Skip to main content
DEAL WATCH: Keurig K-Express | 22% off $69.99

Keurig has changed the face of coffee, and snagging one of these for less than $70 is a solid deal. Read Review

BUY NOW
  • Introduction

  • Product Tour

  • Color & Noise Performance

  • Motion & Resolution Performance

  • Low Light Performance

  • Audio

  • Compression & Media

  • Manual Controls

  • Still Features

  • Handling & Use

  • Playback & Connectivity

  • Canon XL H1A Comparison

  • Sony HVR-Z5U Comparison

  • Panasonic AG-HVX200 Comparison

  • Conclusion

  • Photo Gallery

  • Introduction
  • Product Tour
  • Color & Noise Performance
  • Motion & Resolution Performance
  • Low Light Performance
  • Audio
  • Compression & Media
  • Manual Controls
  • Still Features
  • Handling & Use
  • Playback & Connectivity
  • Canon XL H1A Comparison
  • Sony HVR-Z5U Comparison
  • Panasonic AG-HVX200 Comparison
  • Conclusion
  • Photo Gallery

Introduction

For an extra $1750 you can spring for the professional Sony HVR-Z5U, which is very similar to the HDR-FX1000, but comes equipped with better audio controls, more connectivity options, and a set of natively progressive CMOS sensors.

Product Tour

Lens & Imaging System

The lens on the Sony HDR-FX1000 is not removable, but various lens converters are available through Sony at an extra cost. The lens has a very wide viewing angle, measuring in at 70 degrees.

The lens on the HDR-FX1000 is not detachable

 

In the Box


The following items ship with the HDR-FX1000:

• AC-L100 Power Adapter/In Camera Charger

• NP-F570 Rechargeable Battery Pack

• Wireless Remote Control

• Detachable Lens Hood

• Lens Cap

• Composite A/V Cable

• Component Video Cable

• Large Eye Cup

• Shoulder Strap 

Color & Noise Performance

Color (9.05)

The Sony HDR-FX1000 produced a good image in our bright light color testing, but it appeared a bit darker when compared to other camcorders. This darker-than-average image didn't look bad, but it may be a concern for people looking for very saturated colors and images that really pop. According to Imatest, the HDR-FX1000 produced a color error of 4.42 and a saturation level of 78.77%. This is a decent color error, but we expected a bit better coming from a prosumer camcorder. Since the image produced by the FX1000 in auto mode is so dark, you can definitely get more accurate colors if you manually boost the exposure just a bit. (More on how we test color).

Note: CCI is using a new color error formula this year for our new 2009-2010 rubric, so the numbers won't match up with the results from camcorders we reviewed over the past two years. The new system uses the CIEDE2000 formula, which is the most accurate equation for determining color error, and will be in place on all our reviews as of 2009.

We didn't really mind the darker image produced by the Sony HDR-FX1000, and often it looked quite good. The extra darkness provided more contrast, especially in our bright light testing, and it made the deeper reds and blues more defined. We really only noticed the darkness of the FX1000's image when we started comparing it to other camcorders. The HDR-FX1000 has a number of color and image controls, although not as many as on the Canon XL H1A, and it comes preset with three Picture Profiles: Cinema, Sunset, and Portrait. The Cinema profile produces a more contrast, while Sunset warms the colors significantly. The Portrait setting appeared to soften the look of the video and desaturated some color. We also shot video using the two Cinematone settings, which are also both found in the Picture Profile menu. Cinematone 1 and 2 didn't appear to do much to the image, although they did seem to brighten things up just a bit.

Looking at our train footage, the colors looked strong on the HDR-FX1000. Because the image had some darkness to it, some noise was noticeable in the darker colors (like blue and deep red). Overall, however, everything looked very good and the Sony was able to hold its own in a comparison with the Canon XL H1A. Looking at the close-up of the pipe cleaners, it appears the HDR-FX1000 was able to capture the reds and oranges with less blur and blending than the Canon. The Canon did have a better color accuracy score and an overall brighter image, however, which is why it scored better in this test.

In this side-by-side comparison, you can easily see the difference in brightness between the two camcorders. The close-ups of the individual color patches below gives you an even better idea of what we're talking about.

Note: Since we just started rolling out our new pro camcorder reviews, we currently only have one comparison for the HDR-FX1000. In future reviews we will be showcasing three comparison models throughout the review. We'll also be updating our current reviews with more comparisons once we finish testing other camcorders.

Looking at the patches above you can clearly see some splotches and artifacting in the darker color squares produced by the Sony HDR-FX1000. The Canon rendered a much smoother image, although some artifacting is still present. On the whole, this is an impressive color performance for the FX1000, as it is a lower-end prosumer model. Just the fact that it can hang with some of the best (and more expensive) pro camcorders is praiseworthy.

Noise (7.22)

The Sony HDR-FX1000 had relatively low noise levels at most settings, although the numbers between 0dB gain and 6dB gain weren't all that promising. The camcorder has no manual noise reduction modes, although it has two negative gain settings, which can be engaged to bring down noise levels when you have enough light. The lowest noise percentage we measured with the HDR-FX1000 was 0.515%, which was obtained when using the -6dB gain setting. This is a rather low noise level, although it is slightly higher than what we recorded with the Canon XL H1A (0.3875% noise). (More on how we test noise.)

Above, we are comparing the noise levels over gain settings between the Sony HDR-FX1000 and Canon XL H1A. The charted measurements taken by the Canon are using its NR 2 noise reduction feature, which we found to work the best of the Camcorders multiple noise reduction settings. Since the HDR-FX1000 doesn't have a noise reduction feature, we simply mapped the numbers we measured when recording in auto mode over the various gain settings. The Canon showed better noise levels overall, especially in the low gain settings, and it's numerous noise reduction features make it the clear winner in this test. The strange dip shown by the Sony HDR-FX1000 at +12dB gain is likely due to some automatic noise reduction kicking in at that gain level.

In the closeup shots above you can clearly see more noise on the image from the HDR-FX1000, with the XL H1A appearing smoother and softer overall. The numbers are crisper on the HDR-FX1000 and the image appears sharper as well. Both of these closeups are 100% crops from our 3000 lux testing with the Chroma DuMonde chart.

Motion & Resolution Performance

Motion (10.85)

Note: Since we just started rolling out our new pro camcorder reviews, we currently only have one comparison for the HDR-FX1000. In future reviews we will be showcasing three comparison models throughout the review. We'll also be updating our current reviews with more comparisons once we finish testing other camcorders.

Our motion test was the first big surprise produced by the Sony HDR-FX1000. Motion captured by the camcorder looked very good and the images of the pinwheels was smooth and sharp. Very little trailing was noticeable on both pinwheels, although there was definitely some blur between the colors on the color wheel. Click on the link to view a larger HD version of our motion test. (More on how we test motion.)

Sony HDR-FX1000

Click Here for Full Screen HD Version*

In comparison with the Canon XL H1A, the FX1000 was a clear winner when it came to motion. Both camcorders looked great, but the Canon had more motion blur when we watched the footage from our tests. Don't give this score too much weight, however, because motion is very difficult to judge and one could definitely prefer the 'look' produced by the Canon over the Sony. Click on a link to see a larger HD version of the XL H1A's motion test.

Canon XL H1A

Click Here for Full Screen HD Version*

Video Resolution (11.79)

The HDR-FX1000 produced a spectacular video resolution, measuring the highest line widths per picture height we have ever recorded. The camcorder captured a horizontal resolution of approximately 900 lw/ph and a vertical resolution of 800 lw/ph. This is a stellar performance and helps explain why the pinwheels in our motion tests looked so smooth and crisp. (More on how we test video resolution).

This is one of the few performance areas where the Sony HDR-FX1000 soundly defeated the Canon XL H1A. The Canon is outfitted with CCD sensors, while the Sony utilizes CMOS chips. We're not saying this is the reason behind the FX1000's surprise performance here, but it could play a part.

Low Light Performance

Low Light Sensitivity (4.56)

Note: Since we just started rolling out our new pro camcorder reviews, we currently only have one comparison for the HDR-FX1000. In future reviews we will be showcasing three comparison models throughout the review. We'll also be updating our current reviews with more comparisons once we finish testing other camcorders.

The HDR-FX1000 has an adequate low light sensitivity, but compared to what many pro and prosumer camcorders are capable of doing, the Sony didn't put on a very good performance. The camcorder required 57 lux of light to produce 50 IRE on our waveform monitor when using no gain boost. With auto gain control engaged, the camcorder only needed 8 lux of light to reach the same peak on the waveform monitor. (More on how we test low light sensitivity). 

Just looking at the graph it is easy to see how much better the Canon XL H1A did with low light sensitivity. The 8 lux difference at 0dB gain and the 3 lux difference using auto gain are very significant, as the range of scores for this test isn't very wide. It appears Sony's overall darker image sets it back a bit when it comes to picking up an image in low light situations. If you're not planning to shoot many scenes in the dark, however, the HDR-FX1000's setback with low light sensitivity may not be much of a concern.

 

Low Light Color (6.53)

Without any gain boost the Sony HDR-FX1000 produced a very dark image in our low light testing. The colors still looked very nice, but the overall image was too dark for the colors to register as accurate according to Imatest. With 0dB gain, the HDR-FX1000 measured an approximate color error of 6.49 and a saturation level of 56.65%. These are average scores for a camcorder shooting in low light without any gain boost. (More on how we test low light color.)

Going by the numbers, the Sony HDR-FX1000 and Canon XL H1A scored equally in this test when both camcorders were set at 0dB gain. In the images below, however, the Sony appears to have far deeper colors. This makes sense, as the HDR-FX1000 measured a roughly 10% higher saturation level than the Canon when shooting with these settings.

Next, we cranked up the gain on the HDR-FX1000 to +6dB. This improved the colors and brightness of the image tremendously, which was expected.

The FX1000 measured a respectable 4.91 color error when we ran our tests with these settings. The saturation level made a huge leap and registered an impressive 80.24%. This is a decent color error score when using a 6dB gain setting, but we saw more accurate colors from the Canon XL H1A.

In the two comparisons above, the Sony HDR-FX1000 has stronger colors, as evidenced by its high saturation score. The Canon, however, scored better in color accuracy and has a cleaner image overall. Some people may very well like the look created by the HDR-FX1000 at this level as colors appear vivid and deep.

The saturation level on the HDR-FX1000 remained consistent when we tested color using 12dB gain and auto gain settings. Strangely, however, the color error increased when we raised the gain to 12dB. This is an odd performance quirk, but it matches the results we obtained from our low light noise testing (see next section). It appears the Sony HDR-FX1000 works best with gain settings somewhere between 0 and 9dB. When set to auto gain, the camcorder recorded the most accurate colors.

The Canon XL H1A slightly edged out the Sony in this battle, mainly because it measured better color accuracy at every gain level we tested. The numbers were close, but the HDR-FX1000 was always a step behind.

Low Light Noise (6.62)

The Sony HDR-FX1000 fared better with low light noise than it did with low light sensitivity. Testing across multiple gain settings, the camcorder consistently produced noise values well below 2%. Even when using 12dB gain, which is quite a bit, the camcorder recorded a noised percentage of 1.8525%. These are comparable numbers to the Canon XL H1A, but the Canon does offer manual noise reduction features which makes it a far more versatile device when it comes to limiting the noisiness of an image. Even so, the Sony performed very well in this test.  (More on how we test low light noise.)

Using 0dB gain setting and shooting at 60 lux, the HDR-FX1000 produced 1.5125% noise. Without any gain boost the image appeared very dark, which is normal when shooting under 60 lux of light.

Bumping things up to 6dB gain the camcorder actually recorded less noise, with Imatest measuring only 1.3425% noise. This is likely due to some automatic noise reduction on the camcorder kicking in at this level. Here, the Sony did much better than the Canon XL H1A, which produced 2.18% noise using a 6dB gain setting.

Things didn't get too much brighter at 12dB gain, but the noise levels went way up. This tells us that the Sony HDR-FX1000 has a sweet spot when it comes to noise and low light shooting—keeping things around 6dB gain gets you your best overall results. We noticed the same thing in our low light color test in the section above.

The HDR-FX1000 and Canon XL H1A had very similar numbers in this test, with the Sony actually scoring just a bit better than the Canon. Keep in mind, the XL H1A has lots of manual noise reduction features so it's probably a better device at controlling noise overall. Noise reduction settings can degrade the quality of the image, however, and the Sony showed us impressive low light noise numbers in our tests across the gain range.

Audio

Audio Features (4.0)

Onboard Audio

The HDR-FX1000 isn't loaded with audio features and it has significantly less audio controls than most professional camcorders. The FX1000 records stereo sound with its front-mounted microphone and offers a few run-of-th-mill audio features like wind cut, an audio limiter, and level display. The supplied microphone doesn't provide the best quality, and it cannot be removed, repositioned, or rotated. It doesn't have a shock-mount or holder as featured on the Canon XL H1A, JVC GY-HM100, and a host of other pro models. These limited audio features on the the HDR-FX1000 are about what you'd expect to see on a high-end consumer camcorder and are not geared towards the professional videographer.

The supplied microphone can be set to auto or manual control. It can be manually adjusted using an audio level dial on the left side of the camcorder behind a plastic shield. The HDR-FX1000 doesn't have independent control over multiple audio channels, which means the lone dial on the left side controls the audio level of all the sound picked up by the camcorder. The level adjustment dial isn't designed very well either—it is small and practically impossible to adjust unless its plastic shield is flipped down.

Additional Audio Controls

Many pros will likely shy away from the HDR-FX1000 because of its lack of XLR inputs or multi-channel audio level control. Similarly-sized pro camcorders, the JVC GY-HM100 and Canon XH A1, both offer 2 XLR inputs and numerous audio control features that are absent on the HDR-FX1000. Videographers who are serious about audio should seek another camcorder (the Sony HVR-Z5U offers much of what the FX1000 lacks) or expect to use a separate audio recording device during video shoots.

The HDR-FX1000 does have a 1/8-inch stereo mini mic jack for connecting an external microphone, but that's all it has going for it as far as dedicated audio inputs are concerned. On the back side of the camcorder is a mini headphone jack as well.

Compression & Media

Compression (8.3)

As with most HD camcorders that record to MiniDV tape, the Sony HDR-FX1000 uses HDV compression for high definition footage and DV for standard definition video. The camcorder cannot output uncompressed video, which is a feature commonly available on more expensive professional video equipment.

The multiple frame rate options on the HDR-FX1000 are 1080/60i, 1080/24p, and 1080/30p. Sony calls the 24p and 30p settings as 'Film-like Progressive Scan' modes. When the 24p and 30p signals are recorded to tape they are down-converted to 60i using a 2:3 pulldown method. This makes the footage easier to use on non-linear editing systems, but it means the video recorded to tape isn't really 24p or 30p—it's simply 60i with a pulldown conversion. The Sony HVR-Z5U, in contrast, records native progressive images as the camcorder utilizes 3 progressive CMOS sensors.

Now, all this compression jargon will probably be useless to most consumers as the only thing that really matters is how the frame rates actually look. 24p and 30p on the Sony HDR-FX1000 are definitely slowed down and choppier, which does produce a somewhat film-like look, although it definitely won't appeal to everyone. In comparison with the Canon XL H1A, which uses does not use a 2:3 pulldown when recording to tape, the Sony looks very similar (and in overall motion comparisons we thought the Sony actually looked a bit better).

Media (6.0)

The HDR-FX1000 records to MiniDV tape, which is still the most popular recording media for pro camcorders. Tape is cheap, light, easy to store, and provides a relatively easy transition to non linear editing systems. You do have long logging and capturing times with tape, but it is made up for by the low cost and widespread computability of the HDV codec.

 
If you're looking to stray away from tape-based products, Sony's XDCAM series features a number of camcorders with tapeless workflows, as do numerous professional models from JVC and Panasonic. Canon has yet to release a pro or prosumer camcorder that does not record to tape. Sony does not claim the HDR-FX1000 to be compatible with its flash memory and HDD video recorders that can connect via the FireWire port. Sony sells two tapeless memory recording units, the HVRMRC1K and HVRDR60, both of which are fully compatible with the FX1000's big brother, the Sony HVR-Z5U.

Above the hand strap on the right side of the camcorder is a Memory Stick Pro Duo card slot, but these cards can only be used to capture still images. The HDR-FX1000 also doesn't come with a Memory Stick card, so one must be purchased separately before you can take still photographs with the camcorder.

Editing (8.0)

No editing software ships with the HDR-FX1000, which is the usual story with pro and prosumer camcorders. The FX1000 should work seamlessly with pro-level non linear editing systems, although some may have difficulty removing the 2:3 pulldown on footage shot using the 24p and 30p modes. Check with your editing software to see if it supports reverse telecine options (removing 2:3 pulldown) or if it can handle editing 24p or 30p footage.

Manual Controls

Auto Mode (5.0)

While most of your time with the HDR-FX1000 will likely be spent manipulating manual controls, the camcorder does offer a wide range of automated features that can come in handy in certain situations. The camcorder doesn't have a dedicated Easy Mode, which is a staple of Sony's consumer camcorder line, but it has a full auto mode switch on the left side of the camcorder. In this mode many settings can still be adjusted (Picture Profiles, ND filter, AE Shift), but aperture, shutter speed, white balance, and gain are all locked in auto and cannot be manipulated. When in manual mode, each setting can still be set to auto, or they can be switched to manual individually. This makes it possible to create combinations of auto/manual setups (i.e. auto gain with manual aperture or manual white balance and auto everything else).

Focus is regulated by its own switch that can be flipped between Auto, Manual, and Infinity for distant shots. There's also a push auto button if you want to do a quick auto focus even if your in manual focus mode. Overall the auto focus system worked great, although the manual focus assist features make manual focusing extraordinarily easy on the HDR-FX1000.

With auto white balance, the HDR-FX1000 offers three sensor settings—intelligent, high, middle, and low. For the most part we worked with intelligent and it produced decent results. Using the low setting, the image was generally warmer, picking up more color from artificial light sources. The high setting was the opposite, producing a cooler image.

Both gain and aperture offer limiter features, which allow you to set a peak setting the camcorder cannot exceed when set in auto mode. The auto gain control on the camcorder can also be set to use negative gain, which will automatically kick in to reduce noise to minuscule levels in very bright scenes.

The manual control buttons are tiny and inconvenient

Overall, the auto features on the HDR-FX1000 are decent, although the combination of auto/manual controls can get a bit confusing. Sony's lack of a dedicated mode dial makes it difficult to tell what features are set to auto and what is set to manual (without looking at the LCD, thereby taking up screen space). We also found, the camcorder often overcompensated and didn't adjust settings to the most ideal level. For example, in our low light testing color accuracy went down when we went from using +6dB gain to +12dB gain. This means the camcorder closed the aperture too much to compensate for the brighter light level, thus producing less accurate colors.

Low Light Modes

There are no preset low light modes on the Sony HDR-FX1000 and the camcorder doesn't offer NightShot, which is a staple on Sony's high-end consumer models. For shooting in low light with the FX1000, you'll have to manually lower the shutter, raise the gain, or use the AE shift feature to boost your light.

Scene Modes

There aren't any scene modes to speak of on the HDR-FX1000. The camcorder does have a few preset Picture Profiles—Portrait, Cinema, Sunset, and Monotone—which can be adjusted by the user. These Picture Profiles are created by manipulating various color and image controls (exactly like the custom presets options found on Canon's pro camcorder lineup, only with less options here).

Zoom (7.8)

There are three methods of zoom available on the HDR-FX1000—a zoom ring around the lens, a large rocker on the right side of the camcorder, and a smaller rocker located on the top of the handle. We liked the feel of the zoom ring as it is well-sized and offered smooth adjustment. Its design feels a bit better than the larger, more resistant ring on the Canon XL H1A.

The large rocker above the right-side hand strap has variable zoom control (it will zoom varying speeds based on how hard you push) and it cannot be set with a fixed zoom rate. The rocker is a bit clumsy and makes too much noise, but it is placed well and is good for making a quick zoom adjustment.

A small zoom rocker is on the handlebar and can be set with a fixed speed

 The smaller rocker on the top of the handle can be set with a variable or fixed zoom control, with a speed range from 1-8. At speed 1, the zoom is slow, but it isn't slow enough—the camcorder should offer some speed control for very gradual zooms. At speed 8, the zoom is roughly as fast as the rocker is when its set to variable speed and and you push all the way down. Sony should have implemented slower and faster zoom speed options for at least one of the zoom controls on the HDR-FX1000.

Zoom Ratio (15.0)

The HDR-FX1000 has a 20x optical zoom. This zoom can be bumped up to 30x using the digital extender feature, although its use degrades image quality (as do all digital zoom features). If you want additional optical flexibility, Sony does sell an optional 0.8x wide conversion lens that attaches to the camcorder. It should be noted the HDR-FX1000 already has a very wide viewing angle, which we measured at 70 degrees.

Focus (11.0)

The focus features on the HDR-FX1000 are decent, but some of the focus assist options are difficult to access. The large lens ring closest to the front of the lens is used to perform a manual focus. The focus ring offers a bit more resistance than the zoom ring, which is a good thing, and it is easy to perform a precise focus on the camcorder.

In the camcorder's menu you'll find settings for peaking and expanded focus. The peaking features are very good, offering three color options (white, red, yellow), and three intensity levels (low, middle, high). With peaking engaged, tiny flecks of color appear on the LCD and viewfinder screen when an image is in focus. The flecks diminish when the image is out of focus. It can be a very helpful tool, especially if you're trying to focus using the electronic viewfinder. The peaking feature on the Sony HDR-FX1000 is much more effective than the similar feature found on Canon's pro camcorder line.

The largest lens ring is used to control manual focus.

Expanded focus is another good tool and the FX1000 offers two types. Type 1 simply provides a digital zoom so you can focus on a particular area of the frame. Once recording begins (or expanded focus button is pressed again) the image returns to its normal zoom level. Type 2 is the same zoom setup, but it also puts the image into black and white. Expanded focus combined with peaking makes for a very powerful focus assist mechanism.

Unfortunately, the options for peaking and expanded focus aren't the easiest to access. Expanded focus can be assigned to the photo shutter button, but then you lose the ability to quickly snap still photos with the camcorder. Peaking can only be turned on and off by going through the menu system, unless you assign the feature to one of the FX1000's 6 assignable buttons. In comparison, the Canon XL H1A, albeit a good deal larger than the HDR-FX1000, has dedicated peaking and focus magnification buttons.

Exposure (5.15)

First it must be said that the manual control buttons on the HDR-FX1000 are very difficult to access. Each button is tucked away at the bottom of the left side of the camcorder and their labels are hidden under the FX1000's bulky midsection, making them difficult to press—especially if you're looking in the viewfinder and trying to feel your way around.

The HDR-FX1000 offers two methods of exposure control. First is AE shift, which raises and lowers the exposure on the camcorder in an incremental fashion. When using AE shift, the camcorder adjusts aperture and gain settings in order to achieve the desired exposure effect. The feature can be accessed by pressing Assignable button 2, which comes preset as AE shift, and then shifting the AE using the control dial on the left side of the camcorder. The AE response can be set to fast, middle, or slow and it has a range of -7 to +7 increments. AE shift only works if either gain, aperture, or both are set to auto.

The other exposure adjustment method on the FX1000 is performed by setting the third lens ring (the smallest) to control exposure instead of iris (aperture). When this is set, aperture, gain, and shutter speed all become controllable using that same one lens ring. It is somewhat confusing as to how each are adjusted, but the overall idea is that the exposure on the camcorder is manipulated using a combination of the three systems (somewhat like a priority mode on DSLR cameras).

Aperture (9.5)

As discussed int he Exposure section, the third lens ring can be set to control the iris, or aperture on the HDR-FX1000. The ring moves a little too quickly and making precise adjustments can be a minor difficulty. There is no secondary control dial for adjusting aperture. 

The aperture range on the camcorder is f/1.6 - f/11 and there are 25 steps overall. While this is a decent aperture range, the Canon XL H1A offered several more f-stop options, including 8 additional aperture settings between f/11 and f/22.

Shutter Speed (5.0)

The manual shutter speed button on the FX1000 is long and flat, making it difficult to find and press. Once pressed, shutter speed is then controlled by rotating the selection dial on the left side. The dial is clumsy and offers a terrible grip. It is not ideal for making accurate, precise adjustments and is far better suited as a menu navigation system. A protruding wheel, as offered on the Canon XL H1A, is far easier for your fingertips to locate.

White Balance (5.0)

The manual white balance button is also hidden away on the HDR-FX1000 and it is sandwiched between the Gain and Shutter Speed buttons. After you press the first white balance button, you can then use the switch beneath it to choose between Manual A, Manual B, or Preset. Manual A and B allow you to store manual white balance settings using the one-push method that is common to most Sony camcorders. Setting the switch to Preset puts the white balance to either Indoor or Outdoor mode, depending on which is selected as a preset in the camcorder's menu.

The buttons are cluttered in this section and making manual adjustments here can be very confusing. Sony draws little lines (almost like maps) around each button to give you an idea of what buttons control what and what needs to be pushed to engage a certain setting. The button layout and positioning is very disappointing and it is difficult to imagine someone working the settings with absolute ease.

There is also a WB shift option in the camcorder's menu that will shift the overall color balance of the image to hot or cold tones. The range for this option goes from -9 to +9, with negative values giving the image a cooler, blue tone and positive values bringing up the reds to produce a hotter image.

Gain (3.5)

Manual gain is set by first pressing the gain button (just like shutter speed and white balance) and then selecting a setting from the switch below. Settings are labeled as L, M, and H (for low, medium, and high), but the user can program whatever gain level they want to match up with each letter, thus creating 3 gain presets.

It is an annoyance that you have to go into the camcorder's menu to select a gain setting that isn't set as one of your 3 presets. Why couldn't Sony have simply implemented a dial that allows you to shuffle through all the gain settings? The Canon XL H1A, in contrast, offers a pop-out, rotating dial with 8 preset settings—along with an option for precise gain adjustment ranging from 0dB to 18dB and every 0.5dB in between.

Color & Image Controls (9.6)

The Sony HDR-FX1000 offers lots of color and image controls, although the range of adjustment isn't near the amount Canon offers on its XL series of pro camcorders. The HDR-FX1000 has most of the important controls you'll need, and it mostly lacks features like color correction, detail frequency, and image controls such as coring.

Other Manual Controls (12.5)

 

Still Features

Still Features (7.24)

As with audio controls, the Sony HDR-FX1000 has very limited still features. The camcorder has no dedicated still image mode, which means it has no special set of menus or options available for adjusting photo settings. All photos are captured to Memory Stick Pro Duo media, which slide into a card slot just above the hand strap on the camcorder's right side. The HDR-FX1000 does not come with any Memory Stick cards, so if you want to take still photos with the camcorder you'll have to purchase a card separately.

The FX1000 is limited to capturing still images at a resolution of 1440 x 810, or 1080 x 810 if the camcorder is set to record in 4:3 DV mode. This gives the camcorder a still picture resolution of just under 1.2 megapixels. The HDR-FX1000 is capable of performing a dual record, which means you can snap a still image while you're recording. This is good for creating reference images to help organize footage or assist with editing.

Still images are saved to Memory Stick Pro Duo cards

Still Playback

The still playback controls on the HDR-FX1000 are located in the same panel beneath the LCD screen as the VCR controls. Photos can be sifted through using the volume/memory button and data about each shot is displayed on the screen when the Data Code button is selected. The information displayed isn't very useful as it is limited to date, time, shutter speed, and aperture setting. Overall the still features on the HDR-FX1000 are surprisingly limited, although that shouldn't concern most users who are simply looking for a camcorder with top-notch video performance.

Still Color (11.71)

Even though the still image features on the HDR-FX1000 are limited, the camcorder is still capable of taking very color-accurate pictures. At best, the camcorder scored a color error of 2.99, which is very good—and also significantly better than its video color score. This discrepancy is likely due to the fact that we test still color by taking photographs at a range of exposure settings. The FX1000 had the best color accuracy when we boosted the AE shift to a positive setting, thereby increasing the brightness of the image. The saturation of this image was measured at 96.83%. (More on how we test still color.)

The color error map from the still color test

Above we have the color error map from the still image taken by the HDR-FX1000. Having accurate colors in still images is helpful on a camcorder like the HDR-FX1000, as this means still photos can be used for reference when trying to create Picture Profiles or calibrate color settings.

The Canon XL H1A had a slightly less accurate colors in its still image, although the difference wasn't all that significant. Again, in our side-by-side comparison it is easy to see how dark the image on the Sony HDR-FX1000 is when the camcorder is set to auto mode. The Canon, on the other hand, looks too bright in auto mode.

Still Noise (0.31)

Still noise was a completely different story on the HDR-FX1000. The results we measured weren't very good, with the lowest noise percentage measuring at 1.59% (also from the brightened image). Now, this would be a rather detrimental score if the HDR-FX1000 was being marketed as a hybrid photo/video device—but it's not. Most users aren't going to be wandering around snapping photos with the FX1000, so the high noise percentage on the still images shouldn't be much of a worry here.  (More on how we test still noise.)

Still Resolution (1.14)

The HDR-FX1000 only takes still images at two sizes: 1440 x 810 (in HD mode) and 1080 x 810 (in 4:3 standard definition). This means the still resolution of its photographs isn't destined for great things. According to Imatest, the camcorder measured a horizontal resolution of 788 lw/ph and a vertical resolution of 505 lw/ph. These aren't terrible scores, but they aren't great either. Again, however, they are rather meaningless because most users will only be taking photographs with the FX1000 to use as reference or to help organize a shoot. (More on how we test still resolution.)

Handling & Use

Playback & Connectivity

Playback (6.5)

Since the camcorder uses tape, most people should be comfortable with the playback setup on the HDR-FX1000.  Everything is arranged just like a VCR and all the controls are on the top of the camcorder, in the area where the LCD screen folds into. The playback buttons are labeled clearly and there's even a slow motion button for those who want to really spend some time analyzing their footage.

The VCR controls are located under the LCD panel

The Sony HDR-FX1000 offers a playback zoom feature that allows you to digitally magnify your recorded image by up to 5x. The controls are a bit quirky, but you can also center this zoom to a specific part of the image. While the feature is rather well-designed, it's a curious option to have on a pro-level camcorder.

Connectivity (5.0)

If you're a professional videographer, the connectivity options on the Sony HDR-FX1000 will surely disappoint you. If you have no need for XLR audio inputs, uncompressed video output, or extra viewfinder connections, then the HDR-FX1000 may satisfy your connectivity needs. Think of it as a pro-level camcorder with consumer-level connectivity features.

The HDR-FX1000 features the limited necessities—3.5mm mic jack, headphone jack, FireWire (dubbed 'iLink interface' by Sony), HDMI, and A/V output. The A/V output is a bit of a concern as it utilizes Sony's proprietary cable system (called Multi-A/V), which you'll find on all Sony camcorders. This is beneficial for saving space (the same port can be used to connect composite, component, and S-Video outputs), but it means you'll have to buy a specific replacement from Sony if you ever lose one of your cables.

Sony also adds a LANC (wired remote) connection on the HDR-FX1000, as well as a Memory Stick Pro Duo card slot for storing still images, and a cold accessory shoe atop the microphone.

A list of all included connections is below:

Canon XL H1A Comparison

The Canon XL H1A is a shoulder-mounted professional camcorder that also records HDV footage to MiniDV tape. Its larger design makes for much better access to manual controls and an overall easier video-taping experience than the HDR-FX1000. The Canon XL H1A also has more connectivity features as well as 2-channel XLR audio inputs. According to our testing, the video performances of the two camcorders wasn't all that difference, although the Canon XL H1A held a clear edge in low light sensitivity. The HDR-FX1000 did show us better video resolution and its motion looked nicer as a result. These are two vastly different camcorders in the long run, the XL H1A is more suited towards pros and its price reflects as such ($5999 MSRP). If you want the better manual control features and don't mind the added size or price tag of the XL H1A it is a very good option. Stick with the HDR-FX1000 if you don't care about audio and aren't fussy about your controls being sleek, smooth, and comfortable.

In comparison to the Canon XL H1A, the Sony HDR-FX1000 really only underperformed on two key tests: Battery Life, and Low Light Sensitivity.

The Canon XL H1A lasted nearly twice as long in our battery test as compared to the HDR-FX1000. This test was conducted using the supplied battery pack, which, to be fair, is probably not what most pros or prosumers will be running their camcorder with. Even so, the Canon XL H1A lasted for nearly 4 hours with its supplied battery. With that kind of performance you may not have to even buy a back-up. Most HDR-FX1000 users, on the other hand, would probably benefit greatly from an extra battery pack.

With low light sensitivity, you can clearly see the difference between the Sony HDR-FX1000 and Canon XL H1A. The numbers may not appear to be all that different, but just a few lux of separation means a lot in this test. The Sony HDR-FX1000 repeatedly showed us a dark image in auto mode, which is something that probably added to its diminished low light sensitivity performance.

The HDR-FX1000 did shock us with a splendid video resolution score, which is promising for the small prosumer camcorder. The motion captured by the FX1000 also looked crisp and clean, even in areas where many great camcorders show signs of trailing and blur. If you end up buying the HDR-FX1000 you can rest easy knowing you own a product that produces quality video.

Sony HVR-Z5U Comparison

The Sony HVR-Z5U is an enhanced version of the HDR-FX1000, which means it also records HDV footage to MiniDV tape. It has more audio controls, a better onboard microphone, natively progressive CMOS sensors, and costs an extra $1750. Is the HVR-Z5U worth all the extra money just for what appears to be a slight upgrade? We'll have a review of the model soon, so we'll be able to let you know exactly what the higher cost gets you.

Panasonic AG-HVX200 Comparison

The Panasonic AG-HVX200 is a compact professional camcorder that can record video to either MiniDV tape or P2 memory cards. When recording with tape, however, the camcorder can only capture standard definition video. With P2 cards, the AG-HVX200 records HD video using the DVCPRO HD codec, which may appeal to some users who don't like working with HDV. You can also record standard definition footage to P2 cards using the DVCPRO50 and DVCPRO/DV codecs. The camcorder has lots of features and is similar in size to the Sony HDR-FX1000 and HVR-Z5U. This all comes at a pricier cost, however, and P2 cards are not cheap. It could be an interesting choice for a pro who is looking to ease into the world of tapeless workflow, but still wants the option of capturing standard definition footage to tape. We can't attest to the AG-HVX200's performance, but once we get it through our labs we'll be able to give you our analysis.

 

Conclusion

The Sony HDR-FX1000 ($3199 MSRP) doesn't offer quite what you'd expect from a professional camcorder—most obviously noted by its lack of audio controls, connectivity, and a detachable lens. However, our tests show that it can hang with the pros when it comes to overall performance. The camcorder showed us the highest video resolution we've ever measured and it captured smooth, clean motion in our motion test. The HDR-FX1000's color and noise scores were also comparable to professional-grade camcorders. Seeing this excellent image quality coming out of a relatively cheap camcorder (compared to pro models) is rather surprising. The fact that the camcorder records HDV footage to MiniDV tape is another plus—tape is cheap and HDV is easy to edit.

The HDR-FX1000 is not for people who want to fine tune their image with precise controls. Yes, it has lots of manual settings, but their implementation is awkward and frustrating. It isn't easy to make adjustments while your shooting and the level of customization offered on the camcorder is disappointing. If you're looking for fancy dials, clean button layout, and smarter design check out a larger camcorder like the Canon XL H1A.

Overall, the HDR-FX1000 is a camcorder packed with excellent performance and a decent array of features. It isn't the easiest device to use, it doesn't handle with elegance, and it can't do everything that professional camcorders are capable of—but that doesn't mean its a bad product. If the clumsy manual control setup doesn't frighten you away, the HDR-FX1000 could be a good option if you're looking for professional-quality video at a relatively low price.

Meet the tester

Jeremy Stamas

Jeremy Stamas

Managing Editor, Video

@nematode9

Jeremy is the video expert of our imaging team and Reviewed.com's head of video production. Originally from Pennsylvania and upstate NY, he graduated from Bard college with a degree in film and electronic media. He has been living and working in New England since 2005.

See all of Jeremy Stamas's reviews

Checking our work.

Our team is here for one purpose: to help you buy the best stuff and love what you own. Our writers, editors, and lab technicians obsess over the products we cover to make sure you're confident and satisfied. Have a different opinion about something we recommend? Email us and we'll compare notes.

Shoot us an email

Up next