SONY To Introduce New HD camera???

According to an article on Wired Magazine's website, mention was made of SONY introducing a new HD camera to be revealed at the Sundance Film Festival. So far, no information has been made available.

I hope this is a sign of things to come - hopefully a lower priced HD camera for us "POOR" folks trying to get into HD.

Based on the venue, if there is an anouncement it will probably be a pro camera. If it was a lower priced consumer camera, they probably would have anounced at CES.

Sundance implies a camera aimed at indie film makers.

Just speculating, but if they do one, it could be an A1 replacement since they have started the big rebate.

That makes sense...

It's too bad that the current crop of HD cameras have such poor low light capabilities...

It still is pushing me towards a proven SD camera...

I just found an anouncement Sony professional made yesterday. I suspect this is what was referenced.

It's a new XDCAM...16-25 thousand. Not exactly HD for the rest of us

XDCAM

umm - no kidding..

In a way..Thank Fook for that having just got my A1E.. But then again a newer low light version would have been good. But it would have to fit the already designed housings. I'm not waitng for any longer, you hear that, No longer you bastards..HA HA HAAAAAAAA !!!!!

Ahem, sorry lost it for a while.

Dive safe

DeanB

This HD thing is enough to drive any creative person MAD! Mad I tell you.. ahem..

ok - I have regrouped now...

So question now is - if I shoot in 16x9 SD, will the results be similar to shooting HD?

The lack of options for affordable HD right now has me beginning to lose sleep - I have a couple of small projects I am contemplating and wonder if I can get by with SD for the time being. HD is still outside my budget, but I am beginning to wonder if I should just give up on the idea of video - and miss these projects due to the entry cost for HD...

Hi freediver,

Fill us in on those projects. e.g for your own use, for a company..Paid non paid etc..etc... Maybe with a bit more background we can fire some idea's at you.

Dive safe

DeanB

First project is a full blown freediving training DVD and written manual. I am being asked by one of the top freedive instructors in the world to work with him on the creation of the very first full instructional video for proper freediving. Although not the first, this person is world reknowned for his world travels for science as well as a better understanding of proper freedive technique. I spent a week with him at The Blue Hole Fresh water Spring in New Mexico working out some of the details for this project. He is also one of the best mono-finners I have ever come across in freediving. As a precurser - I shot some rough QT clips on my Oly C3000 and currently am editing the clips along with audio scoring for a website ad for training in New Mexico with him. The second project will be water related, but not diving. An instructional DVD on how to properly operate a McKenzie River Drift boat. Will be spending time in shallow water and around it quite a bit.

The Freediving DVD is suppose to commence production sometime in March and post production is to be completed by mid April with final DVD's on sale by late May.

Since I will be freediving while shooting in the water, lighting the diver is out of the question - but the light in New Mexico at mid day is so good, lighting won't be needed from my initial rough video clips have shown. The low light level thing may not be an issue currently.

You can view the Windows Media file of the first draft of the web sites promo video along with custom composed soundtrack here. Format is 320x240 around 4 mb in size... Sorry for those on Dialup... Forgive the image quality - but it's all I had to work with at the time

Any feedback as well as thoughts on my dilemma would be greatly appreciated...

I think you would be fine with something like a 950. If you go HD you do the whole thing in HD and then downconvert to SD after and produce on DVD. THere are no DVDs for HD now not a lot of people who can play it. Using a 3CCD SD will be a lot quicker and easier, especially with rendering and converting.

Until the HD is more prevalent you are fine with SD

Thanks Mike - I appreciate you taking the time to answer...

Totally agree.

Although maybe a second hand DVCAM machine if you can get hold of one. Pd150 or the DVCAM version of the 950. Better quality footage. Also native 16:9 (I think) without checking.

But as I was told. You could be doing this all in glorious HDV downverted to DVCAM for the DVD but still have the original HD footage for later.

As usual it depends on your money situation.

Dive safe

And have a blast making the DVD !!!

DeanB

I'd say if you already have a camera you can sit with what you've got and look for a universal housing. If you are looking to invest in a cam I'd recommend going for an HDV cam. The dollar difference isn't that much when you are all done. I can't image an HC1 is more than $600 more than a TRV950. By the time you get the housing and other equipment that figure will be a distant memory.

That was something I had considered - I have an older Canon Vistura MiniDV camcorder that is actually not too bad considering it's age.

Does 16x9 natively and does have some additional features I like. About the only housing I can find currently for it is the ProPak 6 from Equinox.

Might be something to reconsider again..

Here is the HC3 on it's way.

http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content/Sony-...der-HDR-HC3.htm

Seems as though my thoughts on the state of HD are coming to pass - this is great news for those looking to get into HD - add that with the recently announced SANYO HD camera for $800 and things are looking good for the realm of underwater videographers looking to get into HD.