Sony HDR-CX7 First Impressions Camcorder Reviewby John NeelyPublished on May 21, 2007 3:30 PM
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The Front
The front of the CX7 reveals a flash that has migrated from the top of the lens frame on Sony’s original AVCHD models to the left side. Inside the rather wide lens frame is the 10x optical zoom Carl Zeiss Vario- Sonnar T* lens, featuring an aperture range f/1.8-2.9. The 35mm equivalent varies depending on recording mode, converting to 40-400mm in 16:9 Camera Mode, 49- 490mm in 4:3 Camera Mode, 40-400mm in 16:9 Memory Mode, and 37-370mm in 4:3 Memory Mode. The filter diameter measures 37mm, which matches that of many other higher-end Sony camcorders, and makes this model compatible to filters and adapters you may already own. The focal distance measures 5.4-54mm. On the left side(which is the right side when viewed form the front), the body bulges out from the lens barrel. On the front-facing end of this bulge are are the infrared sensor, tally lamp, and Super NightShot lamp. All in all, it’s a spare front-end that echoes the design of Sony’s other AVCHD camcorders…but notably, without a Cam Control ring or dial. More on that later.
The Right Side
This is an attractive camcorder and viewing it from the side highlights the subtle differences that stem from its lack of a drive mechanism or tape transport device. Unlike other Sonys that do require a good deal of space for their respective media types, this is a flash-based camcorder – and flash cards have no moving parts. As a result, Sony’s design team has served up a body that’s all lens barrel when seen from the right – and it’s a graceful look. Up front, the flash housing bulges out slightly in a matte gray that contrasts with the silver lens frame and the black color of the body. The top of the camcorder rises towards the back end at a slight angle, and indicator lamps for each operating mode are visible along the upper rear edge. Below the lamps is a dedicated flash toggle button that cycles through flash options. The hand strap occupies the lower half of the right side, extending from just behind the lens to the back end of the camcorder. It’s generously padded and comfortable, but it appears over-sized for the camcorder body which gives an indication of just how petite this AVCHD cam is.
The Back
As with the rest of this stripped-down camcorder, the backside of the HDR-CX7 reveals only the basics. On top is the trademark Sony Mode Dial, while below and to its right is the Record/Start/Stop button. Both controls are very well-placed for hand-held operation. The open battery slot is dead center and deep enough to easily accommodate a longer-life battery. Unfortunately, the battery release is on the base of the camcorder, making for inconvenience battery changes while the cam is tripod-mounted. The fact that there is no viewfinder means that even a huge battery won’t get in your way. While we always like a secondary monitoring option, they are becoming a rarity on HDD and flash camcorders in a nod to users who are accustomed to using the LCD all the time.
To the left of the battery slot is a vertically aligned plastic cover that conceals the HDMI and AV terminals. Just below is another small cover that protects the DC-in port. Both port covers slot snugly into place and also open wide enough to allow easy connectivity. Just to the left of these port covers, a thin ridge can be seen on the edge of the LCD frame that provides purchase for opening up the screen.
The Left Side
The fact that the 2.7" 16:9 LCD screen occupies the entirety of the left side of the Sony CX7 speaks to the compactness of its design. With a resolution of 211K pixels, it is a typical Sony touch screen, though we lament the loss of the massive 3.5” displays of last year’s debut AVCHD models. The screen rotates though 270 degrees for multiple viewing angles and opens to 90 degrees from the body to expose a feature-rich LCD cavity.
Inside, you’ll find the Memory Stick PRO Duo card slot inconspicuously aligned along the bottom edge that can be opened by pulling a thin tab on top. The only issue you’ll run into here is dealing with the incredibly tiny Memory Stick PRO Duo cards. If you’ve got big fingers, you may have trouble popping them in and out – and they are so wafer-thin that a mild breeze could waft them out of your hand. The onboard speaker is just to the right of the card slot, and a tiny Reset button is directly overhead.
In a horizontal line along the top of the LCD cavity are four buttons, including Back Light, Disp/Batt Info, and Playback. Below these buttons are the NightShot on/off switch and the all-important Easy Button. A last set of controls lie on the outer edge of the LCD frame. On top is a Home Menu access button and below are secondary controls for Wide and Tight zoom, and Record/Start/Stop.
The Top
The top of the CX7 features the onboard Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound microphone up front, with the Active Interface Shoe (AIS) just behind. This shoe is a proprietary Sony design that is compatible with a wide array of Sony microphones and lights. While it does not accommodate third-party mics, adapters are available for 3.5mm jacks. We prefer non-proprietary shoes, but the fact that this camcorder has a shoe at all (and the availability of adapters) gives it an advantage over the shoe-less Panasonic HDC-SD1. Proceeding towards the back of the camcorder is the excellent rocking zoom lever, followed by the photo button, and Mode Dial. All these controls are nicely placed for easy hand-held operation.
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