Sony DCR-SR80 Camcorder Reviewby John NeelyPublished on Nov 2, 2006 7:00 AM
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Audio (4.0) The audio options on the DCR-SR80 are very basic, as is the standard in nearly every consumer camcorder. Sound is recorded by a built-in 2-channel microphone, located underneath the lens. Through the menu, you do have the option to lower the mic level via a one-touch button. This might be useful in shooting under loud conditions or where loud noises might suddenly occurs… perhaps at an air horn exhibition.
The Sony-branded accessory shoe will allow for external mics, but only those under the Sony name. The upper-most Sony camcorders this year, the HDR-UX1 and the HDR-SR1, offer mic jacks, but there is no such luck here.
VCR Mode (9.25)
One of the best things about HDD camcorders is the simple VCR mode. All the clips are right there on the hard disk. Unlike DVD camcorders, there is no need to finalize video before you can play it back on another device. And unlike tape, there is no need to rewind and fast forward to get to the good clips. Instead, the DCR-SR80 creates a screen full of thumbnails corresponding to each video clip. You can view clips by touching them, or create playlists.
The options beyond this are few, but what else do you need a playback mode to do? It plays video clips back. As we’ve stated multiple times, this is an exceptionally simple camcorder, in every regard.
The VCR mode on the DCR-SR80
Ports (6.0)
The Sony DCR-SR80 has several ports on the camcorder body, and several others on the included Handycam Station. On the left side of the camcorder below the LCD cavity is a horizontal plastic port cover that protects three ports, from left to right: Remote, A/V and DC in. The right side of the Handycam Station also has three ports, but replaces the Remote port with a USB terminal. The DCR-SR80 is capable of converting analog footage to MPEG2 video stored on the HDD (analog-to-digital conversion), but is not equipped for analog-to-digital pass through. This is still a very useful option to have if you want to convert old home movies to the computer or DVD.
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There are ports built into the DCR-SR80 (above), |
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The omission of the Remote jack on the station makes sense. The omission of a USB port on the camcorder body strikes us as a bit perplexing, and certainly reduces the utility of the SR80 as a self-contained unit. Because this is an HDD camcorder, users who do a lot of shooting will need to frequently transfer material from the HDD to another drive to free up space. By locating the USB port only on the docking station, Sony all but forces users to bring the docking station on any shoot long enough to necessitate clearing the HDD.
For some users, the absence of a USB port on the camcorder body may not be a problem, but we don’t like the fact that it adds another piece of equipment and another layer of complexity to what is an otherwise very simple device. The Handycam Station itself is easy to use, and can make transferring footage to a computer very easy. You simply seat the camcorder’s base in the station, and if it’s already connected to your computer, you don’t need to fuss with wires. With only one digital output and one analog output, the DCR-SR80 has fewer connectivity options than many competing camcorders, but the paucity of choice does keep things simple.
The DCR-SR80 seated in the Handycam station.
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