Sony SR1 review and compared to Sony HC3

This is sort of like two or three reviews in one (hc3 and Sr1 and UX1).I tried the Ux1 AND NOW THE SR1 AND HC3 and CAN say with almost certainty that Sony has to work on the compression on SR1 and UX1 type camera before this is the best in class for hd quality video. The SR1 camcorder is well made with fantastic options like focus ring which can also control exposure. Why Sony didn't include a very fast easily accessible button to control exposure without going into menus on most of their camcorders like Canon does really is anyones guess now ( hint Sony but the option to control exposure with focus ring is about as good). Ironically the SR1 with the harddrive and HD quality would be other peoples guess for best camcorder to get. My experience with just one is that the harddrive is great, simply wonderful but of the three camcorders, it jumped more from compression and was harder to focus. So I rate it 3rd. With the hc3 they do the same thing with a toggle switch on front although there is no focus ring. I was surprised the toggle switch was so good but I didn't get a chance to test it the way I wanted with the UX1. There was a test , where I was testing the effectivness of the big focus ring with the Ux1 and it was night. I could not focus what I wanted in auto mode. Then I put on manual focus and a tad notch on the ring foucussed the picture in that no other cam could have done before this with hd at this price point. Now could the Hc3 have done that with the toggle switch? Maybe It was surpringly good, but I tend to think the UX1 was a tad better. In low light the UX1 was suppose to be better also , that according to a review I read. What the Hc3 has in its favor is recording with mini dv and that has its definitive advantages because of lack of compression and more hd receiving pixels ( I foget the adjective they use for that).. Whether that is worth paying more for then the better low light and focus ring and dvd recording ability has to be weighed by personal choice and preference. My HC3 had good low light exposure, and here in also might be a problem because in bright light it tends to slightly white out and it was so brite so you have to use exposure compensation too fast. I didn't have that problem with the other two camcorders. .Oon the HC3 If you tilt the camcorder to low light it automatically adjusts to brighter exposure and its really cool but at the same time, that brightness tends to get in the way of the color and proper exposure outside as I found myself having to custom adjust the settings too often! It took me a few weeks to sort this negative out but one way is to use exposure compensation in toggle swtich up front.. The definition and clarity is fantastic. The color is good to fair not good to great., but something about the brightness level that makes outside video not colorful enough I can't describe . There is definitive noise surprisingly with the HC3 inside.Something I didn't expect because of less compresion. The noise was a tad worse then the other two. So you now see all these little things make testing your cam out and your own preferences almost more necessary before deciding which camcorder you want. I think if your paying anywhere less then 600 you will like either of the three camcorders. I just think when you add it all up in the end of the day I liked the UX1 even with the compression.
Now about the SR1 Anyway everything about the sr1 is fantastic except the video which some websites caution people about before getting because of the format and compression in video. First the one thing the SR1 and UX1 and HC3 have in common is the chip and frankly for the money Sony is asking it only works on the HC3 on a satisfactory level, but not exactly as well as the best in the consumer market right now. To me all three are worth a good $500 at best because the color to me is JUST not that good and there is a bit too much noise inside even on the HC3 as reviews point out. but heck if you can't afford the canon hv20, for 300 dollars more which is way better in many people eyes, then splurge for this HC3 but the HC3 is an excellent camera if you read about all the niches and can handle custom settings.. In auto setting outside just not satisfied. I am a demanding consumer and frankly if I had to buy one of these it would be the canon but between the Sonys (ux1, sr1 or the hc3) I would buy the HC3 or UX1 and I will tell you why, further into this review.
Sr1 format is not easy to edit at this stage. Second there is a tad too much compression and video blooming or moving that makes me wonder if in fact its the worse of all three Sony models I mentioned for jumpiness and compression. .I can't recommend this and the SR1 makes me want to see sharper video not jumpy video, or its just too slow to focus, ( can't decide which is it). But having said that some others may not see that, I did. Sonys use of harddrive is geneius as its a very easy and fun way to use and record video with (even if you have a hard time transferring hd quality at this point in time) and its so much fun the way the camcorder operates and glides onto your computers harddrive to save the files. its so effortless and intuitive, no books or manuals to read if you have windows xp. The Sony Sr1 is almost as intuitive to use, as long as you have a usb port and at least a windows xp connection. This connects to your high def tv or computer easily. Everything about this camcorder is exceptional except the compression as some web sites have mentioned. I am here to confirm that many people might enjoy the great video anyway but the problems are enough for me to not want to spend the big bucks needed to buy this and I strongly advise to do your own tests. I had an opportunity to buy at much less then cost and still didn't want it. The color like the UX1 and HC3 with this chipset ( same) leaves a tad too much blandness for me especially on the sd computer end of the video and sony could have increased the color scheme but it maybe the limits of the chipset also. I still love Sony camcorders though.
I have since gotten the Hc3 and UX1 and I am relatively happy because thats all I can afford, and utltimately I will pick from one of these . The Hc3 is suppose to have better bit ratios of 25 compared to SR1's 18 which is like( I assume) the equivalent to dots and pixels for digital cameras maybe?...Although....The sr1 to me had better resolution and tad more color then the hc3 but its not that noticeable since they all use the same chip. Bottom line is the SR1 with all the features is easier to use, more substantial to hold, has tons of options, and is arguably a better camcorder with a manual focus ring and fantastic hard drive but the hc3 had a slightly better picture but without the better menu or focus ring or control options or harddrive of the sr1. Ps as I had an open box maybe I just got an open box with bad focus. The HC3 can easily though be a camcorder many would like to own and its easily the better camcorder for performance of the three Sony's here (although this updated and now got a grea UX1 its hard to tell. For camcorder makers to give you anything less, to me is too bad.
Two of my biggest complaints by F A R from both camcorders and ultimately this chip is lack of color that one might expect. and compression. sure its ok and on the hc 3 can increase the intensity but compared to bigger chip camcorders the color and exposure is less then thrilling.Its good , don't get me wrong- and the definition and clarity is great, (yes very great) its just when you see great tv broadcast on tv, this is not it! the colors are flat . I just can't envision this being good enough for a $6oo to 1100 dollar camcorder but then again if they were all that with great color, the price range might not be where it is now on ebay. You have to ask yourself if high definition is enough to want to pay more then the dv camcorder you have now. Truthfully there is not allot of difference to me when you hook this up to tv and with lower end dv cam like the hc 26 models. I mean they are better camcorders but the hype about hd is well a bit overrated but now we are getting off topic. The other thing is the zoom , which is weak, combine the two things and you will see why I will wait for next closeout prices for next crop of camcorders also but for four or five hundred , if you get to test one of these Sonys out, you can't go wrong Would I recommend one? perhaps the hc3 but it still has too much noise indoors and its color is not vivacious. Still I am sure many of you will shell out the 5 or 6 hundred to get it and I might not blame you but will you spend more for the SR1? If my experience is any indciation I hope not. You really can't go wrong with the hc3 and UX1 but Sony just couldn't complete the task of making it completely great., Your going to have to pay more for the next greatest consumer brands for that.Maybe the hc7 and canon models. Right now its a tight finish between the Hc3 and ux1 .