I have an FX-7, HD vs Minidv

Just got an FX-7 a few days ago from B&H.

To be frank, I am disappointed. I was expecting a night and day difference compared to my minidv TRV900, but that is not what I am seeing.

I have a 65" rear projection tv. Component for HD, no HDMI. Cable HD channels look great.

Camcorder is set for 1080 on record and playback. I did side to side recordings comparing 1080 and 480 and my TRV900. If someone told me Sony had a new upgraded minidv cam out, that is how I would describe what I am seeing.

Maybe I had my expectations set too high, but when people are raving about HDV, I am expecting something closer to what I see on cable HD, not a slight improvement over my TRV900.

Is there a chance the problem is with my FX-7 or are my amateur eyes not appreciating the difference ?

EDIT: Someone over on the sonyhdvinfo site said my problem is my tv. He said my tv is HD Ready and not a HDTV because it does not have a built in HD tuner/decoder. Is this true ? Can I buy an inexpensive external tuner/decoder ?

interesting remarks Ron, hopefully its your TV, sorry to hear about the disappointment

Is there a chance the problem is with my FX-7 or are my amateur eyes not appreciating the difference ?

EDIT: Someone over on the sonyhdvinfo site said my problem is my tv. He said my tv is HD Ready and not a HDTV because it does not have a built in HD tuner/decoder. Is this true ? Can I buy an inexpensive external tuner/decoder ?

I have been a long time follower of this forum. I have both a 900 and 950, and at some point want to get a HD camera. I do have several HD TV's with HD DVR's and Blu-ray, and know that you do not need a HD tuner to watch your FX7 connected with component at 1080i. The HD tuner is only to decode digital off the air signals. On your TV, do you have the component input set to 1080i?

Ron sounds like you have not got it displayed correct.

Here is something. I edit with twin 17inch LCD screens and it gets fed out via svideo to a normal TV. I will get a HD TV soon but for now the normal TV is just for colour and feel of the picture. Watching the full screen LCD and TV at the same time while editing there is a huge difference. Playing back HDV and DV on a the same timline there is no difference in quality on the TV as it can only handle 720/576 res but there is on the LCD screen.

Read you destruction manuals.

I unplugged my cable box component cables and plugged in the cam component cables, so I know it's not the tv settings.

Someone on the other board mentioned very similar issues when they 1st got their cam. They suggested using manual focus and shooting outdoors with plenty of light.

I do recall a few of you mentioning HD auto focus issues.

I got a return authorization today in case all else fails.

Ron

Component being Red, Blue & Green. ( High Quality)

Composite is Yellow, Red & White. (Low res)

A HD ready TV is not true high Res TV. It's a marketing ploy...how many people have fallen for that by the salesman...(1280/720).

You need a TV that can handle 1440/1080 or 1920/1080

Does it do that?

I'm using component video. 3 connections for video, 2 for audio.

Quoting my TV owner's manual:

"1280 line horizontal resolution"

"Full 1080i HDTV capable"

It's a 3yr old Hitachi 65" Ultravision HDTV monitor rear projection model 65SWX20B.

It's not 1440/1080 or 1920/1080, but that doesn't explain the big difference between the HD cable channels and what I am seeing with the FX-7.

I'll see what happens tomorrow when I record outdoors in bright sunlight. Indoors the gain boost and possible focus issues may be my problem. Everything I've recorded so far has been in auto.

Ron, sounds like it's all set up correct then?

The camera might be like the little A1 I got on auto. It spins the shutter up and leaves the exposure wide open.

Set the shutter on 50 or 60 and make sure the gain boost is locked off.

Interseting anyhow..

Ok guys, it's 3am so I'll keep this short.

The ATSC decoder only decodes off air signals and has nothing to do with the component input. Component input has slight degradation due to digital-analog-digital conversions necessary for the camera to TV. A HD ready TV may also be 1024x768 resolution.

Ron, your 1280x720 resolution TV will display 720P well but 1080i may or may not appear good. This is because the signal is downconverted to 720P native res to display. That may be the cause of the poor picture. To eliminate that possible problem, go to the local store and test your clip on their 1080i/p native projecters or monitors.

First of all, before doing anything else, check your camera settings.. IN VCR mode. Put HDV/DV setting to auto and component to 1080i. Make sure you have your settings right first. Always the first step of trouble shooting.

I've seen HD stuff destroyed on horrific "HD"TVs so it could be just that your TV needs to be upgraded as well.

Good news guys.

Here it is, proof I am a newb !!!

It's not the TV.

This camcorder and I guess most HDV cams like light and as many have mentioned, focus is really important. I just shot some footage outside with plenty of light.

Subjects out of direct sunlight look good. A rose flower in direct sunlight was great. Zoomed in on the rose leaves and pedals was stunning.

I finally got the WOW I was looking for.

Thanks for everyone's help and sorry for alarming any potential FX-7 buyers.

Anyone with FX7 questions, fire away.

Now you tell me..

I've just spent my money on cheap booze and cheaper women

Guess I'll have to start saving again.

Congrats anyway...

Dive safe

DeanB

Hi Ron

Was the problem with image quality a low light performance issue with the FX7, or was it just because you were getting used to the focus on the cam? Now that you've had a play around with it a bit have you found that you are getting better results in low light? I'd be interested to know.

Cheers, Simon

The low light capability looks about the same as my TRV900.

The low light did affect auto focus. I learned HD slightly out of focus makes resolution look a lot like minidv.

The low light also boosted gain which made things look grainy. Thanks to Wags suggesttions, playing around with gain settings eliminated the grain.

So in a nutshell, yes I am happy with my FX7.

So for great looking UW shots you think that it would pretty much rule out ever using auto focus? or not? or maybe you just don't know yet?!! Sorry for the probing!!

I'm wondering if this the same for all current HDV cams? There are times when AF can be incredibly useful and it would be a shame to effectively loose it.

Cheers, Simon

Well, not having used the FX7 underwater yet, I can't say.

With my TRV900, I use manual focus with wide angle and usually use auto on standard and/or closeup shots.

No matter what, I'll be sure to get a housing with access to white balance, manual focus and expanded focus.

I have found lately that the auto focus 'chased' quite a bit in different situations like macro 'Crayfish feeding filters fast moving/particals flowing past' and wide 'schools of fish moving'.. More often it was down to particals in the water column. I now manual 90% of the time but auto quick for a snatch focus. obviously still wreck shots or reed sequences are o.k for auto. But manual is usually cool using 'expanded focus'..

Dive safe

DeanB