Sony DCR-DVD910 Handycam Camcorder Reviewby Michael PerlmanPublished on Jul 1, 2008 3:08 PM
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The DCR-DVD910 is Sony's top dog for standard definition DVD camcorders this year. It's a bit of an odd duck, though, and difficult to account for. Priced at $649 MSRP, it's within site of much better high definition camcorders. Sony makes little attempt to win you over to the DVD910, either. It has no mic, headphone jack, or other enticement for the camcorder enthusiast who wants to remain in standard def. The strangest thing of all is the sensor and processing system, which is identical to its high definition cousins, the HDR-UX10 and HDR-UX20. In essence, it has all the potential of those camcorders, but discards all of the good picture quality before processing. The net result is a camcorder that produces fair to middling video, which is even worse than its predecessor, the DCR-DVD508. Sure, the DVD910 is an easy to use camcorder that will serve as a decent family cam for a few years, but there are better choices to be found.
The Front (8.0)
The Sony DCR-DVD910 is part of the tall and slender club. Up front, the most looming feature is the Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 15x optical Zoom lens. The lens has a filter diameter of 30mm, an aperture range of f/1.8 - f/2.6 and is capable of the following focal legnths:
- 3.1 - 46.5mm (35mm Equivalent)
- 40 - 600mm (16:9 Movies)
- 35 - 555mm (4:3 Still Images)
The lens has an automatic enclosure that opens when the camcorder is powered on. Over time, the delicate inner mechanics of the automatic lens enclosure might have a tendency to fail, so it's best not to fiddle with it. Beneath the lens is the glossy black infrared light and remote sensor panel.
A built-in flash is embedded to the left of the lens, but our theory on off-kilter flash placement is that it leads to uneven lighting. Camcorders with a flash mounted above, such as the AVCHD Sony HDR-SR1 and HDR-UX1, achieve better results because the placement of the flash is directly in line with the subject.
The front of the Sony DCR-DVD910
The Right Side (4.75)
The right side of the DCR-DVD910 is home to the large DVD hatch that engulfs most of the vicinity. Typically, most DVD hatches are slow to act, taking anywhere between 5 and 15 seconds to open. We had this problem with many Panasonic DVD cams, and saw it again here. The DCR-DVD910's disc hatch tangos with the hand strap, though. Handling suffers because of this. At the lens end, the hand strap is anchored to the body of the camcorder via a swiveling grommet, designed to shift the hand strap out of the way of the disc hatch. Sometimes, though, the disc hatch will get caught on the hand strap. This design should be revamped. The hand strap itself is not padded and constructed with breathable mesh material, which is a Sony trademark. Things are looking rather grim on the right side of the DCR-DVD910.
The right of the Sony DCR-DVD910
The Back (7.0)
The DCR-DVD910's tall, slender caboose is dominated by the battery and extendable viewfinder. That's right, an extendable viewfinder! Hooray! Though it's not rubberized and doesn't pivot upward, the viewfinder is a rare commodity these days. The dioptric adjuster is located on the inside of the viewfinder shaft.
The DCR-DVD910's battery pack sits below the viewfinder and can be removed via a small release button located by its top left corner. This is not your typical battery system--most camcorders feature a battery that is placed flat within the chamber and shifted down into place. The DCR-DVD910's battery is installed by placing the bottom ridge of the battery into the chamber and pressing the rest of the battery into place. This system is finicky and can take numerous tries before you are actually able to fit the battery into its slot.
Hiding below the battery is a rectangular tab that flips up to reveal the DC terminal and AV jack. Sony's ports are oddly shaped, presumably in order to maintain a solid connection. It has the... ahem... additional benefit of being entirely proprietary so you have to order replacement cables from Sony. The round Mode dial sits at the top, to the right of the viewfinder and can be shifted between Video and Photo mode. The DCR-DVD910's Quick Start button is positioned below the Mode dial. The center of the Quick Start button also doubles as the charge lamp. Finally, the oval Record Start/Stop button rounds out the back end of the DCR-DVD910.
The back of the Sony DCR-DVD910
This angle showcases the DCR-DVD910's swanky silver style. The shape of this camcorder is peculiar, closer to a rounded rectangle. Three small shiny buttons are embedded within a chrome band just above the LCD screen. The buttons consist of View Images, Easy, and Back Light. How about an Exposure, Focus, or Image Stabilization button? No such luck.
Once you flip open the 2.7-inch LCD screen, you'll notice that the LCD cavity is fairly barren, only consisting of the Display/Battery button, NightShot switch, USB port, and MemoryStick slot. Sony's USB terminal is housed by a plastic shroud that flips down to open. The Memory Stick slot has a thin tab toward the left side that secures the card in place. Exchanging a Memory Stick is annoying to say the least. The slightly graded insertion point does not feel secure and makes the MemoryStick easy to slip from your fingers.
The LCD panel contains a vertical strip of controls positioned along the left side. Home, Zoom In, Zoom Out, and Record Start/Stop can all be instantly accessed. Canon goes the extra mile by doubling up its LCD panel buttons as Playback controls as well, so keep that in mind.
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| Left side of Sony DCR-DVD910 |
LCD cavity of Sony DCR-DVD910 |
The Top (6.75)
The top of the DCR-DVD910 features a built-in rectangular Dolby Digital 5.1 Channel Surround microphone. Since the camcorder is so tall, most fingers won't reach the mic, but those with Paul Bunyan size hands might run into issues with obscuring the mic. The Active Interface Shoe (AIS)--Sony's proprietary hot shoe--is stealthily housed by a silver plastic shield that slides down. The viewfinder must be extended in order to access the AIS because of this design, but it will not be active unless the LCD screen is closed.
The Disc Release switch is located on the top ridge of the disc hatch, and is embedded a little too deep into the plastic frame. A fingernail will do the trick. At the back end of the top, you'll find the Zoom toggle and oval Photo Capture button. Sony's Zoom toggle is smooth and capable of a handful of different speeds.
The top of the Sony DCR-DVD910
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