Any high definition video noise reduction programs/plugins out there?

Question

i have a Sony HDR HC1, and im just using iMovie to import the HD video then send it to FCE3.5.....and i dont plan to buy a new camera until i make my second low-budget feature (editing my first right now).....and i have some low-light shots that shows bluish-colored noise (the camera has a CMOS chip) and i need to know how to get rid of the noise (and for a less noisy picture overall, even though very little in normal light conditions).

Answer 1

Er, 'Cineframe' (pseudo 24p) and 'CineGamma' (film-like brightness range) are available on the bigger FX1 and Z1, but not on the smaller HC1, sorry. But the HC1 has a similar (or maybe identical) 'Cinema Effect', which does simulate 24fps film.
However, you can't choose this (under 'D. EFFECT' in the 'PICT. APPLI.' menu) if you've already chosen a film-like manual shutter speed ..e.g; 1/25.
You can't keep the 'film-like' manual 25 shutter speed, either, if you choose, in the 'PROGRAM AE' menu, 'PORTRAIT' (..which generally tries to give the widest available aperture, to give shallow depth-of-field like a 35mm film camera lens).
So for a "film-like" appearance with the HC1 I'd choose:
Manual shutter speed - 25
Sharpness - up a bit from normal
Steadyshot - ON
Manual exposure - ON (..that's the little round button next to the 'Exposure/Vol' switch on the left-hand side, below the Backlight button..)
This HD Sony camcorder is probably way beyond the price range you're interested in, but the V1U does offer most of what you want..!
The Panasonic HVX200 is extremely versatile ..but the cost of memory cards is probably prohibitive ..unless you shoot only 8 minutes at a time!
(..Here's a useful comparison between the earlier Sonys, JVC and the Panasonic, but it doesn't mention the new V1U..)
(..The Canon XL2 offers 24p and interchangeable lenses, but no HDV..)
Essentially, the JVC HD100/110 shoots only HDV (or DV) 720p (24, 25, 30fps), Progressive (full frame) format, and doesn't shoot "video-like" 1080i (interlaced) at all. So it's specifically intended for tape-to-film transfer, which may be what you want.
Here's a .pdf of the instruction book.
Notice that the JVC is a manual focus camera ..there is no autofocus at all. It comes with a 16x zoom, but no figures given for its low-light limit, such as 4 lux or 6 lux.
The original HDV 1-chip JVC GR-HD1 is to be avoided, as its low-light performance - and performance overall - is pretty poor.
The new Sony V1, having a fixed, built-in, non-interchangeable lens does have autofocus - though that can be switched off. It shoots HDV 24p and 30p, but also 'normal' non-progressive video. Here's Adam Wilt's assessment of it. It has a 20x zoom, and shoots down to about 4 lux.
Sony's earlier - and cheaper - Z1 has a 12x (autofocus) zoom, 60i and 50i video shooting, and 'synthesized' 30p, 25p and 24p modes, which Sony calls 30F, 25F and 24F ..as these are progressive frames constructed from various interleaved fields and frames. So 24F isn't exactly the same as 24p. Minimum light: 3 lux.
[..The 'super-HAD' CCDs in the FX1/Z1 don't appear to give any vertical smear of bright highlights ..though that's often quoted as a particular selling point of CMOS chips, compared with CCDs..]
I use the UK-only 50i version (the FX1) of the Z1, and can say that it's excellent in incredibly low light. These HDV Sonys (..except the 7 lux HC1..) all feature optional "CineGamma", which alters the recorded brightness range to look more like film than video, and "CineFrame" which is this artificial progressive mode - called 'Cinema Effect' on the HC1.
Here's some more info about Sony's 'CineFrame' pseudo 24p.
In summary:
The JVC is the nearest HDV you'll get to true 24p, but it's less easy to handle (no autofocus, 16x zoom) than a Sony, and doesn't offer interlaced video recording like a normal camcorder ..so it'd probably be inappropriate for shooting for TV.
The V1 is a multi-talented video/24p camera, with a big 20x zoom, low-light, but doesn't take interchangeable lenses.
The Panasonic HVX200 seems to offer the best of many worlds, but has only a 13x built-in zoom, and although it shoots extremely hi-quality material onto memory cards, they're expensive and have only a small capacity.
Yer pays yer money and yer takes yer choice..