Sony HDR-FX7 3-CMOS Sensor HDV High-Definition Handycam Camcorder with 20x Optical Zoom

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Product Details

• Item Weight: 7.6 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000IBDWNS
• Item model number: HDR-FX7
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #690 in Camera & Photo (See Bestsellers in Camera & Photo)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #1 in	Camera & Photo > Camcorders > Professional Camcorders
  #27 in	Camera & Photo > Camcorders > High Definition

• Date first available at Amazon.com: October 2, 2001

Product Description

Manufacturer Description

Manufacturer Description It’s all in the details. And with the HDR-FX7 Handycam camcorder, you’ll capture every last one of them in high-definition. The first consumer level HDV 1080i recorder and player in the world turns all your memories into masterpieces. With a 20x optical zoom Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T Lens and 1.2-megapixel image capture to Memory Stick Duo media, your moments will never fade away. Additionally, when you record video in high-definition, you can dual-record still images at the same time. So no matter the occasion, the HDR-FX7 is the perfect camcorder.

Sony HDR-FX7 Highlights

Three 1/4-inch ClearVID CMOS sensors Three 1/4-inch ClearVID CMOS Sensors with 1,120K (effective) pixels provides stunning detail and clarity with exceptional video (up to 1080 lines of resolution in HD) and still-image performance. The Megapixel technology enhances your digital videos and digital still (1037K - 16:9 mode) photography performance.

HDV recording format From the innovators in camcorder technology, Sony’s HDR-FX7 camcorder is the world’s first HDV1080i consumer level camcorder and player to include three CMOS Sensors (as of September 7, 2006). Now you can record all your memories in true high-definition video.

Switchable HDV/DV format recording The HDR-FX7 is capable of recording and playing back both high-definition and standard-definition video recorded on standard MiniDV cassettes.

Real-time HD Codec engine A Sony-developed Real Time MPEG Encode/Decode system with reduced energy consumption and a compact size to fit inside a personal camcorder. Provides efficient MPEG2 compression, and recording and playback of clear HD images at the same Bit Rate of the DV format, so that high-definition video can be recorded on the same cassettes as are used for MiniDV recording.

20x optical Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T Lens From the authority in lens technology, the Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T lens provides a high-quality 20x optical zoom which maintains image clarity and color while reducing glare and flare.

Digital Extender The Digital Extender mode is available throughout the entire zoom range and will digitally enhance the zoom up to 1.5x the current position.

3.5-inch wide (16:9) Hybrid Clear Photo LCD Plus display (211K pixels) Provides excellent viewing clarity with improved resolution. The 211K-pixel LCD display makes images sharp and detailed during playback or when monitoring recording. The Hybrid LCD screen provides accurate viewing in sunlight or bright light, virtually eliminating the "washout" common with traditional LCD screens.

Super SteadyShot Optical Stabilization System An advanced form of Sony’s SteadyShot Image Stabilization system that controls an even higher range of shake and vibration frequencies. This optical stabilization system achieves an even higher level of smoothness without degradation of video like some digital stabilization systems.

Manual zoom and manual focus ring Dual independent Zoom and Focus rings provide precise and detailed control over the amount of zoom and the overall focus of the image with just a turn of the rings. Fast, intuitive framing when zooming, and finely detailed focusing is easy with the natural "feel" of the rings.

Selectable exposure/iris control : Allows you to adjust the amount of light entering the lens. By adjusting Exposure Brightness the image is adjusted in accordance with the Iris and Gain (shutter speed is locked). The Iris control allows the volume of light to be adjusted (shutter speed and Gain are adjustable).

Expanded focus helps confirm your manual focus

Expanded focus indicator The camera‘s LCD image is magnified, temporarily, up to 4x its original size without any loss of distortion. This allows the user more finite control while focusing the camera for greater detail and clarity.

Picture Profile Allows the user to set manual adjustments for a scene (color, sharpness, White Balance, etc) into any one of six presets, so they can be called up at just the touch of a button. Useful when shooting under the same conditions repeatedly, as options do not have to be re-set each time. Settings for various shooting conditions are offered as defaults.

Assignable buttons Six buttons on the exterior of the camcorder are user-assignable so that they can be set to the options most commonly utilized, for ease of recording.

i.LINK2 HDV/DV Interface (IEEE1394) Allows high-speed, bi-directional digital video/audio communication between two compatible devices equipped with an IEEE1394 interface, including camcorders, Digital VCRs, and PCs.

Shot transition Allows for a smooth automatic scene transition. Settings for focus, Zoom, iris, Gain, shutter, and White Balance can be set to the Assignable Buttons 1, 2 and 3, which will create a smooth transition and will take place according to the set time and transition. This function enables the focus to gradually shift from the front of the screen to a deeper part of the screen. Thus the iris enables a smooth change of depth of field.

Dual record While recording video in high-definition, you have the ability to capture a 1.2-megapixel still image directly to Memory Stick Duo Media.

Smooth Slow Record By increasing the record rate from 60 fields per second (fps) to 240 fps for 6 seconds allowing you to capture fast motion and which will play the video back in 24 seconds. This is great for analyzing a golf swing or a viewing a bird in flight.

Digital Still Memory mode with Memory Stick Duo Media Capture still images up to 1440 x 810 resolution (in 16:9 mode) directly onto Memory Stick Duo Media for easy transfer to PCs for emailing, printing or sharing with other compatible Memory Stick devices.

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. The display will show how much the battery is charged, in 10-percent increments and the approximate recordable time left when using the LCD screen or in the viewfinder.

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

What's in the box

HDR-FX7 camcorder, Power adaptor/in-camera charger (AC-L15), InfoLithium rechargeable battery (NP-F570), Remote Commander remote control (RMT-831), component video cable, stereo A/V cable, lens hood, USB cable, large-size eye cup

Product Description

Shoot like a pro with the HDR-FX7 High Definition Handycam(R) camcorder. Capture amazing video and still images in high definition with the first HDV 1080i 3 CMOS sensor consumer-level camcorder and player in the world. The three - 1/4" ClearVID CMOS Sensors provide stunning detail and precision, while a 20x Optical Zoom Carl Zeiss Lens maintains image clarity. Since the HDR-FX7 records video in high-definition, you can dual record still images at the same time. So no matter what the occasion, the HDR-FX7 is the perfect camcorder for the situation. A Sony developed Real Time MPEG Encode/Decode system with reduced energy consumption and compact size to fit inside a personal camcorder. This provides efficient MPEG2 compression, and recording and playback of clear HD images at the same bit rate of the DV format, so that High Definition video can be recorded on the same cassettes as are used for MiniDV recording. From the authority in lens technology, the Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T lens provides a high-quality 20x optical zoom which maintains image clarity and color while reducing glare and flare. Dual independent zoom and focus rings provide precise and detailed control over the amount of zoom and the overall focus of the image with just a turn of the rings. Fast, intuitive framing when zooming, and finely detailed focusing is easy with the natural "feel" of the rings. Easily adjust the amount of light entering the lens by adjusting exposure brightness in accordance with the iris and gain. The Iris control allows the volume of light to be adjusted (shutter speed and gain are adjustable). Though not small enough to carry with you to Disney, this camcorder opens up new opportunities for serious amateur and semi-professionals to record videos suitable for play on new widescreen HDTV sets. An IEEE1394 iLink port is provided for easy transfer to a PC or Macintosh for professional editing applications.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars FOR PRO OR AMATEUR!, January 5, 2007

By	R. Crutchfield "Shudda stuck to READING!" (Palm Desert, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is an amazing piece of equipment. Get the large battery for better balance and OVER EIGHT hours of taping. Broadcast quality. You will rarely NEED to go off "auto" unless you have special needs or are in a totally controlled studio situation where you can control lighting and movement. Pricey but worth every penny. The HD is as good as Discovery HD Theater's, and the std. DV recording (due to the new chips) is better then other 3-chip cameras I have owned.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Camcorder, April 29, 2007

By	Edward C. Wooten (Pittsford, New York United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have had this camcorder for two months now and I could not be happier. The camera is great indoors and out, including low light conditions. The high definition quality is incredible, the best I have seen. I also like the small size and light weight, a definite improvement over the fx-1.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Sony HDR-fx7 Camcorder meets all my needs., June 17, 2009

By	Fred E. Gutman (Redondo Beach, CA,USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I purchased the Sony HDR-FX7 to replace my eight year old Sony DCR-TRV900 Camcorder. The image colors are excellant and the picture quality is even better because this camera can record in HD or mini DV. The microphone is also better and you can see the stereo levels in the view finder. You can set Zebra Lines to manually control exposere. You can even take still pictures on a memory card while shooting video. You can press a button and see the last few seconds of your last shot. I am a retired professional video cameraman and this camcorder meets all my needs.