Are you kidding? It isn’t even fair to take any SD camera to put against the FX1. The difference in resolution is by far superior. I have made a comparison to a XL1S, PD170P and even VX2100. You don’t even have to put this out onto a HD monitor. Just output the component cables to your LCD projector and “VOILA” the magic is obvious. Vivid detailing and definitely a pretty awesome video resolution at a dream price range. How could anyone even consider buying and paying more for an XL2 that shoots Standard Definition? I have really not a clue!
The FX1 comes with a Carl Zeiss Vario Sonnar Lens and a 12X Optical Zoom. It does not have an interchangeable lens like the Canon XL series. However the lens hood is removable if you want to add on a Wider Glass onto it. Using the similar slider found at the side of the hood like the PD170 the shutters can be closed or open.

Features

The mode switch is almost similar in location as in all its predecessors. The camcorders record button is also found where the mode dial is. It also has a record button found on the handle of which you may turn off or on.

Zooming

The zoom rocker on the FX1 is generously big and easy to handle. I love it you can really perform smooth zooms with it. Using the Zoom Rocker you can also perform very smooth and also accurate variable zooms.
The Zoom Rocker on the handle however in my opinion a little too small and don’t give you that level of control. There is a small switch where you can turn the zoom off on the handle or set the zoom speed to two different but constant zoom speeds.
The Zoom Ring on the lens barrel comes with a measurement to indicate your zoom distance. This zoom ring is not an actual manual zoom ring, which means it doesn’t physically turn the lens. However, I am still pretty amaze with its response and accuracy. I can clearly say I was pretty impressed and the very first time a servo sensor mechanism has thrilled me.
Next to the zoom ring is slider to switch the camera from the zoom ring to the zoom rocker. I was pretty unhappy that they did not allow you an override of the ZOOM ring over the ZOOM rocker. This can be quite a pain as I usually prefer to shoot with the flexibility of using either one or the other.

 

There is a focus ring on the lens barrel situated after the zoom ring. The ring itself is constructed with a very nice and effective rubbery material and assures you a very sensitive feel to your focus and zooming. I can safely say it is one of the best focusing rings I have every come across found on a camcorder. Focus can be achieved very quickly with the usage of this ring without much effort. The camcorder has the option naturally to switch from auto to manual focus and I must also say the auto focus mechanism and capability of the FX1 is also superior. That is if you want to compare this with Canon’s drifting trademark. The LCD on the FX1 has a fantastic resolution of 250,000 pixels and you have to trust me! You need this for shooting in HD. Sony also came up with a great idea to help you focus crisp looking HD video so they added an EXPANDED FOCUS option. This is really helpful as the image is digitally magnified 4 times in size to allow you more accurate focusing. Then it jumps back out after focusing. The image is not recorded on tape, so there is nothing to worry though I would have preferred a BLACK and WHITE screen included.
Where the manual and auto selection is, there is also a one push focus option. This is also quite a nifty feature to have. This is especially so if you are set on manual focus and want a second opinion from the cameras focus intelligence.

Exposure

 

Exposure on the FX1 is indeed a dream come true… The metal aperture looking dial that Sony have added on the bottom right of the camcorder is easy to find and easy manipulate. The camcorder gives you F stop readings on screen. You can also toggle this to on or off using the row of button strategically located on the camcorders port side.

Shutter Speed

The manual shutter speed on the FX1 can be turned off and on using a button you can find right next to the gain and white balance. It would have been great if Sony could have built the same look alike dial the use for their exposure side by side. This would have help so much in the ease of controlling the cameras main manipulators side by side rather than have to adjust shutter via the roller dial on the back panel of the camera. Shutter ranges from 1/30th second to 1/10,000 second and appears on screen.

White Balance

White Balance on the FX1 is also accessible from the row of buttons situated on Park Avenue Street on the FX1. You can of course leave the camcorder to auto white balance or also manually setting the white balance by depressing this button. There are also presets that you may use to store the white balance information in.

 

Gain
Gain is available through the gain button on Park Avenue Street again… The FX1 is capable of going on the way up to 18db of gain with a 3db interval.

 

Audio
The FX1 is not like its big brother the Z1 and does not come with balance audio and XLR inputs. The microphone is a stereo one and audio is two channels and can be controlled through a clear panel in manual mode. The FX 1 however does not allow independent adjustments for the individual channels. I would rather in situations use an external microphone to capture sound.
The FX1 also has a headphone monitor jack available for monitoring audio.

The FX1 does not shoot in 24P like the XL2 or the DVX102. Sony however included their very own Cineframe 24P and 30 P modes. In my honest opinion, the Cineframe feature on the FX1 seems to perform better than the Cineframe found on the DCR-PD350 which produced pretty jerky footage rather than a film like look. Try the Cineframe on the FX1 and judge for yourself! I think they did a pretty good job with the feature which I feel is pretty kewl with a camcorder that shoots in HD resolution. Imagine anyway a camcorder that allows you to shoot in HD and also in SD? The camcorder also shoots in native 16: 9 and also standard 4: 3.

Special Buttons

There are 3 buttons located on the middle portion of the FX1 which allows you to set transitions to them. There are also three assigned buttons that you can program features to for e.g. fades etc.

Optical Image Stabilization

The FX1 has an OPTICAL IMAGE STABILZER which is indeed a better option of the two available. GET IT?

Conclusion

My conclusion of the FX1 is a 9 out of a 10 for a camcorder at this price level. It has features second to none and a resolution that surely beats any standard definition in its price category. If you plan to shoot in HDV and think you can afford the FX1…go for it! Unless you are crazy and still think you want to pay the same value for a standard definition camcorder. HDV ultimately will be the next standard. It is inevitable to move with the times and unless you need balance audio in oppose to better resolution, the FX1 is the camcorder to put on your list. I own the FX1 and I can clearly say that the day I bought it my PD170 has lost a good close friend. FX1 now retails for less than S$5,300 and that in my books is a camcorder worth every single cent you pay.