Sony HDR-SR7 AVCHD 6.1MP 60GB High Definition Hard Disk Drive Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom

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Product Details

• Item Weight: 3.5 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000PQJGFO
• Item model number: HDR-SR7
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (68 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #4,188 in Camera & Photo (See Bestsellers in Camera & Photo)

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  #44 in	Camera & Photo > Camcorders > Hard Disk Drive
  #66 in	Camera & Photo > Camcorders > High Definition

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

Product Description

Manufacturer Description

The HDR-SR7 has everything you need for capturing high-definition video on the built-in 60GB hard drive. Capture clear video with Super SteadyShot optical image stabilization, and maintain total control over the focus, exposure, shutter speed and white balance. Plus, you can take still images and video at the same time.

HDR-SR7 Highlights

3.2-megapixel ClearVid CMOS sensor The 1/2.9-inch ClearVid CMOS sensor provides stunning detail and clarity with exceptional video (1080 lines of resolution in HD Mode; 530 lines of horizontal resolution in SD Mode) and still image performance (6.1 megapixels). Unlike traditional CCD imagers, CMOS sensors require less power, and provide better battery performance.

Switchable HD/SD format recording The HDR-SR7 is capable of recording and playing back both High Definition (HD) and Standard Definition (SD) video recorded on standard 3-inch DVD media.

x.v. Color x.v.Color can capture or display nearly twice as many (1.8x) viewable colors than currently possible. This provides a more accurate and vivid color range, for a more natural, lifelike overall experience.

10x optical/20x digital zoom The optical zoom helps to bring the action close up from far away. In addition, the digital zoom interpolation means that extreme digital zooming is clearer, with less distortion than previous types of digital zoom.

Professional-quality Carl Zeiss Vario- Sonnar T* lens Carl Zeiss lenses have an advanced optical multi-layer coating that offers less glare and flare with increased contrast. This results in vivid image brilliance, true-to-life color saturation and perfectg renditions of subtle tones. The additional T* coating on the lens further reduces unwanted glare and flare.

2.7-inch widescreen touch-panel Clear Photo LCD Plus display The 2.7-inch 16:9 LCD screen provides excellent viewing clarity with imporoved resoltuion. The 211K-pixel screen also rotates up to 270 degrees for multiple viewing angles, providing sharp, detailed images for monitoring or playback, and the widescreen format makes shooting in 16:9 mode and composing shots even easier.

Smooth slow record By increasing the record rate from 60 fields per second (fps) to 240 fps for 3 seconds allowing you to capture 3 seconds of fast motion and play the video back in 12 seconds. This is great for analyzing a golf swing or a viewing a bird in flight. In addition, record an audio track to narrate what is being seen in the video.

Memory Stick Duo Media slot Capture still images up to 2848 x 2136 resolution, directly onto Memory Stick Duo Media for easy trasfer to PCs for emailing, printing or shairing with other compatible Memory Stick devices.

Dual Record While recording video in HD, you have the ability to capture a 4.6-megapixel still image directly to Memory Stick Duo media.

Super SteadyShot (Optical) Image 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 vide like som digital stabilization systems.

Tele Macro function Useful for shooting close up shots, but without having the camcorder casting a shadow on the subject. Images shot in the Tele Macro mode will have the subject properly focused with the background unfocussed so that the subject stands out.

Active interface shoe Provides a location directly on the camcorder on which to add optional accessories while providing power and two-way communication to those accessories.

Built-in Intelligent Flash For added clarity and detail when taking pictures in low-light situations, the built-in flash improves pictures and reduces shadows.

Super NightShot infrared system With Sony's NightShot infrared system, capture video in total darkness (0 lux) up to 10 feet away. Super NightShot mode automatically adjusts the shutter speed to increase picture brightness and clarity. Color Slow Shutter mode allows you to record in low light situations with full color detail by slowing down the shutter speed.

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.

Product Description

Experience amazing picture quality and convenience. The HDR-SR7 lets you record remarkably clear and detailed high definition video onto its convenient internal hard drive. The professional grade Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T lens ensures photo-realistic image quality, with a 10x optical/20x digital zoom that easily brings the action extra close, while Super SteadyShot optical image stabilization reduces blur from camcorder shake. Take command and get creative with manual control for focus, exposure, shutter speed and white balance. View your shooting on the 2.7" wide Clear Photo LCD Plus display, featuring touch panel SwivelScreen technology, so you can view from any shooting angle. And capture more than movies using the dual record function to snap still images even while shooting video.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

211 of 213 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Honest overall opinion, August 9, 2007

By	S. Nguyen - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I bought this camera after owning the Sony HDR-HC3, and the Canon HV10, and when I first saw the camera I was in love. Now that I've had the camcorder for over 1 month now, here's an honest review of the camcorder from a keeper's perspective:

Pros:
1. Excellent outdoor image, clarity and picture. The lines are crisp, everything green just jumps out at you, it does seem like you're shooting in HD and it shows when filming out in the sun with light.
2. Price. For a HD camcorder w/ an internal harddrive at ~1100, it's a no brainer. It provides a lot of the goods at the lower end of the price range.
3. New color schema for HDMI 1.3 (the xxYcc or whatever). This is actually good and bad, because it'll bring out the colors if you have a monitor to show them, but Sony advises that you don't shoot in this mode if you don't as it may lead to inaccurate color representation if you don't own a TV that supports this.
4. Small size. The camcorder just feels right, and fits and looks nice.
5. AVCHD now has NLE's that can edit the format, I use Sony Vegas 7.0e and it works excellent, I was an adobe premiere guy before, but now I LOVE Sony Vegas, it's an awesome program.
6. Transfers film as data and so you don't have to wait there until the PC captures the video 1:1 timewise.


Cons:
1. Indoor shooting is almost below SD quality. The indoor shooting gets VERY grainy, and I have to say I'm really disappointed. I got the AIS Flash shoe for the camcorder for this reason, and still, the picture is better, but still grainy. I want to say it's almost as if you have a hybrid camcorder, SD indoors, HD outdoors. My Canon HV10 was superior in quality indoors, probably the same clarity outdoors, but Sony definitely had better colors.
2. No USB or HDMI (normal size) on the body of the camcorder. I do agree with other people with this annoyance. I actually don't mind that using the docking station, and I do at home, but on a couple of occasions my friends want to transfer video over to their computer after a night out and I can't since there's no USB on the camcorder.
3. Sometimes takes awhile before the picture can come into focus. Again, I noticed this a lot when indoors, the pictures just doesn't focus for about 10secs, very annoying.

As you can see, I actually have more pros then cons, but the cons actually are stronger deterrents; than the pros are stronger for desire. I'm okay with my purchase, and know that I will probably get a lot of good video quality over the years with this camcorder, but just feel there has to be something better out there. If this had the quality indoors as it does out, this would totally be a 5/5 no matter what else.

45 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Just got the camera yesterday, November 16, 2007

By	Gary H (CA USA) - See all my reviews

I got the camera yesterday and have spent about an hour with it. The first thing I did was look for a mini-hdmi cable locally, but ended up buying it from Amazon via another vendor. While online on Amazon, I also noticed the price went up on this model - good timing for me as I thought the opposite would happen after I bought it.

The first impressions of this camera is that it is tiny. It looks much bigger in the pictures, but this is a small camera that packs alot of surprises. It just feels right in your hand and looks and feels well made/solid.

After charging it for about two hours, I started using it without reading the instructions. I heard all about the poor low light performance of the unit so I tried recording things in my living room with only one flourescent energy saving bulb on in the back of the living room. Then I went through and played with the menus to get myself familiar with the settings and noticed by default the HD recording setting was at 9MB/s so I changed it to XP - 15MB/s and recorded my living room again. I then connected the camcorder via component cables to my LCD TV. The first clip (9MB/s) came out ok. The clip was slightly grainy in the dark areas. For example, the components of my video/audio system was in a dark recess in the tv stand but I could see it although slightly grainy. That's to be expected since I'm sure a $50k HD camera will have similiar issue (I'm realistic about my purchases so this did not bug me). Now on to the second clip recorded at 15Mb/s. When I viewed the same scene of the A/V components, it was noticeable how much cleaner the edges were on the outlines of the A/V components. The overall clip was much sharper than the previous clip and right now I'm looking over at the components and I think the video in the second clip is clearer than what I can see with my naked eyes right now! Amazing. If you get this camera, make sure the HD setting is set to the highest mode - XP.

One thing I can say about the audio - before reading the reviews, I didn't think 5.1 was available on any consumer camcorders. I was surprised to learn it supports 5.1 (a big plus).

I had the TV on and I recorded my friend laughing in reaction to a program on TV and I could hear the laugh coming from the right (which is where my friend was sitting). The laugh, like the video, came out clear and distinct. I give audio a thumbs up. I heard the HDR-HC3 had issues with audio so I'm a happy camper here.

I basically tested this camcorder in moderate light situations which is a tough test for any camcorder. This camcorder (SR7) actually exceeded my expectations. I can't wait to see the picture quality of the video of scenes outside the house in day light. I can already assume I'll be amazed due to picture quality of the video I've seen in my other well lit rooms.

Coming from a Sony TR-81 Hi8 camcorder, I'd say the video quality is a big step beyond that of the TR-81. The TR-81 takes very good video, but the focus was slow and low light situation made focusing even worse. The SR7 focusing system is fast and in low light it's faster than my TR-81 in well lit areas.

I always wanted the Sony TR-101 after getting my TR-81. The TR101 was the camcorder I always look back and say, "I should of bought the TR-101 instead of the TR-81". Mainly because the TR-101 has mechanical/optical stabilization vs electronic stabilization. The TR81 has no stabilization. All the newer Sonys after the TR101 went with electronic stabilization for a few years (I remember it was due to royalty issues with Canon). Also the TR101 lens and lens housing was much bigger which made it look like a nicer/heaftier unit while the TR81 looked anemic compared to it (anyways, I digress...). Because of this (wanting the 101 over the 81), I got the HDR-SR7 over the HDR-SR5. The HDR-SR7 has mechanical stabilization AND it works well! One thing I noticed with the TR81 is that videos sometimes become almost unviewable when I'm taping without a tripod. With the SR7, the stabilization works! Zooming on a light switch across the house through three rooms, I will notice considerable vibration or jerkiness with the TR81. With the SR7, there is no jerkiness. You can see the video float up or down but there is no jerkiness.

Also, having a HD as the media to record on is nice and one of the main selling points for me to buy this unit. Having read the SR5 review, I noticed a few people complain about the HD noise being recorded on the tape. I didn't noticed this at all when taping the living room clips, but I did notice the HD clicking when the camera was pointed down at an angle. It seems like you can hear the HD stepping and it was caught on film! It's muffled, but it's there.

I'll be adding onto this review after about a month and will adjust my rating accordingly. This camera _IS_ a keeper. I will deduct a star from the 5 star rating for the noise issue mentioned above. Sony (and I'm sure others) will need to work on an isolation system for the HD so hard drive noise don't make it to the audio. I have an old Sony Ruvi camcorder which I bought new that records on some funky proprietary tape. You can hear the motor(s) on the audio track continuously. You can hear yourself zoom/pan and also hear the motor that continuously moves the tape during record. That and the funky proprietary tape was the downfall of that camcorder. I bought it at fry's at a discount - $199. I still wonder why I bought it because the noise is unbearable and I only used that camera a few times. Luckily, the SR7 is no where as bad as the RUVI. If this will be an issue, you might want to look at the HDR-CX7 which is the media stick version of this camcorder.

Overall, this is an excellent camera. I can't think of a better HD camera than the SR7, CX7 (pro duo media), HC7 (miniDV media), and SR5.
I checked both the JVC (GZ-HD7 - really love the looks of this unit) and Canon (HV10, HV20) offerings, but leaned towards the Sony after reading user's feedback on those units.

I probably shouldn't have mentioned the other cameras to keep this review focused on the SR7, but I'm sure there are old timers that had one of these cameras and can relate to my experience.

ADDED on 11/17/07 11:50pm: Ok, I just returned from a trip to San Francisco. I went to the Art Academy with a friend so she could check out the art school. I thought I would be amazed at the footage. I was expecting sharp and clear clips, but what I got was beyond that. I taped some skyscrapers from the base and panned up towards the sky - the entire footage was sharp, clear, and bright. There was no focusing issues. It seem better, if not on par, with the videos on Discovery HD. I'm not easily impressed, but I must say I am!! Anyone have an FTP site I can upload this clip? It looks like it was taped on a much more expensive unit. The blue of the sky was rich and brilliant against the white clouds and usually, with my old camcorder (TR81), if the scene goes from buildings to the sky as I pan up, you will get an overcompensation of light on the video clip. In otherwords, the sky will become too bright, then the video will take seconds to adjust and then the sky looks good, but the exposure on the building gets way too dark. This did not happen on the HDR-SR7. If I can only upload this clip for you guys to see. I'm not sure if I can upload the HD version to you tube. I'll look into it.

Anyways, I'm keeping this camera. It's unbelieveable (and I'm not that easily impressed, however, keep in mind these are consumer grade camcorder and it meets my expectations so YMMV).

Money well spent -- I questioned getting another camcorder the last few weeks, but not anymore.

There will be no perfect camcorder. The SR7 is a good compromise between what I want in a perfect camcorder and what is actually out there in the market. To me, excellent video quality in a small size with good sound was important to me. At first I did not consider the Sony because the effective resolution was 1440x1080 vs 1920x1080, but it seems overall the picture and the color accuracy on the Sony was better. Why get caught up in tech specs when it's the big picture that counts? Also, the Sony just felt right in the hand. It's small and well built. I don't want to be lugging anything that felt awkwardly large on vacation! The smaller the better and my choice was the HDR-SR7.

UPDATED 12/1/07: Still enjoying the camera. The battery seems to last about 90 minutes. Luckily I haven't gotten the "blue screen" issue the newer reviewers have ran into. I'll be using it at the SF auto show tomorrow so we'll see how it goes.

UPDATE 12/2/07: Ok, there seems to be an issue with the camera taking too long to focus sometimes. I mention earlier that focusing seems pretty quick, but at the auto show today, when I was ready to shoot, the camera was not focused for 3-4 shots (video and or photo). I had to move it around to get it to focus. Battery lasted for about 80 minutes or so. The colors came out excellent, but the focusing issue came to light today. It's best to leave the camcorder on standby since, if you turn it off, it will take a few seconds for the HD to come on line and you may miss a video or camera moment.

UPDATE 12/12/07: Because of the AVCHD compression, if you move the camera the clip of the scene as the camera is moved doesn't look too smooth. That's probably the biggest annoyance to me. The sw is great, but limited in terms of editing (very very limited). You can view HD quality clips on your laptop. I have a dell 9400 with a 1920x1200 (WUXGA) display and I'm getting HD quality while viewing it on the laptop - just amazing.

UPDATE... Read more ›

58 of 62 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Harddrive Camcorder out there., July 29, 2007

By	Film Reviewer (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews

If you want a harddrive based camcorder, the SR7 is currently the best one out there. It has a large 1/2.9-inch CCD, has optical image stabilization (which is better than digital), and a 60gb harddrive. It uses AVCHD compression (which more editing programs are now available for).

If you are looking for the best camcorder as far as recording quality, you still have to go with a tape based unit utilizing HDV. The reason is that there is less compression on tape than on current AVCHD systems. You will get excellent video with the SR7, but Sony's HDR-HC7 and Canon's HV20 will give you even better video quality. The Canon HV20 has one of the largest CCDs for a consumer camcorder, 1 1/2.7 -inch.