Our friends over at HandsOn HDV have done it again with the release of their latest training DVD. Their excellent training for the SONY HDV Z1U and FX1 has already been reviewed here.
*The HC1 is a little too sophisticated to be considered a consumer camera, yet not sophisticated enough to be considered a prosumer camera. I've coined the term "mid-sumer" to fill in the little gap between the two where the HC1 falls perfectly.
The DVD follows the same formula as the original Z1U disc in that it is broken down into chapters that clearly explain each topic in a straightforward way. The explanation of the touch screen interface is clear and easily understood even by a rank beginner. Helping new users to navigate through the 80 or so menu pages makes owning the camera a lot more enjoyable than having to wade through manuals or trial and error.
The beauty of having all the instructions for any piece of equipment on a DVD is being able to "play along" while watching it. The HandsOn HDV format allows for the viewer to either play the disc from beginning to end or pick and choose the section that interests them.
There is nothing more annoying than a poorly produced "training" DVD. If you've been around for more than a couple of years you know that there are enough of them floating around out there. Thankfully, the production value on this DVD is of the highest quality and a pleasure to watch. That's especially good to know because as with any training material, you ARE going to watch it more than once to let things "seep in" to the gray matter.
The touch screen controls of the HC1 are fully explained here as well. It looks as if Sony has packed nearly every conceivable button into a touch screen menu system. Again, it's easier to understand how the system works by watching someone manipulate it than by trying to figure it out on your own. (And we ALL know that no one, I repeat NO ONE ever reads the manual first.) Having the HandsOn HDV disc at the ready is like having that friend who actually DID read the manual sitting there with you to explain it all.
Hi Def is cracking the consumer market bit by bit each day. It's only a matter of time before the other manufacturers jump on the bandwagon and serve up their own offerings. Cameras like the HC1 are priced very attractively to the upscale consumer. While not offering the same amount of control or flexibility as their larger and much more expensive cousins, they DO allow people to get that all important taste of Hi-Def. And like Eve's Apple, once you see it, you're hooked. I think you'll see footage from these tiny "mid-sumer" cameras in all kinds of projects and productions, if only as filler or b-roll. Of course, that's all dependant on the quality of the footage that the HC1 can produce (and there is no reason to assume that the quality isn't there no matter WHAT the snobs say). So there is a definite reason to give these babies a closer look. If you have seen the HC1 in person, you can appreciate how small it is. To be able to get Hi-def (or a version of it for the purists) in a unit so small and portable is nothing short of amazing. Having the camera and the HandsOn HDV materials at hand shortens the learning curve exponentially and allows you to get with it a whole lot quicker. Ultimately, that's what it's all about!
