Quick Review Camcorders: Sony DCR-DVD105

Like most DVD camcorders with a similar price tag, the DCR-DVD105 has a 1/6” CCD with 680K gross pixels (340K effective). This is a small imager and doesn’t produce a great video image, especially in low light environments. Typically, low-end camcorders, like this one, do well out of doors on a bright day, but their image quality suffers even when shooting with normal indoor illumination.

The DVD105 produced an image with nice color saturation in bright light, but suffered from softness and too much emphasis in the blue end of the spectrum – common in Sony camcorders. This is not the worst performer of the bunch in the entry-level market, but unfortunately you won’t find much better, at least not until you’re willing to drop a few hundred more bucks.

At 60 lux, equivalent to a living room with moderate lighting, the DCR-DVD105 loses image detail while retaining it’s nice color saturation. At 15 lux, equivalent to a dimly lit room, the image loses more detail and most of the color information. This is not a forgiving camcorder in low light, so buyers would be advised to make sure all available lights are switched on when shooting indoors at night.

The DCR-DVD105 shines in Auto mode, making quick and accurate adjustments as lighting changes. If solid Auto performance is what you need, this camcorder will fit the bill. Adding to the camcorder’s ease of use is a touch screen menu interface. Because people are familiar with touch screens, used everywhere from ATMs to mall kiosks, there is no ramp-up time in terms of using this camcorder’s menu. The drawback is that the touch screen is also the LCD viewer, and it will pick up finger grease if used frequently. While there’s no denying a touch screen keeps things simple , we prefer interfaces that do not use a touch screen, like the joysticks found on Canon and Panasonic camcorders.

For more adventurous users who like to make manual adjustments from time to time, the DCR-DVD105 is neither capable nor easy to use. The camcorder features manual adjustments only for white balance, exposure and focus, and these are all accessed via the touch screen menu. While the menu is great for navigating a menu, it’s a poor interface for making fine adjustments to focus. If manual controls are important to you, just about any camcorder on the market offers more manual control options and a better interface. We advise you to look elsewhere if you are not a basic point-and-shoot user.

The DCR-DVD105 does offer a selection of Auto settings. Color Slow Shutter slows the shutter speed for very dark shooting environments, and NightShot Plus uses an on-board infrared beam to enable shooting even in zero light. Like other consumer camcorders, this one has an electronic image stabilization system to reduce camera shake, and a bundle of effects including fades, Sepia, and Old Movie – which gives your video the look of a scratched-up old film reel. The camcorder also includes the old Sony standards – Spot Meter and Spot Focus, which allows you to make a one-touch adjustment to exposure and focus just by pointing on the LCD screen.

The DCR-DVD105 also offers an ability to capture still images to DVD. There is no memory card feature, and the quality of stills is limited to a meagre 0.3 megapixels – about the resolution of many cell phone cameras. This camcorder is no replacement for a digital still camera even even the most inexpensive digital still camera will produce better still images.

For $500, Sony’s DCR-DVD105 offers an extremely stripped down camcorder that performs well in Auto mode – but doesn’t do much else. For the same price, Panasonic’s entry level VDR-100 offers comparable overall performance with a better optical zoom at 30x vs. 20x and much better manual control. If you are willing to consider a camcorder that records to MiniDV tape rather than DVD, the Canon Elura 100 is a better value, featuring better performance, manual controls, and an external microphone jack for only $400. Sony’s next model up, the DVD205, features a slightly larger CCD, a 2.7” widescreen LCD, larger stills, and 12x optical zoom, all for only $100 more. Sony fans may choose the DCR-DVD105 based on brand loyalty alone but when it comes to features beyond ease of use – and value – there are better choices.

Sony DCR-DVD105 THE BOTTOM LINE Rating: 167.90

Likes

-In Auto mode, performs well. -Good handling if you are comfortable with the touchscreen. -Decent video quality with no fuss.

Dislikes

-Touchscreen will get greasy. -The few manual controls are hard to find and adjust. -This is a VERY basic camcorder.

Sony DCR-DVD 205 Rating:	Panasonic VDR100 Rating: 178.42	Samsung SC-DC164 Rating:	Canon DC100 Rating: 168.87	Canon Elura 100 Rating: 218.29
Better	Better	Better	Better	Better
- Larger 1/5.5” chip provides better video performance overall. - Better still resolution and performance. - Bigger widescreen LCD at 2.7” - Better widescreen performance with larger chip and 16:9 LCD - A better value even though it costs more – the widescreen LCD and better video resolution make the extra $100 worth it.	- Much better manual controls in terms of options and interface. - Adds manual control over gain, shutter speed and exposure. - 30x optical zoom - Adds an audio jack – so external mics can be used.	- $449 price is $50 lower. - 2.7” LCD Screen - Records stills and video to memory card. - S-Video and USB ports - 33x Optical Zoom - Better manual controls and more options - Marginally better still resolution.	- Better manual controls with more options, but not as good as the Panasonic. - 25x Optical Zoom - Better Still performance and resolution. - Marginally better low light performance - True 16:9 widescreen - Records audio in 12bit or 16bit and has a dubbing capability	- $399 price is $100 lower. - Much better video performance, but the Elura 100 does use MiniDV tape rather than DVD - Better manual controls and more choices. - Better still performance - Bigger widescreen LCD at 2.7” - Better widescreen performance in all regard. - Adds an audio jack – so external mics can be used. - A smaller more portable camcorder.
Equal	Equal	Equal	Equal	Equal
- Auto controls are comparable and operate identically – both are excellent. - Both camcorders are very easy to use. - Manual controls are comparably limited. - Similar size and profile DVD format is more difficult to work with in most editing programs. - DVD Format	- Same price - Better video performance scores but lots of noise makes this a toss-up - LCD is the same size – 2.5” - Widescreen mode is equivalent. - Similar size and profile, so portablility is nearly comparable. - DVD Format - Overall the Panasonic offers more in terms of options and features – but its not as easy to use as the Sony.	- DVD Format - Same size CCD	- Comparable initial MSR - Comparable video quality scores - No external audio jack. - Similar size and portabliity - DVD Format	- 20x optical zoom matches the DCR-DVD105
Worse	Worse	Worse	Worse	Worse
- $600 price is $100 more - Optical zoom is only 12x	- Auto controls are very good but easier to access on the DCR-DVD105 - Not as easy to use as the Sony by virtue of more options and joystick interface. - No still photo option.	- Terrible video performance - Auto controls are very poor.  Easy to use and offers a lot on paper, but who cares with such awful video? - Very bad handling – not comfortable to hold. - LCD has poor image quality.	- Auto controls are not as accurate as the Sony. - Not as easy to use as the Sony by virtue of more options and touchpad interface. - Shorter battery life and a closed battery compartment. - Only has an AV port Slightly poorer handling	-Auto controls are very good but easier to access on the DCR-DVD105 - Not as easy to use as the Sony by virtue of more options and joystick interface. - MiniDV format is not as convenient – no ability to play media on consumer deck as with DVD.