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Sony HDR-UX1 Camcorder
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The Sony HDR-UX1 may be
the begin of something great. Since every keen reader is familiar with,
this is no doubt the 1st far above the ground DVD camcorder, and the
first of two camcorders having an innovative HD compression AVCHD.Lastly
free from the limitations of tape, HD can at this time be taken and
saved on DVD, flash memory, and HDD. However how does it match up to to
our favorite HDV? For the moment, lets now state that we are pretty
contented. There are various main matters that should be discussed, and
the compression wants job, but the HDR-UX1 have plenty to present: a
multifunction ring, 3.5 inch LCD, HDMI-out, and we believe you will be
pleasingly amazed by the low light.
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Features
The Sony HDR-UX1 (USD730)
can capture and save still images to Memory Stick Duo cards only. Still
images are saved in the JPEG extensions in four forms during the use of
still mode: 2304 x 1736 (4Megapixel), 2304 x 1296 (3Megapixel), 1600 x
1200 (1.9Megapixel), and 640 x 480 (0.3Megapixel). While using the video
mode, it is potential to take advantage of two other still resolutions
2016 x 1134 (2.3Megapixel) & 1512 x 1134 (1.7Megapixelt) and can save
them to Memory Stick during recording video to DVD. You be able to
select a Fine or Standard class for every still image. All of these
features are given in the Camera Settings sub-section of the Home menu.
Switching between Still mode and Movie mode is possible by switching on
and off the mode dial on the top of the camcorder, or the option is
given in the 1st page of the Home menu.
The complete set of the
manual options offered in the video mode are also presented here, and
are also given in the in the Camera menu. The further functions are
Flash Level (adjustment is possible to High, Normal, or Low levels) and
red eye reduction. The flash is to be found on top of the lens, and
enclosed within the lens drum. This is the similar shape as of the
DCR-DVD505 and HDR-HC3. The HDR-UX 1 doesnt present a burst mode. This
is a camcorder, and an extensive range of still camera specifications
are not required if it performs a good enough work in its main
assignment: video.
Still images can be played
by using the option of play, an icon in the lower left area of the LCD
display. The UX1 possesses the feature of PictBridge printing, making a
slide show, and erasing the still images.
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Resolution
We
examined the Sony HDR-UX1 camcorder for its still resolution
characteristics by capturing images of a STD ISO 12233 resolution table
and seeing these still shoots by using the software of Imatest imaging.
Operating at 1600x 1200, we got a resolution result of 954288.0.
Operating at 2304 x 1728, we got a resolution result of 1463706.75.
Eventually, the broad screen still of 2304 x 1296 resulted in the
resolution of 645210.52.
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Performance
The HDR-UX1 creates quite
large sized stills, up to 4Megapixel i.e.2304 x 1736), but a good
quality resolution is just a little part of the image in overall still
presentation. There are several matters to discuss, and camcorders
merely don not have the means to do them justice while comparing to the
other digital cameras. The stills are larger in size. They seem bright,
with crispy lines and pleasing clear resolution and they appear very
high-quality when compared to the still images of other camcorders, but
the color result is just not there when you look at a same still image
from USD150 digital still camera. The colors appear to be dull in the
video performance. There was no burst, no energy, and most
significantly, a lack of precision.
Unhappily, the HDR-HC3 and
DCR-DVD505, both camcorders have almost same picture results. These can
be best ones for recording continuity and record-keeping, but a
committed still camera will give the performance in a much better form.
The conclusion:
Get a
still camera if you wish for good quality stills images. The score is
high, but that score is only related to other camcorders, which have
come such an extremely long way in this group in the previous year that
scores remained rising. It is said, good quality still presentation from
a camcorder still pales in comparison to a dedicated still camera.
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