Sony DCR-DVD405 Camcorder Reviewby James MurrayPublished on Mar 30, 2006 11:00 AM
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Ease of Use (9.0)
The Sony DCR-DVD405 continues the tradition of Sony camcorders being exceptionally easy to use in auto mode. On the left side of the camcorder in the LCD cavity is a button with a blue center that will set the camcorder into an Easy Mode that provide users with the simplest possible shooting mode. The Easy Mode will only allow the user to switch between shooting mode and control zoom levels; all other settings will be altered by the camcorder. If the user is feeling more adventurous, but still not up to tackling manual controls, the user can play with two additional options. The spot focus and spot meter modes allow users to tap a portion of the LCD that contains the region the camcorder should meter in or focus for. While not overly sensitive or nuanced, the modes at least give the novice user a starting point from which to evolve.
Handling (8.0)
The Sony DCR-DVD405 has about the same handling of any Sony camcorder with a touch screen LCD and simple external controls; it allows competent auto shooting without requiring that the user dive into the menus. The manual controls for the camcorder are however primarily located within the LCD touch screen interface, though what controls remain external are well labeled and spaced and positioned for comfortable access.
While this simplified external layout is great for beginning and casual users, the lack of immediate access to the limited manual controls will certainly be an aggravation for advanced users. They will find that accessing controls like exposure, focus, white balance and spot focus/meter will necessitate maneuvering through the overly circuitous menu structures. While the menu structure is irritating, it can at least be customized by the user to better fit their shooting style. Of course, we would prefer a logical menu from the start that wouldn’t need reworking just to be functional.
The real problem is that the manual controls must all be changed through controls displayed on the LCD screen. The 2.7-inch 123K pixel LCD does not have a resolution high enough to provide a sharp, clear image for properly gauging focal accuracy. Also, fingers are constantly blocking, smearing and obscuring the LCD when making adjustments to features like focus and metering, which obviously require a clear view for good accuracy.
The camcorder handles well during shooting, and the right hand can grip the right side of the camcorder comfortably for a steady and confident shot. The right hand strap hits the back of the hand properly and the swiveling and pivoting connection point on the front of the camcorder made sure that this strap was properly positioned. The in-camcorder microphones are too close to the controls and fingers of the right hand, and handling noise gets picked up easily. This problem doesn’t exist with frontal microphones or when shooting with the accessory external microphones; however, if you are relying on this camcorder’s internal microphones, be prepared to hear a subtle rustling when shooting off-tripod.
Portability (5.0)
The Sony DCR-DVD405 is not the most portable camcorder on the market. While smaller than the DVD505, it still might feel too heavy to carry around in the hand all day. The DCR-DVD405 weighs in at a hefty 1 lbs. 4 ounces with battery and DVD, and the size and weight of this camcorder will necessitate a handy and protective travel case (if the $900 price tag isn’t motivation enough).
LCD/Viewfinder (9.25)
Although there are many similarities between the Sony DCR-DVD505 and the DVD405, one of the unfortunate disparities comes in LCD size and resolution. The DVD505 had an impressive and functional 3.5-inch, 211,200 pixel touch screen that allowed for more efficient control of the menu due to the large interface size. The DVD405 unfortunately is equipped with a 2.7-inch, 123,200 pixel LCD that is dwarfed by the DVD505’s. The menu navigation obviously suffered with this downsizing, and while still capable of producing 16:9 format (though not true widewscreen) video, this screen won’t be drawing the lusty gazes of fellow camcorder enthusiasts. This LCD also suffered the same set of problems prevalent with all touch screen LCDs, e.g., the smearing and oily sheen which come with use. This overshadows the screen’s resistance against solarizing, even when tilted at an angle.
The screen can swivel and rotate 270 degrees, and its brightness is controllable via a Backlight button which is located externally on the body of the camcorder beneath the LCD screen. It is also controllable through the LCD Bright submenu within the P-menu. The LCD brightness submenu displays a horizontal scale overlay that can be adjusted to compensate for various lighting situations.
The DVD405 has an electronic color viewfinder designed for actual use, rather than a simple check mark for the spec sheet. The viewfinder for this camcorder pivots 45 degrees upwards so that the eye of the user can avoid the battery pack directly beneath. A pivoting viewfinder makes a huge difference in handling, and should be sought after by anyone interested in more than weekender shooting. The viewfinder window is surrounded by a light gray plastic eyepiece that is anything but forgiving, which is unfortunate since a rubber eyecup would make using this device very comfortable. On the underside of the viewfinder is a dioptric adjustment dial for customizing the viewfinder to the user’s eyesight. The viewfinder will not function unless the LCD screen is closed, which means that when shooting with the viewfinder the manual controls and menu structures will not be accessible; these features are accessed through the touch screen interface. Like the LCD screen, the viewfinder’s brightness and color can be adjusted. This is done through the viewfinder brightness submenu within the administrative menu. It is also possible to adjust the viewfinder display to either squeeze or letterbox format when shooting.
Battery Life (9.7)
The included NP-FP60 battery was tested for life expectancy during continuous recording. In order to test this, we recorded video with the LCD open and no zoom or manual controls engaged. When the DVD media was full, we removed the battery, plugged in the DC power, switched DVDs, re-inserted the battery and continued the recording. In total, the battery lasted 96 minutes and 59 seconds (1 hour, 36 minutes, and 59 seconds). This same battery model lasted 104 minutes in the DVD505, possibly because the DVD505 uses a more energy efficient CMOS sensor.
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