White Paper 034 Addendum 23: Sony HVR-V1E

Alan Roberts

Abstract

Data for this addendum is taken from a short examination of oneproduction model of the Sony V1E HDV camcorder, physically very similarto (but smaller and lighter than) the HVR Z1 and FX1 HDV camcorders. Ithas 3 16:9 1""/4 cmos sensors of 1440x810 pixel dimensions (4.5mmdiagonal). It records HDTV using the HDV algorithm onto standard miniDV tapes (1080i and 1080psf), and SDTV using DVCAM format.

The camera is relatively light (about 1.5kg excluding battery) and hasan integral lens and viewfinder, with side lcd panel, and seems aimedat the middle to high-end consumer/low-end professional market ratherthan full broadcast, which would normally demand interchangeable lensesand better control.

It has internal menus for setting the performance, not as complex as ina full broadcast camera, but enough to control some of the importantfeatures, albeit only in ""on/off"" states. It is not suited tomulti-camera operation. It has analogue-only video outputs (componentsand SD-composite via a multi-pin connector and S-video SD) and digitsvia IEEE1394 Firewire (called i.Link by Sony). This alone puts thecamera in the consumer/semi-pro market, rather than broadcast, whichwould normally expect either HDSDI or BNC connectors for analogue.

The same assessment procedure was used as for other HD cameras, partlyattempting to get a good ""filmlook"", and the settings reflect that.However, because of the lack of internal test signals, and as a resultof some of the initial measurements, that approach was quicklyabandoned and efforts were directed at getting a decent colorimetricperformance from the camera. Assuming that a grading operation will beused in postproduction, the settings attempt to give the colourist areasonable exposure range, but this is inevitably wellshort of what afilm stock could be expected to deliver.

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