Sony DCR-DVD508 Camcorder Reviewby Michael PerlmanPublished on Sep 27, 2007 4:20 PM
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Still Features (8.5)
The highlight of the DCR-DVD508 (Review, Specs, $0.00)’s still feature set is that it can capture stills up to 6.1 megapixels (2848 x 2136) in size, in addition to 3.1 megapixels (2048 x 1536) and VGA (640 x 480) in Fine or Normal quality. Images can only be recorded to Memory Stick Pro or Pro Duo cards. The DCR-DVD508 is equipped with a flash mounted to the left side of the lens. The flash can be set to Normal, High, or Low brightness, and function in Auto or Manual mode. The only other still features on the DCR-DVD508 consist of a Red-Eye Reduction function and a 10-second Self-Timer. Though other models within this price range offer more still features, such as histograms and ISO settings, the DCR-DVD508 captures the largest images.
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The still camera playback screen |
The still camera playback screen, |
Still Performance (7.95)
The still performance of the Sony DCR-DVD508 was tested by shooting a GretagMacBeth Color Checker chart and running the stills through Imatest imaging software to determine color accuracy, noise, and saturation.
At best, the DCR-DVD508 was able to achieve a color error of 7.55, which is on the favorable side of average across the camcorders we’ve tested this year. Most of the error appears to be coming from oversaturation – completely expected for a Sony consumer camcorder. The noise was slightly higher than average at 1.72 percent. The saturation level measured 110.2 percent.
In order to get these best scores, we had to manually lower the exposure one increment. Though you’ll never see this on the camcorder, the EXIF data of each photo reveals the core data. In Auto mode, the camcorder was using a an f/3.4 aperture and a 1/60 shutter speed. When we lowered the exposure a single increment, the aperture closed to f/4.0.
In practice, the stills look good. You wouldn’t necessarily want to replace your dedicated still camera with the DCR-DVD508, but for a few casual shots, it should suffice.
Still Resolution (25.28)
In order to test the still resolution of the Sony DCR-DVD508, we shot an Applied Image ISO 12233 resolution chart and ran those stills through Imatest imaging software. At best, the camcorder was able to achieve an approximate horizontal resolution of 1377 line widths per picture height (lw/ph), with a clipping of 1.41 percent and an undersharpening of 14.0 percent — and a vertical resolution of 1221 lw/ph, with a 1.65 percent clipping and an undersharpening of 16.7 percent.
These scores are on par with the better camcorder/camera combo devices, usually those with large, single imagers like the Canon DC50 (Review, Specs, $649.99), the Sony DCR-SR300 (Review, Specs, $761.95), and the Sanyo VPC-HD2 (Review, Specs, Recent News, $585.36).
In order to get this best score, we had to increase the exposure by two increments. The EXIF data revealed that the Auto mode settings were a f/4.8 aperture and a 1/90 shutter speed. Raising the exposure two increments changed the aperture to f/4.0 and the shutter to 1/60.