Labs

Sony's DCR-TRV950 was a seminal semi-professional's workhorse, offering supreme video quality and a plethora of manual controls. With the DCR-HC1000, though, Sony has cast aside this heritage and set off on a different tack.

Before sounding too critical, it's worth underlining that the DCR-HC1000 is yet another great Sony camcorder on many levels. As the pricing implies, it's a three-CCD model, and it uses a trio of 1/4.7in 1.07-megapixel sensors, the same as the Panasonic NVGS400B.

Video quality is exceptional under any circumstances. In bright sunlight, colours were vibrant and faithful, with plenty of contrast and detail. Optical image stabilisation was effective, and the DCR-HC1000 responded rapidly to changes of focal point and movement from brightly lit areas to shadows. Under artificial lighting it was a similar story, with the Sony completely unfazed by poor illumination. There was no evidence of blooming from brightly coloured objects, and very little grain.

What semi-professionals will find most jarring, however, is the manual control.

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Every feature is covered, from focus to exposure to shutter speed. The essential manual audio control is available too. However, Sony has taken the bold step of streamlining the DCR-HC1000 with its premium consumer models by opting for the same touch-sensitive LCD panel. While the lens ring doubles up for manual focus and an alternative zoom control, few other manual functions are available without the LCD, which means they're inaccessible unless it's open. Only backlight compensation has its own button.

While the LCD touchscreen has its strengths, such as the spot focus and exposure systems, for many video enthusiasts it will add a level of irritation to accessing functions that were just a button-press away on the DCR-TRV950. The swivelling handgrip is also an acquired taste, although we found it very comfortable to use.

Another omission is progressive scan, which is particularly surprising considering that the cheaper single-chip DCR-PC350 offers this feature as well as the film-mimicking Cinema Effect. The DCR-HC1000 has one unique feature, however: two microphone jacks, which work with Sony's own surround-sound add-on to record four-channel audio. Alternatively, you can supply your own pair of stereo microphones. The tracks end up on the twin 12-bit DV audio signals. These can only be simultaneously captured to PC with Sony's own software, although recording using two passes is possible with software that lets you choose between the two DV audio tracks.

The Sony DCR-HC1000 has a lot to commend it. Video performance is equal to Panasonic's Labs-winning NVGS400B, and the range of manual control is comprehensive.