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More…The Sony Handycam HDR-SR12's big differentiator is its built-in 120GB hard drive, which holds more than 14 hours of video at its highest quality setting. Both the image quality and the storage capacity are impressive, but unless you need to record hours of video without a break, these selling points may not justify the camera's $1300 price (as of September 25, 2008).
Sony Handycam HDR-SR12
Pros
Huge storage capacity
Excellent video quality
Cons
High price tag
Records only 60i video
Bottom Line
The Handycam HDR-SR12 can record over a dozen hours of great-looking AVCHD video onto its 120GB hard drive, but it comes at a hefty price.
Sony Handycam HDR-SR12 High-Definition Camcorder
Handycam HDR-SR12 Review, by Jim Feeley October 26, 2008
Images coming through the camera's 0.33-inch CMOS sensor are recorded as 1920 by 1080 AVCHD files. You have a choice of four data-rate/image-quality settings, spanning 5 mbps to 16 mbps. In our subjective PC World Test Center tests, we recorded and evaluated 16-mbps AVCHD. The HDR-SR12 also records standard-definition video in MPEG-2 format. Still images are saved as JPEG files.
Our jury testers awarded a rating of Very Good to video that the HDR-SR12 captured under standard lighting, noting that it showed just a bit of color shifting. On the other hand, low-light performance was rated as only Fair, marred by noticeable inaccuracies in color, sharpness, and motion. In my hands-on use outside the Test Center, the Sony camcorder captured natural-looking skin tones, and footage had good dynamic range with minimal crushed blacks and blown-out whites--even when color and contrast were changing. The built-in microphone captured good 5.1 surround and two-channel stereo audio during testing out in the field.
Of the five tapeless camcorders we tested for our recent "Camcorders: High-Def, No Tape" roundup, the HDR-SR12 produced the best overall results. Still, anyone seeking a filmlike look should bear in mind that the HDR-SR12 records only 60i (60 interlaced fields per second) video. The camera doesn't provide 30p (30 progressive frames per second) or 24p options, which are handy for video destined for the Web (via YouTube, Vimeo, or the like) and for video with a look closer to film, respectively. Video recorded with the HDR-SR12 looks quite good, but it's unmistakably video.
The HDR-SR12 is a simple unit to operate, and its optical image stabilizer, 12X optical zoom, and autofocus all work very well. The Easy operation mode produces very acceptable images. Eleven scene modes cover shooting conditions ranging from Snow to Landscape to Auto (as in automatic) to Fireworks.
Sony includes a 3.2-inch flip-out LCD screen, a viewfinder, microphone and headphone jacks, and a built-in lens cover. Outputs include analog standard-definition and high-def video, HDMI, and USB, and a Memory Stick slot for recording still images and video.
The standard battery supported nearly 90 minutes of recording time per charge. The camera weighs about 1.5 pounds with battery--enough heft to improve hand-held stability, but not enough to tire out your arm.
This camcorder benefits from helpful controls, too: The touch-screen LCD makes navigating the controls easy and permits simple file browsing and searching--a huge convenience in view of the hours of video the hard drive can hold. The HDR-SR12's camera control dial, which is about twice the size of a pencil eraser and sits just below the lens, offers quick access to manual focus, aperture, and white balance settings. Sony's menus aren't as well-organized as those on other camcorders I've seen, but that's a short-term issue that you can overcome by using the camera for a while.
Alas, the HDR-SR12 costs hundreds of dollars more than competing cameras that offer less (but certainly adequate) storage space. Sony also markets the HDR-SR11, which has the same features and the same imaging engine as the HDR-SR12, but has a 60GB hard drive and therefore costs $200 less than the HDR-SR12.
Video is transferred to a computer via USB or a Memory Stick reader. For Windows users, Sony bundles Picture Motion Browser, a basic video-editing application. Mac users must use iMovie '08, the latest version of Apple's consumer video editor.
Though the Sony HDR-SR12 is a very good HD camcorder--earning second place on our comparison chart--it costs far more than HD camcorders that deliver similar quality and features. The key question for potential buyers is whether massive storage capacity and great-quality video hold justify the higher price.
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User Reviews
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User Reviews From Around the Web
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Reviewed by: jpn6689
Strengths: Out of the box Mac Compatibility, extra large touch LCD display, Crystal Clear HD video, better than average still photos
Weaknesses: advertises 10 megapixel still photos - actually is 5
Overall: This is by far the finest consumer level camcorder available. I was considering purchasing either this camera or the Canon HF100/HF10. Both of the Canon models are fine cameras, but this camera has some definite advantages including a massive hard drive for on-board storage, extra large touchscreen display, Sony Bravia sync capabilities, etc. Quality is crystal clear. Out of the box integration with Mac is also superb. After shooting both video and photos, I simply plugged the camcorder in via USB 2.0 and was able to open the video in iMovie within seconds. No convoluted conversions necessary. If you are looking for a fantastic camera with all the space and features you could want, look no further...
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Reviewed by: KarlS
Strengths: Terrific HD and SD video
Weaknesses: Software is complicated; manuals not intuitive.
Overall: I have finally become my father. I'm geezing. This is just a fabulous camcorder, but I'm way over my head trying to get my videos onto my PC and then burning the correct format DVDs to share with friends/family. Reading the "quick start" guide plus the PDF-format owner's manual on the included CD... almost made my head explode. And I've had a camcorder of various media and every type of film and digital cam in my hands since they were so big you needed a friend to help carry the components. I feel like I've traded my soul to the devil to get the latest/greatest technology. Of course, now I'm getting the, "I told you so!!" from my wife. I guess I should've accepted the simplicity (although less perfect video compression) of the last-most-current media recording directly to mini-DVDs in the camcorder. Yikes!
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Reviewed by: whinsch
Strengths: HD, 10mp Camera, large drive, large screen
Weaknesses: price
Overall: If you want a camcorder that can just about do it all, this is it. It does 3 levels of standard definition and 2 of HD (AVCHD format). I use the highest standard definition which is like the lower HD. The reason is sharing of home movies on dvd - not many have AVCHD-compatible players.The camcorder has lots of features - steadyshot, night shot, good zoom, etc. The camera replaced my 10 megapixel one - now I truly have a quality all-in-one. Just be careful what memory stick you use - it has to be HD compatible (new) or else you will constantly get a warning when trying to take photos.Movies are in MPEG 2 files for transfer to other media. You need a pc or Sony's standalone DVD drive to transfer from the camcorder hard drive which, at high standard definition, will hold about 30 hours of video.The major drawback is cost, but if you want everything it has to offer, you pay. Probably the best Sony camcorder I've had.
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Reviewed by: wk9330
Strengths: Good size, HD image quality, Huge hard drive, image stabilization, Quality still camera fuction
Weaknesses: Price, Software
Overall: I got mine about 10 days ago. Since then, I have been exploring this one with pleasure. Before I buy, I tried to read the reviews available on the website. I decided to buy after reading some of strengths I mentioned above. So far so good.. I really like it's HD quality image and quality photo image. Still I am in the initial use stage, but I am pretty sure I will be happy I got this cam., as I will explore more features it could offer.
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Reviewed by: ashutosh_rv
Strengths: Small size,Compact features,Video Quality
Weaknesses: Software is bit complecated
Overall: I bought this Camcorder after a long wait from Dbuys.com.I have not yet used the full functionality of camcorder but at initial use is awsome.Camcorder is small and very good picture Quality.I am happy with this purchase.
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