A Family of HDV Products for
Professionals HVR-A1E PAL based
The new HVR-A1E HDV camcorder complements Sony's first entry into the
professional HDV market, the HVR-Z1. Introduced last fall, more than
37,000 units of Sony HDV products have already been delivered to
customers worldwide. The new HVR-A1U model now offers professional videographers another option for the capture and playback of HD images.
The HVR-A1E offers many of the same features as the HVR-Z1, such as
balanced audio, XLR inputs, SMPTE timecode and a Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar®
T* Lens. However, its smaller footprint makes this camcorder ideal for
applications where space is at a premium or extreme mobility is
required. For example, potential applications may include mounting on a
skydiver's helmet or placement on the hood of a racecar.
Sony's CMOS sensor produces natural and rich
tones for both light and dark areas of an image. To achieve wide dynamic
range, EIP technology employs an algorithm that separates image data
into its texture patterns and brightness components.
CMOS-based technology helps eliminate the
presence of smear, which is created by vertical bands of bright light
stretching from the top to the bottom of an image's "bright areas" and
occurs when something extremely bright like a pin-point light source is
shot.
Sony has reduced the size of the transistors
within an image's pixel matrix, allowing for a larger area of the
photo-sensitive portion of the pixel and enabling more light to be taken
in than with a conventional CMOS sensor. In addition, the Correlated
Double Sampling circuits on the sensor achieve extremely low-noise image
quality.
Sony's CMOS-based sensor circuitry runs at
lower voltage and consumes less power than conventional CCD-based
processors, resulting not only in longer battery life but also allowing
for the use of smaller batteries so the camcorders can be smaller
overall.
The HVR-A1E can record and playback HDV, DVCAM™ and DV content, with the ability to down-convert footage into
standard definition. A wide-screen Hybrid LCD monitor is also included.
Other key features include:
-
Still image capture - Maximum pixel size
for still images is 2.8M (1920x1440) pixels in Memory Mode. Users
can record 1.2M (1440x810) pixels in Tape and Play/Edit Mode.
-
Histogram Indicator - Users can check
the brightness of an object and easily adjust exposure by viewing
this graphical presentation.
-
Tele Macro - This feature enables users
to capture a macro image from a distance, especially useful for
shooting smaller moving objects, and it also provides the ability to
make subjects more prominent against a backdrop and to suppress
shadow projection.
Professional Media Optimized for
HDV Applications
Sony's highest-quality 6mm videotape,
DigitalMaster, is the recommended professional media for HDV
applications. These 63-minute cassettes (model PHDVM63DM) use Sony's AME
(Advanced Metal Evaporated) II Technology and its unique dual-active
magnetic layers.
By improving on an already successful
product, the new AME II manufacturing process employs Hyper Evaticle IV
magnetic grains, improved lubricants, and a refined Diamond-Like Carbon
(DLC) layer. DigitalMaster tape exhibits greater packing density of
magnetic grains, higher retentivity, higher output and lower noise. The
result is a more robust tape with 60% fewer dropouts and 90% fewer
errors.