Miguel Lombana

Just got the word of a new cam set to hit the street in late December, might be a nice replacement for one of my older HDV cams. No reviews on this one yet, but let’s hope it fits the bill, at first glance this would is going to be hot.

Sony has unveiled what they call an “entry-level professional HDV camcorder” dubbed the Sony HVR-HD1000U. The new camcorder has a shoulder-mounted design that will allow for more stability when shooting. The Sony HVR-HD1000U looks like it could be a great investment for wedding videographers, educational facilities, and anyone else who is looking for a professional-end camcorder for a decent price.

Some specs on the Sony HVR-HD1000 include Sony’s 1/2.9″ ClearVid CMOS sensor, a 10x Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonner T* lens with optical image stabilization, and an LCD screen and EVF that are both positioned in front of the cameraman when the camcorder is shoulder-mounted.

The HVR-HD1000 also features Sony’s “Smooth Slow Rec” function that allows for slow-motion recording and playback. 0 lux shooting is also possible with the Super NightShot mode, which uses an infrared light emitter to allow for video to be captured even when there is not light source.

The Sony HVR-HD1000 can shoot at SD or HD resolutions and can also downconvert. If your workflow is still completely SD, this will give you the option of keeping it that way until you can upgrade, and also allows you to have HD master tapes to go back and use if needed.

Because Sony seems to be using a consumer-end sensor inside a “pro” camcorder, it remains to be seen if the quality will match the functionality. Since Sony’s Pro camcorders have higher manufacturing standards we will probably see a better overall quality.

And for the price, who can really complain? Available in December, the Sony HVR-HD1000U will cost you no more than $1,900.