Sony HDR-FX7 First Impressions Camcorder Reviewby John NeelyPublished on Sep 22, 2006 2:00 PM
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Picture & Manual Control
Automatic Control
Although Sony places this camcorder at the top of their consumer Handycam line, most, including us at Camcorderinfo.com, consider it a low-end prosumer model based on its $3500 price and robust feature set, including professional options like zebra striping. Another nod to the professional user is the absence of a setting labeled “Easy” like the Easy buttons on Sony’s consumer camcorders. It may be a semantic difference, but on Sony’s decision to go with Auto is another nod to the level of expertise needed to put the HDR-FX7 (Review, Specs, Recent News, $2599) through its paces. With Auto Lock selected, the camcorder performs adeptly, but we didn’t notice any notable differences from the performance of other Sony’s. In other words, if you are in a situation that’s too fast-moving to deal with manual adjustments, the HDR-FX7 should perform reasonably with the usual caveats: difficulty focusing on low contrast subjects, unpredictable color representation in mixed lighting, a risk of under or over-exposure in high-contrast situations, etc.
What sets this camcorder apart is the plethora of automatic picture control options, though the loss of Sony’s CineFrame 24P-like recording mode is arguably a downgrade. While most users found CineFrame to be less useful than hoped for, we don’t like to see options dropped, and wonder why Sony elected to do so on this model. True 24P can be found on the next model up, the HVR-V1.
Overall Manual Control
The HDR-FX7 is a camcorder that serves up the most essential manual controls in a manner that makes them quickly accessible on the camcorder’s body. While the details of each control may differ from its closest relations – the DCR-VX2100 (Review, Specs, $1980) and HDR-FX1 – their feel is distinctly Sony. The manual focus, servo zoom, ND filter switch and select dial are all similar to those found on its brethren, but there are also notable differences that set this camcorder apart. Some are definitely upgrades, including the six assignable buttons ( as opposed to only three on the HDR-FX1).
Zoom
As a prosumer camcorder, the primary control over the HDR-FX7’s 20x optical zoom lens is the ring control on the lens barrel. It is a servo zoom with an action that is much like other motorized prosumer zooms. With a little practice, you can move through the full zoom range using the ring – but to execute this movement, you’ll be using pretty much your entire range of wrist and arm motion. In terms of speed and sensitivity, this is certainly not a mechanical zoom, so your movements will look and feel motorized. There is also a notable delay in servo response – especially if you’re executing a fast zoom in or out – a quirk that’s typical of motorized zooms.
The HDR-FX7’s zoom lever offers no surprises here – and that’s a good thing. On the grip, you’ll find a standard-issue and nicely tuned lever that’s sized large enough for comfortable two fingered control. The lever is sensitive enough to allow decent control throughout the variable speed capabilities of the servo zoom. The grip zoom cannot be set to a fixed speed, but that option is available on the top handle zoom lever. This lever is smaller, and optimized for thumb operation when the camcorder is gripped using the handle. This zoom can only be operated at adjustable fixed speeds, which can be set from 1 to 7 along a scale in the menu. Alongside this zoom lever is a switch that allows you to select H (high speed), L (low speed) or Off (handle zoom disabled), and both the H and L settings are customizable on the 1-7 scale. We would have liked to see the grip zoom also enabled with fixed speed options – a feature available on the slightly more expensive Canon XH A1 (Specs, Recent News, $3279.99).
An important new feature on this camcorder is Digital Extender, a digital zoom that maxes out at 30x, or 1.5x the maximum optical zoom. Video shot using the Digital Extender option looks amazingly good for a digitally “extended” image.
Focus
The HDR-FX7 has a wide rubber focus ring mounted on the lens. The action of the control is very smooth, and it is both responsive and sensitive. I found focus adjustments using the ring control to be satisfyingly quick, especially when using the Expanded Focus feature, also found on the HDR-FX1. Expanded Focus temporarily enlarges the image displayed on the LCD screen up to 4x. This allows you to find your focal point very quickly, and helps to improve focal accuracy which is vital when working at HDV resolution.
The camcorder also includes AF Assist, which is an option that allows you to override auto focus. When AF Assist is turned on in the Camcorder menu, the focus ring can be used to “touch up” the camcorder’s auto focus. It’s a handy feature that combines the speed of auto focus with manual precision.
Exposure (Aperture)
There are several manual control options for exposure control on the HDR-FX7, including exposure, iris, and AE Shift. All of these brightness settings can be controlled using the new dial, located in-line with the ring controls near the front of the camcorder’s lens. Although the dial is not a dedicated exposure ring, as found on the JVC GY-HD110U and Canon XH A1, I found much to like about the dial. Ergonomically, it’s a nice control to use, allowing for quick and accurate adjustment to the selected setting.
The biggest drawback to the dial is that it’s a multi-function control, so you’ll need to select exposure in the menu – or use one of the six assignable buttons to speed your access to control over the dial’s settings. The option to speed access to dial control options addresses my major issue with the dial vs. a dedicated ring. Exposure can be adjusted on a 24 step scale that links iris and gain, or the iris can be adjusted independently. The camcorder also has an AE Shift adjustment, set in the menu.
Shutter Speed
In manual mode, this offers wide control over shutter speed from 1/4 to 1/10,000 of a second – a range that is close to what’s offered on prosumer camcorders at a similar price point. The dedicated shutter speed button is on the camcorder’s back, allowing very quick access, and you can cycle through shutter speed settings using the control dial. Few camcorders make access to this control as convenient as you’ll find on the HDR-FX7. Bravo.
White Balance
The HDR-FX7 has a standard complement of white balance options: Auto, indoor, one-push, and outdoor. The white balance button is located on the rear of the camcorder, between the menu and shutter speed buttons, making for quick and easy access. White balance options are controlled using the dial – pressing the dial in sets the white balance manually.
Gain
Like the controls above, gain can be accessed by pressing a button on the rear of the camcorder, and adjusted using the dial. The gain settings available are 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18dB, the same options found on the HDR-FX1 and the new professional HVR-V1U.