10 Camcorder Roundup : Sony HDR-SR11
9. Sony HDR-SR11
- Handycam HDR-SR11 60GB...
Cam Control: the little wheel that does (just about) everything
The HDR-SR11 features a small scroll wheel under the lens at the front of the camcorder.
You can choose what it controls to manually control either focus, exposure or white balance. Despite the precision of the three-inch LCD screen, it would have been nice to be able to zoom in on the frame to check the accuracy of a manual focus.
Finally, pressing on the scroll wheel toggles between manual and automatic mode.
The eagerly-anticipated follow-up to Sony's HDR-SR7, the SR11 has a number of interesting new features, including a higher bit-rate (now up to 16 Mbit/s), Full HD video at 1920 x 1080 pixels, a longer zoom and a new scroll wheel.
Handling
All told, the external design represents a modest evolution of the previous model: it's a few millimeters shorter, but a lot heavier.
The interface is controlled via a large 3.2'' touch screen with 920,000 pixels, with an undeniably good display.
Unfortunately, the menus that it shows are a little confusing, and if you're not used to Sony's system, it can take a little while to work out where even the most basic features are hidden. Once you've got the hang of it, though, controlling the camcorder is easy enough.
The electronic viewfinder is mobile, so you can get a good look, and is still in the 16:9 aspect ratio. It makes a welcome change from the main LCD screen in bright conditions.
However, because all of the settings are programmed using the LCD touch screen on the side of the camera, shooting with the viewfinder involves a lot of unnecessary toing and froing.
Unlike the SR7, which relied on a computer docking station, there are plenty of connectivity options, including a USB port mounted directly on the camera itself. There are also jacks for a microphone and headphones, a HDMI port for playing your video back directly to a TV and a component video out.
More experienced users will appreciate the presence of the Cam Control scroll wheel, which gives fine control over some manual settings, including focus and white balance.
The zoom is very precise, and moves gracefully in and out, but we were disappointed by the power of the otherwise good autofocus in low light.
Although the SR11 can shoot in Full HD, Sony hasn't removed the option to record in Standard Definition, leaving the door open for those who want to save a little space on the hard drive, or, optionally, on the Memory Stick Duo Pro that you can use to expand the amount of storage space available.
Video Quality
In general, the video quality offered by the SR11 is excellent, although still not quite as good as that offered by Canon's HF11.
The SR11E, with a bit-rate of 16 Mbit/s, still represents a step forward from the SR7, especially when it comes to the amount of detail. Colors are more accurate, with less saturation giving softer, more lifelike images. The use of a face detection mode means that skin tones in particular are well handled.
Meanwhile, electronic noise has been reduced, with chromatic aberration now almost entirely absent. There is a little blurriness in low light, though, and details soon disappear.
The automatic white balancing tends a little towards cooler shades while inside.
Overall, the quality of still shots is acceptable.
| Sony HDR-SR11E | |
|---|---|
| Pluses | Minuses |
|
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This camcorder from Sony is a decent all-arounder: easy enough for beginners to use, but with plenty of manual settings too. Video is decent, too, but not quite as good as some of the market leaders.
It's a troubling trend that nearly all consumer/prosumer camcorders are ditching the EVF in favor of the LCD, which is useless outdoors. I really liked the Canons, given their feature set and quality, but the lack of EVF was killer (the only model with EVF was the HG21, and that was impossible to find), and so I got a Sony SR12 instead. Great features are useless if you can't see what you're filming, unless you're doing all your work indoors.
I am only part way through the article, but I have to say that comparing the Vado (about $100) with even the Canon DC210 (about $400) just doesn't wash. If you had at least mentioned the price disparity, it might have been acceptable, but the Vado isn't aimed at the same market. Plus, the VADO HD is available, yet the article says, "but we're still waiting for the HD version of the Vado."
For me, this weakens the journalism and therefore weakens the reviews in general. It makes me wonder, did you really do due diligence in the review. Maybe your article lead time is too long, but that's where an editor can add notes, like, The Vado HD was released just after this review was completed.
Just my two cents worth.
I'll stick with my Canon HG10, EVF , 40GB HD, hotshoe, Mic input, perfect HD image....None of these compare.
At first I thought this was an old article that had slipt through RSS a second time, but no it was recent.
The reason is because I would not know for any reason to still review the Panasonic HDC-SD1. It's multiple generations old and you might be hard pressed to even find it. The four generations younger HDC-SD9 would be a lot better candidate even if it is not the latest generation, but it is still a reference with regards to value for money.
I haven't red it entirely, buy giving a '+' for a microphone (7.Panasonic HDC-SD1) is (imho) a joke. You can give a minus for no-audio recording, but giving a plus for a microphone is just too much!
2) You give a minus to Sony HDR-UX3 for lacking Image Stabilisation, and how about Sony HDR-SR11E - does it have IS or doesn't? JVC GZ-HD40 for example got a minus for medicore IS ...
I'd rewrite this article ... to some exent ..
I like digital camcorder very much , this unit looks very nice , how much it is?
Panasonic HDC-SD1 is too old. There were SD5, SD9, and now SD100. The last one is a way better than SD9. So, what is the need to review HDC-SD1?