Sony DCR-SR100 Camcorder Reviewby David KenderPublished on May 3, 2006 12:00 PM
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Audio (4.0)
First off, there is no mic jack. Some mics may be fitted to the proprietary Sony accessory shoe. The Sony DCR-SR100 (Review, Specs, $999) records audio without accessory microphones in four channels when relying on the interior microphones. The in-camera microphones are positioned on the top of the camcorder barrel approximately an inch and a quarter from the lens barrel. This position for the microphones is a bit awkward both for the directionality of their recording fields as well as their close proximity to the gripping and control fingers of the right hand. Shifting of fingers and adjustments to zoom were occasionally picked up in the audio track and recorded as a result.
The four audio tracks recorded by the DCR-SR100 are processed using a Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound creator so their individual recording tracks are mixed and panned over 5 channels (front left, front right, rear left, rear right, and center) in addition to a .1 sub-woofer track. Our major contention with this feature is that it isn’t going to provide users with their expected results. When consumers hear the phrase “surround-sound” they imagine the rich and dynamic audio content found with action films. To create soundtracks of that caliber involves an immense amount of post-production Foley work and little to no actual recording during filming. This allows for 5 tracks of unique audio to be created in a situation where surround-sound can be employed for dramatic and powerful results. The Sony DCR-SR100 does record audio that plays on 5.1 channels and yes, it does record audio in a 360 degree radius, it just didn’t really produce audio that showed a noticeable directionality of the original source material. Like the DVD models reviewed earlier this year, this HDD camcorder tended to record similar audio tracks regardless of whether the microphone was labeled rear left and front right. Which isn’t all that surprising. It’s nearly impossible to record four tracks of audio with four microphones positioned within a square inch of space of space on the top of a camcorder and expect results which really display an acoustic spatialization within the recording.
The benefit to having four audio tracks instead of two is important and shouldn’t be downplayed. One of the benefits of stereo recording is that with two audio channels the listener is less likely to notice inconsistencies and errors in the audio track since the opposing track will acoustically counter-act any errors. With this in mind, four channels of audio should improve the recording quality further and the results should be richer and more nuanced in comparison to either a two channel or mono recording.
Users of the Sony DCR-SR100 will find that within the P-menu’s first page is a sub-menu for surround sound monitoring. When engaged, this feature will display audio levels on each of the five channels as they are being mixed and recorded in real-time. In addition to this monitoring feature, the user will also find that there is a Mic. Ref. menu located on the second page of the P-menu structure. This option has settings of Normal and Low with normal being intended for recording various surround sounds that are then converted into the same audio level, while the low setting records surround sound faithfully and is unsuitable for conversations.
In addition to the four-channel in-camcorder microphone set-up, the Sony DCR-SR100 also has an Active Interface shoe for accessory microphones, video lights, and flashes. The only problem with this feature is that it’s a proprietary accessory hot-shoe and users will have to purchase only Sony brand products when attempting to customize their camcorder. Audio accessory options include a stereo microphone, a hi-fidelity microphone, and a surround sound microphone. In addition to these more feasibly functional options is the obtrusive wireless ECM-HW1 Bluetooth microphone by Sony that can be strapped to your unwitting child at their first holiday pageant permanently providing them with a social scarlet letter.
VCR Mode (9.0)
The VCR mode is one area where HDD format camcorders excel when compared to the MiniDV format. This is due to the ability to select video footage based on thumbnail images rather than linear navigation through the standard VCR functions found on tape-based camcorders. This greatly reduces the amount of time required to find appropriate video files for playback viewing. It is possible to select from two multi-up playback viewing formats for either six or twelve image displays. Further expediting the review process is the ability to scan between still image, video, and playlist screens by pressing the tabs located at the bottom of the LCD screen. This is a great move when compared to camcorders that require the user to switch the mode dial to select between formats and result in time delays. When viewing single images in either video or still format it is possible to engage up to 5x digital zoom by toggling the zoom control located on the top of the camcorder. To move the viewing frame when using playback zoom the user will have to massage different areas of the LCD screen in an attempt to shift the screen to the appropriate area. This process worked with varied success and a lengthy delay that was irritating for those lacking patience.
The review mode is just that, a review mode and users expecting to find in-depth editing features on this hard disk drive camcorder are going to be disappointed. The Sony DCR-SR100 only provide users with delete, delete all, delete date, or protect. Along with these features, it is possible to direct burn footage to DVD with Sony Vaio computers, create playlists, record control, and volume.
The likelihood of people editing inside the camcorder is slim, given the plethora of cheap and free editing programs out there. But for those who are determined will find the JVC Everios much easier. Moving clips around in the playlist is not a simple task with the touch screen, and is one of the clear benefits of a touchpad over a touch screen. The SR100 does ship with Image Mixer, a simple editing program which gives you more editing flexibility.
Ports (5.5)
Ports for the Sony DCR-SR100 are located on the right, rear, and left side of the camcorder. On the right side of the camcorder is a subtle rubber port cover that blends into the matte black surface of the DCR-SR100. This port cover is a bit stiff and isn’t inclined to move out of the way once opened via the tab located along its top edge. This port allows the user to directly connect a remote control to the camcorder body. On the back of the camcorder is the battery pack. The battery pack is detached by moving the tab located on the bottom of the camcorder. This position can complicate matters when the camcorder is attached to a tripod head. The left side ports are masked by a hard plastic cover that is opened via a tab located on its bottom edge and like the battery pack release, this tab can’t be accessed when the camcorder is mounted to a tripod. Once opened the cover swings easily out of the way thanks to the extra long hinges located on the front edge of this cover. The ports on the left side allow for connection to DC IN, USB in/out, and AV in/out which will allow for digital-to-analog pass-through functionality.
The ports of the SR100.
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