Sony HDR-SR12 First Impressions Camcorder Reviewby Alfredo PadillaPublished on Jan 8, 2008 7:00 PM 
|
|
The Sony HDR-SR12 is Sony’s highest end high definition hard drive (HDD) camcorder for 2008. It has an incredible capacity of 120GB. The step-down HDR-SR11 (Specs, ) is identical in all respects save the smaller, 60GB HDD. That increased storage takes on new importance, however, as Sony has upped video capture to a full 1920 x 1280 at 16Mbps. The HDR-SR12 also sports Sony’s newest images sensor, a 1/3.15-inch CMOS chip with Exmor technology.
Also new in Sony’s lineup this year is face detection, which has been available in rival camcorders for awhile now. Sony claims you can track up to eight faces at once, although we were only able to manage four at a time on the show floor. We should note that this may have been due to the fact that we were dealing with pre-production software. You can also sort your clips by face, making it easy to find the exact spot where you were recording a particular person.
Other improvements in the Sony HDR-SR12 is that the Cam Control has been moved off of the barrel and is now positioned in front under the lens. Although it’s still a bit fiddly you can now grab it with two fingers now for more control. Also upgraded is the LCD, now 3.2-inches with a 921,000 pixel resolution. This is a welcome change as Sony’s touch screen interface is annoying to use with smaller displays.
Our video preview of the HDR-SR12 filmed at the CES show in Las Vegas is below
The Front
The front of the Sony HDR-SR12 is dominated by the 12x Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* lens. The lens has a filter diameter of 37mm and a focal length of 4.8 - 58.8mm. The aperture range is f/1.8 – f/3.1. A flash is embedded on the left side for use with still photos. Below the lens is a button for back light compensation, which is a strange place to place it as most users won't be able to find it easily. To the right of this is the Cam Control button, which allows you to activate the cam control menu by pressing in on the small button in the center and then navigate by rotating the dial. This is better placement than previous models that placed it on the side of the barrel as it's easier to get a grip on.
The Right Side
On the right side of the Sony HDR-SR12 is the strap for holding the camcorder. Like many hard drive camcorders, we found it is not as comfortable as a DVD camcorder because it lacks that big DVD loading bay to grip onto. This means that even when you have the strap on tight the camcorder will flip and flop. There are two cavities containing ports on the right side as well. Near the front you will find mic and headset jacks along with a Mini HDMI out. Near the back is a sliding cover that contains the USB port and A/V-out.
The Back
On the back of the Sony HDR-SR12 you find a typical set-up. There is a slim design battery just beneath the viewfinder. The viewfinder will tilt up but does not telescope out. To the right is a new design for the mode dial that doesn't offer any more or less functionality than previous iterations. Above this are indicators lights and above those is Sony's new “Quick On” button, a feature that we've seen from other manufacturers for a few years. This button allows you to place the camcorder in a low power state that allows you to start back up again very quickly. Finally there is a DC-in port.
The Left Side
The left side of the Sony HDR-SR12 swivels out to reveal the large 3.2-inch LCD with 921,000 pixels. This is significantly larger than the 2.7-inch display found on last year’s HDR-SR7 (Specs, Recent News, $1399), but smaller than the first generation’s 3.5-inch screen. However, the vastly improved resolution should offset any complaints about the size. Also, anything bigger than 2.7-inches makes using Sony's touch screen interface easier. On the LCD panel, to the left of the screen, are zoom controls with a start/stop button beneath them and a home button above. In the cavity you find the typical Sony Easy button, a play/pause button for playback control, a switch for the NightShot function, a display button and a burn to DVD button that you can use with Sony's stand-alone DVD burner for archiving footage. To the right of these controls is a slot for Sony's proprietary MemoryStick Duo/PRO Duo format.
 |
 |
|
The Top
On the top of the Sony HDR-SR12 you find the 5.1-channel Surround Sound mic and an Sony-only accessory shoe with a very flimsy feeling sliding cover. Near the back and to the right are the main zoom controls and a dedicated photo button. The zoom is well placed but the short design means that those with large hands may find it less than convenient.
