Sony HDR-SR7 First Impressions Reviewby Michael PerlmanPublished on May 23, 2007 1:55 PM 
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Video Performance
The HDR-SR7 (Specs, Recent News, $1399) is equipped with a 1/3” ClearVid CMOS sensor. Sony is offering three distinct imagers in its $1000+ consumer models this year - a 1/3" CMOS with a 2100K gross pixel count, a 1/3" CMOS with a 3200K gross pixel count, and a 1/2.9" CMOS with a 3200K gross pixel count. The SR7's imager is the middle one (1/3" and 3200K) with an effective pixel count of 2280K. This is similar in pixel count to the imager found in the HDR-HC7, Sony’s HDV warrior we tested earlier this year, but the size is a touch smaller. In bright light conditions, we don't expect to see much of a difference. The HC7 performed well in bright light (3000 lux), with an image that was rich in color and rife with sharp lines. Sony’s two previous AVCHD models, the HDR-SR1 (Review, Specs, Recent News, $1119.99) and UX1 (Review, Specs, Recent News, $729.95) offered less color and more noise—a characteristic that will most likely translate to the SR7’s image. We’d expect the SR7 to handle color well but suffer the slings and arrows of AVCHD’s motion trailing and increased noise levels. The SR1 and UX1 both had noise issues, but that’s a characteristic of the AVCHD format. Even the Panasonic HDC-SD1 (Review, Specs, Recent News, $1119.99) had trouble with noise and motion artifacting, despite its three 1/4" CCDs. AVCHD is more efficient than HDV, but the current maximum bitrate of 15Mbps is furiously roosting its tires in the mud, attempting to barrel out and reach that coveted 24Mbps plateau we’ve been waiting for.
Low Light Performance
Sony reports that the HDR-SR7’s minimum lowlight sensitivity can reach 2 lux, but you should expect a farm of noise. We shot some footage inside a dimly lit night club with the HDR-CX7 (Specs, Recent News, $1199) and then connected it via HDMI to a widescreen monitor. The picture was pelted with noise and motion artifacts. Graininess ran rampant. We experienced a similar situation with the HC7, however, the HDR-HC3 (Review, Specs, $969.99) did not cause such a commotion. The reason is because Sony pumped up the gross pixel count of last year’s HC3 from 2100K to 3200K. Yes, you can expect more definition, but the sensitivity typically decreases due to the smaller pixels. The downward trend between the HC3’s low light performance and HC7’s lead us to believe that the SR7 will perform worst of all - combining the small pixel size with a smaller chip, plus the noise and motion issues inherent thus far in the AVCHD format.