Quick Review Camcorders : Sony DCR-DVD7

Automatic controls on Sonys are typically stellar, which is a saving grace for the DCR-DVD7. Any and all manual controls must be performed by tapping through the LCD touch screen menu. This might be acceptable circumstances for the average point-and-shooter, but we would have liked to the see the inclusion of basic controls, like focus and exposure, housed on the body of the camcorder.

If you’re looking for a video / still hybrid camcorder, this probably isn’t your best bet. The still performance was as bad as the video, and there are virtually no features: the DCR-DVD7 only shoots stills in 640 x 480, and there is no dedicated media (i.e. MemoryStick, SD Card). You can choose between Fine and Standard mode for picture quality.

Handling this saucer-shaped contraption is not the easiest task. With no viewfinder, you’ll have to hold it out at arm’s length. With a strong glare from the sun, you’ll be shooting at the cost of sore eyes and arms by the end of the day. The DCR-DVD7 is designed for one-handed operation, which is a problem when paired with its smooth plastic finish – there’s little to hold onto as it is, and Sony has neglected to designate a place for the left hand. When it’s time to set it down you’ll have to make the unhappy choice between resting it lens-down or LCD-down. The bottom of the body is far to narrow to avoid tipping over. The DCR-DVD7 comes included with a base, but its bulk will likely prevent you from carrying it around.

Other features include the Sony favorites Spot Focus & Spot Metering, Super SteadyShot, Color Slow Shutter, and some picture and digital effects. The DCR-DVD7 shoots in a quasi-widescreen – it adds bars to the top and bottom of the screen to create a 16:9 appearance.

All in all, your money could be far better spent on a camcorder that’s not quite as flashy, but superior in performance, manual controls, and features. The DCR-DVD7 is strictly for point-and-shooters who want to look cool. The real brains looking for DVD camcorders will get behind the similarly-priced Sony DCR-DVD203, the DCR-DVD92, the Panasonic VDR-M53, and the Hitachi DZ-MV580.

Sony DCR-DVD7: THE BOTTOM LINE.... Rating: 148.58

Likes

-Automatic control

Dislikes

-Handling -Button placement -Design

Sony DCR-DVD7 Compared to the...

Sony DCR-DVD92 Rating: 157.80	Sony DCR-DVD203 Rating: 167.22	Sony DCR-PC55 Rating:148.30	Panasonic VDR-M53 Rating: 174.93	Hitachi DZ-MV780 Rating:176.45
Better	Better	Better	Better	Better
-Audio -Video performance -Optical zoom specs -Ease of use -Handling -Low light performance	-Optical zoom specs -Automatic control -Digital still capability -Low light performance -Widescreen Mode -LCD -Handling -Ports	-Automatic control -Portability -Low light performance -LCD -Handling -Ports	-Manual control -Video performance -Low light performance -Handling -Optical zoom specs -LCD -Ports	-Video performance -Low light performance -Digital still capability -LCD -Widescreen -Handling -Ports
Equal	Equal	Equal	Equal	Equal
-Digital still capability -Manual control -VCR Mode -Widescreen  Mode -Wide angle	-Manual control -VCR Mode	-Manual control -Still capability -Optical zoom specs -Wide angle -Widescreen	-Manual control	-Manual control -Optical zoom specs
Worse	Worse	Worse	Worse	Worse
-Portability -Automatic control	-Video performance -Ease of use -Wide angle -Portability	-Video performance -Ease of use -VCR Mode	-Ease of use -Portability -Low light -Automatic control -Wide angle -VCR Mode -Widescreen	-Automatic control -Ease of use -Wide angle -VCR Mode -Portability