Sony HD HC3

Hi

There is an ITworld review

First look at Sony's new HD camcorder

http://www.itworld.com/Comp/2505/060301sonycamcorder/

dated January 06

Seems as though the new chip handles lower light.

If anyone hears of underwater housings coming on stream for this I would appreciate a post

Thanks

mack

from the review

"The HC3 can capture images down to 11 lux, which improves on 15 lux on the HC1, so if anything this low-light performance should be an improvement."

11 lux is still high for a UW camcorder and I was really surprised to read that the HC1 was 15 lux! I'm not sure how people are finding this in practise. I've read a number of people are now using the HC1 so it will be interesting to get some feedback after they have had time to evaluate its capabilities.

15!!!!!

My A1 is rated at 7lux..

The beautiful Stoney Cove was apparently 2-3 metres viz and 3.9oc today according to my mate..Brrrrrr. "where am I" I think I'll test the low light capability in that. As well as it being cloudy, should be a good test.

Dive safe

DeanB

Obviously that 7 is more 15 LOL. I think this just shows Sony rushed the H-series out to met the cheapo HDV crowd. And like suckers we bought it. Otherwise how could there be a $500 rebate after 6 months. A3 will be following soon unfortunately.

The Japanese lux ratings are different than the US and others, and that article is from Tokyo. The Japanese lux rating for the FX1 is 6, US is 3. Here's an old forum post that I remembered. Seems the Japanese rating is 2X higher.

That's because Japan has a government standardized rating for lux. So there's no "fudging" of numbers unlike the ROTW.

As long as the next in the A series fits my housing I won't worry.

Dive safe

DeanB

Scubadru is correct. Japan has a more stringent and standardized rating system than does the USA so their lux rating is more accurate. The A1U is rated at 7 lux but that might be a 12 in Japan. Either way, in my opinion, one really shouldn't use the lux rating as a major point for underwater work. If you are using a decent set of lights it makes it a non issue. For distant wide angle shots you can just modify your exposure setting to compensate for what you may feel is a dark shot. Both the HC1 and the A1U; the FX1 and the Z1U all have on screen histograms which can help you with setting proper exposure.

Steve B)

As long as the next in the A series fits my housing I won't worry.

 

Dive safe

 

DeanB

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well Dean, it'll fit... just not very well and the WB is probably somewhere else.

Scubadru is correct. Japan has a more stringent and standardized rating system than does the USA so their lux rating is more accurate.  The A1U is rated at 7 lux but that might be a 12 in Japan.  Either way, in my opinion, one really shouldn't use the lux rating as a major point for underwater work.  If you are using a decent set of lights it makes it a non issue.  For distant wide angle shots you can just modify your exposure setting to compensate for what you may feel is a dark shot.  Both the HC1 and the A1U; the FX1 and the Z1U all have on screen histograms which can help you with setting proper exposure.

Steve B)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Lux ratings are not the final word but it is a good indicator of how much gain noise there'll be in the picture once the light levels drop. Of course the US specs for lowlight king PD170 is 1 lux, in real Japan standards it's 3 lux.

Lights even out the playing field for closeups but for other work(WA or subjects that don't like light) with color correction filters (which rob up to 2 stops of light) the more sensitive camera is better as it will produce a cleaner picture.