Sony HDR-HC7 Camcorder Reviewby John NeelyPublished on Mar 19, 2007 2:00 PM 
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Audio (8.0)
The HC7 (Review, Specs, Recent News, $1128.56) records MPEG-1 Audio Layer-2 stereo sound at a 16 bit quantization (48 kHz) in HDV mode. In standard DV mode, you can record PCM audio in high quality 16 bit stereo, or choose 12 bit (32 kHz) dual-channel recording. PCM is a standard in digital video and records extremely high quality audio at the sacrifice of its large, uncompressed size. MPEG2 audio does not match the sound quality of PCM, but is compressed at a lower bitrate which takes up less space.
In this early stage of HDV development, those seeking an affordable, compact camcorder with an amazing image and the best sound quality will be shorted. You cannot have both in the world of HDV at the moment. In this case, look to a native DV camcorder and shoot in 16:9. But for those who crave the 1920x1080i HDV picture, Sony provides a 3.5mm microphone jack for an external microphone. Much higher sound quality can be attained with an external mic, but, as mentioned earlier, only Sony brand microphones are compatible with the HC7 due to its Active Interface Shoe in place of a standard hot shoe like the one found on the HC7’s arch rival, the HV20 (Review, Specs, Recent News, $903).
The HC7 also includes a 3.5mm headphone jack, which is a necessity of directors and cinematographers. It’s one thing to get the shot, but using headphones ensures flawless audio. The HC7 gives you the best HDV audio available at the minute, but don’t be surprised if future HDV models crank up the audio quality dial.
Playback (5.5)
Playback on the HC7 is very similar to most Sony models. Switching the mode dial into play/edit mode cues the blue playback screen. All the major touch screen VCR controls are laid out horizontally: stop, rewind, play, fast forward, and P-menu. These buttons appear to have been flattened and are known for dodging fingers due to their minute size. If you carry a stylus around with you, we suggest putting it to use. The playback volume is adjusted by wading into the P-menu, cuing the “standard set” category and selecting “volume.” Whereas some camcorders shift the playback volume control to the joystick or zoom toggle, Sony creates a vexing trail to follow in order to execute such a simplified task. Midway up the right side of the LCD screen is the guide button, which condenses certain menu functions.
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The playback menu structure is very similar to the menu in video mode. The P-Menu is the top-level. |
Tapping the "Menu" button brings you to the main menu, broken up into these subcategories. |
The HC7 is capable of VAR. SPD PB (Various speed playback) and lets you play footage backwards, in slow motion, or frame by frame. Frame by frame playback helps the shooter analyze their footage before capturing it to an editing program, and you can choose the output (HDV or DV) when connected to an i.Link cable. When in memory mode, stills stored on the Memory Stick Duo Pro can be played back, which is nearly identical to the tape playback menu.
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The Standard Set submenu has the most frequently used choices. |
Connectivity (11.0)
The HC7 is rife with ports. Starting with the long rectangular panel underneath the LCD panel from left to right is the LANC jack, i.Link terminal, component output, A/V output, and headphone jack. In the LCD cavity, there are two ports. One is a slick USB terminal that opens via a tiny sliding door that is difficult to move unless you have long fingernails. The second is a Memory Stick Duo Pro slot, which only accepts Sony brand memory sticks. As stated earlier, this confines the consumer strictly to Sony products, quashing any hope of alternative memory options.
In back, there is a large HDMI port, which is the digital output for playback on an HD TV. Beneath the HDMI port is the DC input, which sports a rectangular design that is more stable than most circular DC inputs.
On the front of the HC7, Sony provides us with a glorious microphone jack—a necessity for the more serious filmmaker.
On top, the HC7 is equipped with an Active Interface Shoe, which, like the Memory Stick Duo Pro slot, only accepts Sony brand accessories. Since the HC7 is devoid of a camera light, you are forced to choose between light or sound (ultimately, audio is more important because you can externally light your picture). However, there are only three shotgun microphones available from Sonystyle.com, ranging from $70-150. Think of all the other microphones in the sea. Sony loses credibility for pigeonholing their consumers in order to maximize brand recognition.
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| Ports on the HDR-HC7 (clockwise from top): HDMI and DC power on rear; MemoryStick Duo and USB in LCD cavity; LANC, DV/HDV, component, AV-out, and headphone on lower left side; a mic input is located on the front. |
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