Sony HDR-SR1 First Impressions Camcorder Review

by David Kender
Published on Jul 25, 2006 6:00 AM

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


Audio
Kaloo, kalay! A mic jack and a headphone jack. And we're not talking about a mic jack and headphone jack that need to share their glory with an AV-out. These are each dedicated jacks. Not for many a season (one, I suppose, but it feels like more) have we seen these two features paired on a consumer camcorder. These were both on the HDR-HC1, but dropped on the HDR-HC3, which we found upsetting. We've been even more disappointed over the past three years with all the Sony camcorders than have been neglected of a mic jack, including $1000+ models. We've really taken Sony to task for not including them in the past, so, we must say thank you, thank you, thank you! We were happy when we found out about the mic jack, but the headphone jack is the icing on the cake. This brings the camcorder close to the level of the Panasonic PV-GS400, though the curent PV-GS500 dropped the headphone jack. We sensed a pattern developing, and are pleased to see an upsurge in attention to audio features. Well, done, Sony.

Audio is recorded to the HDR-SR1 through the built-in microphone and encoded as Dolby Digital 5.1 channel. We’ve already gone through the long-winded exploration of what constitutes 5.1 channels in the DCR-DVD505 and DCR-DVD405 reviews. The short description is this: the built-in mic area on top of the camcorder has four separate mics spread out over about 1.5 square inches. Because they are so close, you shouldn’t expect a whole lot of aural variance between these four channels. The elusive fifth channel is actually a digital composite of the front right and front left mics, creating an approximation of the center channel. The point one in 5.1 is also the result a digital process that boosts the low end or sub-woofer frequency. Frankly, we think that adding the Dolby name is more marketing than consumer benefit, but we can’t complain much, considering the other audio features. Heck, we don't even care, they could call it 4D Interactive Multiplex Action Super Sound with Cup Holder, this camcorder has dedicated mic and headphone jack - we're too giddy to really care about the Dolby.

The HDR-SR1's headphone jack (left) and mic input (right)

VCR Mode
Random access during VCR or playback mode is one of the strongest draws of HDD format camcorders, especially in comparison to tape-based formats. HDD camcorders treat footage as data, and present clips as thumbnail images in a menu rather than linearly. This greatly reduces the time it takes to find a given clip and is a definite ease-of-use enhancement.

The HDR-SR1 shares much of the playback functionality of the DCR-SR100, Sony’s first HDD-based camcorder. That camcorder offers clip browsing at either six clips per page or twelve clips per page. It also offers the ability to toggle between video, still, and playlist display screens by pressing the tabs located at the bottom of the LCD screen making for efficient access to all of the camcorder’s media types. This improves upon camcorders that require the user to switch a mode dial in order to review different formats, making on-camcorder browsing more efficient.

While viewing single clips or images in video or still mode, it is possible to zoom into the display up to 5x via the zoom toggle. It is also possible to move the viewing frame, when playback zoom is engaged, by touching different parts of the LCD. On the SR100, moving the frame caused a delay that became irritating, but it’s a nifty feature nonetheless.

Review Mode allows limited editing of clips and stills on the camcorder, and the Sony DCR-SR100 limits users to a few choices: delete, delete all, delete date, and protect. The HDR-SR1 does include an ability to direct burn footage directly to DVD with a Sony Vaio computer. When it comes to playing back to an external monitor, the HDR-SR1 offers several options: AV, HDMI, USB and S-Video with an optional accessory.

Ports
The Sony HDR-SR1 has an outstanding array of ports for all types of interface. On the right side of the lens barrel is the much-welcomed mic input (1/8”). Further back on the right are the 1/8” headphone jack and wired remote control jack.


HDR-SR1's LCD cavity, which has many ports inside and just below

The left hand side contains the rest of the port. A high-speed USB 2.0 port is located in the LCD cavity. Also in the LCD cavity is a clever switch which opens a hideaway port cover along the very bottom edge. Inside you’ll find an AV-out jack, a composite-out jack, and an HDMI jack, allowing you plenty of options for connecting to standard and high definition TVs. Next to the HDMI, under a separate port cover, is the DC power input.



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