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A 24p HD PD170? Go things may come in small packages...
In early November, a Sony product manager delivered a preproduction HVR-Vl HDV camcorder, one of seven then floating around the country. The camera came bubble-wrapped in an aluminum camera case covered with Japanese shipping stickers. It lacked a serial number placard (instead, it had a yellow labelmaker label saying simply "PV ENGINEERING, TOKYO"), an instruction manual, and an A/V cable. Although the mechanical fit and finish were up to Sony's usual standards, the firmware and performance were a wee bit inconsistent, so this first look will focus more on the camera's design, operation, and unique imager, and less on performance measurements.
Design and operation
Take the notable aspects of the HVR-Zl (a big three-CCD HDV camcorder, reviewed May '05 DV) and the HVR-AI (a small single-CMOS HDV camcorder, reviewed July '06 DV), mix them together, pour them into a PDl 70-shaped mold, and you have the Vl . It's the first three-chip HD camcorder I've used that has the handling of a three-chip DV camcorder. At 3 pounds 6 ounces, it's 2 ounces lighter than my PDl 50 (the PDI 70's look-alike predecessor), and dimensionally it's almost an exact match. One big change: the side handgrip is placed farther forward on the Vl than on the PDI 50/PD1 70, so the fore/aft balance of the camera is perfect, and, as with the PDl 70, the camera is narrow enough that you won't overstress your wrist keeping horizons level. Both the handgrip and the underside of the carrying handle are lined with elastomer resin for a sure grip. It feels almost like suede and positively invites handling.
The 20x lens has free-spinning servo zoom and focus rings, just like the PDI 70; selector buttons on the rear panel for white balance, gain, and shutter speed, just like the PDI 70; a bayonet-mount sunshade with lever-operated shuttered lens cap, just like the PDI 70; and a handle-mounted audio control pod with dual XLR inputs and a fitting for a short shotgun mie, just like the PDI 70. But the resemblance stops there. The PDI 70's iris wheel is positioned amidships, but the Vl moves it to just behind the zoom ring, with the auto/manual...