Sony HDR-HC7 First Impressions Review

by Matt Culler
Published on Jan 8, 2007 11:00 PM

Intro Performance
Format
Tour
Auto / Manual Controls Still Features
Handling and Use Audio / Playback / Connectivity
Other Features Comparisons / Conclusion
   


The Front
The front of the Sony HDR-HC7 (Review, Specs, Recent News, $1128.56) is exactly the same as the HDR-HC5. Compared to last year’s HDR-HC3 (Review, Specs, $969.99), it looks more handsome. The camcorder’s huge lens barrel dominates its front side and looms over the camcorder’s built-in microphone. The microphone placement is better than some of this year's Sony DVD camcorders that feature microphones on top of the camcorder. To the left of the lens barrel is a pop-up flash, placed longitudinally. The flash pops up if the camcorder’s photo button is slightly depressed or if you use the flash button on the back of the machine. The HDR-HC5 does not feature a flash.

The Right Side
The right of the HDR-HC7 is where the rubber meets the road…or in this case, where your palm meets the camcorder. It is ergonomically designed for a comfortable grip and should accommodate large hands. The right side also houses the top-loading tape mechanism, good news for those who’ve been vexed by tape compartments that demand removing the camcorder from a tripod for making tape changes. The right side looks good, but it is less curvy than last year’s HDR-HC3.

The Back
The back of the HDR-HC7 really shines. It features an extremely deep battery slot. This is an addition that distinguishes the HC7 from the HDR-HC5. It means that when you insert this camcorder’s humungous battery that boasts better recording time, the camcorder’s back-end accommodates it without a bulge. It's often the case that an extended life battery will extend beyond a camcorder’s viewfinder, resulting in an awkward indentation in your cheek during viewfinder use. The HDR-HD7 solves this problem perfectly by enveloping the whole battery, in a way that is both usable and cosmetically pleasing.

To the right of the camcorder’s battery pack are a pair of panels, revealing the camcorder’s HDMI-out port, the digital output of HDV footage for display on an HD television, and the DC input. The placement of these ports is good since they are only utilized when you’re not handling the camcorder.

The Left Side
The left side of the HDR-HC7 features the camcorder’s 2.7-inch LCD screen. Unfortunately, the LCD is not as large as LCDs past nor as large as Sony’s new DVD camcorder the HDR-UX7. It is comparable, though, with the HDR-HC5. Another feature the HDR-HC5 shares with the HDR-HC7 is a lengthy port cover extending alone the bottom of the camcorder’s LCD screen. This cover can be lifted with an agile fingernail. Once lifted, various ports are visible such as the camcorder’s LANC jack, iLink port, component output, A/V output, and headphone jack.

The HDR-HC5 is nearly identical, but it lacks a headphone jack. Under the camcorder’s LCD screen are a couple of buttons for toggling the display/battery info and the camcorder’s Easy mode. Above these controls is a nifty new USB port cover that slides up to reveal the port. To the right of the USB port is the camcorder’s Memory Stick Pro DUO slot. Towards the front of the camcorder, located on its cylindrical lens barrel are some of the most important and least important controls. Firstly, the camcorder features a dial control similar to the one found on last year’s HDR-HC3. The dial control hat made its first appearance on the DCR-PC1000 (Review, Specs, $699.97). Below this dial is the camcorder’s NightShot switch, and BLC (back light compensation) button. This is an easy-to-find-in-the-dark location, and users would have benefited if Sony had thought to put a more commonly used control here. 

The Top
The highest point on the HDR-HC7’s crest is the camcorder’s Advanced Interface Shoe. The AIS is a proprietary hot accessory shoe that is only operable with Sony products. That’s cool, as long as you’re content living within the walled garden that is Sony. On the top of the camcorder’s tape mechanism is the tape ejection switch, zoom toggle, and photo button. Sony’s mode switch occupies the top, left hand corner of the camcorder.




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