Sony DCR-DVD105 Camcorder Review

The Easy mode button is located in the LCD cavity.

The superb automatic controls on this camcorder only enhance its ease of use. A blue button labeled “easy” beneath the LCD screen activates the Easy Handycam mode and locks in these controls. The idea, no doubt, is that anybody could pick this up and be recording within minutes. In all fairness, Sony comes pretty close to the mark on this goal.

The main feature in this category is the prominently displayed Easy button, located in the LCD cavity. This effectively renders the camcorder "idiot-proof." The menu options are severely truncated and, in case you've also lost the ability to point at things, the buttons on the touch screen are about twice as big. In Easy mode, you can point and shoot your troubles away. This is exactly what you shoudl expect on an entry-level camcorder.

Handling (7.0)
Following in the footsteps of last year’s Sony DCR-DVD92, this year’s low-end DVD camcorder handles nicely, especially in Easy Handycam mode. The extremely good automatic controls on this camcorder take a lot of strain off of handheld use, and allow the user to be less cautious when switching environments or making sudden movements.

The most important on-the-go manual control, especially for point-and-shooters, is the zoom, which in this case is very easy to operate, thanks to Sony’s new zoom toggle. This is the same toggle as on last year’s DCR-DVD92, but it’s still nice. My only request would be to move this toggle further on the camcorder body, placing it directly under my pointer finger. Doing otherwise is a growing trend in the industry as camcorders make room for photo-buttons and power switches—but, really, what finger do you want on your zoom toggle?

One of my long-running complaints about Sony is their dependence on the touch screen menu system. While they market it as gimmicky technological advancement that separates Sony’s sleeker products from other manufacture’s wares, the facts remain otherwise., This screen is cumbersome, requires tapping on the LCD screen and makes LCD use mandatory—a requirement only more glaring when the viewfinder is virtually immobile—and makes a greasy mess of the screen itself. Look to Panasonic’s new joystick navigation method for a better example of on-camcorder operating options. While Sony has added secondary zoom and record buttons on the margin of the LCD panels, and provided very comfy straps, these seem compensatory rather than additional amenities. One more comment - the Steady Shot image stabilization works very well.

Portability (6.25)
For a DVD camcorder, the DCR-DVD105 is relatively compact. Even 8cm mini-DVD discs are somewhat more cumbersome than MiniDV tape, past DVD camcorders have only been able to get so small. While the DCR-DVD105 is certainly not the answer to that problem, it does feature a slightly more compact design than last year’s DCR-DVD92. Both camcorders weigh the same (15 oz.); however, the DCR-DVD105 does have a slightly shorter top and a slightly skinnier waist.

LCD/Viewfinder (9.0)
The Sony DCR-DVD105’s LCD suffers in comparison to those on other Sony DVD camcorders this year. While the camcorder does offer better resolution than Panasonic’s lowest end DVD model, the VDR-D100, it is the only Sony in this year’s DVD line without a widescreen LCD screen. It does offer a color viewfinder, which hasn’t appeared on Sony’s entry-level camcorders in the past. In fact this is one of the main differences between the DCR-DVD105 and last year’s DCR-DVD92.

Sony LCD screens in general are the best in the industry, which could be a reason to pick this camcorder over Panasonic’s lower end model. You’d be getting better display, though sacrificing some manual control and zoom power. For convenience-hungry vacation-documentarians, however, the DCR-DVD205 might be a better option.

The Sony DCR-DVD105 features a 2.5 inch (diagonal) LCD screen with a 123K pixel count. Its on-camcorder picture is superb; the colors are great on both viewfinder and LCD screen, and, while the LCD display cuts off a tiny bit on the frame margins, its own margins feature secondary record and zoom controls, which meld well with the camcorder’s touch screen menu system. These secondary controls are not new, however, as they appear on last year’s models as well. The camcorder’s viewfinder only extends directly back instead of swiveling up towards a downward-looking eyeball; while this is nothing new, it could be a hindrance to a point-and-shooter in search of more flexible operations.

Battery Life (12.6)
The DCR-DVD105 ships with NP-FP50 battery, the same battery that also ships with the DVD205 and DVD305. The manual states that the battery last for approximately 100 minutes of continuous shooting and 125 minutes to fully recharge. We tested that claim ourselves by shooting continuously with the LCD open and the backlight on. No manual controls or zoom were engaged, and the camcorder was left in Easy mode. When the DVD needed changing, the DC power was plugged back in. In total, the NP-FP50 lasted 126 minutes and 21 seconds (2 hours, 6 minutes, and 21 seconds). This is an excelletn battery life, comparatively.