Sony DCR-DVD105 Camcorder Reviewby Matt CullerPublished on Jun 28, 2006 12:30 PM
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Picture & Manual Control
Automatic Control (9.0)
Sony camcorders, DVD camcorders included, are known for the accuracy and speed of their automatic controls. in particular The DCR-DVD105 (Review, Specs, $399.95) is no exception; let’s just say this camcorder is auto-centric. It’s made for the point-and-shooter to use on vacations, at parties, and on other occasions when getting the shot is more important than fiddling around with buttons.
By sacrificing some manual features, such users get some superb automatic controls with the DVD105. Automatic shutter speed and iris control are top notch: quick and accurate, with excellent transitions between extremely light and extremely dark areas. Sony does a good job of offering controls that are subtle when they need to be and sharp and overate when the environment dictates it. Low end Panasonic DVD camcorders, for example, have exposure and shutter controls that lag in adjustment, creating blinding white areas slowly forming into recognizable shapes, and their white balance systems, though accurate, have awkwardly quick transitions.
The DCR-DVD105 offers Sony’s standard Automatic Exposure (Program AE) presets for various predetermined shooting environments. These include: Spotlight, Portrait, Sports, Beach and Ski, Sunset and Moon, and Landscape.
The P-Touch menu, which is the first you encounter when you enter the menu.
The next level of the menu.
The Camera Set sub-menu, which contains most of the manual controls.
Overall Manual Control (3.0)
The Sony DCR-DVD105 features Sony’s standard dearth of manual controls, offering manual adjustment on white balance, exposure, and focus only. Really, the only top quality manual control on the camcorder is white balance, as “exposure” is a conglomerate control of 
iris and shutter speed masquerading an undisclosed algorithm. Focus functions much like exposure, with an unlabelled horizontal scroll-meter. As might be expected on such a cheap point-and shoot camcorder, it’s less than accurate.
The camcorder’s zoom is pretty good as far as manual control goes. Its toggle benefits from Sony’s recent ergonomic design overhaul, moving easily and fluidly.
All the Sony DCR-DVD105’s manual controls are located within the touch screen menu system. We’ve continuously berated this system for a number of reasons. One, real-time manual control adjustment using a touch screen makes for shaky video, as the operator literally taps out the changes on the screen. Two, finger oils make the screen greasy and nasty, especially over extended use. Three, touch screen navigation is cumbersome endeavor in general, as it adds another link in an already tedious navigation chain for the sake of a little flash and ‘touchy’ bling.
Zoom (8.0)
As stated above the DVD105’s zoom is top-notch as far as pointing-and-shooting goes. It provides easy and fluid movement, leaving the operating finger unobstructed by surrounding gadgets and other controls. This is essential to fluid zoom. Toggles on Panasonic’s lower-end DVD camcorders, in comparison, are generally more cumbersome.
However, where the Sony loses out, as far as zooming power goes, is in its size. While the camcorder offers a healthy 20x optical zoom, it really can’t compete with the zoom sizes Panasonic is putting out on their new MiniDV and DVD models. For them, it seems that 30x optical is the norm. Point and shooters love their zoom, so, while a difference of 10x doesn’t sound like a lot (especially from 20x to 30x), sales might say otherwise. I wouldn’t let this make or break the camcorder, though; 20x should be plenty unless you’re a super-spy.
The DVD105 also offers 40x and 800x digital zoom options.
Zoom Power/Ratio (20.0)
The Sony DCR-DVD105 comes equipped with a 20x optical zoom and 40x and 800x digital zoom options. This is 10x less that Panasonic’s lowest end DVD camcorder this year, but could be plenty for you.
Focus (4.0)
Like nearly every Sony with a touch-screen menu, the DVD105 has a seriously flawed manual focus capacity. While a focus ring is very out of the question on a camcorder this cheap, touch screen focus is kind of like no focus at all. The need to tap on the touch screen menu to access manual focus, then tap the cursor along to adjust the focus itself, will produce a notably shaky picture.
Sony has included the Spot Focusing function on the DCR-DVD105, as it has on so many camcorders over the past years, and it does help compensate for the problem with the manual focus. This feature allows a user to touch the spot on the LCD screen he or she wishes the camcorder to focus on. While kind of impractical for use during recording, this feature provides a quick way to test the looks of differently-centered foci.
Exposure (Aperture) (4.0)
Exposure adjustment, aside from existing as a combination of shutter speed and iris adjustment at an undisclosed ratio, is a pain to navigate on the DCR-DVD105. As with focus, adjusting exposure requires tapping a cursor across a horizontal meter, with no indication as to which F-stop or shutter speed measures each step employs. Furthermore, accessing the option requires users to tap the touch screen and enter the menu. You see what we mean when we say this is an auto-centric camcorder.
Sony has included Spot Metering on the DCR-DVD105. Like Spot Focusing, this feature allows the user to touch a spot on the LCD display; the camcorder then adjusts exposure to that point. Like Spot Focusing, this feature is a neat add-on and offers a quick and fun way to see your picture at different exposures. Having to access it through the touch screen, however, discourages its use during recording.
Shutter Speed (0.0)
There is no manual shutter speed control on the Sony DCR-DVD105. This is a problem not only with other Sony DVD camcorders but with most Sony camcorders, especially the cheaper models.
White Balance (7.5)
White balance adjustment lies deep within the Byzantine structure of the DCR-DVD105’s touch screen menu system. While some manufactures are offering all kinds of white balance presets to accommodate a vast range of light sources, Sony keeps things short and sweet. Options include: manual, indoor, outdoor, and auto. We recommend learning how to do a manual white balance. It’s simple, and your picture will definitely benefit.
Gain (0.0)
There is no manual gain control on the Sony DCR-DVD105. This is a problem not only with other Sony DVD camcorders but with most Sony camcorders, especially their cheaper models.
Other Manual Control (0.0)
What, you want more than that? Kidding, folks, but, seriously, there isn’t too much more that Sony could avoid putting on this thing. There are no other manual controls on the DVD105.
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