Performance

The Sony HDR-UX1 ships with a 2100K (1434K effective in 16:9) 1/3-inch ClearVID CMOS sensor. ClearVID is a technology that Sony claims produces a wider dynamic range and faster processing speed than the conventional CCDs. ClearVID also angles pixels at 45 degrees and boosts the number of green pixels as a means of improving picture quality. The DCR-DVD505 does have a higher pixel count overall than the HDR-UX1 (3,310K gross), but we anticipate a significant jump in actual video quality, and believe the camcorder will boast specs closer to the Sony's HDV camcorders, the HDR-HC1 and HDR-HC3.  To put this prediction in context, the HDR-UX1's max bit rate is 12 Mbps using AVCHD encoding while MPEG-2 DVD camcorders have a max bit rate of around 8.5 Mbps and HDV camcorders have a max bit rate of 25 Mbps.  However, H.264 encoding is very efficient and expert opinion is strongly in its favor, so we expect the camcorder's video performance to be much closer to HDV.

Low Light Performance

We expect the HDR-UX1 to turn in excellent low light performance, given its combination of a large 1/3" imager and high definition sharpness. We’re eager to compare the HDR-UX1’s low light performance to that of the DCR-DVD505 as well as the HDR-HC3, which both scored well and retained more color information in low light than most camcorders on the market. It is also as yet unclear what effect the camcorder’s AVCHD video encoding will have on images recorded in low light. Low light images are noisier than images shot in more optimal conditions, and compression turns this noise into unflattering artefacts. Every compression method and imaging system handles low light differently. Some create big chunky pixel blocks, while others pepper a low light image with fine-grained noise. We look forward to having a close look at how AVCHD handles more difficult images, and expect it to handle low light differently than past compression methods.

Format

Compression

In the past month, some of the biggest news in the consumer camcorder market has been the development by rivals Sony and Matsushita (Panasonic) of the AVCHD standard. We’ll offer a brief explanation here to put the new HDR-UX1 in better context.

In mid-May, Sony and Panasonic jointly announced their cooperation on the development of a new means of recording high definition video to the 8cm DVDs used in standard definition DVD camcorders. This is analogous to the HDV format, which compresses high definition footage onto MiniDV tapes, though the technologies are disparate. It's also important to note that the Blu-ray (Sony-led) vs. HD DVD (Panasonic-led) battle in the home video and data storage markets has little relation to AVCHD. At present, no plans to develop Blu-ray camcorders have been announced due to technical constraints, nor is Sony likely to pursue them in the near future. AVCHD discs are compatible with Blu-ray playback devices, including PCs, going forward.

High definition video is not new to the consumer camcorder market. HDV was developed years ago, and prices for HDV camcorders have recently dropped enough to bring within reach of the consumer market, led by Sony’s HDR-HC1 and HDR-HC3. Unlike AVCHD, HDV is tape-based, and tape-based camcorders have lost favor of late to DVD and HD media. Consumers want high definition, but they also crave the convenience of DVD media. AVCHD is a response to this demand.

AVCHD uses one of the most promising MPEG-4 compression schemes, AVC (Advanced Video Coding) otherwise known as H.264. Perhaps best known as the codec Apple adopted as the native video iPod format, its efficient data encoding led Sony and Panasonic to select H.264 for high definition compression to DVD. They also recently expanded AVCHD to store video to hard disk drives and flash media cards (SD cards and MemorySticks).

AVCHD sounds like a promising technology because the video we’ve seen compressed with other H.264 flavors is very good relative to the degree of compression. At the moment, however, we have yet to see AVCHD footage and are especially curious about how it will compare with HDV. AVCHD has a maximum bit rate of 24Mbps, but the maximum bit rate for the HDR-UX1 is only 12Mbps, far from the codec's potential. Standard definition DVD and hard disk drive camcorders have lower average bit rates of 8.5 – 9Mbps. While the AVCHD’s current bit rates strike us as low, AVCHD is a completely different codec from the MPEG-2 compression used in current DVD camcorders, so quality assessments will have to wait until we get the HDR-UX1 in the lab.

We do know that the HDR-UX1 has four high definition quality settings and three standard definition settings. The HD settings are: 12 Mbps, 9 Mbps, 7 Mbps, and 5 Mbps. Standard definition settings, which use MPEG-2 compression, are: 9 Mbps, 6 Mbps, and 3 Mbps. All bit rates are averages rather than fixed. The SD bit rates are identical to those on previous Sony DVD camcorders.

Media

In addition to being the first DVD camcorder capable of recording high definition video, the Sony HDR-UX1 also breaks new ground in recording media. The camcorder records to dual layer DVD+R DL discs, a new format that enables 60 minutes of high definition video storage on one disc. This development doubles the HDR-UX1’s high definition recording time over SD DVDs, which maxed out at 30 minutes in high quality mode. In addition to DVD+R DL, the HDR-UX1 supports DVD-R/DVD+R and DVD+RW discs. There are no special, new DVD media for AVCHD, which is a welcome surprise for consumers weary of contantly shifting tides in the industry.

Editing

While the HDR-UX1 has many attractive higher-end features, editing remains a big question mark. Options for editing standard definition DVD footage have been limited, due more to obtuse file structures than anything else. The AVCHD file structure has not been shown to us yet, but we do know that Sony and Panasonic have aggressively pursued licensing agreements with NLE manufacturers, including Adobe, Uead, CyberLink, InterVideo, Nero, and Sonic Solutions. Sony's own Vegas 7 will also accomodate the format.

Sony has also stated that all Sony and Panasonic hardware that can read standard DVDs will also be able to read AVCHD, including the upcoming Sony PlayStation 3. As for your home computer, Sony stated that any PC that can play regular DVDs will be able to play AVCHD once some included software has been installed. You do not, we repeat, you do not need a Blu-ray player. AVCHD works on the traditional red-laser system that you find in all your old playback devices.

Tour

The Front

The front of the Sony HDR-UX1 is dominated by the lens barrel, which is much larger than the one on the DCR-DVD505, giving this model a more serious appearance. (Don't laugh. Appearence counts for a lot when you're trying to comport yourself as a professional, or even a serious hobbyist.)  The lens is a Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* lens with a 30mm filter diameter and automatic lens cap, and it is recessed in a matte box which provides better than usual glare protection.  The multifunction manual control ring is the most notable feature on this camcorder's front because it is so unusual to see a true control ring on a consumer camcorder, especially from Sony.  Not many features we've seen on camcorders of late have excited us as much as this ring.  With a studded surface, it spans nearly a finger's width, giving it real tactile substance and has a smooth, precise feel.  Inside the ring and above the lens is a built-in flash that has a design similar to the DCR-DVD505.  Below the lens barrel, and set back on the camcorder’s base, is the HDR-UX1's infrared sensor.****

**The Right Side **

The right side of the HDR-UX1 houses the camcorder’s DVD disc mechanism, which closely resembles the one found on the DCR-DVD505.  It's here that we encountered one of a few usability drawbacks on the camcorder.  We had trouble opening the DVD comapartment door wide enough to permit easy access to the media because it ran into the handstrap. We must grant them that this was a hand-built model and might not necessarily suffer the same problems in a production model.  We hope that Sony corrects this problem by the time the product hits the market next month.  Forward of the DVD disc hatch just behind the multifunction ring is the external microphone jack, and above the jack is a Flash Button. At the opposite end of the hatch just forward of the viewfinder is a headphone jack. The camcorder’s hand strap extends from along the base of the right side and is angled down slightly towards the lens end of the camcorder. Sony’s handstraps may be the best on the consumer camcorder market, and this one is typically well-padded and comfortable.

**

The Back **

The back of the HDR-UX1 is capped by a color electronic viewfinder which is oriented just left of the camcorder body’s midpoint. To its right is the Mode Switch, which follows the familiar Sony toggle design and is within easy reach of the right index finger when the camcorder is held. Below the Mode Dial are two lights, which indicate whether the device is in video or still camera mode. The Record Start/Stop button is located just below the indicator lights. At the base of the right edge is a remote control jack. The battery, below the viewfinder and to the left of the controls, occupies the bulk of the camcorder’s rear. The battery release is at the camcorder’s bottom edge below the battery slot.

**

The Left Side**

A widescreen LCD screen, measuring a generous 3.5", dominates the left side of the HDR-UX1. This large screen also appeared on the DCR-DVD505, and we're thankful to see its return. A large, high resolution screen and is an important feature on camcorders that record high definition video where it aids image assessment. The HDR-HC1 and HDR-HC3 only had 2.7' LCDs, and the upgrade is quite welcome. The screen opens to 90 degrees from the camcorder body on a hinge that seems to be durable enough to handle its bulk. Like most consumer camcorder LCDs, it rotates through 270 degrees and can be folded into the LCD cavity with the screen pointing out. Along the bottom of the LCD frame are buttons for Record Start/Stop, manual focus (W and T), and an LCD Home Button, which calls up page one in the menu.

A number of controls are located inside the LCD cavity beginning just left of center with a small Reset Button and a Display/Battery Info Button. Just to the right is a port cover release switch (more on that below) and the camcorder’s onboard speaker. On the right side of the LCD cavity is a USB port and below that is a Memory Stick Duo card slot.

Below the LCD, along the camcorder’s base is a retractable port cover that is opened using the release switch in the LCD cavity. We like the retractable port cover much more than the usual "dangling hatch" design found on most consumer camcorders. It’s a small detail, but one Sony’s designers deserve credit for implementing on this camcorder. The retractable port cover conceals the AV Out, Component Video Out and HDMI Out ports. Just to its right, and protected by its own standard port cover is the DC In. On the lens barrel, forward of the LCD hinge, are three controls: an LCD Back Light Button, a Manual Control Button, and a Nightshot On/Off switch.

The Top

On top of the HDR-UX1, just behind the lens, is the camcorder’s built-in microphone, followed by a proprietary Advanced Accessory Shoe which accommodates Sony accessories (such as the heavily advertised Bluetooth clip-on microphone). A hard plastic cover conceals the shoe. Near the lens barrel and above the DVD compartment is a switch that opens the disc hatch. At the opposite end, near the camcorder’s back, are three controls operated by the index finger when shooting. The Mode Dial sits at the back edge of the camcorder body, with the Zoom Toggle slightly forward. The small Photo Button is nestled in between the Mode Switch and Zoom Toggle.

Auto / Manual Controls

**Picture & Manual Control
***Automatic Control
*The HDR-UX1 offers an Easycam Mode which we expect to be on par with Sony’s generally excellent automatic control performance. In addition to full-auto, the HDR-UX1 also has automatic Spot Focus and Spot Metering. These features allow users to restrict the camcorder to using selected "spots" on the screen in its calibrations of focus and exposure simply by touching the LCD screen. The camcorder should be as easy to use as the DCR-DVD505, which is to say incredibly easy in Easycam Mode, but with the significant added benefit of high definition video capability. Sonys typically excel in automatic controlsm with Canon finishing behind as a close second. Their camcorders are marked by quick, responsive changes to lighitng intensity and temperature. The HDR-UX showed this same responsive in what was certainly a less-than-ideal room for shooting. Despite an overall dim ambience with lots of multi-colored lights, the camcorder adjusted rapidly (at least from what we could see in the viewfinder.)

Overall Manual Control

The HDR-UX1 features the manual controls found on Sony’s top camcorders and significantly improves upon them with its return to the multi-function ring that we lauded in our reviews of the HDR-HC1 - now with even more funcitons. What was once used for just zoom and focus can now control focus, exposure, AE shift, and white balance shift. Sure, we lost zoom, but we gained a whole lot more. The ring is a pleasure to use with a smooth feel and a studded surface that's nearly a finger wide.  It also benefits from the lens barrel's diameter, much larger than on the DCR-DVD505, which gives it a natural feel. This camcorder  also has a zebra striping option, with settings at 70 and 100, a feature many pros would be loathe to shoot without. While manual controls have never been Sony’s strong suit, the HDR-UX1 offers a relatively good selection that comes close to matching the options found on Panasonic camcorders.

The multi-function ring on the HDR-UX1

For manual controls not adjusted by the multi-function ring, the camcorder makes use of Sony’s ubiquitous touch screen display. Our usual complaints about LCD touch screen interfaces apply. Touch screen LCD’s tend to pick up finger grease, and while very easy to use for menu navigation, they are unwieldy means of making manual control adjustments. We much prefer external controls like the joysticks found on many Panasonics that don’t clutter the display with onscreen adjustments, or require you to touch it while tweaking your image. While this camcorder allows manual control via the touch screen interface, there’s no reason to use it in place of the ring for focus and exposure.

Zoom

The HDR-UX1 features a 10x optical zoom and 80x digital zoom. While the modest 10x optical zoom is not stellar, the zoom toggle has a very well-implemented rocking switch design. This zoom toggle permits very smooth zooms at variable speeds, and represents one manual control that Sony has mastered. The zoom cannot be controlled via the multi-function ring, as it could on the HDR-HC1. This loss is made less bitter by the fact that a ring has been added to a DVD camcorder at all, and that it controls so many other functions.

It is worth noting that while the digital zoom maxes out at only 80x, the high digital zooms found on many consumer grade camcorders offer no appeal to higher-end users. Digital zooms are capable only of magnifying the pixels available at a camcorder’s peak optical zoom level, and therefore result in significant image degradation unacceptable in professional settings. Keeping the digital zoom on this camcorder to a reasonable 80x is an indication that Sony has not pitched it for the mass market of point and shooters who are likely to be impressed by optical zoom counts of 1000x and above.

*Focus
*Manual focus is adjusted using the excellent multi-function ring, which resembles the ring found on the HDR-HC1, lost on its successor, the HDR-HC3. Most other Sony consumer camcorders use the touchscreen display for focus adjustments, a tedious and imprecise process involving touching either end of an onscreen scale. While we find any touchscreen-based manual control adjustments wanting, good focus control is even more important on a high definition camcorder than a standard definition model. Sony deserves kudos for including a true multifunction ring on the HDR-UX1 that does its HD video capacity justice.

*Exposure (Aperture)
*There are a few methods of manually adjusting exposure on the HDR-UX1. The multi-function ring allows you to adjust exposure levels in 23 EV steps (+/-11). This level of control is also available in the touchscreen menu. A secondary control, AE shift, is also available via the multi-function ring. This control allows you to shift the aperture and shutter speed while maintaining the same exposure, thus giving you greater depth of field control than you normally get on a Sony, which never seems to offer fully independent aperture.

*Shutter Speed
*There is no manual shutter speed adjustment on the HDR-UX1 despite the fact that Sony (somewhat misleadingly) reports it to have a shutter speed range of 1/4 to 1/500 of a second. That reported range applies to the camcorder’s automatic shutter speed adjustment range.  With great manual conrols in other respects, and the potential to produce some exceptional looking video, it's a shame Sony didn't provide users with the option to adjust shutter speed manually.

*White Balance
*Manual white balance adjustment is adjusted via the touch screen, and should be less disruptive than other manual control adjustments since it is generally set before recording footage. The HDR-UX1 includes the same white balance presets found on the HDR-DVD505: Auto, Indoor, Outdoor, and One Push (manual). There is also a white balance shift control, available on the multi-function ring, which allows you to make more subtle changes to the red and blue channels via an on-screen scale.

*Gain
*There is no manual gain control on the HDR-UX1, and this is another option we think Sony should have included.   While the manual control feature set is very good, with the additional of shutter speed and gain controls, the HDR-UX1 would have been a much more formidable product.

Still Features

Still Features**
**Stills images captured by the HDR-UX1 should be impressive in the context of the HDR-HC3 and DCR-DVD505, both tested at Camcorderinfo.com earlier this year. With a 2100K pixel CMOS ClearVID sensor, the HDR-UX1 will capture stills up to 2304 x 1728 (4MP) in 4:3 or 2304 x 1296 (3MP) in widescreen. Most of the manual and one-touch automatic controls available in video mode are available in still mode on the HDR-UX1.  This camcorder can only record stills to Memory Stick Pro, meaning there is no option to capture on DVD. This is unusual for a DVD camcorder, which typically boasts the large number of stills you can fit to a DVD as a selling point. The camcorder is also equipped with an onboard flash, front-mounted above the lens within the manual control ring.

**

Handling and Use

**

Handling
**The HDR-UX1 handles very well. By combining a touch screen interface with a well-implemented multi-function ring, Sony has created a camcorder that is both user-friendly and powerful. While we have never been fans of touch screens as a manual control interface, they are a speedy means of navigating through menu options, and the 3.5' screen makes navigating the screen easier than on a 2.7' LCD. The multi-function ring on the HDR-UX1 is a very good manual control for focus and exposure, the manual controls that suffer most from touch screen control on the DCR-DVD505, due to fingerprints marring the image. We like the hybrid method adopted by the Sony HDR-UX1, with external controls for crucial adjustments.

*The LCD cavity houses, among other things, the MemoryStick Duo slot *

During handheld shooting, the HDR-UX1 functions like other Sony handycams - which is to say quite well.  The camcorder fits comfortably in the right palm and the zoom toggle provides smooth and fine control.  In terms of bulk, this camcorder is slightly larger than Sony's SD models, and the 3.5' LCD does add a little heft, but it is still small enough to handle for extended periods of time with one hand, and to slip into a backpack or purse.  A last, positive note about the camcorder's design is the absence of important ports or buttons on the underside of the HDR-UX1, so users can access all the camcorder's features while it is tripod mounted.

LCD/Viewfinder

The large, bright 3.5" LCD screen is undoubtedly one of the camcorder’s biggest draws, and it makes high definition video look exceptionally good. Like the 3.5" screen on the DCR-DVD505, this one has a pixel count of 211,000 pixels, or nearly double the count for most LCDs on the consumer market. The LCD opens to 90 degrees fromt the camcorder body, and rotates through 270 degrees offering numerous viewing angles, and also folds into the LCD cavity screen-side out.  The LCD hinge seemed sturdy enough to handle the weight of the screen, and that's important given that this one has to stand up to use as a touch screen.  An added benefit of a large LCD used as a touch screen is that controls are larger and easier to operate than on a more cramped 2.7" screen. At the same time, the otherwise attractive display picks up fingerprints and grease easily, and this kind of smudging can impair a user's ability to accurately assess the image.

Not every shooting environment favors the use of a large LCD screen that produces lots of light and draws attention to the shooter. The LCD will also consume more power than a more typical 2.7" screen using the same technology. In situations where maximizing battery life is important, the electronic color viewfinder may be a better option. The viewfinder appears to share its specifications with the DCR-DVD505, measuring 0.27" and producing a resolution of 123k pixels.

Audio / Playback / Connectivity

**

Audio **

Thanks to the addition of external microphone and headphone jacks, the HDR-UX1 has the capability to record professional quality audio with third-party microphones. The mic jack is mounted on the right side of the camcorder’s lens barrel, just behind the multifunction ring. This is a convenient placement that does not interfere with handling or manual adjustments made using the ring. The headphone jack is also located on the camcorder’s right side but at the opposite end of the body, which is a similarly appropriate jack location. By giving the HDR-UX1 a capacity for professional sound acquisition, Sony has created a much more desirable device and, perhaps, opened up a market for professional production using DVD media. We could not be more pleased with Sony for listening to market demands (and perhaps, our own small pleas) for these jacks. Thank you.

The HDR-UX1's headphone jack (left) and mic input (right)

The HDRUX1 sports an onboard microphone that supports Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound – a feature that may appeal to the high-end home theatre owners as opposed to pros. The camcorder also has a top-mounted accessory shoe that is proprietary, supporting only Sony brand accessories, and includes some microphones. If the HDR-UX1 was only equipped with the above audio capabilities, it would be relegated to a place at the top end of the consumer camcorder market like the DCR-DVD505.

The disc mechanism met some resistance with the hand strap, as seen above.

**VCR Mode
**In terms of functionality, playback on the HDR-UX1 is virtually the same as on the DCR-DVD505. When the Playback tab is selected in the menu, options for Visual Index, thumbnails, and Playlist appear on screen. Visual Index mode displays single frames from each clip; users can play clips back by simply touching a selection. The DCR-DVD505 includes the option to play each thumbnail of each clip, another likely carryover on the HDR-UX1. Unfortunately, we did not have a chance to play with finished clips, as the camcorder did not have its final firmware installed. We are curious to see whether the AVCHD format allows the camcorder to access files faster than MPEG-2 files. Very often, DVD camcorders lag as they draw the thumbnails and create file lists.

**Ports
**The HDR-UX1 is well-endowed with ports. The AV-out, component video-out, and HDMI ports are all located on the left side under the LCD cavity, which has a neat little hard-plastic port cover that tucks into the body when opened. The USB 2.0 jack is just above that, in the LCD cavity, along with a MemoryStick Duo slot. The headphone jack is located on the rear right side, and the headphone jack on the front right side (actually the right side of the lens barrel). There is also a Sony Advanced Accessory Shoe on top, and a LANC remote jack, rounding out the truly impressive set of ports.

Other Features

Other Features***
**Smooth Slow Recording*--This is a feature that was previously unique to the DCR-DVD505. The feature records at four times the normal frame rate of 60 fps, or 240 fps.. Smooth Slow Record plays back footage in slow-motion and can only be engaged in 3-second intervals on the DCR-DVD505, with the result that each 3 second real-time clip plays back in 12 seconds. We expect this option to function comparably in the HDR-UX1

Super SteadyShot-- Super SteadyShot is Sony’s branded electronic image stabilization (EIS) effect, and is found on many of their camcorders. It is not an optical system, and results in some degradation of image quality.

Comparisons / Conclusion

**Conclusion
**Sony’s new HDR-UX1 is a camcorder that defies categorization, and is unlike anything else available on the market in several respects. It is the first AVCHD camcorder (along with the hard disk drive HDR-SR1) and the first DVD camcorder to record high definition video. It may also be the first DVD camcorder to warrant a serious look by higher-end users including prosumers, because it has a strong manual control feature set and microphone and headphone jacks, and It records 1080i video. Even the Panasonic VDR-D300 – with great manual controls, mic and headphone jacks, and good video performance – could not break free of its inherent limitation: MPEG-2 compression. We have yet to see AVCHD video, but we know it will be far better than DVD video has been to date.

In another sense, Sony has broken new ground with the HDR-UX1. The multi-function ring is a great manual control that allows fast and accurate adjustment of focus and exposure. On many Sony camcorders, such as the DCR-DVD505, manual controls are accessed entirely via the touchscreen, and adjusted by literally pointing to onscreen "buttons" at either end of a slider. Focusing manually using onscreen buttons is a highly compromised process, and we came down hard on Sony in the past for placing such an important control on the touch screen. The same can be said for other manual controls such as exposure. The addition of the multi-function ring addresses our biggest criticism of Sony manual controls. At the same time, the HDR-UX1has kept the touch screen for general menu navigation and those manual controls that it compromises less, like white balance. As a result, the HDR-UX1 combines very good manual controls with a user friendly touch screen and DVD media.

All of these features are packed into a typically well-designed Sony camcorder body, with a comfortable hand strap and excellent zoom toggle. As a package, we anticipate the Sony HDR-UX1 to be the strongest combination of video performance, manual control and ease-of-use yet seen in a consumer camcorder. It may not produce video that can rival competing high definition formats, but would be hard-pressed not to surpass the best performing MiniDV camcorders. The first impressions are unquestionably very positive, this is an exciting model. The HDR-UX1 is intriguing and compelling, and it’s a camcorder we can’t wait to spend some quality time with.