Sony's New HDR-TG1 Pocket-Sized AVCHD Camcorder

by Michael Perlman
Published on Apr 3, 2008 6:01 AM



 
The Sony HDR-TG1
(view photo gallery)		  
   
April 3, 2008 - Sony has announced a new ultra compact addition to its 2008 line of high definition camcorders. The HDR-TG1 ($899 MSRP) adopts the upright, pistol-grip design, similar to the Canon HV10 and Sanyo VPC-HD2. Though a straightforward replacement for last year’s HDR-CX7 was anticipated, the HDR-TG1 will exist alongside the CX7 in the memory card line-up, offering improved AVCHD compression but a smaller imaging chip. (View Photo Gallery)

The HDR-TG1 records 1920 x 1080 “Full HD” AVCHD video to Memory Stick PRO Duo cards at a maximum bit rate of 16Mbps, which is a definite improvement over the HDR-CX7. The CX7 recorded 1440 x 1080 at a maximum of 15Mbps. The new HDR-TG1 also includes an Exmor CMOS sensor and Bionz processor, which produced excellent results for the Sony HDR-SR12 hard disk drive camcorder. However, any gains the TG1 may make over the CX7 in regards to better compression and improved processing may be offset by a smaller imaging chip. While the CX7 was equipped with a large 1/2.9-inch CMOS, the HDR-TG1 has a much smaller 1/5-inch CMOS. This represents a 42 percent reduction in surface area, which is likely to have some impact in low light.

That said, the HDR-TG1 is likely to become a popular camcorder. The price and compact form factor are well-suited for vacationers or those looking to fit a camcorder into their techo-lifestyle without breaking the bank. Sony has clearly taken some cues from Apple. The silver-colored titanium shell looks remarkably similar to a MacBook Pro. What’s more, Sony has adopted the sleek packaging techniques of Apple that give products that extra sheen of “cool” when the box is opened. The small size, 1.3 x 4.7 x 2.5-inch (33mm x 119mm x 63.5mm), also puts it ahead of the Panasonic HDC-SD9 (Review, Specs, Recent News, $519.98) in the hopelessly inconstant “World’s Smallest Full HD Camcorder” race.

The HDR-TG1 is equipped with a 10x Carl Zeiss Vario Tessar lens and Super SteadyShot OIS. Like every other HD Sony within the past year, the HDR-TG1 is capable of shooting in x.v. Color, though an HDTV that supports xvYCC color is required for playback.

The HDR-TG1 receives some features from Sony’s high-end HD camcorders, including Face Detection, a 5.1 Channel Surround Mic with Zoom capability, Dual Record, and Smooth Slow Record. The HDR-TG1’s Face Detection uses bit allocation, meaning more bits will be concentrated on the face of the subject rather than the surrounding scenery. When pressed as to how the system actually works, Sony refused to elaborate.

The HDR-TG1 features a touch screen 2.7-inch LCD screen that flips upward and rotates forward. The Zoom toggle is a ring surrounding the Record Start/Stop button that can be shifted left and right for Wide Angle and Telephoto movement. There is no viewfinder. However, the camcorder does ship with a 4GB Memory Stick PRO Duo card, allowing for recording right out of the box.

The HDR-TG1 is expected to ship in April for $899. A Travel kit is available for $99, containing a backup NP-FH50 battery pack, travel charger, and accessory pouch.

 
 Sony HDR-TG1 Sony HDR-CX7 Canon HF10

Panasonic HDC-SD9
Price (MSRP)
$899
$899
$1099
$799
Format
AVCHD
AVCHD
AVCHD
AVCHD
Media
Memory Stick PRO Duo cards
Memory Stick PRO Duo cards
SD/SDHC/MMC Cards
SD/SDHC/MMC Cards
Image Sensor Size
1/5-inch CMOS
1/2.9-inch CMOS
1/3.2-inch CMOS
3 x 1/6-inch CCDs
Gross Pixel Count  
3200000
3030000
3 x 560,000
Image Stabilization
SuperSteady Shot OIS
SuperSteady Shot OIS
Super Range OIS
Advanced OIS
Frame Rate(s)
1080/60i
1080/60i
1080/60i, 1080/30P. 1080/24P
1080/60i
Optical/Digital Zoom
10x Optical/120x Digital
10x Optical/20x Digital
12x Optical/ 200x Digital
10x Optical/700x Digital
F-stop Min-Max  
f/1.8 - f/2.9
f/1.8 - f/3.0
f/1.8 - f/3.0
LCD
2.7-inch, 211,000 Pixels
2.7-inch, 211,000 Pixels
2.7-inch, 211,000 Pixels
2.7-inch, 300,000 Pixels
Mic In
No
No
Yes
No
Headphone In
No
No
Yes
No
Manual Focus
Touch Screen
Touch Screen
Joystick
Joystick
Manual Shutter Speed
None
None
1/8 - 1/2000
1/60 -1/8000
Maximum Still Resolution
2272 x 1704
2848 x 2136
2048 x 1536
1920 x 1080
Ports
DC, AV, USB, HDMI
HDMI, AV, DC, USB, Component, Active Interface Shoe, Memory Stick slot
Mini HDMI, USB, Component, Mic, AV/Headphone, DC, Memory card slot, Mini Advanced Shoe
HDMI, DC, AV, Component, USB, Memory card slot