Sony HDR-SR1 Camcorder Reviewby John NeelyPublished on Oct 25, 2006 12:00 PM
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Audio (7.0)
We expect to see a decent set of audio options in a high-end consumer camcorder, and the HDR-SR1 delivers more than most on the market. In addition to the onboard microphone, this model features a stereo mini microphone jack on the right side of the lens barrel, and a headphone jack on the right side near the Mode Dial. While we’ve become sadly accustomed to the fact that fewer and fewer camcorders accommodate external microphones, this one offers some refreshing relief. In addition to the standard mic plug, the HDR-SR1 features Sony’s proprietary Active Interface Shoe that is compatible with a range of Sony accessories, including microphones and video lights.The camcorder also offers two audio level settings labeled Normal and Low that can be selected in the Micref Level option of the Option Menu. “Normal” corresponds to automatic audio levels, and the camcorder adjusts the recorded audio to a pre-set level in this mode. Normal is the default setting on the HDR-SR1. “Low” corresponds to the camcorder’s fixed audio level setting, and is analogous to manually setting a microphone at a single level. It’s not much in the way of audio level control, but it’s more than most consumer camcorders offer.
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Microphone jack... |
headphone jack... |
and an Active Interface Shoe |
The onboard four-channel omni-directional microphone is capable of recording sound optimized for Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound systems. Recording sound in 5.1 Surround Sound will fill out a home theatre system’s channels, but the audio is still being recorded by a small on-camera omni mic with no sound mixing options. In other words, while technically Dolby 5.1 sound, the quality of the audio won’t be any better than a typical on-camera mic. One thoughtful feature is that Sony wireless mics connected to the Active Interface Shoe are automatically assigned to the center front channel in surround sound recording mode – but it’s a feature that only applies to Sony wireless mics.
With two microphone inputs, two Micref Level options, Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound capability, and a headphone jack, the HDR-SR1 offers more versatility out of the box than most consumer camcorders on the market. Props to Sony for offering a decent suite of audio recording options.
VCR Mode (9.6)
Aside from simplicity, one of the features that make HDD camcorders attractive to many users is the fact that files can be accessed in the same way still photos are accessed in a digital camera. Unlike tapes – long the standard recording format – HDD camcorders, as well as DVD camcorders permit random access to footage. As a result of this flexibility, the Sony HDR-SR1 has a set of playback features that put linear tape-based VCR modes to shame.
There are three means for users to engage Playback Mode: tapping the Playback icon in the lower-left corner of the screen, pressing the small button closest to the lens on the lower-left side of the camcorder, and toggling into Playback Mode using the mode dial. Upon entering Playback Mode, the Visual Index screen appears, which displays 12 clips to a page as thumbnails images. Tapping a thumbnail plays back the clip it represents. During active playback, familiar VCR control buttons appear on the screen. Active playback also includes a submenu of options that can be accessed by tapping the icon at the lower right corner of the LCD – where the Camera Menu is found in Movie or Photo mode. Volume controls and clip information (including stabilization on/off, auto/manual exposure, shutter speed, white balance, aperture, and gain) can be found here. Pressing the Stop Button, or the Return icon at top-left stops playback and returns you to the Visual Index screen.
Advanced playback and editing options are found in the Home Menu, but they are only available in Movie Mode or Camera Mode. These options include creating and editing playlists, formatting, and getting Disc Info are all found here, as well. The Home Menu also contains output settings used for playing back footage or stills to external monitors. The fact that these options are not available from within Playback Mode seems counterintuitive to us, and is one of the complaints we have about the new menu structure shared by this camcorder and the HDR-UX1.
When you do decide to playback your footage for the family, the camcorder is replete with options. You can output the video signal via AV, component, and HDMI connectors but you’ll also need to specify exactly what kind of TV you are using. In the Home Menu under Select Devices > TV connect, there are options for High Definition or 16:9/4:3 standard definition TVs. After making your selection, options for output type appear, complete with illustrations of HDMI, Component, S-Video, and AV outputs. It’s one way Sony smoothes the way for newbies who were wondering what that “HDMI” port on their new plasma screen was for.
The HDR-SR1 also includes the option of showing or hiding menus and icons during external playback under Home Menu > Settings > Output Settings. This is also where you can assign component output as 1080i or 60i video.
This camcorder provides numerous options for playback because we are currently transitioning from SD to HD video. Sony provides all these options so any user can get footage from this camcorder to a TV regardless of its vintage or video standard. In the future, options on the camcorder that serve SD TV owners like component output will probably be dropped, but we’re not there yet. Given the current state of flux, Sony has done a good job signposting the route from camcorder to TV.
Ports (9.0)
The HDR-SR1 includes an excellent selection of ports, including an HDMI terminal for digital HD playback to an external monitor or TV – a feature we think is vital for an HD camcorder. Surprisingly, the Canon HV10 lacks an HDMI terminal while Sony’s other consumer HD camcorders, the HDR-HC3 and HDR-UX1 both support HDMI output. In addition, the SR1 includes A/V and component video outputs protected by the same sliding port cover that conceals the HDMI terminal. A USB 2.0 port and MemoryStick Duo slot are located in the LCD cavity. A headphone jack is located on the camcorder’s back right side along with a remote control jack, and an external microphone jack is on the lower right side of the lens barrel. The HDR-SR1 also sports Sony’s proprietary Active Interface Shoe, compatible with numerous Sony accessories. The DC-in port is on the rear left side of the camcorder body near the sliding port cover, but protected by its own plastic port cover. The one glaring omission to this camcorder’s port selection is a Firewire port. While the USB 2.0 port will do the job, Firewire is a protocol that many videographers are accustomed to using, and we would have liked to see it as an option.
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| MemoryStick DUO port | Sliding port cover in action |