Sony DCR-SR80 Camcorder Reviewby John NeelyPublished on Nov 2, 2006 7:00 AM
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Sony DCR-SR60
The Sony DCR-SR60 ($699 MSRP) is the next model down, and has very few distinctions from the SR80. For $100 less, it offers the same imager and imaging specs, manual and automatic controls, and docking station. The sole difference is the smaller HDD, only 30GB, compared to 60GB on the SR80. An extra hundred dollars for twice the capacity is a pretty hard deal to pass up, especially for those long vacations. Choosing strictly between this and the SR80, we recommend the upgrade. However, we don’t really like the SR80 that much. 
The bottom-end model of the new HDD series, the DCR-SR40 ($799) has a smaller, 1/6” CCD. It loses the accessory shoe, the analog-to-digital conversion, and the widescreen LCD, which shrinks to 2.5”. The HDD is 30GB, the same as the SR60. If our descriptions of the DCR-SR80’s performance are good enough for you (they weren’t for us), then the upgrade to the SR60 is almost mandatory. The SR40’s performance would only be worse.
A full $300 more than the DCR-SR80, the DCR-SR100 ($1100 MSRP) is a whole other class of camcorder. When we reviewed this camcorder half a year ago, we loved it (as far as we love HDD), based mostly on the video performance. The big 1/3” CCD produced beautiful colors and sharp, clean lines, rivaling the Sony camcorder with the ClearVID CMOS sensor. The DCR-SR80 has none of those performance qualities. We recommend strongly considering the SR100 or looking to another format. $800 can buy you a powerhouse MiniDV camcorder.
We promise this is the last Sony on the list, but you have to concede that they have the camcorder market flooded. The DCR-DVD305 ($700 MSRP) is their middle-of-the-road DVD camcorder, with the same size imager as the DCR-SR80. We found it to produce a brighter image that helped in low light, if only a little. This was hardly a power-player, but represented a decent value in its market. DVD camcorders offer a little more peace of mind regarding footage. If you lose one disc, you’ve only lost 30 minutes. If the HDD goes kaput… well. Priced $100 less than the DCR-SR80, we’ll call this an unhappy tie.
The JVC GZ-MG77 ($800 MSRP) is the second-to-the-top Everio HDD camcorder, below the GZ-MG505. Our review was not favorable, overall, but now that we’ve seen what a second manufacturer has to offer in mid-range HDD camcorders, it’s pretty representative of what’s out there. Video performance was shoddy for the price, considering what those same dollars buy in a tape-based camcorder. But convenience is a strong allure, and HDD is undeniably convenient Compared to the DCR-SR100, it’s a close race. Both are simple to operate and have similar handling and layout. Both have poor video quality, but in different ways: the SR80 is noisy and the MG77 is oversaturated and prone to blowing out. The Sony offers twice the capacity and analog-to-digital conversion, ultimately tipping the scale.
The Panasonic SDR-S150 ($999 MSRP) is a great camcorder, but for the tragic flaw of the SD card media, which severely limits its capacity as choice for vacations and sporting events. The included 2GB card records only 14 minutes of the highest quality video. How restrained must the user be to only hit record at the critical moments in order to squeeze it all in! The impracticality of SD cards is the camcorder’s downfall. It’s a shame, too. The video quality is beautiful, better than any camcorder mentioned here outside of the DCR-SR100.Who It’s For
Point-and-Shooters (6.5)
HDD camcorders are, generally, the simplest point-and-shoot camcorders on the market. Entirely self-contained, the medium has been coupled here with Sony’s trademark ease of use. It’s hard to go wrong.
Budget Consumers (2.5)
HDD is still relatively new, which carries with it a “paying for the privilege” mark-up. You’ll do much better with DVD and especially MiniDV camcorders.
Still Photo / Video Camera Hybrid (3.0)
The still quality on the DCR-SR80 was atrocious, with botched colors and lots of noise. Avoid this as a back-up for your still camera.
Gadget Freaks (6.0)
Is HDD still on the gadget freak’s radar? Probably, though Sony’s marriage of HDD and AVCHD in the HDR-SR1 may have supplanted their interest in the under-$1000 HDD market. The DCR-SR80 isn’t worth it anyway.
Manual Control Freaks (4.0)
Sonys are not known for their manual controls, and while they have made strides to change our minds in their HD camcorders, nothing in the DCR-SR80 can compete with Panasonics half its price.
Pros/ Serious Hobbyists (2.0)
This is not a pro camcorder by any stretch.
Conclusion
What can we say about the DCR-SR80? It was only a matter of time before Sony jumped into the HDD game. With their enormous marketing machine and brand strength, they’ll give JVC a serious run for their money, even with JVC’s two-year head start. Sony’s first foot in the water, the DCR-SR100, is a worthy competitor. With great color performance, sharpness, and low noise, this was the best HDD camcorder to date. Six months later Sony quintupled their total HDD line with the new top-end HD camcorder, the HDR-SR1 and three new mid-line models, the DCR-SR40, DCR-SR60, and DCR-SR80.
After two years of disappointment with the mid-line JVC Everios, we were hoping Sony could turn the ship around and offer consumers some real choices. After spending time with the best of the mid-line expansion models, our conclusion is that they do not. The DCR-SR80 performs as well as an entry-level DVD camcorder, which is hardly good enough to earn your dollars. Not only that, but you have to pay for the privilege of owning a new-ish technology, which always fattens the bill. We like the convenience of HDD, and we’re certain that it’s the next direction for camcorders, but until the manufacturers make it worth the price, there’s little reason to invest.
After two years of disappointment with the mid-line JVC Everios, we were hoping Sony could turn the ship around and offer consumers some real choices. After spending time with the best of the mid-line expansion models, our conclusion is that they do not. The DCR-SR80 performs as well as an entry-level DVD camcorder, which is hardly good enough to earn your dollars. Not only that, but you have to pay for the privilege of owning a new-ish technology, which always fattens the bill. We like the convenience of HDD, and we’re certain that it’s the next direction for camcorders, but until the manufacturers make it worth the price, there’s little reason to invest.
The DCR-SR80’s great strengths are its size and its simplicity. Camcorders don’t get simpler than this (excluding the stripped down DCR-SR40). We also like the large, 60GB HDD and the analog-to-digital pass through. But the video performance was so poor that we have to recommend either considering the DCR-SR100 or abandoning HDD altogether. The under-$1000 market is not ready to earn your trust, or our vote.
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