Sony HDR-HC7 First Impressions Review

Automatic Control
The HDR-HC7 (Review, Specs, Recent News, $1128.56) offers automatic controls over all of its manual controls. Sony’s automatic controls are some of the best in the industry for fast and relatively accurate adjustments. Of course, you will have problems even with stellar automatic adjustments in situations that are less than normal. For example, auto focus will have problems focusing on extremely close objects or switching quickly between extreme foreground focus and background focus. Likewise, auto exposure will have a tough time in high contrast situations. In addition, all automatic controls lack accuracy and speed in low light situations. Of course, we didn’t have enough time to fully test and assess the subtleties of the HDR-HC7’s automatic controls on the convention floor but stay tuned for our full review.

Sony’s standard Easy mode is available on the HDR-HC7, as well as standard Program AE options, now called “scene select” options. Scene select now includes two new options: Candle and Fireworks.

Overall Manual Control
The manual control suite on the HDR-HC7 is better than many consumer-end Sonys of the past and is similar to those offered on the burgeoning HD line. It includes manual shutter speed adjustment, an option not normally included on Sony consumer camcorders. Also, focal lengths and shutter speed rates are numerically given, which is a rarity with Sony. Aperture is still lacking, as it has for years in their consumer line.

This camcorder does include the same assignable dial control available on last year’s HDR-HC3 (Review, Specs, $969.99) which is preferably to the touch screen adjustment. A number of controls can be assigned to this dial: focus, exposure, shutter speed, AE shift, and WB shift.

Zoom
The HDR-HC7 ships with a 10x optical zoom as does the HDR-HC5. However, the HDR-HC7 only includes 20x digital zoom, while the HDR-HC5 goes up to 80x. Despite the extra digital zoom of the HDR-HC5, the larger imager of the HDR-HC7 trumps the 80x digital for me. The zoom toggle on both the HDR-HC7 and HDR-HC5 is a good one and is raised just enough to allow easy manipulation. This is the main zoom control, and while there are secondary zoom controls built into the LCD margin, this control offers smooth and efficient variable zoom speeds. It is a better zoom toggle than those found on Sony’s new DVD AVCHD camcorders, in which the toggles are too low to be effective. The only drawback to the HDR-HC7’s zoom toggle is that it lines up with user’s middle finger instead of his or her index finger.

Focus
Manual focus on the HDR-HC7 is the same as on last year’s HDR-HC3, and it is controlled by the same dial as on that camcorder. If set correctly, you can adjust focus using the dial feature without having to open the LCD screen. Alternately, you can adjust focus via the camcorder’s LCD screen menu system, tapping your way from 0.8 to infinity. This is cumbersome option, and unfortunately, adjustment using the dial control is not much better. While you don’t have to open the camcorder’s LCD screen, precise adjustment for focus is hard to achieve manually. The cylindrical nub found on the HDR-UX7 offers a much better and easier to use option. Sony also included a Spot Focus option that allows users to touch specific places on the touch screen menu in order to adjust focus on particular objects within the viewing frame. This option is cumbersome to get to, and I wouldn’t recommend relying on it.

Exposure & Aperture
Manual exposure, like focus, on the HDR-HC7 is adjusted either by assigning adjustment to the dial control or by entering the camcorder’s touch screen menu system. Manual exposure has historically been weak on Sony camcorders since the precise F-Stop measurements are not given. In fact, F-stops aren’t necessarily what you’re adjusting when you manually adjust exposure with the HC7. Typically, users can move through fifteen EV steps, each step representing a combination of shutter speed and iris settings. However, with the HDR-HC7, users tap or roll their way across a unit-less meter that gauges exposure.

The camcorder does include an AE shift option that can be assigned to the control dial. This control subtly shifts your exposure (+4/-4). These eight steps are incremental, though relatively subtle, and users can use this offset shift to approximate exposure settings in between the manual steps mentioned above.  Spot Metering is also included on this camcorder. It allows the user to touch specific places on the touch screen menu and easily pinpoint exposure adjustment. This option is not new, but it remains a feature of limited use.

Shutter Speed
The inclusion of shutter speed controls on this camcorder is a completely welcome improvement, and one we’ve been asking for. Shutter speed is adjusted, like focus and exposure, using the dial control. Shutter adjustments are available from 1/4 to 1/10000, and from 1/4 to 1/500 in still camera mode. 

White Balance
Manual white balance is available on the HDR-HC7 in the following options: Manual, Auto, Indoor, and Outdoor. The camcorder also includes a much-welcomed option for WB Shift, that allows for subtler adjustments to color.

Gain
There is no manual gain on the HDR-HC7. You’ll have to buy a three-chip Sony like the HDR-FX7 (Review, Specs, Recent News, $2599) for such an option.

Other Manual Controls
The HDR-HC7 allows for manual adjustment of audio levels via the touch screen menu. This is a handy option, but basically, this option is only good for drastically decreasing volume if you’re recording a loud concert or something similar. For more control, a plug-in mic is neccessary. However, for recording on the fly, this option is certainly useable and essential for capturing extreme aural environments.