V1U is a well-built, feature-packed HDV camcorder capable of producing professional quality video.

Pros: Fast, Sharp imaging, Good color saturation, Excellent user control over major camcorder features

Cons: Moderately high-priced, Slow auto-focus response in certain circumstances

Review summary: It doesn't seem like that long ago that high-definition video was too technologically complicated to even consider. Over the past few years, the camcorder industry has not only made the technology readily available to almost any user group, but also ...

Verdict: High definition video, lightweight sturdy design, reasonable price tag... sounds like a winner to us.

Pros: Excellent overall video quality ; responsive focus and zoom

Cons: Menu navigation doesn't circle back ; useless manual ; anaemic audio support

Verdict: The Sony Handycam HDR-FX7 is an excellent high-definition camcorder from a video perspective, but it's less satisfying if you're an audio control freak