Sony HDR-SR12 Camcorder Reviewby David KenderPublished on Mar 31, 2008 2:25 PM
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Audio (8.0)
Onboard audio options are not as ample as Canon’s or Panasonic’s, but the HDR-SR12 has a hot shoe, Mic, and Headphone jacks. Although the HDR-SR12’s AIS (Active Interface Shoe) is a proprietary fixture, there are adapters available for connecting a microphone of a different brand. Sony does offer a handful of decent boom mics, but if you want to save some cash or just use your older non-Sony equipment, spring for an adapter. We blasted the Canon HF10 for switching to a whole new proprietary shoe size, for which there is no adapter currently.
The HDR-SR12’s built-in 5.1-channel surround microphone has a Zoom function and basic level control. The Zoom function allows shooters to hone in on audio from a subject far away while they zoom in. The farther the shooter zooms out, the more surrounding sounds are captured. The HDR-SR12’s level control can only be set to Normal or Low. Normal lays an automatic gain control on recorded audio while Low records sounds at their natural volume. You can record sound in 5.1-channel surround sound or 2-channel stereo.
Playback (5.5)
You must be dreading Playback on a camcorder with a 120GB HDD. Nearly 10 hours of video in the highest quality can lead to a daunting labyrinth of files that could drive anyone to drink. Have no fear—Sony’s one step ahead. You can browse clips by date and find particular spots in long clips by using Film Index. Film Index lets you segment a clip into individual intervals and displays them on a timeline. This way you can locate a distinct portion of your footage and simply press its corresponding icon to play it.
Playback in action
In order to access Playback, press the Playback button located in the LCD cavity while in either Video or Photo mode. A screen will appear with two tabs on the bottom: Video Playback and Photo Playback. On the bottom left is a Video Record mode button to switch back to record mode. On the bottom right is the Playback Function menu.
A series of icons is located in the center of the screen. You can alternate between six and 12 icons per screen views using the Zoom toggle, and scrolling through pages is executed using a set of arrows along the left side of the screen. At the top is the Home menu button, Film Index button, Face Index button, and Sort By Date button. In order to play a clip or view a still image, press its corresponding icon and it will appear within the entirety of the LCD screen.
When a Video clip is selected, the playback controls appear onscreen a and consist of Previous Clip, Next Clip, Stop/Return to Index, Rewind, Play/Pause, Fast Forward, and Function. You can Fast Forward and Rewind at four different speeds. When playing back a video clip, the Function menu consists of the following options:
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Video Playback Function |
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| Page 1 | Volume, Data Code, Add to HDD |
| Page 2 | Delete |
| Page 3 | Divide |
While you are in the Video Playback Index, the Function menu contains the following options:
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Video Playback Index Function |
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| Page 1 | Add to HDD, Add By Date |
| Page 2 | Delete, Delete By Date, Delete All |
| Page 3 | Divide |
Connectivity (10.0)
Very rarely do we see a camcorder with ample connectivity and a sly method of hiding those unsightly ports. The HDR-SR12 is a B-52 bomber, equipped with inconspicuous panels and doors that snap open to reveal the goods.
On the right side of the HDR-SR12, toward the lens end, is a vertical shield that slides outward and locks in place to expose the Mic, Headphone, and HDMI jacks. This cover is far superior to a flimsy, tethered strip of plastic. Toward the battery end are the A/V and USB jacks, shrouded by a sliding door that disappears into the body of the HDR-SR12.
In back, even the DC input gets the royal treatment with a drawbridge-style plastic tab that opens downward.
Sony placed a Memory Stick PRO Duo slot in the HDR-SR12’s LCD cavity, which is guarded by a small rectangular door. The door flips open and locks into place to reveal the slot.
On top you’ll find some of Sony’s finest craftsmanship. The hot shoe (Active Interface Shoe) is secluded by a shield that slides toward the back of the camcorder and actually lifts up to accommodate the viewfinder. The HDR-SR12 is a work of art within the world of Connectivity.
The HDR-SR12 also ships with a Handycam docking station with a DC input, USB terminal, and A/V Out jack.
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Above: mic jack, headphone jack, HDMI on right side |
Above: DC power on back |
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