Sony HDR-FX7 Camcorder Reviewby David KenderPublished on Dec 27, 2006 7:00 AM
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Still Features (7.0)
The still photo features on the HDR-FX7 are fairly simple, but appropriate to the tasks of the average FX7 user. Though Sony, if not all manufacturers, have loaded up on still features in their camcorders in the last few years, no one would consider this a substitute for a still camera. Rather, the still functions on a prosumer model like this should serve the needs of a filmmaker, that is to say the stills are primarily used as references for shot set-ups. Most importantly, they should be easy to shoot and easy to access.
On the HDR-FX7, stills are saved to MemoryStick Duo and MemoryStick PRO Duo cards, which load on the left side in the hatch beneath the LCD cavity. There are four still sizes – 640 x 480, 640 x 360 (16:9), 1080 x 810, and 1440 x 810 (16:9) – and two qualities for each, Fine and Standard. There is no clear video mode / still mode separation, as there is on the Canon XH A1. Rather, stills can be taken at any time when you are in recording, or “Camera,” mode. This means that any manual settings you have in video mode (i.e., shutter speed, white balance, etc.) will be transferred over to the still photo. In this way, the still functionality fully lives up to the “easy to shoot, easy to access” requirement. To play back stills, first switch the mode dial to VCR mode. Now, the camcorder clearly cannot play back stills and video at the same time, so you do have to toggle back and forth between modes. The approach could have been clearer. As it stands, we just kept pushing buttons until we managed to figure out how – Assignable Button #4 (also labeled “Play”), which is found in the LCD cavity. The photos will take up the entire LCD screen, and can be shuffled forward and backward with the Volume/Memory + and – buttons. Why they couldn’t have simplified things by assigning that function to the Rewind and Fast Forward buttons is a mystery. Pressing Assignable button #4 (the Index button) shrinks the photos to thumbnails, six to a page.
Still Resolution (3.06) The Sony HDR-FX7 was tested for the resolution of its still photos by shooting an ISO 12233 resolution chart and running those stills through Imatest imaging software. In total, the camcorder produced a best resolution of 305864.3.
Still Performance (4.5) The still performance of the HDR-FX7 was, predictably, mediocre. That’s okay, though. As mentioned above, the most important thing you want in the way of photo shooting on this camcorder is speed and ease of use. No one would tote around this 3 lbs.+, 1.2MP-shooting device and call it a substitute it for their digital still camera. Forgive us, however, as we do our jobs here and give it the once-over…
Still Resolution (3.06) The Sony HDR-FX7 was tested for the resolution of its still photos by shooting an ISO 12233 resolution chart and running those stills through Imatest imaging software. In total, the camcorder produced a best resolution of 305864.3.
Still Performance (4.5) The still performance of the HDR-FX7 was, predictably, mediocre. That’s okay, though. As mentioned above, the most important thing you want in the way of photo shooting on this camcorder is speed and ease of use. No one would tote around this 3 lbs.+, 1.2MP-shooting device and call it a substitute it for their digital still camera. Forgive us, however, as we do our jobs here and give it the once-over…
Shooting at 3000 lux, the stills of the FX7 were wholly lifeless. Despite having very strong colors in the video performance, the stills were flat and dull. The whites ran a little bright, though they did not quite blow out. Like the video performance, the stills were contrasty, which helped draw out some fine detail. The stills were also noisy – fine grain patterns that we saw in the bright light video performance.
The Canon XH A1 was not significantly better, which slightly skewed rather than dull colors. The Sony HDR-HC3, which costs less than half as much as the HDR-FX7, actually produced larger (2304 x 1725) and better looking stills. This is to be expected, as video/still hybrid features are a bigger draw in the consumer market. Nevertheless, it wouldn’t have cost Sony much, if anything, to transfer the larger resolution capabilities over to the FX7.
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