Sony Handycam HDR-SR5C review (100GB)

Along with its duo of siblings--the tape-based HDR-HC5 and the DVD-based HDR-UX5--the SR5 uses Sony's 1/3-inch, 2.1-megapixel ClearVid CMOS sensor, recording video at 1.4-megapixel (HD) or 1.1-megapixel (SD) resolution before upsampling and encoding to 1080i HD (1,440x1,080) or SD (720x480), respectively. The 40GB model will hold almost 5.5 hours of best-quality video, while the 100GB model will hold 13 hours. It also shoots photos at native 1.4-megapixel (16:9) or 2.0-megapixel (4:3) resolutions, despite the grandiose 4-megapixel claim on the body, which refers to a maximum interpolated resolution. It sports a 10x zoom Zeiss T*-coated lens and 5.1 Dolby surround-sound recording.

Unlike the higher-end SR7, there's relatively little in the way of manual controls--just those mentioned previously. Since I don't normally shoot people when testing camcorders, I did overlook an interesting feature in my evaluation of the SR7, which also appears in the SR5: Face Index. This will provide thumbnails of every recognizable face in a clip and allow you to jump directly to that bit of the video during playback. Other post-shoot-friendly features include a mini-HDMI connector--though the cables are still quite pricey--and a bundled dock with one-button disc burn.

By most performance measures, the SR5 fares okay. From a cold start, it takes about 8.5 seconds for the hard disk to spin up and be ready to shoot, and recording generally starts instantaneously when you press the button. The SteadyShot image stabilization works well throughout the zoom range and doesn't seem to mess with panning, and the autoexposure adjusts accurately and quickly to changes in scene illumination. However, the autofocus seems quite sluggish compared to that of other Sony models I've used (as well as to competitors'), frequently taking several seconds to lock on to a new subject, even in good light.

And speaking of light, the automatic white balance renders overly cool colors under a variety of light sources; that, combined with a propensity for seriously blown-out highlights, results in some very washed-out looking video. (You can see a couple of image samples here.) Nor is the video sufficiently sharp, thanks to the relatively low-resolution sensor. To produce decent HD video you need a sensor with an effective video resolution of at least 1.6 megapixels (1,440x1,080), making the sensor the last place you want to cut back for an HD camcorder. Yet it's the first place most manufacturers chop for consumer models. There's a visible difference between the video from the SR5 and the similarly street-priced Canon HG10, with its native 1,920x1,080 resolution--as well as the significantly more expensive SR7. I also wish Sony would punt the 5.1-surround microphone instead, and replace it with a really good directional mic.

The Sony Handycam HDR-SR5 isn't a bad camcorder, but if you're going to spend the money for an HD model--as well as endure the hassle of dealing with AVCHD video, you might as well go for one with superior video. And before even considering the 100GB SR5C, remember that for almost the same price you can get the much-better SR7--the difference in video capacity is trivial in comparison.