Sony DCR-SR300 First Impressions Review

by Matt Culler
Published on Jan 16, 2007 12:00 PM

 
Intro Performance
Format Tour
Auto / Manual Controls Still Features
Handling and Use Audio / Playback / Connectivity
Other Features
 Comparisons / Conclusion
Specs/Ratings
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Other Features
The DCR-SR300 includes a few of the other features found on Sony’s top HDV and AVCHD camcorders this year. While this is unfortunate, I guess, other features such as guideframes and the like are kinda gimmicky. Zebra strips would have been a welcome inclusion, but  I really wish it had AE Shift and WB Shift features. These would allow the user to customize and tweak the relatively limited manual controls. Some features included are:

Smooth Slow Recording  - This feature has been made available on many of Sony’s recent camcorders and allows slow motion footage to be captured and played back almost immediately after capture. This feature is a gimmick advertised to help you critique each other’s golf swings. The problem is that the capture is limited to 240 frames so you have to time it just right. This is not an on-the-fly feature.

Optical Image Stabilization - The DCR-SR300 joins the ranks of Sony’s high-end consumer HDV and AVCHD camcorders this year in including optical image stabilization as a major upgrade from the camcorders immediately below them in price. This is a welcome feature that should help handheld use significantly by decreasing unwanted “shake.”

TeleMacro - This feature makes the foreground focused and the background fuzzy for extreme close-ups.






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