Hireacamera.com - Sony HC1 - camera hire, camcorder hire, digital camera hire, camera accessory hire

The ultra-compact HDR-HC1 Handycam® camcorder fits comfortably in your hand, while delivering high-definition picture quality and lighting detail on both video and digital still images.

The HDR-HC1 features Sony's CMOS imaging sensor technology, designed to deliver faster image processing speeds for richer colours, more vivid detail, and significantly less glare from reflected light. The Carl Zeiss® Vario-Sonnar® T* lens further enhances image clarity and richness, even when shooting in low light.

The HDR-HC1 also features a 2.7-inch wide hybrid, touch-panel LCD screen¹ to access menu options. You can switch between 16:9 and 4:3 aspect ratios (in DV mode) to see exactly how your content will be viewed on television. Other convenient features include fully automatic controls, a built-in microphone for audio quality, an intelligent pop-up flash, and Super SteadyShot® image stabilization. You can even record your own high definition video in complete darkness with Sony's Super NightShot® Infrared System, which adds the greatest amount of range and detail to your images in low- to no-light conditions.

Key features

	1080i high definition video recording and playback
	1/3" CMOS sensor with the Enhanced Imaging Processor
	Carl Zeiss® Vario-Sonnar® T* lens with 10x optical and 120x digital zoom
	2.7" wide (16:9) hybrid touch panel Swivelscreen™ LCD display
	Super Steadyshot® Stabilization
	Analogue In
	Super Night Shot

1/3" Wide (16:9) CMOS Sensor; 3,000K Pixels (gross)
1/3" CMOS Sensor provides stunning detail and clarity with exceptional video (up to 530 lines of horizontal resolution in SD Mode) and still image performance. Unlike traditional CCD Imagers, CMOS Sensors require less power, providing better battery performance. It also features the Enhanced Imaging Processor for improved video performance.

HDV Recording Format
From the innovators in camcorder technology, Sony’s HDR-HC1 camcorder is the industry's smallest and lightest HDV1080i consumer level camcorder and player. Now you can record all your memories in true high-definition video.

Switchable HDV/DV Format Recording
The HDR-HC1 is capable of recording and playing back both High Definition and Standard Definition video recorded on a standard MiniDV cassette.

Real-time HD Codec Engine
A Sony developed Real Time MPEG Encode/Decode system with reduced in energy consumption and compact size to fit inside a personal camcorder. Provides efficient MPEG2 compression, and recording and playback of clear HD images at the same bit rate of the DV format, so that High Definition video can be recorded on the same cassettes as are used for MiniDV recording.

10X Optical / 120X Digital Zoom Carl Zeiss® Vario-Sonnar® T* Lens
From the authority in lens technology, the Carl Zeiss® Vario-Sonnar® T* lens provides a high quality 10x optical zoom which maintains image clarity and colour while reducing glare and flare.

2.7" Wide (16:9) Hybrid Touch Panel SwivelScreen™ LCD Display (123K Pixels)
Provides excellent viewing clarity with improved resolution. The 123K pixel LCD display makes images sharp and detailed during playback or when monitoring recording. The Hybrid LCD Screen provides accurate viewing in sunlight or bright light, virtually eliminating the "washout" common with traditional LCD Screens.

Super SteadyShot® Image Stabilization System
Picture stabilization system that uses motion sensors to detect and compensate for camera "shake" without compromising picture quality like some other digital stabilization systems.

Manual Zoom and Manual Focus Ring
Selectable zoom and focus ring provides precise and detailed control over the amount of zoom and the overall focus of the image with just a turn of the rings. Fast, intuitive framing when zooming, and finely detailed focusing is easy with the natural "feel" of the rings.

Expanded Focus Indicator
The camera's LCD image is magnified, temporarily, up to 4X its original size without any loss of distortion. This allows the user more finite control while focusing the camera for greater detail and clarity.

Cinematic Mode
Perfect for creating your own movie masterpieces, the HDR-HC1 Cinematic mode lends frame film-like (24 frames) effect to your recordings.

i.LINK®² DV Interface (IEEE1394)
A high speed bi-directional digital video/audio communication between two compatible devices equipped with an IEEE1394 interface, including camcorders, digital VCRs, and PCs.

Shot Transition
Allows for a smooth automatic scene transition. Settings for focus, zoom, iris, gain, shutter, and white balance can be set to the A/B button and a smooth transition will take place according to the set time. This function enables the focus to gradually shift from the front of the screen to a deeper part of the screen. Thus the iris enables a smooth change of depth of field.

Tele Macro Function
Useful for shooting close up shots, but without having the camcorder casting a shadow on the subject. Images shot in the Tele Macro Mode will have the subject properly focused with the background unfocussed so that the subject stands out.

Built-in Pop-up Intelligent Flash
For added clarity and detail when taking pictures in low-light situations, the built-in flash improves pictures and reduces shadows.

What do we think?