 Great HD video camera in your pocket. Beware of AVCHD limitations. |
| Review Date: May 28, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Mark, North Carolina, USA |
I have this camera and a Canon HF10 so I'm going to lift some of the AVCHD-specific stuff from my HF10 review.
I bought the HF10 for it's super-fast focus when shooting my kids' sporting events. I bought the TG1 for it's superior portability. I'm happy to say both are awesome cameras. One big negative for the Sony camera is that 16gb of memory (Memory Stick Pro Duo Mark 2) costs 2.5 times as much for this camera as it does for the HF10 which uses SDHC. That's a complete rip off but no other HD video camera fits in your pocket like this one so that's the price you pay for portability. Battery life is another price you pay but I got every video I wanted, in great quality, from the beach this past weekend and had plenty of battery and memory to spare. If you're going to film long events this is not the camera for you. In still camera terminology think of it as pocket point-and-shoot and not an SLR.
This is a fantastic camera but people need to have more realistic expectations of what to expect from AVCHD. It is a highly compressed format so using this camera in low-light conditions is going to produce pretty "grainy" results. In good lighting AVCHD output from this camera can produce some really great looking results in HD but don't kid yourself into thinking you're going to get professional HDTV quality. This is a point-and-shoot.
This is a great camera if you use a Mac but you will probably find it very frustrating if you use a PC...
I use both Macs and PC and I have to tell you that you that PCs suck for AVCHD - you will waste a lot of time and pull your hair out. I'm sure PC video software vendors will address this eventually, but seriously folks if you want to do this the easy way get an Intel-based Mac (caveat: only Intel based machines using Leopard support AVCHD) and use either iMovie or Final Cut Express 4. Both of these programs (iMovie 08 and FCE4) just LOVE this camera (and Canon HF10 and hard disk-based Sony AVCHD as well) and they work like a charm. Video making has never been this easy. FCE4 lets you mix AVHCD, HDV and SD video on the same timeline and save in whatever format you want so it's worth the $200 if you want to do that or have more exacting control over your videos. It is basically a (lightly) stripped-down version of Apple's excellent professional video software (Final Cut Pro) and it is very good. For most home videos iMovie 08 (which comes in iLife 08) will be just fine. No, better than fine. You will LOVE how easy it is to create great movies with iMovie 08 and how easy it is to save them in a variety of formats and sizes and share them with friends and family. It is a piece of cake to edit movies in iMovie 08 and then put them on a Mac Web Gallery (at up to 960x540 which is higher than DVD quality) for family members to see or dump them out on a DVD (using iLife 08's iDVD) for your family members who are less tech savvy. You can even dump them out to 1080p Quicktime movies if you desire. I enjoy sticking movies of the kids on my wife's iPhone so she can show them to her friends.
I've had no problem transferring the movies directly from the camera but you do need to have the camera plugged into the AC to do it. You can avoid plugging the camera into your Mac to transfer the files by getting a memory stick reader. You can get a Transcend M5 reader here on Amazon for under $10 and it works great with the Memory Stick Duo Mark2 cards.
The video camera is just acting like a USB reader when you connect it to your Mac anyway - it is the file layouts that the software recognizes. When read in and converted to Apple Intermediate Codec at 1920x1080 they will balloon in size. If you want to store the raw video in a more compressed way you can simply copy the root directory of the card to another directory and copy it back again later. If you're working with AVCHD you need to buy the biggest hard drives you can afford. 60 minutes of video will use up something like 50Gb of storage on your Mac when converted to 1920x1080. If you just want great looking home video to show on your HDTV, but don't want to go broke on hard drives, Apple offers to import the movies at a slightly lower resolution (960x540) which takes up a LOT less space with very little drop in quality. I have been making home videos and showing them on an Apple TV at that resolution and they look stunning. The quality difference between that resolution and full HD isn't that big of a deal.
If you want to try to get truly professional-quality video you should avoid AVCHD cameras and stick to the HDV format concentrating on cameras with larger sensors. But this is great camera for HD home videos at a great price.
The user interface on this camera is better than the Canon HDF10 for reviewing your video but sucks for adjustments on the fly. Adjusting exposure manually is a pain in the butt and the UI for it obscures a lot of the picture. I wish they had added a dial or button set for adjust exposure and/or backlighting control on the camera. In bright light the screen gets washed out enough that it is hard to tell if your exposure is really that great or not but I did find a neat trick. In bright sunlight the screen is easier to see if you tilt it at an angle forward rather than trying to keep it straight up and down. This is where a viewfinder would really help. But these are minor nits because the camera does a good job at exposure control on its own.
Still photos absolutely suck on this camera. Get a proper still camera if you care about stills. This is true of all of the video cameras - don't count on them taking decent stills unless you want to use them at very low resolutions. They're going to be better than the camera on your mobile phone but that's not saying much :)
As I said earlier this is a very compact point-and-shoot camera that shoots HD video and for that it's excellent. The beautiful thing about this camera is that it fits comfortably in your pocket. No other HD video camera out yet (as of 28-May-2008) can make that claim. For that reason you'll probably take it with you more often and pull it out for a quick video here and there. To me that makes it worth the price of the expensive memory cards because your memories are priceless - especially of your kids growing up. |
Now I take video everywhere - Excellent camera
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| Review Date: December 8, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Chicago customer review, Chicago, IL USA |
December 2008
I am writing this preliminary review after I saw all the negative ones here on Amazon. I am amazed on how people can differ so greatly on the exact same item. I think the negatives here are not fair for this nice little marvel of technology.
I bought this camera here on Amazon and have been playing with for about a week now. Let me start by saying that I take more video now than ever before, the key here is the size of the camera. I am an avid photographer & videographer and I usually go for high end equipment which also means large, heavy and complex controls. I already own 2 other Sony HD camcorders and I was looking for something I can keep in my pocket for those unexpected and spontaneous moments with the kids.
Let me tell you this is the perfect little camera for that purpose. If you are looking for a high end HD then you are looking at the wrong camera. Nothing on the market at this point will be comparable to the full size cameras and offer the size advantage of this little gem.
Now having said that, this statement applies to any camera that size, and that is true. However at this point there is only one other worthy competitor on the market and that is the Sanyo Xacti HD1010. I did very careful research for 3 weeks before I made my decision, I love Sanyo and had many good products by them. But there was one deal killer for me with the HD1010 and that was image stabilization. It is just terrible, really it should have went back to the design board. Shaky images is the Achilles heal of video. The Sony image stabilization on the other had is very impressive, Sony uses optical system vs. Sanyo which is electronic.
This Sony is not without criticism either, it records in AVCHD format which is really a pain in the butt to edit on windows or even to view right out of the camera. You must convert the file first to something Windows can understand, and unless you like to tinker with that stuff this becomes a headache. Windows just cannot handle AVCHD file without some conversion first.
You can use Sony Vegas, Pinnacle Studio 12 and a few other on the market and you must have a newer computer with lots of horsepower to keep up with this format. For Macs, all the newer Mac/Intel machines can handle AVCHD, older ones need some software additions. This is a limitation of all AVCHD at this point, so not unique to this camera. Sony, Canon, JVC and Panasonic all moved to this format now. The only way to avoid it at this point is to use tape based camcorders using HDV.
This Sony has fair low light performance compared to the full size HD cams, but the way I look at it is this, I have the fair image now to look at, when I had nothing before because I never carried the bigger camcorder everywhere. The kids have fun instantly watching to footage on the camera screen & I caught priceless moments that I would have otherwise never had. Not to mention that I can download the files in seconds on to hard drive and I view & edit using Sony Vegas, the freebie software that Sony send with the camera is lacking. If you own a PlayStation (PS3) you're in luck, you can view the video directly from the memory card or you can dump it on a regular DVD and view it in HD on the PS3.
If you want the ultimate video quality, then tape is still the way to go today using HDV. Even the top of the line AVCHD today the Sony HDR-SR12 is not capable of delivering the quality of the HDV & tape like Sony HDR-HC9. So it is all a matter of perspective.
The digital photo function on the TG1 is average, only 4mp, consider this part a bonus feature. If you are looking for a real high quality digital camera, the HDR-TG1 is not going to provide it for you.
The Sanyo on other hand uses an easier file format that works with most existing software and is readily recognized by Windows. That could be a big advantage for someone who has no interest in dealing with editing and software ..etc. To me that was never an issue though, I already do a lot of editing with my other HDV footage. Another plus for me was the compatibility of batteries, chargers & other accessories from the other Sonys I already own. I just could not deal with the very visible jittery video that the Sanyo produced.
All in all, I think this is an excellent buy, not perfect but I now have the memories when before I did not, how much is that worth? I don't think the kids will complain much when they grow up that the video was not shot on the top of the line camera of it's time !!
If you are buying this camera, it is strictly for the size and portability,and it does make a big difference between getting it on video or nothing at all. If this the only video camera you plan on buying then I recommend the HDR-SR12 if you don't mind the size. This HDR-TG1 on the other hand is truly a joy to hold and play with. It is very well made has a lot of heft to it, and feels solid.
What I like:
1. Size: extremely portable, shirt pocket size & can take it everywhere.
2. HD video: smallest on the market, very high quality in good light.
3. Exquisite finish & attention to details and truly a joy to hold.
4. Very fast video file transfer from card to computer.
5. Has tripod thread at bottom.
6. Superb optics with Carl Zeiss lens.
7. True 5.1 sound, very impressive audio in optimal conditions.
What I don't like:
1. Mediocre low light performance.
2. Sound recording poor in windy conditions.
3. AVCHD format hard to edit.
4. Photo function not impressive.
5. Battery life somewhat short (less than 1 hour record, 2 hour playback)
6. Accepts only 1 size battery NP-FH50 nothing bigger (must fit inside cam)
7. Cannot stand on bottom (has rounded finish)
8. No NightShot function like all other Sony videocams.
9. No camera case provided by Sony! (They'll sell you one for $39 !!) |
A stylish, convenient, full featured ultra compact HD cam
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| Review Date: November 20, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Dion Hinchcliffe, Washington, DC |
I've tried out a number of high definition camcorders in the last few years and so far this is my favorite, even compared to bigger, more robust models. That's not to say that the HDR-TG1 isn't full featured. It is. It's also one of the most elegant and easy-to-use HD camcorders on the market today. Admittedly, I like Sony products a great deal but they've raised the bar here and the HDR-TG1 looks good, feels great, and produces video of such startling clarity that it can take your breath away.
Here's how the HDR-TG1 breaks down:
PROS:
- Insanely high resolution 1920x1080i video that's super sharp.
- Audio picked from the top mounted mike is clear and loud. I was worried this was going to be the weak point of the design, but the sound is tremendous and can even focus on specific targets when using face recognition mode.
- The titanium body makes it light and doesn't dimple, which is what I was worried about when it's in my pocket for long periods of time. Since it's brushed, no fingerprints ever appear. Very slick.
- Fast startup. I can take it out of my pocket and start recording in 4-5 seconds if it's not in standby and in 1-2 seconds if it is. Never miss a shot again.
- Very well designed menus usable by touch screen. Auto-scene indexing is excellent and the options for most features are quickly found.
- LCD is amazingly sharp and bright, even outside.
- Zoom control is about the most ergonomic I've seen on a camera, though I've found it's also easy to forget which direction to go in.
- One handed operation for all major features while recording.
- The automated lens cap is extremely handy and tries hard to keep the lens covered at all times except when actually recording.
- Battery life is good, if not stellar. Have not run out of power yet, but you'll need to be good about keeping it on the charging stand.
- Nice heft and just about perfect size. Fits easily in a coat or pants pocket. This thing is slightly smaller than it even looks in the pictures.
- The steadyshot makes a big difference in video quality compared to other compact HD camcorders. I've tried a number of other compact camcorders and with the resolution of HD, image stabilization is a must. The HDR-TG1's steadyshot may not be the very best but it produces very decent results compared to other camcorders in the same category.
CONS
- The AVCHD format that the camera uses is not the most well supported HD video format out there. Many editing applications and video upload sites will not like the *.MTS files that the HDR-TG1 outputs. iMovie on the Mac is about the best for handling them though there are others. Bottom line: You will have to get used to some post processing of the files to use them elsewhere.
- The joint mount of the LCD display seems to be a design weak spot in an otherwise incredibly well built device. I'm having no problems right now but I can see how this might wear out in a year or two of regular use. I bought the extra warranty so I'm hoping Sony will just give me a new camcorder if this breaks.
- No audio input jack. Although it doesn't really seem to need it, but it's always a nice feature to have on a camcorder. But it would also make this little gem seem a little uglier.
- The still photos the HDR-TG1 takes are the typically awful ones you get from a camcorder CCD. No surprise here but it's definitely a downside; for good stills you'll still need to pack a dedicated digital camera.
- Connecting to USB on this device requires a special dongle or the base station. Not very convenient IMHO but they've tried very hard to make this iPod-like in terms of utter simplicity and understated elegance, meaning that there's really not much room to stick an ugly USB port on the body of this device without ruining the design. There is a dock connector at the bottom that turns into the USB port with dongle or dock (both included with the device.)
- Low light performance is not the strong point of this camcorder. The lens is just too small to gather enough light. That being said, its BIONZ processor does well compared to other compact HD cams. I just pack a portable light, though I wish the HDR-TG1's built-in flash was really a video light source since the still photo function isn't worth much anyway. Note: Well lit interiors record just fine, but candlelight and a little bit brighter do not come out as well.
All in all, the HDR-TG1 has become my new favorite camcorder since the size and features are just right and I end up having it with me for all occasions. I'd buy this again in a heartbeat and I'm using it almost every day now. Finally a compact HD camcorder with just about zero compromises. |
Great and BETTER THAN New Model HDR-TG5V Due to 5.1 Sound!
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| Review Date: April 14, 2009 |
| Reviewer: MikeRadio, Maryland |
This camera has been replaced in the Sony lineup by the HDR-TG5V. I bought this a few weeks before this stopped showing up on Sony's website and boy I am glad I did.
For one thing (besides the much cheaper price), THIS CAM HAS AMAZING 5.1 DOLBY SURROUND. I had mine outside at a festival and wow.. it sounds amazing.. you hear voices from the rear and front and sides like you do with any surround broadcast.... If you are filming and talk to your subject, the sound actually comes from rear.... I was skeptical about this feature originally since the mic is top mounted and one piece but boy.. it is great.
Now.. the NEW HDR-TG5V does NOT HAVE 5.1 SURROUND! All of the new Sony cams DO.. but for some reason it seems they took a step back here... it is just standard STEREO 2 channel sound.... I don't feel the true HD experience is complete without Surround... Sony talks this up on EVERY HD cam.. and now in the newer model it is removed.
The only things different with the newer one are GPS location, cool but not easy to use nor necessary and 16 GB built in memory.. which a stick can be used all the same on this one... and it is slightly smaller
I HIGHLY recommend getting this over the newer HDR-TG5V as long as it is available.... The main thing you buy these for is picture and sound and let me tell you.. the 5.1 Dolby Surround is incredible... don't give it up for the other "features" on the newer unit... |
Great Device with one caveat
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| Review Date: December 2, 2008 |
| Reviewer: B. Hayes, Midwest |
This truly is an excellent small footprint video device. The image quality is spectacular; the SD HQ picture quality was well beyond my expectations as well...(better than my DV tape based Sony PC-350). I bought this strictly for it's small form factor. For that alone, it is a great device. AVCHD is a pain to work with, but for time being, I am getting better video on this little camera's SD setting than on my older Sony. AVCHD compatibility will only improve with time. The only negative is the inability to attach a wide angle lens. The competing Sanyo Xacti has that ability (but lack of adequate image stabilization is a nonstarter for that camera), as does my older Sony; which really makes a world of difference when shooting in tight places. Sony should have scrapped the flash ring around the lens (as stills stink from this camera) and equipped it with threads to accept a lense. For that I would knock of 1/2 star......otherwise a great device.
**UDATE**
After extensive testing, I reluctantly returned the device to Amazon. With the small form factor, image stabilization becomes critical. Unfortunately, in my opinion, the stabilzer in this camera is not up to snuff. I was constantly seeing every minute movement due to the lenses' lack of wide angle. The lens angle is supposedly 47 degrees, but it seems narrower than that. Couple that with the fact that there is really no way to attach an aftermarket lense, I couldn't justify the cost. The images this camera produces are great. If you are complaining about AVCHD compatiblity, get toast 9 for mac, or vegas studio for PC. I made AWESOME resolution blu-ray DVD's on regular DVD-R media in no time at all. If Sony can improve on the next generation palm recorder with the above improvements......I will not hesitate to get one. |
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