Sony HVR-A1E

It may be small, but is it perfectly formed? We put Sony’s lightweight HD camcorder through its paces

Sony’s HDR-FX1E was the first of the affordable prosumer HD camcorders, but was marred by a couple of drawbacks, not least its huge size. The camera perched awkwardly between the bijou portability of a true palmcorder and the shoulder-mounted convenience of larger professional machines. 

But Sony has tackled past size problems by releasing the HVR-A1E, which is half the size and weighs far less. This is a true palm-sized machine, perfect for dropping into a rucksack and using as a handheld on location. As an added bonus, it comes with a good microphone complete with decent connectors. 

As with Sony’s other models, the A1E can be configured to record in HD or SD. HD footage can be downconverted on the fly so that SD-only editors can still make sense of it. However, by going down this route you will quickly lose the benefits of HD’s higher resolution. 

Operationally the A1E is a charmer – the small size gives it instant appeal. Meanwhile, some high-end features are hidden out of sight behind an impressively lateral rotating menu system, which appears on the fold-out LCD with a touch-sensitive screen. The result is a very usable compromise between one-button-per-function interface hell, and the total obscurity of some other menu-based systems. 

Optically, the results are first rate, thanks to a good lens and a true 16:9 mode. Unlike the FX1E this is a single CCD camera, but it’s hard to tell the difference. Low light conditions show up noise slightly earlier, but that’s about it. As with all HD systems it’s worth remembering that true HD editing will max out all but the beefiest Mac or PC, so don’t assume you’ll be able to plug the A1E into your old laptop and get HD footage out of it – you probably won’t. 

On the downside, the biggest criticism is that this camera is a bottom loader, which is inconvenient at best, but downright obstructive for tripod work. Quicker access to some of the options would have been handy, too. The menu system is quite snappy, but there are so many settings that it can take a while to scroll your way through them. 

Pickier videographers may also complain about the video quality. There’s nothing wrong with the resolution or the sharpness, and a film-like gamma option changes the contrast to produce a more Hollywood-friendly look. But the overall effect is still very digital, and needs a lot of post-processing to come closer to a more film-like feel. 

Still, overall this is HD without the pain. The Sony HDR-FX1E may have been first, but its monster-truck form factor and the hedgehog effect button and settings approach will have made both professionals and non-professionals pause for thought. The A1E delivers 95 per cent of the same video quality and almost all of the options, in a much handier form. 

If you’re thinking of moving into professional HD, this camcorder is as good as it gets, for now.