Sony DCR-SR100 Camcorder Review

The Easy button, found in the LCD cavity, should be your first indication that this is a simple machine to operate. The Easy button puts the camcorder in full auto mode, leaving you free to point and shoot ‘til your heart’s content.

The JVC Everios have an even simpler interface, with a scrolling menu system that facilitates changes for the newest of users. The joystick on this year's MG77 (Review, Specs, $467.95) proves to be an improvement on last year's touchpad and Sony's touch screen.  

Handling (8.0)
Handling the SR100 is similar to handling most Sony camcorders. The touch screen has many fans and just as many detractors. We are of the latter group. The touch screen has several points against it. Firstly, the screen in prone to picking up fingerprints and grease. Besides looking bad, the image becomes distorted. Keep in mind, this is the very device that you are using to judge image quality.

Furthermore, while the 2.7” screen may be commensurate with those on other camcorders, it’s really not that large for a touch screen. The buttons are small, and large fingers may have a problem using the interface. Sony does give you the option of changing the buttons that appear on the front page of the menu, which are larger than those found deeper in, just another user friendly control from Sony that proves why they’re on top.

The body of the SR100 is oddly weighted. If the hand strap was a little higher, the body might not tip so heavily to the left. As it is, the camcorder can be a little tiring to hold. The zoom toggle is fairly well-placed for the index finger, but a larger control would be easier to grip. Rear buttons are more hit or miss: the record on/off is perfect for the thumb, but the flash on/off button is impossible to reach with your right hand. The battery protrudes far out from the body. It could be used as an additional gripping surface, but can heat up over time. The viewfinder extends from the body, but, lacking the ability to pivot upwards, it is of limited use.

Handling was one of the biggest problems with the JVC GZ-MG70 (Review, Specs, $499.95), mostly due to the minute touchpad control. This problem has been corrected in the GZ77 with the switch to a joystick. The Sony DVD camcorders have approximately the same handling as the SR100, with the exception of weighting. The SR100 is heavier and has a tendency to tilt to the left, away from your hand.

Portability (7.0)
This camcorder isn’t the most petite solid state camcorder on the market and if portability is paramount matchbook camcorders like the Panasonic SDR-S100 (Specs, $1199) will be a tempting alternative if smaller memory capacity and lower image quality is tolerable. The Sony DCR-SR100 measures 3 3/8th inches, by 2 3/4th inches, by 5 7/8th inches with a total weight of approximately 1 lb 5 oz. The camcorder does have a right hand strap for temporary portage although for longer term hauling the purchase of a carrying case will be necessary. The only concern, in terms of portability, comes with the eyelet for the right hand strap on the front of the camcorder which extends from the camcorder body and could snap with rough handling. Additionally, the LCD screen for the DCR-SR100 does not have a locking mechanism and could catch on pockets or a case and could cause damage if not careful.

The battery on the SR100 loads sideways, and protrudes noticeably from the body.

LCD/Viewfinder (9.0)
The LCD found with the Sony DCR-SR100 is located on the left side of the camcorder body and can be opened along either its top, back or bottom edges. There is no locking feature to secure this LCD to the camcorder body when not in use and it won’t take too long to discover that the LCD is able to snap open with a flick of the wrist. While momentarily amusing, this design could easily lead to a broken LCD from either opening in transport or rough handling. The LCD is a widescreen display with a 2.7 inch diagonal and 123,200 pixels and is unfortunately a touch-screen interface for all manual controls and menu structures.

While touch-screen interfaces reduce external controls and ease up on overall visual clutter, these interfaces aren’t without their own list of problems. The first and most noticeable problem is finger marks and dirtied surfaces that obscure and compromise the ability for users to monitor image quality in important areas that include focus, zoom depth, and clarity. Another problem that arises with this LCD is that 2.7 inches, while large, isn’t nearly large enough to handle some of Sony’s control features. The spot focus and spot meter controls are good ideas,in theory, both allowing users to touch appropriate sections of the LCD in order to gauge proper focal depth and lighting conditions. However, the problem is that the actual touch-screen interface that can be selected from is limited to approximately 2.25 inches. This minimal surface, along with this reviewer's large fingers, the results were not accurate and did not produce the desired results. While users could employ a stylus or pencil, neither is recommended because they could cause damage to the LCD.

In addition to the LCD screen, the Sony DCR-SR100 comes with an electronic color viewfinder that is located in the upper left corner on the back of the camcorder body. The electronic color viewfinder is comfortable to use, if one overlooks the hard plastic eyepiece which surrounds it. The major problem with the viewfinder is that to access it the LCD screen must be closed. And the problem with this is that when the LCD is closed, the manual controls, menu buttons and other options are no longer accessible to the user. Either manual controls will need to be set before shooting or the user will have to rely on the Easy mode for shooting. A dioptric adjustment dial is located on the right side of the viewfinder and is large enough for a variety of hand sizes to engage.

Battery Life (11.4)
The DCR-SR100 ships with the NP-FP60 battery, which (according to the manual), has a charge time of 135 minutes. We tested the battery for continuous recording by leaving the LCD open, turning the image stabilization on, and leaving the backlight off. In total, the battery lasted for 114 minutes and 4 seconds (1 hour, 54 minutes, and 4 seconds).