Sony DCR-DVD910 Handycam Camcorder Reviewby Michael PerlmanPublished on Jul 1, 2008 3:08 PM
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Ease of Use (8.0)
Easy Mode is what it's all about on a Sony. If you're a beginner and don't feel like diving into a treacherous wading pool rife with Manual Controls, then Easy Mode is your ticket. All menu items are simplified, the Camera menu takes a vacation, buttons grow in size, and all image adjustment is automatic. These are the training wheels that will guide you to a land of basic camcorder operation. The implementation is so simple and effective that Canon has recently ripped off the idea outright.
Aside from the joys of Easy mode, there is also Manual mode, in which the shooter gets to take the reins. Exposure, White Balance and Focus are all readily available in the Camera menu. Advanced shooters will want to take advantage of these options, though adjusting with a touch screen is a bit of a pain. The good part is that it's easier to learn on a Sony than most other camcorders. A touch screen could be a good place to start before transitioning to dials or wheels.
The DCR-DVD910 (Review, Specs, $465.85) is a hybrid, meaning it records to two different forms of media. In this case, you have DVD and MemoryStick PRO Duo to choose from. Just make sure you set which media you're recording to before shooting--it's easy to lose track of video clips when they could be hiding a couple different places. DVDs appear friendly because you can pop them right into your home DVD player, but they're bulky and they slow everything down from start-up time to editing. A MemoryStick is a bit easier--just pop it in a card reader and your files are available in a folder on your computer.
Handling (6.75)
Structurally, the DCR-DVD910 is identical to the HDR-UX10 (Specs, Recent News, $479.95) and HDR-UX20--it's basically the standard definition version. All of Sony's DVD cams are tall, upright, and slender. They're not the best handlers. The main grip area is the DVD disc hatch, which does not provide a significant amount of real estate to latch onto. Your fingers will spill onto the top of the camcorder, potentially blocking the stereo microphone. You'll have to shift your fingers back in order for them to align with the top of the disc hatch. Sony should have mounted the mic to the front of the DCR-DVD910--they had the room to play with. Since you must shift the fingers back, they will be arranged in an awkward arch that could very likely prove uncomfortable after 20 minutes. The index finger does not lay over the Zoom toggle naturally--you have to pull it back. The thumb must be shifted down as well. This is definitely not the superior handling of the venerable HDR-SR11 (Specs, $717.00) and HDR-SR12 (Review, Specs, $832.00).
Sony DCR-DVD910 in hand
Sony does throw some features in the mix that are dwindling in the camcorder world. First off, an extendable viewfinder is located just above the battery. The viewfinder does not have a rubberized eye cup or pivot upward, but it is an alternative monitor that will prove useful on sunny days. However, if you plan on upgrading to a large battery, the viewfinder will likely not extend far enough to be of use.
Love it or hate it, Sony's touch screen LCD interface is popular amongst consumers for its ease of use factor and quick selections. The downside is that the touch screen is prone to smudges from the oils of the fingers. This makes it difficult to focus because the screen is cloudy. By comparison, Panasonic's VDR-D50 (Specs, $832.00) has a rear-mounted Joystick, which enables one-handed camcorder operation and is highly convenient for rapid adjustment and menu selections.
The DCR-DVD910's hand strap is minimally padded and constructed of a synthetic material that will draw sweat in an instant on a hot summer day. Sony's top of the line standard DVD cam should have a little more bling than this. The DVD hatch can take a while to open, especially if you haven't used the camcorder for a while and attempt to open the hatch while the DCR-DVD910 is powered off. Swapping out MemoryStick PRO Duos is a somewhat precarious task. The loading slot is awkwardly placed and the card can go flying out of you're not careful Remove cards slowly.
All in all, handling the DCR-DVD910 is not a comfort cruise. Its tall, lanky architecture and oddly placed controls will make longer shoots seem even longer.
Menu (6.5)
Sony's menus are simple to navigate and easy to use. The touch screen interface is convenient, but some shooters would rather have a Joystick or dial. The DCR-DVD910's menu system is similar to most of the rest of the Sony fleet (except for tape-based models). The 2.7-inch LCD screen will really cramp your fingers. The buttons are slight and not as receptive to touch as those found on a 3.5-inch LCD screen. The two primary menus--Home and Camera--contain all the shooter needs. The Home menu centers around more of the administrative functions while the Camera menus consists of all Manual Controls.
| Home Menu |
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| Camera |
Movie, Photo, Smooth Slow Record |
| View Images |
Visual Index, Movie Index, Photo Index, Playlist |
| Others |
Delete, Photo Capture, Movie Dub, Edit, Playlist Edit, Print, USB Connect |
| Manage Media |
Movie Media Set, Finalize, Media Info, Media Format, Unfinalize, Disc Select Guide, Repair Image Database File |
| Settings |
Movie Settings, Photo Settings, View Images Set, Sound/Display Set, Output Settings, Clock/Language, General Set |
The Camera menu is home to all Manual Controls, but the DCR-DVD910 does not have a dial or Joystick to aid in adjustment. You'll have to rely on the LCD screen controls, which will cloud up the screen and make it difficult to focus. You could even try using a stylus to tap buttons if you're having trouble. The Camera menu contains the following options:
| Camera Menu |
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| Camera 1 |
Focus, Spot Focus, Tele Macro |
| Camera 2 |
Exposure, Spot Meter, Scene Selection |
| Camera 3 |
White Balance, Color Slow Shutter, Super NightShot, |
| Camera 4 |
Fader, Digital Effect, Picture Effect |
| Camera 5 |
Record Mode, Built-In Zoom Mic, Microphone Level, Flash Mode |
The Camera Menu in action
Portability (5.0)
The DCR-DVD910 is not the kind of camcorder you can pocket with ease--no DVD cam out there is compact enough to fit a low profile. However, the DCR-DVD910's tall, slender body will save you space in a camcorder bag for discs, batteries, cables, power adapters, maps, donuts, Coronas, and anything else you can pack in. The DCR-DVD910 measures 58 x 93 x 134mm (2 3/8 in. x 3 3/4 in. x 5 3/8 in.), and tips the scale at 550g (1 lb. 3 oz.), which is nearly identical to Sony's High Definition HDR-UX10 and HDR-UX20. If you plan on recording exclusively to MemoryStick PRO Duo cards, you'll end up saving a significant amount of space in one of your camcorder bag pouches. The DCR-DVD910 seems fairly rugged, and will be able to endure a tumultuous trip to the Jersey Shore.
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| Sony DCR-DVD910 2.7-inch LCD |
...and Viewfinder |
LCD and Viewfinder (8.5)
Like nearly all Sonys, the DCR-DVD910 has a 2.7-inch wide color LCD screen with a 211,200 pixel display. The LCD screen flips out 90 degrees from the body of the camcorder and rotates up to 270 degrees. We'd like to see a massive 3.5-incher on the DCR-DVD910, especially with touch screen navigation. Trying to access the buttons is at times is like attempting to catch a fly with chopsticks. Plus, the screen is prone to fingerprints and smudges from the oils of the skin, which makes it difficult to focus using the LCD screen. Two previous models, the HDR-UX1 and HDR-SR1, both had 3.5-inch screens, along with a handful of Sony MiniDVs of the past. Without the 3.5-inch LCD screen, Sony is just like every other manufacturer out there. However, none of the other manufacturers use touch screen operation, so they get off the hook - Sony should provide better. The left of the LCD panel is equipped with a vertical strip of controls containing Home, Zoom Out, Zoom In, and Record Start/Stop, which will come in handy for avid two-handed shooters.
Sony tacked an extendable viewfinder on the DCR-DVD910, giving the shooter an alternative monitor conducive to outdoor shooting on excessively sunny days. A viewfinder is rarity these days, as camcorders are being placed in the "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids" machine at a rapid rate. The DCR-DVD910's viewfinder is constructed of a plastic eye cup that extends about one inch from the back of the camcorder, just clearing the battery by a millimeter. If you upgrade to a larger battery pack, the viewfinder will be too stunted and you'll get a nice big battery in your face while shooting. Sony could have combated this issue by placing a hinge on the viewfinder so that it flips up for more clearance. The fact that the DCR-DVD910 actually has a viewfinder is a bonus, so we'll take what we can get.
Battery Life (14.9)
We tested the stamina of the DCR-DVD910's NP-FH60 battery pack by recording continuously with the LCD flipped open and OIS disabled. When the Memory Card needed to be formatted after filling up, the external power was connected and the card was wiped for the next round. The DCR-DVD910's battery lasted a whopping 148 minutes and 37 seconds (2 hours, 28 minutes, and 37 seconds). This is a stellar performance and the DCR-DVD910 will certainly provide shooters with the longevity needed for extended shoots.
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