Quick Camcorder Reviews: Sony HDR-SR1 Camcorder

The HDR-SR1 walked away with a number of awards from the 2006 CamInfo Selects, including Best Under $1500, Best HDD / Flash Media, and a shared award with the HDR-UX1 for Most Innovative. Both camcorders capture full HD video quality with a new compression method, AVCHD. The HDR-SR1 is an all-in-package, recording up to 4 hours of video to a non-removable 30GB hard disk drive (HDD). We liked this camcorder, though it does have some issues you should consider first.

Like most of the upper-end camcorders in the Sony line this year, the HDR-SR1 comes equipped with the 1/3” ClearVID CMOS sensor, a great chip that manages a vivid color balance without oversaturating. Compression methods seem to have a big impact on sharpness and noise, though. Obviously, the fact that the HDR-SR1 shoots in HD means that the sharpness is far better than standard definition camcorders. But AVCHD seems to create a fair amount of noise (fuzziness) when compared to tape-based HD camcorders.

In bright light, you’re going to love the image this camcorder can produce. In low light, it can hold its own against the competition, but the noise increases. This means that when blown up on a big screen TV, you’ll be seeing a lot of dancing little specks in the shadowy areas. Of course, all camcorders have this to some degree, but the tape-based Sony HDR-HC1 and HDR-HC3 had less of a problem.

As with all consumer HD camcorders, the HDR-SR1 can also be set to record in standard definition. Doing so extends the capacity of the HDD to 7 hours and 20 minutes in the highest quality setting. Even if you don’t have an HDTV at present, we would urge you to record in HD from the outset. Eventually, it’s likely you will own an HDTV, and at that point you’ll be glad to have your memories recorded in the best quality format.

Consumers accustomed to pocket-sized devices are going to find the HDR-SR1 big. It’s easily a quarter to a third larger than Sony’s mid-range camcorders, and you’ll have a tough time squeezing it into a purse. Fortunately, an HDD camcorder is, by design, more compact than most. There are no DVDs or tapes to lug about. A proviso, though: for long vacations, you must consider the limits of a non-removable disk drive. At the 4 hour mark, you’ll have to find a computer to dump footage onto or you’re stuck with a 720g (1 lb. 9oz.) doorstop.

Point-and-shoot users may find the HDR-SR1 an expensive proposition, but they probably won’t be disappointed with its automatic controls. While it lacks Sony’s trademark Easy button for idiot-proof handling, the automatic exposure and white balance are excellent. The focus wanes in low light, which can be a real issue with high definition. You may have to add lighting or stabilize the body. At that point, you could also take over with manual focus.

The manual controls on the HDR-SR1 are the best we’ve seen from Sony in years. While still withholding independent shutter and aperture controls, the camcorder does come equipped with a multifunction ring for WB shift, AE shift, exposure, and focus. You’ll also find pro features like zebra stripes for spotting overexposed areas and guideframes to help line up shots. The ring lends a pro feel to the overall handling that we absolutely loved.

The audio features on the HDR-SR1 are among the strongest selling points. We welcome most joyously the return of a mic input jack and a headphone jack after years of absence in most of Sony’s high-end models. An external mic makes an enormous difference in production quality, even in home movies. The camcorder also has a remote control jack for powered tripods – adding yet another touch of professionalism to your videos.

As we mentioned in the introduction, there are some issues that must be considered before purchasing the HDR-SR1. AVCHD compression is still very new, which means that editing solutions will take a while to come into place. At the time of the camcorder’s release, the only available software for editing footage is the rather limited program that ships with the camcorder. A number of software manufacturers have signed on to support AVCHD, but those products will probably not hit the market until early to mid-2007.

On the whole, this is a very promising camcorder. Earlier this year, we praised the standard definition DCR-SR100 as the best HDD camcorder to date. The HDR-SR1 is everything we loved about the camcorder, plus HD recording, a mic jack, a headphone jack, and the powerful multifunction ring. However, it’s important to consider that this is a first-generation camcorder in the AVCHD format. Sometimes it’s good to sit out the first round and wait for issues like editing and compression noise to be addressed. Shop smart and consider your options.

Sony HDR-SR1 THE BOTTOM LINE Rating: 270.17

Likes

-Great feature set all around with ring control, mic and headphone jacks, HDMI terminal -Dual record and Smooth Slow Record neat additions -HD video on an HDD camcorder, the first of its kind -Immense 3.5 inch LCD makes touchscreen navigation actually feasible -Efficiently redesigned menu

Dislikes

-AVCHD workflow is a work in progress -Compression results in more noise than HDV -No independent control over gain and shutter speed -Menu is more efficient than before - but more confusing