Sony DCR-SR85 1MP 60GB Hard Drive Handycam Camcorder with 25x Optical Zoom

by Sony

Product Details

• Item Weight: 2.9 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00123WDO0
• Item model number: HDR-SR85
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,927 in Camera & Photo (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: April 18, 2005

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

From the Manufacturer

You’ll never miss a moment because of switching tapes or discs with the DCR-SR85. Its built-in 60GB hard disk drive offers plenty of storage as you zero in on your subjects with the professional-quality Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens and a powerful 25x optical/2000x digital zoom. Compose shots using the 2.7-inch wide (16:9) touch-panel LCD display, and maintain total control and clarity with the Super SteadyShot image stabilization system. Hybrid recording technology even gives you the choice to record video to either the internal hard disk drive or removable Memory Stick Pro Duo media.

HDR-SR85 Highlights

1/6-inch Advanced HAD CCD imager 1/6-inch Advanced HAD (Hole Accumulation Diode) CCD with 680K (effective) pixels provides stunning detail and clarity with exceptional video (up to 500 lines of horizontal resolution) and still image performance.

25x optical/2000x digital zoom The optical zoom helps to bring the action close up from far away. In addition, Digital Zoom Interpolation means that extreme digital zooming is clearer, with less distortion than previous types of digital zoom.

2.7-inch widescreen (16:9) touch-panel Clear Photo LCD The 2.7-inch widescreen (16:9) LCD screen provides exceptional viewing clarity with improved resolution (211K pixels). The display rotates up to 270 degrees for multiple viewing angles, as well as provides sharp, detailed images for monitoring or playback. The widescreen format makes shooting in 16:9 mode and composing shots even easier. Hybrid recording to hard disk drive or Memory Stick media Hybrid recording technology delivers a new level of flexibility for transferring your video footage and digital photos from the camcorder to compatible viewing devices. Record to the camcorder's internal hard disk drive, or choose instead to record to removable Memory Stick Duo media or Memory Stick Pro Duo media. You can even select from various dubbing functions to easily copy video or still images from the hard disk drive to Memory Stick media -- without using a PC. Images recorded or transferred to Memory Stick media can then be played directly on a PS3 or PC to share your memories with friends and family.

Memory Stick Pro Duo media slot Capture still images directly onto Memory Stick Pro Duo media (sold separately) for easy transfer to PCs for emailing, printing, or sharing with other compatible Memory Stick devices (sold separately).

Quick On Missing an important scene can be frustrating, especially if the reason is because your camcorder is turned off. With the Quick On feature, the touch of a single button places that camcorder in Sleep mode. Another push instantly wakes the camcorder, so you'll always be ready to capture special moments.

Active Interface Shoe Sony's proprietary hot shoe makes it easy to use Intelligent Accessories, such as external lights and microphones, by providing power and on/off capability directly from the camcorder.

Easy Handycam button Using a camcorder can be intimidating for some people. With a press of the Easy Handycam button, most of the advanced features of the camcorder are "locked out," letting you focus only the buttons essential for recording.

USB 2.0 interface The USB 2.0 interface provides an easy way to connect your camcorder to a PC for fast transfer of video and still images for editing.

InfoLithium battery with AccuPower meter system Unlike NiCad (Nickel Cadmium) batteries, Sony's rechargeable Lithium-ion batteries are not subjected to a life shortening "Memory Effect," so you're free to charge the battery at any time. Additionally, Sony's exclusive AccuPower meter displays the battery time remaining in minutes, in either the viewfinder or on the LCD screen.

Professional-quality Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lenses are designed specifically for compact camcorders, and utilize precision ground optics to maintain the sharpness and contrast found with larger lenses.

Stamina Battery Power Management System When using the Sony InfoLithium Battery, the Stamina Battery Power Management System helps the camcorder prolong battery life for extra long continuous recording times from a single charge.

Battery information At the touch of a button, battery information is displayed on the LCD screen when charging and when the camcorder is turned off. When using the LCD screen or viewfinder, the display will show how much the battery is charged -- in 10-percent increments -- and the recordable time left.

Fader effects Enhance your personal videos by adding professional looking fader effects. Choose from Black and White.

Scene Selection Modes Scene Selection modes make recording easy even when filming in challenging situations. Choose from Beach, Candle, Fireworks, Landscape, Portrait, Sports Lesson, Spotlight, and Sunrise & Sunset.

Picture Effects Get creative when recording or playing back your videos with Sony's Picture Effect Modes. Effects available in Camera mode: Monotone, Pastel and Sepia. Effects available in Playback mode: Monotone, Pastel and Sepia.

Built-in zoom microphone

Built-in zoom microphone with 5.1-channel recording Featuring Dolby Digital 5.1 Creator, the built-in zoom microphone focuses audio recording on your subjects in sync with the camera's zoom lens, helping memories ring true with clear dialogue and crisp, discrete sounds.

Film Roll Index Like chapters in a book, Film Roll Index helps you easily find desired scenes in video footage. When using this feature, the camcorder previews the beginning of scenes and can create scene indexes set at specified display intervals (3, 6, or 12 seconds and 1 or 5 minutes).

Manual focus Manually adjust the focus of the camcorder using the touch panel. Manual focusing also allows the user to control the focus in difficult situations where either the environment or the subject does not allow the camcorder's auto focus to perform optimally, such as when shooting through a window or in a crowded environment.

One-touch disc burn Easily burn a DVD copy of your footage using the supplied software. Simply connect the camcorder to your PC via a USB cable and press the One-touch disc burn Button.

Super NightShot Infrared System With the Super NightShot Infrared System, you can capture video in total darkness (0 lux) up to 10 feet away.

On-screen Zoom and Record buttons For additional control of the camcorder, Zoom and Record buttons are features on the frame of the LCD screen. This allows for more flexibility when holding the camcorder, especially in overhead or low angle shots.

Progressive shutter system A mechanical shutter system that provides progressive scan performance while utilizing an interlaced scanning system. Digital still images will be sharp and clear with excellent definition.

Multi-language menu Change the menu display from English to English (Simplified), Canadian French, Latin American Spanish, or Brazilian Portuguese

Product Description

V2) Sony DCR-SR85 60GB HDD camcorder

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Value for the Money!, February 6, 2008

By 

Michael R. Barton "Machine Device" (Waltham, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sony DCR-SR85 1MP 60GB Hard Drive Handycam Camcorder with 25x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

I just received this camcorder (DCR-SR85) and I am very happy with it! It is so small & lightwieght, plus it takes fantastic videos. The videos download very quickly with the included software, and are crisp and clear as any DVD movie that I have (standard definition). I stuggled with all the choices out there, but I am very satified with this product. I use it mostly to document procedures for work, but it is great for home movies also. I think it would be nice to have a larger mega-pixel camera in it (only 1 meg) since it is so small it could easily replace my digital camera also! I also purchased the extended warranty from Sony for only 89.00 (3 years), and an extra battery. This one is a keeper!

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great camcorder, April 7, 2008

By 

Jay Herder (Louisburg, KS USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sony DCR-SR85 1MP 60GB Hard Drive Handycam Camcorder with 25x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

This is a great camcorder. Having the video written to disk is great. We've had DVD camcorders and watched an entire day's filming at WDW wasted when the DVD wasn't readable when we got back from vacation.

My wife likes using an eye view finder, but this camcorder does not have that. I have glasses so I've always opened it up and viewed it that way while filming. She also doesn't like the fact that you have to open the lens cap by hand, as it doesn't open automatically like our previous DVD camcorder.

We bought this particular model for the 25x Optical zoom, and that works great. The included software is awesome too.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best camcorder, June 2, 2008

By 

S. Angara "Sairam" (IN, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sony DCR-SR85 1MP 60GB Hard Drive Handycam Camcorder with 25x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

This is my first camcorder and I selected this after a careful study of exisiting models across various brands like panasonic, jvc, canon. This was fitting my budget with lots of required specifications. I did go to nearest electronics shop and had a look at it before ordering it and comparing it other models. I used it extensively in my recent trip to smokies and it was fantastic. Lots of space..I need not bother about space. Four days of usage and I was hardly using 10 gb out of 60 gb. Clarity was good. Wish I could explore all the features of it. I would recommend this to any new comers into the camcorder world.