Sony DCR-DVD105 Camcorder Reviewby Matt CullerPublished on Jun 28, 2006 12:30 PM
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Comparison
Sony DCR-DVD92
Both the DVD105 and last year’s DCR-DVD92 share a similar imager as well as similar manual control options and disc compatibilities. Their images in low and bright light are very similar; any subtle differences can be attributed to the testing environment. Most of the other specs are the same. Both camcorders fail to record still images to media other than DVD discs and both only have A/V output ports.
The DVD105 is sleeker and slimmer. Its zoom toggle is also further up the back of the camcorder, allowing easy access from the user’s index finger. The DCR-DVD105 also ships with Nero 6 Express software and features a color viewfinder, both features lacking on the DCR-DVD92.
Both the DCR-DVD92 and the DCR-DVD105, having the same imager and still specs, perform similarly. So, if you’re in the mood to save some cash and don’t mind sacrificing a few small amenities; last year’s model might be your ticket out of the poor house.
Sony DCR-DVD205
The Sony DCR-DVD205 is the next camcorder up in Sony’s DVD camcorder line, but doesn’t differ greatly from the DVD105. One of the main distinctions is the imager: the DCR-DVD205 ships with a 1/5.5” CCD, as opposed to the DCR-DVD105’s 1/6” chip, which has nearly double the effective pixels and thus permits better video and still performance in bright and low light. This is also the same imager found on the DCR-DVD305.
Otherwise, the Sony DCR-DVD205 has the same manual control options as the DCR-DVD105, features the same port structure, and also captures stills only to DVD disc. It does ship with a widescreen LCD screen, which, coupled with the imager upgrade, is perhaps its most salient difference from the DCR-DVD105—other than a hundred dollar price increase.
Panasonic VDR-D100
The VDR-D100 is Panasonic’s lowest-end DVD camcorder. It is priced comparable to the Sony DCR-DVD105, though perhaps the MSRP is a little higher, and features many of the same specifications. For instance, both camcorders contain the same 1/6” imager with similar pixel counts. As far as performance goes, the Panasonic showed a grainier, but comparable image in bright light; this extra grainy noise helped achieve a brighter, yet noisier image in low light. Both camcorders feature crop/zoom 16:9 approximation for their widescreen modes (the Panasonic doesn’t have a widescreen LCD screen either). While the Panasonic’s body design is not as appealing aesthetically or ergonomically (it has worse port placement) as the Sony’s, the VDR-D100 does feature superior manual controls, including shutter speed, iris, and gain, and offers 10x more zoom power, rounding out with 30x optical zoom. However, it doesn’t have a center-channel microphone or still-to-disc recording capabilities, and its LCD resolution is slightly smaller. Overall, the total package of features puts it just over the edge compared to Sony. Only those who categorize themselves as strict point-and-shooters should pick the Sony DVD105.
Canon Elura 100
The shark in Canon’s Elura line this year, the 100 has taken the place of the previous year’s three models. This is a MiniDV camcorder and is priced around four hundred dollars, making it slightly cheaper than about the lowest price you’ll get for the Sony DCR-DVD105. It serves as a quick lesson in how MiniDV, although going out of style, is still, at this point, superior to DVD camcorders in format. The Elura 100, while cheaper than the DCR-DVD105, features a larger imager (1/5”) with nearly double the effective pixels of the Sony, and dedicated still media, recording 1152 x 864 still images to SD card. The camcorder has the same optical zoom (20x) as the Sony, and improves on the manual controls greatly. It has a widescreen LCD as well, something only available to the DCR-DVD205 and up in the Sony DVD line, and performs better both in regular and in low light environments.
Who It’s For
Point-and-Shooters (5.5)
The Sony DCR-DVDD105 is only good for point-and-shooters. This is Sony’s cheapest DVD camcorder, people. You’re buying a (relatively) expensive (compared to MiniDV tape) format camcorder, for (presumably) convenience’s sake and sacrificing a widescreen LCD screen, manual control, and video quality for a lower cost.
Budget Consumers (4.5)
If you’re in the market for a lower-end DVD camcorder this one might work; I would look into the lower-end Panasonics, the VDR-D100 and VDR-D200, as well. That said, the DVD camcorder racket isn’t exactly the place to look for budget equipment in the first place. If you really want budget stuff and don’t mind sacrificing the gimmick of DVD technology, look into Sony’s lower-end MiniDV line. Or you could wait a couple years until DVD camcorders are more ubiquitous and wicked cheaper.
Still Photo / Video Camera Hybrid (2.0)
This isn’t the camcorder to buy for still photo capture. Not only does the DCR-DVD105 only capture stills at 340K effective pixels, which is pretty much the bare minimum for camcorders, it also captures them only to DVD disc, which takes a lot of the convenience out of things. The worse news is that the DCR-DVD205 functions in the exact same way. You’ll have to buy a DCR-DVD305 to record to dedicated, extractable still media (memory stick). If you wanted to go all out with this still business, you could (God forbid) buy a digital camera or buy a DCR-DVD505 for upwards of nine hundred clams to achieve, according to Sony, 5.0MP stills to memory stick.
Gadget Freaks (1.5)
All DVD camcorders have been fair game for the gadget hunter over the past couple years, but I suspect that they are over-staying their welcome, especially on the lower-end. The only gadgety thing about a lower-end DVD camcorder like the DCR-DVD105 is its ability to record on DVD rewriteable discs, which adds a lot to its versatility. It doesn’t offer the still, hybrid capabilities of the other Sonys in this year’s line, their abilities to capture surround sound audio, or their widescreen LCD screen display. This camcorder is for the frugal, not the gadget-minded.
Manual Control Freaks (2.0)
I cannot recommend a Sony--or a DVD camcorder, for that matter--in this section. DVD camcorders across the industry tend to sacrifice video control for the convenience and point-and-shooter bliss of the DVD recording format, and Sony overlooks manual control on nearly all their camcorders, let alone their lower-end ones. As mentioned before, this is an auto-centric camcorder, through and through.
Pros/ Serious Hobbyists (2.0)
Obviously, the DVD105 is too low-end to function as the primary camcorder for such a user. Furthermore, as a DVD camcorder, it isn’t a realistic option for a backup camcorder either. For a more versatile, cheaper, and easier to edit backup camcorder, serious hobbyists should still look to MiniDV.
Conclusion
This year, if you buy the DCR-DVD105, you’ll get the DCR-DVD92 wrapped in new clothes. And, while the additional color viewfinder and included software might whet your consumer taste-buds, they probably won’t get you to reach for your wallet—at least, perhaps, not after you read this.
Performance is nothing special: there are plenty of cheaper and much better performing, new MiniDV camcorders. So check those out. Really, folks, “the cheapest DVD camcorder” is kind of an oxymoron. You take the most expensive format out there for consumer video camcorders, then strip down the vessel, and you’re left with a moderately priced DVD camcorder that is still more expensive than many of the feature-filled Mini models.
If you really want DVD format, look either back to the DCR-DVD92, over to the slightly cheaper and more feature-filled Panasonic VDR-D100, or up to the Sony DCR-DVD205, which might be the best value among the cheapest three Sony DVD camcorders this year.
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