Sony HDR-CX7 Camcorder Reviewby David KenderPublished on Sep 10, 2007 10:00 AM
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Comparison
Sony HDR-SR1 (Review, Specs, Recent News, $1119.99)Sony’s debut into world of AVCHD was pioneered by the utterly awesome HDR-SR1 ($1,500 MSRP). The HDR-SR1 records AVCHD video to a 30GB HDD and features a whopping 3.5-inch LCD screen, cam control ring with focus/exposure/auto exposure shift/white balance shift, and mic and headphone jacks. In addition, you get an extendable viewfinder and flash mounted just above the lens. The HDR-SR1’s 1/3-inch ClearVID CMOS chip cranks out an excellent image, but is pelted with noise in low light. Now, the HDR-CX7 (Specs, Recent News, $1199) (Review, Specs, Recent News, $831.25) really can’t hold a candle to the HDR-SR1’s architecture, handling, or manual controls. What the HDR-CX7 does offer is better low light performance and all around video performance—but not by much. The only other thing the HDR-CX7 brings to the table is its preposterously small size and ample amounts of chic. Point-and-shooters who want to make love to the camcorder catwalk will fall for the HDR-CX7. Those who aim for the director’s chair will most likely opt for the HDR-SR1.
Sony HDR-HC7 (Review, Specs, Recent News, $1128.56)At the current moment, HDV reigns supreme over AVCHD. The HDR-HC7 ($1,399 MSRP) makes the best use of its 1/2.9-inch ClearVID CMOS chip by displaying a beautiful, crisp color palette. The HDR-CX7 fails to up the ante due to its AVCHD compression. Furthermore, the HDR-HC7 features a multi-function cam control dial, mic and headphone jacks, and an extendable viewfinder. The HDR-CX7 answers, yet again, with its lovable petit size and stealthy all-black design. The bottom line is that the HDR-HC7’s prime focus is image quality and advanced control. The HDR-CX7’s main concern is looking good while shooting HD video. So reach inside, connect to your inner chi, and figure out whether you’re a member of the AV club or Project Runway.
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The Panasonic HDC-SD1 (Review, Specs, Recent News, $1119.99) and HDC-SD5 ($999.95 MSRP) are two flash-based AVCHD camcorders that record to SD/SDHC cards. While Sony was busy pushing the world’s first HDD AVCHD camcorder—the HDR-SR1—Panasonic burst onto the scene with the HDC-SD1, the world’s first flash-based AVCHD camcorder. Sony’s HDR-CX7 is a retaliation, of sorts, to the
HDC-SD1, so let’s have at it.
The HDC-SD1 features three 1/4-inch CCDs that contribute to a sharp, clean image. When it comes to low light, the HDR-CX7 takes the lead, offering more balanced color. Architecturally, Sony emulated the HDC-SD1’s innovative “lens barrel with an LCD” design and reduced the HDR-CX7’s weight and dimensions by roughly 20 percent. The HDR-CX7 also includes a hot shoe, LCD panel controls, and an open battery design, as opposed to the HDC-SD1’s limiting enclosed design. We’d have to go with the HDR-CX7 on this one, but hold your horses. Panasonic realized the strain they were about to face before the release of the HDR-CX7, so they, in turn, had to retaliate as well.
The result was the HDC-SD5, a miniature version of the HDC-SD1, measuring even smaller than the HDR-CX7. Though we haven’t had the chance to test the HDC-SD5, you can expect a decrease in low light performance. Panasonic fell back to three 1/6-inch CCDs, yet at the same time upgraded to 1080 “full HD” recording, increasing resolution. Despite the small chips, the HDC-SD5 looked pretty promising on the large LCD screens at the Panasonic event. We’ll just have to wait and see.
Canon HG10 (Review, Specs, Recent News, $499.95)
From what we’ve seen so far in AVCHD video, the Canon HG10 ($1,299 MSRP) is the captain of the ship. The HG10 produced the best AVCHD image in bright light and low light, and it includes true 24P. We should warn you, though—the HG10’s 24P mode is pointless compared to its superior HDV counterpart, the HV20 (Review, Specs, Recent News, $903). You’ll just be bombarded by mounds of motion trailing, so leave this feature off. Aside from great video, the HG10 is innovatively constructed. It features an LCD-mounted scroll wheel, pro-sumer grade zoom rocker, an extendable viewfinder, and a mic jack. The HG10’s manual controls are also superior to the HDR-CX7. There’s no question about this one—Canon HG10 all the way.
Who It’s For
Point-and-Shooters
Almost any Sony under $1,400 is point-and-shooter friendly. The HDR-CX7’s Easy mode, touch screen LCD, and great automatic controls are direct indicators. The HDR-CX7 will suit those who quest for HD quality video crammed in a stealthy, miniscule lens barrel with an LCD attached to it.
Budget Consumers
You can buy two decent HDD camcorders or three MiniDV camcorders for $1,200, but you can only buy one HDR-CX7. Budget consumers, it’s not your day.
Still Photo / Video Camera Hybrid
You get a maximum still size of 6.1-megapixels, which is rare for a consumer camcorder. The HDR-CX7 only records to a Memory Stick PRO Duo, so nix the hybrid functionality. Also, the still feature set is lacking. If you want to snap relatively large pictures and nothing else, the HDR-CX7 is for you.
Gadget Freaks
Gadget freaks will explode with delight when they slip their clammy hands into the lush hand strap of the HDR-CX7. Between the radical all-black design, flash format, and palm-sized HD video recording, gadget freaks will have a hard time not spontaneously combusting in Best Buy.
Manual Control Freaks
Sonys cater more to the user who is willing to branch out manually, but not that far. While Panasonic stands atop the Manual Control Mountain and Hitachi flounders below in a sea of ineptitude, Sony hovers midway up the trail. The HDR-CX7 is no Pansonic, but it will get the job done.
Pros / Serious Hobbyists
This is a high-end consumer toy. Pros will wonder why the HDR-CX7 is smaller than their camera’s lens.
Conclusion
If Sharper Image or SkyMall suddenly decided to sell decent-quality merchandise instead of its normal garbage, the Sony HDR-CX7 would be a front-page feature. And if the brand association wasn’t so detrimental, Sony would probably love that. It’s a compact, easy to use camcorder with a buzzy acronym – AVCHD, ooh la la! – that few people understand. Most importantly, it looks cool and it’s high definition.
The HDR-CX7 is geared toward people who have a lot of money to spend, but not a lot of interest in the finer points of movie making. Nearly every other HD camcorder made by Sony offers better handling, in the shape of a control dial or a knob. The two HDV models, the HDR-HC5 (Review, Specs, Recent News, $903) (Review, Specs, Recent News, $779.99) and HDR-HC7, also offer more powerful manual controls and a much simpler post-production process to create finished movies. Editing software is slowly catching up to the AVCHD video format, but the processing times are maddeningly slow, even on powerful computers. On average, we’re guessing that potential CX7 owners don’t intend to do much more than connect the camcorder directly to a TV and watch last week’s antics on the yacht.
The image quality from the HDR-CX7 is very good, don’t misunderstand that point. It’s not the best consumer HD camcorder we’ve seen this year (that would go to the Canon HV20 followed by the Sony HDR-HC7). It’s not even the best AVCHD camcorder we’ve seen this year (that being the Canon HG10). But under good lighting, the camcorder will produce video that can stand up to scrutiny on a big screen TV.
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